Meet Georgia State’s new players.
Heights, weights and other biographical information provided by Georgia State’s sports information department. Trent Miles' take is from my interview:
TARRIS BATISTE
LB
6-2, 210
Cartersville, Ga.
Cass HS / Indiana State
Transfer from Indiana State who is enrolled at GSU for the spring semester ... Played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2012 and collected 24 tackles, three tackles for loss, one pass breakup and one forced fumble ... Three-year starter who played both receiver and safety at Cass High School in Cartersville, Ga. ... First-team all-county and second-team all-region (7-AAAA) ... Scored 17 touchdowns in his career, including 14 receiving, two punt returns and one interception return ... Caught 61 passes for 821 yards.
Miles on Batiste: I love Tarris. I recruited him two years ago. I had him at Indiana State. He started for me last year as a redshirt freshman. (He's appealing eligibility because of a family issue. He hopes to play this year). He's an outside linebacker who knows our scheme and knows our system. He's talented and work hard. I've seen him play against Big Ten teams and play very well.
He’ll be an in-space guy who has the ability to blitz but at the same time can drop into coverage and play the field or play over the tight end.
CLAY CHASTAIN
QB
6-4, 220
Powder Springs, Ga.
Harrison HS / Georgia Military
Junior college transfer from Georgia Military College who is enrolled at Georgia State for the spring semester ... Rated the No. 70 junior college prospect in the nation by 247Sports ... In nine games at GMC in 2012, he passed for 1,907 yards with 20 touchdowns and only seven interceptions ... Added two touchdowns rushing ... Led coach Bert Williams’ squad to a berth in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl, of which he was MVP in a last-second, 30-23 loss ... Enjoyed a record-setting day in GMC’s final regular-season game, completing 21-of-31 passes for 342 yards and five touchdowns in a 43-25 victory over Lackawanna and was named NJCAA Player of the Week ... Played at Harrison High School for coach David Hines.
Miles on Chastain: He was the only quarterback we brought in. Great size. Good release. Strong arm. Quarterback presence. He's competing for the starting quarterback job right now.
MACKENDY CHERIDOR
DE-OLB
6-5, 230
Decatur, Ga.
Columbia HS
Versatile defender who could play defensive end or outside linebacker ... All-DeKalb County selection at Columbia High School ... Chosen for the East-West All-Star Game.
Miles on Cheridor: Great size. Going to come in as a defensive end. Basketball player, very athletic, great growth potential. Tough, long arms, great length. When you talk about Division I bodies, he's got it. Great young man who likes the game. He's going to have the ability to bring in athleticsm.
TYSHAUN CLEMMONS
DB-WR
6-1, 205
Calhoun, Ga.
Gordon Central HS
Two-way standout as a wide receiver and defensive back at Gordon Central High ... Two-time honorable mention all-state selection ... First-team all-area by the Rome News Tribune and first-team all-county by the Calhoun Times as a senior ... Named to the Chattanooga Times Free Press preseason “Dynamite Dozen” before the 2012 season ... Rated among the top 200 prospects in Georgia by 247Sports Caught 45 passes for 794 yards as a senior with six touchdowns receiving and two kickoff returns for scores ... Enjoyed his best game in the 2012 regular-season finale against North Murray with six catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns, 67 yards and one touchdown rushing and two interceptions on defense ... Added 45 receptions for 662 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior ... Played for coach Chad Fisher and helped Gordon Central to back-to-back playoff appearances ... Also an outstanding track performer.
Miles on Clemmons: Tyshaun Clemmons can run. Very versatile young man. Really good on the basketball court. Great student. He's physical and fast. Big, strong kid that can run. He's tough and smart.
WILL CUNNINGHAM
DL
6-2, 270
Cape Coral, Fla.
Ida Baker HS
Defensive lineman from Ida Baker High ... First-team all-district selection ... First-team all-conference in the Lee County Athletic Conference ... EArned second-team all-area honors ... Chosen for the Dade vs. Florida All-Star Team ... Made 40 tackles with six tackles for loss as a junior ... Added 50 tackles as a senior.
