ETTRICK, VA – In his first Virginia State University signing class, Head Coach Henry Frazier and his staff prepare to welcome an epic 36 – player signing class. The massive class features 13 transfer students and a whopping 23 incoming freshman.
Coach Frazier was sure to do his due diligence in the DMV after snagging eight from Washington, D.C., four from Maryland and 17 from Virginia. The staff also did a solid sweep down south grabbing two from North Carolina, two from Georgia and one from Florida. The squad will also welcome two from Pennsylvania as well.
With the loss of key former All-CIAA First Team Linebacker in
Zion Johnson (1
st in total tackles). Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers coach has seven linebackers awaiting a Trojans uniform including a pair of former division I linebackers in Carl Poole (Liberty) and Mehkhi Johnson (Univ. of Arizona).
Defensive Backs coach
Brandon Dow was sure to add a ton of depth to his defensive back room adding 10. The Trojans attempted to find a game altering cornerback opposite of
Willie Drew last season so, with the addition of veteran transfer cornerbacks in Arthur White (Rhode Island), Sivon Pleasants (Norfolk State) and Teneyah Dixon (Univ. of Virginia) Coach Dow will likely find an answer.
The calling card of the Virginia State University football team has always been the defensive line. That being said, with the exception of losing their veteran leader
Duane Platt (Second on team in sacks and TFL's), Defensive Line Coach
John Pearce has a bunch of young talent returning to his respective position group. The infamous Trojan defensive line will welcome at least four new family members to the squad.
Similar to the defensive line, the offensive line returns heap of talent including reigning CIAA Offensive Lineman of the Year in
Matthew Foster. Coach Frazier will lean on the returners from last season to guide the four new members of the VSU offensive line after such a strong season a year ago.
As any elite Head Coach and staff knows, special teams can make or break a team which is why Special Teams Coordinator
John Pearce invested in his specialist group after grabbing a young kicker in Ben Blackley and a graduate transfer Long Snapper in Scout Hughs (Liberty).
Offensive Coordinator
Lamar Manigo decided to add even more value to the VSU receiving core after having nearly their entire wide receiver room come back. The position group will welcome four new family members including a former division I transfer in Kevin Gayles, Jr (Norfolk State).
Last but not least, Coach Manigo decided to create a true battle in the quarterback room adding three signal callers to an already stacked quarterback position. With
Jordan Davis returning after a very solid Junior season, he will look to use his experience and chemistry to his advantage. Central Connecticut State transfer Romelo Williams and Bobby Dunn (Norfolk State) will battle it out with the rest of the quarterback room for the coveted QB1 spot.
FULL SIGNING DAY LIST
LAST FIRST PREVIOUS SCHOOL/HS POS HT WT HOMETOWN HOME STATE
| Beaty |
Elijah |
Monsignor Bonner HS |
CB |
5'10" |
167 lbs |
Philadelphia |
Pennsylvania |
| Bentley |
Leonie |
Brunswick HS |
ATH |
6'0" |
197 lbs |
Lawrenceville |
Virginia |
| Blakley |
Ben |
Varina HS |
K |
6'2" |
190 lbs |
Richmond |
Virginia |
| Brown |
Tavias |
Dunbar HS-Baltimore |
OG |
6'3" |
330 lbs |
Baltimore |
Maryland |
| Coly |
Mustapha "Moose" |
Woodside HS |
DE |
6'2" |
215 lbs |
New Port News |
Virginia |
| Dildy |
Leslie "LJ" |
Southampton HS |
DE |
6'4" |
205 lbs |
Courtland |
Virginia |
| Dixon |
Tenyeh |
Univ. of VA |
CB |
6'0" |
187 lbs |
Washington |
Washington, DC |
| Dudley |
Bryce |
Riverdale Baptist |
CB |
6'2" |
185 lbs |
Washington |
Washington, DC |
| Dunn |
Bobby |
Norfolk State |
QB |
6'1" |
180 lbs |
Richmond |
Virginia |
| Edmond |
Marquis |
Milford Mill Academy |
Sam |
6'2" |
185 lbs |
Baltimore |
Maryland |
| Faison |
Kenny |
Varina HS |
CB |
6'0" |
170 lbs |
Richmond |
Virginia |
| Fulmore |
JaSean |
H.D. Woodson HS |
Sam |
6'2" |
190 lbs |
Washington |
Washington, DC |
| Gardner |
Andre |
Bell HS |
OT |
6'6" |
280 lbs |
Washington |
Washington, DC |
| Gayles |
Kevin |
Norfolk State |
WR |
6'0" |
200 lbs |
Richmond |
Virginia |
| Hughs |
Scout |
Liberty Univ. Grad |
LS |
5'10" |
250 lbs |
Mount Airy |
North Carolina |
| James |
Alonzo |
Highland Springs HS |
DT |
6'0" |
270 lbs |
Henrico |
Virginia |
| Johnson |
Mehkhi |
Univ. of AZ/Annapolis HS |
DE/LB |
6'3" |
210 lbs |
Annapolis |
Maryland |
| Johnson |
Juice |
Monroe CC |
Rover |
5'9" |
185 Ibs |
Philadelphia |
Pennsylvania |
| Logan |
Tomar |
Macklenburg HS |
Athlete |
6'0" |
190 Ibs |
Baskerville |
Virginia |
| Murray |
Rico |
Henry Wise HS |
LB |
6'1" |
220 lbs |
Upper Marlboro |
Maryland |
| Navarro |
Gabe |
Princess Anne HS |
OT |
6'4" |
270 Ibs |
Princess Anne |
Virginia |
| Pleasants |
Sivon |
Norfolk State |
CB |
5'10" |
175 lbs |
Doswell |
Virginia |
| Poole |
Carl |
Liberty Univ. Grad |
LB |
5'11" |
235 lbs |
Danville |
Virginia |
| Rose |
Brandon |
Thomas Dale HS |
RB |
5'11" |
188 lbs |
Chester |
Virginia |
| Scarlett |
Matthew |
Carrol HS |
DT |
6'3" |
270 lbs |
Washington |
Washington, DC |
| Scott |
Jabril |
Dunbar HS-DC |
QB |
6'4" |
195 Ibs |
Washington |
Washington, DC |
| Smith |
Daniel |
Dinwiddie HS |
WR |
6'1" |
190 lbs |
Dinwiddie |
Virginia |
| Suggs |
Zion |
Bell HS |
FS |
5'10" |
175 lbs |
Washington |
Washington, DC |
| Thorne |
Kendal |
Palmetto Prep/LC Bird |
WR |
6'4" |
180 lbs |
Richmond |
Virginia |
| Waddell |
Chris |
Yuba JC/T.C. Williams HS |
FS |
6'2" |
190 Ibs |
Alexandria |
Virginia |
| Walker |
Josh |
Brunswick HS |
OT |
6'5" |
285 lbs |
Brunswick |
Georgia |
| Whitby |
Shamarius |
York HS |
LB |
6'3" |
205 lbs |
Newport News |
Virginia |
| White |
Alex |
Wooster College |
Sam |
6'1" |
205 lbs |
Fayetteville |
Georgia |
| White |
Arthur |
Rhode Island |
CB |
6'2" |
190 lbs |
Washington |
Washington, DC |
| Williams |
Jimmyll |
Hillside HS |
RB |
5'9" |
185 Ibs |
Durham |
North Carolina |
| Williams |
Steve "Romelo" |
Central Connecticut State |
QB |
6'0" |
195 lbs |
Mirmar |
Florida |
