Head Coach Jay Hopson and his staff wrapped up another successful recruiting class on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The Golden Eagles will kick off the 2020 season on Sept. 5 versus South Alabama.
The 2020 signees are listed below.
Da’quan Bailey-Brown
WR | 5-9 | 170 | Jr.
Pompano Beach, Fla. / Stoneman Douglas HS / Dodge City CC
Junior College: Earned second-team NJCAA All-America honors for coach Ricky Coon at Dodge City Community College … Caught 42 passes for 718 yards…Added 285 kick return and 111 punt return yards…Collected 79.8 receiving yards per game and 17.1 per catch…Totaled eight touchdowns, including six receiving, one rushing and one via punt return…Earned the KJCCC Co-Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference pick…Caught 11 passes for 215 yards and a score his freshman season with 23 kick returns with 590 return yards…Prep: An honorable mention All-Broward County selection for 6A-8A at wide receiver by the Miami Herald … Caught 20 passes for 487 yards and six touchdowns as a senior … Played for Coach Willis May.
Natrone Brooks
DB | 5-11 | 165 | Jr.
Starkville, Miss. / Starkville HS / Copiah-Lincoln CC
Junior College: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and a two-star prospect by Rivals … Competed for Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Wesson, Miss.) for the past two seasons … Appeared in a total of 19 games during his two-year stint at Co-Lin … Recorded a total of 59 tackles (45 solo and 14 assisted), 4.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and one block … Also recovered one fumble, broke up 11 passes and averaged 3.1 tackles per game … Prep: Attended Starkville High School (Starkville, Miss.) … Played in 40 games, amassed 136 tackles (88 solo and 48 assisted), notched 13.0 tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions and averaged 3.4 tackles per game over the span of three seasons at Starkville High School.
Vinson Brown
DB | 6-0 | 175 | Fr.
Manvel, Texas / Manvel HS
Prep: Played for Kirk Martin at Manvel High School, where he garnered All-District honors in 11-5a Division II … Was a member of the squad when they were runners-up the 5A Division I State Championship, finishing 14-0 … Reached the area round as a junior and the regional round as a senior…Also ran track at the school, capturing first place his junior campaign as part of the 4x200 relay squad at the Manvel-Dawson Invitational and third at the UIL 5A state championships.
Jason Brownlee
WR | 6-3 | 190 | Jr.
West Point, Miss. / West Point HS / East Mississippi CC
Junior College: Two-year standout for Coach Buddy Stephens’ East Mississippi Community College Lions who emerged as one of the nation’s top wide receivers as a sophomore … Capped his EMCC career by earning NJCAA All-America first-team honors this past season after leading the nation with 75 pass receptions (15 more than any other player) and finishing second nationally with 1,055 receiving yards as well as with 12 touchdown catches … Also garnered NJCAA All-Region 23 honors as a sophomore in addition to being selected as the MACJC’s North Division’s Most Valuable Player among offensive backs … Posted five 100-yard receiving efforts and had at least one touchdown catch during all nine regular-season contests … Three of those 100-yard, two-touchdown outings came during successive weeks (10 rec, 130 yds, 2 TDs vs. East Central; 11-147-2 vs. Northwest Mississippi & 12-140-2 vs. Holmes) … Also had back-to-back, 100-yard receiving efforts vs. Pearl River (5-135-1) and Itawamba (6-121-1) … Season-long catches of 87 and 66 yards also came against PRCC and ICC, respectively … Had 14 catches for 113 yards and a TD as a freshman on EMCC’s undefeated (12-0) NJCAA championship team … Made three grabs for season-high 28 yards (10-yd TD) vs. Mississippi Delta … Also had three catches (19 total yards) in state playoff win over Copiah-Lincoln … Prep: Helped lead the West Point High School Green Wave to back-to-back Class 5A state championships (streak is now four straight state titles) … Teamed with fellow Southern Miss signee and NJCAA All-American Terence Cherry at West Point … Named Mississippi/Alabama All-Star, MAC Class 5A First Team All-State and Clarion-Ledger First Team as a prep senior … Also made Daily Journal Large School All-Area team and WCBI All-EndZone First Team … Played both sides of the ball for West Point … Had 42 catches for 967 receiving yards (23.0 yds/rec) and 11 touchdowns as a prep senior … Made season-high seven catches for 157 yards and two TDs vs. Lafayette … Had season-most 161 receiving yards and two TDs on five grabs against Olive Branch in 2017 state semifinals … Also reached century mark in receiving yards (122) with three catches (2 TDs) vs. Grenada … On defense in 2017, he had four interceptions (one TD) and 17 tackles (2 TFLs) … Had four tackles, 28-yard INT return, fumble recovery, a pass breakup and 17-yard kickoff return in Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game.
