Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Hill announces addition of five new Salukis
06/13/2016 | 12:00:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki Football head coach Nick Hill announced the addition of five transfers to the 2016 roster. Deionte Gaines (WR, Colorado State), CJ Jennings (CB, Wyoming), Jarvis Leverett, Jr. (RB, Kansas State), Vince Martin (S, New Mexico Military Institute), and Ryan Sousa (WR, Florida) will all be immediately eligible to play for the Salukis in 2016.
Jennings and Sousa will have three years of eligibility remaining. Gaines and Martin have two years of eligibility remaining. Leverett, Jr., has one season of eligibility remaining.
Deionte Gaines (5-8, 180) was a four-star recruit out of Dr. Phillips high school in Orlando, Fla., where he played with current Saluki Daquan Isom. Gaines played the last two years at Colorado State, where he played in 22 games, starting five. He piled up 1,453 all-purpose yards over two seasons. He recorded 181 receiving yards on 22 catches, and he averaged 10.9 yards on 14 rush attempts over the two seasons. Gaines also returned kicks, piling up 1,093 return yards on 46 returns.
CJ Jennings (5-10, 182) is also from Orlando, Fla. He redshirted at Wyoming in 2014 before appearing in 10 games last year and recording 18 tackles. He earned one start and responded with a career-high nine tackles (seven solos) vs. Nevada. He also had a five-tack, one pass-breakup game vs. UNLV.
Jarvis Leverett, Jr., (5-11, 203) is from Katy, Texas, and played high school football at Cypress Lakes high school. He spent the last four years at Kansas State, where he appeared in five games for the Wildcats and ran for 67 yards on 20 carries as a junior in 2014. At Cypress Lakes, Leverett, Jr., was ranked the eighth-best running back in Texas by the Houston Chronicle and a Texas Top 100 recruit.
Vince Martin (6-0, 195) is from Miami, Fla., and played his first two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute. He played in 11 games over two seasons and totaled 28 tackles, including 20 tackles and a forced fumble last season as a sophomore.
Ryan Sousa (6-0, 195) is from Orlando, Fla., and attended Lake Nona high school. He redshirted at Florida in 2014 and appeared in two games last season. At Lake Nona, Sousa was a Florida 5A first-team All-State selection as a junior at a 7A first-team All-State selection as a senior. He ended his high school career with more than 4,100 yards and 53 touchdown catches. He led the state of Florida in receiving yards as a junior.
