Their signings brings the Hilltoppers’ 2006 recruiting class to a total of 22 student-athletes, a group that includes 21 freshmen.
“We are excited to add Robert and Neil to our signing class,” said Elson. “They are quality young men who will impact our program in a positive way, and also provide us much-needed depth and competition on the defensive line.”
Dark, a 6-foot-2, 265-pound defensive end from Burlington, N.C., posted 20.5 sacks while averaging eight tackles per contest at Hibbing (Minn.) Community College last season. He also recorded six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception while being named second-team all-Minnesota Community College League. A first-team all-MCCL selection his freshman season after being credited with 16.5 sacks, Dark was voted first-team all-state as a senior at Cummings High School. He started three years at CHS, helping lead the Cavaliers to the 2002 state championship.
A 6-foot-1, 280-pound defensive lineman from Tampa, Fla., Harrell had 91 total tackles, including 27 behind the line of scrimmage, 11 sacks and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown while leading Plant High to the 2005 district championship and a 9-3 finish. In his only year with the Panthers, he was a first-team all-conference selection and was voted second-team all-county. Harrell has also been selected to participate in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game.
The entire Western Kentucky football 2006 recruiting class follows:
Name (Ht., Wt., Cl.-Exp., Pos., Hometown, Previous School) Darius Baughman (6-1, 205, Fr.-HS, OLB, Danville, Ky., Danville HS) K.J. Black (6-4, 210, Fr.-HS, QB, Louisville, Ky., Fern Creek HS) Ghervon Blue (6-1, 180, Fr.-HS, S, Marietta, Ga., Marietta HS) *Blake Boyd (6-3, 235, Fr.-TR, OLB, Madisonville, Ky., Louisville) Marquise Burns (6-0, 210, Fr.-HS, ILB, Dayton, Ohio, Colonel White HS) Robert Dark (6-2, 265, Jr.-JC, DE, Burlington, N.C., Hibbing [Minn.] CC) Derrick Elder (6-2, 310, Fr.-HS, OL, Louisville, Ky., St. Xavier HS) C.J. Foster (5-10, 165, Fr.-HS, CB, Tuscumbia, Ala., Deshler HS) Mike Gothard (6-1, 225, Fr.-HS, ILB, Marietta, Ga., George Walton Comprehensive HS) Neil Harrell (6-1, 280, Fr.-HS, DL, Tampa, Fla., Plant HS) Entonia Johnson (6-0, 280, Fr.-HS, DL, Hamilton, Ga., Harris County HS) Rod Johnson (6-0, 235, Fr.-HS, FB, Lexington, Ky., Henry Clay HS) Erik Jones (5-9, 170, Fr.-HS, CB, Cincinnati, Ohio, Winton Woods HS) Ronnie Letcher (6-1, 190, Fr.-HS, S, Richmond, Ky., Madison Central HS) Jacob McLaurin (6-5, 300, Fr.-HS, OL, Indianapolis, Ind., Warren Central HS) Orlando Misaalefua (6-0, 190, Fr.-HS, S, Fort Campbell, Ky., Fort Campbell HS) Clint Mitchell (6-1, 180, Fr.-HS, S, Stockbridge, Ga., Stockbridge HS) Mychal Patterson (6-4, 275, Fr.-HS, DL, Stone Mountain, Ga., Meadowcreek HS) Lloyd Pressley (6-4, 260, Fr.-HS, OL, Evansville, Ind., Reitz HS) Seth Tamme (6-0, 175, Fr.-HS, WR, Danville, Ky., Boyle County HS) B.J. Taylor (6-2, 250, Fr.-HS, DL, Cherokee, Ala., Deshler HS) DeMarco Williams (6-4, 215, Fr.-HS, OLB, Louisville, Ky., Ballard HS) *transferred to WKU prior to the start of the Spring 2006 semester