Terence Cherry
DL | 6-2 | 250 | Jr.
West Point, Miss. / West Point HS / East Mississippi Community College
Junior College: Two-year defensive standout for Coach Buddy Stephens’ East Mississippi Community College Lions … Developed into a second-team NJCAA All-American as a sophomore pass rusher … Recorded 43 total stops, 16 tackles for 72 yards lost, including 12 quarterback sacks for 64 yards lost, and forced five fumbles during his EMCC career … Also earned NJCAA All-Region 23 and All-MACJC North Division first-team honors this past year after ranking as the Lions’ top pass rusher with a team-leading 12 tackles for loss, including eight QB sacks, among his 29 total tackles on the year … Also forced a team-high three fumbles for the season … Opened 2019 season with two QB sacks and a pair of forced fumbles at Hinds … Had another sack and forced fumble a week later in 49-15 win over Pearl River … Collected two QB sacks in 30-22 win over Northeast Mississippi … Credited with 14 total tackles, including four sacks for 21 yards, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup as a freshman on EMCC’s undefeated (12-0) NJCAA championship team … Had three stops (2 sacks for 7 yds) against Coahoma in 2018 … Prep: Mississippi-Alabama All-Star, Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) Class 5A 1st Team All-State and Clarion-Ledger 1st Team recipient as a prep senior at West Point High School … Teamed with fellow EMCC All-American Jason Brownlee to help lead WPHS Green Wave to back-to-back (2016-17) Class 5A state championships (streak is now four straight state titles) … Daily Journal Large School All-Area team selection as a senior, named 1-5A Defensive MVP and was a finalist for WCBI-TV EndZone Defensive Player of the Year … Credited with three solo tackles, including a 16-yard sack, and a pass breakup in 2017 Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game.
Tykeem Doss
OL | 6-5 | 348 | Jr.
Aliceville, Ala. / Aliceville HS / East Central CC
Junior College: Tabbed a NJCAA Second Team All-America Offense selection … Named to the NJCAA All-Region 23 Team … Voted the MACJC’s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman and a MACJC First-Team All-Conference South Offense selection … Played in a total of 11 games during his two-year campaign at East Central Community College (Decatur, Miss.) … Prep: Attended Aliceville High School (Aliceville, Ala.) … Played in a total of 37 games, registered 82 total tackles (18 solo and 64 assisted), two sacks, one interception, 23 tackles for loss and averaged 2.2 tackles per game over the course of two seasons at Aliceville High School.
Frank Gore, Jr.
RB | 5-8 |170 | Fr.
Miami, Fla. / Killian HS
Prep: Played quarterback and threw for 213 yards on 17-of-22 passing with two touchdowns and one interception for Killian High in Miami … Led the team in rushing with 1,111 yards, averaging 92.6 yards per game and 9.8 yards per carry Even caught nine passes for 6 6 yards and a touchdown … Collected five 100-yard rushing games and 13 scores on the ground … Had long run of 78 yards … Voted the No. 3 Under The Radar Player among high school players in the country heading into his senior campaign by MaxPreps … Son of NFL standout running back Frank Gore.
