NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State head football coach Latrell Scott announced Wednesday the addition of eight new players who signed national letters of intent on National Signing Day.Scott's first recruiting class at NSU now stands at 12 players, with the eight signees Wednesday joining four mid-year enrollees who joined the program in January.
Of the 12 recruits, six play offense and six play defense. The class includes two running backs, three offensive linemen, one athlete, three defensive linemen, two linebackers and one defensive back. Eleven of the 12 are originally from the state of Virginia. There are four prep school transfers, one junior college transfer, one Division I FBS transfer, and six high school recruits in the group.
"Our main goal and objective was to address the needs of the program. I feel that we signed 12 quality student-athletes who are a good fit for our program," Scott said. "We didn't focus more on one area than another, but rather wanted to fill our immediate needs and add depth across the board."
Following is a player-by-play look at the Spartans' signees to date, with biographical information and quotes from Scott on each. Scott said that more additions to the class are possible within the coming weeks and months.
2015 Football Signees
2015 NSU Recruiting Class
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown / Previous School | Highlights |
| Walter Brantley* | DL | 6-4 | 340 | Hampton, Va. / Fork Union / Phoebus HS | Click here |
| Nigel Chavis | LB | 6-2 | 210 | Richmond, Va. / Armstrong HS | Click here |
| Quintreil Chung | RB | 6-1 | 205 | Midlothian, Va. / James River HS | Click here |
| D.J. Cook | DB | 6-1 | 190 | Richmond, Va. / John Marshall HS | Click here |
| Gerard Johnson* | RB | 5-9 | 195 | Richmond, Va. / ODU / Meadowbrook HS | Click here |
| Wes Jones | OL | 6-1 | 280 | Wilmington, Del. / Fork Union / A.I. du Pont HS | Click here |
| Jeff Lee | DE | 6-3 | 230 | North Chesterfield, Va. / Meadowbrook HS | Click here |
| Jake O'Sullivan | OL | 6-4 | 280 | Chesapeake, Va. / Hickory HS | Click here |
| Raynard Revels | LB | 6-1 | 230 | Richmond, Va. / Lackawanna College | Click here |
| Craig Rodwell* | OL | 6-4 | 260 | Richmond, Va. / Fork Union / Varina HS | Click here |
| Marcus Taylor | Ath. | 5-8 | 160 | Highland Springs, Va. / Highland Springs HS | Click here |
| Cornelius Tyler* | DE | 6-3 | 270 | Richmond, Va. / Fork Union / Meadowbrook HS | Click here |
Walter Brantley* • DL • 6-4 • 340
Hampton, Va./Fork Union Military Academy/Phoebus HS
High School: : Spent the fall of 2014 at FUMA … Enrolled at NSU in January … Rated a three-star recruit by 247 Sports and a two-star recruit by Scout.com coming out of Phoebus … Was voted a first-team All-4A South Region offensive lineman and second-team defensive lineman as a senior in 2013 … Played at FUMA for coach John Shuman and at Phoebus for Jeremy Blunt.
Scott Says: ""Walter is a big, physical defensive lineman who should be a great presence for us at nose guard. If he continues to work hard, he has the chance to be a really good football player for us."
Nigel Chavis • LB • 6-2 • 210
Richmond, Va./Armstrong HS
High School: Second-team All-Metro as a senior … Was a first-team All-Conference 26 pick at both running back and defensive end … tallied 66 tackles, 13 sacks and five forced fumbles on defense … Also ran for 808 yards and 10 touchdowns at running back … Coached by Kedrick Moody.
Scott Says: "Nigel is an extremely athletic young man. He was able to play both running back and defensive end in high school, but he should be a good fit at outside linebacker in our scheme. He was also a great student in high school and we look forward to him having success in our defense."
Quintreil Chung • RB • 6-1 • 205
Midlothian, Va./James River HS
High School: First-team All-Conference 3 as a running back and utility player … Also a second-team All-Metro selection … Started the year at running back before taking over at quarterback late in the year after an injury to the team's starter … Tallied 1,431 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns … Ran for 1,200 yards and 17 TDs as a junior, earning second-team all-conference and honorable mention All-Metro honors … Also an all-conference and all-region basketball player … Coached by George DeFrancesco.
Scott Says: "Quintreil is one of the most athletic kids in our class. He showed the ability to play multiple positions well in high school, and he has a bright future ahead of him at NSU."
D.J. Cook • DB • 6-1 • 190
Richmond, Va./John Marshall HS
High School: Started at receiver and cornerback … Received first-team All-Conference 26 accolades at both positions … Earned honorable mention All-3A East Region honors as a wideout after catching 30 passes for 875 yards … Also intercepted four passes and made 40 tackles on defense … Made 12 career interceptions and started all four years … Played for coach Damion Thompson.
Scott Says: "D.J. is a tall, athletic, rangy defensive back. We feel like his length and athleticism at cornerback will add quality depth to our defense."
