Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
EMU Football Signs Three Midyear Players
1/3/2017 2:15:00 PM | Football
Head Coach Chris Creighton gets an early start on the 2017 class
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Head Football Coach Chris Creighton officially welcomed three student-athletes to the football program as a part of the midyear signing period. Sam Dervil (Miami, Fla.-Miami Northwestern-Coffeyville C.C.), Shaq Jones (Philadelphia, Pa.-Imhotep Charter-Iowa Western C.C.), and Tyler LaBarbera (Elk Grove Village, Ill.-James B. Conant-DuPage) signed National Letters of Intent and are currently enrolled in classes.
The three players hail from three different states, including Florida, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. One will join the offensive side of the ball on the offensive line, while the other two will play on the defensive line and in the secondary.
"It is a great group and we are very fortunate," said Creighton. "School starts tomorrow, so we are going to hit the ground running."
The Eagles recently completed one of the most successful seasons in its 125-year history. EMU finished with a winning record for the first time since 1995, most wins (seven) since 1989, and its first bowl appearance since 1987. Eastern Michigan tied the Football Bowl Subdivision mark for biggest turnaround in 2016, improving on its win total from one win in 2015, to seven this season. Additionally, eight Eagles nabbed All-Mid-American Conference honors to go along with a league-leading 18 players on the Academic All-MAC squad.
The following is a roster and biographical sketches for each of EMU's signees…
2017 Eastern Michigan University Football Recruits
Name Pos Ht Wt Class Hometown-High School-Previous School
Sam Dervil OL 6-5 300 Jr.-Jr. Miami, Fla.-Miami Northwestern-Coffeyville C.C.
PERSONAL: Full name: Samuel Dervil...Son of Andre and Vertidieu Dervil...Has four brothers, Nathen, Levy, Lucson, and Bart, and three sisters, Mary, Ruth, and Ashley...Biology major...COFFEYVILLE C.C.: Attended South Carolina State for a season before transferring to Coffeyville C.C. in Coffeyville, Kan...Played for Head Coach Aaron Flores as a Red Raven...Appeared in nine games on the offensive line in 2016...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Miami Northwestern High School and played under Head Coach Eddie Brown as a Bull...Was a two-time captain...Named to the North vs. South All-Star Game his senior season...Also participated in wrestling, where he was First Team All-Dade County.
Shaq Jones DB 6-1 198 Jr.-Jr. Philadelphia, Pa.-Imhotep Charter-Iowa Western C.C.
PERSONAL: Full name: Shaquille Jones...Son of Steven Jones and Elvita Williams...Has three brothers, Steven Jr., Shaquan, and Shakur Lewis, and one sister, Shamaya Oberlton...Communication major...IOWA WESTERN C.C.: Played his first two seasons of eligibility at Iowa Western C.C....Played under Head Coach Scott Strohmeier as a Reiver...Was named all-conference twice, and finished in the top-10 in all time tackles...Helped his team to two conference titles, as well as a 2015 Graphic Edge Bowl win...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Imhotep Charter High School and played under Head Coach Albert Crosby as a Panther...Named captain of his team three times...Selected first team all-league and all-city twice, and was also a 2014 Offense-Defense All American...Helped his team to a state runner-up finish in 2013 and a league title in 2014.
Tyler LaBarbera DL 6-2 310 Jr.-Jr. Elk Grove Village, Ill.-James B. Conant-DuPage
PERSONAL: Full name: Tyler Lee LaBarbera...Son of David and Lori LaBarbera...Has one brother, Brandon...Exercise science major...DUPAGE: Spent his first two seasons of eligibility at the College of DuPage...Played under Head Coach Matt Foster as a Chapparral...Was a two-year starter, and served as a team captain his sophomore season...Member of the Champions Club, maintaining a 4.0 GPA both years...Team ranked fourth in NJCAA in 2015, making it to the El Toro Bowl, where he was named defensive MVP...Also helped his team to a 2016 Red Grange Bowl victory...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended James B. Conant High School and played under Head Coach Bill Modelski as a Cougar...Earned three varsity letters, and served as captain for two seasons...Named first team all-conference, all-area, and honorable mention all-state his senior season...Also named team defensive MVP after recording 78 tackles, including 21 for loss and nine sacks...Helped his team to the second round of the IHSA playoffs...Also lettered four years in wrestling, captaining the team for three seasons and winning an individual regional title in 2014.
