2015 NSU Demon Football Signing Class - Bios
 
Darrien Batiste, DE, 6-3, 255, Geismar, LA-Dutchtown HS (UL Lafayette)
 
Transfer from UL Lafayette with two seasons to play … played in five games with Ragin' Cajuns as they won two straight New Orleans Bowl titles … was redshirted as a true freshman outside linebacker in 2012 … a three-time first-team all-district selection at Dutchtown for coach Benny Saia … was rated a three-star prospect by Scout … played in Louisiana/Texas Bowl all-star game … helped team to 23-2 record in his final two seasons, 11-1 in his senior year after a 12-1 mark as a junior … had more than 50 tackles in each of his last two seasons … squad was 7-3 in his first year as a starter, his sophomore season … lettered four years in football, twice in track and field as a shot putter, once in basketball as a power forward … graduated from Dutchtown with 3.5 grade point  average… son of Mark and Angela Batiste … has two siblings, Jeremy Matthews (27) and Bria Batiste (22) … his uncle, Aubrey Matthews, played 11 seasons (1986-96) in the NFL with Detroit, Atlanta and Green Bay … nicknames include "Tiny," "DB" and "Bap" … majoring in psychology and industrial engineering technology.
 
 
Hunter Bedgood, ATH, 5-8, 175, Natchitoches, LA-St. Mary's HS
 
Academic All-State composite team selection with a 4.0 GPA … first-team Class A All-State … Louisiana Football Magazine's Class A Offensive Player of the Year … led Tigers to 12-2 record, state semifinals, district championship as a senior under coach Lee Doty … SMHS went 9-4 and reached state quarterfinals in his junior season under coach Charlie Cryer … ran for 1,939 yards on 225 carries (8.9 average), caught nine passes for 132 yards, scored 30 touchdowns as a senior in 2014 … a three-year first-team all-district pick on defense at linebacker … 191 career solo tackles, 95 assists … posted career totals of 3,490 rushing yards on 527 carries (6.6 average), 530 receiving yards on 31 catches, scoring 61 TDs, 16 two-point conversions … earned All-Cenla Team honors as a first-team pick by the Alexandria Town Talk at linebacker as a junior, running back as a senior … Shreveport Times All-Area RB as a senior, also district MVP … honorable mention All-State at linebacker as a junior … twice an all-district outfielder in baseball  … class valedictorian … Wendy's High School Heisman student-athlete … won five football letters, will get his fourth baseball letter this spring … son of Samuel and Melanie Bedgood … has two sisters, Kourtney Howard-Crow (26) and Kaitlynn Bedgood (20) … his mother works at NSU … his grandfather Don Kelly was a running back for the Demons in the early 1960s who became a state senator for Natchitoches Parish for 20 years, and served as state Senate president … full name is Samuel Hunter Bedgood.
 
 
Joel Blumenthal, QB, 6-1, 185, Edmond, OK-Deer Creek HS (Butler CC)
 
Has three seasons to play … split time at Butler (Kan.) with a sophomore who signed with an FBS program … completed 63 percent of his passes for five touchdowns … averaged 4.3 yards per carry and ran for two TDs … Grizzlies averaged 45 points per game … standout at Deer Creek HS, throwing for 32 TDs with only seven interceptions in 291 attempts (one every 42 passes) … completed 62 percent for 2,456 yards … ran for nine TDs … led Antlers to District 5A-2 championship … ran a 4.5 40-yard dash.

 
Brice Borgeson, LB, 6-2, 240, Brownsboro, TX-Van HS
 
Twice All-East Texas, and a second-team All-State pick as a junior … … 441 career tackles in four seasons, including 134 as a sophomore, 121 as a junior … his 95 tackles, 20 for lost yards including six sacks, helped Van to 10-1 record, district championship as a senior, and school's fourth consecutive playoff appearance … had 22 tackles for loss, four sacks as a junior … also ran for 1,184 yards combined in his freshman and sophomore seasons … won all-district honors three years … played for coach Jared Moffatt in his final two seasons … earned four letters in football, two in basketball, one in track and field … was an all-district post player in basketball as a sophomore … voted to Homecoming court in 2012, 2014 … elected junior class president … son of Jim and Colleen Borgeson … one brother, Cade (15) … full name is Brice Andrew Borgeson.
 
