By Brian Ramsey
OBU Sports Information

ARKADELPHIA – Coming off its seventh season with at least nine wins, which was also its 13th consecutive winning season, the Ouachita Baptist University football program has announced the signing of 29 high school seniors and one college transfer from across five states to join the team for the 2022 season.

“This is one of our smaller classes, so this year was all about filling needs,” said Head Coach Todd Knight. “Our coaching staff worked extremely hard, and did a great job of finding guys that have the total package and fit the Ouachita football program well. We solidified our depth at defensive back and defensive line. We feel great about the guys we’ve signed, with some expected to make an impact early.”

The Tigers bring in 17 players on the defensive side of the ball, 12 on offense, and one kicker. By position, there are eight defensive backs, five defensive linemen, five offensive linemen, three linebackers, three running backs, one receiver, one quarterback, one defensive end, one tight end, one fullback, and one kicker.

More than half of the 2022 class (18 signees) comes from within the state boundaries and from every region of the state – stretching from Gentry to Crossett, Jonesboro to Prescott, and six from central Arkansas. The larger part of the remaining signees comes from Texas (eight), with two coming from Oklahoma, and one each from Tennessee and Florida.

“As always, we are pleased that our staff searched high schools from all around the region to find the right guys for us at the right time,” said Knight.

The 30 signees will join 92 others that are currently going through the offseason program on campus. Knight said those current players were also instrumental in this year’s recruiting process. “We were able to sign 86 percent of the young men that came on official visits this year, which says a lot about the culture and atmosphere that is here now. It’s also a tribute to our former players that have left such a great legacy.”