DURHAM, North Carolina – With three straight conference championships and a trip to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl to its credit, North Carolina Central University loaded up on National Signing Day with 22 new Eagles, NCCU head football coach Jerry Mack announced on Wednesday.
Among the newcomers are five 3-star recruits and four with 2-star ratings. There are four transfers and 18 incoming freshmen.
As has been the case in the past, Mack and his coaching staff focused on recruiting NCCU's home state, with 12 signees calling North Carolina their home.
There was also a concerted effort to build in the trenches and improve depth on defense. This year's class consists of 10 linemen (six defensive and four offensive) and 12 defensive players.
2017 North Carolina Central University Eagles Football Signing Class
Randy Anyanwu, DL, 6-2, 245, Lovejoy, Ga. (University of Buffalo/Lovejoy HS)
Branden Bailey, LB, 6-0, 225, Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach HS)
Chris Burton, DT, 6-2, 296, Danville, Va. (University of Cincinnati/George Washington HS)
Chauncey Caldwell, QB, 6-3, 225, Durham, N.C. (Mallard Creek HS)
Jason Cascen, DT, 6-3, 290, Charlotte, N.C. (Fork Union Military Academy/Zebulon B. Vance HS)
Patrick Connor, LB, 6-0, 224, Greensboro, N.C. (Dudley HS)
Aaron Duncan, DB, 6-1, 180, Miami, Fla. (Norland HS)
Jerome Foster, LB, 6-0, 210, Greenville, S.C. (Greenville HS)
Qorticha Glenn, Jr., OL, 6-3, 290, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Palmetto Prep/Glenn HS)
E.J. Hicks, WR, 6-0, 172, Rolesville, N.C. (Rolesville HS)
Carl Isaac, DL, 6-3, 250, Rockingham, N.C. (Richmond Senior HS)
Jose Jeanty, OL, 6-4, 260, Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach HS)
Zach Kellum, TE, 6-3, 230, Winston-Salem, N.C. (East Forsyth HS)
Xavier Lenear, LS, 5-9, 215, Charlotte, N.C. (Independence HS)
Marcus Martin, DB, 5-11, 180, Miami, Fla. (Atlanta Sports Academy/North Miami HS)
Nique Martin, WR, 6-1, 190, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Palmetto Prep/East Forsyth HS)
Kalen McCain, DB, 6-1, 182, Durham, N.C. (Lackawanna College/Hillside HS)
Somadina Okezie-Okeke, OL, 6-3, 290, Woodstock, Ga. (River Ridge HS)
Cam'Ron Perkins, DT, 6-2, 275, Eden, N.C. (Morehead HS)
Malik Riddick-Reynolds, OL, 6-6, 360, Robbins, N.C. (North Moore HS)
Eric Saintil, WR, 6-2, 185, Homestead, Fla. (Shasta College/Homestead HS)
Miles Turmon, DT, 6-0, 290, Central, S.C. (D.W. Daniel HS)
BY THE NUMBERS
2017 Signing Class: 22 (18 incoming freshmen, 4 transfers)
By Position
Defensive Line: 6
Offensive Line: 4
Defensive Back: 3
Linebacker: 3
Wide Receiver: 3
Quarterback: 1
Tight End: 1
Long Snapper: 1
By State
North Carolina: 12
Florida: 5
Georgia: 2
South Carolina: 2
Virginia: 1
DETAILS
Zach Kellum, TE, 6-3, 230, Winston-Salem, N.C. (East Forsyth HS) VIDEO
Two-time Piedmont Triad 4A All-Conference selection. Two-time First Team HSXtra All-Area Selection (Triad). Named to 2016 All-Forsyth County First Team (Triad Sports Weekly). Recorded 29 catches with 471 yards and 8 touchdowns as a senior, averaging 16.2 yards per catch. Led East Forsyth to third round of 2016 NCHSAA playoffs. Also played basketball and lacrosse at East Forsyth.
Miles Turmon, DT, 6-0, 290, Central, S.C. (D.W. Daniel HS) VIDEO
South Carolina North/South Game participant. Recorded 42 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 blocked field goal as a senior in 2016.
E.J. Hicks, WR, 6-0, 172, Rolesville, N.C. (Rolesville HS) VIDEO
Rated a 3-star recruit by 247sports.com. Named to Greater Neuse River 4A All-Conference Football Team. Recorded 555 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns during senior year. Collected 607 receiving yards and 4 touchdown catches as a junior.
Somadina Okezie-Okeke, OL, 6-3, 290, Woodstock, Ga. (River Ridge HS) VIDEO
Rated 2-Star recruit by 247sports.com. Named to 6A All-Region Second Team.
Carl Isaac, DL, 6-3, 250, Rockingham, N.C. (Richmond Senior HS) VIDEO
Selected to 2016 North Carolina Shrine Bowl. Two-time All-Conference honoree. Recorded 109 tackles, 22 stops for a loss, 6 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries in high school career.
Cam'Ron Perkins, DT, 6-2, 275, Eden, N.C. (Morehead HS) VIDEO
Recorded 41 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries (1 for a touchdown) during senior season. Registered 141 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks during entire varsity career.
Jerome Foster, LB, 6-0, 210, Greenville, S.C. (Greenville HS) VIDEO
Selected as South Carolina North-South All-Star. Recorded 80 tackles, 4 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries.
