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The University of Mississippi Athletics
2002 Ole Miss Football Signees
2/6/2002 | Football
Feb. 6, 2002
| Name | Pos. | Hgt. | Wgt. | Hometown (School) |
| Nate Banks | B | 5-11 | 175 | Liberty, Miss. (Amite County) |
| Ken Bournes | B | 6-2 | 255 | Monticello, Miss. (Lawrence County, Copiah-Lincoln C.C.) |
| Bryan Brown | B | 5-10 | 185 | Corinth, Miss. (High) |
| Dedrick Clark | L | 6-5 | 240 | Pontotoc, Miss. (High) |
| Brodrick Cross | B | 6-0 | 225 | Riviera Beach, Fla. (Palm Beach Gardens W. T. Dwyer) |
| Ethan Flatt | B | 6-6 | 197 | Nashville, Tenn. (David Lipscomb) |
| Chris Herring | L | 6-2 | 260 | Courtland, Miss. (South Panola) |
| Brandon Jenkins | L | 6-5 | 270 | Memphis, Tenn. (East) |
| Jay Kirkland | L | 6-4 | 295 | New Albany, Miss. (W.P. Daniel) |
| Lawrence Lilly | L | 6-4 | 250 | Montevallo, Ala. (High) |
| James McCoy | L | 6-4 | 290 | Moss Point, Miss. (High) |
| Jayme Mitchell | L | 6-6 | 275 | Jackson, Miss. (Forest Hill) |
| Jamal Pittman | B | 6-2 | 230 | Columbia, Miss. (High) |
| Jeremy Ruffin | B | 6-2 | 205 | Meridian, Miss. (High) |
| Antonio Sanders | L | 6-4 | 300 | Memphis, Tenn. (Fairley) |
| Andrew Wicker | L | 6-5 | 270 | Zachery, La. (Silliman Institute) |
| Larrick Womack | L | 6-5 | 265 | Memphis, Tenn. (East, Northwest C.C.) |
NATE BANKS, B, 5-11, 175, Liberty, Miss. (Amite County) -- Earned SuperPrep All-Dixie honors ... Mississippi Association of Coaches 3A All-State first team selection at wide receiver and second team All-State (all classifications) pick of The Clarion-Ledger, also at the wide receiver spot ... Made The Clarion-Ledger Top 40 list ... Two-time All-District selection ... Selected to participate in the 2002 Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game ... Played wide receiver and cornerback at Amite County, earning Most Valuable Players honors on his team ... During senior season, accounted for 2,276 all-purpose yards and 14 TDs ... Also returned punts and kickoffs ... Rushed 60 times for 760 yards with four TDs and caught 50 passes for 870 yards and eight TDs ... Returned 15 punts for 310 yards and two TDs, returning one for 90 yards and a score against Pass Christian ... Had 11 kickoff returns for 250 yards ... As a passer out of the backfield, was 2-for-4 for 96 yards and a 52-yard score ... On defense, had 47 tackles and two pass interceptions ... During junior season, had 25 receptions for 600 yards and seven TDs, while also gaining 400 yards rushing and returning a kickoff 98 yards for a TD ... Defensively, had four interceptions, 48 tackles, and one fumble recovery ... Earned District Player of the Year as a junior ... Coached in high school by Charles Jackson ... Earned three letters in football and four in track ... Was Most Valuable Player of track team, running sprints and on all relays, plus competing in triple jump ... PERSONAL: Son of Nathaniel and Ruby Banks ... Full name is Nathaniel Sentell Banks ... Born: October 28, 1983 ... Older brother, Alonzo, was an All-America sprinter for the Ole Miss track team, earning four letters (1995-96-97-99).
