DURHAM, North Carolina -- Last year, North Carolina Central University head football coach Jerry Mack had less than two months to ink a recruiting class on national signing day. Now, with a full year for Mack and his coaching staff to look for the best prospects, along with the ability to showcase a conference championship, the second-year head coach announces the addition of 19 Eagles to the NCCU football program."This year we had a full spring and fall for recruiting, so we were able to address our needs," Mack said. "Our focus was on getting stronger in the offensive line and then build from there."
Of the 19 signees, 15 high school seniors and four transfers, five are offensive linemen with an average size of 6-4, 281 pounds. The class also consists of three defensive backs, three wide receivers, two defensive linemen, two running backs, two tight ends, a linebacker and a quarterback.
As with last year's signing class, NCCU hit the state of North Carolina hard, with more than half of the incoming freshmen (8 of 15) calling The Tar Heel State their home.
"It talks about how our momentum is going in the area," Mack said about the success of in-state recruiting. "We believe there is great talent in the state and we continue to build strong relationships in the state."
NCCU will open the 2015 season on Sept. 5 at home inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium against Saint Augustine's.
2015 North Carolina Central University Football Signing Class
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | Last School | Video |
| Jalen Wilkes | WR | 6-2 | 190 | Greenville, S.C. | Greenville HS | Video |
| Dwayne Fairley | TE | 6-6 | 215 | Red Springs, N.C. | Red Springs HS | Video |
| Naiil Ramadan | QB | 6-0 | 200 | Charlotte, N.C. | Rocky River HS | Video |
| Tarrance Wells | OL | 6-3 | 285 | Oxon Hill, Md. | Dean College | Video |
| Jarrett McCarter | LB | 6-2 | 225 | Durham, N.C. | Hillside HS | Video |
| Marley Conley | OL | 6-6 | 270 | Fayetteville, N.C. | Douglas Byrd HS | Video |
| Glen Calvin | TE | 6-6 | 205 | Indianapolis, Ind. | Lawrence Central HS | Video |
| Jaquell Taylor | DB | 6-1 | 180 | Raleigh, N.C. | Southeast Raleigh HS | Video |
| Cyrus Stanback | DT | 6-2 | 295 | Rockingham, N.C. | Richmond Sr. HS | Video |
| Jaylin Barrington | OL | 6-3 | 265 | Riverdale, Ga. | Riverdale HS | Video |
| Jack Reed | WR | 5-9 | 175 | Citra, Fla. | North Marion HS | Video |
| Torri Cotton | RB | 5-8 | 160 | Panama City Beach, Fla. | J.R. Arnold HS | Video |
| William Cameron | RB | 5-11 | 175 | Durham, N.C. | Southern Durham HS | Video |
| Kawuan Cox | DE | 6-2 | 220 | Summerville, S.C. | Summerville HS | Video |
| Alden McClellon | DB | 5-10 | 175 | Lake Butler, Fla. | Union County HS | Video |
| Nick Leverett | OL | 6-4 | 290 | Concord, N.C. | Concord HS | Video |
| Tyler Brooks * | OL | 6-3 | 295 | Muscatine, Iowa | Iowa Western JC | Video |
| Josiah Dailey * | DB | 6-2 | 215 | Newton, Mass. | College of Dupage | Video |
| Khalil Stinson * | WR | 6-3 | 210 | College Park, Ga. | Arizona Western JC | Video |
* signed during early signing period
DETAILS
Jalen Wilkes, WR, 6-2, 190, Greenville, S.C./Greenville HS
- As a senior in 2014, caught 82 passes for 1,330 yards and 16 touchdowns. Played in annual North/South all-star game in South Carolina.
Dwayne Fairley, TE, 6-6, 215, Red Springs, N.C./Red Springs HS
- As a senior in 2014, collected 15 receptions for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Naiil Ramadan, QB, 6-0, 200, Charlotte, N.C./Rocky River HS
- Career Passing: 3,231 yards, 28 touchdowns, 62 percent passing completion.
Tarrance Wells, OL, 6-3, 285, Oxon Hill, Md./South Cobb HS/Dean College
Jarrett McCarter. LB, 6-2, 225, Durham, N.C./Hillside HS
- As a senior in 2014, selected all-conference with 102 tackles, 5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions.
Marley Conley, OL, 6-6, 270, Fayetteville, N.C./Douglas Byrd HS
- Two-time Cape Fear Valley All-Conference and All-District selection.
