NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State head football coach
Pete Adrian announced Wednesday the signing of 11 recruits to national letters of intent to play for the Spartans beginning this fall.
Of the 11 recruits, eight will likely start their NSU careers on offense. That group includes three offensive linemen, two receivers, one tight end, one running back and one quarterback. The three defensive recruits consist of two linebackers and one defensive back.
Of the 11 recruits, 10 are high school products and one signed out of prep school. The Spartans added 10 in-state recruits – including four from the immediate Hampton Roads area – and one from Florida.
"This is a very athletic group that has good collective speed," Adrian said. "We needed to add some key pieces at most positions on offense, and we feel we were able to do that. Defensively, we focused on quality over quantity. With most of our defensive starters back (from 2013), we were looking to improve our depth there, and I think we did that."
Following is a look at NSU's recruits who signed on Wednesday, with biographical information, links to their video highlights and comments from Adrian on each. Adrian noted that more signees are possible in the coming weeks.
2014 Football Signees
2014 NSU Recruiting Class
Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown / Previous School | Highlights |
Ebenezer Agyemang-Kusi | DB | 5-11 | 180 | Triangle, Va. / Forest Park HS | Click here |
Kyle Archie | LB | 6-0 | 230 | Portsmouth, Va. / I.C. Norcom HS | Click here |
Thomas Coleman | OL | 6-3 | 280 | Chesapeake, Va. / Western Branch HS | Click here |
Terrance Ervin | QB | 6-3 | 210 | Chesterfield, Va. / L.C. Bird HS | Click here |
Ricky Haley | LB | 6-3 | 225 | Norfolk, Va. / Maury HS | Click here |
Bryce Hankins | WR | 5-9 | 175 | Ridgeway, Va. / Magna Vista HS | Click here |
Marques Harvey | OL/DL | 6-4 | 270 | Portsmouth, Va. / I.C. Norcom HS | Click here |
Christopher Lee | TE/LB | 6-4 | 245 | Woodbridge, Va. / C.D. Hylton HS | Click here |
Terry Polk | RB | 5-10 | 165 | North Port, Fla. / Venice HS | Click here |
Martavias Robinson | OL | 6-4 | 340 | Chesterfield, Va. / Atlanta Sports Academy | Click here |
Darius Wilson | WR | 6-3 | 170 | Amherst, Va. / Amherst County HS | Click here |
Ebenezer Agyemang-Kusi • DB • 5-11 • 180
Triangle, Va./Forest Park HS
High School: Two-time first-team all-conference selection … also a second-team All-Region 6A South selection as a senior … made 40 tackles and five interceptions as a senior … also deflected 14 passes … scored four touchdowns, three on interception returns and one on a blocked punt return … blocked a pair of punts.
Adrian Says: "Ebenezer is a good fit for our defense because he is a good cover corner and can also play downhill. He could play corner or safety for us."
Kyle Archie • LB • 6-0 • 230
Portsmouth, Va./I.C. Norcom HS
High School: Named the Eastern District Defensive Player of the Year … first-team All-Eastern District, All-Region 4A South and All-Tidewater … amassed 112 tackles, six sacks, five forced fumbles and one interception … helped Norcom reach the second round of the state playoffs … played for his father, Larry, at Norcom … Larry Archie was a former assistant football coach at NSU and his grandfather, Bill, was a former NSU head football coach and athletics director.
Adrian Says: "Kyle is a physical inside linebacker with good lateral movement. He has quite an NSU lineage in his family and we're excited that he chose to be the next Archie at NSU."
Thomas Coleman • OL • 6-3 • 280
Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS
High School: A first-team All-Tidewater and All-Conference 2 selection as a senior … helped Western Branch rush for a South Hampton Roads-leading 3,849 yards … rated a two-star recruit by Rivals.com
Adrian Says: "Thomas is a very smart player who has a big upside. He could play a number of positions but we're going to look at him at center first. He also has plenty of growth potential."
Terrance Ervin • QB • 6-3 • 210
Chesterfield, Va./L.C. Bird HS
High School: Quarterbacked L.C. Bird to its first two VHSL state titles his junior and senior seasons … was 29-0 as a starter … Conference 12 and Region 5A South Offensive Player of the Year as a senior after throwing for 2,065 yards and 27 TDs – both school records – as a senior … passed for 266 yards and two TDs and also ran for a score to help L.C. Bird clinch its second straight state title in his final prep game, earning Player of the Game honors … first-team all-conference and all-region … also earned honorable mention All-Metro honors … set school records with 3,666 passing yards and 50 TDs over his two years on the varsity squad.
