MARTIN, Tenn. – Coming off three consecutive conference championships, the University of Tennessee at Martin football program wrapped up another decorated recruiting class on National Signing Day.
Combining both the early and regular signing periods, the Skyhawks received commitments from 29 players, including 13 players on offense and 16 on defense. UT Martin added two quarterbacks, two running backs, two wide receivers, two tight ends, five offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, five linebackers and seven defensive backs/safeties.
2024 UT Martin Football Recruiting Class
(listed alphabetically by last name)
Scottie Alexander* | WR | 6-0 | 205 | R-Jr. | Collierville, Tenn. (Tulsa)
Elijah Bowser* | OL | 6-5 | 320 | R-Jr. | Cedar Hill, Texas (Louisiana Tech)
Anthony Carter | CB | 6-0 | 175 | Fr. | Lawrenceville, Ga. (Lowndes HS)
Clarence Cobbins | CB | 5-11 | 160 | Fr. | Springfield, Tenn. (Springfield HS)
Dashaun Davis* | WR | 5-9 | 165 | R-Sr. | Deerfield Beach, Fla. (App State)
Tyler Dostin* | TE | 6-3 | 235 | R-So. | Danville, Ind. (Kent State)
Jai’Lun Hampton | OL | 6-9 | 330 | R-So. | Detroit, Mich. (Charlotte)
Lanard Harris* | DB | 6-0 | 190 | R-So. | Baton Rouge, La. (Coffeyville CC)
Robert Johnson* | DB | 5-10 | 180 | R-Jr. | Memphis, Tenn. (North Texas)
Josh Keith* | QB | 5-10 | 175 | Fr. | Clinton, Tenn. (Clinton HS)
Marvin Landy* | TE | 6-4 | 235 | Sr. | Lakeland, Fla. (Florida Atlantic)
Anthony Little* | OLB | 6-5 | 240 | Fr. | Waldorf, Md. (JP Collegiate)
Aidan Maddox | OLB | 6-4 | 225 | Fr. | Dallas, Ga. (North Paulding HS)
Ethan Maddox | LB | 6-4 | 230 | Fr. | Dallas, Ga. (North Paulding HS)
Xavier McIver* | DL | 6-3 | 300 | Jr. | Cheraw, SC (East Carolina)
Deshawn McKnight* | DL | 6-3 | 290 | Jr. | Sumter, SC (App State)
Jaden Moore* | LB | 6-0 | 215 | R-Jr. | Shreveport, La. (Tulsa)
LeBron Morgan* | S | 6-1 | 200 | R-So. | Atlanta, Ga. (Highland CC)
Doug Newsome* | CB | 5-11 | 185 | R-Jr. | Orange, Va. (Charlotte)
Rashad Raymond* | RB | 5-11 | 210 | Gr. | Newark, NJ (VMI)
Chris Rhodes* | CB | 6-0 | 180 | R-Jr. | Independence, Mo. (Arkansas)
Kaiya Sheron* | QB | 6-3 | 210 | R-Jr. | Somerset, Ky. (Kentucky)
Lamar Smith | LB | 6-2 | 210 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Miami Central HS)
Patrick Smith* | RB | 5-9 | 190 | Sr. | Egg Harbor Township, N.J. (Vanderbilt)
Andrew Smithberger* | OL | 6-5 | 270 | Fr. | Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Bay Tech HS)
Riley Turner | OL | 6-5 | 295 | Fr. | Tuscaloosa, Ala. (American Christian Academy)
Todd Williams* | DL | 6-3 | 225 | Fr. | Crawfordville, Fla. (Wakulla HS)
Christopher Wilson | DE | 6-3 | 250 | Fr. | Sylacauga, Ala. (B.B. Comer Memorial HS)
Preston Yarber* | OL | 6-5 | 290 | R-So. | Canton, Texas (Lamar)
*Denotes 2024 spring enrollees
Scottie Alexander* | WR | 6-0 | 205 | R-Jr. | Collierville, Tenn. (Tulsa)
Played three seasons at Tulsa under head coaches Kevin Wilson and Philip Montgomery…Was part of a Golden Hurricane program that produced 16 overall victories and 10 American Athletic Conference wins during his tenure, playing alongside fellow Skyhawk signee Jaden Moore…Redshirted in 2021 and did not see playing time in each of the next two seasons…Was a three-year starter at Collierville High School, where he was a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.com…Posted 878 yards (16.3 per reception) with eight touchdown catches over three years…Collected 27 catches for 406 yards (15.0 per reception) during his senior campaign.