The three players hail from three different states, including Florida, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. One will join the offensive side of the ball on the offensive line, while the other two will play on the defensive line and in the secondary.
"It is a great group and we are very fortunate," said Creighton. "School starts tomorrow, so we are going to hit the ground running."
The Eagles recently completed one of the most successful seasons in its 125-year history. EMU finished with a winning record for the first time since 1995, most wins (seven) since 1989, and its first bowl appearance since 1987. Eastern Michigan tied the Football Bowl Subdivision mark for biggest turnaround in 2016, improving on its win total from one win in 2015, to seven this season. Additionally, eight Eagles nabbed All-Mid-American Conference honors to go along with a league-leading 18 players on the Academic All-MAC squad.
The following is a roster and biographical sketches for each of EMU's signees…
2017 Eastern Michigan University Football Recruits
Name Pos Ht Wt Class Hometown-High School-Previous School
Sam Dervil OL 6-5 300 Jr.-Jr. Miami, Fla.-Miami Northwestern-Coffeyville C.C.
PERSONAL: Full name: Samuel Dervil...Son of Andre and Vertidieu Dervil...Has four brothers, Nathen, Levy, Lucson, and Bart, and three sisters, Mary, Ruth, and Ashley...Biology major...COFFEYVILLE C.C.: Attended South Carolina State for a season before transferring to Coffeyville C.C. in Coffeyville, Kan...Played for Head Coach Aaron Flores as a Red Raven...Appeared in nine games on the offensive line in 2016...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Miami Northwestern High School and played under Head Coach Eddie Brown as a Bull...Was a two-time captain...Named to the North vs. South All-Star Game his senior season...Also participated in wrestling, where he was First Team All-Dade County.
Shaq Jones DB 6-1 198 Jr.-Jr. Philadelphia, Pa.-Imhotep Charter-Iowa Western C.C.
PERSONAL: Full name: Shaquille Jones...Son of Steven Jones and Elvita Williams...Has three brothers, Steven Jr., Shaquan, and Shakur Lewis, and one sister, Shamaya Oberlton...Communication major...IOWA WESTERN C.C.: Played his first two seasons of eligibility at Iowa Western C.C....Played under Head Coach Scott Strohmeier as a Reiver...Was named all-conference twice, and finished in the top-10 in all time tackles...Helped his team to two conference titles, as well as a 2015 Graphic Edge Bowl win...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Imhotep Charter High School and played under Head Coach Albert Crosby as a Panther...Named captain of his team three times...Selected first team all-league and all-city twice, and was also a 2014 Offense-Defense All American...Helped his team to a state runner-up finish in 2013 and a league title in 2014.
Tyler LaBarbera DL 6-2 310 Jr.-Jr. Elk Grove Village, Ill.-James B. Conant-DuPage
PERSONAL: Full name: Tyler Lee LaBarbera...Son of David and Lori LaBarbera...Has one brother, Brandon...Exercise science major...DUPAGE: Spent his first two seasons of eligibility at the College of DuPage...Played under Head Coach Matt Foster as a Chapparral...Was a two-year starter, and served as a team captain his sophomore season...Member of the Champions Club, maintaining a 4.0 GPA both years...Team ranked fourth in NJCAA in 2015, making it to the El Toro Bowl, where he was named defensive MVP...Also helped his team to a 2016 Red Grange Bowl victory...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended James B. Conant High School and played under Head Coach Bill Modelski as a Cougar...Earned three varsity letters, and served as captain for two seasons...Named first team all-conference, all-area, and honorable mention all-state his senior season...Also named team defensive MVP after recording 78 tackles, including 21 for loss and nine sacks...Helped his team to the second round of the IHSA playoffs...Also lettered four years in wrestling, captaining the team for three seasons and winning an individual regional title in 2014.
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