Austin Peay State University Football signs 22 Players – Clarksville Online
Clarksville, Tennessee — Austin Peay State University (APSU) head football coach Scotty Walden closed the 2023 governors’ signing class by adding 22 players — including eight three-star recruits — on National Signing Day, Wednesday.
Austin Peay State University will receive a quartet of Division I transfers who began their college careers as three-star signers. Matthew Flint, a graduating transfer linebacker from western Kentucky, is joined by wide receiver Brenen Hawkins (Kansas State), defensive back Benji Johnson (New Mexico) and wide receiver Khatib Lyles (North Texas).
The governors also added a quartet of three-star recruits from the prep ranks, including three Tennessee products. Joining defensive back Jeremiah Collins (Oakland HS), athlete Courtland Simmons (Davidson Academy) and running back Marquez Taylor (McKenzie HS) is Kaden Williams, a running back from St. James High School in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
The eight three-stars the governors added on National Signing Day join Jaden McKinney of Collierville High School and MJ Singleton of Garden City Community College, who signed in the early days to extend Austin Peay State University to a total Bring 10 three-star recruits to Class 2023.
According to 247sports.com, the trio of Jeremiah Collins (.8736 composite), Taylor (.8478 composite) and McKinney (.8467) are the three highest-rated recruits in program history.
The class is getting another infusion of in-state prep talent on the offensive side in Dane Woodard (Smith County HS) and Malaki Dowell (White County HS). The APSU Govs also added two standout players from Georgia in quarterback Ty Watkins (South Forsyth HS) and wide receiver Jaden Barnes (Langston Hughes HS) on offense. Walden finished the class on offense and headed to his home state of Texas to add Josiah Drake (Duncanville HS).
Today’s offensive signers will join prep offensive linemen Leo Gonzalez (Lenoir City HS) and Ty Williams (Greeneville HS) and junior college wide receiver Ashton Nickelberry (Jones County CC), all of whom signed in the early stages.
On the defensive side, APSU administrations added Division I transfers Tahir Annoor (Wofford), Tyler Long (Norfolk State) and Michael Ruttlen Jr. (Princeton) to tie with junior college transfers Carson Conner (East Mississippi) and Zach Avina (Golden) to go West).
Two in-state products conclude the defense-themed class, with prep quarterback Griffin Throneberry (Mt. Juliet HS) switching to the defensive side so the Governors can play alongside linebacker Javen Edminston (Summertown HS). The Throneberry and Edminston duo will join Frank Caldwell III (Pace Academy) and Garrett Hawkins (Sevier County HS), who signed during the early signing phase.
Finally, TJ Hartley, a kicker and punter from Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Georgia, is graduating from the Governors 2023 signing class.
For full 2023 Austin Peay State University signee biographies please see the attached PDF below.
For more off-season news and updates on Austin Peay State University football, click here Twitter and Instagram or be sure to check back at LetsGoPeay.com.
Austin Peay State University Football 2023 Signing Class
| athlete | Ht. | weight | position | hometown | Secondary school | previous school |
| Tahir Annoor | 5-11 | 195 | DB | Nashville, Tennessee. | Nashville, Tennessee. | Wolford |
| Zach Avina | 6-2 | 205 | LB | Huntington Beach, California | Palm Desert HS | Golden West College |
| Jaden Barnes | 5-9 | 160 | WR | Fairburn, Ga. | Langston Hughes HS | |
| Frank Caldwell III †| 6-2 | 215 | LB | Smyrna, Ga. | Tempo Academy | |
| Jeremiah Collins | 6-2 | 160 | DB | Murfreesboro, Tennessee. | Oakland HS | |
| MarceoCollins | 6-3 | 265 | DL | Ringgold, Ga. | The Baylor School | |
| Carson Conner * | 6-4 | 280 | DL | Picayune, miss. | Picayune Memorial HS | Eastern Mississippi CC |
| Malaki Dowell | 5-10 | 185 | RB | Sparta, Tenn. | White County HS | |
| Josiah Drake | 6-3 | 275 | OIL | Duncanville, Texas | Duncanville HS | |
| Javen Edmiston | 6-1 | 215 | LB | Summertown, Tennessee. | summer town HS | |
| Matthew Flintstone * | 6-0 | 240 | LB | Huntsville, Ala. | Madison County HS | Western Kentucky / North Carolina |
| Leo Gonzalez †* | 6-4 | 295 | OIL | Lenoir City, Tennessee. | Lenoir City HS | |
| TJHartley | 6-0 | 172 | K/P | Fayetteville, Ga. | Whitewater HS | |
| Brenen Hawkins | 6-3 | 211 | WR | Colleyville, Texas | heir HS | State of Kansas |
| Garrett Hawkins†| 6-2 | 220 | LB | Seville, Tennessee. | Sevier County HS | |
| Benji Johnson* | 6-4 | 215 | DB | Hook, Texas | hook HS | New Mexico |
| Tyler Lang * | 5-11 | 222 | LB | Cincinnati, Ohio | Hughes STEM HS | Lackawanna CC / State of Norfolk |
| Khatib Lyles | 6-1 | 218 | WR | El Paso, Texas | Parkland HS | North Texas |
| Jaden McKinney †| 6-4 | 280 | OL/DL | Collierville, Tenn. | Collierville HS | |
| Kyan Miller †| 6-3 | 230 | DL | Lexington, Ky. | Henry Clay HS | |
| Ashton Nickelberry †* | 5-10 | 184 | WR | Brandon, miss. | Brandon HS | Jones County JC |
| Michael Ruttlen Jr. | 5-9 | 195 | DB | Mount Juliet, Tennessee. | Mount Julia HS | Princeton |
| Courtland Simmons | 5-10 | 185 | ATH | Nashville, Tennessee. | Davidson Academy | |
| MJ Singleton †* | 5-10 | 170 | WR | Lubbock, Texas | Monterey HS | Garden City CC (Can.) |
| Marquez Taylor | 6-0 | 170 | RB | McKenzie, Tennessee. | McKenzie HS | |
| Griffin Throneberry | 6-2 | 205 | ATH | Mt Juliet, Tennessee. | Mt Julia HS | |
| Ty Watkins | 6-3 | 220 | QB | Cumming, Ga. | South Forsyth HS | |
| Caden Williams | 5-9 | 180 | RB | Thibodaux, La. | St James HS | |
| Ty Williams †| 6-4 | 276 | OIL | Greenville, Tennessee. | Greenville HS | |
| Dane Woodard | 6-9 | 345 | OIL | Carthage, Tenn. | Smith County HS |
†– Signed during the early signing period of December (8), * – Mid-year early enrollment/transfer
2023 Austin Peay State University Football Signees Resume
Download (PDF, 160KB)
