Feb. 1, 2006

Charleston, S.C. -

The Citadel Athletics Department and Football Head Coach Kevin Higgins released the names of 22 athletes who will join the Bulldogs as members of the 2006 recruiting class at a press conference held at the Altman Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 3 p.m.

The group of signees consists of nine South Carolina athletes, four from North Carolina, three from Georgia, three from Florida and one each from Alabama, Illinois and Texas. Of the South Carolinians, four from the Lowcountry, representing Bishop England, Summerville and Wando high schools, will have the opportunity to stick around and play before their hometown crowds.

Among the class are five offensive linemen, four defensive backs, three linebackers, three wide receivers, two three defensive lineman, two tight ends, one quarterback and one running back. Five of the athletes have earned All-Conference honors, while one received All-District honors and seven were named to All-Region teams. Twelve athletes were also team captains during their high school careers.

The 2006 class is the first recruiting class for Higgins since joining the Bulldogs staff in 2005. Looking forward to bringing in the new group of athletes, he addressed the media on Wednesday afternoon in regards to the 2006 signees and the upcoming football season.

"Our coaching staff is extremely excited about our first recruiting class," Higgins said. "We met our initial goals of recruiting more speed and bigger athletic linemen. We were looking for players that were captains of their high school teams and involved in more than one sport. We sought competitors and we found them. We searched for people of character, guys that really want to be at The Citadel."

The 2006 football spring season will kick-off on Feb. 18 with spring practice and the team will report in the fall on Aug. 3. The Bulldogs' first football game of the 2006 season will take place at Texas A & M on Saturday, Sept. 2.

-For a complete list of the 2006 signing class, click here