Photo: Norfolk State University head football coach Pete Adrian.NORFOLK, VA -Three months after Norfolk State's best football season in 23 years, the Spartans continued to reap the benefits. NSU signed 19 recruits Wednesday, including nine who received All-State recognition. Coach Pete Adrian said he expects the 2008 Spartans to be the deepest and most athletic team in the 10 years NSU has been in Division I.
"The big thing when I went into living rooms this time was I didn't have to say, 'If we win,' " said Adrian, whose incoming class includes 17 players from Virginia, one from Washington, D.C., and one from Florida. Adrian said the incoming class will allow the Spartans to be particularly deep at special teams, in the secondary and at linebacker.
CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE BY CLICKING ON BLOG TITLE.
Included among the signees are 19 high school players and two Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, formerly I-A) transfers who are already enrolled at NSU.
Norfolk State University 2008 Football Signees
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School
1. Michael Alphonse* LB 6-0 230 Miami, Fla./Akron Univ./Norland HS
Spent three seasons at Division I FBS Akron…redshirted 2005 after suffering a knee injury…in high school, tallied 78 tackles en route to all-district and all-county honors as a senior ...made 82 stops as a junior…named All-Broward County...earned second-team all-county as a sophomore, tallying a career-best 90 tackles…has two years of eligibility remaining.
2. Markeith Brisco RB 5-11 195 Stephens City, Va./Sherando HS
First-team All-Northwestern District, All-Region II and second-team all-state Group AA as a senior…rushed 221 times for 1,726 yards and 26 touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry…led Sherando to the state Division 4 title game…also all-district as a kick returner and intercepted four passes on defense…high school teammates with fellow NSU signee Joey Christine.
3. Dennis Brown* QB 6-3 203 Miami, Fla./Univ. of Connecticut/Central HS
Attended UConn for three years…started two games (Rutgers, West Virginia) as a freshman in 2005, going 28 of 54 for 293 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions…redshirted 2006…went 5-for-12 for 48 yards and one TD as the Huskies’ backup in 2007… in high school, Brown was third-team all-state Class 6A as a senior, when he passed for 2,001 yards and 18 touchdowns…has two years of eligibility left
4. Steven Bunce DL 6-3 270 Richmond, Va./Henrico HS
Honorable mention All-Capital District pick as a senior…three-year starter and team captain…also played three different positions on offense during his career (tight end, fullback, center).
5. Joey Christine OL 6-3 300 Stephens City, Va./Sherando HS
First team all-state selection by the Virginia High School Coaches Association (VHSCA) on the offensive line and second team at defensive line… also first-team all-state (OL) by The Associated Press and Virginiapreps.com… also a two-way first-team All-Northwestern District pick and first-team All-Met by The Washington Post…rated the No. 53 recruit in the state according to The Roanoke Times…did not allow a sack his last two seasons, and helped Sherando rush for more than 3,000 yards his senior season…70 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks on defense as a senior.
6. Frank Clemmons LB 6-3 210 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS
Amassed 68 tackles, 27 for loss, as a senior at Indian River…helped the Braves reach the Eastern Region Division 5 championship game…played for an IRHS defense that ranked in the top 10 in the area in fewest points allowed and total defense…teammates with fellow NSU signee Terrence Pugh.
7. Marcus Cooperwood DB 5-10 180 Hampton, Va./Bethel HS
First-team All-Peninsula District at defensive back and wide receiver…also first-team Daily Press All-Star and second-team All-State Group AAA on defense…intercepted 11 passes as a senior, returning five for touchdowns…also caught 21 passes for 510 yards and four scores on offense…helped Bethel to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Eastern Region Division 6 semifinals.
8. Marquis Cuffee DB 5-10 175 Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam HS Second-team All-Beach District…posted approximately 60 tackles to go with two interceptions as a senior…also played some quarterback and running back on offense, averaging 12 yards per carry.
9. Theo Duncan OL 6-4 265 Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry HS
Three-year starter along the offensive line…named to the All-Colonial District team as a junior and senior…also all-district, all-region and all-state in the shot put
10. P.J. Hayden WR 5-11 175 Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe HS
First-team All-Battlefield District and All-Region I at receiver, defensive back and kick returner as a senior…also a first-team All-State Group AA selection at kick returner by both the AP and Virginiapreps.com…second team all-state by the VHSCA at all three positions…had 2,302 yards receiving and 28 touchdowns in his three years on varsity…had 13 career interceptions and eight career return touchdowns…averaged better than 27 yards per kick return and 22 per punt return in his career.
11. Takeem Hedgeman RB 5-10 195 Charlottesville, Va./Monticello HS
Rushed for a Virginia High School League (VHSL) state record 51 touchdowns as a senior, leading Monticello to its first-ever state Group AA Division 3 title…ran for 2,891 yards in 14 games, the fourth-highest single-season mark in VHSL history…first-team All-Jefferson District, All-Region and All-State…Virginiapreps.com Group AA state player of the year…ran for a school-record 6,385 yards in his career, the 12th-most in state history.
12. Eric Hitch LB 6-1 230 Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS
Played fullback and linebacker for the Patriots…honorable mention All-Beach District at running back his senior season…rushed for 315 yards on 50 carries (6.3 average)…scored five touchdowns (four rushing) and blocked for 1,000-yard rusher Tony Gregory, a Virginia Tech signee
13. Kenneth Johnson TE 6-5 250 Montross, Va./Washington & Lee HS
First-team All-Northern Neck District and All-Region A at offensive tackle…honorable mention all-state Group A…also plays basketball for W&L…former high school teammate of NSU receiver Jermaine Weldon.
14. Devon Lesesne OL 6-4 300 Washington, D.C./Ballou HS
First-team All-District of Columbia Intercollegiate Athletic Association East (DCIAA) East on the offensive line…two-way starter…also posted three sacks as a defensive lineman
15. Kendrick McClary TE 6-4 245 Chester, Va./L.C. Bird HS
Earned first-team Group AAA all-state, Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro and All-Dominion District honors as a senior…recorded 32 pancake blocks…had 15 receptions for 328 yards and two touchdowns…helped Bird finish 10 in the regular season and win the district title.
16. Blake Matthews OL 6-4 285 Manassas, Va./Osbourn HS
Second-team All-Cedar Run District on the offensive line and honorable mention all-district on the defensive line…helped Osbourn to the Group AAA Division 6 state title as a junior and to an appearance in the championship game as a senior…gave up just three sacks as a senior…posted 68 total tackles (45 solos) with nine tackles for loss and five sacks on defense.
17. Trent Porter LB 6-3 210 Dendron, Va./Surry County HS
First-team all-district, All-Region A and Group A All-State as a senior…tallied 115 tackles, recovered five fumbles and intercepted seven passes, three of which he returned for touchdowns.
18. Terrence Pugh LB 6-4 205 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS
First-team All-Southeastern District and All-Tidewater by the Virginian-Pilot on defense…also second-team all-district at offensive tackle…had 34 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and six forced fumbles…led Indian River to the Eastern Region Division 5 championship game.
19. Andre Purnell OL 6-5 290 Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS
Two-year starter for prep powerhouse Phoebus at right tackle…played on the Group AAA Division 5 state championship team as a junior…as a senior, blocked for the Peninsula District’s best offense, which averaged over 350 yards and nearly 40 points per game
20. Ricardo Volcin SS 6-2 200 Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS
First-team All-Dade County and second-team all-state by the Florida Sports Writers Association…recorded 73 tackles, 11 sacks and one interception from his linebacker position…also caught 16 passes for 307 yards and four TDs on offense
21. Tory Williams DL 6-4 250 Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside HS
A two-way starter on the offensive and defensive lines at Bayside…finished his senior season with 34 total tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles…graded out at 89percent on his assignments on the offensive line
* - Denotes 4-year transfer currently enrolled at NSU for spring 2008 semester.