 
Dustin Burns, C, 6-4, 292, Beaumont, TX-West Brook HS
 
Academic All-State selection who owns a 3.6 GPA … all-district choice on the field at center and deep snapper … Beaumont and Port Arthur News Super Gold Team  … a four-year team captain … president of WBHS National Honor Society … guest performer for Beaumont Civic Ballet … Cotillion instructor … two letters in football, three in wrestling, one in track and field … district champion twice in wrestling in the heavyweight class … son of Don Burns and Julie Golias … has a brother, Brant Burns (20), and a sister, Carly Burns (15) … his mother owns a European import antique store voted Beaumont's best antique store eight times in the last 10 years … his father is a retired U.S. Marine (22 years) and participated in the U.S. Olympic swimming trials … his brother is in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M and is a Ross volunteer … plans to attend physical therapy school and own his own practice.
 
 
Ian Edwards, CB/S, 6-1, 181, Denton, TX-Denton Guyer HS
 
Made 139 tackles in two seasons as a first-team all-district defensive back for a powerhouse program that won two state championships and went 29-3 in those seasons … 80 stops as a junior for a 14-2 team, five for lost yards … as a senior, posted 14 pass breakups and 59 tackles … intercepted two passes, returning one for a 20-yard touchdown … also blocked a field goal … 3.2 GPA … hopes to pursue a career in marine biology … son of Kevin Edwards and Gina Terry … has an older sister, Ivana Evans (24) … his mother is a flight attendance for American Airlines, and his father works for Disney … nickname is "Big E."
 
 
Garron Featherston, DT, 6-3, 300, Long Beach, CA-Los Angeles Adventist Academy (Cerritos CC)
 
Junior college transfer who enrolled for the spring semester … 41 tackles, including 14 solo stops … 7.5 tackles for loss (-13), 3.5 sacks for -17 yards …  one pass breakup, one forced fumble as a sophomore at Cerritos CC  for an 8-3 team that won the Golden State Bowl …. Made two tackles as a redshirt freshman for a 7-4 squad that won the Western State Bowl… had 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFL in his last two games as he continued in improve in his first season of extensive action in football … his private high school did not compete interscholastically in football … he was voted most valuable player on the intramural team as a senior and once scored three touchdowns in a game … he played four seasons on the basketball team and was twice team captain … he was first-team All-Mulholland League as a senior as his team won its fourth straight league championship … second-team All-League as a junior …was also first-team All-Mulholland League first baseman in baseball as team claimed a second straight league title … 3.3 GPA in high school .. junior class president … honor roll student all four years … son of Aubra Aaron, a nurse … has one brother, Jamari (17) … nickname is "G" … favorite TV show is "Hard Knocks" on HBO … planning to major in communications.
 
 
Deshon Ficklin, WR, 6-2, 217, Natchitoches, LA-Natchitoches Central HS
 
Twice first-team All-Cenla (Alexandria Town Talk), honorable mention All-State Class 5A … a three-year first-team all-district selection for coach Brandon Helms' Chiefs … 3.25 GPA … son of Darrel Ficklin and Matreka Moses … has a brother, Nick Ficklin, and a sister, Shona Moses … his nickname is Spooby … plans to major in business.
 
 
Nick Forde, S, 6-1, 187, DeSoto, TX-Life School Red Oak HS
 
District MVP and honorable mention All-State as a senior, when he was also academic all-district … made second-team All-State as a sophomore when he had five interceptions and 70 tackles … 11 career interceptions and a three-year first-team all-district selection, and team MVP …  played two ways in his last two football seasons ... scored 27 touchdowns as a receiver in those two years, making 46 catches for 889 yards and 11 TDs as a junior and 21 receptions for 500 yards as a senior … also recorded 300 yards rushing on 27 carries as a senior, when he scored 16 TDs … helped team improve from two straight 2-8 seasons to a 9-2 record in his senior season was a second-team all-district basketball pick as a junior and is playing this season … basketball team went 83-21 in his first three years …  has helped hoops team to three straight regional tournament appearances … was a regional finalist with a 14.6 time in the 110 meter hurdles, and has a 41-foot triple jump personal best … also has played baseball for two years .. named Red Oak HS athlete of the year for 2013-14 after his junior year …  3.5 GPA … member of the Spanish Honor Society  … son of Foster and Tamara Forde … both are U.S. Postal Service employees … has a brother, Michael Forde (20) and a sister, Whitney Charles (27) … she is married to Kansas City Chiefs' Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles … his full name is Nicholas Anthony Forde … wants to be a physical therapist.
 
