LEBANON -– Cumberland University football coach Donnie Suber announced the signing of nine players this week to scholarship papers for the 2013 season, including local standouts Ethan Copas, Taylor Jones, Brady Eady, Keithandre Murray, Dylan Mathis and Mason Pavan.

The Bulldogs also inked Georgia natives De’Anthone Morse, Chris Golden and Kentavious Eberhart.

Eberhart is a four-sport letterwinner from Langston Hughes High School in Fairburn, Ga., playing football for coach Willie Cannon. He has also lettered in basketball, baseball and track and field.

Golden and Morse both hail from Shaw High School in Columbus, Ga. Morse was voted Most Improved Defensive Player at SHS and named Honorable Mention All-City as a senior, accumulating 66 tackles with three sacks, 12 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. He also rushed 48 times for 404 yards for coach Kyle Adkins and was a three-year starter at strong safety and outside linebacker for the Raiders. Morse is the son of Amanda Walker.

Golden also earned Honorable Mention All-City accolades after registering 68 tackles with six sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss and was a two-year starter at SHS. He earned Best Defensive Player honors as a senior. Golden also lettered in wrestling and track and field and is the son of Timothy and Lahoma Randolph.

Mathis was a two-year letterwinner for coach Gavin Webster at Watertown High, garnering All-District and All-Region honors as well as earning Music City Star Player of the Week accolades for the Purple Tigers. He finished the year with 71 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He is the son of Frank Mathis and Kim Mathis.

Eady lettered four years for coach Roger Perry at Mt. Juliet High School, netting All-District 9-AAA and Second Team All-Midstate honors on the offensive line. The Golden Bears twice reached the semifinals of the TSSAA playoffs during his tenure at MJHS. He is the son of Jeff Eady and Robin Capeston.

Copas rushed for over 500 yards as a senior and was one of the team's top tacklers at strong safety for coach Troy Crane at Lebanon High School. He was a three-year starter for the Blue Devils and earned Team MVP and All-District 9-AAA honors as a senior. He is the son of Josh and Elizabeth Copas.

Jones and Murray both played for coach Troy Crane at Lebanon High School. Jones lettered all four years at LHS. Pavan lettered the last two years for coach Brad Dedman at Wilson Central High and is the son of CU Director of Athletics Ron Pavan.