"The big thing when I went into living rooms this time was I didn't have to say, 'If we win,' " said Adrian, whose incoming class includes 17 players from Virginia, one from Washington, D.C., and one from Florida. Adrian said the incoming class will allow the Spartans to be particularly deep at special teams, in the secondary and at linebacker.
CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE BY CLICKING ON BLOG TITLE.
Included among the signees are 19 high school players and two Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, formerly I-A) transfers who are already enrolled at NSU.
Norfolk State University 2008 Football Signees
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School
1. Michael Alphonse* LB 6-0 230 Miami, Fla./Akron Univ./Norland HS
Spent three seasons at Division I FBS Akron…redshirted 2005 after suffering a knee injury…in high school, tallied 78 tackles en route to all-district and all-county honors as a senior ...made 82 stops as a junior…named All-Broward County...earned second-team all-county as a sophomore, tallying a career-best 90 tackles…has two years of eligibility remaining.
2. Markeith Brisco RB 5-11 195 Stephens City, Va./Sherando HS
First-team All-Northwestern District, All-Region II and second-team all-state Group AA as a senior…rushed 221 times for 1,726 yards and 26 touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry…led Sherando to the state Division 4 title game…also all-district as a kick returner and intercepted four passes on defense…high school teammates with fellow NSU signee Joey Christine.
3. Dennis Brown* QB 6-3 203 Miami, Fla./Univ. of Connecticut/Central HS
Attended UConn for three years…started two games (Rutgers, West Virginia) as a freshman in 2005, going 28 of 54 for 293 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions…redshirted 2006…went 5-for-12 for 48 yards and one TD as the Huskies’ backup in 2007… in high school, Brown was third-team all-state Class 6A as a senior, when he passed for 2,001 yards and 18 touchdowns…has two years of eligibility left
4. Steven Bunce DL 6-3 270 Richmond, Va./Henrico HS
Honorable mention All-Capital District pick as a senior…three-year starter and team captain…also played three different positions on offense during his career (tight end, fullback, center).
5. Joey Christine OL 6-3 300 Stephens City, Va./Sherando HS
First team all-state selection by the Virginia High School Coaches Association (VHSCA) on the offensive line and second team at defensive line… also first-team all-state (OL) by The Associated Press and Virginiapreps.com… also a two-way first-team All-Northwestern District pick and first-team All-Met by The Washington Post…rated the No. 53 recruit in the state according to The Roanoke Times…did not allow a sack his last two seasons, and helped Sherando rush for more than 3,000 yards his senior season…70 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks on defense as a senior.
6. Frank Clemmons LB 6-3 210 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS
Amassed 68 tackles, 27 for loss, as a senior at Indian River…helped the Braves reach the Eastern Region Division 5 championship game…played for an IRHS defense that ranked in the top 10 in the area in fewest points allowed and total defense…teammates with fellow NSU signee Terrence Pugh.
7. Marcus Cooperwood DB 5-10 180 Hampton, Va./Bethel HS
First-team All-Peninsula District at defensive back and wide receiver…also first-team Daily Press All-Star and second-team All-State Group AAA on defense…intercepted 11 passes as a senior, returning five for touchdowns…also caught 21 passes for 510 yards and four scores on offense…helped Bethel to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Eastern Region Division 6 semifinals.
8. Marquis Cuffee DB 5-10 175 Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam HS Second-team All-Beach District…posted approximately 60 tackles to go with two interceptions as a senior…also played some quarterback and running back on offense, averaging 12 yards per carry.
