GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Rod Broadway announced his first Signing Day Class as the head football coach of North Carolina A&T, on February 1. It is filled with future playmakers and those who will be assigned to protect them. A&T's 18-man class includes four athletes, four offensive linemen, two quarterbacks, three defensive linemen, two defensive backs, a wide receiver, tight end and linebacker.
"I think it's a good class, but everything is on paper right now," said Broadway. "We will find out in August just how good our class really is. But right now, I feel good about the class we've signed. I think they will help make us a better football team."
The four athletes Broadway signed are Marquis Gorham (Greenville, N.C., Rose, 5-9, 175), Anthony McMinn II (Hendersonville, N.C., Hendersonville, 6-3, 220), Tony McRae (Laurinburg, N.C., Scotland, 5-10, 170) and Kwashaun Quick (Laurinburg, N.C., Scotland, 6-2, 210).
"We need everything," said Broadway. "But we were able to get a little faster with this class. Plus, we brought in some offensive linemen to help us depth wise."
The four offensive linemen signees include Javontay Stewart (Greenville, S.C., JL Mann, 6-3, 210), Major Kay (Lincolnton, N.C., Lincoln, 6-4, 295), Lashon Hudson (Savannah, Ga., Groves, 6-4, 325) and Jahkeem Forrester (Atlanta, Ga., Mt. Zion, 6-2, 290).
The Aggies also picked up two additional quarterbacks after playing a season with their backup quarterback - Ricky Lewis - playing mostly wide receiver. Run and pass threats Dorian Belcher (Durham, N.C., Southern, 6-2, 210) and Oluwafemi Bamiro (Washington, D.C., Coolidge, 6-5, 200) will be Aggies next season.
Belcher's teammate at Southern Durham, wide receiver Darren Bullock (6-0, 180), will be a welcomed addition to Aggieland. He tallied more than 1,200 yards receiving in 2011. Tight end Joel Watson (Four Oaks, N.C., South Johnston, 6-6, 240) rounds out the offensive side of the ball for A&T.
A&T's defensive line received help on Wednesday as Marquis Ragland (Fayetteville, N.C., Seventy-First, 6-3, 246), Marcus Raynor (Fayetteville, N.C., Cape Fear, 6-2, 275) and Thaddeus "TJ" Terrell (Greensville, S.C., JL Mann, 6-4, 250) signed with the Aggies. Reggie Prince (Durham, 6-0, 175) was the third Southern Durham Spartan to sign with A&T. He is listed as a defensive back. Landis Shoffner (6-0, 158), an All-Area honorable mention selection out of Greensboro Grimsley, will join Prince in the secondary.
Linebacker Angelo Keyes (Kinston, N.C., Kinston, 6-0, 225) rounds out the class. He led the Vikings to the Class 2A state championship game in 2011.
2012 A&T SIGNING DAY CLASS
Oluwafemi Bamiro, Quarterback, 6-5, 200, Washington, D.C./Coolidge H.S.
Bamiro led his team to an 8-2 record and a berth in the DCIAA Turkey Bowl (city championship game) in 2011...In the game, Bamiro completed 9 of 22 passes, for 159 passing yards and he threw a 30-yard touchdown pass...Bamiro was named to the DCSportsFan.com second team and was an all-district performer in 2011...As a senior, Bamiro threw for 1,429 yards and 18 touchdowns on 79-for-154 passing...He also rushed for 143 yards and five touchdowns on 55 attempts...Played under Natalie Randolph, who is believed to be the only female in the country coaching a high school varsity football team.
Dorian Belcher, Quarterback, 6-2, 210, Durham, N.C./Southern
Dual threat quarterback who rushed or passed for 36 touchdowns during his senior season...Threw for 2,105 and rushed for 633 yards for the Spartans...Also served as the Spartans' punter and netted 40 yards per punt...As a safety, Belcher intercepted three passes...Threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns against Dunbar.
Darren Bullock, Wide Receiver, 6-0, 180, Durham, N.C./Southern
As a senior, Bullock scored 11 touchdowns, including one punt return, and totaled more than 1,200 receiving yards, becoming the first receiver in Southern Durham history to have a 1,000-yard season...Bullock was named to the PAC Six All-Conference team in 2011...Won the WR MVP award and was named to the All-Camp Team in the Durham Nike Football Training Camp in 2011...As a junior in 2010, recorded 42 receptions for 809 yards and nine touchdowns...Earned team MVP honors three times and was an excellent baseball player for the Spartans.
Jahkeem Forrester, Offensive Lineman, 6-2, 280, Mt. Zion/Atlanta, Ga.
Forrester was considered the most improved player on his Mt. Zion team and graded out the highest of any offensive lineman throughout the 2011 season...Also competed in track and field where he threw the discus and shot put...Forrester earned Atlanta Falcons Captain in the Community presented by Russell Athletic for the week of Oct. 24, 2011...The Captain in the Community program recognizes outstanding high school football student-athletes from the state of Georgia.