Grayson Gunter
TE | 6-5 | 230 | GS
Madison, Miss. / Madison Central HS /Arkansas
2019 (Jr. - Arkansas): Played in all 12 games for the Razorbacks in 2019, starting six at tight end, including each of the first three and the final two contests of the year … Appeared in 309 snaps over the course of the year, 252 lined up on offense … Tallied six receptions for 55 yards, scoring one touchdown, averaging 9.2 yards per catch … Opened the season with three catches for 16 yards against Portland State … Recorded his longest reception of the year on a 23-yard pass from Ben Hicks in the second quarter vs. Mississippi State on Nov. 2 … Added two more receptions in the season finale against Missouri in Little Rock, including a 10-yard TD pass from Jack Lindsey in the third quarter… 2018 (RS-So. - Arkansas): Played in 11 of 12 games for the Razorbacks as a redshirt-sophomore, starting twice at Colorado State (Sept. 8) and against Vanderbilt (Oct. 27) … Totaled 142 snaps over the course of the season, mostly at tight end, only seeing three of those plays on kick return coverage, according to Pro Football Focus … Caught four passes for 51 yards, averaging 12.8 yards per catch … Scored one touchdown on a seven-yard toss from Connor Noland against Tulsa on Homecoming … First career touchdown reception … Posted a season-long 23-yard catch vs. LSU on Nov. 10 in the home finale … First two receptions of the season came against North Texas (Sept. 8) for 11 yards and Alabama (Oct. 6) for 10 yards … Effective in pass protection, posting a 74.6 grade from PFF in the field… Hit a season-best 81.0 in the category vs. LSU, rounding out with an 83.4 grade in the contest … Helped the Razorbacks be one of four SEC teams to complete passes to four different tight ends in 2018 … Part of a receiving corps that put up 2,307 yards through the air and 17 touchdowns…2017 (So. - Arkansas): Redshirted his second season with the program … 2016 (Fr. - Arkansas): Played in all 13 games as a true freshman … Started on kick-off return unit … Hauled in his first career catch in his home state of Mississippi in a win at Mississippi State (Nov. 19) … His 29-yard reception in the first quarter started a two-play, 71-yard scoring drive…Prep: A consensus three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Ranked the No. 62 tight end in the class and the No. 2 tight end in the state of Mississippi by Scout … ESPN ranked him as the No. 34 tight end in the class and the No. 34 player in the state with a grade of 73 … Tabbed the No. 33 tight end in the class and the No. 26 player in the state by 247Sports … Finished senior season with 27 receptions for 406 yards and five touchdowns in eight games … Helped lead the Jaguars to a 9-6 record and the 6A state semifinals under head coach Brad Peterson … Named a preseason top 125 senior by The Clarion Ledger … Reeled in 21 passes for 232 yards as a junior and had five catches for 66 yards as a freshman … Has been clocked at 4.58 in the 40-yard dash … Also played basketball, helping lead Madison Central to the Mississippi Class 6A state championship game in each of his last two seasons. PERSONAL: Born on Nov. 13, 1997 … Son of Bubba and Donna Gunter … His father Bubba played football at Ole Miss from 1989-91.
Averie Habas
LB | 6-3 | 225 | So.
Rice Lake, Wis. / Rice Lake HS / Iowa Western CC
Junior College: A NJCAA honorable mention All-American linebacker that played in 12 games for Iowa Western Community College, where his team won their last eight games, including a 34-19 victory over Hinds CC in the Graphic Edge Bowl, played in Cedar Rapids, Iowa … Posted 108 tackles (71 solos), averaging 9.1 stops per game … Notched 11 tackles for loss for 35 yards and one sack … Added two pass breakups and a block … Redshirted his first season there in 2018 … Made the All-IACCAC squad and was all-region … Prep: Played on Division 3 state championship team his senior campaign and also was a part of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Large School all-star game … An all-region selection at wide receiver his senior campaign.