Miles on Cunningham: He's a defensive lineman who is athletic and fast. He's either going to be a defensive end or grow into a tackle. He's got a good ability, plays with a good pad level. Great family, very dedicated to his academics. High-character young man. Navy recruited him. Air Force recruited him. Outstanding student who has the growth potential to go from a defensive end to a defensive tackle.
KIGHT DALLAS
LB
6-2, 230
Stone Mountain, Ga.
Stephenson HS
Three-star prospect by Rivals ... Rated among the top 225 prospects in Georgia by 247Sports .. Credited with 95 tackles as a senior at Stephenson High ... Made 25 tackles for loss, including six sacks ... Selected to the 45-man Team U.S. Under-19 National Team, assembled by USA Football that competed in the 2012 IFAF Under-19 World Championship in July at Burger Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Miles on Dallas: Excellent linebacker. I see him being an inside linebacker. Very, very strong with us since he decommitted from South Carolina. Has been a staple in the recruiting class as far as helping us recruiting other players. He's a guy who is going to be a leader. Tough who is smart and loves to play the game.
ROBERT DAVIS
WR
6-3, 190
Warner Robins, Ga.
Northside HS
Explosive receiver with excellent hands and leaping ability ... Earned team awards for Leadership and Hustle at Northside-Warner Robins High School ... Also a standout basketball player who was recently named to the All-Tournament team at the Bear Brawl Tournament.
Miles on Davis: Very athletic wide receiver. He can jump out of the gym. I think he's a steal. I think a lot of people missed on him. He's a tough kid who will block. He can run fast. He's a natural hands catcher. He had the ability to separate and dominate. He's got big hands. He's not done growing. Excellent academics. Just a long, rangy athlete who can get the football. And he's tough.
ROBERT DOWLING
DB
5-10, 175
Marietta, Ga.
Lassiter HS
First-team all-region in 5-AAAAAA in the state’s largest classification ... Helped Lassiter and head coach Jep Irwin to the region title with an undefeated regular season ... Chosen for the GACA North-South All-Star Game, played in December in Columbus ... Also selected for the Cobb All-Star Senior Bowl ... 22 tackles — 1½ for loss — and three interceptions, the first coming with a 75-yard touchdown return in Lassiter’s season opener against Hillgrove ... Averaged 16 yards on punt returns.
Miles on Dowling: Cover corner. A young man who can get his hands on a guy. Great change of direction. Good feet and hips. Good speed and toughness. He's got the good size where he can get up and challenge guys one on one.
TRENT HILL
DB
5-10, 175
Atlanta, Ga.
M.L. King HS
All-DeKalb County selection ... Chosen for DeKalb County All-Star Game ... Rated among the top 225 prospects in Georgia by 247Sports ... Chosen for MVP of the 2010 National Underclassmen Combine ... Team captain at M.L. King High.
Miles on Hill: Hill's LOI wasn't in at the time of the interview so Miles couldn't comment on him.
CARNELL HOPSON
DL
6-2, 255
Dallas, Ga.
South Paulding HS
First-team all-region (5-AAAAA) ... Chosen for the GACA North-South All-Star Game, played in December in Columbus.
Miles on Hopson: He's a tough kid who is smart and can move. He plays with a high motor. Very physical and can run.
GERALD HOWSE
RB
6-2, 220
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Siegel HS / NE Oklahoma A&M
First-Junior college transfer from NE Oklahoma A&M who enrolled at GSU for the spring semester ... Rushed for 652 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2012, although he was slowed by an ankle injury for part of the season ... First-team all-conference selection in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference ... Helped NEO to a 9-3 record and a No. 13 national ranking ... Top game came in an upset of No. 9-ranked Blinn, when he rushed for 153 yards and four touchdowns and was named state Player of the Week by the Daily Oklahoman ... Added 120 yards and two scores in a win over Ellsworth CC ... Coached by Dale Patterson ... All-region, all-county and all-mid-state at Siegel High ... Rushed for 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior.
Miles on Howse: Big back. We needed a big back and he's already here in class. He'll be in spring football. He's the bigger back we were lacking. Tough kid that runs physical between the tackles. He'll be a change of pace guy that can carry the load and still make people miss in small areas.
TEVIN JONES
DL
6-4, 260
Locust Grove, Ga.
