CONWAY, Ark. (UCA Sports) -- The University of Central Arkansas football program announced the addition of 23 new student-athletes at Wednesday's annual Signing Day Reception in the Hall of Fame Room at Estes Stadium.
The newest Bears include three mid-year transfers who are already enrolled in school, and 20 newcomers who will join the program in the summer. The signing class consists of 11 student-athletes from Texas, seven from Arkansas, two each from Oklahoma and Louisiana and one from Tennessee.
Broken down by position, the signing class features five defensive linemen, three wide receivers, three linebackers, two offensive linemen, two cornerbacks, two safeties. two tight ends, one running back, one quarterback, and two designated as athletes.
The Bears, who reached the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs last season in just their second season of eligibility, finished 9-4 overall and in second place in the Southland Conference with a 6-1 record.
UCA had nine players named to the All-Southland Conference first or second teams after the season. Three Bears, quarterback Nathan Dick, linebacker Seth Allison and offensive lineman Dominique Allen, were named to All-America teams. UCA had 16 seniors last season.
The Bears, under the direction of 12-year head coach Clint Conque, will open the 2012 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss.
The UCA 2012 recruiting class includes:
- Justin Carpenter - 6'4" - 290 OL; Lonoke, Ark. - Lonoke High School
- Cody Dauksch - 6'1" - 215 ATH; West Memphis, Ark. - West Memphis High School
- Prince Ene - 5'10" - 180 CB; Houston, Tx. - George Bush High School
- Wes Foster - 5'11" - 195 RB; Clarksville, Ark. - Clarksville High School
- Dawson Hadnot - 6'1" - 265 DL; Garlands, Tx. - Garland High School
- Bo Harper 6'4" - 235 TE; Monroe, La. - Ouachita Christian High School
- Haywood Jeffires III - 6'0" - 198 CB; Pearland, Tx. - Glenda Dawson High School
- Jameson Johnson - 5'10" - 175 WR; Houston, Tx. - Tomball High School
- Lance Kloker - 6'5" - 275 OL; Owasso, Okla. - Owasso High School
- Jazz Mason - 6'1" - 210 LB; Memphis, Tenn. - Arlington High School
- Bailey Mciver - 6'4" - 235 DE; Sheridan, Ark. - Sheridan High School
- Nathan O'Connor - 6'3" - 275 DT; Allen, Tx. - Lovejoy High School
- Darius Reed - 6'2" - 185 S; Houston, Tx. - George Bush High School
- Desmond Smith - 6'1" - 186 WR; Bentonville, Ark. - Bentonville High School
- Kamane Thomas - 6'1" - 195 OLB; Missouri City, Tx. - Elkins High School
- Tony Truong - 6'2" - 236 DE; Carrollton, Tx. - Creekview High School
- Aum'arie Wallace - 6'1" - 185 S; Little Rock, Ark. - Pulaski Academy High School
- Dillion Winfrey - 5'8" - 174 ATH; Bryant, Ark. - Bryant High School
- Tony Winslow - 6'3" - 231 DE; Kingwood, Tx. - Kingwood High School
- Ricky Wyatt - 5'11" - 233 LB; Monroe, La. - Neville High School
Transfer signees:
- Austin Haywood - 6'5" - 252 TE; Moore, Okla. - University Of Oklahoma/So. Moore Hs
- Jacoby Walker - 6'2" - 216 QB; Houston, Tx. - Univ. Of Arkansas/Westfield Hs
- Courtney Whitehead - 6'2" - 195 WR; Athens, Tx - US Air Force Academy/Athens Hs
The Bears are coming off a 9-4 season that saw them reach the second round of the NCAA Playoffs in just their second year of eligibility.
(Source: University of Central Arkansas Athletics)