Feb. 7, 2001

Press conference comments from head football coach Kevin Steele:

"We've completed our 2001 signing class, it's Christmas day for everyone all over the country."

"We hit every target [at each position], except we were one over on our offensive linemen and one under on our defensive linemen. To hit that close is pretty remarkable, because it can be a turkey shoot sometimes."

"We felt we needed help in our offensive and defensive lines. We've got talent there, but we needed help there."

"The biggest thing is that when you look at the class, it meets the needs of this team. It affords us the opportunity to be competitive in the Big 12 and to keep building."

"I've never seen a group of young men recruit like our players did... They met the challenge of getting other guys in to help improve this team."

Further comments are listed with each signee's bio.

Click here for archived audio of the signing day press conference.

MATT BICKEL
OL ? 6-5 ? 340 ? Wentzville, MO (Grossmont, [CA] CC)
Steele's comments: "One of the biggest guys we got at 340 pounds."
Signed with Baylor in December 2000 and arrived on campus for the spring 2001 semester ... Named second-team All-Foothill Conference after helping the Griffins win their third league title in five years ... Coached by Dave Jordan at Grossmont ... Attended Dominic High School in Wentzville, Mo.

MICHAEL BOYD
DB ? 5-10 ? 175 ? Daingerfield, TX (Daingerfield)
Steele's comments: "A cover corner... Was also district player of the year as a quarterback."
Lettered four years in football, four in track, and two in basketball ... Named 16-3A MVP in 1999 ... Named 16-3A Offensive MVP in 2000 ... Named to the All-East Texas team as a quarterback in 2000 and as a cornerback in 1999 ... In 2000, rushed for 750 yards and passed for 800 yards ... Named to Who's Who Among American High School Students ... Cousin of former Baylor standout Thomas Everett ... Coached by Randy McFarlin at the district 16-3A school.

CHARLES BUNGERT
OL ? 6-8 ? 350 ? Camarillo, CA (Moorpark [CA] JC)
Steele's comments: "He's listed at 340, but he's probably more like 360 now...The biggest guy we signed."
Twice named first-team All-Western Conference at Moorpark ... Originally signed with Utah out of high school ... Redshirted as a freshman with the Utes ... Attended Adolfo Camarillo High School ... Coached by Carl Thompson.

ANTHONY COLLIER
DL ? 6-3 ? 235 ? Dallas, TX (Tyler [TX] JC)
Steele's comments: "He can really run... He's very athletic, very fast... He's a pass rush specialist."
Led his league in quarterback sacks with 12 despite missing a pair of games ... Was a second team JC All-American with 68 tackles ... Named conference player of the week four times ... Lettered in basketball and football at Adamson High ... First team all-conference selection as a senior ... Coached by Dale Carr at Tyler Junior College.

JUSTIN CROOKS
LB ? 6-1 ? 217 ? Round Rock, TX (McNeil)
Steele's comments: "This guy reminds of me of Zach Thomas."
All-district pick was named Area Defensive Player of the Year ... Totalled over 130 tackles and seven sacks as a senior ... Also blocked three punt ... Preseason second-team selection on the Texas Football Super Team in 2000 ... Rated the fifth-best linebacker in the state by Texas Football magazine and a member of the Texas Top 300 ... Named among the state's top 100 prospects by the Waco Tribune-Herald ... Named the Central Texas Defensive Player of the Year as a junior after recording 165 tackles and seven sacks ... Coached by Jim Loerwald at the district 14-5A school.

LORENZO DAVIS
DL ? 6-4 ? 300 ? Alexandria, LA (Peabody)
Steele's comments: "Davis is a young guy who is very heavy into lifting... He's got a good frame to build on."
Big defensive lineman was twice named first-team All-Central Louisiana and all-district ... Recorded 85 solo tackles and eight sacks as a senior ... Finished his career with four fumbles caused and six fumble recoveries ... Graduated with an overall grade point average of 3.2 ... Father, Lorenzo Sr., played football at Iowa State ... Second cousin Derrick McKey is a 14-year NBA veteran currently with the Indiana Pacers ... Coached by Emile Celestine.

JONTUE FEARS-HAYES
RB ? 6-2 ? 215 ? Jarrell, TX (Jarrell)
Steele's comments: "Fears-Hayes is a fullback with a linebacker mentality... He prides himself as a blocker, and he's real interested in carrying the ball."
Twice named all-district on both offense and defense ... Rushed for 16 touchdowns and totaled 1,209 yards on offense as a senior ... Also caught eight passes for 320 yards ... The two-way player also had 93 tackles, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and four pass deflections on defense ... As a junior rushed for 1,240 yards and 18 touchdowns on 175 carries ... Five-sport letterman for JHS (football, baseball, basketball, track and powerlifting) ... Coached by Randy Franklin at the district 25-2A school.

