Memorable Shiloh Class Signs
Saints Send Two Players To SEC
Last updated Wednesday, February 7, 2007 10:27 PM CST in Sports
By Brandon Harris
Special To The Morning News
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SPRINGDALE -- Shiloh Christian put the final touches on one of the most memorable football seasons in school history Wednesday when five starters from its state championship team signed letters of intent to play at the collegiate level.
Wide receiver Crosby Tuck, quarterback Matt Simpson, offensive tackle Nolan Hankins, and linebackers David Ingram and Adam Herring highlighted a senior class that is sure to have more college signees in the coming weeks.
Tuck will play at Arkansas, Herring will play at Auburn, Ingram and Hankins are going to Missouri State while Simpson chose Harvard.
"I don't think there's any doubt -- these guys are probably the most talented and best Shiloh team to ever come through here," Shiloh coach Josh Floyd said. "I know that was one of their goals -- they wanted to be remembered for that, and they did all they could do.
"I know there's never been another class to come through that's had this many guys sign, and we could have more guys sign a little bit later. That says a lot about our program."
Tuck, the most heralded of the Shiloh signees, said his decision was made much easier when the Razorbacks hired former Dallas Cowboys assistant David Lee as offensive coordinator.
Tuck said Lee, whose son, Jordan, played linebacker for Shiloh while Tuck was a sophomore, is who first told Tuck that his skills were unique and playing beyond high school was a realistic goal.
"He came to all our games while he was with the Cowboys," Tuck said. "He talked to me and my parents and said he thought I had a chance to play Division I football. I had never even thought about it at that point. He told me I had a chance, to get some highlight film together and start talking to some coaches.
"He got that all set up, so I really appreciate him for that. Now he's the offensive coordinator (at Arkansas), so it's cool how things work out like that."
Herring, the son of Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring, was born in Auburn. He will join two other Arkansas recruits -- Fort Smith Northside's Kodi Burns and Rogers' Lee Ziemba -- on the Tigers next season.
Herring decided against playing for the Razorbacks early in the recruiting process because he wanted to avoid the father-son situation on the team.
Ingram, Shiloh's other star linebacker, will join Hankins at Missouri State despite missing a large portion of the season because of a list of injuries. Ingram played both running back and linebacker for the Saints, but was recruited for his defensive ability.
Hankins, who led the team with 131 knockdown blocks and was named the 3A state championship game's most outstanding lineman, recently switched his commitment to Missouri State after committing to Tulsa during the season.
"When coach (Gus) Malzahn went (to Tulsa), that was a plus, but I got a better feel for my position coaches at Missouri State," Hankins said. "And I'm looking to major in criminology, which Tulsa doesn't offer."
Simpson, meanwhile, will play for the Harvard Crimson. Harvard was one of the first schools to offer Simpson a scholarship, and he ultimately chose it over a list of other Ivy League schools.
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