Recruiting Recap - West Texas A&M

What they lost - 

Not a lot on offense...

C Hector Rodriguez - 1st All-LSC in 2011, 2nd All-LSC in 2010

WR Brittan Golden - 1st All-LSC in 2011, 2nd All-LSC in 2010, 55 receptions for 1,076 yds, 12 TDs in 2011, second on WT's all-time list with 3,007 receiving yards and 33 TDs.

WR Jeremy Watson - not on current roster, 35 receptions for 537 yards and 4 TDs

RB Tommy Hampton - 2 time HM All-LSC return specialist
QB Tanner Marsh - transferred

and a lot on defense...

DB Curtis Jefferson - 1st All-LSC in 2011, 2010 and 2009, HM in 2008, 67 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 Ints, 7 passes broken up

DB Caleb Randolph - 1st All-LSC in 2011 and 2010, 52 tackles, 5 Ints, 7 passes broken up

DB Maurice Caldwell - HM All-LSC in 2011, 40 tackles, 6 passes broken up

LB Anthony Scott - 2nd All-LSC in 2011, HM in 2009, 52 tackles, 8 TFL

LB Zane Farris - 56 tackles, 7.5 TFL

DT Dishon Robertson - 1st All-LSC in 2011, 2nd All-LSC in 2010, 32 tackles, 3.5 TFL

DL Simi Kuli - 30 tackles, 7 TFL, 3.5 sacks

DLs D. J. Ross, Drew Jones, Jonathan Hatton, Rashad Sanders - combined 75 tackles, 16 TFL, 10.5 sacks

DLs not on the roster - LaMarc Strahan, Paul Dancy - touted players, didn't live up to expectations, 13 combined tackles

Who's coming back - 

QB Dustin Vaughn - HM All-LSC, threw for 3,316 yards and 25 TDs as a soph

RB Khiry Robinson - 669 yards rushing, 182 receiving

WR Nathan Slaughter - HM LSC, 33 receptions, 395 yds, 3 TDs

WR Lance Ratliff -HM LSC, 44 receptions, 848 yds, 6 TDs

WR Torrence Allen - 21 receptions, 303 yds, 2 TDs

WR Trevor Hammargren - 17 receptions, 188 yds

OL Aaron Mullane - 2nd team All-LSC

OL Craig Watts - HM All-LSC

OL Emory Atterberry - another full-time starter

OL Casey O'Conner - started five games

DL Tyrell Higgins - Univ. of Texas transfer, 1st team All-LSC, 34 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks

LB Taylor McCuller - team high 68 tackles

LB Kevin McCluskey - 2nd All-LSC, HM in 2010, 65 tackles, 6 TFL

LB Kyle Voss - 2nd All-LSC in 2010, injured in week 2 in 2011

DB Jordan Smith - HM All-LSC in 2011 and 2009, 2nd team in 2010, 59 tackles

DB Curtis Slater - 51 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 Ints, 6 passes broken up

DB Dwight Morrison - 25 tackles, 3.5 TFL

P Kevin VanVoris - 1st All-LSC, 42.9 punting average, 63 yd kickoff average

K Sergio Castillo - 1st All-LSC, 49-50 PATs, 9-13 FGs

Who they brought in -

The defensive line should get some immediate help from Deone Bondurant, a two time all region selection at Solano CC (131 tackles, 35.5 TFL, 11 sacks in two seasons) and Ethan Westbrooks, all region at Sacremento State (48 tackles, 21 TFL, 10.5 sacks last year).  Bryan Johnson, LaBrandon Mosley and Nick Whitt will compete for time at LB.  On the offensive side of the ball, look for Josh Williams to see time on the offensive line, Sean Morris at WR, and Cedric Foster at RB.

From the high school ranks, some players to keep an eye on - RBs Tyrell Preston, and Kaylon Jackson, WRs D'lon Fusilier and Van Powell, TE J. B. Frontz (1st team TSWA All-State), DT Roland Gonzalez (2nd team AP All State), LBs Phillip Sorrells (3rd team TSWA All-State) and Alex Olson, and DBs Evan Lyons (2nd All San Antonio Area), Danzell Barrett, Quinten McCoy, Eddie Parrish, and Shammah Saidi.

Overall Grade - B

The Buffs lost a lot on the defensive side of the ball.  They brought in some transfers to fill holes in the defensive line and linebacker corps, but not for the secondary.  Offensively, the needs were not so severe, but depth was brought in.  The high school prospects were not as numerous as in recent years and, at least on paper, not as highly projected.  We expect some late summer additions as camp starts, so this grade could be adjusted.