Texas A&M University-Commerce head football coach Scotty Conley announced the arrival of eight players at the semester break and the letters of intent from five high school standouts.
A&M-C is coming off a 5-6 season and the program’s first-ever Lone Star Conference North Division title.
Among the eight coming in at the semester are teammates from Kilgore Junior College (A.J. Billings and Ernest Quander), Solano Junior College in Fairfield, Calif. (Maurice Dupont, Jr. and Daniel Stantz), and Glendale Community College in Glendale, Calif. (Brian Lynch and Ander Magee).
Also in the mix is wide receiver Willie Thornton, a Division I transfer from Central Florida, and Danny Rios, a transfer from Grossmont Junior College in El Cajon, Calif.
Joining A&M-C from the Texas high school ranks are a pair of wide receivers from Friendswood (Matt McLaren) and Daingerfield (Malcolm Walker); a tight end from San Antonio (T.J. Nielsen), an offensive lineman from Lindale (Josh Gilbert) and an athletic quarterback from Allen (Stephen Payne).
Billings was a member of a defense that picked off 21 passes and allowed only five passing touchdowns, advanced to the SWJCFC Championship and the Heart of Texas Bowl game.
In 2007, Quander hauled in 34 receptions for 426 yards with three touchdowns at Kilgore Junior College.
DuPont earned all-conference honors as a sophomore on an offense that ranked 12th in the state of California and scored 19 touchdowns over his two years at Solano Junior College.
Stantz received first team all-conference honors as an offensive lineman and named to the NorCal All-Combine team.
Lynch was a second team all-Western State Conference selection after recording 5 1/2 sacks as a sophomore and was a two-year starter and letterwinner at Glendale Community College.
At Glendale, Magee garnered honorable mention all-Western State Conference recognition, sharing the team lead with two sacks and two quarterback hurries. He posted a season-high six tackles and two sacks against Compton Community College.?
In 2006, Thornton was the fourth-leading receiver for Central Florida, hauling in 19 receptions for 275 yards and three touchdowns. He had a season-high four catches against Rice, and caught touchdown passes against Villanova, South Florida and Houston.
Rios served as the starting center on an offensive line that closed out the 2007 season scoring 66 and 79 points, respectively. Rios also blocked for the first team all-Foothill Conference quarterback and all-purpose leader.?
McLaren?is the all-time leading receiver at Friendswood High School with 127 catches on 2,008 yards and scored 21 touchdowns, as well as being a two-time first team all-district and all-county selection. In addition to being a three-year letterwinner on the football team, McLaren has been a two-year letterwinner on the baseball team.?
Walker was an all-district selection at wide receiver while at Daingerfield. Walker signed with A&M-C over interest from Sam Houston State.
Nielsen earned first team all-district honors at tight end as a senior at O’Connor High School, where he also was an instrumental part in the team’s 2007 district championship. As a senior, Nielsen hauled in 13 receptions for 159 yards.
Gilbert?earned all-district honors and was named team captain as a senior, and also participated in powerlifting, where he advanced to the regional meet as a junior. Gilbert holds the school lifting record for bench press, squat and power clean.?
As a junior, Payne?rushed for 264 yards and ran for 204 yards. He completed 13 of 22 passes in a state semifinal game against eventual state champion Southlake Carroll as a junior. Payne also received consideration from multiple BCS programs.