After what has been a somewhat tumultuous and uncertain off-season so far, the Skyhawk football team finally gained a sense of permanency on Wednesday afternoon when the final additions were announced to both the team and the coaching staff.

For the 2006 season, the Skyhawks have signed 14 players from four different states: six from Tenn., five from Ala., two from Miss. and one from Ga. The 2006 class is split evenly on both sides of the ball, with seven on each offense and defense.

“I’m really excited about this group of young men,” Simpson said. “It’s a relatively small class, but there’s a lot of quality in this class. There are a couple kids that we expect to come in here and play. We’ve got a lot of seniors coming back, so really only a couple will play and that’s good.

“There’s a lot of great character in this group. We did our research. We know what we’re getting and that’s important,” Simpson said. Coming from Tenn., are Aaron Carney, Courtney Grimes, Gerald Guffin, Markei Guy, Jordan Pritchett and Josh Ware.

Carney, a linebacker who was also heavily recruited by Tenn. State, prepped at Haywood County High School in Brownsville where he earned all-conference defensive and offensive honors for the Tomcats. “He is very physical and will get much bigger,” said Simpson. “He’ll give us more athleticism at linebacker and we might move him out to defensive end.”

Grimes, one of the best players signed according to Simpson, will come in at the free safety position. “[Grimes] gives us length in his arms and body. He had offers from two other OVC schools but told them no because he felt that UTM was the best fit academically,” Simpson said. Grimes earned all-city and all-region honors while at Maplewood High School in Nashville.

Guffin, a future graduate of Bolton High School in Bartlett, comes to UTM to play at the running back position. He was named Bolton’s MVP and to the Commercial Appeal’s Best of the Prep’s team along with earning all-region honors. “Guffin runs hard and gives us lot a of depth at the tailback position, but hopefully he won’t have to come in and play next year,” Simpson said.

A familiar face to the West Tenn. area will join the Skyhawks at wide receiver in 2006. Markei Guy, from Westview High School, was named the 2005 All-Region Player of the Year, earned the ESPN Radio Player of the Week recognition and was a finalist for the Tennessee Class 2A Mr. Football Award.

“[Guy] has a great personality and outstanding character,” Simpson said. “He’s very fast. He’ll give us a little wiggle and a little shake over at that slot position.

Pritchett will come to the Skyhawks to help out at the cornerback position from Franklin High School in Franklin. There he was named the Rebels Most Valuable Defensive Back, earned all-region and all-county honors, and helped the team reach the 5A state championship game.

“Pritchett is very impressive in terms of his foot quickness. Hopefully he’ll come in here and learn the system, get bigger and stronger and help us out down the road.

Rounding out the six from Tenn., is Josh Ware from Chattanooga. He earned the Baylor School’s Iron Man Award and was named to the All-Tennessee Team.

The 6-foot, 185 pound free safety will be looked to provide depth at that position since the Skyhawks lost senior Chad McMahan. From Ala., the Skyhawks pick up Brandon Cooper, Nick Duff, Joe Gibbs, Dontrell Miller and Trevor Smith.

Cooper comes from Buckhorn High School in New Market, where he earned all-region and all-metro honors as well as helped lead the Bucks to the Class 5A state championship game, as a defensive end.

“He has great athleticism and long arms, “ Simpson said. “He puts his face in the block and runs through them.”

Also from Buckhorn High is Nick Duff, a fullback/longsnapper, who was named to the All-Alabama First team, selected to the All-Metro team and was named All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year.

“He gives us the versatility at that position we need; he’s very physical and is the most intense guy that we recruited,” Simpson said. “He loves contact and he loves to play football.”

Gibbs is a 6-foot-5-inch, 258 pound tight end from Brilliant High School, who earned all-county and all-conference honors.

“We don’t have a lot of guys on our team that look like that,” Simpson said. “He’s a big, strong guy who’ll we start out at tight end but we may end up moving him to defensive end.”

Miller joins the UTM squad with an impressive resume from Demopolis High School in Demopolis.

While playing for the Tigers, Miller earned All-Alabama honors two consecutive seasons, was selected to the Super 11 team by the Tuscaloosa News and was named to the All-West Alabama team three consecutive seasons.

Miller also played in the North-South All-Star game, served as team captain, helped the team win the Class 4A state championships in 2004 and advance to the playoffs in 2005.

“Miller will be very quick in that free safety position. Hopefully he’ll be able to come in here and compete and work on returns,” Simpson said.

Smith is the lone offensive lineman signed for the 2006 season. Coming from Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Smith served as team captain for the Aggies, was named All-Alabama honorable mention, played in the North-South All-Star game, was named to all-county and all area-teams and helped win the 2004 area championship and advance to the state playoffs.

“Smith is probably athletic enough to play as a defensive lineman, but we’ve got depth there this year. This is a guy we can hopefully red shirt and use down the road,” Simpson said.

The two new Skyhawks from Miss. are Marcus Arrington and Jabary Gipson.

Arrington, one of two junior college transfers, comes from East Central community College and is originally from Heidelberg.

“He does a very good job at playing corner,” Simpson said. “We expect him to come in and give us some immediate help at that position. He’s a guy that can block out half the field and has the ability to change the direction of the football.”

The other ju-co signee comes from Hinds Community College. Jabary Gipson, a wide receiver originally from Ridgeland, had 70 catches in two seasons at Hinds and prepped at Murrah High School where he was named first team All-Mississippi.

“We needed some more playmakers and this guy can return punts and will give us a bigger body at receiver,” Simpson said. “We need someone to give Donald Chapman some help.”

Rounding out the signees is T.J. Hamilton, a running back from Gordon Central High School in Calhoun, Ga. Hamilton was elected to play in the Georgia-Tennessee All-Star Game, named to the Chattanooga Times-Free Press All-Area first team, earned all-region honors in both his junior and senior year, and set the Tigers’ career yardage record with 3,550 yards.

“T.J. is probably the most heralded recruit that we’ve got. He will come in and help us immediately. He’s small, but strong enough to run through tackles and really fits the Donald Chapman mold,” Simpson said.

The 2006 season kicks off in 206 days with the season opener scheduled for Sept. 2 against Ohio University.