DOVER, Delaware - Kermit Blount was hired Feb. 4, 2011, so the Delaware State University football coach arrived in Dover too late to introduce a new recruiting class. But on Tuesday, Blount got a chance to welcome 18 student-athletes into the DSU fold on National Signing Day.Blount, who coached Delaware State to a 3-8 record last season, was pleased about his first recruiting class at the school. "We're a class behind," Blount said. "I wanted to wait to get the staff in place and then have the opportunity to really recruit the right kids."
Blount's class includes the usual staple of players from Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but also defensive end Tarique Anderson from Toronto, defensive back Willie Bolden IV from Brunswick, Ga., and defensive lineman Jeff Gay from Jacksonville, Fla.
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| COACH KERMIT BLOUNT |
DOVER, Delaware - Delaware State University head football coach Kermit Blount has announced that 18 recruits have signed the National Letter of Intent to attend DSU and join the Hornets for the 2012 season.
The list includes five offensive linemen, four running backs and a highly regarded quarterback.
"I'm extremely pleased with the quality of young men we have added to the program so," said Blount. "We were able to address some needs we have along the interior lines and in the running game, in addition to adding more speed to our roster."
The Hornet head coach also cited the off-the-field qualities of his 2012 newcomers.
"I was equally impressed with the character and academic credentials of these young men. Each should be a good fit for the university as well as the team."
Among the Hornet newcomers to the offensive line is New Jersey standout Keon Williams (fr., 6-2, 275), who helped lead St. Anthony's Prep to a 33-12 record and four state playoff appearances the last four seasons.
The Delaware State offensive line will also be bolstered by the addition of Keevon Prather (fr., 6-3, 270, Temple Hills, Md.), Dimitri Hill (fr., 6-3, 300, Waldorf, Md.) and Xaiver Jones (fr., 6-3, 300, Burlington, N.J.).
"You need strong line play to succeed at this level, and each of these newcomers has the potential to have an impact for us the next several years," Blount said.
The Hornets have also taken steps to bolster its running game.
Newcomer Dae-Hon Cheung rushed for 1902 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior at Coatesville (Pa.) High School in 2011, while DSU signee Trey Allen Hall was the third player to top the 4000-yard rushing mark at Beaver Falls (Pa.) High School.
The Hornets have also inked running back Rashaad Williams, who rushed for 1400 yards and 12 touchdowns at Valley Forge Military Academy last season.
Esayah Obado of Hamilton, N.J., has signed been signed as a quarterback by the Hornets. Obado (fr., 6-2, 190) passed for nearly 3700 yards and 42 touchdowns, while rushing for 615 yards and 11 scores at Nottingham High School.
Delaware State will also welcome Florida high school record-setting receiver James Boone to the team. Boone was a standout at St. Cloud High School before signing with Colorado State University. He recorded back-to-back 1000-yard seasons and scored 30 touchdowns during his scholastic career.
The Hornets expect to return more than 40 letter winners from their 2011 squad, which posted a 3-8 overall record, including a 1-7 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY 2012 FOOTBALL SIGNEES
SS Rashawn Barrett 6-2/205 Montclair, N.J./Montclair HS
DB Willie Bolden IV 6-1/195 Brunswick, Ga./Brunswick HS
RB Dae-Hon Cheung 5-9/170 Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area Senior HS
DL Jeff Gay 6-1/265 Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS
RB Trey Allen Hall 5-11/200 Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls HS
OL Dimitri Hill 6-3/300 Waldorf, Md./Westlake HS
OL Xavier Jones 6-3/300 Burlington, N.J./Burlington Twp. HS
OL Clark McCready 6-3/275 Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area Sr. HS
QB Esayah Obado 6-2/190 Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham HSTE Nate Ortiz 6-4/235 Jersey City, N.J./St. Anthony
FB Justin Peterson 6-2/240 Atlanta, Ga./Martin Luther King HS
OL Keevon Prather 6-3/270 Temple Hills, Md./Crossland HS
Ath Gabe Sherrod 6-4/210 Perryville, Md./Perryville HS
OL Keon Williams 6-2/275 Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep
ILB Legrant Williams 6-1/195 Norfolk, Va./Norview HS/Fork Union M.A.
RB Rashaad Williams 5-9/180 Phila., Pa./Valley Forge Military Academy
DELAWARE STATE 2012 FOOTBALL SIGNEES-BIO BRIEFS
DE Tarique Anderson 6-5/250 Toronto, Ontario/Fork Union M.A./Pickering HS
Competed in nine games (seven starts) at Fork Union Military Academy ... helped lead Fork Union to 8-1 record in 2011 ... selected as Most Improved Defensive Player as a sophomore and senior at Pickering HS ... recorded 19 tackles (eight solo) and three sacks as a senior at Pickering ... son of Raymond and Claudette Anderson ... four-year Honor Roll student ... played for head coach Cameron Lee at Pickering HS ... plans to major in business; minor in psychology at DSU
SS Rashawn Barrett 6-2/205 Montclair, N.J./Montclair HS
2011 Essex Conference First Team and All-State Second Team selection ... helped lead Montclair to 11-1 record and state championship game appearance ... played for head football coach John Fiore ... son of Michelle Barrett ... also lettered in track & field.
