INTRODUCING ...
6/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 17, 2012
OXFORD, Ohio -- In concurrence with the visits to the Miami University campus by incoming freshmen between now and June 28 for the 16 sessions of Summer Orientation, MURedHawks is introducing each of the 25 freshman football recruits to their future classmates.
Coach Don Treadwell's recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference by Vandelay Sports last February, while four future RedHawks were ranked by Vandelay to be among the Conference's top 11 individual freshmen.
This is the fourth of five stories that will appear, with the remaining introduction scheduled for June 25. Each story will include five of Miami's recruits. Today, we highlight freshmen Fred McRae, Kaleb Patterson, Jimmy Rousher, Wesley Scott and Sam Shisso.
Get ready Miami freshmen ... your first-year classmates appear to have what it takes to help the RedHawk football team soar in 2012!
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FRED McRAE: Wide Receiver ... 5-9 ... 160 ... Miami, FL ... Chaminade-Madonna High School ... Coach Tim Tyrrell
Rated No. 86 among Orlando Sentinel's Top 100 players in Florida ... Committed to Miami (Ohio) over seven other offers, including Central Florida ... Sentinel called him a "little man can fly and make plays" ... doesn't mind coming across the middle and is tough in the jump-ball despite his height ... averaged 22 yards per catch in 2011, grabbing 33 passes for 726 yards and eight touchdowns ... returned two punts for TDs and one kickoff for a scores ... defensively, he notched three interceptions ... career-wise, he averaged 19.8 yards on 104 receptions for 2,061 yards and 21 TDs ... he scored three TDs on punt returns and four on kickoff returns, recording six career interceptions.
Coach Tyrrell about Fred McRae: "Fred McRae is the hardest working wide receiver I have ever coached!"
Coach Treadwell about Fred McRae: "Fred comes from a quality school. He was very highly recruited, but was open to looking at all of his options. He was one of the most dynamic players we saw this year as a return specialist. If you can find the right guy, that can really be a weapon. And we think that Fred can fill that bill."
KALEB PATTERSON: Kicker ... 5-9 ... 160 ... Duncan, SC ... Byrnes High School ... Coach Chris Miller
An all-region kicker for Byrnes High School's two-time 4A Division 1 state champions (2010 and '11) ... twice named South Carolina's 4A Sports Report State Special Teams Player of the Year ... three-time all-region choice ... Spartanburg Herald Journal's Special Teams Player of the Year three times .. Carolina state coaches voted him Specialist of the Year ... a Shrine Bowl participant ... connected on 10-of-19 field goals last season, with a long of 54 yards ... also converted 89-of- 91 extra point attempts ... he's one of five high schools players from South Carolina in Miami's 2012 recruiting class.
Coach Treadwell about Kaleb Patterson: "We wanted to improve our team at the placekicker position. Making field goals is critical to the success of a team. Kaleb is a highly recruited young man at his position. His dad was a tremendous player in the SEC as a kicker. Kaleb comes from a championship team that played in a lot of big games, so he's been in the heat of it and came out on the positive end."
JIMMY ROUSHER (pronounced ROO-shur): Tight End ... 6 ... 251 ... Canfield, OH ... Canfield High School ... Coach Mike Pavlansky
A first-team Division II all-state selection as a senior, he also was the All-American Conference's first-team tight end in both 2010 and '11 ... also earned first-team All-Northeast Ohio honors two times ... a two-way player each of his last two seasons at Canfield ... during his three-year career, he caught 27 passes for 410 yards (15.2 ypr) and four touchdowns ... as a defensive player, he recorded 73 tackles, 12 TFLs and seven QB sacks ... ranked among ScoutingOhio.com's Top 150 ... also lettered twice in basketball ... his brother, J.J. and Nick, both were four-year starters at Malone University in Canton ... the three Rousher boys are Canfield High's only trio to all be awarded all-state honors ... Jimmy is the son of Jim and Debbie Rousher.