KEN BOURNES, B, 6-2, 255, Monticello, Miss. (Lawrence County, Copiah-Lincoln C.C.) -- Selected to SuperPrep JUCO Top 100 national list with a ranking of No. 15 ... Picked up All-Region 23 JUCO honors, plus All-America, All-Region, and All-State ... Rated by The Clarion-Ledger as the No. 4 Mississippi JUCO prospect ... While seeing limited action, capped his JUCO career with an eight tackle performance in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star game ... During sophomore season, had 115 tackles in nine games, including 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, while also being credited with six QB sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and two interceptions, including one returned for a TD ... Didn't start the first five games as a freshman, but still had 97 tackles and seven QB sacks ... Reported to junior college as 280 pound linebacker after gaining 40 pounds between high school and enrolling at Copiah-Lincoln ... Dropped down to 255 playing weight ... Coached in junior college by David Cross ... Earned two letters at Co-Lin ... HIGH SCHOOL: During senior season, helped lead Lawrence County to a 14-0 record and Class 4A state title as he earned first team All-State honors ... Selected Mississippi Association of Coaches Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year, All-State, All-District, and All-Region ... Credited with 260 career tackles ... Had 160 tackles, including four QB sacks and 13 tackles for loss, senior campaign when he also had four receptions for 60 yards ... Coached in high school by Danny Adams ... Earned three letters in football, one in basketball, and one in track ... PERSONAL: Son of Marvin and Doretha Bournes ... Full name is Kendrick Marquette Bournes ... Born: May 26, 1982.
BRYAN BROWN, B, 5-10, 185, Corinth, Miss. (High) -- Named to SuperPrep All-Dixie team ... First team All-State pick of the Mississippi Association of Coaches as well as The Clarion-Ledger, which also placed him on its Top 40 list ... Member of Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal All-Area first team at the quarterback spot ... Most Valuable Player of Division 3A ... Daily Corinthian Offensive Player of the Year ... Made "Elite 11" as picked by North Mississippi All-Sports Preview ... Selected to participate in the 2002 Alabama/Mississippi All-Start Game ... Compiled 9,830 yards and was responsible for 100 TDs during prep career ... As a senior at Corinth High, accounted for 3,164 total yards and 25 TDs .. Led Class 3A Mississippi passers as he completed 134 of 271 passes for 2,232 yards and 18 TDs ... Rushed for 796 yards on 133 carries and six TDs ... Returned seven punts for 75 yards ... Helped lead Corinth High to 13-2 record and Class 3A North Half title as the Warriors defeated Cleveland 24-7 ... As a junior, completed 125 of 261 passes for 2,132 yards and 20 TDs with only five interceptions ... Coached in high school by Jimmy Mitchell ... Earned four letters in football and four in basketball ... Averaged 17 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals in basketball ... Rated All-State, All-Division, and All-County ... PERSONAL: Son of Mary Brown and Ray McClellan ... Full name is Bryan Tremaine Brown ... Born: October 25, 1983.
DEDRICK CLARK, B, 6-5, 240, Pontotoc, Miss. (High) -- Named to SuperPrep All-Dixie squad ... First team All-State pick of The Clarion-Ledger ... Named All-District, All-Area, and All-Conference ... Selected to Elite 11 by North Mississippi All-Sports Preview and The Clarion-Ledger Top 40 ... Rivals.com Top 100 ... Selected to participate in the 2002 Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game ... Credited with 104 tackles during senior season as he caused three fumbles, recovered two fumbles, had two and one-half QB sacks, picked off two passes, broke up six passes, and blocked four kicks ... As a junior, had 69 tackles, one pass interception, and two caused fumbles, while on offense caught five passes for 21 yards and one TD, and rushed 33 times for 109 yards and six TDs ... Coached in high school by Dennis Robbins ... Earned four letters in football, five in basketball, and four in track ... Averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, and four blocks in basketball during junior season as he picked up All-Area honors ... PERSONAL: Son of Donald and Brenda Clark ... Full name is Dedrick Derrell Clark ... Born: November 11, 1982.
