SIGNING DAY CENTRAL: NCCU Football

2018 North Carolina Central University Eagles Football Signing Class

Tyler Barnes, WR, 6-4, 200, Charlotte, N.C. (West Mecklenburg HS)*
Marcel Bell, DE, 6-3, 230, Lake City, Fla. (Columbia HS)
Alejandro Hall, CB, 6-1, 186, Duluth, Ga. (Alpharetta HS)
Ricky Lee, OL, 6-5, 270, Jacksonville, Fla. (Robert E. Lee HS)
Chuck Manning, DE, 6-2, 225, Durham, N.C. (Riverside HS)
Marquise Nelson, DB, 6-1, 170, Charlotte, N.C. (Harding University HS)
John Pecaro, P, 5-11, 175, Boynton Beach, Fla. (Atlantic HS/LA Pierce College)
Joseph Pete, OL, 6-4, 300, Dallas, Texas (Cisco College)
Mashion Powell, RB, 5-11, 185, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Reagan HS)
Sonnie Richardson, WR, 5-9, 185, Raleigh, N.C. (Leesville Road HS/Mesa CC)*
Easton Senior, DT, 6-2, 302, Durham, N.C. (Southern Durham HS)
Zach Simmons, LB, 6-1, 220, Broward County, Fla. (Deerfield Beach HS)*
Manny Smith, DB, 6-2, 185, Laurel Hill, N.C. (Scotland HS)
Romeo Stancil, CB, 6-0, 160, Clayton, N.C. (Clayton HS)
Daeshawn Stephens, WR, 6-2, 190, Durham, N.C. (Hillside HS/N.C. State University)*
Jesse Urbina, OL, 6-1, 320, Jacksonville, Fla. (Trinity Christian Academy)
Travon Wallace, DB, 6-0, 185, Jacksonville, Fla. (Atlantic Coast HS)
Tyquan Watson, RB, 6-0, 192, Tallahassee, Fla. (Godby HS/Eastern Arizona College)
Marvin Zanders, QB, 6-2, 205, Jacksonville, Fla. (Raines HS/University of Missouri)*

* - early signee


BY THE NUMBERS
2018 Signing Class: 19 (14 incoming freshmen, 5 transfers)

By Position (9 defense, 9 offense, 1 special teams)
Defensive Back: 5
Defensive Line: 3
Offensive Line: 3
Wide Receiver: 3
Running Back: 2
Linebacker: 1
Quarterback: 1
Punter: 1

By State
North Carolina: 9
Florida: 8
Georgia: 1
Texas: 1 

DETAILS
 
Tyler Barnes, WR, 6-4, 200, Charlotte, N.C. (West Mecklenburg HS)* VIDEO  
Amassed 84 receptions for 1,257 yards and 19 touchdowns in his final two seasons at West Mecklenburg High School. Two-sport student-athlete at West Mecklenburg, also playing baseball as a shortstop and pitcher.

Marcel Bell, DE, 6-3, 230, Lake City, Fla. (Columbia HS)  VIDEO  
As a senior in 2017, collected 85 tackles, including 16.5 hits for a loss with 9 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.

Alejandro Hall, CB, 6-1, 186, Duluth, Ga. (Alpharetta HS)  VIDEO  
Named Second Team All-Region 7 as a cornerback at Alpharetta (Ga.) High School.

Ricky Lee, OL, 6-5, 270, Jacksonville, Fla. (Robert E. Lee HS)  VIDEO  
Named First Team 7A All-District 2 as an offensive tackle. Also lettered in basketball.

Chuck Manning, DE, 6-2, 225, Durham, N.C. (Riverside HS)  VIDEO  
Named 2017 Triangle 6 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, after recording 20.5 sacks with 4 forced fumbles as a senior at Riverside High School.

Marquise Nelson, DB, 6-1, 170, Charlotte, N.C. (Harding University HS)  VIDEO  
Two-time SoMeck 7 4A All-Conference at safety for Harding University High School. Team Captain. Registered 63 tackles, 5 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery. Team won 2017 4A state championship, the school's first state title in 64 years. Caught interception in state championship victory over Scotland County.

