Warriers happy with newcomers
By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Feb. 5, 2004
DECATUR East Central Community College head football coach Terry Underwood and his staff signed 21 incoming freshmen for the 2004 season Wednesday.
While nine of the newcomers are from ECCC's five-country district, the Warriors also had success in recruiting Tuscaloosa County, Ala., after last year's 2-7 showing. Five of the signees are from Tuscaloosa County schools.
Players inked from the ECCC district include linebacker/fullback Derrick Qualls from Forest; defensive end Greg Hathorn, cornerback wide receiver Chris Perry, and wide receiver/defensive back Barry Doss, all from Louisville; wide receiver Eric Lyons from Philadelphia; two-way lineman Joshua Moore from Neshoba Central; and two-way lineman Kenielle Washington, running back/linebacker Nathaniel McKee, and two-way lineman Nicholas Brown, all from Class 1A state runner-up Scott Central.
Defensive back Anthony Carouthers of Lafayette County inked with the Warriors after attracting Underwood's attention during a game at Newton County High School last fall.
A pair of two-time state champion War Eagles from Wayne County inked with ECCC. They are strong safety Marzell McGill and wide receiver Mario Davis.
Maurice McDonald, a defensive end from West Lauderdale, also inked with the Warriors. He will be converted to a linebacker for the Warriors.
Out-of-state signees include: defensive back Joe Mingo from Clinch County, Ga.; two-way linemen Kendrick Perry and Jimmy Spenser both from Hillcrest, Ala.; defensive back/wide receiver Rayshawn Smith from Paul W. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa, wide receiver Chris Lark from Pickens County, Ala., offensive lineman Javares Dobbins and defensive lineman George Maddox both from Tuscaloosa County High School; and quarterback Robbie Morse from Walton County, Fla.
The Warriors also had seven members of last year's team sign with four-year schools on Wednesday.
Chris Allen of Tuscaloosa County, Davis Carter from Louisville, J.E. Haynes and Michael Wright from Newton, all signed with the University of Arkansas-Monticello.
Corey Hayes of Forest signed with Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Willie Johnson of Oconee County, Ga., inked with Valdosta (Ga.) State University. Rudy Su'e of Pensacola, Fla., signed with Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.