BRODRICK CROSS, B, 6-0, 225, Riviera Beach, Fla. (Palm Beach Gardens W.T. Dwyer) -- First team All-State linebacker and Sun-Sentinel Defensive Player of the Year ... Also Palm Beach Post Defensive Player of the Year and Outback Five City All-Star ... Two-time first team All-Conference ... Earned All-State honorable mention as a junior ... Two-time Defensive Most Valuable Player at Class 5A W. T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla ... As a senior, had 110 tackles, 35 assists, 15 tackles for loss, six QB sacks, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries ... Helped lead team to 8-3 record and Class 5A quarter-finals as a senior ... Team went 13-2 junior year, finishing as state runner-up ... Sophomore team made it to state semi-finals ... Career totals included 214 tackles, 84 assists, 23 hits for losses, 11 QB sacks, nine caused fumbles, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries ... Coached in high school by Jack Daniels ... Earned three letters in football and two in power-lifting ... Honor Roll student ... PERSONAL: Grandson of Willie Mae Cross ... Full name is Brodrick Cross ... Born: February 6, 1984.
ETHAN FLATT, B, 6-6, 197, Nashville, Tenn. (David Lipscomb) -- All-State pick in TSWA Class 2A as a senior ... Two-time All-Region selection, earning the honor his final two years at David Lipscomb High in Nashville, Tenn. ... Picked up Most Improved Player honors on his team as a junior when he was also Offensive Player of the Year in Region ... As a senior, passed for 1,877 yards and 27 TDs, with only five interceptions ... Career statistics had him throwing for over 3,300 yards with 51 TDs and just 11 interceptions ... Helped lead team to 13-2, 9-3, 9-4, and 10-2 records ... Coached in high school by Glenn McCadams ... Earned four letters in football, four in basketball, and one in track ... Averaged 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists in basketball as he earned All-District and All-Region ... Finished third in City meet and seventh in state 2A meet in the high jump ... National Honor Society member ... PERSONAL: Son of Steve and Patsi Flatt ... Father is President of Lipscomb University ... Full name is Ethan Gardner Flatt ... Born: June 2, 1983.
CHRIS HERRING, B, 6-2, 260, Courtland, Miss. (South Panola) -- All-America selection of Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report, PrepStar, SuperPrep, and Max Emfinger ... Also made SuperPrep All-Dixie squad and Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, Lemming's Top 100, Student Sports Top 101, and Collegefootballnews.com Top 140 ... Ranked by Tom Lemming as the nation's No. 15 linebacker ... Made All-South second team as picked by Fox Sports Net's Countdown to Signing Day ... Orlando Sentinel All-Southern honorable mention ... Two-time All-State pick of The Clarion-Ledger, which named him first team as a senior and second team as a junior ... Also made Mississippi Association of Coaches 5A All-State first team defense ... Made other first team All-State squads as a junior ... Three-time All-Region selection ... Member of The Clarion-Ledger "Ten Most Wanted" list, ranking No. 4 in Mississippi, as well as that newspaper's "Top 40" and "Dandy Dozen" ... Top 15 selection of The Sun Herald ... Selected to participate in the 2002 Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game ... As a senior at South Panola High in Batesville -- a school with a rich tradition of producing great linebackers -- had 120 tackles, five pass interceptions, four QB sacks, three fumble recoveries ... As a junior, also had 120 tackles, including 17 for losses, plus nine and one-half QB sacks, two caused fumbles, two pass interceptions, and knocked down seven passes ... Career totals included 420 tackles, 10 pass interceptions, and 30 QB sacks ... Playing fullback on offense as a junior, carried the ball 15 times for 150 yards and five TDs and caught five passes for 114 yards and three TDs ... Helped lead South Panola to 10-3 record and 1999 District Championship ... Coached in high school by Ed Stanley ... Earned four letters in football, four in basketball, and four in track ... Averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds in basketball junior season ... In track, has thrown the shot over 50 feet and the discus over 140 feet ... PERSONAL: Son of Ellen Herring ... Full name is Chris Maurice Herring ... Born: December 20, 1982.
BRANDON JENKINS, L, 6-5, 270, Memphis, Tenn. (East) -- All-State and All-Metro selection ... Two-time All-Region selection ... Also made Prep Star All-Region team ... Defensive Player of the Year ... Defensive Most Valuable Player ... Selected to play in Tennessee-Georgia All-Star game ... Knocked down 25 passes over two years ... As a senior, had 60 solo tackles, including 10 for losses, while being credited with nine QB sacks, and 15 passes batted down ... Career totals include 25 QB sacks ... Played on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Mustangs and excelled despite playing a large part of his senior season with a cast on his hand ... Coached in high school by Wayne Randall ... Earned letters in football, basketball, and track ... Outstanding track performer, having thrown the shot over 40 feet and the discus 128 feet ... Gospel Choir member at Memphis East ... Involved in Big Brother program at Breath of Life ... PERSONAL: Son of Sandra Hines ... Full name is Brandon Dershun Jenkins ... Born: February 8, 1984.
