Now, they’re hungry to keep on winning at the college level.
Receiver/kick returner Reese signed with Baylor and center Gunn committed to play for Mary Hardin-Baylor as six Wildcats solidified college plans during a Wednesday afternoon ceremony at Temple’s crowded fieldhouse.
Defensive back Toravion Belcher and tight end Quientel Rutledge both signed with Cisco Junior College, while offensive lineman Jimmy White committed to UMHB and kicker Chris Winkler said he’s been invited to try to walk on at Baylor.
“All of these kids are part of the last two years as we’ve gone 11-2 in district and made the playoffs two years in a row, which hadn’t happened in a long time,” Temple coach Bryce Monsen said. “They helped re-establish the Wildcat tradition. We’re very proud of them and they’re great kids.”
After giving coach Art Briles and Baylor a verbal commitment last July 25, the speedy Reese finally got to make it official Wednesday, the first day recruits could sign binding letters of intent.
Although he’s still got the rest of the spring semester left to go, Reese - likely an inside receiver at Baylor - sounds eager to get to the Waco campus and help the Bears continue their efforts to build a consistently winning program.
“I’m excited and just ready to go,” said Reese, who also had strong recruiting interest from Texas Tech and Texas Christian. “I like Baylor because they have a new offense and new coaches and I’ll have a chance to play.”
As a senior Reese caught 31 passes for 542 yards - highlighted by a tumbling, juggling catch against College Station A&M Consolidated - and three touchdowns for the 5-6 Wildcats. He also returned kickoffs and punts and saw some action on defense.
Reese likes the idea of joining forces with dynamic quarterback Robert Griffin, the former Copperas Cove star who as a true freshman helped Baylor become much more competitive in Briles’ first season. Reese said he and Griffin are friends who often exchange text messages, with Griffin giving Reese tips about Baylor’s program and aspects of adjusting to college life.
Reese, who received a full scholarship for football, says he also plans to compete in track and field for Baylor. He captured a total of nine medals in district, regional and state meets last spring, capped by a bronze in the Class 5A 300-meter hurdles at state.
“I think Tevin might be the sleeper out of this class,” Briles said. “He comes out of a storied program at Temple High School. The kid can run.
“He’ll have the opportunity to be the 5A state champion in the intermediate (300) hurdles - I’d be surprised if he’s not - and he’s hungry and anxious to play at the Big 12 level. We like the attitude and the athletic ability that he brings to us.”
While Reese joins a Baylor program seeking to rise in the demanding Big 12, Gunn joins a UMHB program that has dominated the American Southwest Conference and ranks among the country’s top three Division III programs.
A third-team all-state player who led Temple’s blockers in the run-based Wing-T offense, Gunn knows he’s entering a good situation with the rushing-heavy Crusaders.
“I’m used to it (run blocking) and I like the program they have,” Gunn said, mentioning that UMHB’s Belton campus is close enough and yet far away enough from home. “I watched a couple of their workouts and it really appealed to me.”
With UMHB having won four consecutive ASC championships and advanced to the national semifinals the last two years, Gunn - who plans to double-major in accounting and finance - knows there will be fierce internal competition to earn playing time early on.
“I’m going to go there and give it my best,” he said.
Gunn’s fellow lineman White said the opportunity to be a part of UMHB’s winning ways appealed to him. He said it’s likely he’ll play for the Crusaders’ junior varsity team as a freshman.
Winkler, who received an academic scholarship to Baylor and plans to major in marketing, said Briles has invited him as a “preferred walk-on” to try to earn a spot on the Bears’ 2009 squad.
“I went up to Baylor’s camp last June and did real well,” said Winkler, a third-team all-state pick at punter who handled all of Temple’s kicking duties. “They have Ben Parks at kicker and he’s really good. I’m hoping that I can do kickoffs and work my way in.”
gwille@temple-telegram.com
