Morgan State University Signs 18 Football Prospects

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State head football coach Donald Hill-Eley announced Wednesday the signing of 18 players to national letters of intent to play for the Bears beginning next fall.

“This is a very exciting class for us,” said MSU coach Donald Hill-Eley. “ We were able to recruit some very talented young men that we needed. We've addressed our need for speed on the perimeter and we had to shore up the defensive back area.

Added Hill-Eley, "We feel good about those who have chosen Morgan State University today.”

Of the 18 players who signed national letters of intent Wednesday, four are junior college transfers and 14 are high school recruits. The four JC players include a safety, running back, defensive tackle and a tight end, while the high school class consists of two defensive linemen, offensive linemen, two tight ends, three linebackers, three running backs, three defensive backs, one wide receiver, one offensive lineman, one athlete and one kicker.

“This is one of the classes that I'll remember because I get a chance to coach two second generations of kids. I coached [Taquan] Jackson's father at Hampton, where he was an all-conference running back; and I coached [Deshaun] Summer's father, who also played running back for me.”

“It just says a lot about the profession, and to be in a profession long enough to be able to coach a father and a son will be something I will always remember. It's a blessing.”

Following is information on each signee with quotes from coach Hill.

2012 MSU Football Recruiting Class

Quincy Dickens, C/OG, 6-4/305, Washington, D.C., Calif./Friendship Collegiate Academy
Armonti Yharbrough, DT, 6-3/275, Romulus, Mich./Bakersfield C.C./Romulus HS
Andrew Mitchell, DT, 6-3/285, Memphis, Tenn./Hamilton HS
Lamar Montgomery, DE, 6-3/245, Baltimore, Md./FUMA/Baltimore C.C.
Heleaince Gates, TE, 6-4/240, Philadelphia, Pa./Delaware Valley Charter
Willie Gillus III, TE/LS, 6-3/235, Suffolk, Va./Nanesmond River HS
Elandon Roberts, LB, 6-1/215, Port Arthur, Texas/Port Arthur Memorial HS
Jareem Augustine, LB, 6-1/215, Port Arthur, Texas/Port Arthur Memorial HS
Taquan Jackson, LB, 6-2/220, Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS
Lamont Brown III, ATH, 5-10/170, Suffolk, Va./Nanesmond River HS
Jamil Lee, RB, 5-9/190, Joppatown, Md./Joppatown HS
Lavar Highsmith, RB, 6-0/225, Baltimore, Md./Paul Lawrence Dunbar HS
Wesley Nichols, RB, 6-1/220, Bakersfield, Calif./L.A. Harbor College
Tajghi Robertson, S, 6-0/200, Chicago, Ill./Chabot College
Deshaun Summers, CB, 5-9/175, Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS
Deadrick Jones, CB, 5-11/180, Memphis, Tenn./Southwind HS
Thomas Martin, WR, 5-10/175, Naples, Fla./Naples HS

Christopher Moller, K, 5-11/205, Newport News, Va./Woodside HS

Quincy Dickens (C/OG, 6-4, 305)
Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy
Honors: Team MVP

Armonti Yharbrough (DT, 6-3/275)
Romulus, Mich./Bakersfield C.C./Romulus HS

Honors: 2nd Team All-Northern Conference

Andrew Mitchell (DT, 6-3/285)

Memphis, Tenn./Hamilton HS

Honors: 1st Team All District, Memphis All-Star Team

Lamar Montgomery, DE (6-3/245)

Baltimore, Md./FUMA/Baltimore C.C.

Heleaince Gates, TE (6-4/240)
Philadelphia, Pa.Delaware Valley Charter
Honors: 1st Team All-State TE/DE

Willie Gillus III, TE/LS (6-3/235)
Suffolk, Va./Nanesmond River HS

Elandon Roberts, LB (6-1/215)

Port Arthur, Texas/Port Arthur Memorial HS

Honors: 1st Team All-District, All-Academic Team, All-State Honorable Mention

Jareem Augustine, LB (6-1/215)
Port Arthur, Texas/Port Arthur Memorial HS
Honors: 1st Team All-District, Impact Player of the Year in Texas, All-Academic Team, 4-time Linebacker of the Week

Taquan Jackson, LB (6-2/220)
Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS
Honors: Team MVP, All-District Team

Lamont Brown III, ATH (5-10/170)
Suffolk, Va./Nanesmond River HS
Honors: 1st Team All-District, 2nd Team All-Tidewater, 4,000 career-rushing yards

Jamil Lee, RB (5-9/190)

Joppatown, Md./Joppatown HS

Honors: All-State, All-County, All-Area

Lavar Highsmith, RB (6-0/225)

Baltimore, Md./Paul Lawrence Dunbar HS

Honors: State champion

Wesley Nichols, RB, (6-1/220)

Bakersfield, Calif./L.A. Harbor College

Honors: 2nd Team All-Conference

Tajghi Robertson, S, (6-0/200)

Chicago, Ill./Chabot College

Honors: All-Conference, All-California

Deshaun Summers, CB, (5-9/175)

Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS

Honors: 1st Team All-District, 4-time State Champion

Deadrick Jones, CB, (5-11/180)

Memphis, Tenn./Southwind HS

Honors: Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-District, Team MVP

Thomas Martin, WR, (5-10/175)

Naples, Fla./Naples HS

Honors: 1st Team All-Area

Christopher Moller, K (5-11/205)
Newport News, Va./Woodside HS
Honors: Team Virginia Preps 2nd Team, 2nd team All-Region, 1st Team All-Peninsula District

Courtesy: Morgan State University Media Relations