JAY KIRKLAND, L, 6-4, 295, New Albany, Miss. (W.P. Daniel) -- Named to SuperPrep, Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report, and Prep Star All-America squads ... Named All-Region by Prep Star as well as being a SuperPrep All-Dixie pick ... Border Wars All-South ... Orlando Sentinel All-Southern honorable mention ... Named All-South second team as picked by Fox Sports Net's Countdown to Signing Day ... Made The Clarion-Ledger first team All-State, "Dandy Dozen," and "Ten Most Wanted," ranking No. 4 in Mississippi, and "Top 40" list ... Named second team 3A All-State by the Mississippi Association of Coaches ... Top 15 selection of The Sun Herald ... Named to Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal All-Area Super 30 squad ... Alltel Elite 11 ... Super 22 and All-District 3A ... Two-time All-District selection ... Had 103 pancake blocks as a senior and 80 as a junior ... Graded out at 92 percent on his blocking assignments and didn't give up a QB sack ... Defensively, had 40 tackles and four QB sacks junior season ... Bench presses 340 pounds and squats 500 pounds ... Coached in high school by Steve Denson ... Earned four letters in football and two in baseball ... Pitched a no-hitter and his first hit in high school was a home run ... Honor Roll student ... U.S. Academy Award in Science ... PERSONAL: Son of Steve and Kathi Kirkland ... Full name is Jay Kirkland ... Born: September 17, 1983.
LAWRENCE LILLY, B, 6-4, 250, Montevallo, Ala. (High) -- Selected to Tom Lemming's Top 25 tight end list, ranking No. 15 in the nation and No. 1 in State of Alabama ... Also made All-Southeast team as picked Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report ... SuperPrep All-Dixie pick ... All-Region selection of Prep Star ... Earned Class 4A All-State honors in Alabama ... All-County and All-Metro ... Birmingham News Second Dozen Football Prospects ... Selected to play in Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... Considered one of the fastest tight ends in the south as well as being an excellent blocker ... Playing on a team which didn't pass much, caught 18 passes for 350 yards and three TDs during senior season ... Career totals (18 games) include 36 receptions for 558 yards and eight TDs ... Averaged 15.5 yards per catch ... Also had 54 tackles ... Recovered two fumbles, one for a TD ... Coached in high school by Charlie Boren ... Earned three letters in football and four in basketball ... Picked up All-County honors in basketball ... PERSONAL: Son of Lawrence and Catherine Lilly ... Full name is Lawrence Lilly II ... Born: March 14, 1984.
JAMES McCOY, L, 6-4, 290, Moss Point, Miss. (High) -- First team All-State selection of The Clarion-Ledger and the Mississippi Association of Coaches in 2001 ... Also picked up All-State honors as a junior ... Rated "Dandy Dozen" and Top 40 list by The Clarion-Ledger ... Three-time All-Coast and All-Region selection ... Also All-Area pick ... Considered by The Sun Herald as the top-rated prospect in South Mississippi ... Selected to participate in the 2002 Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game ... Averaged four pancake blocks per game ... Didn't give up a QB sack his senior season ... Helped lead Moss Point to 13-1 record and 5A State Championship junior season, and 12-3 record and runner-up spot during senior campaign ... Bench presses 400 pounds and squats 500 ... Coached in high school by Jerry Alexander ... Earned three letters in football and four in track ... Has thrown discus 153-4 and shot 49-8 ... PERSONAL: Son of Cassoundra McCoy ... Full name is James Raynard McCoy ... Born: August 16, 1983.
