Richard Bartel
6-4, 190, Quarterback
Grapevine, Texas (Grapevine)
Named first team All-State Class 4A by the Associated Press?also earned first team All-Area and All-District 6-4A honors?District Offensive Player of the Year?threw for over 2,800 yards as a senior and 27 touchdowns?led his team to a 7-4 record and a state playoff appearance?a member of The Dallas Morning News? Area Top 100?listed among the state?s Top 100 by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram?considered one of Texas? top 10 quarterbacks by Lone Star Recruiting and one of the top 100 nationally by Rivals.com?threw for more than 1,500 yards and 18 TDs as a junior?also an All-District pitcher in baseball?coached in high school by Gary Mullins?picked SMU over Louisiana Tech, Purdue and Houston?born Feb. 3, 1983.
ShanDerrick Charles
5-9, 180, Running Back
Port Arthur, Texas (Lincoln)
Three-time All-District 20-4A selection at running back?three-time member of Beaumont area Super Team?rushed for 3,995 yards and 42 touchdowns in his prep career?had 1,056 yards and 11 TDs on the ground as a senior?had 1,772 yards and 18 touchdowns in a 9-4 junior season?also ran for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore?runs a 4.5 40?considered one of the state?s top 10 running backs by Lone Star Recruiting?member of the Longhorn Link state Top 100?also lettered in three other sports in high school - basketball, baseball and track?favorite athletes are the late Walter Payton and Jerry Rice?full name is ShanDerrick D?Wayne Charles?picked SMU over Tulane, Toledo and Louisiana Tech?born September 20, 1982.
Scott Dale
6-3, 280, Offensive Lineman
Midlothian, Texas (Grace Prep)
First team TAPPS All-State selection along both the offensive and defensive lines as his team went 9-4 and made an appearance in the state championship game?also earned first team All-District honors?anchor at left tackle on offense and made 47 tackles at defensive tackle?selected to play in the Dallas-Fort Worth TAPPS All-Star Game?selected to The Dallas Morning News? Area Top 100?listed as one of the areas top 25 Offensive Linemen by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram?four-year starter in football?was second team All-District and honorable mention All-State as a junior when his team went 12-2 and won a state title?full name is Scott Nolan Dale?selected SMU over Louisiana Tech, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State?born November 4, 1982.
Russ Davis
6-3, 180, Punter/Kicker
Fort Worth, Texas (Richland)
Member of the Associated Press? Class 5A All-State first team?two-time first team All-District selection as both a punter and placekicker?averaged 41.6 yards per punt as a senior?connected on 22-of-24 extra points and 9-of-10 field goals in 2000?long field goal was a 52-yarder?Fort Worth Star-Telegram All-Northeast Area first team kicker as a junior and senior?earned second team honors as a punter?member of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram area Top 75?three-year letterman in soccer?honor student in high school?selected the Mustangs over Wisconsin and Hawaii?born January 14, 1983.
Michael Dineen
6-4, 230, Defensive End
Ormond Beach, Florida (The Bolles School)
Named to the Florida-Times Union?s third team All-First Coast team as a senior?also a second team All-Conference selection?racked up seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss as a senior?totaled 50 stops and recovered four fumbles?one of 12 seniors on his prep team to sign with a Division I program?high school teammate of fellow SMU signee Matt Terry?selected the Mustangs after also considering Notre Dame, South Carolina, Army, Navy and Missouri?parents Marty and Kathleen are doctors?full name is Michael Doughney Dineen? born July 2, 1983.
Trey Griffin
5-10, 175, Wide Receiver
Lockhart, Texas (Lockhart)
Earned first team All-District 25-4A honors at wide receiver and second team accolades at running back?also returned punts and kicks?rushed for 1,171 yards and 12 TDs as a senior while catching 22 passes for 420 yards and seven scores?listed as one of the top 15 ?athletes? in the state by Lone Star Recruiting?member of the Longhorn Link?s state Top 100?runs a 4.4 40 and has been clocked at 10.32 in the 100 meters?three-year letterman in football?Texas Relays state 100-meter dash champion?selected SMU after also considering Baylor, UTEP and Iowa State?born April 20, 1982.
Travis Hunt
6-0, 180, Defensive Back
Jacksonville, Florida (Wolfson)
Earned second team all-area honors from the Florida Times-Union as a senior?totaled 46 tackles and broke up 11 passes in 2000?had three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and forced a fumble?team Most Valuable Player on Defense?also averaged 18.3 yards per punt return with two TDs and return one kickoff for a score while averaging 28.0 yards per runback?Wolfson?s Most Improved Player as a junior when he intercepted two passes?also lettered in track, winning the district title in the 100 meters three straight years?clocked at 4.4 in the 40?cousin of Florida wide receiver Jabbar Gaffney?has six uncles who played in the National Football League - Don, Derrick, Warren and Johnny Gaffney; Darryl Crane and Charlie Hunt?honor roll student?picked SMU over Central Florida?born May, 8, 1983.