Glen Calvin, TE, 6-6, 205, Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central HS
- As a senior in 2014, named All-Conference and All-County Honorable Mention with 24 receptions for 262 yards and a touchdown. Blocked for leading rusher in the conference.
Jaquell Taylor, DB, 6-1, 180, Raleigh, N.C./Southeast Raleigh HS
- 2014 Greater Neuse All-Conference selection.
Cyrus Stanback, DT, 6-2, 295, Rockingham, N.C./Richmond Senior HS
- All-Conference honoree and 2014 Shrine Bowl participant.
Jaylin Barrington, OL, 6-3, 265, Riverdale, Ga./Riverdale HS
- Two-time First-Team All-Region 4-AAAA and All-Southern Crescent Conference selection. Three-year varsity letterman. Started 31 consecutive games. As an offensive team captain in 2014, received team's most valuable offensive lineman and coaches awards.
Jack Reed, WR, 5-9, 175, Citra, Fla./North Marion HS
- Rated as a 3-star wide receiver by Rivals.com. Named Class 5A All-State Honorable Mention. Amassed 1,544 career all-purpose yards, including 951 yards receiving, with 12 total touchdowns.
Torri Cotton, RB, 5-8, 160, Panama City Beach, Fla./J.R. Arnold HS
- Accounted for 1,235 career all-purpose yards, including 978 rushing, with 12 total touchdowns.
William Cameron, RB, 5-11, 175, Durham, N.C./Southern Durham HS
- Rated as a 3-star athlete by Rivals.com. Ranked as the No. 23 player in the state of North Carolina by Rivals.com. NCHSAA regional finalist in the 100-meter dash. Two-time all-conference sprinter in the 100m and 200m dashes.
Kawuan Cox, DE, 6-2, 220, Summerville, S.C./Summerville HS
- As a senior in 2014, collected 85 tackles, 27 hits for a loss, 11 sacks, 25 quarterback hurries and 3 touchdowns. Ran 100-meter dash in 10.9 seconds.
Alden McClellon, DB, 5-10, 175, Lake Butler, Fla./Union County HS
- Named to Associated Press First-Team 1A All-State. Two-time First-Team All-Area honoree. Recorded 293 career tackles, averaging 13 stops per game, while adding 8 sacks and 8 forced fumbles.
Nick Leverett, OL, 6-4, 290, Concord, N.C./Concord HS
- Selected to play in North Carolina Shrine Bowl. Three-sport athlete (football, basketball, track & field).
Tyler Brooks, OL, 6-3, 295, Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine HS/Iowa Western JC
- A two-year starting offensive lineman for an Iowa Western program that won the NJCAA national title in 2013 and was national runner-up in 2014, allowed just 1.5 sacks in those two seasons. Iowa Western completed the 2014 campaign by averaging 44.2 points per game and posting an 11-1 record. Brooks graduated from Muscatine (Iowa) High School in 2013.
Josiah Dailey, DB, 6-2, 215, Newton, Mass./Bloom HS/College of Dupage (Illinois)
- Collected 71 tackles, 4.0 hits for a loss, five pass break-ups, four forced fumbles and an interception in two seasons at College of DuPage, located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He graduated from Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, in 2013.
Khalil Stinson, WR, 6-3, 210, College Park, Ga./Westlake HS/Arizona Western JC
- Topped Arizona Western with eight touchdown catches and was second on the squad with 29 receptions for 388 yards during the 2014 season. As a freshman at Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2013, he led the team with 18 catches and 349 receiving yards with three touchdowns to garner Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges All-North Division second team recognition. While at Westlake High School in Atlanta, Stinson tallied 137 career receptions for 1,963 yards and 27 touchdowns, twice earning first team all-region honors.
BY THE NUMBERS: (as of 4:00 p.m. - Wednesday, Feb. 4)
2015 Signing Class: 19 (15 incoming freshmen, 4 transfers)
By Position
Offensive Line: 5
Defensive Back: 3
Wide Receiver: 3
Defensive Line: 2
Running Back: 2
Tight End: 2
Linebacker: 1
Quarterback: 1
By State
North Carolina: 8 (8 of 15 incoming freshmen are from N.C.)
Florida: 3
Georgia: 2
South Carolina: 2
Indiana: 1
Iowa: 1
Maryland: 1
Massachusetts: 1
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
No comments:
Post a Comment