 
Ralpheal Green, CB, 6-3, 205, Ripley, MS-Ripley HS (Northeast Mississippi CC)
 
Earned a berth in the Northeast Mississippi JC All-Star Game after his only season at cornerback … played receiver as a freshman … had an interception, forced a fumble and made 17 tackles as a sophomore … his position coach was former NFL cornerback Kareem Moore, who played for NSU coach Jay Thomas at Nicholls … was a Mississippi Super 22 selection as a receiver in high school …  earned all-division honors at cornerback … also lettered in track and basketball … 3.0 GPA at Ripley HS … 3.3 at Northeast Mississippi, earning membership in Phi Theta Kappa honor fraternity …  son of Ralph and Norlene Green … father is a school administrator, mother designs industrial furniture … has an older sister, Shana (24) … full name is Ralpheal Salaam Green … nicknames are "Biggie" or "Dirty Deuce" ... will major in psychology … wants to teach and coach high school football.
 
 
Cameron Hooper, DE, 6-6, 246, Baton Rouge, LA-Central HS
 
Talented defender who lettered two years for coach Sid Edwards … 3.0 GPA …  son of Sean Hooper, a police officer, and Tanisha Matthews, a human relations director … has three siblings:  Terrin (20), Shauna (7), Sheridan (5) … nickname is "Cam" … will major in business and plans a career in the construction industry. 
 
 
Jonathan Hubbard, OL, 6-4, 308, Kilgore, TX-Kilgore HS
 
Three-year letterman … helped Kilgore win the state championship in his sophomore season … also competed in track and field … member of Voices of Soul singing group … son of Felicia Skillern, a teacher … his grandfather is Felton Skillern, a trucker … interested in a career as a game warden or wildlife biologist … nickname is "J-Hubb."
 
 
Cameron Hussey, C, 6-3, 275, Houston, TX-Cy Falls HS (Trinity Valley CC)
 
Helped Trinity Valley earn a No. 3 national ranking with a conference championship and a 12-0 record under NSU graduate and former Sam Goodwin graduate assistant coach Brad Smiley … Cardinals averaged 650 yards in total offense, including 286.6 rushing yards, and scored 58.7 points per game … won Heart of Texas Bowl over Coffeyville (Kan.) CC … was a first-team all-district lineman at Cy Falls HS … helped Cy Falls go 8-2 and average 33 points per game in his senior season.
 
 
Chris Jones, RB, 5-9, 180, Tylertown, MS-Tylertown HS (Southwest Mississippi CC)
 
Eighth-ranked rusher in national junior college ranks last fall with 122.6 yard average … 6.1 yards per carry … ranked No. 22 JC running back in the country by Rivals.com … averaged 10.8 yards per reception for the Bears … scored six touchdowns and ran for 981 yards in nine games .. scored 37 touchdowns in high school for Tylertown … averaged 7.0 yards per carry and ran for 2,844 career yards for the Chiefs.
 
 
D'Ronne Littleton, CB, 5-11, 172, Carencro, LA-Carencro HS
 
First-team All-Acadiana, all-district, and honorable mention all-state as a senior … seven interceptions, 65 tackles for a district champion team coached by Roland Eveland …  had 30 tackles and an interception as a junior … lettered three seasons … team also made the playoffs in his sophomore year … son of Scottie Littleton and Demeiria Spates, a registered nurse … has five siblings: Deshouri (24), Skyron (14), Zabrinia (14), Sheilessia (13) and Bria (12) … full name is D'Ronne D'Wayne Littleton … interested in a career in sports medicine.
 
 
Charlie Matthews, DT, 6-0, 291, Bossier City, LA-Airline HS
 
Two-star recruit rating from Rivals.Com and 247 Sports …. first-team All-State selection as a junior with 22 tackles for loss in 2013 … first-team all-district, All-City in Shreveport-Bossier  in each of his last two seasons for the Vikings … three-year starter … District Defensive MVP as a junior when he was also All-City Defensive MVP and AHS team MVP with 43 tackles, six sacks, one fumble forced, one recovered and the 22 tackles for lost yards … 29 tackles, five for loss as a senior … played for former Demon quarterback Bo Meeks, head coach at Airline … son of Charlie Matthews and Geanine Fluty … mother is a dog groomer .. has two sisters, Julie Stralow (23) and Elizabeth Matthews (20) … full name is Charles Wayne Matthews … plans to major in education.
 
 
Houston Meller, OL, 6-2, 265, Shreveport, LA-Evangel Christian Academy
 
First-team All-City (Shreveport Times) for Shreveport-Bossier, and first-team all –district as a senior … second-team all-district as a junior … ECA's 2014 offensive team captain under coach Byron Dawson … team went 18-5 in his last two seasons … chosen for Louisiana High School Coaches' Association East-West All-Star Game … 3.7 GPA … National Honor Society member … participated in Science Olympiad … son of Roy and Judy Meller … full name is Matthew Houston Meller … plans to major in business administration with a pre-law concentration, and attend law school.
 