Elijah Bowser* | OL | 6-5 | 320 | R-Jr. | Cedar Hill, Texas (Louisiana Tech)
Spent two seasons at Louisiana Tech, where he played in Conference USA for head coach Sonny Cumbie…Played in five games in 2023, appearing mostly on special teams (field goal and extra-point attempts)…Did not see playing time as a freshman in 2022…Transferred in from Navarro College, where he played under head coach Scott Parr in 2021…Garnered Southwest Junior College Football Conference honorable mention honors as he was part of an offensive attack that ranked first in the country with a 40.8 points per game scoring average…Prepped at Trinity Christian School, where he was part of four state championship squads…Secured second team all-state accolades and was ranked as the country’s 131st interior defensive lineman in 247Sports.com’s rankings.
Anthony Carter | CB | 6-0 | 175 | Fr. | Lawrenceville, Ga. (Lowndes HS)
Prepped under head coach Adam Carter at Lowndes High School, where he was a three-star recruit in 247Sports.com rankings…Tallied 39 tackles, eight pass breakups and a pair of interceptions as a senior as LHS took part in Georgia’s highest classification…Captured Region 1-7A All-Defense second team honors in 2023 for the Vikings.
Clarence Cobbins | CB | 5-11 | 160 | Fr. | Springfield, Tenn. (Springfield HS)
Coming off a stellar career at Springfield High School, where he played for head coach Dustin Wilson…Snagged seven career interceptions with 10 passes defended over 25 games played in his final three years…Picked off four throws with six passes defended during his senior season alone…Also added 1,865 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns over his last three seasons as 1,186 yards and six scores came during his senior campaign…Best game of his senior season came on Sept. 8 against Station Camp as he had two interceptions, four tackles, a receiving touchdown and a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown…Was named the Region 7-5A Defensive Back of the Year as a junior.
Dashaun Davis* | WR | 5-9 | 165 | R-Sr. | Deerfield Beach, Fla. (App State)
Pieced together a very productive career at Appalachian State, where he played slot receiver for head coaches Shawn Clark and Eli Drinkwitz…Helped the Mountaineers to a 47-19 overall record with a 29-11 mark in Sun Belt Conference play during his career, including a 12-1 mark and a Sun Belt Conference championship during his 2019 redshirt season…Played alongside fellow Skyhawk signee Deshawn McKnight…Was part of a App State program that is one of only 14 FBS programs nationally with at least three nine-win seasons since the start of the 2020 campaign, including a victory over No. 6 Texas A&M on Sept. 16, 2022…Played in 47 games over parts of five seasons, 39 of which came from 2021-23…Had 80 career receptions for 946 yards, grabbing all seven of his touchdowns over his final three years…Also threw for a touchdown on his only career collegiate pass attempt in 2022…Produced career-highs in receptions (37), receiving yards (481) and receiving touchdowns (three) as a junior in 2022 – also tying that personal benchmark for single-season touchdowns with three scoring catches in 2023…Set career-highs with seven receptions and 117 receiving yards with a touchdown at North Carolina on Sept. 9, 2023…Prepped at Deerfield Beach High School, where he played for head coach Jevon Glenn…Helped DBHS to a 12-2 record and a semifinal appearance in the Class 8A playoffs as a senior…Snagged 35 catches with nine touchdowns as a senior, including a 140-yard, two-touchdown effort in the nationally televised season opener against Buford on ESPN…Was also a second team 8A-6A honoree as a defensive back…Was a three-star recruit by Rivals…Played his junior season at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Tyler Dostin* | TE | 6-3 | 235 | R-So. | Danville, Ind. (Kent State)
Transfers to the Skyhawks from Mid-American Conference member Kent State, where he played for head coach Sean Lewis…Played in one game as a true freshman in 2022…Was a two-time all-state performer over his final two seasons at Danville High School, helping his squad go 21-3 over that span..Additionally earned all-conference honors and was recognized as part of the prestigious Indiana Preps Top-22 list…Accumulated 145 receptions for 1,710 yards and 24 touchdowns during his prep career.
