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This is the third recruiting class for Candle as head coach. UT’s 2017 class was ranked No. 1 in the MAC by all major recruiting services, and his 2016 class was ranked No. 2 in the MAC by 247 Sports, and No. 3 by Rivals and Scout.com.
Candle and his staff signed players from seven different states, and 10 of the future Rockets are from Ohio and Michigan. The staff hit the talent-rich state of Florida hard, hauling in four signees. The remaining recruits hail from all over the map: California, Illinois, New York, and West Virginia.
Sam Baker
Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 285, St. Petersburg, Fla.-Admiral Farragut
Baker is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports and started on the offensive line at Admiral Farragut Academy, which competes at the FHSAA's Class 2A level.
Nate Bauer
Defensive Back, 6-0, 190, Akron, Ohio-Archbishop Hoban
Bauer is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. Bauer helped Archbishop Hoban win a state championship in 2017, its first season playing elevated competition in Division II. He recorded three tackles, one TFL, and two pass breakups in the state championship game, as well as one reception for 36 yards. He also helped the Knights to Division III state championships in 2015 and 2016.
Daniel Bolden
Linebacker, 6-1, 230, Cincinnati, Ohio-Colerain
Bolden is a three-star recruit according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He helped lead Colerain to an OHSAA state semifinal appearance as a senior and was named first team All-Greater Miami Conference, All-Southwest Ohio, and All-Ohio. The team captain and 2017 team MVP tallied 127 tackles as a senior as well as six sacks, four forced fumbles, four interceptions, and two touchdowns. Bolden started 42 consecutive games at linebacker for Colerain.
Carter Bradley
Quarterback, 6-3, 208, Jacksonville, Fla.-Providence
Bradley is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports, and he is a consensus Top 20 pro-style quarterback prospect. He participated in the Elite 11 finals, which annually invites only the best high school quarterbacks in the nation to attend.
Nick Carey
Offensive Lineman, 6-7, 290, Novi, Mich.-Detroit Catholic Central
Carey is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He helped Detroit Catholic Central to a semifinal appearance in the MHSAA Division I state tournament as a senior. Carey enjoyed winning seasons with the Shamrocks the last three seasons, including a 13-1 mark as a junior in 2016 and a berth in the state championship game.
Jalin Cooper
Wide Receiver, 6-4, 180, Medina, N.Y.-Medina
A three-star recruit according to Scout.com and 247 Sports, Cooper is the 14th-ranked recruit from the state of New York in the 2018 class. He was an all-state performer as a junior in 2016, when he totaled 1,213 total yards and 16 touchdowns (seven rushing, six receiving, two kickoff returns, one punt return). In 2017, he caught 14 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns. A skilled returner, he tied a career-high with 247 kick return yards as a senior and had four return touchdowns during his career.
Lavel Dumont
Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 270, Tampa, Fla.-Wharton
Dumont is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He was named one of the 50 best players in the Tampa area prior to the 2017 season by the Tampa Bay Times, despite 2016 being his first season of organized football.
Conor Head
Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 261, Richfield, Ohio-Revere
Head earned first team all-state honors during his playing career at Revere. The offensive lineman was also a two-time Northeast All-Inland District selection and Suburban League selection. Head was honored by the local media too, being named to the Akron Beacon Journal's All-Star team.
Jamal Hines
Defensive End, 6-2, 216, Cincinnati, Ohio-Princeton
Hines is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He earned AP Division II all-district honors as a junior and he was a first team All-Greater Miami Conference selection.
Jake Hudson
Defensive End, 6-4, 240, Mission Viejo, Calif.-Tesoro-Saddleback CC
Hudson is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. In 21 games for Saddleback CC, he accumulated 68 tackles, 18 TFL, and 10.0 sacks. In 2017, he also forced three fumbles and broke up two passes, helping Saddleback to a record of 8-3.
Desjuan Johnson
Defensive End, 6-3, 240, Detroit, Mich.-East English Village Prep
Johnson is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He helped East English Village Prep to an MHSAA Division II district final appearance as a senior and a 9-2 record.
Dyontae Johnson
Outside Linebacker, 6-2, 210, Detroit, Mich.-Cass Technical
Johnson is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. Johnson helped Cass Tech to an MHSAA state championship and an undefeated season in 2016 and regional titles in 2016 and 2017. He received the team's Linebacker Leadership Award as a junior and senior.
Tyler Long
Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 295, Toledo, Ohio-Springfield
Long helped Springfield to a 10-1 record and a Northern Lakes League (NLL) championship in 2016. He was named first team All-NLL and second team Division II all-district for his part in the Blue Devils' success. Long was a first team Division II all-state selection in 2017 by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.
Alex Morgan
Tight End, 6-5, 245, Pickerington, Ohio-Pickerington Central
Morgan is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. Morgan helped Pickerington Central to an OHSAA Division I state championship as a senior, catching two passes for 72 yards in the title game.
Devan Rogers
Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 285, Sidney, Ohio-Sidney
Rogers is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He is a three-time Greater Western Ohio-North all-conference honoree and an all-state player. He helped Sidney to a 10-2 record as a senior while tallying 84 tackles. In three years of varsity football, Rogers averaged 8.0 tackles per game, recording 255 stops in his career.
Caleb Sutherland
Defensive Back, 6-0, 180, Seffner, Fla.-Armwood
Sutherland is a three-star recruit according, to Scout.com and 247 Sports. As a senior, he served as a team captain and helped lead Armwood to a 14-1 record and to Florida's Class 6A state championship game. He tallied 36 tackles, including 12.0 for loss, and two sacks. For his career, Sutherland totaled 101 tackles, 27.0 TFL, 6.0 sacks, 11 pass breakups, and a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Terrance Taylor
Defensive End, 6-4, 214, Chicago, Ill-Phillips
Taylor, a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports, won an IHSA 5A state championship as a senior. In the title game, he registered seven tackles and three sacks to help Phillips to a 33-7 triumph. Taylor had 104 total tackles in 2017, 16 TFL, and 31 sacks en route to an all-state distinction.
Cross Wilkinson
Quarterback, 6-3, 205, Wheeling, W. Va.-Wheeling Park
Baker is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports and the third-ranked prospect in West Virginia. He helped lead Wheeling Park to a state title as a sophomore in 2015, a year in which he threw for 2,249 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. For his career, Wilkinson accumulated 6,447 passing yards and 64 touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per attempt. His 2,406 passing yards as a senior were a career-best.