What A Load From Navarro

by **50's PONY** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:13 pm

Bulldogs send off 8 to Division I football programs

Three Navarro offensive linemen land scholarships

By Rob Ludwig

Navarro will be sending eight players to Division I universities in the coming months after the Bulldogs posted a 10-1 season.

Three-fifths of NavarroÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s offensive line signed Division I scholarships. Oklahoma State landed first-team All-American guard Anthony Morgan, tackle Roy Watts returned home to the University of Houston and Zhamal Thomas will make a trek to the Southeastern Conference after signing with Arkansas.

Morgan (6-4, 320) was a first-team NJCAA All-American and first team JC Grid-Wire All-American. The latter includes players from California and the NJCAA.

Morgan originally signed with Baylor after a stellar career at Lancaster. Grades forced a detour to Navarro, but Morgan made the most of his stay in Corsicana, anchoring an offensive line that allowed the Bulldogs to average more than 420 yards and 35 yards during his 23 games as a starter.

Morgan was a first-team All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference player and was also named the Offensive Player of the Year.

Morgan committed to Oklahoma State during the summer and stuck with his choice despite taking a recruiting trip with Watts to Miami, Fla., two weeks ago.

Watts was a second-team NJCAA All-American choice and first team JC Grid-Wire All-American.

Watts (6-6, 310) started his football career with the University of Texas, but transferred with teammate JÃ¢â‚¬â„¢Marcus Webb to Navarro after his freshman season. Watts started every game he played in a Navarro uniform.

Watts also made his decision early in the recruiting process, choosing to return to his native Houston where he starred at Houston Worthing. Watts honored his commitment to Houston despite being heavily recruited in recent weeks by several SEC and Atlantic Coast Conference schools.

Thomas (6-4, 330) transferred to Navarro after one season at LSU. He started at both left guard and tackle during his stay at Navarro. Thomas chose Arkansas over Utah and several other Division I programs.

All three of the linemen are December graduates and will enroll in the January.

Navarro will also send a pair of players to Southern Methodist University. Preseason All-American safety Ryan Clark (6-1, 185) has landed with the Ponies after losing his scholarship offer from Texas Tech. Clark had an injury-riddled sophomore season, eventually losing his starting position to freshman Trevor Drayton.

Defensive end Marquis Frazier (6-4, 260) missed his entire sophomore season after sustaining a non-football knee injury near the end of the 2007 season. A double-signee with SMU out of high school, Frazier will have three years of eligibility for the Mustangs.

Another injury-plagued sophomore will be heading to a Division I school, though he wonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t play until 2010. Quarterback Andre Bevil, who also lost his starting job after a series of ankle injuries, will join former Navarro coach Ray Woodard at Lamar University. Lamar is restarting its football program and will not play its first game until the fall of 2010. Bevil completed 48.5 percent of his passes for 1,062 yards and eight interceptions and touchdowns as a sophomore.

The University of Hawaii dipped into NavarroÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s roster for a pair of players this year. Cornerback Melvin Hopkins and receiver Rodney Bradley will travel across the Pacific to play for the Rainbows in 2009. Bradley led Navarro with 29 catches and nine TD receptions this season.

MOVINGÃ¢â‚¬Ë†ON

Eight players off the 10-1 Navarro football team signed with Division I schools Wednesday. The rundown:

Anthony Morgan OL Okla. St.

Roy Watts OL Houston

Zhamal Thomas OL Arkansas

Ryan Clark FS SMU

Marquis Frazier DE SMU

Andre Bevil QB Lamar

Melvin Hopkins CB Hawaii

Rodney Bradley WR Hawaii