Coach Pavlansky about Jimmy Rousher: "Jimmy is a great competitor. He is committed to being the best student-athlete he can be. As a three-year starter, we will miss Jimmy's experience on both sides of the ball."
Coach Treadwell about Jimmy Rousher: "Jimmy is one of those throw-back type of kids. His father is from the old school and he taught his kids to be tough. It's nothing for Jimmy to put on a 30- or 50-pound weight vest and go running at 6 o'clock in the morning, just to begin his day. He brings toughness to the table."
WESLEY SCOTT: Defensive Line ... 6-3 ... 245 ... Ridgeland, SC ... Ridgeland High School ... Coach Richard Kirkland
Played numerous offensive positions for the Jaguars on the offensive line, plus fullback, tight end, punter and long snapper ... graded out at 92 percent as a lineman ... defensively, as a four-year starter, Scott recorded more than 500 career tackles, 140 TFLs and 20 quarterback sacks ... in his senior year, he was named "Defensive Lineman of the Year", registered 103 tackles, 28 TFLs and 14.5 sacks ... he was a weight-lifting state champion in both 2010 and '11 and was a four-time track and field letter winner ... a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes ... plans to major in zoology at Miami ... the son of Isaac and Bobbie Scott.
Coach Richard Kirkland about Wesley Scott: "Wesley Scott is an outstanding young man, athlete and team player that I have known for 6 years. He never missed practice, and was always the athlete that led by example. I have coached Wesley since he has been in the seventh grade. I will miss him greatly. I wish for the best for Wesley Scott, and I know that he will have some great years at Miami University."
Coach Treadwell about Wesley Scott: "He and David DeLeon are book-end type defensive linemen. They already look like veteran players. Wesley has a tremendous motor and gets off blocks very well. He pursues the quarterback as well as anyone we've seen. We're tremendously excited about having him at Miami."
SAM SHISSO: Wide Receiver ... 6-5 ... 205 ... Charlotte, NC ... East Mecklenburg High School ... Coach Jeremy Buck
Though the Eagles team had a disappointing season, Sam was an All-Southwestern Conference selection and a team captain ... he led the East Mecklenberg in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2010 and 2011 ... exceptional in the classroom, he carries a 4.32 GPA ... moved from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Charlotte, North Carolina with his parents and four siblings in 1999 ... his father, Christopher, is a minister ... Sam is a member of his high school's Student Congress and Senior Board ... he sings in his church choir, and he and his family often perform at the local nursing home where his mother works ... plans to major in computer engineering at Miami ... he's the son of Christopher and Ivette Shisso.
Coach Jeremy Buck about Sam Shisso: "You begin coaching to be a part of people's lives in an effort to be a positive influence on them. Well, Sam did that for me. Sam has not only excelled in the classroom and on the field, but his accomplishments off the field are what are the most impressive to me. Sam conducts himself in a manner that I wish I could live up to myself. He will be a very positive addition to the Miami of Ohio family, both on and off the field."
Coach Treadwell about Sam Shisso: "Sam gives you size and range at wide receiver. He hasn't been playing football for too long, so we know that the best is yet to come. There's always a place for receivers with bigger frames because they can get separation from their defender. We think that Sam can be a really fine receiver at Miami."
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The Miami RedHawk football squad is "All In" for the 2012 season! Are you? Get your tickets today so that you can be part of what promises to be an exciting season. Invite your family to be a part of Miami's popular "Family Weekend", September 26-27. The RedHawks host arch-rival Ohio that Saturday afternoon, so there's no better time to root on the Red & White. Purchase four Family Weekend tickets for just $44! But wait ... there's more! Included in the purchase are four vouchers for free hot dogs and drinks AND a free Miami hat. To order, call (513) 529-HAWK, visit the Athletic Ticket Office at Millett Hall, or order tickets online at www.MURedHawks.com.
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