LIVINGSTON – Coming off the first outright Gulf South Conference championship in school history the University of West Alabama football program has signed 11 junior college players to national letters of intent to play with the Tigers.

Of the 11 signed by GSC Coach of the Year Will Hall and his staff, six are defensive players, including three defensive linemen, two defensive backs and a linebacker. Offensively the Tigers picked up signatures from a quarterback, two running backs, a lineman and a fullback.

“Defensively, it’s all about rushing the passer, and we were able to find players who can really do that,” Hall said. “We also added help in the secondary and at linebacker, where we lost some great seniors.

“Offensively, we were able to bring in two running backs who can really fly and a big time quarterback who has been a winner his whole life,” Hall said. “We also added a fullback and an offensive lineman, which we needed.”

Ten of the 11 come from the Mississippi junior college ranks and one from Cerritos Community College in California. Eight played their prep football in Mississippi, two in Alabama and one in Florida.

“Recruiting is going great. We are excited about our mid year additions,” Hall said. “We have really elevated the perception of our program and university as a whole. Even better days are in store for the Tigers.”

Following is the list if mid-year football signees for West Alabama with biographical information on each player, including a link to video highlights:

UWA Mid-Year Signee Bios

Cade Amacker: Fullback … 6-1, 240 … Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College … Stone (Miss.) High School … Played tight end in junior college … Had five receptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns last year at MGCC … Caught 20 passes for 361 yards and four touchdowns as a senior at Stone High School … Brother of former UWA wide receiver Curt Amacker … High School and juco teammate of mid-year signee and quarterback Clint Hatten … Played in Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game.

Clint Hatten: Quarterback … 6-2, 195 … Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College … Stone (Miss.) High School … Passed for 2,441 yards with 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a sophomore at MGCCC in 2012, earning MACJC All-South Division honors … Completed 158-of-245 passes as a sophomore (64.5%) … Played in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game … Also rushed for 171 yards and four TDs on 42 carries (4.1 yards per carry) as a juco sophomore … Was not sacked as a sophomore at MGCCC … Completed 123-of-216 passes for 17 touchdowns as a senior at Stone High School.

Steve Horton: Defensive back … 5-11, 175 … Coahoma (Miss.) Community College … Clarksdale (Miss.) High School … Recorded 51 total tackles as a juco sophomore, 31 solo … Broke up eight passes and had two interceptions … Also recovered a fumble … Had 13 receptions for 227 yards as a senior at Clarksdale High School … Played in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game.

Martaze Johnson: Defensive lineman … 6-2, 238 … East Central (Miss.) Community College …. Demopolis (Ala.) High School … Recorded 34 total tackles last season at ECCC, 26 solo … Also recorded 3.5 sacks … Signed with Tennessee out of Demopolis High School, but transferred to ECCC … Named honorable mention all-state as a senior at Demopolis in 2009 … Honored as a West Alabama 5A All-Star as a senior … Named Defensive Lineman MVP at U.S. Army All-America Junior Combine in 2008 … Combined for 26 quarterback sacks and 22 quarterback hurries over his last two seasons in high school … As a senior at DHS, 26 of his 38 total tackles went for lost yardage and 11 of those were sacks … Had 54 tackles, 17 sacks and eight tackles-for-loss as a DHS junior … Helped Demopolis to 12-3 record in 2009 and Alabama Class 5A state championship.

Antonio Jemison: Defensive lineman … 6-2, 195 … Mississippi Delta Community College … McAdory (Ala.) High School … Recorded 64 total tackles last season, 43 solo … Registered 4.5 sacks.

Markeyus Johnson: Running back, wide receiver and kick returner … 5-9, 175 … Pearl River (Miss.) Community College … Forrest County (Miss.) High School … Rushed for 433 yards and two touchdowns on 75 carries last season … Averaged 5.8 yards per carry … Played in Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game … Named 4A 1st Team All-State by the Mississippi Association of Coaches and First Team All-Area by the Hattiesburg American as a high school senior … Ran for 1,826 yards and 22 touchdowns as a high school senior.

Bryon Nettles: Running Back … 5-8, 180 … Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College … Moss Point (Miss.) High School … Rushed for 572 yards and six touchdowns last season at MGCCC … Also caught a touchdown pass in 2012 … Played in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game.

Frank Richardson: Defensive Back … 5-10, 180 … East Mississippi Community College … New Hope (Miss.) High School … Recorded 42 total tackles at EMCC last season, 35 solo stops … Intercepted seven passes and broke up one more … Forced four fumbles and recovered a fumble … Named 5A First Team All-State by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior at New Hope High School.

Sony Theodate: Defensive end … 6-5, 255 … Cerritos (Calif.) Community College … Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) High School … Started at defensive end two years at Cerritos Community College … Two sport athlete at Cerritos, participating in football and track and field …. Finished fifth at the state championships in shot put … Also participated in the discus and the hammer throw … A three-sport athlete in football, track and field and wrestling at FLHS … Was a starter at left tackle.

Tevin Thomas: Linebacker … 6-1, 228 … Copiah Lincoln (Miss.) Community College … Franklin County (Miss.) High School … Originally signed with Georgia Southern out of CLCC … Played linebacker and fullback in high school … Seventh in the state and led Copiah Lincoln in tackles with 87 (40 solo, 47 assists) … Also forced s fumble Named MACJC Second Team All-State and also played in the MACJC All-Star Game.

Dustin Tubby: Offensive lineman … 6-2, 315 … East Central (Miss.) Community College … Neshoba Central (Miss.) High School … Played in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game … Junior College teammate of fellow UWA signee Martaze Jackson … Earned ECCC Captain’s Award, MACJC All-Star and honorable mention MACJC All-State.