 
Dalen Morgan, DT, 6-0, 312, Mesquite, TX-Mesquite Horn HS
 
Two-star recruit rating from Rivals.com ... District 10-6A Defensive MVP for an 11-2 Class 6A Division I playoff team coached by Mike Overton … honorable mention all-state, second-team all-area as a senior … 57 tackles, 16 for lost yards, and five blocked kicks … had four sacks, caused and recovered two fumbles … team's Defensive MVP … scored seven touchdowns on 16 carries, gaining 107 yards, as a running back (wore jersey No. 39) … second-team all-district as a junior … helped team go 19-6 in his last two years, reaching the third round of the state playoffs as a senior … Horn reached the state playoffs all four years he played …  also competed in track and field in the shot put and discus, and has been an area and regional qualifier … has bests of 4.88 in the 40, 28 inch vertical leap, 325-pound bench press, 435-pound squat, 285-pound clean … son of Terence George, who works for the U.S. Postal Service, and Tracy Morgan, a Dallas police officer … youngest of five siblings:  brothers D.J. Grigsby (31), Terence George Jr. (24), Alex Morgan (24), and sisters Tiffany Smith (30) and Tierney George (30) … related to former NFL player Rod Harris (Cowboys, Saints, Eagles) … plans to major in criminal justice and become a detective … full name is Dalen Jhikal Morgan, nicknames are "DaeDae" or "DMO."
 
 
Desmond Prejean, DE, 6-4, 225, Scott, LA-Lafayette Christian Academy
 
First-team All-Acadiana by the Lafayette Daily Advertiser … All-District selection ... made 19 sacks among 184 tackles as he won two letters in football for coach Derek Landry … forced three fumbles as a senior, when he had 10 sacks and 85 tackles … intercepted a pass, made nine sacks, 99 tackles as a junior … won district title in 400 meter dash as a junior …  three letters in basketball for coach Byron Starks, two in track and field for coach Tommy Badon … 4.0 GPA … National Honor Society member … Senior Beta Club treasurer … son of Harold and Theus  Prejean … father is an oilfield salesman …  one sister, Kristen …plans to major in health sciences and attend physical therapy school … wants to own a PT school … full name is Desmond James Prejean … nickname is "Dez."

 
Darian Raymond, CB, 5-11, 170, Natchitoches, LA-Natchitoches Central HS
 
First-team all-district receiver who also helped NCHS win the 2014 Class 5A basketball state championship … caught 92 passes and scored 10 touchdowns in his four years under Chiefs' coach Brandon Helms … All-Cenla honorable mention by the Alexandria Town Talk as a senior when he had 43 receptions for 551 yards and five TDs … 25 catches, 359 yards, 4 TDs as a junior … 22 catches, 330 yards and a TD as a sophomore … lettered in football, basketball and track and field … coached by Micah Coleman in basketball, Dean Johnson in track …  3.9 GPA … National Honor Society member … also in the Beta Club … son of Anthony and Persunda Raymond … mother is a school counselor, father works at a factory … has an older brother, Demontre (23), and a younger sister, Madison (10) … his uncle, Orie Helaire, is a CPA and runs his own accounting business … full name is Darian DaVonte' Raymond, nickname is "Kidd" … plans to major in biology and become a physical therapist.
 
 
Ryan Reed, S, 6-1, 175, St. Francisville, LA-West Feliciana HS
 
Class 3A All-State at defensive back as a senior for a state semifinalist team under coach Rob Odom … 127 tackles, four, three fumble recoveries … also played quarterback and accounted for 29 touchdowns, 23 rushing with an 8.4 yards per carry average, 1,650 yards on 196 attempts in 14 games … threw of 1,023 yards and six TDs, going 70-117 …  finalist for the Baton Rouge area's prestigious Warrick Dunn Award recognizing community service, scholarship and football excellence … a three-year first-team all-district selection … helped WFHS make four consecutive football playoff appearances … was All-Baton Rouge Metro by the Advocate newspaper as a senior … an all-district baseball player who helped WFHS to the state quarterfinals … four-sport, four-year letterman (football, baseball, soccer, track) … 3.5 GPA … son of Matt and Pam Reed … one sister, Mattie (11).
 