John Pecaro, P, 5-11, 175, Boynton Beach, Fla. (Atlantic HS/LA Pierce College)  VIDEO  
Named Second Team All-Conference at Los Angeles Pierce College, averaging 35.9 yards per punt with 6 downed inside the 20-yard line. Played two seasons at Atlantic High School. Selected as a Florida All-Star punter and helped lead team to district championship during senior season.

Joseph Pete, OL, 6-4, 300, Dallas, Texas (Cisco College)  VIDEO  
Among Top 100 Gridiron RR JUCO Offensive Linemen. Recorded 85 pancake blocks.

Mashion Powell, RB, 5-11, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Reagan HS)  VIDEO 
Amassed 824 rushing yards, 269 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior at Reagan High School.

Sonnie Richardson, WR, 5-9, 185, Raleigh, N.C. (Leesville Road HS/Mesa CC)* VIDEO  
Registered 74 receptions for 848 yards and 9 touchdowns as a sophomore at Mesa Community College in 2017 to earn NJCAA All-America Honorable Mention recognition. As a senior at Leesville Road High School in 2014, led the team with 1,068 receiving yards on 58 catches for 11 touchdowns, averaging 118.7 yards per game and 18.4 yards per reception.

Easton Senior, DT, 6-2, 302, Durham, N.C. (Southern Durham HS)  VIDEO  
Two-time (2016 & 2017) selection to the Big Eight 3A All-Conference Team. 

Zach Simmons, LB, 6-1, 220, Broward County, Fla. (Deerfield Beach HS)* VIDEO  
Amassed 178 tackles, 19 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown during his career at Deerfield Beach High School.

Manny Smith, DB, 6-2, 185, Laurel Hill, N.C. (Scotland HS)  VIDEO  
Named First Team All-Sandhills Athletic Conference as a senior safety in 2017. Registered 46 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and 2 interceptions.

Romeo Stancil, CB, 6-0, 160, Clayton, N.C. (Clayton HS)  VIDEO  
Two-time Greater Neuse River All-Conference selection (2017 & 2016). As a senior at Clayton High School in 2017, collected 32 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. Amassed 89 career tackles (61 solo).

Daeshawn Stephens, WR, 6-2, 190, Durham, N.C. (Hillside HS/N.C. State University)*
Spent the past two seasons (2016-17) at North Carolina State University, appearing in 10 games in 2017 after redshirting during the 2016 campaign. Signed with the Wolfpack after a stellar career at Hillside High School, amassing 71 receptions for 989 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior. Helped lead the Hornets to a 10-3 record and the N.C. 4A state quarterfinals in 2015.

Jesse Urbina, OL, 6-1, 320, Jacksonville, Fla. (Trinity Christian Academy)  VIDEO  
50 pancake blocks. Three-time state champion at Trinity Christian Academy.

Travon Wallace, DB, 6-0, 185, Jacksonville, Fla. (Atlantic Coast HS)  VIDEO  
Named First Team All-Duval County as a safety at Atlantic Coast High School. Recorded 47 tackles, 7 pass break-ups, 5 interceptions and 2 touchdowns.

Tyquan Watson, RB, 6-0, 192, Tallahassee, Fla. (Godby HS/Eastern Arizona College)  VIDEO  
Two-star recruit (247Sports) coming out of Godby High School in Tallahassee, Florida. As a high school senior in 2015, averaged 102.3 rushing yards per game and 7.8 yards per carry (921 rushing yards) with 6 touchdowns. Played one season at Eastern Arizona College, averaging 5.1 yards per carry (288 yards on 56 rushes) with a touchdown, while adding 3 receptions for 55 yards and 2 kickoff returns for 93 yards.

Marvin Zanders, QB, 6-2, 205, Jacksonville, Fla. (Raines HS/University of Missouri)*
Spent three seasons (2014-16) at the University of Missouri. In 2016, completed 10-of-12 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, while rushing 35 times for 198 yards and two scores for the Tigers. As a senior at Raines High School in 2013, amassed more than 2,500 yards of total offense, and was responsible for 37 touchdowns, completing 130-of-224 passes for 1,866 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 705 yards and 15 more scores. 

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION