Buccaneer head coach Paul Hamilton looked out his back door to fill the ranks of East Tennessee State’s 2003 football recruiting class. The group includes 11 high school seniors from Tennessee — three from the Tri-Cities area.
“The group coming in is not a big class, but fortunately we got a lot of guys coming back,” Hamilton said. “The recruits have a chance to be quality players in our program.”
“We’re winning the battles against other bigger schools recruiting in-state guys,” Hamilton said.
Walter Brown, a 5-10 185 back from Elizabethton High School, signed Wednesday. Brown was a four-year letterwinner at Elizabethton, where he broke two school records: rushing 1,678 yards in 10 games and scoring 174 points in a season.
Another local talent, Tennessee High’s Bart McMillan, also signed with the Bucs. The 6-2 215 linebacker had 80 solo tackles, 38 assists, six sacks and caused four fumbles his senior year. He also averaged 7.7 yards a carry and had seven touchdowns as fullback in 2002.
“That’s two guys we’ve hoped to get in this program for awhile. I’ve watched them both for years,” Hamilton said. “I’ve followed Brown for a number of years and I’m looking forward to what he can bring to our program and I’m enthusiastic about Bart and what he can bring.”
Matthew Hurd (Sullivan North) is another local player who can help on the offensive line or as a linebacker. Hurd (6-3, 215) had 114 tackles, 17 for loss, 12 sacks for loss seven fumbles and 34 pancake blocks.
“He’s a big kid that can play either tight end or outside linebacker,” Hamilton said.
Tate Pittman was another to join the Buc squad. Pittman’s brother Brock, a 6-2 295 lineman, plays for the Bucs. Tate said he wanted to play with his brother his last year of eligibility.
“You can never have enough of those guys on your team,” Hamilton said.
Kenny Harper, who recently played in the Tennessee-Kentucky all-star game, was another Tennessee player to sign.
“He may be one of the best players in the state of Tennessee and one of the best players to come to our program,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton also said the offensive line was one of ETSU’s bigger problems last year and they had concentrated on that in their search.
“We needed help on the offensive line and some guys to help out up front,” Hamilton said. “The guys we signed have the size we need to get a little bigger, stronger up front.”
Seven of the 12-man class were lineman. Donald Butcher (6-5 310) of Hixson and Brandon Barnes (6-5 250) of East Ridge are both lineman from Chattanooga, and Sevier County’s Brandon Gibson (6-3 295) was another signee.
The Bucs also got two transfers for the line.
Former Sullivan South standout Anthony Nelson (6-4 334) will join the Bucs from Virginia Tech and Kameron Northern (6-3 350) came from El Camino Community College in Los Angeles.
Ricky Epps (6-1 260) from Fort Myers is a defenive lineman.
Hamilton said another signee will more than likely be announced today. He said it would be someone South Carolina was looking at.
Hamilton also said spring practice will probably start on March 27.

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