 
Austin Skinner, QB, 6-0, 195, Teague, TX-Teague HS
 
Academic All-State as a senior …twice Associated Press All-State second-team, as a senior and sophomore ... two-time district MVP … his career passing total of 9,873 yards ranks 12^th all-time in Texas high school history and his 130 career touchdown throws is sixth in state history … owns every Teague HS passing record … twice District Offensive MVP … also was District MVP in baseball last spring after winning District Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore and District Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, a year before winning the same honor in football … in his sophomore football season, he was first-team Carl Padilla All-State and second-team AP All-State under coach Daniel Johnson for an 8-4 team that won a bi-district championship … repeated as AP All-State pick as a senior for new coach Donnie Osborn as THS won district and bi-district championships with an 11-1 record … THS went 7-4 and made the state playoffs in his junior season … has helped baseball team win three straight district crowns under coach Kyle Kilman … team was regional quarterfinalist in his freshman and sophomore seasons … has earned four baseball letters, three in football, two in track and one in basketball … has a 4.7 GPA … National Honor Society member … son of Chris and Audra Skinner … father is a high school principal, mother is a dental hygienist … one sister, Ally (15) … wants to be a doctor or a physical education teacher.
 
Diontre Thomas, DE, 6-2, 245, Denton, TX-Guyer HS (UL Monroe)
 
Will have two seasons to play after spending three years at ULM, playing in 10 games … first-team all-district at powerhouse John Guyer HS program, coached by John Walsh … 3.0 GPA in high school … son of Derek and Sharon Thomas … has two sisters, Sumaia (8) and Suniaya (2) … full name is Diontre Jawann Thomas … nickname is "D-Train" … criminal justice major who plans postgraduate work and wants to become a prosecutor in Dallas County.
 
 
Charles Vaughn, ATH, 5-11, 250, Baton Rouge, LA-McKinley HS
 
Second-team all-district running back as a senior for coach Cleveland Davis … at fullback, ran for eight touchdowns, 640 yards on 53 carries (12.1 yards per carry) … a four-year letterman in football … son of Charles Vaughn Jr. and Shirley Lovette … father has an auto detail business … has one brother, Shemar Lovette (14) … nickname is "King Chuck" … has a 3.1 GPA.
 
 
Jaevon Walton, LB, 6-0, 247, Harvey, LA-Edna Karr (Nebraska)
 
Redshirted as a true freshman last season at Nebraska … A two-time All-State linebacker who starred as a sophomore and senior under coach Nathaniel Jones … three-year all-district pick  … was All-State for a 13-0 team as a junior on offense and defense in Alabama, when he spent that school year living with his father …  his teams went 37-6 in his three seasons with the varsity, including a 13-0 record in his junior year and a 13-2 mark in his senior season … over 100 tackles as a senior, including seven in state championship game … Rivals.com ranked him as the state's No. 28 prospect as a senior … Scout.com and the 24-7 Sports composite rankings included him among the nation's top 60 linebacker prospects …  Edna Karr went 11-4 in his sophomore year and played for the state title … also had offer as a prep senior from Missouri, among others … son of John Copeland and Kennedra Walton … has one brother, Jaerez Miller …  father is a football coach and an eight-year NFL veteran who was an All-American on Alabama's 1992 national championship team … dad was No. 5 pick in 1993 NFL Draft (Cincinnati) … nickname is "J'rock."
 
 
Isaac Warren, CB, 6-1, 195, Tyler, TX-John Tyler HS
 
Three-star prospect … two-year all-district performer who helped John Tyler go 12-4 as a senior, 7-4 in his junior season … 59 tackles … all-district in football at cornerback and in basketball as a shooting guard as a junior … had offers from Purdue and SMU, heavily recruited by Arizona State … 3.3 GPA … son of Isaac Warren and Ylonda Cobb … his father is a DJ … his mom works in daycare … has six siblings: Tijuana, Erika, Shetadra, Lele, Alyssa and Ava … full name is Isaac Ray Warren Jr. … nickname is "Ike."
 
 
Chris Zirkle, OL, 6-2, 312, League City, TX-Clear Springs HS
 
Two-year all-district offensive lineman, two-year all-county selection … honorable mention all-district as a sophomore … Clear Springs had four-year mark of 19-15 in his career, never a losing record, winning district title in his sophomore season and bi-district championship in his senior year under head coach Frank Maldonado … also lettered in wrestling as a sophomore, finishing as district runner-up and fifth in the regional meet … had a 435-pound bench press, 620-pound squad, 375-pound hang clean and a 350-pound incline lift …  3.4 GPA … son of Robert and Jennifer Zirkle … father is an IT manager and mother manages nurses … has a sister, Kayla (14) … nicknames are "Beef Zirky" and "Zirkle."