Year three started with a bang Wednesday for Campbellsville University head football coach Perry Thomas, as he had 50 recruits sign to play for the Tigers in 2010. By the end of the week, CU is expected to have 58 signed players with hopes to add around 20 or 30 more by the end of the summer.

"Today is like Christmas in February, but it's not done," Thomas said.

The 2010 class is the third and strongest recruiting class for Thomas, who has turned a once 0-10 team into a 7-4 and nationally ranked program in just two seasons.

"This is a tremendously strong class. Our recruiting has evolved now that we can recruit our needs. We're still trying to fill some offensive line positions and defensive backs, and from there work on getting some athletes in," Thomas said. "This class is one that is physically strong and brings a great deal of size to the table and some speed. Some of these guys are going to come in and contribute right away. The other classes had some special players, but from top to bottom this is a better class."

The Tigers hosted 26 of the signees on campus Wednesday for a Signing Day event in the Davenport Student Lounge at 10 a.m.

CU President Dr. Michael V. Carter welcomed the group to start the morning.

"We're excited about your coming to be a part of Campbellsville University and its future," Carter told the future Tigers in attendance. "It's never been more exciting than it is now. Tiger football has been energized by Coach Perry Thomas and his staff. We look forward to playing under the new lights and on the turf this fall."

In 2009, Thomas led the Tigers to their first winning season since 2004, finishing with a 7-4 record and tied as runner-up in the Mid-South Conference East Division. Campbellsville's final national ranking was No. 28.

Thomas said he is excited about the spring and upcoming fall because of now have experience on his team after playing a large number of sophomores in freshman the past two years.

"We're no longer dependent on having to have them step on the field right away," Thomas said. "We're going to have a really good spring. You'll see us a little more athletic and faster, a little tougher physically and stronger. Now, these guys that come in this fall will be playing back-up positions or maybe not even touching the field as a freshman, and we haven't had that luxury."

The Tigers' spring game has yet to be announced, but is planned to be played on the new synthetic turf being installed at Finley Stadium. Lights went up at the stadium in January as part of a facility upgrade.

CU will open the 2010 season at home against Kentucky Christian University on Saturday, Aug. 28. A complete schedule will be announced soon.

Twenty-two of CU's 50 signees gathered for lunch at CU Wednesday.

2010 FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS

Transfers signing at CU on Feb. 3, 2010

Player	Previous School	Position	Hometown
Jeremy Armsfield	Somerset Prep/S. Laurel High	OL	London, Ky.
Chase Campbell	Union College	WR	Madisonville, Ky.
Tyrell Harris	Western Ky./Louisville Central	LB	Louisville, Ky.
Earl McCann	Kentucky State/Bryan Station	DB	Lexington, Ky.
Josh Monin	Western Ky./Central Hardin	OL	Elizabethtown, Ky.
Aaron Newby	North Carolina Prep/Harrison Co.	TE	Cynthiana, Ky.

High School seniors signing at CU on Feb. 3, 2010

Player	Previous School	Position	Hometown
Bryson Bell	Marion County High School	DB	Lebanon, Ky.
Keenan Bell	Taylor County High School	OL	Campbellsville, Ky.
Dustin Bishop	Rockcastle County High School	QB	Mount Vernon, Ky.
Zachary Bush	Mount Juliet High School	DL	Mount Juliet, Tenn.
Rex Coleman	Graves County High School	K/P	Boaz, Ky.
Dominique Davis	Male High School	OL	Louisville, Ky.
Thomas Downs	Campbellsville High School	LB	Campbellsville, Ky.
Damarius Gibson	Male High School	LB	Louisville, Ky.
Clay Hooper	Campbellsville High School	C	Campbellsville, Ky.
Michael Madison	Greenwood High School	LB	Bowling Green, Ky.
Chris Muse	Pulaski County High School	DB	Science Hill, Ky.
Jacob Patton	Hancock County High School	WR	Philpot, Ky.
Cody Philhower	Male High School	OL	Louisville, Ky.
Donovan Pittman	Campbellsville High School	DE/TE	Campbellsville, Ky.
Matthew Smith	Greenwood High School	LB	Alvaton, Ky.
Adam Stine	Fern Creek High School	OL	Louisville, Ky.
Zachary Stinson	Allen Co.-Scottsville High School	OL	Adolphus, Ky.
Derek Thacker	Rockcastle County High School	OL	Mount Vernon, Ky.
Lance Turpin	Taylor County High School	QB	Campbellsville, Ky.
R.C. White	Pulaski County High School	WR	Eubank, Ky.
Blake Young	Sprayberry High School	LB	Marietta, Ga.

High School seniors that signed in their hometown on Feb. 3, 2010

Player	Previous School	Position	Hometown
Josh Adams	Trigg County High School	DB	Trigg, Ky.
Ladarious Baker	Lookout Valley High School	DB	Chattanooga, Tenn.
Jordan Benton	Murray High School	K	Murray, Ky.
Sean Bradley	Carman-Ainsworth High School	WR/RB	Flint, Mich.
Nik Brown	Simon Kenton High School	LB	Independence, Ky.
Tevin Buggin	Scott County High School	QB	Stamping Ground, Ky.
J'Michael Collins	North Hopkins High School	LB	Madisonville, Ky.
Worlson Corriolan	Fort Pierce Central High School	LB	Fort Pierce, Fla.
Horace Crenshaw	Fort Pierce Central High School	OL	Fort Pierce, Fla.
Troy Cowan	Franklin-Simpson High School	DL	Franklin, Ky.
George Donahue	North Hopkins High School	SS	Madisonville, Ky.
Jesse Donahue	Maddisonville High School	DB	Madisonville, Ky.
Anthony Douglas	Lookout Valley High School	OL	Chattanooga, Tenn.
Sam Edwards	Fort Pierce Central High School	DE/LB	Fort Pierce, Fla.
Demoree Fields	Muray High School	SS	Murray, Ky.
Sandon Fingers	Middletown High School	DL	Middletown, Ohio
Jarvae Langford	Murray High School	DB	Murray, Ky.
Aaron Lewis	Middletown High School	LB	Middletown, Ohio
Jerrel Monday	Brunswick High School	LB	Brunswick, Ga.
Derek Piccirillo	Simon Kenton High School	SS	Independence, Ky.
Derrik Pullon	Lookout Valley High School	DB	Chattanooga, Tenn.
Adam Robertson	Beardon High School	WR/TE	Knoxville, Tenn.
TeyVaughn Wynn	Lookout Valley High School	DB	Chattanooga, Tenn.

High School seniors that signed in their hometown after National Signing Day

Player	Previous School	Position	Hometown
Daniel Barbeau	Owensboro High School	WR	Owensboro, Ohio
Mike Duhart	Martin County High School	QB	Stuart, Fla.
Joey Mashni	Lafayette High School	DL	Lexington, Ky.
Lonnie Martin	Murray High School	OL\DL	Murray, Ky.
Gerald Putman	Ooltewah High School	LB	Ooltewah, Tenn.
Wayne Stapleton	Martin County High School	RB/TE	Stuart, Fla.

This release was last revised Feb. 10, 2010 at 5 p.m. to add new signees. Signing Day signee Austin Moore has been removed from the list.