J FIELDS
WR ? 6-3 ? 190 ? Amarillo, TX (Caprock)
Caught 60 passes for 824 yards and six touchdowns as a senior ... Named first-team all-state after leading all 4A receivers as a junior, accounting for 56 receptions, 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns ... Preseason third-team selection on the Texas Football Super Team in 2000 ... Rated the fifth-best wide receiver in the state by Texas Football magazine and a member of the Texas Top 300 ... Had 1,687 yards of total offense as a junior ... Coached by John Gleason at the district 3-4A school.

JASON GETER
DL ? 6-3 ? 306 ? Shelby, NC (Georgia Military Academy)
Steele's comments: "I saw this guy play in 11th grade, and he was pretty exciting and dominant then."
A teammate of fellow Baylor signee Greg Wade at Georgia Military ... Attended Burns Lawndale High School in North Carolina, where he played both linebacker and tight end ... Played in the 1998 Shrine Bowl All-Star game, which features North Carolina high school all-stars against peers from South Carolina ... Coached by Bert Williams at Georgia Military.

JAMAAL HARPER
LB ? 6-2 ? 220 ? Dallas, TX (Bryan Adams)
Steele's comments: "A speed guy... Played high school basketball, so he's very athletic."
Listed as one of the top 100 prospects in Texas by the Waco Tribune-Herald and one of the top 100 in the metroplex by the Dallas Morning News ... Named district 11-5A most valuable defensive player as a senior after collecting 125 tackles, one interception and three fumble recoveries ... Was second-team all-district as a junior, with 77 tackles, four fumble recoveries and two touchdowns off interception returns ... Also lettered in basketball ... First cousin Kenyon Martin plays for the NBA's New Jersey Nets ... Coached by Mike Smiddy.

RAY HARRINGTON
WR ? 6-3 ? 195 ? San Diego, CA (Southwestern JC)
Steele's comments: "He's a unique kind of JUCO guy, because he's got experience at a four-year school."
Originally signed with Hawaii out of high school ... Attended Horizon High School in San Diego ... Caught 24 passes for 318 yards and a touchdown for SWJC in 2000 ... First team all-Foothill Conference ... Named conference offensive player of the week on five occasions ... Coached by Mike Pompa at Southwestern JC.

ERON HAYNES
RB ? 6-1 ? 185 ? Borger, TX (Borger)
Steele's comments: "This guy is the sleeper of the bunch... He indicated to us early on he wanted to come to Baylor... He produced a lot of yards in his career."
Preseason third-team selection on the Texas Football Super Team in 2000 ... Rated the seventh-best running back in the state by Texas Football magazine and a member of the Texas Top 300 ... Rushed for 1,222 yards and 12 touchdowns on 206 attempts as a senior ... Averaged 10.5 yards per carry as a junior, rushing for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns on 178 attempts ... Coached by Craig Shores at the district 3-4A school.

ERIC JACKSON
DL ? 6-5 ? 280 ? Denison, TX (Denison)
Steele's comments: "He will probably start at an outside spot, then move his way in... He's got good growth potential."
Earned all-district 9-4A at both defensive end and tight end as a senior ... Collected 68 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks and one fumble recovery in 2000 ... Credited with 13 pass deflections ... Also lettered in track and basketball ... Honor roll student ... Brother Jerome Madison lettered four seasons (1991-94) at Missouri ... Coached by Bob Brown.

SHAUN JACKSON
DL ? 6-3 ? 238 ? San Francisco, CA (Grossmont [CA] CC)
Steele's comments: "Jackson started for Hawaii on an 11-1 team that played a bowl game, so he's an unusual transfer... He chose to come back to the mainland, and now we'll welcome him to Waco, Texas."
Was a first team all-conference selection ... Named to the Region 3 all-state team ... Also named the team's MVP... Coached by Dave Jordan at Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif. ... Originally signed with Hawaii and started for the Warriors in their 1999 Oahu Bowl win over Oregon State ... Attended Sanata Margarita High School in Rancho Sanata Margarita, Calif., where he was coached by Jim Harligan.

RYAN JEFFREY
QB ? 6-4 ? 185 ? Lorena, TX (Lorena)
Steele's comments: "He's got a lot of athleticism and speed... He could play another position if necessary, which I like to see."
Ranked among the nation's top 100 prep quarterbacks by Rivals.com ... All-district quarterback as a senior ... A member of Texas Football's Top 300 ... Passed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior and ran for another 258 ... His father, Jay, quarterbacked the Bears to the 1980 Southwest Conference championship, while his uncle, Neal, started at QB on Baylor's 1974 "Miracle on the Brazos" SWC title club ... Lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track ... State champion in the 400 meters and two-time district champion in the 110-meter hurdles ... Also earned all-district honors as a centerfielder on Lorena's baseball team ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Coached by Ray Biles at the district 17-3A school.

