Stewart Nets Eight On Early Signing Day

Head coach Mitch Stewart is pleased to announce the signing of eight student-athletes that have chosen to further their educational and football careers at Murray State. Wednesday's signings are part of the first-ever early signing period for NCAA Division I football.

Wednesday's signings includes six junior college transfers and two high school players comprised of three offensive lineman, two running backs, two defensive backs and a defensive lineman. Below is information about each of the first members of the class of 2018.

Tyler Walker · OL · 6-5 · 275 · Flowood, Miss. (Northwest Miss. CC)
Walker started every game of the 2017 season on an offensive line that finished fifth in the nation for total offense at 485.5 yards. The Rangers were also ninth in the nation in passing offense at 270.9 yards per game and 14^th in rushing yards per game at 214.5. As a freshman, Walker started nine games including NMCC's bowl game.

Quarderman Sloan · RB · 5-7 · 180 · East Point, Ga. (Northwest Miss. CC)
Sloan was a two-year letterwinner for the Rangers and was an integral part of this past season's rushing attack which finished 14^th in the nation. He racked up 690 yards on 121 carries with nine touchdowns for 5.4 yards per carry and 59.0 yards per game. In addition, he added another 264 yards as a receiver on 19 catches and one touchdown. As a freshman, Sloan ran for 1,053 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 182 receiving yards on 23 catches.

Justin Connor · RB · 5-10 · 205 · Sardis, Miss. (East Mississippi CC)
Connor played in all 11 games for the Lions this past season en route to the program's fourth national championship. While primarily seeing action on special teams, where he recorded five tackles and a fumble recovery. Connor saw action in five games as a running back in 2017 tallying 149 yards and two touchdowns with a career-high of 77 against Mississippi Delta.

Dior Johnson · DB · 6-0 · 200 · Detroit, Mich. (Independence CC)
Johnson saw action in all 11 games for Independence in 2017 as part of a team that won the KJCCC title and won a bowl game for the first time in program history. Johnson racked up 32 tackles on the season, as well as three interceptions. He recorded a season-best seven tackles against Iowa Western and two interceptions against Fort Scott.

Loren Young · DL · 6-2 · 255 · Atlanta, Ga. (Highland CC)
Young finished fourth on the team in tackles in 2017 with 53 and featured in 10 games for the Scotties as freshman. In addition, he dropped opponents for 32 yards on 12.0 tackles for loss to go along with 4.5 sacks. Young finished second in the nation in blocked kicks on the year with four to go along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Oistin Jones · OL · 6-4 · 290 · Fort Myers, Fla. (Mississippi Delta CC)
Jones was a consistent player for Mississippi Delta a freshman in 2017. As a senior in high school, Jones was named a 2016 second-team All-Area selection for Dunbar High School by the News-Press.

Bobby Jackson · DB · 6-0 · 180 · Clarksville, Tenn. (Clarksville HS)
Jackson is a two-start rated recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports who is coming off a tremendous career at Clarksville High School. He was a 2017 All-Region selection for the Wildcats at both running back and defensive back and was All-Region honorable mention in both 2015 and 2016,

E.J. Rheinecker · OL · 6-5 · 285 · Belleville, Ill.. (Althoff Catholic HS)
Rheinecker is coming of a fantastic two-year career at Althoff Catholic High School. Since arriving at ACHS, he has helped lead the Crusaders to back-to-back-playoff berths. For his performance for the Crusaders, he is a two-time All-City honoree by the Belleville Rotary Club.

Murray State University Athletics

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