Grambling State lands 12 on National Signing Day

GRAMBLING, Louisiana| Ten outstanding high school seniors, along with a pair of mid-year transfers, signed national letters of intent to Grambling State University, Tigers head football coach Broderick Fobbs announced today.
 
"We had 10 quality student-athletes who signed with us, along with two mid-year transfers. We know they will come in and compete at the Division I level," Fobbs said. "Our coaching staff did a great job of identifying our program's needs and going out and signing the best players at each position. We signed an outstanding group and are excited to get them on campus."
 
Six of the student-athletes attended high school in the state of Louisiana, while three came from Florida and Texas. The Tigers landed one player from the state of Georgia and one from Alabama, who chose Grambling State over the defending Football Bowl Championship (FBS) champions, Alabama.
 
Fobbs also announced the addition of two mid-year enrollees in Cecil Cherry and Damien Crumitie, who both signed in December and have been attending classes at Grambling State this semester.
 
2018 GRAMBLING STATE FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS as of 2/7/18
 

Sundiata Anderson

Defensive End

6-4

220

North Clayton HS

Atlanta, Ga.

Anderson played multiple sports during his time at North Clayton High School…He was a First Team All-County selection after recording nine sacks for the Eagles during his senior season…An All-Region 4-AAAA and Atlanta Journal Constitution's All-Southside selection…Also played for basketball and baseball programs at North Clayton…Chose Grambling State over Eastern Kentucky, UNLV, Appalachian State, Georgia Tech, Samford, Troy, Tulane and Western Kentucky.

 

Don'tae Barge

Defensive End

6-4

240

Helen Cox HS

New Orleans, La.

Registered 22 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss…Recorded three sacks…Chose Grambling State over Prairie View A&M and Northwestern State.
 

Darqueze Brutton

TIGER (WR)

5-6

160

Leon HS

Tallahassee, Fla.

During junior season at Leon High School, rushed for 600 yards and eight touchdowns…Finished with 986 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns…Named to the 2016 All Big-Bend Second Team…As a senior, rushed for 566 yards and four scores…Registered 1,015 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns…Selected the team MVP…An All Big-Bend honorable mention selection…Chose Grambling State over Coastal Carolina, Florida A&M, Howard, Jackson State, Southern and Wofford.
 

Matthew Cormier

Linebacker

6-3

205

LaGrange HS

Lake Charles, La.

Made three tackles for the Lake Charles All-Star Team in the Inaugural Louisiana High School Coaches Association I-10 Bowl…A member of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 4A Honorable Mention All-State Team as a junior and an Area All-District 3-5A First-Team selection as a senior.
 

Keilon Elder

Running Back

5-9

205

Duncanville HS

Duncanville, Texas

Rushed for 952 yards and 16 touchdowns, while averaging 7.7 yards per carry for the state's seventh ranked Class 6A team…Had a pair of 200-yard games, running for 253 yards and five touchdowns against Plano East and rushing for 201 yards and three scores against Skyline…Scored a touchdown in every game, but one during his senior season…Chose Grambling State over Cornell and Northeastern State.
 

Ryan Fields

Defensive Back

6-1

160

Cypress Ranch HS

Houston, Texas

A three-year letterman at Cypress Ranch High School…Prep honors include Academic All-District (sophomore), Second-Team All-District and Academic All-District (junior) and First-Team All-District as a senior…Cousin of former NFL outside linebacker and two-time pro bowler Mark Fields, and of current Clemson cornerback, Mark Fields II…Chose Grambling State over Army, Central Arkansas, Prairie View A&M, South Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas Southern and Texas State.
 

TJ Hawthorne

Defensive Back

6-2

205

North Webster HS

Springhill, La.

Offensively, Hawthorne registered 163 yards rushing on 37 carries as a senior (32.6 ypg.) and six touchdowns…In the air, he caught 12 passes for 233 yards (46.6 ypg.) with four touchdowns…Registered 396 all-purpose yards (79.2 ypg.)…A 2016 selection of the All-District 1-3A First Team…A 2017 Louisiana Sports Writers Association 3A All-State Honorable Mention selection…Played in the 2017 Louisiana High School Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game…Lettered In track and field and was a member of the 4x100m relay team that finished third at the state track meet in 2017…Played in the 2017 NUC All-American game in Daytona Beach.
 

