With the loss of just five seniors from last year's squad, Angelo State head football coach Dale Carr has announced the addition of nine new players for the Rams for the 2008 season.  Carr collected five high school players that signed National Letters of Intent on the first day of the signing period and four junior college transfers.

"The last two seasons we focused on both the offensive and defensive lines," commented Carr who will begin his fourth year with the Rams this fall. "This year we looked for players at the skill positions, with a few exceptions."

Carr's wishes were granted on Wednesday as the Rams gathered a wide receiver, a tight end, a cornerback and a linebacker from the high school ranks.  In addition, Carr signed one prep offensive lineman that will help out since two of the five seniors lost last fall were on the offensive line.

Houston Westfield's Shiloh Hickman is the only high school linebacker signed on Wednesday and will be added to one of the deepest positions on the Ram roster.  Hickman was an all-district and an academic all-district selection for the Mustangs and helped lead his squad to four straight district titles.

"Shiloh had Division I schools looking at him and we were able to get him on campus and come to ASU," said Carr.  "He is a talented linebacker that will fit in well with our returning players."

Grant Milton of Hurst L.D. Bell High School will join the Rams as wide receiver. Milton was a two-time all-district pick for the Blue Raiders had 25 catches for 344 yards and four touchdowns as a senior last fall.

"Grant is a tall, big kid in the mold of other receivers that we have on our team," Carr said.

At 6'2", South Houston's DeWayne Autrey is a good-sized defensive back that has experience at both corner and safety while playing for the Trojans. He was a three-year starter for SHHS in the defensive backfield and also played on the Trojan basketball team for two seasons.

"DeWayne was a steal," Carr said. "He's got great size and will be very good defensive back in our league."

Trey Anderson out of San Antonio Marshall moved to quarterback in 2007 after playing both tight end and defensive end as a junior for the Rams. Anderson earned all-district honors in 2006 at tight end.

"We noticed Trey last year and he was on our radar," Carr said. "A lot of teams in a spread offense put their best athlete at quarterback and that's exactly what happened with Trey. He'll be a good player for us."

Alief Taylor's Andrew Krutsinger was slated as one of the top offensive lineman to watch in the state of Texas last fall and did not disappoint, earning all-district honors for the Lions. Krutsinger is a true offensive tackle that can play all five positions on the line.

"We really like Andrew," Carr said. "He's the only lineman that we recruited that we felt could play quick tackle. Quick tackles are hard to come by."

"Our attrition is a lot lower than it has been over the past two years," Carr said.  "We had very strong recruiting classes, getting more than 30 guys per year in 2006 and 2007, so we feel that have the parts that we need already on campus. These newcomers will fit right in our current needs."

Among Carr's junior college transfers, the Rams will pick up two players from Cisco Junior College, one player from Trinity Valley Community College and one from Scottsdale Community College (Ariz.).

Teammates Calvin Fance and Sir'Ron Dewitt join after guiding the Cisco Wranglers to a 7-3 record in 2007 and yet another playoff appearance.  Fance, a native of Houston and a 2006 graduate of Jersey Village High School, was a two-time starter for CJC at defensive end and was eighth on the team in tackles last fall. Dewitt spent two years as a linebacker for the Wrangers after a prep career at San Angelo Central High School, graduating in 2006.

A native of Tempe, Ariz., Dwight Pete joins the Rams after spending the past two seasons at Scottsdale CC. Pete was the Artichokes' second-leading rusher in 2007 with 538 yards four touchdowns as a sophomore. Prior to his arrival at SCC, Pete was a two-sport star at Tempe High School, also a four-year standout sprinter on his high school track team.

Robert Boone comes to ASU after two seasons at Trinity Valley CC.  A native of Allen, Boone will give depth to the Ram receiving corps this fall.

"Our transfers will be immediate impact players for us," Carr said.  "We would not have recruited them if they would not be. We filled needs that we had last year with our transfers."

The Rams went 2-8 last season and will look to bounce back in 2008.  Carr and his squad will begin spring practices in the final week of March.  ASU opens up the 2008 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, with road game at Texas State in San Marcos.

2008 Angelo State High School Signees

Angelo State Transfers