T.J. James
6-0, 185, Defensive Back
Garland, Texas (Bishop Lynch)
Two-year letterman who played on the 2000 TAPPS state runners-up?recorded 58 tackles, recovered two fumbles and had an interception as his team went 12-2?earned All-District and All-State honors?team?s special teams and defensive Most Valuable Player?invited to play in the Dallas-Fort Worth TAPPS All-Star Game?four-year soccer letterman?earned a National Merit Award, U.S. Achievement Academy Award and a National Science Merit Award?born in Great Britain and moved to the United States in 1991?selected the Mustangs over Arkansas, Tulsa, Texas Tech, New Mexico and Oklahoma State?celebrates a March 28, 1983 birthdate.
Brad Kieschnick
6-3, 275, Offensive Lineman
Spring, Texas (Klein Oak)
First team All-District 15-5A selection at center as a senior?three-year starter as a prep?was an honorable mention All-District choice as a sophomore at guard and a second team All-District selection at defensive tackle as a junior?earned the Greater Houston Area Scholar Athlete Award?One of Lone Star Recruiting?s top five centers in the state...member of his school?s National Honor Society as well as a student council representative?full name is Robert Bradley Kieschnick?oldest brother, Brooks, was a baseball All-American at the University of Texas and a first round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs who now plays with the Colorado Rockies?chose the Mustangs over Army, Air Force and Rice?born June 6, 1982.
Chris McMurtray
6-0, 170, Kicker
Garland, Texas (Rowlett)
All-Area and first team All-District 10-5A kicker as a senior?also earned honorable mention All-State honors?hit all 23 of his extra point attempts?also made 7-of-12 field goal attempts with a long of 48?averaged 40.7 yards per punt in 2000?hit 6-of-9 field goals with a long of 55 as a junior?member of The Dallas Morning News? Area Top 100 list?selected to kick in the All-American All-Star Game to be played this summer?three-time All-District soccer player and a four-year letterman?full name is Christopher Clark McMurtray?chose SMU after also visiting Wisconsin and Marshall and considering UTEP?born March 13, 1983.
Tommy Miller
6-3, 300, Offensive Lineman
Odessa, Texas (Permian)
Earned first team All-District 4-5A offensive line honors as a senior?also played on the defensive line, totaling 37 tackles?graded out at 88 percent as a senior?two-year letterwinner in football?threw the shot and discus as well, earning All-District honors?member of his school?s National Honor Society who was also named to the All-District Academic team?his uncle, Robert Popelka, played defensive back at SMU from 1970-72, earning All-Southwest Conference honors his last two years and All-America honors as a senior?full name is Tom Edward Miller IV?picked SMU after also considering Texas A&M?born September 28, 1982.
Earl Morris
5-10, 203, Running Back
Spring, Texas (Klein)
A first team All-District 15-5A selection after both his junior and senior seasons?ran for 1,272 yards and 13 scores on 165 carries as a senior while earning honorable mention All-State honors?helped his team to a 9-2 record and an appearance in the state playoffs in 2000?totaled 1,369 yards on the ground as a junior and scored 12 TDs?three-year football letterman?considered one of the state?s top eight fullbacks and top 16 running backs by Lone Star Recruiting?also lettered in track?member of his school?s sprint medley relay team that set a national high school record and won the Texas Relays last year?clocked at 4.53 in the 40? name is Earl Augustus Morris?picked SMU over Kansas, Missouri and Texas Tech?born January 12, 1983.
Ashton Nixon
6-2, 201, Quarterback
Houston, Texas (Bellaire)
Two-time first team All-District 17-5A quarterback as a junior and senior?totaled more than 1,600 all-purpose yards as a senior?threw for 1,173 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2000?named to the Houston Chronicle?s All-Greater Houston team in both 1999 and 2000?three-year starter at quarterback who is his school?s all-time leading passer with more than 3,200 yards?also tossed 26 TD passes in his career?brother, Jarrett, is a wide receiver at Tulsa?full name is Ashton Taylor Nixon?selected SMU after also considering Rice, Houston, Oklahoma State and Tulsa?born March 15, 1983.
Alvin Nnabuife
6-1, 200, Defensive Back
Missouri City, Texas (Elkins)
Earned first team All-District 20-5A honors as a senior?recorded 82 tackles and six passes broken up in 2000?also a standout on special teams, blocking six kicks last season?two-year letterwinner in football and a three-year letterman in track?cousin, Chike Ozumba, is a defensive tackle at Oklahoma?also recruited by Rice, Iowa State, Iowa and Oklahoma State?born April 3, 1983.