Donald Johnson, Jr.

TIGER (WR)

5-8

165

Ruston HS

Ruston, La.

A 2017 District 2-5A First-Team selection at wide receiver and a Shreveport Times 2017 All-Area Football First-Team honoree…As a junior, named to the Shreveport Times All-Area Football Team Second Team…Played in the 2017 Louisiana High School Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game.
 

Quincy Mitchell

Quarterback

6-0

175

Southern Lab HS

Baton Rouge, La.

As a junior, finished with 47 total touchdowns, including 34 passing and 13 rushing…Added 1,911 yards through the air and 735 on the ground…Named the 1A Offensive MVP and First-Team All District…A 2016 state champion…As a senior, threw for 1,983 yards and 18 touchdowns…Registered 631 rushing yards and four scores…A member of the First-Team All District…Chose Grambling State over Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Kent State.
 

Maurice Robinson

Defensive Back

6-2

185

Murphy HS

Mobile, Ala.

A three-star athlete was one of the top football prospects in the state of Alabama for the Class of 2018…Threw for 1,686 total yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior…Chose Grambling State over Alabama, LSU, Memphis and Troy.
 
 
2018 GRAMBLING STATE FOOTBALL MID-YEAR PLAYERS as of 2/7/18
 

Cecil Cherry

Linebacker

6-0

240

Coahoma CC

Frostproof, Fla.

Transferred from Coahoma Community College…Starred on both sides of the ball at Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland, Fla…A 4-star recruit on rivals.com and was ranked as the No. 12 inside linebacker recruit nationally and as the no. 46 recruit at any position in the state of Florida as a senior…Named the Small School Defensive Player of the Year by the Lakeland Ledger in 2014 and was offered by close to 40 colleges and universities out of high school, including national powerhouses Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, and Clemson…committed to the University of Texas out of high school and transferred to the University of South Florida shortly after beginning his fall semester at UT…After redshirting for the Bulls in 2015, Cherry accumulated 30 total tackles for a USF side that went 10-2 in 2016 and earned a berth in the Birmingham Bowl.
 

Damien Crumitie

Defensive Back

6-0

160

Dodge City CC

Tallahassee, Fla.

Transferred from Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kan…Had one kickoff return during his freshman season at Dodge City CC…A defensive back coming out of Leon High School, Crumitie played in 10 games last season and was sixth on the team in tackles with 27, including 19 solo stops…Also added 2.5 tackles for a loss of 12 yards and eight pass breakups…Received offers from South Alabama, Troy, Western Kentucky, Kent State, Charlotte, Central Arkansas and Tennessee-Martin.
 

2018 Grambling State National Signing Day List
Name	Position	Height	Weight	Hometown	Previous School
Sundiata Anderson	Defensive End	6-4	220	Atlanta, Ga.	North Clayton HS
Don'tae Barge	Defensive End	6-4	240	New Orleans, La.	Helen Cox HS
Darqueze Brutton	TIGER (WR)	5-6	160	Tallahassee, Fla.	Leon HS
Cecil Cherry	Linebacker	6-0	240	Frostproof, Fla.	Coahoma CC
Matthew Cormier	Linebacker	6-3	205	Lake Charles, La.	LaGrange HS
Damien Crumitie	Defensive Back	6-0	160	Tallahassee, Fla.	Dodge City CC
Keilon Elder	Running Back	5-9	205	Duncanville, Texas	Duncanville HS
Ryan Fields	Defensive Back	6-1	160	Houston, Texas	Cypress Ranch, Texas
TJ Hawthorne	Defensive Back	6-2	205	Springhill, La.	North Webster HS
Donald Johnson, Jr.	TIGER (WR)	5-8	165	Ruston, La.	Ruston HS
Quincy Mitchell	Quarterback	6-0	175	Baton Rouge, La.	Southern Lab HS
Maurice Robinson	Defensive Back	6-2	185	Mobile, Ala.	Murphy HS

 
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By: Brian Howard, Sports Information Director
GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATION