MCKENZIE, Tenn. (February 6, 2008) – One of the luxuries of coaching college football in the West Tennessee area is that there’s talent near by. This year proved to be no different as Bethel signed several of the local area’s best.

Hollow-Rock/Bruceton’s Alex Matlock a 6’5”, 270lbs. fullback, tight end and defensive end was the Tennessee 1A Lineman Mr. Football. Matlock was named TSWA All-State Lineman in 2006 and 2007. He also was the 2007 Jackson Sun Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He will likely be slotted at the tight end position at Bethel. Last year he caught 34 balls for 512 yards and nine touchdown receptions.

Joining Alex from Hollow-Rock/Bruceton is Chad Jordan, 5’11”, 210 lbs. running back and defensive back. Jordan is a two time Tennessee 1A Back Mr. Football Finalist (2006 & 2007). Jordan was TSWA All-State running back the last two years. He holds his school’s single game rushing record with 427 yards. He tied the single game school record with six touchdowns in a game. Last season Jordan rushed for 2,812 yards and was the leading rusher in the nation according to maxpreps.com. For his career he ran for 5,191 yards.

Camden’s Chase Horton, a 6’0”, 220 lbs. linebacker and fullback was a Tennessee 2A Lineman Mr. Football Finalist. Horton was TSWA All-State as a linebacker. The Jackson Sun Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Region 7-2A Player of the Year had 146 tackles this past season, 82 were solos. He also had seven tackles for loss and two interceptions.

Also from Camden is Kyle Combs, a 6’1” 250 lbs. defensive lineman. Combs was Region 7-2A lineman the past two years. He helped the offense pile up 3,157 yards on the ground this past season. On defense, he was fifth on the team with 55 tackles, including four for loss and recovered a fumble.

McKenzie’s John Campbell a 5’10”, 210 lbs. linebacker and fullback was a 2007 TSWA All-Stater. Campbell was an inside linebacker for the Rebels and was the state's 11th leading tackler with 116 stops. He had 14 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, forced a fumble and broke up three passes. He transfered to McKenzie from Jackson-North Side.

Also from McKenzie was Tyler Reeder a 6’0”, 225 lbs. linebacker. Reeder is a two-time TSWA All-Stater (2006, 2007) and was a captain for the Rebels. Reeder was the Rebels' third-leading tackler with 68, 14 for loss, three quarterback hurries, a pass break-up, a punt block and an interception return for a touchdown. He has been the Rebels starting center since his freshman season.

Others in the local area that signed on for the 2008 recruiting class are: Lucas Dill, Huntingdon, 6’3”, 280 lbs., offensive/defensive lineman; Caleb Dunn, Henry County (Paris, Tenn.), 6’2”, 280 lbs., offensive lineman; Chris Hatch, Liberty Technological Magnet (Jackson, Tenn.), 5’10”, 205 lbs., linebacker and Tomias Johnson, Trenton-Peabody, 5’11”, 195 lbs., running back.

Bethel College competes in the NAIA and the Mid-South Conference. They are the 2007 conference champions, finished the season 11-2 and landed at #5 in the final NAIA poll.