Luella HS
First-team all-region (2-AAAAAA) in the state’s largest classification ... All-Southern Crescent by the Henry Daily Herald ... Played in the D.L. Scott Coalition Bowl East-West All-Star Game ... Made 72 tackles, with six sacks, four pass breakups three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble ... Also blocked two kicks.
Miles on Jones: He's what they are supposed to look like at defensive end. He can run. Great range, length, physical player that's smart. He's going to be one that has a chance to compete really early. He's the prototypical Southeastern Conference defensive end. He's long and athletic.
JALEN LAWRENCE
DL
6-1, 275
Macon, Ga.
Westside HS
First team all-state in Class AAAA by the Associated Press ... First-team All-Middle Georgia by the Macon Telegraph ... First-team all-region ... Finished his senior season with 85 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
Miles on Lawrence: Big, physical inside presence. Jalen's tough. He can move. Probably going to easily be a 300-pound guy. He can wreak havoc on the inside because he's got good quickness and toughness. He's been great in the recruiting process. High-character young man who is physical and plays with great pad level.
SHAWAYNE LAWRENCE
DL
6-4, 250
McDonough, Ga.
Eagle’s Landing HS
Two-time All-Southern Crescent by the Henry Daily Herald ... State runnerup (Class AAA) in the shot put in 2012.
Miles on Lawrence: A phenomenal athlete. Heavyweight wrestler that is very athletic. Indiana tried to recruit him. Some Division I schools came in on him late. Great family. Upside is unbelievable. Can play numerous position. You look at his frame, he can be a 285-pound, 295-pound young man that can play anywhere on the defensive line. He's very athletic and tough. Undefeated heavyweight wrestler. Actually played fullback and tight end.
DAVIS MOORE
OL
6-5, 290
Loganville, Ga.
Loganville HS
Earned first-team all-region honors in 8-AAAAA as a senior .... Added second-team all-region accolades in 7-AAAA as a junior.
Miles on Moore: Our staff does a really good job of being able to evaluate guys. He's a young man that's big and physical that can bend his knees. He's not stiff by any means. He's flexible. He can get into a stance and come off the ball. He's going to learn the process of college football. He's going to be another one of those big offensive linemen who is going to get coached up by Harold Etheridge.
KYLER NEAL
RB
5-11, 205
Dallas, Ga.
East Paulding HS
Honorable mention all-state in Class AAAAA by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ... Offensive Player of the Year in Region 5-AAAAA ... A 1,000-yard rusher for coach Chuck Goddard ... Helped East Paulding High to an undefeated regular season and a No. 10 final ranking in Class AAAAA ... Second-team all-region as a junior (5-AAAA North).
Miles on Neal: Is faster than people think. Is physical, is tough. Played multiple positions in high school. He can go. Got good change of direction, balance. Finishes his runs. He is a tailback. He can catch the ball and he has enough speed that he can pull away from people.
TREY PAYNE
LB
6-0, 235
Warner-Robins, Ga.
Northside HS
First-team all-state in Class AAAA as a junior ... First-team all-region in 2011 and 2012 ... Three-time All-Middle Georgia pick by the Macon Telegraph ... Finished his senior season with 85 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two interceptions ... Returned a fumble 73 yards for a touchdown in a state playoff game ... Chosen for the GACA North-South All-Star Game, played in December in Columbus ... Three-year starter for coach Kevin Kinsler.
Miles on Payne: He and Robert Davis are from a winning program. Trey is a tough, run-stopping, physical between-the-tackles player. He's got great instincts. He plays from snap to whistle with great effort. He takes the right angles. He knows how to play the game.
BRANDON PERTILE
OL
6-4, 295
Clearwater, Fla.
Countryside HS
All-District 14 selection ... Key player on an offensive line that paved the way for nearly 200 yards rushing per game ... Chosen to play in the Pinellas County Senior All-Star Game and was named the game’s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman ...Played for coach Jared Davis.
Miles on Pertile: Another large-framed, skinny young man. He's not 18 yet. He's going to develop into a wonderful tackle because he can move his feet. He can move and set and punch. He's 295 and looks skinny. The upside and growth potential is great.
GEORGE ROGERS
DL
6-3, 310
Stillwater, Okla.
