John Tyler’s Rodney Bendy Picks Up First Offer

There has been a lot of foot traffic going through John Tyler in past weeks and the first offer of the current recruiting cycle was thrown the Lions' way Saturday.

North Texas has given Rodney Bendy his first scholarship offer. He is the 21st Class of 2015 player from East Texas with at least one Division I opportunity and the first from the upcoming John Tyler team.

Lions head coach Ricklan Holmes confirmed the new via his Twitter account.

Bendy (6-4, 180) is a physical receiver with good agility. Some of his most explosive plays last season were screen passes, but he also has the size to outdo defensive backs for the catch down the field.

The receiver emerged last season with four receiving touchdowns and 361 yards on 28 catches, an average of 12.9 yards per reception and 36 yards per game.

North Texas isn't exactly a new player in the region. It has other standing offers to Lufkin offensive lineman Erik McCoy and Whitehouse defensive back Nate Brooks.

The school also is fresh off landing Carthage receivers Tee Goree and O'Keeron Rutherford in its 2014 class.

The Mean Green have been on the rise under fourth-year head coach Dan McCarney. His 2013 squad won the Heart of Dallas Bowl, North Texas' first bowl appearance in nine seasons.

2015 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

• Rodney Bendy, WR, John Tyler, 6-4, 180  -- offer from North Texas (1)
• Kris Boyd, ATH, Gilmer, 6-0, 180 — offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Cal, Florida State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech (10)
• Nate Brooks, DB, Whitehouse, 6-0, 150 — offers from Louisiana Tech, North Texas (2)
• Key’Vantanie “KeKe” Coutee, ATH, Lufkin, 5-10, 160 — offers from Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech (3)
• Justin Dunning, S, Whitehouse, 6-4, 200 — committed to Texas A&M; additional offers from Arizona State, Baylor, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt (11)
• Brandon Durman, LB, Tyler Lee, 6-2, 210 – committed to Louisiana Tech (1)
• Roney Elam, CB/S, Newton, 6-2, 175 — offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, LSU, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (10)
• Jeff Gladney, ATH, New Boston, 6-0, 174 – offer from Northern Illinois, UTSA (2)
• JaMycal Hasty, RB, Longview, 5-9, 181 — committed to Baylor; additional offers from Houston, Oklahoma State, Oregon, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (8)
• Kevrin Justice, RB, Kilgore, 5-11, 180 — committed to Houston (1)
• Jaylon Lane, CB, Nacogdoches, 6-2, 185 — offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Boise State, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia State, Houston, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Alabama, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, Utah State, Wake Forest, Washington State (33)
• Blake Lynch, QB/ATH, Troup, 6-3, 193 — committed to Baylor; additional offers from Clemson, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, TCU (6)
• Daylon Mack, DT, Gladewater, 6-1, 311 – committed to Texas A&M; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, SMU, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, USC (21)
• Terry Mark, WR, Lufkin, 6-1, 180 — committed to Houston (1)
• Erik McCoy, OL, Lufkin, 6-4, 297 — offers from Arkansas State, Houston, North Texas, Oklahoma State, ULL (5)
• Samuel Miller, TE/DE, Canton, 6-3, 220 – offer from UTSA (1)
• Larry Pryor, S, Sulphur Springs, 6-1, 185 — committed to Texas A&M; additional offers from Arkansas, Baylor, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech (10)
• Kyshaun Smith, S/LB, Tatum, 6-1, 185 — offers from Houston, Memphis (2)
• Jackson Tyner, QB, Edgewood, 6-5, 220 – committed to Rice (1)
• Broderick Washington, OL, Longview, 6-3, 285 — offer from Arkansas State, Houston, ULL (3)
• Matthew Weeks, OT, Tyler Lee, 6-5, 260 — offer from SMU (1)