Wednesday, February 6, 2013

NCCU Eagles Add 13 Football Recruits on National Signing Day

DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University head football coach Henry Frazier III identified two positions of need for the 2013 recruiting class, defensive line and wide receiver, and those needs were met during Wednesday’s college football signing day.

Frazier announced the addition of 13 recruits, including seven defensive linemen and four wide receivers, along with an offensive lineman and a tight end. The seven defensive linemen boast an average size of 6-2, 259 pounds.

“We knew we needed defensive linemen and wide receivers,” said Frazier. “That was our focus.

“We are definitely pleased with this class,” he added. “It’s a small class in numbers, but that’s just an indication of us signing two large classes in our first two classes. We were able to keep those kids in school and have a program in place where we are now able to add pieces as we see fit.”

Of the newcomers, three are from North Carolina, three from Virginia, three from South Carolina, two from Florida, and one each from Maryland and New York.

The recruiting class includes 10 high school seniors and three transfers, including two NCAA Division I-FBS transfers and one from a junior college.

NCCU kicks off the 2013 season on Aug. 31 at Duke University in the “Bull City Gridiron Classic.”

 

2013 North Carolina Central University Football Signing Class
NamePos.Ht.Wt.HometownLast SchoolVideo
William Aaron JacksonWR/DB6-0165Lorton, Va.South County H.S.Video
JaCory FitzgeraldDL6-2245Dinwiddie, Va.Dinwiddie County H.S.Video
Antonio BrownDL6-3245Jacksonville, Fla.Nathan B. Forrest H.S.Video
Tyus WhiteWR/CB5-9160Stafford, Va.Brooke Point H.S.Video
Jon MacBrideTE6-3230Fuquay-Varina, N.C.Fuquay-Varina H.S.Video
Roderick "Dee" HarrisDL6-1260Simpsonville, S.C.Hillcrest H.S.Video
Kenjorie WareDL6-0290Greenwood, S.C.Greenwood H.S.Video
Keiton BurgessOL6-4290Sumter, S.C.Crestwood H.S.Video
Felix SmallDL6-3250Brooklyn, N.Y.Lackawanna CollegeVideo
Antonio BeltWR6-0170Forestville, Md.Temple UniversityVideo
Ismail WilliamsonWR6-3200Fayetteville, N.C.E.E. Smith H.S.Video
Ja'Quan SmithDL6-2260Miramar, Fla.Miramar H.S.Video
Daniel RhodesDL6-3265Charlotte, N.C.Univ. of IllinoisVideo

























Players' Profile

William Aaron Jackson (WR, DB, KR, PR; 6-0, 165, Lorton, Va./South County H.S.)Selected First Team All-District, First Team All-Region and First Team All-State… As a senior in 2012, collected 34 receptions for 832 yards, 12 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

JaCory Fitzgerald (DL, 6-2, 245, Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie County H.S.)
Named First Team All-District, Second Team All-Metro and Second Team All-Region… As a senior in 2012, amassed 78 tackles , including 9 for a loss with 5 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries, 2 forced fumbles and 2 recovered fumbles… As a junior in 2011, recorded 49 tackles, including 9 for a loss with 3 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries, 3 forced fumbles, 1 recovered fumble and 1 blocked kick… Earned All-District Academic Team honors.

Antonio Brown (DL, 6-3, 245, Jacksonville, Fla./Nathan B. Forrest H.S.)

Tyus White (WR/CB, 5-9, 160, Stafford, Va./Brooke Point H.S.)
Selected Northwest Region Player of the Year… Named All-District, All-Region, All-Area, First Team All-State and ESPN All-America Honorable Mention… Career Statistics: 197 receptions for 3,068 yards and 41 touchdowns… As a senior in 2012, recorded 76 catches for 1,284 yards and 16 touchdowns, along with 2 punt return touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, 44 tackles and 6 interceptions, including 2 interceptions for touchdowns of 76 and 100 yards.

Jon MacBride (TE, 6-3, 230, Fuquay-Varina, N.C./Fuquay-Varina H.S.)
Earned Tri-Nine All-Conference recognition in 2011 and 2012… Three-year varsity starter… Team won conference championships in 2010 and 2011… Made diving catch for game-winning 2-point conversion in 14-13 win over Clayton (Aug. 24, 2012).

Roderick “Dee” Harris (DL, 6-1, 260, Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest H.S.)
Two-time All-Region selection… Two-time Offensive Line MVP… Team Captain in junior and senior seasons.

Kenjorie Ware (DL, 6-0, 290, Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood H.S.)
Greenwood Eagles posted unblemished 15-0 record to win the South Carolina Division II, 4A State Championship… First 15-0 record in school history… Played 2011 and 2010 seasons at Emerald High School in Greenwood, S.C.

Keiton Burgess (OL, 6-4, 290, Sumter, S.C./Crestwood H.S.)
Selected to play in The Shrine Bowl… Named to 2012 Palmetto Champions Team… Chosen as the 2012 Sumter Touchdown Club Offensive Lineman of the Year… Earned All-Conference, All-Area, All-Region and All-State honors… Also lettered in track & field (shot put and discus throw)… Voted “Most Athletic Male” among Crestwood High School 2013 senior class.

Felix Small (DL, 6-3, 250, Brooklyn, N.Y./Erasmus Hall H.S./Lackawanna College)
Transfer from Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. … Recorded 21 tackles (18 solo) with 9.5 sacks in 2012… As a senior at Erasmus Hall High School in 2009, collected 76 tackles with 10 sacks… Named to The Post’s All-Brooklyn Team… Two-star rating by Rivals.com.

Antonio Belt (WR, 6-0, 170, Forestville, Md./Forestville Military Academy/Fork Union Military Academy/Temple University)
Originally signed with Temple University in 2010, but did not play for the Owls… Played at Fork Union Military Academy during 2010 season… Three-star prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com coming out of Forestville Military Academy… As a senior in 2009, collected 414 rushing yards, 448 passing yards, and 403 receiving yards with three touchdowns… As a junior in 2008, had 11 touchdown receptions… As a sophomore in 2007, posted four touchdowns and returned two interceptions… Also lettered in basketball.

Ismail Williamson (WR, 6-3, 200, Fayetteville, N.C./E.E. Smith H.S.)
Named to Mid-South 4-A All-Conference First Team… As a senior in 2012, amassed 56 receptions for 1,048 yards and 13 touchdowns… Posted four 100-yard receiving games as a senior… As a junior in 2011, recorded 32 receptions for 364 yards and 2 touchdowns… As a sophomore in 2010, collected 22 receptions for 398 yards and 2 touchdowns… Also lettered in basketball.

Ja’Quan Smith (DL, 6-2, 260, Miramar, Fla./Miramar H.S.)
Named First Team All-County by The Sun-Sentinel… Picked to 2012 Florida Class 8A Elite Team as a First Team honoree on the defensive line… Recognized as Third Team All-State… Selected to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game… Recorded three sacks in a 2012 Region 3-8A first-round playoff win over South Plantation.

Daniel Rhodes (DL, 6-3, 265, Charlotte, N.C./Independence H.S./Univ. of Illinois)
Two-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com out of Independence High School in Charlotte, N.C. … Named First Team All-State as a senior in 2010… Played both tight end and offensive tackle in high school… As a senior, recorded 15 receptions for 312 yards and 2 touchdowns… Originally signed with the University of Illinois in February 2011, enrolled in spring in 2012, was on football roster in 2012, but did not play.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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