Florida A&M Announces 2016 Football Signing Class

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Head Coach Alex Wood and his coaching staff were full of excitement, as all college coaches were on National Signing Day.  Coming off his first season, where he didn’t have the opportunity to recruit, the excitement was evident in the conference room at the Galimore-Powell Field House.

In this class, (three) potential turning point signees include Cameron Mackey and Josh Crutchfield.  Mackey out of North Marion High School, was heavily recruited by FCS schools including Youngstown State.  Crutchfield, out of Lake Worth High School, was also a highly sought after recruit who was recruited heavily by Division-I schools, is an ideal sized playmaker.  Wood, at the conclusion of last season, stressed the importance of loading the team with playmakers…and these two certainly fit the bill.

Mackey, was a first team All-State, All-Marion County and All-American.  He amassed 2,726 career rushing yards.  The versatile athlete scored nine career kickoff touchdowns.  He started off the Offense Defense All-American game with a kickoff return for a touchdown.

 Crutchfield, who was a team captain at Park Vista HS, was an All-Palm Beach County and All-District selection.  He was selected to play in the Outback All-Star game.  Crutchfield, who is 6’2” - 220 lbs., is the ideal sized defender who gives the Rattlers a much-needed force at linebacker, countering the graduation of starting linebackers Akil Blount and Kashawn Butler.

 The Rattlers open their 2016 campaign in Miami Gardens, Fl., against the Hurricanes of Miami at Sun Life Stadium on Sept.

Wood’s goal was to recruit at least one athlete at every position.  Here is the full list of athletes FAMU signed this year:

Today’s signees:

Cole Villeneuve (6’7” - 290 lbs) TE/OT…Northeast HS (St. Petersburg, Fla.)…All-County, All-Conference…Received award for 4.0 semester…10 Rec, 150 yards, 3TDS, 3 sacks…National Honor Society

Zach Saffold (6’4” - 300 lbs) OL…Mosely HS (Lynn Haven, FL)…1st team All-State…All-District Academic team…All-County

Tyler Teegan (6’4” - 290 lbs) OL…Wakulla HS (Crawfordville, FL)…1st team All-District…1st team All-State…1st team All-Big Bend

Cameron Mackey (5’10” - 180 lbs) RB…North Marion HS (Citra, FL)…1st team All-Marion County…1st team All-State…1st team All-American…2,726 career rushing yards…9 career kickoff returns for TD…Started off the Offense Defense All-American game with a kickoff return for touchdown.

Azenda Rey (5’10, 185) RB…Walton HS (Defuniak Springs, FL)…1st team All-District…3,811 career rushing yards…53 touchdowns…North West Florida Player of the Year…1st team All-State (4A)…All-Region Track in high jump at 6’6”…North West Florida Athlete of the Year (Basketball, Football, Track)…Team captain.

Kieran Goodrich (6’5” - 230 lbs) TE…Rockledge HS (Rockledge, FL)…Averaged 9 yards per catch…Played in Central Florida All-Star game…Highest ACT score in his class.

Tahj Tolbert (6’5”- 220 lbs) QB…Lanier HS (Sugar Hill, GA)…Led team to back-to-back undefeated seasons…Team captain…24-2 as a starter…Started at QB in the Gwinnett County All-Star game…All-Gwinnett County Honorable mention.

Andrew Davis (6’2” - 180 lbs) WR…Mount Dora HS (Mount Dora, FL)…1st team All-District…Team captain…38 receptions…538 yards…7 TDS…52 tackles…2 interceptions…1 forced fumble

Dock Luckie (6’1” - 175 lbs) WR…Gainesville HS (Gainesville, FL)…1st team All-Area…All-State honorable mention…53 catches, 720 yards, 10 TDS…Selected to Florida/Georgia All-Star game…Nike Open register Combine WR MVP…3 year starter - team captain.

Josh Crutchfield (6’2” - 220 lbs) DE…Park Vista HS (Lake Worth, FL)…All-Palm Beach County…Played in Outback All-Star game…1st team All-District…Led team in tackles for loss.

Vandrick Verdier (6’4” - 230 lbs) DE…Dr. Krop HS (Miami, FL)…13 sacks…15 tackles for loss…team captain…3rd team All-Dade County…Bright Future Scholar-Athlete.

Tarique Akbar (6’2” - 230 lbs)  DE…Lake Worth, HS (Lake Worth, FL)…All-Palm Beach County…Team Captain…Played in Plam beach County Suth All-Star Game.

Malique Akbar (6’2” - 230 lbs) DE…Lake Worth HS (Lake Worth, FL)…Lake Worth HS (Lake Worth, FL)…All-Palm Beach County…Team captain…Played in Outback All-Star game.

Javon Hunt (6’0” - 275 lbs) DT…Jackson HS (Miami, FL)…2nd team All-Dade County…Team captain…Played both offensive and defensive line…36 pancakes…8 sacks/12 TFLs

Desmond Carson (6’1” - 205 lbs) LB…North Marion HS (Citra, FL)…1st team All-Marion County…2nd leading tackler on team with 101 tackles…Played in Florida-Georgia All-Star Game…Team captain.

Obinna Nwankwo (6’3” - 280 Lbs) OL…Miramar HS (Miramar, FL)…2nd team All-State…3-Star Rivals Athlete…Ranked No.79 in the nation… Team captain…Broward County All-Academic team…1st team All-Froward County…53 pancakes…4.3 GPA/24 ACT.

Mack Green (6’2” - 200 lbs)  DB…Hapeville Charter (College Park, GA)…1st team All-Region QB…All-State honorable mention (Athlete)…Finished 3rd in passing int he state of Georgia…Team MVP…Team captain…4 interceptions..Set school records in both passing yards and interceptions.

Troy Hilton (6’3, 205 lbs) DB…Bayside HS (Palm Bay, FL)…Team MVP…Team captain…66 total tackles…5 INTS/2 pass break ups…Played in Treasure Coast…Space Coast All-Star game.

Elijah Vuckovich (5’11” - 190 lbs) SAF…North Marion HS (Citra, FL)…1st team All-American…Lead Marin County in tackles…1st team All-State..Player of the week in Marion County…Team captain.

Andrew Hines (6’0” - 190 lbs) SAF…Hallandale HS (Hallandale, FL)…2nd team All-Broward…3rd team All-State…67 tackles/4 INTs/13 PBU…Team captain.

Donovan Doud (5’11 - 180 lbs) Punter…Leon HS (Tallahassee, FL)…39-yard punt average…Long punt of 57 yards…50% fair catch rate…Rated 4-star by National Camp Series…Special teams MVP in 2014 and 2015…Awarded leon Pride Award.

Khalil Clark (5’11” - 170 lbs) K/P…1st team All-State punter…43 yard avg. on punts…Big Bend Special Teams Player of the Year…1st team All-Big Bend…6/6 on FG…30/30 PATS.

Mid-year Signees:

Lyndon Edwards (6’1” - 230 lbs) LB…ASA JC (Miami, FL)

Vincent Jeffries (6’2” - 191 lbs) QB…Santa Rosa JC (Garner, NC)

Chaviss Murphy (6’6” - 210 lbs) WR…ASA JC (Miami, FL

Elijah Richardson (6’1” - 215 lbs) LB…ASA JC (Port St. Lucie, FL)

Jakaris Wilson (6’3” - 220 lbs) LB…NM Military (Orlando, FL)

 Rashad Williams (6’5” - 290 lbs) OL…College of Dupage (Chicago, IL)

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION