Taylor reached as far as Hawaii for help to shore up the Rattlers' offensive line, signing offensive guard Pieper Kawika. FAMU beat out nine other schools, including Duke from the ACC and Marshall of Conference USA, for the services of the 6-foot-3, 320-pound two-time all-state lineman from Moanalua High School.
In all, FAMU signed 22 of the 25 prospects it pursued during the recruiting period. Taylor hailed the class, which includes three Division I transfers and one from a junior college, as the best he's recruited since taking over the FAMU program.
Videographer: FAMUSPORTS
2011 FAMU Rattlers Signees
Aiken, Patrick, 5-10/170, CB, Pembroke Pines, Fla./Flanagan H.S.
Bass, Tyler, 6-4/210,QB, r-Jr. Atlanta, Ga./Memphis
Broaddus, James, 6-5/245, DE Choctawhatchee, Fla./Choctawhatchee H.S.
Brinson, Sherrod, 6-1/270 OC Madison, Fla./Madison HS
Carroll, Jeremiah, 6-4/290 OL Dothan, Ala./Northview HS
Carter, Ravonne, 5-11/190 DB Fr. Miami, Fla./New Mexico
Gibson, LaDontae, 6-4/280 OL/DL Madison, Fla./Madison HS
Harrison, Delmus, 5-11/185 RB Tallahassee, Fla./FAMU DRS
Harvey, DeWayne, 6-3/200 Ath Tallahassee, Fla./Florida HS
Hypollite, Ellie 6-4/275 DL Jr. Bartow, Fla./Eerie JC
Liford, Gene 6-9/280 OL Monticello, Fla./Aucilla HS
James, Dane 6-1/180 QB Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson
McGhee, Rickey 6-2/190 WR Crawfordville, Fla./Rickards HS
Morris, Michael 6-5/230 TE Jacksonville, Fla./Andrew Jackson H.S.
Nettles, Michael 6-5/290 OL Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto
Newton, Brenton 6-3/255 TE/FB Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson
Pieper, Kawika 6-3/320 OG/C Fr. Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua HS
Powell, Darius 6-0/206 Ath Gainesville, Fla./East Side
Brinson, Sherrod, 6-1/270 OC Madison, Fla./Madison HS
Carroll, Jeremiah, 6-4/290 OL Dothan, Ala./Northview HS
Carter, Ravonne, 5-11/190 DB Fr. Miami, Fla./New Mexico
Gibson, LaDontae, 6-4/280 OL/DL Madison, Fla./Madison HS
Harrison, Delmus, 5-11/185 RB Tallahassee, Fla./FAMU DRS
Harvey, DeWayne, 6-3/200 Ath Tallahassee, Fla./Florida HS
Hypollite, Ellie 6-4/275 DL Jr. Bartow, Fla./Eerie JC
Liford, Gene 6-9/280 OL Monticello, Fla./Aucilla HS
James, Dane 6-1/180 QB Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson
McGhee, Rickey 6-2/190 WR Crawfordville, Fla./Rickards HS
Morris, Michael 6-5/230 TE Jacksonville, Fla./Andrew Jackson H.S.
Nettles, Michael 6-5/290 OL Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto
Newton, Brenton 6-3/255 TE/FB Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson
Pieper, Kawika 6-3/320 OG/C Fr. Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua HS
Powell, Darius 6-0/206 Ath Gainesville, Fla./East Side
Turner, Casey 5-11/190 RB r-Fr. Jacksonville, Fla./Rutgers University/Ed White H.S.
Ward, Kevin 6-4/285 OG Raleigh, N.C./Broughton HS
Williams, Anthony 6-0/175 WR Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson
FAMU signee ready to shine in classroom
Crista Wright, a math teacher at Gainesville Eastside High School, wasn't sure what to think of Darius Powell the first couple of days he was in her classroom. He appeared a little too shy, although as a sophomore he had already demonstrated that he was a star on the school's football team. That threw Wright for a loop.
"He wasn't that typical, 'Oh, I'm playing football. I'm the star; look at me,' " she said. "He was very driven by his academics. He became a leader in the classroom. He would take other athletes under his wings and encourage them to make sure they were doing their homework."
Florida A&M Rattlers – Meet the Class
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Aiken, Patrick CB 5-10 170 Pembroke Pines/Flanagan
Snake Bites: All-Broward County Team selection … Recorded 54 tackles, 12 pass break-ups, two interceptions, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles, 326 yards in kick returns with two TDs his senior year of play.
Bass, Tyler QB 6-4 210 Atlanta, Ga./Memphis
Snake Bites: In 2009 at Memphis, Bass played in four of the 12 games at quarterback, making three starts as the Tiger signal caller … Averaged 213.2 yards of total offense per game (45.0 rushing, 168.3 passing) … Ranked No. 73 nationally among quarterbacks by Scout.com … Tabbed No. 57 nationally among athletes by Scouts Inc. … Also rushed for 606 yards and 11 TDs on 81 carries.
Florida A&M fans cheer recruits
Right after winning one of the give-away prizes that were handed out during the celebration of Florida A&M catches on National Signing Day, Cicero Hartsfield dashed to find a Sharpie. He had to have coach Joe Taylor's signature on the football that he'd won.
It was a little more than Hartsfield came for when he showed up at The Moon on Wednesday night. He and about 200 other FAMU boosters and fans were there for their first look at the new Rattlers.
READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.
Ward, Kevin 6-4/285 OG Raleigh, N.C./Broughton HS
Williams, Anthony 6-0/175 WR Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson
FAMU signee ready to shine in classroom
Crista Wright, a math teacher at Gainesville Eastside High School, wasn't sure what to think of Darius Powell the first couple of days he was in her classroom. He appeared a little too shy, although as a sophomore he had already demonstrated that he was a star on the school's football team. That threw Wright for a loop.
"He wasn't that typical, 'Oh, I'm playing football. I'm the star; look at me,' " she said. "He was very driven by his academics. He became a leader in the classroom. He would take other athletes under his wings and encourage them to make sure they were doing their homework."
Florida A&M Rattlers – Meet the Class
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Aiken, Patrick CB 5-10 170 Pembroke Pines/Flanagan
Snake Bites: All-Broward County Team selection … Recorded 54 tackles, 12 pass break-ups, two interceptions, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles, 326 yards in kick returns with two TDs his senior year of play.
Bass, Tyler QB 6-4 210 Atlanta, Ga./Memphis
Snake Bites: In 2009 at Memphis, Bass played in four of the 12 games at quarterback, making three starts as the Tiger signal caller … Averaged 213.2 yards of total offense per game (45.0 rushing, 168.3 passing) … Ranked No. 73 nationally among quarterbacks by Scout.com … Tabbed No. 57 nationally among athletes by Scouts Inc. … Also rushed for 606 yards and 11 TDs on 81 carries.
Florida A&M fans cheer recruits
Right after winning one of the give-away prizes that were handed out during the celebration of Florida A&M catches on National Signing Day, Cicero Hartsfield dashed to find a Sharpie. He had to have coach Joe Taylor's signature on the football that he'd won.
It was a little more than Hartsfield came for when he showed up at The Moon on Wednesday night. He and about 200 other FAMU boosters and fans were there for their first look at the new Rattlers.
READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.