Mario Eugenio* | DL | 6-3 | 245 | R-So. | Tampa, Fla. (Cincinnati)
Joins UT Martin from Cincinnati, where he played for head coach Luke Fickell in 2022…Was part of a Bearcat squad that went 9-4 with a 6-2 record in American Athletic Conference play…Was a consensus four-star defensive end recruit who was also a top-30 ranked player in the state of Florida coming out of Gaither High School, where he played for head coach Kirk Karsen…Was an ESPN300 prospect who was rated the No. 71 prospect in the country by Sports Illustrated…Compiled 38 total sacks in his prep career…Was chosen to take part in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 8, 2022…Generated eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss In eight games during his senior season…Was part of Gaither’s 11-1 squad that made an extended postseason run in the Florida 6A ranks in 2020…Wrapped up 17 sacks in only 10 games during his junior campaign in 2020.
Jai’Lun Hampton | OL | 6-9 | 330 | R-So. | Detroit, Mich. (Charlotte)
Was part of the Charlotte program under head coach Biff Poggi (and alongside current Skyhawk signee Doug Newsome) in 2023 but did not play at the American Athletic Conference affiliated school…Played the 2022 campaign at Iowa Western Community College, where he helped the Reivers to a 10-2 record and the national championship…Played in 11 games at offensive tackle, helping block for an offense that averaged 354.8 yards per game (including 200.8 rushing)…Was part of a IWCC offense that produced the second-most rushing yards (2,410) in the junior college ranks…Redshirted in 2021…Was a two-year starter at North Farmington High School, helping the squad to a 6-4 mark as a senior in 2020…Helped NFHS go undefeated in the regular season in 2019 before the squad finished 10-1 with an appearance in the Division 2 Michigan state playoffs.
Lanard Harris* | DB | 6-0 | 190 | R-So. | Baton Rouge, La. (Coffeyville CC)
Played under head coach Jeff Leiker at Coffeyville Community College in 2023…Made 14 tackles (eight solo) with a pass breakup in nine games for the Red Ravens…Also returned 10 kicks for 127 yards with a long of 31…Spent the 2021 campaign at Louisiana, where he redshirted…Was part of a Ragin’ Cajuns squad that went 10-1 (only loss to No. 19 Texas in the season opener) with a Sun Belt Conference championship (8-0 record) and R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl win over Marshall…Was a prep standout at Woodlawn High School…Was also a standout track and field performer, winning the LHSAA Indoor Championships in the Division I 60-Meter Hurdles in 2020 while also winning the 2019 Class 4A 300 Meter Hurdles state championship…Also ranked fourth nationally in the 2020 LSU High School Last Chance Qualifier with a time of 7.97.
Robert Johnson* | DB | 5-10 | 180 | R-Jr. | Memphis, Tenn. (North Texas)
Comes to UT Martin from North Texas, where he played under head coach Seth Littrell…Helped the Mean Green win 13 games while earning an 11-5 record in Conference USA competition…Saw playing time in five games in 2022, making a pair of tackles…Redshirted during the 2021 campaign…Was a three-star recruit by 247Sports while coming out of Academy of Health Sciences High School…Ranked as the No. 153 safety in his class and No. 43 overall player in the state of Tennessee…Came away with 64 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, four interceptions and four forced fumbles in his prep career.
Josh Keith* | QB | 5-10 | 175 | Fr. | Clinton, Tenn. (Clinton HS)
Was a standout dual threat signal caller at Clinton High School, where he was a four-year starter under his father Darell Keith…Was responsible for 8,694 yards of total offense (7,692 passing, 1,002 rushing) and 85 touchdowns (65 passing, 20 rushing) during his remarkable 38-game prep career…Threw for a career-best 2,617 yards and ran for a career-high 391 yards (3,008 yards of total offense) with 29 combined touchdowns in 13 games during his senior campaign…Averaged a career-best 272 yards of total offense (244 passing, 28 rushing) as a junior in 2022, setting career-highs in passing touchdowns (26) and completion percentage (66.8) in 10 games…Was named Region 3-5A Quarterback of the Year as a junior…Ran for seven touchdowns in each of his final two seasons at the high school level…Helped lead the Dragons to the program’s first winning season since 2014 during his sophomore campaign as CHS fell just one win shy of the TSSAA playoffs.
Marvin Landy* | TE | 6-4 | 235 | Sr. | Lakeland, Fla. (Florida Atlantic)
Spent the last two seasons at Florida Atlantic, where he played for head coaches Tom Herman and Willie Taggart…Was part of the program’s transition from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference…Played in 15 games over two seasons, including all 12 contests in 2022…Caught a pair of passes for 35 yards with his longest reception coming in at 24 yards…Played his first two years at Tarleton State, where he caught 13 passes for 200 yards over 19 games played under head coach Todd Whitten from 2020-21…Was part of the Tarleton State squad that posted a winning record (5-3) in its first season as a FCS member in 2020-21 and the Western Athletic Conference in 2021…Had four multi-reception games in his two-year stint as a Texan…Registered a career-best 91 receiving yards on just three catches against Lamar on Nov. 6, 2021, including a 58-yard catch…Hauled in his first career collegiate touchdown against Dixie State on March 13, 2021…Enjoyed a remarkable prep career at Jenkins High School, where he ranked in the top-five in school history in every receiving statistical category under head coach Chris Canning…Was an all-state honoree and a three-time All-County first team selection.
Anthony Little* | OLB | 6-5 | 240 | Fr. | Waldorf, Md. (JP Collegiate)
Prepped at JP Collegiate School, where he was a three-star recruit and ranked as the 15th best prospect in the state of Maryland by 247 Sports…Also attended Rock Creek Christian Academy in Upper Marlboro, Md., where he played for head coach Anthony Kates…Played at National Christian Academy during his junior campaign.
Aidan Maddox | OLB | 6-4 | 225 | Fr. | Dallas, Ga. (North Paulding HS)
Was a Class 7A all-state performer under head coach Don Stark at North Paulding High School, helping the Wolfpack go 16-7 over his last two seasons (including a 9-3 mark in 2023)…Earned All-Region 3-7A first team accolades as well as 2023 Region Defensive Player of the Year honors following his senior campaign…Generated 179 tackles (102 solo), 28 sacks, 42.5 tackles for loss, 56 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 33 games over his final three prep seasons…Pieced together career-highs of 70 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 33 quarterback hurries and an interception as a senior in 2023…Came away with 12 sacks and 16 tackles for loss during the 2022 campaign…Joins his twin brother Ethan in UT Martin’s 2024 signing class.
Ethan Maddox | LB | 6-4 | 230 | Fr. | Dallas, Ga. (North Paulding HS)
Registered All-Region 3-7A first team honors and was a Class 7A all-state honorable mention performer as a senior at North Paulding High School for head coach Don Stark…Was part of a Wolfpack squad that posted a 16-7 combined record in 2022-23, including a 9-3 mark during his senior campaign…Tallied 246 tackles (160 solo), 30 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and six pass breakups in his last three seasons (a span of 32 games)…Wrapped up his senior campaign with career-highs across the board in tackles (117, 9.8 per game) tackles for loss (21), sacks (7.5), quarterback hurries (12), pass breakups (three) and forced fumbles (three) while adding an interception…Joins his twin brother Aidan in UT Martin’s 2024 signing class.
Xavier McIver* | DL | 6-3 | 300 | Jr. | Cheraw, SC (East Carolina)
Saw playing time in 30 career games from 2020-23 at East Carolina under head coach Mike Houston…Was part of 20 victories and 13 American Athletic Conference wins during his playing tenure as a Pirate…Made 22 tackles (five solo), 1.5 tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback hurries at ECU, including a career-high 14 stops in 11 games during the 2021 campaign, logging three starts…Wrapped up four multi-tackle outings in 2021, including a career-best five tackles against South Carolina on Sept. 11…Helped Cheraw High School make three playoff appearances while playing under head coach Andy Poole…Combined for 209 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in his four-year prep career…Piled up 73 tackles (40 solo), eight tackles for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries during his senior season, helping CHS to an 8-5 record which included a playoff victory against Manning…Made a season-high 11 tackles against Lake City and had a pair of sacks against Marlboro County…Was named to the South Carolina High School League AAA all-state team and USA Today’s All-South Carolina team as a junior, making 15 tackles for loss with nine sacks…Managed 63 tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks as a sophomore as the Braves went 9-4 with a pair of playoff victories…Aided CHS to an 11-2 record (6-0 in regional play) with two postseason wins as a freshman in 2016, recording 36 tackles…Was a three-star prep prospect, earning top-90 national defensive honors from 247Sports…Was invited to represent South Carolina in the prestigious Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas held at Wofford.