Stillwater HS / NE Oklahoma A&M
Junior college transfer from NE Oklahoma A&M who enrolled at GSU for the spring semester ... Collected 43 tackles with five tackles for loss in nine games in 2012 ... Helped NEO to a 9-3 record and a No. 13 national ranking ... Added 48 tackles with 18 tackles for loss, six sacks and one interception in 2011 ... Coached by Dale Patterson ... Played his high school football for coach Rusty Atkins at Stillwater High ... Had six sacks and a blocked punt as a senior ... Finished eighth in the state in the shot put.
Miles on Rogers: He's a kid that walks in and weighs 300 pounds and doesn't look it. He's got the V-shape. He's going to be an inside defensive lineman who can compete and help us immediately.
KEITH RUCKER
TE
6-3, 225
Cincinnati, Ohio
Moeller HS
Tight end who played for Moeller High, the 2012 Ohio Division I state champions ... Coached by John Rodenberg ... Father, Keith Rucker, played in the NFL from 1992-97 with five different teams.
Miles on Rucker: We were recruiting him when we were at Indiana State. We felt he could play at the FBS level. He can run. He's a tight end-H back type guy. He's physical. He's got great growth potential. Great wingspan.
JAMEEL SPENCER
LB
6-2, 210
Atlanta, Ga.
Woodward Academy
Linebacker prospect who was a first-team all-region selection in 6-AAA ... Team captain as a senior at Woodward Academy.
Miles on Spencer: Very talented linebacker. We will play him at the SAM position. He can run. Very athletic, very intelligent. Great family. This young man is another one of those that I can't believe he's available. He's flexible. Got great core. Can run. He's physical. Good range. Long arms. He's going to grow and put on weight.
ALEX STOEHR
OL
6-2, 275
Suwanee, Ga.
North Gwinnett HS
Two-time all-state selection ... Named first-team all-state in Georgia’s largest classification (Class AAAAAA) by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2012 ... Added second-team honors in 2011 ... First-team all-area ... Rated among the top 200 prospects in Georgia by 247Sports ... Three-year starter had a 92 percent blocking grade with 25 pancakes and 20 knockdowns in 2012 ... Two-time all-region and two-time first-team all-county (Gwinnett Daily Post) ... Chosen for the GACA North-South All-Star Game, played in December in Columbus.
Miles on Stoehr: If he were two inches taller, he'd be playing in the ACC or the SEC. Undefeated heavyweight wrestler. Before you watch the film, you say he's too short. Then when you watch the film, he played at the top level, and held his own, and throws guys around. He played with great strength and can strike. He's a leader. He's one of those kids that you have to trust your eyes.
BILL TEKNIPP
TE
6-5, 225
McDonough, Ga.
Eagle’s Landing HS
First-team all-region (4-AAA) and all-area in 2011 ... Caught 35 passes for 425 yards, averaging better than 12 yards per catch, and scored seven touchdowns as a junior ... Two-time All-Southern Crescent selection by the Henry Daily Herald ... Coached by his uncle, Joe Teknipp.
Miles on Teknipp: Long-armed guy that catches everything that's thrown. Just a good, athletic family. Football people. Part of our deal in recruiting is we want kids that have a passion for the game, that love the game, that are passionate and that our smart.
SEBASTIAN WILLER
TE
6-5, 255
Calhoun, Ga.
Calhoun HS
Played offense and defense at Calhoun High School ... Helped Calhoun win Class AA state title in 2011 ... Named to the Chattanooga Times Free Press preseason “Dynamite Dozen” before the 2012 season ... Native of Germany who moved with his family to the U.S. before his junior year of high school.
Miles on Willer: He's huge. Big with great growth potential. Physical, moves well. He's got big, strong, long legs. Prototypical tough guy that has the range and can run.
DANIEL ZEIGLER
OL
6-5, 260
Snellville, Ga.
South Gwinnett HS
Honorable mention all-county selection by the Touchdown Club of Gwinnett ... Chosen to play in the Rivalries of Gwinnett all-star game.
Miles on Zeigler: Another 260-pound guy that moves extremely well. Played at a really good high school. He moves his feet well. Big, long-armed. Long-legged young man that in just a couple of years will be a 295-pound, 300-pound offensive tackle who can set and punch.
About the Author
