Scelfo Signs 23, Including 11 Texans

23 prospects signed national letters of intent to play football at Tulane University in 2002, Green Wave Head Coach Chris Scelfo announced Wednesday. The list of signees includes 11 players who earned all-state honors in Louisiana, Texas, Florida

or Georgia.

“We addressed some obvious needs with this class,” Scelfo said. “This group will be a good supplement to our present team. We were fortunate to draw kids from many different areas that fit the profile of Tulane

University.”

The Green Wave signed at least one player at every position (except kicker) with the offensive line group numbering six to lead the way. Tulane signed three defensive linemen, three linebackers, three defensive backs and three wide receivers.

Quarterbacks Nick Cannon of Hahnville, La. and Billy Don Malone of Blossom, Texas signed with the Green Wave as did tight ends Robert Hand (Spring, TX) and Tye Graham

(Kingwood, TX). St. Petersburg, Florida’s Jovon Jackson was the lone running back signed by Tulane in 2002 while Tommy Griffin, one of three players from Tyler, Texas’ John Tyler High School, is listed as an athlete.

“I think we addressed a need at every position,” Scelfo said. “The amount of scholarships we had available allowed us to fulfill that goal.”

Tulane’s 2002 signing class includes 11 players from Texas, six from Louisiana, four from Florida and two Georgians, both from Stephenson High School. Linebacker Anthony Cannon and safety Sean Lucas are the

Georgians on the list while the Wave plucked local talent Scott Holt (OT, Holy Cross), Jeremy Foreman (CB, Lutcher), Derek Rogers (OL, St. Amant) and Bubba Terranova (WR, Slidell) in addition to Hahnville’s Cannon. The other Louisianan on Tulane’s 2002 list is Shreveport Fair Park receiver Damarcus Davis.

The Tyler trio lead the way from Texas as Griffin and teammates William Blaylock, a first team all-state honoree in 2001, and Donald Madlock join former Lions Cletus McGee and Floyd Dorsey at Tulane. Five

players from the Houston area signed with the Green Wave, including Hand, Graham, Katy Cinco Ranch's Taurean Brown, Terrence Peterson from Alvin and Michael Roberts out of Houston and Memorial. Receiver Gary Malone joined his brother Billy Don in signing with the Wave while Dripping Springs’

Michael Purcell rounds out the Texas 11.

The Florida Foursome of linebackers Demiah Freeman (Titusville, Fla.) and Kelvin Johnson (Florida City, Fla.), offensive lineman Mark Burgess (Odessa, Fla.) and Jackson complete the class.

“Tulane has been a place where young players have come in and contributed in the past couple of years,” Scelfo said. “I think the

biggest generation gap we have is at offensive line and linebacker, but all of these signees will have an opportunity to come in and compete.”

-- signees list below --

2002 TULANE FOOTBALL SIGNEES

Name Position Height Weight Hometown High School

William Blaylock OL 6-3 305 Tyler, TX John Tyler HS

Taurean Brown DL 6-6 270 Katy, TX

Cinco Ranch HS

Mark Burgess OL 6-5 290 Odessa, FL Tampa Jesuit HS

Anthony Cannon LB 6-0 210 Stone Mountain, GA

Stephenson HS

Nick Cannon QB 6-3 198 Hahnville, LA Hahnville HS

Damarcus Davis WR 6-0 180 Shreveport, LA Fair Park HS

Jeremy Foreman CB 6-2 170 Lutcher, LA Lutcher HS

Demiah Freeman LB 6-0 220 Titusville, FL Astronaut HS

Tye Graham TE 6-2 245 Kingwood, TX

Kingwood HS

Tommy Griffin, Jr. ATH 5-11 188 Tyler, TX John Tyler HS

Robert Hand TE/OL 6-6 250 Spring, TX

Klein Oak HS

Scott Holt OT 6-5 280 New Orleans, LA

Holy Cross HS

Jovon Jackson RB 5-11 220 St. Petersburg, FL Gibbs Senior HS

Kelvin Johnson LB 6-2 245 Florida City, FL Homestead Senior HS

Sean Lucas CB 5-11 175 Lithonia, GA Stephenson HS

Donald Madlock OL 6-4 305 Tyler, TX John Tyler HS

Billy Don Malone QB 6-2 180 Blossom, TX North Lamar HS

Gary Malone WR 6-1 205 Blossom, TX

North Lamar HS

Terrence Peterson S 5-11 190 Alvin, TX

Alvin HS

Mike Purcell DL 6-1 305 Dripping Springs, TX

Dripping Springs HS

Michael Roberts DE 6-3 245 Houston, TX Memorial HS

Derek Rogers OL 6-5 315 St. Amant, LA

St. Amant HS

Bubba Terranova WR 6-3 185 Slidell, LA Salmen HS