Athens — “You want me to blow the horn one more time for ya?”

With that, Trinity Valley Community College Head Football Coach Brad Smiley lets loose a pull off the aerosol can on his desk, rattling the windows and ear drums of those crowded into his office on National Signing Day.

And just like that, the Cards had landed another highly-sought-after recruit to become part of the Class of 2010 at Trinity Valley Community College. National Signing Day is the first day high school seniors can sign a binding National Letter of Intent to play collegiate sports.

“I’m very happy,” Smiley said in between phone calls, text messages and faxes from recruits confirming their attendance at TVCC. “Our coaching staff did a great job locating kids, evaluating these kids and getting them signed. Our players also did a great job helping get some of these guys in.

“It’s an exciting day. Another good class.”

The Cards’ 2010 class has a number of notable names, including at the quarterback position. Tucker Carter (6-2, 205) led Allen to a Class 5A state championship in 2008 and was the state playoff MVP. Carter was thrust into the position after stepping in for injured teammate Matt Brown.

Arlington Bowie’s Deric Davis (5-10, 190) also inked with TVCC. Davis was 212 of 319 passing for 3,100 yards, 39 touchdowns and just two interceptions on the way to being named the 2009 Associated Press Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year. Davis also rushed for 640 yards and seven touchdowns.

TVCC will also have Si Blackshire, who won a state title at Carthage before enrolling at the semester in Athens, in the mix at quarterback.

Coaches were also excited to land a triple play when Dallas Carter offensive linemen Dalvin Glass (6-3, 320), Derrion Pride (6-4, 320) and Shakeel Timmons (6-4, 310) signed together. That’s nearly half a ton of offensive linemen.

Smiley said coaches tried to focus their defensive efforts on getting faster. He thinks he did that with the signings of Montrae Williams, a 6-0, 190-pound defensive back from Texas High (Texarkana), defensive end Donald Green (6-4, 230, Dallas Lincoln) and linebacker Trey Shepherd (5-9, 210, Willis).

Smiley also says defensive tackles Damion Britton and Ty McKinney could have an immediate impact.

‘Welcome to the family’

Here’s the list of the 35 players who signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at TVCC next season: 



DB    Lemarcus Banks    5-11    170    Texarkana, TX (Pleasant Grove)

DB    Imoan Claiborne    5-11    190    Alexandria, LA (ASH)

DB    Ken Gainous    6-1    190    Orlando, FL (Edgewater)

DB    Dayvion Henry    6-3    185    Richardson, TX (Plano East)

DB    Josh Reed    6-1    175    Allen, TX (Allen)

DB    DeAnte Reid    5-9    160    Texarkana, TX (Pleasant Grove)

DB    Montrae Williams    6-0    190    Texarkana, TX (Texas High)

DE    Donald Green    6-4    230    Dallas, TX (Lincoln)

DE    Jerron Harrison    6-3    225    Richardson, TX (Plano East)

DE    Parker Holloway    6-5    240    DeSoto, TX (TCA-Cedar Hill)

DE    Kennedy Jones    6-3    230    Katy, TX (Morton Ranch)

DS    Kevin Garza    6-2    255    DeSoto, TX (TCA-Cedar Hill)

DT    Damion Britton    5-11    275    Houston, TX (Galveston Ball)

DT    Ty McKinney    6-3    305    Fort Worth, TX (Trimble Tech)

LB    DaKorey Johnson    6-2    185    Mesquite, TX (North Mesquite)

LB    Jermaine Longino    5-10    210    Houston, TX (Hightower)

LB    Sydney Sayles    5-11    210    Katy, TX (Morton Ranch)

LB    Trey Shepherd    5-9    210    Huntsville, TX (Willis)

LB    Jesse Dickerson    5-10    200    Houston, TX (Jersey Village)

OL    Melvin Anderson    6-3    305    Arlington, TX (Bowie)

OL    Jared Barker    6-6    290    Hurst, TX (L.D. Bell)

OL    Dalvin Glass    6-3    320    Dallas, TX (Carter)

OL    Derrion Pride    6-4    320    Dallas, TX (Carter)

OL    Ronald Rocquemore    6-4    275    McKinney, TX (McKinney)

OL    Shakeel Timmons    6-4    310    Dallas, TX (Carter)

P    Jacob Lindo    6-3    170    Garland, TX (Garland)

PK    Brad Dunavant    6-0    175    Rockwall, TX (Heath)

QB    Tucker Carter    6-2    205    Allen, TX (Allen)

QB    Deric Davis    5-10    190    Arlington, TX (Bowie)

RB    Mason Hayes    5-9    205    Cedar Hill, TX (Cedar Hill)

RB    Ashton Jefferson    6-1    200    Alvin, TX (Alvin/Oregon St.)

WR    Jack Brown    5-11    185    Mesquite, TX (West Mesquite)

WR    Karl Watson    6-5    190    Dallas, TX (South Oak Cliff)

WR    Denzelle White    6-3    190    Richardson, TX (Plano East)

TE/FB    Jackson James    6-1    210    Spring, TX (Dekaney)



* a list of TVCC’s sophomore signees will be included in Friday’s Athens Review.