JAYME MITCHELL, L, 6-6, 275, Jackson, Miss. (Forest Hill) -- All-State first team selection of the Mississippi Association of Coaches (5A) as well as The Clarion-Ledger ... Also made The Clarion-Ledger All-Metro first team and "Ten Most Wanted" list ... Made "Top 15" as selected by The Sun Herald ... All-District ... Defensive Most Valuable Player in Region ... All-Southeast Region selection by Prep Star as well as All-Southeast pick by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report ... Made All-South second team as picked by Fox Sports Net's Countdown to Signing Day ... Selected to play in 2002 Alabama/Mississippi All-Star game ... As a senior, was credited with 120 tackles, including 28 hits for losses and three QB sacks ... Caused three fumbles ... Also played some linebacker ... Had 101 tackles, including 20 for losses, three QB sacks, and knocked down five passes junior season ... Coached in high school by Bill Giles ... Earned four letters in football ... PERSONAL: Son of James Mitchell and Eva Kelly ... Full name is Jayme Dondrell Mitchell ... Born: March 15, 1984.
JAMAL PITTMAN, L, 6-2, 230, Columbia, Miss. (High) -- Selected to Max Emfinger National High School All-American team ... Made Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team, Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report All-Southeast team, and Prep Star All-Region squad ... First team All-State pick of Mississippi Association of Coaches, which also named him 3A Offensive Player of the Year ... First team All-State selection of The Clarion-Ledger, which includes all classifications, as well as that newspaper's "Ten Most Wanted" list, ranking No. 6 in Mississippi ... Earned second team All-State honors as a junior ... Made The Sun Herald "Top 15" Mississippi list and Tom Lemming's Top 25 national Running Backs list ... Two-Time All-Area selection of The Hattiesburg American ... Three-time All-District ... Senior honors also included Hattiesburg American Prep Player of the Week, WDAM/Hair World Offensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year, Marion County Most Valuable Player and Player of the Year, and Mississippi NFL Players Most Valuable Player of Marion County ... Selected to participate in the 2002 Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game ... During his career at Columbia High, rushed for 5,522 yards and scored 75 TDs ... Rushed for 3,117 yards and 36 TDs on 384 carries during senior season as Columbia finished 11-3, advancing to the South State Championship game and a No. 19 ranking in the final Associated Press poll ... Also had 600 yards passing and 55 tackles ... His 218 points (36 TDs, 1 two-point conversion) led Region 8-3A as well as the entire state among all classifications as did his 3,117 yards rushing ... As a junior, rushed for 1,482 yards and 20 TDs on 193 carries, while catching six passes for 100 yards ... Had a 99-yard run against Pearl River Central ... Helped lead Columbia High to South State Championship in 1998 as well as Marion County Championship three years and District Championship three years ... Coached in high school by Joey Porter ... PERSONAL: Son of Tim and Donna Pittman ... Full name is Jamal Y. Pittman ... Born: February 16, 1983.
JEREMY RUFFIN, B, 6-2, 205, Meridian, Miss. (High) -- Picked up All-America honors from SuperPrep magazine in 2000 ... Was first team All-State selection of The Clarion-Ledger and the Mississippi Association of Coaches ... Was named to The Clarion-Ledger "Ten Most Wanted" list and Dandy Dozen ... Made SuperPrep Dixie team and Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report All-Southeast team ... Max Emfinger.rivals.com Nifty 150 Bluechips selection ... Made BorderWars.com Top 100 list ... Named to Fox Sports Net's Countdown to Signing Day "All-South" third team ... Played in 2001 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic in Mobile, Ala. ... Playing linebacker and defensive end, had 313 tackles and 39 QB sacks as a three-year starter at Class 5A Meridian High ... As a senior, was credited with 101 tackles, including 90 solo hits, and 13 QB sacks ... Also had three pass interceptions and four knockdowns ... Coached in high school by Bill Sartin ... Earned letters in football and basketball ... Averaged 15.0 points and 15.0 rebounds in basketball ... PERSONAL: Son of Green Berry Ruffin and Tommie Jean Ruffin ... Full name is Jeremy D. Ruffin ... Born: June 27, 1982.
