COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Benedict College head football coach James Woody announced the signing of 24 players to National Letters of Intent to play for the Tigers in 2013, along with three players who enrolled in January."I'm really excited about this recruiting class. I think we addressed a lot of needs,” Woody said. “I think our coaching staff did a phenomenal job of getting out there. I think we increased our overall team speed in the backfield and receiver corps. They look good on paper. We'll see how that transfers onto the field in August.”
The Tigers signed five players from South Carolina, including Juawan Etheredge from nearby Batesburg-Leesville High School.
“I think he's a real steal. He's a power back, real strong,” Woody said.
Another running back Woody is excited to see suit up for the Tigers is Kenneth Hurley from Leesburg, Ga. Hurley scored 23 touchdowns and had more than 2,000 all-purpose yards. But the bigger schools shied away from him because of his size - 5-9, 165 pounds.
“If this kid was taller and a little bigger, we wouldn't have had a chance. The big schools would have snatched him up. He's a real fast kid,” Woody said.
Four players enrolled in January, including Leroy Hollins III, a transfer quarterback from Arkansas Baptist Junior College who threw for 1,580 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
“He's going to push for that starting spot,” Woody said.
The Tigers also got some national exposure on national signing day. One of the nation's top recruits, Stacy Coley from Northeast High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., made his choice to sign with the University of Miami on ESPNU Wednesday morning. He was one of several players from his school to sign NLI's during the live televised event, including two teammates – running back Jamal Wallace and offensive lineman Kyante Belvin - who wore Benedict caps while signing their papers.
| Name | Height | Weight | Position | Hometown/High School | Highlights |
| Carlos D. Garrett, Jr. | 5-8 | 180 | DB/OLB | Ellenwood, Ga. / Martin Luther King Jr. HS | Honorable mention Georgia All-State; First Team All-Region; First Team All-DeKalb County |
| Kenneth Hurley | 5-9 | 165 | RB | Leesburg, Ga. / Lee County HS | Rushed for 1,233 yards and gained 2,160 all-purpose yards. Scored 23 touchdowns. Albany Herald People's Choice Football Player of the Year. First Team All-Region. Honorable Mention All-State. |
| Bilal Hewitt | 6-2 | 275 | DL | Conyers, Ga. / Salem HS | Averaged six tackles per game. |
| Antone Leonard | 5-11 | 200 | LB | Conyers, Ga. / Salem HS | Two-time All-Region. |
| Ryan Witherspoon | 6-3 | 240 | OL | Ellenwood, Ga. / Cedar Grove HS | First Team All-DeKalb County. Honorable Mention All-State. |
| James Tillman | 6-0 | 280 | OL | Dothan, Ala. / Northview HS | Named offensive line MVP at Scout.com showcase. 42 knockdown blocks |
| Demetrius Pinkett | 5-9 | 165 | WR/DB | Ellenwood, Ga. / Cedar Grove HS | First Team All-DeKalb County. All DeKalb All-Star Team. 35 receptions for 600 yards. |
| Kyante Belvin | 6-4 | 290 | OL | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Northeast HS | Honorable Mention All-Broward County. 29 pancake blocks. |
| D. Jamal Wallace | 5-9 | 170 | RB | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Northeast HS | Third Team All-Broward County. 3,683 career rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. |
| Corey Whitehurst | 6-3 | 210 | DE | Dothan, Ala. / Northview HS | Had 12 quarterback sacks, 7 quarterback hurries and 5 blocked kicks. |
| Yusef Howard | 5-11 | 280 | DT | Prattville, Ala. / Prattville HS | Named Prattville Player of the Year. |
| Risati Mapu | 5-11 | 245 | LB | Pago Pago, American Samoa / New Mexico Military JC / Leone HS | 46 tackles, 4 tackles for loss last season. |
| Devin Grimes | 5-10 | 170 | DB | North Augusta, S.C. / North Augusta HS | Two-time All-State. 46 tackles and 8 interceptions. |
| Leander Palmer | 6-3 | 295 | OL | Jacksonville, Fla. / First Coast HS | Two-time Gateway Conference First Team. Over 100 career pancakes. |
| Demetrius James Jr. | 6-0 | 220 | LB | Dallas, Ga. / East Paulding HS | Two-time First Team All-Region. 120 tackles. |
| Alexander Bryant Jr. | 6-0 | 210 | LB | Savannah, Ga. / Windsor Forest HS | All-Region and All-Coastal Empire. 89 tackles, 7 sacks last season. |
| Brandon Harrison | 5-11 | 170 | WR | Memphis, Tenn. / Westwood HS | First Team All-Conference. Lead the team and conference with 44 receptions for 750 yards. |
| David Martin | 5-10 | 180 | WR | Fountain Inn, S.C. / Hillcrest HS | First Team All-Region. Rushed for more than 900 yards, 300 yards receiving and scored 23 touchdowns. |
| William Jackson | 6-4 | 275 | OL | Montgomery, Ala. / Jefferson Davis HS | First Team All-District. |
| Ray Louis | 6-3 | 305 | OL | Darlington, S.C. / Orangeburg-Calhoun Tech. / Darlington HS | Team's Offensive Lineman of the Year and Team Captain. |
| Ryan Witherspoon | 6-3 | 240 | OL / TE | Stone Mountain, Ga. / Cedar Grove HS | First Team All-DeKalb County. Honor Mention All-State. |
| Deontavius Hall | 5-11 | 180 | WR | Phenix City, Ala. / Central-Phenix City HS | First Team All Tri-City, 52 rushes 824 yards, 24 receptions over 300 yards. Broke single game rushing record with 18 carries for 290 yards. |
| Juawan Etheredge | 5-9 | 195 | RB | Batesburg, S.C. / Batesburg-Leesville HS | All-Conference and All-Region. |
| Tremayne Trawick | 6-3 | 188 | WR | Pooler, Ga. / Windsor Forest HS | All-Region and All-Greater Savannah. Broke school season receiving record as a junior with 704 yards on 35 receptions. |
| Rodney Hall * | 6-1 | 185 | DB | Philadelphia, Penn. / Globe Institute of Technology / Overbrook HS | All-City and All-Conference. |
| James Strawter Jr. * | 6-1 | 185 | WR/KR | Perry, Fla. / Taylor Country HS | 40 receptions for 614 yards and seven touchdowns. |
| Leroy Hollins III * | 6-2 | 190 | QB | Baton Rouge, La. / Arkansas Baptist JC / Scotlandville Magnet HS | 1,580 yards passing, 14 touchdowns last season. |
COUTESY BENEDICT COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
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