COMPLETE ROSTER & BIOS OF THE 2017 SIGNING CLASS

PENSACOLA, Fla. – University of West Florida football coach Pete Shinnick announced a class of 17 high school standouts on Wednesday, marking the third full class of recruits since the program was established.
 
Shinnick's third February group includes 11 offensive players, eight on defense and one kicker. Included in the class are three mid-year transfer student-athletes from other four-year schools.
 
"It's a great day and an opportunity to add depth at a lot of positions that we needed," Shinnick said. "Picking up 12 total linemen on both sides of the ball - really the foundation of a program - and trying to get that better. We were able to get three linebackers who are very athletic and can have an impact.
 
"In the skill positions, we got better across the board. Bringing in Anthony Johnson from nearby Pace adds to our backfield and makes this one of the better classes we've had."
 
The incoming group of prep signees and college transfers include six offensive linemen and two tight ends – a pair of positions that fit a need for the Argos following their inaugural season last fall.
 
UWF also picked up four defensive linemen and three offensive line transfers.
 
In the backfield on offense, UWF added one quarterback and two running backs. Shinnick's staff also secured some extremely athletic personnel among its three linebackers and one defensive back, while adding an all-state kicker/punter for the second-consecutive season.
 
The class features 17 players from Florida and three from Alabama. Of the 17 from the Sunshine State, six are from the fertile recruiting area of Northwest Florida.
 
The 20 players will add to a roster that has more than 90 returnees, including 19 starters from last year's team that went 5-6 overall, 4-5 in Gulf South Conference play and defeated its first ranked opponent in the first year of the program.
 
UWF's spring practice will begin on March 25 and end with the Blue-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22.