DB Willie Bolden IV 6-1/195 Brunswick, Ga./Brunswick HS
Two-way standout at Brunswick High ... 2011 All-Area and All-State Honorable Mention ... recorded 70 tackles, 1100 all-purpose yards and 12 TDs during 2011 season ... 2010 All-Region selection ... helped lead Brunswick to two regional championships (2010-11) .. team was sixth in final 2010 Associated Press poll ... son of Willie and Sheila Bolden played for head football coach Victor Floyd at Brunswick HS ... plans to major in sports management at DSU
WR James Boone 6-1/190 St. Cloud, Fla./St. Cloud HS
Originally signed with Colorado State University ... No. 6 wide receiver and No. 29 overall prospect on the Orlando Sentinel's all-Central Florida Top 100 ... four-year letterman at St. Cloud High School, he established the Osceola County records for receptions in a career and season...played quarterback, running back, cornerback and safety, but excelled as a wide out, authoring back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons to close his prep career...earned three consecutive first-team all-Orange Belt Conference and all-Osceola County selections (2007-09), and two straight offensive team MVP awards, for a Bulldogs squad that went 16-7 from 2008-09...combined as a junior and senior, had 115 catches for 2,227 yards (19.4 avg.) and 15 TDs, including four of 80-or-more yards...scored nearly 30 career touchdowns, 11 on the ground...county Offensive Player of the Year (Osceola News-Gazette) as a senior, also earned first-team all-state, first-team all-Central Florida (Orlando Sentinel), and Pinellas County/Florida Athletic Coaches Association first-team all-district honors, helping St. Cloud to a runner-up finish in its district.
RB Dae-Hon Cheung 5-9/170 Coatesville, Pa./Coatseville Area Senior HS
2011 All-Southeast Pennsylvania, All-Area and All-Chesmont National Division First Team selection ... Chesmont Conference Offensive Back-of- the-Year ... rushed for 1902 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior ... ran for more than 3000 yards and 35 touchdowns during scholastic career ... played for head Coach Matt Ortega at Coatesville.
DL Jeff Gay 6-1/265 Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS
2011 Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-District First Team and All-First Coast Second Team selection ... recorded 18 tackles-for-loss, including 10 sacks in 2011 ... helped lead Atlantic Coast HS to 6-4 record in its first season of varsity competition ... competed at nose guard and defensive end ... played for head coach Kevin Sullivan at Atlantic Coast HS ... also considered South Alabama, Richmond and Middle Tennessee.
RB Trey Allen Hall 5-11/200 Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls HS
2011 Western Penn. Top 22 and All-State Honorable Mention ... third player in Beaver Falls HS history to rush for more than 4,000 yards ... helped lead team to state playoff semifinals in 2011 and a 2010 playoff berth ... played for head football coach Ryan Matsook at Beaver Falls ... son of Meredith Hall ... born 4/29/93 in Beaver Falls, Pa. uncle Larry Bradley played football at Vanderbilt University.
OL Clark McCready 6-3/275 Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area Sr. HS
2011 All-WPIAL, All-County and All-Area First Team selection ... 2011 Team Most Valuable Player ... selected to compete in Pennsylvania East/West All-Star Game ... 2010 All-WPIAL Second Team ... helped lead Hollidaysburg to 2010 state playoffs ... son of Terry and Nancy McCready ... played for head coach John Barton at Hollidaysburg ... also lettered in track & field, and wrestling ... born 3/21/94 in Columbia, Md. ... plans to major in secondary/special education at DSU.
QB Esayah Obado 6-2/190 Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham HS
Passed for 3,690 yards and 42 touchdowns, while rushing for 615 yards and 11 scores during his scholastic career ... named to 2010 12th Man TD Club, WJFL/CVC and All-Area First Team after passing for 2075 yards and 24 touchdowns during junior season ... also named to 2010 Super 100 Junior Football Players in New Jersey by the N.J. Football Coaches Association ... was third player in Mercer County history to pass for more than 2000 yards in a season ... passed for 1545 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior ... completed school-record 62.4% of his passes during 2011 season ... also rushed for 525 yards and eight scores in 2011 ... All-Area and All-County First Team selection during senior year ... played for head football coach John Adams at Nottingham HS ... also lettered in track & field.
TE Nate Ortiz 6-4/235 Jersey City, N.J./St. Anthony
Two-way standout at St. Anthony's (TE/DE) ... 2011 All-Hudson County and All-State (non-public) First Team selection ... 2011 North vs. South All-Star Game finalist ... 2010 All-Hudson County First Team ... played for head football coach Sean Fallon at St. Anthony's ... also considered Rutgers, Youngstown State and New Hampshire ... son of Nate Turner and Marybeth Hartwig ...
Ath Gabe Sherrod 6-4/210 Perryville, Md./Perryville HS
Competed at quarterback and on defense at Perryville ... 2011 First Team All-Cecil County and All-Conference selection ... accounted for more than 2200 yards to rank fifth in total offense in Maryland ... passed for 20 touchdowns during senior season ... also 1000 point basketball scorer.
OL Keon Williams 6-2/275 Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep
2011 All-Hudson County, All-Non Public and All-Area selection ... helped lead St. Peter's to four consecutive conference championships and state playoff appearances ... team advanced to state playoff one championship game and three other semifinal appearances ... St. Peter's finished in the New Jersey Top 10 in three of his four seasons and was preseason national No. 15 prior to junior year ... All-Hudson County Second Team as a junior ... helped lead team to 33-12 record during his scholastic career ... played for head coach Rich Hansen at St. Peter's ... son of Keith and Minnie Williams ... born 7/6/94 in Jersey City, N.J. ... bench pressed 415 lbs. and 765 squat (3x) as a senior ... also competes as a boxer ... has 6-0 record in the ring.
RB Rashard Williams 5-9/180 Phila., Pa./Valley Forge Military Academy
Rushed for 1400 yards and 12 touchdowns in six games for Valley Forge Military in 2011.
Blount says he expects to add to the list of 2012 newcomers in the weeks ahead, including several players with prior collegiate experience.
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