ANTONIO SANDERS, L, 6-4, 300, Memphis, Tenn. (Fairley) -- Earned first team All-Memphis and All-Region honors while being named honorable mention All-State ... Made preseason All-Shelby-Metro and All-Region ... Had 35 pancake blocks and didn't allow a QB sack during senior season ... Helped Fairley reach the second round of the playoffs ... Coached in high school by Rahnmann Slocum ... Earned three letters in football ... Honor Roll student ... PERSONAL: Son of Anita Hardy ... Full name is Antonio Jermaine Sanders ... Born: May 12, 1983.
ANDREW WICKER, L, 6-5, 270, Zachary, La. (Silliman Institute) -- Named to Prep Star All-Southeast Region team as well as SuperPrep Southwest team ... Super Dozen second team in State of Louisiana ... Two-time MPSA All-State selection ... Participated in MPSA All-Star Football Game ... Three years All-District ... Twice selected Most Valuable Player on defense in conference ... As a senior, had 141 tackles and eight QB sacks with 21 of his hits behind the line of scrimmage in helping 3A Silliman Institute in Clinton, La., to a 14-0 record and State Championship ... Also caught nine passes for 120 yards and two TDs ... During junior season, had 128 tackles, including with 22 behind the line while being credited with 11 QB sacks and four fumble recoveries ... Career totals included 430 tackles, 40 QB sacks, and 80 hits behind the line of scrimmage ... Coached in high school by Marvin Holland ... Earned four letters in football, four in track, and three in power-lifting ... PERSONAL: Son of Ted and Jan Wicker ... Full name is Andrew Wicker ... Born: September 20, 1983 ... Cousin of former Ole Miss Rebs Kyle, Trey, and Britt Wicker.
LARRICK WOMACK, L, 6-5, 265, Memphis, Tenn. (East, Northwest C.C.) -- JUNIOR COLLEGE: After originally signing with Ole Miss in February of 2000, enrolled at Northwest (Miss.) Community College where he earned two letters with the Rangers ... Two-year defensive totals included 73 tackles, six QB sacks, six caused fumbles, 18 hits behind the line of scrimmage, six QB pressures, and one fumble recovery ... Named to Top 25 JUCO Football Recruits list by The Clarion Ledger ... Picked up MACJC honorable mention All-State honors for his 2001 sophomore season as he saw action in nine of 10 games, starting six, either at defensive end or defensive tackle ... Finished seventh on team in tackles with 51, including 26 solo hits ... Tied for third on team with four QB sacks for a minus 14 yards ... Had nine other tackles behind the line of scrimmage for a minus 39 yards ... Caused four fumbles and recovered one ... Had three QB pressures ... Had season-high eight tackles against Northeast ... Had two QB sacks against Holmes ... Forced two fumbles against Mississippi Delta ... As a freshman in 2000, appeared in nine games and started five at defensive end ... Finished season with 22 total tackles, including 13 solo hits ... Registered two QB sacks for a minus 15 yards ... Caused two fumbles and made five tackles behind the line of scrimmage for a minus 20 yards ... Posted a season-high six tackles against Northeast ... Coached in junior college by former Ole Miss quarterback Bobby Ray Franklin ... HIGH SCHOOL: Helped lead Memphis East to 13-2 record and Class 4A state championship ... Was credited with 142 tackles, including 63 solo hits and nine QB sacks ... Also scored one TD on a 61-yard fumble recovery ... Batted down eight passes ... Played only one year at East where he earned first team All-Region 8-4A honors and was also selected the Most Valuable Defensive Player in Region 8 ... Was named Most Outstanding Newcomer, Most Valuable Defensive Player, and Most Improved Player at Memphis East ... Leading tackler in state championship win over Knoxville Center with eight hits, including two QB sacks for a minus 21 yards ... Coached at Memphis East by Wayne Randall ... Transferred to East from Southeast High School in Macon, Georgia ... Was All-City and Best of Preps while playing in Georgia ... Earned four letters in football, four in basketball, and one in track during prep career ... Averaged 12.2 points and eight rebounds in basketball ... PERSONAL: Son of Gwendolyn Womack ... Full name is Larrick J. Womack ... Born: April 18, 1982.