Camron Harrell
DB | 5-10 | 178 | Jr.
Bradley, Ill. / Bradley-Bourbannais HS / College of Dupage
2019 (R-So.): Played for coach Matt Foster at the College of Dupage this past fall…Appeared in 11 games and finished third on team in tackles with 67 (46 solos) … Added three interceptions for 111 yards and was the team leader in pass breakups with 16 … Posted one forced fumble … Added seven kick returns for 145 yards and seven punt returns for 54 yards … Ran back a blocked PAT in season opener against ASA Brooklyn … 2017 (Fr.): Redshirted in his only year at the University of Iowa … Prep: Played at Bradley-Bourbannais High for coach Mike Kohl … Earned honorable mention all-state honors …Lettered in football and track … Helped prep team to second round of state playoffs as a junior and to state semifinals as a senior … Holds school record with 44 total touchdowns … Recorded five interceptions as a senior as team posted 10-1 record … Rushed for 760 yards and totaled 440 receiving yards as a senior … Totaled 931 receiving yards and scored 22 touchdowns as a junior … Qualified in three events for state track championships as a senior, reaching state finals in 100-meter dash … Personal: Born 2/05/99 … Son of Shannon Pierce . . . High school coach was Mike Kohl.
Brandon Hayes
WR | 6-2 | 188 | Fr.
Hattiesburg, Miss. / Oak Grove HS
Prep: Attends Oak Grove High School (Hattiesburg, Miss.) … Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals … Appeared in 24 games over the course of three season with the Warriors … Caught 88 passes for a total of 1,318 receiving yards … Averaged 15.0 yards per catch and 54.9 receiving yards per game … Scored 16 touchdowns … Recorded a career-long 80-yard reception during his sophomore campaign … Helped lead Oak Grove to back-to-back appearances in the MHSAA Class 6A State Championship Game in 2018 and 2019 … Represented Mississippi in the 2019 Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Football Game.
Will Jones
ATH | 6-0 | 203 | So.
Chicago, Ill. / Phillips Academy
Prep: The Chicago, Ill., native played at Phillips Academy his final year of high school.
Mike Pleas, Jr.
LB | 6-3 | 230 | Fr.
Tallahassee, Fla. / Lincoln HS
Prep: Tallied 41 tackles (27 solo) including 5.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks at linebacker for Lincoln High School … Picked off one pass and added two forced fumbles … Made the second round of the state playoffs and ended the season 8-4 playing an exceptionally strong schedule … Three of those losses came against teams with a combined 31-4 record and two of those defeats came in overtime … Played his sophomore and junior seasons at Chiles High School.
Dominic Quewon
DL, | 6-3 | 260 | Jr.
Minneapolis, Minn. / Robbinsdale-Cooper HS / Iowa Western CC
Junior College: The honorable mention NJCAA All-American at defensive line played in 11 games for Iowa Western Community College, where his team won their last eight games, including a 34-19 victory over Hinds CC in the Graphic Edge Bowl, played in Cedar Rapids, Iowa … Played three years there, redshirting in 2018 after playing in just one game … Totaled 50 tackles (23 solos) this past fall with six tackles for loss for 43 yards and five sacks for 42 yards … Posted 70 career tackles over 22 games with nine tackles for loss, eight sacks and a forced fumble … Made the All-IACCAC squad and was all-region … Prep: Attended Robbinsdale-Cooper High School in the Minneapolis area.
Don Ragsdale
RB | 5-10 | 205 | Jr.