Gerard Johnson* • RB • 5-9 • 195
Richmond, Va./Old Dominion/Meadowbrook HS
At ODU: ODU's No. 2 rusher as a sophomore this past fall, running for 493 yards and one TD on 100 carries … Also caught 24 passes for 149 yards … In two years at ODU, Johnson rushed for 865 yards and six touchdowns and amassed 1,135 all-purpose yards.
High School: Rated a two-star recruit by ESPN.com … Played quarterback for Meadowbrook, where he passed for 1,592 yards and 27 touchdowns and ran for another 1,204 yards as a senior.
Scott Says: "We are very excited to have Gerard join our program. He is an outstanding young man and we look forward to him contributing to our team immediately."
Wes Jones • OL • 6-1 • 280
Wilmington, Del./Fork Union Military Academy/Alexis I. du Pont HS
High School/Prep: Spent one season as a prep player at Fork Union Military, where he teamed with NSU enrollees Walter Brantley, Craig Rodwell and Cornelius Tyler … A two-time second-team all-state selection as a junior and senior at A.I. du Pont … Twice was named to the all-conference first team.
Scott Says: "Wes is a tough, rugged offensive lineman. The year he spent at Fork Union should be equal to a redshirt year in college. We expect him to contribute right away."
Jeff Lee • DE • 6-3 • 230
North Chesterfield, Va./Meadowbrook HS
High School: A two-time second-team All-Conference 12 selection as a junior and senior … Tallied 50 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks as a senior … Also recovered two fumbles and forced another … Played for coach Troy Taylor … A two-sport athlete who also plays basketball for Meadowbrook.
Scott Says: "Jeff is a tall, rangy defensive end. His body type will allow us to look at him as an outside linebacker or defensive end. I think with some maturity and added strength, he will be a productive force at NSU."
Jake O'Sullivan • OL • 6-4 • 285
Chesapeake, Va./Hickory HS
High School: Earned first-team All-PenSouth Conference accolades as both a junior and senior … Named to the All-757 third team as a senior and honorable mention as a junior … Lettered three years on the varsity squad at Hickory … Played for coach Jupiter Wilson.
Scott Says: "Jake is a quality offensive lineman who was very well-coached in high school. He has great technique and is extremely athletic. He will add immediate depth to our offensive line."
Raynard Revels • LB • 6-1 • 230
Richmond, Va./Lackawanna College (Pa.)/Hermitage HS
JC/High School: Played two years at Lackawanna in Scranton, Pa. … Registered seven sacks as a sophomore and eight as a freshman, when he earned second-team all-conference honors … Was first-team all-district, All-Metro and all-state as a senior at Hermitage, when he amassed 90 tackles, 17 for loss and 11 sacks … Graduated as Hermitage's all-time leader in sacks, with 33 in his career … Second-team all-district as a junior … Played for coach Mark Duda at Lackawanna and Patrick Kane at Hermitage.
Scott Says: "Raynard is a proven linebacker after two productive years in junior college. He can play both inside and outside linebacker positions and should see immediate action."Craig Rodwell* • OL • 6-4 • 260
Richmond, Va./Fork Union Military Academy/Varina HS
High School/Prep: Spent the fall of 2014 at FUMA … Enrolled at NSU in January … Earned second-team All-Metro honors at offensive lineman as a senior at Varina … Also earned second-team All-Capital District recognition as a sophomore … Coached at FUMA by John Shuman and at Varina by Stu Brown.
Scott Says: "Craig is a big, athletic offensive lineman who will impress many people with his speed and athleticism. We look forward to him contributing early on."
Marcus Taylor • Athlete • 5-8 • 160
Highland Springs, Va./Highland Springs HS
High School: First-team all-state, All-Metro and all-conference kick returner … Also named to the all-conference first team as a utility player and earned second-team accolades at running back … A two-star recruit according to ESPN.com and 247 Sports … Scored 20 total touchdowns as a senior, 10 rushing, six on kick/punt returns and four receiving … Also won four state track championships as a junior (55, 200 and 300 meters and 4x200 relay) … Ranked sixth in the nation in the 55 meters as a junior … May also compete in track at NSU … High school football coach was Loren Johnson.
Scott Says: "Marcus is one of the fastest players in the state. His speed in the return game and on offense should allow him to contribute right away."
Cornelius Tyler* • DE • 6-3 • 270
Richmond, Va./Fork Union Military Academy/Meadowbrook HS
High School/Prep: Spent the fall of 2014 at FUMA … Enrolled at NSU in January … Was a first-team All-Conference 12 offensive lineman as a senior at Meadowbrook … A four-year starter for the Monarchs, Tyler was also a second-team All-5A South Region and All-Metro selection in 2013 … Coached at FUMA by John Shuman and at Meadowbrook by Troy Taylor.
Scott Says: "Cornelius is a strong, athletic defensive end who should provide depth at that position and give us great pass-rushing ability."
By Matt Michalec, SID
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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