June Jones speaks to SMU fans Wednesday evening at the DoubleTree Hotel about the football players who signed today. (Kevin Todora)

The Mustang football program announced the signing of 25 student athletes to National Letters of Intent Wednesday, and early indicators are pointing in the right direction.

Head coach June Jones credited his coaches and scouts with helping him put together one of SMU’s top recruiting classes in years.

“These guys will have chances to get on the field and help us win,” he said.

Of the 25 signees, 18 are from Texas and four from California. The class is composed of 23 high school athletes and two junior college transfers.

Defensive back Ryan Clark spent the last two seasons at Navarro Junior College, where he was a preseason JUCO All-American selection both years. After initially committing to Texas Tech, Clark is the first four-star recruit to sign with SMU since Rivals.com began tracking high school prospects in 2001.

“He studies the game,” Jones said. “He knows every player. We’re excited because we have a need in that back end.”

The offensive line was labeled a main concern after the team went 1-11 last season, and Jones and his staff responded by signing six players at the position.

Among these are three-star recruits Chris Atchison (6’1″, 278) and Joey Fontana (6’2″, 284).

Jones described Atchison as a player with great balance who will compete for a spot on the starting line this year.

“This is a prototypical offensive lineman for us,” he said.

Fontana, ranked No. 14 among offensive linemen by Rivals.com, has the versatility to play center, tackle or guard, Jones said. The New Orleans native chose SMU over offers from Arkansas, Kentucky, Nebraska and Louisiana Tech, among others.

The Mustangs also sought to improve on team speed, especially at the linebacker and defensive back positions. To this end, six defensive backs and four linebackers were among those to sign letters of intent Wednesday.

Linebacker Taylor Reed (5’11”, 195), “will change our special teams, especially with his speed,” Jones said.

Three-star prospect Beck Coulter (6’1″, 232) was discovered by Jones when he was head coach at Hawaii. Coulter averaged 15 tackles per game as a junior and was a five-time player of the week.

“He’s probably going to be one of the top players at this school,” Jones said. “He just has a tremendous upside.”

Defensive back Keivon Gamble, a product of Dallas’ Lincoln High School, recorded 39 tackles, six interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2008.

According to Jones, “[Gamble] has a chance to get on the field right away.”

The only quarterback to sign a letter of intent is former Southlake Carroll Dragon Kyle Padron. He threw for over 1,500 yards with 18 touchdowns on 129 of 193 passing his senior year at Carroll.

“I wanted to stay in Texas, and I’m getting a chance to play close to home,” Padron told The Dallas Morning News. “The coaching staff is unbelievable. [June Jones] was a major factor in my decision. He throws the ball the same way we do at Southlake.”

Jones also expressed enthusiasm about a trio of wide receivers committed to join the SMU offensive attack – two-star recruits Aron Franklin and Chayse Joubert and three-star prospect Darius Johnson.

Over the last two years at Houston-area Hightower High School, Johnson caught 82 passes for 1,443 yards and 21 touchdowns. He turned down offers from Boston College, Iowa State, Houston and the University of North Texas.

“[Johnson] is the player I’m most excited about,” Jones said. “He’s got unbelievable acceleration … and he can punt return well. He’s going to be one of our most exciting players on offense.”

At least one expert source views this year’s crop of committed players as a testament to Coach Jones’s growing reputation.

“SMU’s 2009 [class] addressed their major immediate needs,” said Jeremy Crabtree, national recruiting editor for Rivals.com. “They are undoubtedly headed in the right direction and received commitments from individuals who had Big 12, SEC and Pac 10 offers. The influence of June Jones after just one full year is very obvious.”

And Bill Conley of Scouts Inc. said, “This could be the surprise class of the non-BCS schools.”

Only time will tell how soon these recruits will begin to produce winning results on the field, but Jones is already excited about the near future.

“I cannot wait – I cannot wait – ’til we go to a bowl game,” he said. “I’m more excited for all of you in this room than for myself. You’ve been waiting for this,” said Jones.

Coulter averaged 15 tackles per game as a junior and was a five-time player of the week.

“He’s probably going to be one of the top players at this school,” Jones said. “He just has a tremendous upside.”

Defensive back Keivon Gamble, a product of Dallas’ Lincoln High School, recorded 39 tackles, six interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2008.

According to Jones, “[Gamble] has a chance to get on the field right away.”

The only quarterback to sign a letter of intent is former Southlake Carroll Dragon Kyle Padron. He threw for over 1,500 yards with 18 touchdowns on 129 of 193 passing his senior year at Carroll.

“I wanted to stay in Texas, and I’m getting a chance to play close to home,” Padron told The Dallas Morning News. “The coaching staff is unbelievable. [June Jones] was a major factor in my decision. He throws the ball the same way we do at Southlake.”

Jones also expressed enthusiasm about a trio of wide receivers committed to join the SMU offensive attack – two-star recruits Aron Franklin and Chayse Joubert and three-star prospect Darius Johnson.

Over the last two years at Houston-area Hightower High School, Johnson caught 82 passes for 1,443 yards and 21 touchdowns.