“We are excited to get these four young men on campus in January,” said Elson. “Jihad and Marcus are both great athletes that will provide us with depth and competition at cornerback. Terald gives us an active playmaker at nose tackle, and Zack is a big physical presence on the offensive line — both will give us depth as well as competition.
“Winter conditioning and spring practice will be opportune times for these young men to get acclimated to our WKU Football family, set a firm academic foundation and compete to help us be successful in 2007.”
Clark is a 5-foot-11, 295-pound defensive lineman from Galena Park, Texas, who helped Blinn Community College to a 12-0 record and the No. 1 ranking in the final National Junior College Athletic Association poll last season after the Buccaneers won the Pilgrims Pride Bowl Classic. An honorable mention all-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection in 2006, his efforts helped BCC lead the nation after surrendering 39.1 rushing yards and 129.55 total yards per game. Clark was also selected honorable mention all-league as a freshman.
A 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back from Indianapolis, Ind., Minor posted 34 total tackles and five interceptions — he was tied for third in the Midwest Football Conference in the latter category — to earn first-team all-region and all-conference accolades. Joliet Junior College, which finished 6-2 to win the league’s East Division title en route to a 7-4 overall finish, was ranked 19th in the final NJCAA rankings.
Morris will have three years of eligibility remaining after he was named first-team all-Northeast Football Conference in his only season at Hudson Valley Community College. The 6-foot, 180-pound native of Newburgh, N.Y., led the Vikings with 67 total stops — he had three contests with 10 or more — while adding four passes broken up and an interception. Morris played defensive back at HVCC, but was an all-state selection as a running back following his senior season at Newburgh Free Academy.
Ray, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound offensive lineman, helped Copiah-Lincoln Community College finish sixth in the final NJCAA poll after a 21-0 victory over Georgia Military College in the Sea Island Company’s Golden Isles Bowl Classic. The Wolfpack posted a 9-3 overall record thanks to the Brookhaven, Miss., resident’s efforts.
The Hilltoppers lost 17 seniors due to graduation following last year’s 6-5 campaign. They will be in the first of two transitional seasons as an NCAA Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) member in the fall.
