ENMU adds three transfers for 2018 football season

PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds signed three football recruits on Wednesday, as part of the NCAA’s new early signing period.

Greyhound football coach Kelley Lee announced the signings of three offensive linemen — James Morris, David Saunders and Guseppe Scalise — as part of the Hounds’ ongoing recruiting class for 2018, which will conclude with several more signings in early February.

The new early period is intended for Division I programs only, but ENMU is allowed to use the period to sign transfers.

Saunders and Scalise are both junior college players, having played their freshman years in California. Scalise played at Sierra Junior College in Rocklin, California, approximately 30 miles north of Sacramento.

Saunders, meanwhile, started 10 games as a true freshman at Los Angeles Pierce College. Lee was quoted as saying that he was happy to sign two juco guys that each have three years of college eligibility remaining, as most college football players tend to transfer from junior college after two years.

Finally, Morris spent the past few years at New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in Roswell, in which he started 22 games along the way. Morris played both center and tackle for the Broncos, but also battled through some injuries, forcing him to take a redshirt year along the way.

“Offensively, we have seven starters coming back next year, but we lost three offensive linemen,” Lee explained. “Signing three linemen is great for our depth, and it’s huge for (the three players). The big thing is that two of them can play center, which we really needed.”

For Lee, the early signing period doesn’t really affect his Greyhounds too much, as he went on to say that the Division I schools are more impacted by recruits’ decisions. In fact, the main challenge for Lee is that the open signing period for junior college players runs through the end of the month, so it’s key for a Division II school like Eastern to sign those players, who, in some cases, hold out for a D1 offer instead.

As for the aforementioned trio of linemen, a big challenge in recruiting for ENMU is that Lee’s triple option offense means that his team has to be a bit more selective, i.e. picky, about who the Greyhounds go after.

“You gotta see them in a three-point stance,” Lee said. “So many kids now don’t get down in a stance and line up to pass protect (instead). The good thing about the three of them is that they all played in offenses that at least ran the ball effectively.”

National Signing Day will be held on Feb. 7. Lee, anticipates ENMU will sign about 25 to30 players, and also anticipates a few transfers along the way.

“With high school kids, we try to sign a full offense and defense every year,” Lee explained. “We try to recruit every position, and of course, there’s transfers (as well). Specifically, we’re looking to sign a couple safeties and a defensive lineman.”