Marquis Gorham, Athlete, 5-9, 175, Greenville, N.C./Rose
Outstanding athlete who could play multiple roles for the Aggies...As a senior, he was named All-County Special Teams Player of the Year after he returned 21 kickoffs for 751 yards and four touchdowns...Gorham was also an All-State kickoff and punt returner...Gorham's longest return of the season was a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown...Returned eight punts for 115 yards and a touchdown...His longest return was 51 yards...His other accolades include being named first-team All-Mideastern Conference and first-team All-Pitt County...Rushed for 390 yards and four touchdowns on 48 carries in 2011...Also made 39 catches for 832 yards and nine touchdowns...Defensively, he made 17 tackles, returned two interceptions for 92 yards and a touchdown and he broke up four passes....Named team captain and team MVP in 2011.
Lashon Hudson, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 325, Savannah, Ga./Groves
Has the tools to be an excellent offensive lineman at North Carolina A&T...Has a combination of quickness and strength...Made nine tackles as a defensive lineman at Groves High School...Also competed in track and field in the shot put.
Major Kay, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 295, Lincolnton, N.C./North Lincoln
Named to the NCPreps.com 2A All-State Preseason team as a senior...Played left tackle, and served as a blocker on punt situations...He comes off the ball with speed and power...He should be a nice addition to the Aggies offensive line.
Angelo Keyes, Linebacker, 6-0, 225, Kinston, N.C./Kinston
Led the Kinston Vikings to the Class 2A state championship game...Made a total of 20 tackles in the title game with 10 of them being solo...Was named Eastern Plains Conference Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 140 tackles (74 solo)...Also named first-team all-conference and the Kinston Free Press named him to its first team...Earned team MVP honors at the end of the season.
Anthony McMinn II, Athlete, 6-3, 220, Hendersonville, N.C./Hendersonville
McMinn was an all-conference selection his senior year, and carried the ball 95 times for 645 yards and 11 touchdowns...He had 60 tackles, two sacks, two pass breakups, five fumble recoveries and a touchdown on the defensive end...Ranked 108th in the state of North Carolina...Played H-back, fullback and tight end for Hendersonville...Also plays basketball, and has helped his team to an 18-0 start in 2011-12...His father, the Rev. Anthony McMinn, played football at Lees-McRae College, and his sister, Morgan, played basketball at Clemson University.
Tony McRae, Athlete, 5-10, 170, Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland County
McRae led his team to a 15-0 record and a No. 1 ranking in the state (N.C.) and the Class 4A Championship title...McRae ran for 96 yards and three touchdowns in the title game against New Bern High School....Earned honorable mention all-conference honors...Named to the 2011 All-Cape Fear Region team by the Fayetteville Observer.
Reggie Prince, Defensive Back, 6-0, 175, Durham, N.C./Southern
Prince earned a PAC 6 all-conference selection as a senior in 2011...Played defensive back and was a kick return specialist...Made 30 tackles, broke up eight passes and intercepted three in 2011...Also plays basketball for Southern.
Kwashaun Quick, Athlete, 6-2, 210, Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland
Named to the 2011 Shrine Bowl, game that features the best high school players from North Carolina against the best from South Carolina...Led his team to a 15-0 record and the Class 4A state title in 2011...Scotland was also ranked No. 1 in the state (N.C.)...Earned Cape Fear Region Player of the Year honors and named first-team All-Region in 2011.
Marquis Ragland, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 246, Fayetteville, N.C./Seventy-First
Named first-team Mid-South all-conference on defense...Earned second-team honors as an offensive player.
Marcus Raynor, Defensive Lineman, 6-2, 275, Fayetteville, N.C./Cape Fear
Averaged 4.5 tackles and three sacks per game...Named second-team All-Mid South Conference in 2011...Finished his senior season with 52 tackles.
Landis Shoffner, Defensive Back, 6-0, 158, Greensboro, N.C./Grimsley
Named to the 2011 All-Metro Class 4A all-conference team as a defensive back...Earned honorable mention on the All-Area team during his senior season.
Javontay Stewart, Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 310, Greenville, S.C./JL Mann
Named second-team All-Region II in Class 4A as a senior...Excellent blocker with an attitude and a willingness to block down field...Joins teammate Thaddeus Terrell as a 2012 North Carolina A&T signee.
Thaddeus "TJ" Terrell, Defensive End, 6-4, 250, Greenville, S.C./JL Mann
Played in the prestigious Shrine Bowl, a football game that features the best high school players from South Carolina against the best from North Carolina...His school went from a Class 3A school to a 4A school during his senior season...Finished the 2011 season with 65 tackles, 10 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries...One of his interceptions was returned for a touchdown...He was a two-time all-conference performer, and committed to North Carolina A&T after earning a spot on the All-Region II 4A first team....Played under head coach Brian Strickland.
Joel Watson, Tight End, 6-6, 240, Four Oaks, N.C./South Johnston
Played varsity football under Shane Dular...Caught 21 passes for 279 yards during the 2011 season...Four of his receptions went for touchdowns...Had 55 yards receiving and a touchdown on three receptions against Northern Nash on Sept. 17, 2011...Made four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown against Triton on Nov. 5, 2011...Earned Eastern Carolina Class 3A all-conference honors in the fall.
Courtesy: North Carolina A&T State University Sports Information
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