ANTHONY KRIEG
RB ? 6-1 ? 210 ? Pflugerville, TX (Pflugerville)
Steele's comments: "He's around 215 pounds now... He's got speed, and he's a powerful running back."
Named district offensive MVP as a senior ... Earned first-team all-district in 2000 and second-team all-district in 1999 ... Finished his career with nearly 2800 yards rushing and 940 yards receiving ... Three-time academic all-district performer ... Ranked among the nation's top 100 prep running backs by Rivals.com ... Rushed for 862 yards and seven touchdowns on 186 carries as a junior ... Also caught 12 passes for 102 yards in 1999 ... Coached by George Herrmann at the district 14-5A school.

MAURICE LANE
DB ? 5-11 ? 175 ? Killeen, TX (Killeen)
Steele's comments: "A little taller guy... He's a track guy with the physical ability to play football."
Two-year starter and an all-district 13-5A pick for the Kangaroos ... Credited with 110 tackles, one interception, 18 pass breakups, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and three blocked kicks as a senior team MVP ... Led KHS in tackles in 2000 ... Coached by former Baylor football player David Wetzel.

ANTOINE MURPHY
OL ? 6-4 ? 325 ? Indianapolis, IN (William Rainey Harper CC)
Steele's comments: "Murphy was heavily recruited out of high school, but he had an ankle injury, missed his last nine games, and chose junior college instead."
Junior college lineman was twice named first-team all-conference ... Named best offensive lineman in the conference as a sophomore ... Named All-Scholastic All-American by JC Gridwire ... Coached by John Eliasik at Harper CC in Palatine, Ill. ... Lettered three years at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.

GLEN OSKIN
OL ? 6-5 ? 300 ? Houston, TX (Second Baptist)
Steele's comments: "He's 300 pounds, and it's all muscle... He's a very strong man, and he will just get better and better and better."
Three-sport letterman was an all-state lineman as a senior ... Team captain was also named all-district ... Lettered one year in basketball and four seasons in baseball ... Honor roll student ... Coached by Lawrence Hutson.

QUINTIN OUTLAND
OL ? 6-5 ? 320 ? La Porte, TX (La Porte)
Steele's comments: "At 320, he's very athletic, but he's a very big man... Another guy with a tremendous upside."
Listed as the No. 44 prospect in the state of Texas by SuperPrep ... Also named among the state's top 100 prospects by the Waco Tribune-Herald, Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle ... Preseason second-team selection on the Texas Football Super Team in 2000 ... Rated the seventh-best offensive lineman in the state by Texas Football magazine and a member of the Texas Top 300 ... Coached by Forrest Wiegand.

ABE ROBINSON
OL ? 6-7 ? 280 ? Jersey Village, TX (Jersey Village)
Steele's comments: "Robinson is the smallest of the offensive linemen we signed... He's very athletic, he played basketball in high school... He's got a tremendous upside."
Listed as one of the nation's top 100 high school prospects by the Dallas Morning News ... High school tight end expected to play in the interior in college ... Caught 10 passes 162 yards as a senior ... Ranked among the nation's top 15 offensive line prospects by Rivals.com ... Listed as the No. 9 prospect in the state of Texas by SuperPrep ... Named among the state's top 100 prospects by the Waco Tribune-Herald, Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle ... Preseason first-team selection on the Texas Football Super Team in 2000 ... Rated the best tight end in the state by Texas Football magazine and a member of the Texas Top 300 ... Coached by David Snokhous at the district 16-5A school.

DAVON VINSON
QB ? 6-4 ? 208 ? Kilgore, TX (Kilgore)
Steele's comments: "He's a big guy with athleticism who can run and throw... Like Jeffrey, he could play another position if we need him to."
Completed 99 passes for 1,590 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior district MVP ... Also named all-East Texas and honorable mention all-state ... Carried the ball 47 times for 247 yards and three touchdowns in final prep campaign ... Listed as the No. 67 prospect in the state of Texas by SuperPrep ... Ranked among the nation's top 100 prep quarterbacks by Rivals.com ... Also named among the state's top 100 prospects by the Waco Tribune-Herald and the Dallas Morning News ... Preseason second-team selection on the Texas Football Super Team in 2000 ... Rated the third-best quarterback in the state by Texas Football magazine and a member of the Texas Top 300 ... As a junior completed 102 of 208 passes for 1,788 yards and 15 touchdowns ... Coached by Mike Mike Vallery at the district 16-4A school.

GREG WADE
LB ? 6-3 ? 230 ? Kinston, NC (Georgia Military Academy/Kinston HS)
Steele's comments: "Another non-tradition transfer... Very fast... Your prototype linebacker."
Earned All-Area and All-Conference honors two straight years out of Kinston HS ... played linebacker and tight end as a prep ... Also played basketball, earning All-Area and All-Conference honors in that sport as well ... Lettered two years on the track team ... Also named to the all-academic first team ... Spent freshman season at Duke University ... Coached by Bert Williams.