Adrian Says: "Terrance never lost a high school game. He's very athletic, throws well and runs a team well. We're excited about having him in the program."
Ricky Haley • LB • 6-3 • 225
Norfolk, Va./Maury HS
High School: Second-team All-Eastern District as a senior … played linebacker and tight end … scored six total touchdowns, three on receptions, two on fumble returns and one on an interception return … finished with 60 total tackles, 16 for loss, and 6.5 sacks … added three blocked kicks and two forced fumbles.
Adrian Says: "Ricky plays well off the edge and that's where he'll begin his career for us. But he's also physical enough to play inside."
Bryce Hankins • WR • 5-9 • 175
Ridgeway, Va./Magna Vista HS
High School: First-team All-Conference 31 and second-team All-Region 3A as a senior … first-team All-Timesland by The Roanoke Times … caught 51 passes for 756 yards and four touchdowns … also amassed 402 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in just 29 carries … honorable mention all-region and all-state as a junior … also ran track and played baseball at Magna Vista.
Adrian Says: "Bryce is very explosive and is one of three sub-4.5 guys in this class. He could be one of the fastest guys on the team next year. He can play slot receiver, running back and return kicks."
Marques Harvey • OL/DL • 6-4 • 270
Portsmouth, Va./I.C. Norcom HS
High School: Two-way standout and prep teammate of fellow NSU signee Kyle Archie … first-team All-Eastern District at offensive tackle and second-team all-district at defensive end … second-team All-Tidewater at offensive line … honorable mention All-Region 4A South and All-757.
Adrian Says: "Marques has a big upside. He could play either side of the ball, but he'll get his first look at offensive tackle. He is very athletic, but also has potential to add weight and play at 300+ pounds."
Christopher Lee • TE/LB • 6-4 • 245
Woodbridge, Va./C.D. Hylton HS
High School: A first-team All-Conference 4 pick at defensive end … also made the All-Region 6A South second team … started at defensive end and also at tight end/H-back on offense … on defense, registered 72 tackles, 22 for loss, and 14 sacks … a key blocker on an offense that ran for over 3,000 yards both of his final two years … also first-team all-district and all-region as a junior.
Adrian Says: "Chris is an outstanding tight end who runs and catches the ball well. He could play either side of the ball, but we're looking at him as a very good tight end prospect."
Terry Polk • RB • 5-10 • 165
North Port, Fla./Venice HS
High School: Ran for a school-record 1,840 yards as a senior … scored 24 total touchdowns, 22 rushing and two receiving … Class 6A all-state second-team selection … named to the All-Southwest Florida Regional Elite and the Sarasota Herald Tribune all-area first teams after leading the area in rushing … rushed for 1,541 yards as a junior.
Adrian Says: "Simply put, Terry is just an outstanding running back. He has great speed and shifting ability. With his sub-4.5 speed, he can be a game-changer."
Martavias Robinson • OL • 6-4 • 340
Chesterfield, Va./Atlanta Sports Academy/L.C. Bird HS
High School/Prep: First team All-Dominion District, All-Central Region and All-Metro as a senior in 2012 at L.C. Bird … helped Bird win its first-ever VHSL state football title … named co-MVP of the East team at the 2012 VHSCA state all-star game … spent the 2013 season playing for the Atlanta Sports Academy prep team.
Adrian Says: "Martavias is the true definition of a road-grader. He has great feet and lateral quickness for his size and should compete for playing time right away."
Darius Wilson • WR • 6-3 • 170
Amherst, Va./Amherst County HS
High School: Was a first-team All-Conference 23 pick as a senior at both receiver and defensive back … second-team all-conference selection at punt returner … also made honorable mention All-Region 4A North on both offense and defense … caught 32 passes for 547 yards and six touchdowns as a senior … tallied 1310 all-purpose yards … averaged 33.6 yards per kickoff return and 17.7 on punt returns … had 40 tackles and four interceptions on defense.
Adrian Says: "Darius has outstanding speed. He's almost 6-4 and is a good returner. He catches the ball over the middle and also blocks well."
By Matt Michalec, SID
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION