Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Ink 28 to National Letters of Intent

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida Terry Sims, Bethune-Cookman Football announced the signing of 28 student-athletes on 2016 National Signing Day on Wednesday, February 3, inside the Signing Day Headquarters at the Michael & Libby Johnson Center for Civic Engagement on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University.
 – Under the direction of first-year head coach

With his first signing class being quick after it was announced he would be the head coach just six weeks prior to that 2015 class, Terry Sims and his staff had a year to get ready for his second signing class in 2016. The class was announced as one of the largest in recent memory for the Wildcats. Sims, the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Coach of the Year, joined his staff in setting to fill several needs for the future of the Maroon and Gold on the gridiron.

“I feel great about this year’s class,” expressed Sims. “It’s an overall aggressive, talented, fast class that will certainly help us moving forward in Daytona Beach. They should help in our attempts not only to win the MEAC, but earn a spot in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.”

The 2016 class saw Bethune-Cookman focus on the offensive line, receiving core and defensive backfield, respectfully. In total, the Wildcats signed nine defensive backs, seven offensive linemen and five receivers in the class of 28.

“I feel like every need that we wanted to address was filled in those particular positions,” added Sims. “The coaches did an excellent job evaluating and securing what we feel is an exciting and brilliant 2016 signing class.”

The state of Florida is known as a hot bed for talent in the high school ranks, and that certainly weighed heavily in Bethune-Cookman’s decision to stay “at home” when it comes to recruiting local talent. The 2016 class has a total of 22 players from the Sunshine State. That includes four players that signed consecutively within minutes of each other from highly-respected Raines High School in Jacksonville.

“Florida always has great talent, and we think that’s always an added bonus when we recruit and stay at home, if you will,” admitted Sims. “I think that’s what has allowed Bethune-Cookman to consistently be a league title contender for a number of years, stretching back to even the days in the SIAC, and now the MEAC for over three decades.”

When speaking of how the 2015 season aided in the efforts of this year’s signing class, his first at the helm in Daytona Beach, affected the incoming class, Sims was quick to respond highly of his student-athletes and coaching staff.

“I thought with it being our second class, and being able to show kids our philosophy and style after a year of coaching, that it added to the way were able to recruit and approach this year’s class,” said Sims. “And, obviously, winning a share of the league title and just missing out on an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs helps as well. I think this really adds to what we hope will be a great 2016 football season.”

2016 BETHUNE-COOKMAN WILDCATS FOOTBALL SIGNING CLASS
PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN TIME SIGNED BIO GIF
Jerry Beauchamp OL 6-4 274 Naples, Fla. 7:07 a.m. Bio Gif
Steffon Francois WR 5-11 165 Miramar, Fla. 7:16 a.m. Bio Gif
Antonio Collier SS 6-1 175 Hollywood, Fla. 7:18 a.m. Bio Gif
Jaylen Funches OL 6-5 310 Willoughby, Ohio 7:32 a.m. Bio Gif
Chris Adams OL 6-4 300 Dayton, Ohio 7:44 a.m. Bio Gif
Kevin Richardson OL 6-4 305 Seffner, Fla. 8:13 a.m. Bio Gif
Keldrick Cesar OL 6-4 310 Miami, Fla. 8:37 a.m. Bio Gif
Jamal Savage OL 6-6 320 Plant City, Fla. 8:52 a.m. Bio Gif
Tyrrell Washington WR 6-3 205 Vero Beach, Fla. 9:23 a.m. Bio Gif
Trevor Merritt CB 5-10 185 Melbourne, Fla. 9:24 a.m. Bio Gif
L'Dre Barnes DB 6-3 290 St. Petersburg, Fla. 9:35 a.m. Bio Gif
Sam Marc CB 6-0 170 Miami, Fla. 10:27 a.m. Bio Gif
Jamaal Burgess DB 6-0 186 Miami, Fla. 10:35 a.m. Bio Gif
Daniel Palmer LB 6-2 250 Hartford, Conn. 10:50 a.m. Bio Gif
Anthony Cruz QB 6-5 210 Bronx, N.Y. 10:58 a.m. Bio Gif
Trevor Laurent WR 5-10 165 Riverview, Fla. 11:16 a.m. Bio Gif
Jordan Rivers WR 6-2 176 Jacksonville, Fla. 11:17 a.m. Bio Gif
Jacquan Holt LB 6-4 197 Jacksonville, Fla. 11:18 a.m. Bio Gif
Dajuan Jackson ATH 5-11 185 Jacksonville, Fla. 11:19 a.m. Bio Gif
Davonte Lawrence SAF 6-0 190 Jacksonville, Fla. 11:20 a.m. Bio Gif
Simeon Brown SAF 6-1 175 Deerfield Beach, Fla. 11:50 a.m. Bio Gif
Job Buissereth OL 6-4 325 Brooklyn, N.Y. 12:06 p.m. Bio Gif
Marcus Levy RB 5-11 215 Fort Pierce, Fla. 12:22 p.m. Bio Gif
Jabari Dunham QB 6-3 211 Eustis, Fla. 1:09 p.m. Bio Gif
DeAndre Bozeman CB 5-10 173 West Palm Beach, Fla. 1:29 p.m. Bio Gif
Isaiah Richard SAF 6-3 175 Ocala, Fla. 2:19 p.m. Bio Gif
Julian Robinson RB 5-11 205 Cross City, Fla. 2:35 p.m. Bio Gif
Michael Boland TE 6-5 233 Dunmore, Pa. 3:35 p.m. Bio Gif

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COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

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