Hulsey Smith
6-4, 260, Offensive Lineman
Brentwood, Tennessee (Montgomery Bell Academy)
Three-year letterman for the three-time defending state champions?earn All-State honors from the Associated Press and the state coaches association after his senior season at offensive tackle?helped his team to a final No. 18 ranking in the USA Today Top 25 poll?ended his career with a 32-game winning streak?team went 12-0 his last two years and 10-2 as a sophomore?third team All-Mid State by The Tennesseean?also a thrower in track and field?father, Flavious, Jr., played tight end at Vanderbilt from 1976-80 and for the Denver Broncos in 1980-81?grandfather, Flavious, Sr.,was an All-American at Tennessee Tech and played in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers?.full name is William Hulsey Smith?selected SMU after also considering Navy?born May 4, 1982.
Don Stansbury
6-2, 210, Linebacker/Defensive Back
El Paso, Texas (Irvin)
Earned All-State honors as a senior after recording 113 tackles?was named Co-Most Valuable Player of District 1-5A despite his team?s 2-8 record?66 of his stops were solos and he also caused four fumbles?also saw time as a slotback and caught 34 passes for 436 yards and five touchdowns?three-year starter who made 88 tackles as a junior?ranked the No. 16 defensive back in the state by Lone Star Recruiting?was named first team All-District as a junior and second team All-City?member of the National Honor Society?brothers Hal (UTEP) and Ed (UCLA) played college football?Ed plays fullback and will be a senior for the Bruins in 2001?full name is Don Nephi Stansbury?picked SMU after also being recruited by New Mexico, New Mexico State, Baylor, UTEP and TCU?born January 28, 1983.
Jay Taylor
6-3, 180, Wide Receiver
Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin)
Considered one of the top wide receivers in the state after catching 42 passes for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior?averaged 21.0 yards per reception in 2000?ranked the No. 8 wide receiver in the state by Lone Star Recruiting?ranked 83rd nationally amongst wide outs by Rivals.com?listed as one of the state?s best 100 preps by The Dallas Morning News and Houston Chronicle?also a member of Lonestar Recruiting and Longhorn Link state Top 100?earned first team All-District 12-5A as he helped his team to a 9-4 record as a senior?named second team All-State?was a second team All-District pick as a junior?caught 19 passes for 377 yards and two TDs in 1999?was a three-year football letterman?full name is Johnny Edell Taylor, Jr?.selected the Mustangs over Baylor, Tulsa and Louisiana Tech?born November 8, 1982.
Matt Terry
5-10, 190, Defensive Back
Jacksonville, Florida (The Bolles School)
Second team All-State pick as a senior at running back after gaining more than 1,500 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns?helped his team to a district title and an 11-1 record?two-time First Coast Player of the Week as a senior?first team All-Conference selection and second team All-First Coast pick?rushed for over 3,000 yards and scored 52 touchdowns in his career?one of 13 seniors on his team to sign Division I scholarships?prep teammate of fellow SMU signee Michael Dineen? full name is Matthew Gordon Terry?father and grandfather player football at the University of Georgia?chose SMU over Central Florida and South Florida?born July 12, 1982.
Cedric Vinson
5-11, 190, Wide Receiver
Diboll, Texas (Diboll)
Versatile performer who was named Offensive Most Valuable Player of District 20-3A after his senior season?earned second team All-State honors after passing for 863 yards and 12 touchdowns while running for 480 more and 10 scores?led his team to the district championship and a 10-1 record?earned District Offensive MVP accolades as a junior as well?passed for 1,590 yards and 26 TDs?ran for 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns in 1999 as his team made the state playoffs and went 8-3?four-year letterman in high school?clocked at 4.5 in the 40?averaged over 20 points per game in basketball as a sophomore and junior and is averaging more than 22 per game this season?full name is Cedric Darnell Vinson?picked SMU after also considering Baylor and Tulsa?born January 1, 1983.
Marcus Walker
6-3, 278, Defensive Tackle
Bastrop, Louisiana (Bastrop)
Helped lead his team to a district championship and the state playoffs as a senior?totaled 70 tackles, four sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2000?also knocked down four passes?was a first team All-District pick and earned second team All-State honors?totaled 65 tackles and five sacks as a junior?three-year starter as a prep?clocked at 4.9 in the 40?rated the No. 73 player in the state of Louisiana by Max Emfinger?preseason first team All-State choice?full name is Marcus Antonio Walker?picked SMU over Louisiana-Lafayette, Missouri, Arkansas and LSU?born June 20, 1983.