Pisgah, Miss. / Pisgah HS / Hinds CC
Junior College: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals … Rated the #10 JUCO running back in the nation by JCGridiron.com … Played in a total of 19 games and recorded 1,796 yards and 21 touchdowns during his two years as a member of the Hinds Community College (Raymond, Miss.) football team … Also averaged 91.7 yards per game as a freshman in 2018 and 97.1 yards per game as a sophomore in 2019 … Prep: Attended Pisgah High School … Played in 52 games and amassed 8,095 rushing yards on 823 carries and scored 101 touchdowns (93 rushing touchdowns) over the course of his five-year career at Pisgah High School … Also averaged 9.8 yards per carry and 155.7 rushing yards per game … Posted a single-season career-high 38 touchdowns during his junior campaign.
Antoine Robinson
WR | 6-1 | 200 | Jr.
Canton, Miss. / Canton HS /Copiah-Lincoln CC
Junior College: Played in nine games for Co-Lin and led the Wolves in nearly all receiving categories with 37 catches for 721 yards, seven touchdowns, 19.5 yards per catch, and a team-high 80.1 yards per game … Had two breakout games in 2019 with 198 yards on six catches and two scores versus Pearl River, and 142 yards on six catches and three scores versus Southwest to close out the year … Named first-team all-MACJC … Recorded 16 catches for 232 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman … Prep: Caught 34 passes for 650 yards and six touchdowns, including a long of 76 yards his senior season at Canton High.
Eric Scott Jr.
DB | 6-2 | 200 | So.
Basehor, Kan. / Basehor-Linwood HS / Butler CC
Junior College: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports … Played in 11 games, recorded 11 total tackles (seven solo and four assisted) and two interceptions during his freshman campaign at Butler College this past season … Prep: Attended Basehor-Linwood High School (Basehor, Kan.) … Appeared in a total of 33 games, registered 126 total tackles (108 solo and 18 assisted), 5.0 tackles for loss, nine interceptions, 13 pass deflections and averaged 3.8 tackles per game over the span three seasons at Basehor-Linwood High School.
Mitchell Sellers
TE | 6-5 | 245 | Fr.
Paradise, Texas / Paradise HS
Prep: Named first-team All-District 4-3A at Paradise High his senior campaign … Played for coach Joe Koch … Had 44 receptions for 709 yards and four touchdowns his senior campaign … Named first-team all-district as a junior … Earned honorable mention Academic All-State honors.
Fred Smith
CB | 6-1 | 175 | Jr.
Hollandale, Miss. / Hollandale-Simmons HS / Jones College
Junior College: Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and a two-start prospect by Rivals … Spent the two previous seasons competing for Jones College (Ellisville, Miss.) … Played in a total of 21 games, earning nine starts during his two seasons at Jones College … Also registered 20 tackles and broke up four passes … Was named to JCGridiron.com’s 2019 preseason watch list … Named an Academic All-MACJC (3.25 GPA or higher) selection on 7/1/19 … Earned a spot on the NJCAA All-Academic Third Team … Prep: Attended Simmons High School (Hollandale, Miss.) … Registered 72 total tackles (51 solo and 21 assisted), four interceptions, one fumble recovery, averaged 3.3 tackles per game, deflected eight passes and blocked one punt over the span of two seasons at Simmons High School … Helped lead Simmons to a perfect 15-0 record and a MHSAA Class 1A state title in 2017.
Austin Todd
DL | 6-5 | 310 | So.
Hattiesburg, Miss. / East Mississippi CC / Oak Grove HS
Junior College: Massive interior defensive lineman who recorded 23 total tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, as a freshman for Coach Buddy Stephens’ East Mississippi Community College Lions … Posted multi-tackle games in eight of EMCC’s 10 contests on the season … Made season-high four stops in 30-22 win over Northeast Mississippi … Had three tackles apiece against Hinds, Itawamba, Northwest Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Coast … Four of his 5.5 TFLs on the year came during the Lions’ first three games … Prep: Named to 2018 Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) Class 6A All-State Second Team as a prep senior for Oak Grove High School … Member of Bernard Blackwell Classic All-Star South team … Credited with 100 tackles as a senior for Oak Grove, including two tackles for loss, a quarterback sack and a QB hurry.
