Austin Peay football adds 7 to December signing class including speedy WR transfer
Austin Peay's recruiting efforts aren't done, but the Govs signed seven new Govs on Wednesday during the first day of the early signing period.
Four of the seven are in-state recruits and the group is highlighted by wide receiver M.J. Singleton of Garden City Community College in Kansas. Singleton had 488 receiving yards and four touchdowns this past season and was ranked 26th in the NJCAA.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Lubbock, Texas native gives the Govs' offense speed on the outside and could factor into Govs coach Scotty Walden's plans of maintaining a vertical passing attack. Singleton could also buffer the loss of FCS All American wide receiver Drae McCray who entered the transfer portal Nov. 30. McCray led the Govs in receiving the past two years and led the ASUN with 1,021 yards this season (10th in the nation).
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Collierville two-way lineman Jaden McKinney signed along with a pair of offensive linemen in Ty Williams (6-4, 276), of Greeneville and Lenior City's Leo Gonzalez (6-4, 295). Linebacker Garrett Hawkins (6-2, 220) is from Sevierville. Gonzalez and Singleton are early enrollees and will join the Governors for the spring semester and be eligible to participate in spring practice.
Austin Peay signed 12 athletes during last year's early period before signing 10 on National Signing Day last February. The Govs have until Friday to complete their December class.
The university announced on Dec. 2 it had begun the process of transitioning to the FBS. A week later, the remaining members of the ASUN and WAC conferences also announced it agreed to align to form the foundation of a 10-member football-only conference in FBS.
Peay captured a share of the ASUN title with Central Arkansas and Eastern Kentucky. The Govs finished with a 7-4 overall record and tied with the Colonels and Bears with a 3-2 conference mark. It was the second conference title in the past three years for APSU who claimed a share of the OVC crown in 2019.
Austin Peay December signing class
LB Frank Caldwell (6-2, 215), Pace Academy (Smyrna, Georgia)
OL Leo Gonzalez (6-4, 295), Lenoir City, Tennessee (Lenior City HS)
LB Garrett Hawkins (6-2, 220), Sevierville, Tennessee (Sevier Co. HS)
OL/DL Jaden McKinney (6-4, 280), Collierville, Tennessee (Collierville HS)
DL Kyan Miller (6-3, 230), Lexington, Kentucky (Henry Clay HS)
WR M.J. Singleton (5-10, 170), Lubbock, Texas (Garden City CC)
OL Ty Williams (6-4, 276), Greeneville, Tennessee (Greeneville HS)
* WR Ashton Nickelberry (5-10, 184), Brandon, Mississippi (Jones County Junior College)
* Added to signee list after December 21 signing day.
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Reach sports writer George Robinson at grobinson@gannett.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Austin Peay football secures seven to its December signing class