Randy Anyanwu, DL, 6-2, 245, Lovejoy, Ga. (University of Buffalo/Lovejoy HS)
Rated as a 2-star recruit by Scout.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com coming out of Lovejoy High School. Transfer from the University of Buffalo, where he played 21 games in two seasons (2015, 2016). At Lovejoy High School, named first-team All-Region and All-County, and second-team All-State. Also lettered in track & field as a three-time state finalist and school record-holder for the discus throw.
Aaron Duncan, DB, 6-1, 180, Miami, Fla. (Norland HS) VIDEO
Rated a 3-star recruit by 247sports.com and Scout.com. Dade County vs. Broward County All-Star. Intercepted a pass in the final minute of the Dade vs. Broward All-Star Game to seal the victory for the Dade All-Stars. Finished with three interceptions as a senior in 2016.
Kalen McCain, DB, 6-1, 182, Durham, N.C. (Lackawanna College/Hillside HS) VIDEO
Rated a 3-star recruit by Rivals.com. Recorded 86 tackles, 13 interceptions and 12 pass break-ups during final two seasons at Hillside High School. Team finished with 9-3 record and advanced to the second round of the NC 4A state championships.
Patrick Connor, LB, 6-0, 224, Greensboro, N.C. (Dudley HS) VIDEO
2016 All-Conference (Metro 4-A), All-Region, All-State selection. As a senior, recorded 166 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. Returned 1 interception for a touchdown. Registered 347 tackles and 22 tackles for loss during career. Team won 2016 NCHSAA 4A State Championship in 2016.
Chris Burton, DT, 6-2, 296, Danville, Va. (University of Cincinnati/George Washington HS)
Rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com. Ranked as the No. 30 prospect in Virginia and the nation's No. 32 tight end coming out of George Washington High School. First-Team All-Western Valley District choice on defense. Team's leading receiver as a senior, hauling in 15 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns along with a six-yard rush, helping George Washington to an 8-3 record and a playoff berth. Caught 16 passes for 315 yards and a pair of TDs as a junior after hauling in nine passes for 98 yards and two scores as a sophomore. In three seasons (2014-16) at the University of Cincinnati, recorded 44 total tackles with 4.5 hits for a loss and 2.5 sacks in 36 games played.
Chauncey Caldwell, QB, 6-3, 225, Durham, N.C. (Mallard Creek HS) VIDEO
Rated a 2-star recruit by Scout.com. 2016 MECKA All-Conference Football Team. In 2015 at Hillside High School (Durham, N.C.), passed for more than 2,500 yards with 32 touchdowns and rushed for more than 400 yards with seven touchdowns. Team posted a 10-3 record and advanced to the state semifinals of the 4A East playoffs.
Jason Cascen, DT, 6-3, 290, Charlotte, N.C. (Fork Union Military Academy/Zebulon B. Vance HS) VIDEO
Two-time MECKA All-Conference. Recorded 74 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery during junior year at Vance High School. Also played basketball.
Nique Martin, WR, 6-1, 190, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Palmetto Prep/East Forsyth HS) VIDEO
Two-time selection to All-Northwest Team (Winston-Salem Journal). Selected as NCCA East-West All-Star. Named to 2015 NCPreps.com All-State Football Team. During career at East Forsyth High School, amassed 138 receptions for 2,315 yards and 25 touchdowns, along with 4,256 all-purpose yards. As a senior, caught 85 passes for 1,183 yards and 12 touchdowns, while adding 353 yards and 7 touchdowns rushing.
Marcus Martin, DB, 5-11, 180, Miami, Fla. (Atlanta Sports Academy/North Miami HS) VIDEO
Collected 21 tackles, 4 pass break-ups and 1 interception as a junior in 2014.
Branden Bailey, LB, 6-0, 225, Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach HS) VIDEO
Rated as a 3-star recruit by Scout.com and 247sports.com. Ranked as the 64th inside linebacker in the nation and 10th ILB in Florida by Scout.com. Selected for 2016 Broward County Athletic Association All-Star Football Game.
Xavier Lenear, LS, 5-9, 215, Charlotte, N.C. (Independence HS) VIDEO
Played defensive line and long snapper at Independence High School in Charlotte, N.C. Also lettered in track & field and wrestling.
Qorticha Glenn, Jr., OL, 6-3, 290, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Palmetto Prep/Glenn HS) VIDEO
2015 All-Forsyth County Team. 2015 Player to Watch in Triad (Greensboro News and Record). Recorded 45 tackles with 3.0 hits for a loss as a junior in 2014 at East Forsyth High School before attending Glenn High School.
Jose Jeanty, OL, 6-4, 260, Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach HS) VIDEO
Rated as a 2-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com.
Malik Riddick-Reynolds, OL, 6-6, 360, Robbins, N.C. (North Moore HS) VIDEO
Named to 2016 YVC (Yadkin Valley Conference) All-Conference Team.
Eric Saintil, WR, 6-2, 185, Homestead, Fla. (Shasta College/Homestead HS) VIDEO
Earned All-League (Pacific 7/American Division) honors in 2016 at Shasta College. Registered 35 catches, 798 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2016, along with 13 carries for 87 yards. Recorded 15 receptions for 258 yards and 1 touchdown during his senior season in 2014 at Homestead High School.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
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