Gandy talks about recruits
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Feb. 6, 2004
University of Southern Mississippi running backs coach and Waynesboro native Shelton Gandy said there was a pair of factors that made recruiting easier this year for the Golden Eagles.
Gandy, who was the guest speaker at the East Central Eagle Club/Alumni District Football Recruiting Update Luncheon at the Crescent City Grill on Thursday, pointed to USM capturing it fourth Conference USA title and the improved athletic facilities for making the coaches' jobs easier to draw kids to Hattiesburg.
The Eagles posted a perfect 8-0 record, 9-3 overall, in C-USA play to earn a berth in the Liberty Bowl in 2003, and the school has constructed a new athletic facility with a state-of-the-art weight room for its athletes.
The winning record and updated facility corralled 19 signees on Wednesday, the first day of the national signing period. The signings boosted the Eagles' total number of recruits to 23, with the four mid-year transfers from junior colleges.
The incoming class brought praise from Max Emfinger, who runs a Louisiana-based recruiting service. Emfinger called USM's 2004 class one of the best the program has ever brought in.
While most coaches shy away from putting stock into recruiting services assessment of a class, the Eagles coaches tend to agree with the high potential of the recent recruits.
For Gandy, who is a former USM running back, the two backs the Eagles picked up are the most exciting part of the new group of players coming in.
The Eagles plucked C.J. Barrows, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound running back, from Georgia, and the team signed Jim Hill High School product Tony Minor of Jackson.
Barrows, who rushed for 1,570 yards at McEchern High School in Powder Springs, Ga., as senior, garnered comparison to USM's Derrick Nix, who is ranked second on USM's career-rushing list.
Gandy said he understands where the comparison of Barrows to the great Eagles running back in coming from, but he is not quick to put "the next Derrick Nix" label on the incoming back.
USM also added a new fullback to the mix on Wednesday.
Cole Mason, a 6-foot-1, 240-pounder from Parrish, Ala., signed with the Eagles. Gandy said being able to add a fullback of Mason's potential was a coup for USM.
The Eagles also addressed some big needs on the defensive side of the ball.
USM lost five starting defensive players to graduation at the end of the 2003 season. Linebacker and school all-time tackle leader Rod Davis, defensive end Terrell Paul, and defensive backs Alex Ray, Etric Pruitt and Corey Yates all graduated.
Headlining the list of new defensive players is defensive end Cedrick Jones of Wayne County. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder hasn't met the minimum academic standards, but Bower has said he would want Jones to work on his eligibility at USM.