9. Theo Duncan OL 6-4 265 Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry HS
Three-year starter along the offensive line…named to the All-Colonial District team as a junior and senior…also all-district, all-region and all-state in the shot put
10. P.J. Hayden WR 5-11 175 Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe HS
First-team All-Battlefield District and All-Region I at receiver, defensive back and kick returner as a senior…also a first-team All-State Group AA selection at kick returner by both the AP and Virginiapreps.com…second team all-state by the VHSCA at all three positions…had 2,302 yards receiving and 28 touchdowns in his three years on varsity…had 13 career interceptions and eight career return touchdowns…averaged better than 27 yards per kick return and 22 per punt return in his career.
11. Takeem Hedgeman RB 5-10 195 Charlottesville, Va./Monticello HS
Rushed for a Virginia High School League (VHSL) state record 51 touchdowns as a senior, leading Monticello to its first-ever state Group AA Division 3 title…ran for 2,891 yards in 14 games, the fourth-highest single-season mark in VHSL history…first-team All-Jefferson District, All-Region and All-State…Virginiapreps.com Group AA state player of the year…ran for a school-record 6,385 yards in his career, the 12th-most in state history.
12. Eric Hitch LB 6-1 230 Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS
Played fullback and linebacker for the Patriots…honorable mention All-Beach District at running back his senior season…rushed for 315 yards on 50 carries (6.3 average)…scored five touchdowns (four rushing) and blocked for 1,000-yard rusher Tony Gregory, a Virginia Tech signee
13. Kenneth Johnson TE 6-5 250 Montross, Va./Washington & Lee HS
First-team All-Northern Neck District and All-Region A at offensive tackle…honorable mention all-state Group A…also plays basketball for W&L…former high school teammate of NSU receiver Jermaine Weldon.
14. Devon Lesesne OL 6-4 300 Washington, D.C./Ballou HS
First-team All-District of Columbia Intercollegiate Athletic Association East (DCIAA) East on the offensive line…two-way starter…also posted three sacks as a defensive lineman
15. Kendrick McClary TE 6-4 245 Chester, Va./L.C. Bird HS
Earned first-team Group AAA all-state, Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro and All-Dominion District honors as a senior…recorded 32 pancake blocks…had 15 receptions for 328 yards and two touchdowns…helped Bird finish 10 in the regular season and win the district title.
16. Blake Matthews OL 6-4 285 Manassas, Va./Osbourn HS
Second-team All-Cedar Run District on the offensive line and honorable mention all-district on the defensive line…helped Osbourn to the Group AAA Division 6 state title as a junior and to an appearance in the championship game as a senior…gave up just three sacks as a senior…posted 68 total tackles (45 solos) with nine tackles for loss and five sacks on defense.
17. Trent Porter LB 6-3 210 Dendron, Va./Surry County HS
First-team all-district, All-Region A and Group A All-State as a senior…tallied 115 tackles, recovered five fumbles and intercepted seven passes, three of which he returned for touchdowns.
18. Terrence Pugh LB 6-4 205 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS
First-team All-Southeastern District and All-Tidewater by the Virginian-Pilot on defense…also second-team all-district at offensive tackle…had 34 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and six forced fumbles…led Indian River to the Eastern Region Division 5 championship game.
19. Andre Purnell OL 6-5 290 Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS
Two-year starter for prep powerhouse Phoebus at right tackle…played on the Group AAA Division 5 state championship team as a junior…as a senior, blocked for the Peninsula District’s best offense, which averaged over 350 yards and nearly 40 points per game
20. Ricardo Volcin SS 6-2 200 Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS
First-team All-Dade County and second-team all-state by the Florida Sports Writers Association…recorded 73 tackles, 11 sacks and one interception from his linebacker position…also caught 16 passes for 307 yards and four TDs on offense
21. Tory Williams DL 6-4 250 Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside HS
A two-way starter on the offensive and defensive lines at Bayside…finished his senior season with 34 total tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles…graded out at 89percent on his assignments on the offensive line
* - Denotes 4-year transfer currently enrolled at NSU for spring 2008 semester.
No comments:
Post a Comment