HOUSTON – HCU head football coach
Jason Bachtel announced the signing of nine student-athletes to join the Huskies for the 2025 football campaign on Friday afternoon with five high school signees and four junior college transfers.
"We're excited about the guys we have signed here in the early signing period," said Bachtel. "The thing we looked to hit on was, we wanted to make sure we brought in guys who fit our standard. We looked for guys who were going to be tough, committed to the process and discipline required to help build a unified class. We also wanted to make sure we touched on some positions where we lost some key players and in areas where we could build from a youth standpoint. In this December class you see a mix of high school guys and junior college guys who are going to come in and help us out."
Tobi Akintade – DL – 6-1 – 290 – Arlington, Texas
Akintade was a first team all-district defensive tackle this past season at Arlington High School where he played for coach Scott Peach. He finished his senior season with 57 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, and eight quarterback hurries. Akintade helped lead the Colts to a 7-4 overall record and a second-place district finish to qualify for the state 6A playoffs.
Javon Bejarano – DB – 5-10 – 185 – Cibolo, Texas
Bejarano, a teammate of Ducos at Blinn this past season, totaled 50 tackles in seven games with an interception, a pair of pass breakups and one tackle for loss. As a freshman in 2023 he played in nine games, registering two interceptions and a pair of breakups. As a senior at Steele High School, Bejarano finished with 69 tackles with one interception and seven passes defended.
William Cook – OL – 6-3 – 300 – The Woodlands, Texas
Cook has been a standout offensive lineman at The Woodlands Christian Academy and was named the Touchdown Club of Houston Private School Lineman of the Year for the 2024 season. He helped lead TWCA to an 8-4 record and the quarterfinals of the TAPPS Division II playoffs.
Amari Deason – DL – 6-0 – 290 – Pearland, Texas
Deason is a sophomore defensive lineman at Navarro College where he has helped lead the Bulldogs to an 8-2 record with an appearance in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl against Coffeyville Community College this Saturday. He spent two seasons at Stephen F. Austin prior to his time at Navarro. Deason played his high school football at Pearland High School.
Willie Duckett – OL – 6-4 – 270 – Cleburne, Texas
Duckett was a first team all-district offensive lineman at Cleburne High School as a senior playing for coach Tim Woodard.
Jadon Ducos – LB – 5-11 – 205 – Humble, Texas
Ducos finished his freshman season at Blinn College with 75 tackles and nine tackles for loss, earning second team all-Southwest Junior College Football Conference honors. The linebacker played his high school football at Atascocita High School, earning District 21-61 Defensive Player of the Year honors after racking up 153 tackles with 14 TFLs, five sacks and three interceptions in 2023.
Tapiwa Hananda – DB – 6-2 – 190 – New Braunfels, Texas
Hananda comes to HCU from Canyon High School where he helped the Cougars reach the regional round of the 6A Division 2 state playoffs and a final record of 8-5 as a senior. During his senior season, Hananda totaled 42 tackles with one tackle for loss, four pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.
Agape Lawrence – LB – 5-11 – 205 – McKinney, Texas
Lawrence was a standout at Emerson High School for coach Kendall Miller. He was a two-time first team all-district selection while also picking up second team academic all-state honors as a senior. Lawrence totaled 284 tackles over the last two seasons with 23 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries.
Keith Wheeler – WR – 6-3 – 210 – Humble, Texas
Wheeler spent this past year, his redshirt sophomore season, at Trinity Valley Community College where he finished with nine receptions for 86 yards in eight games. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Tulsa, appearing in three games for the Golden Hurricane. The Humble native started at Atascocita High School, earning first team all-district honors twice and racking up 978 yards receiving as a senior.