Deshawn McKnight* | DL | 6-3 | 290 | Jr. | Sumter, SC (App State)
Played alongside fellow UT Martin signee Dashaun Davis during the 2022 and 2021 seasons at Appalachian State under head coach Shawn Clark, helping the Mountaineers to 16 victories and 10 Sun Belt Conference wins (including a 10-4 mark with a 7-1 league record in 2021)…Was part of the App State squad that upset No. 6 Texas A&M on Sept. 16, 2022…Played in 22 games, making 23 tackles (seven solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup and a forced fumble…Wrapped up 15 tackles with a pass breakup and forced fumble in 2022 while making both of his 2.5 tackles for loss in 2021…Played in all 12 contests and had five multi-tackle performances in 2022, ending the season as one of the Mountaineer’s top defensive ends…Was a star under head coach Mark Barnes at Sumter High School, where he was ranked the No. 1 Class of 2021 outside linebacker prospect in the state of South Carolina and a three-star national prospect by 247Sports…Registered 30 tackles in seven games as a senior, returning from injury to play three playoff games before SHS fell to Dutch Fork in the 5-A lower state championship game…Produced 51 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a pair of sacks as Sumter went 10-1 during his junior campaign…Had 12 tackles in a postseason triumph over Woodmont and also made double-digit stops (10) against Spring Valley.
Jaden Moore* | LB | 6-0 | 215 | R-Jr. | Shreveport, La. (Tulsa)
Spent three seasons (including a redshirt in 2021) at Tulsa under head coaches Kevin Wilson and Philip Montgomery and alongside fellow UT Martin signee Scottie Alexander…Was part of a Golden Hurricane program that produced 16 overall victories and 10 American Athletic Conference wins during his tenure…Played in one game (against Temple in 2023) in a Tulsa uniform…Was a defensive stalwart at Green Oaks High School, accumulating 308 tackles and six interceptions over his last three seasons for head coach Terrence Isaac…Recorded 86 tackles and three picks in nine games during his senior campaign…Tallied 120 tackles (67 solo), 13 tackles for loss and three sacks in 12 games as a junior…Produced 102 tackles, nine sacks and three interceptions as a sophomore, dialing up all-district honors.
LeBron Morgan* | S | 6-1 | 200 | R-So. | Atlanta, Ga. (Highland CC)
Was a standout defensive performer for head coach DJ Mayo in one season at Highland Community College in Highland, Kan….Played in all 11 games last fall, coming away with 60 tackles (26 solo), four tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, nine pass breakups and a blocked kick…Made a season-high 11 tackles (five solo) with an interception and 1.5 tackles for loss against Hutchinson on Oct. 28…Also dialed up 10 tackles at Butler (with a blocked kick) on Sept. 2…Posted a season-best three pass breakups at Garden City on Sept. 23…Redshirted the 2022 season at Alabama State under head coach Eddie Robinson, Jr. as the Hornets went 6-5…Prepped at Johns Creek High School, where he helped the squad to the 2021 GHSA 6A quarterfinals…Was a Class 6A honorable mention performer and also won Defensive Player of the Week accolades four times during his prep career.
Doug Newsome* | CB | 5-11 | 185 | R-Jr. | Orange, Va. (Charlotte)
Played with fellow UT Martin signee Jai’Lun Hampton at Charlotte under head coaches Biff Poggi and Will Healy…Was part of the 49ers program that transitioned from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference…Played in 19 games (four starts) at Charlotte, compiling 17 tackles (seven solo) with three pass breakups…Played in all 12 games as a true freshman, setting career-highs with 13 tackles (six solo) and two pass breakups…Started three of the final five games of the 2021 campaign, making a career-best five tackles against Marshall on Nov. 20…Dialed up two or more tackles in each of the final four games of his freshman season…Was a first team All-Jefferson District honoree on both defense and offense at Orange County High School…Managed 21 tackles, two interceptions, two tackles for loss and three pass breakups during his junior campaign, helping the Hornets post a 5-1 record in the regional standings.
Rashad Raymond* | RB | 5-11 | 210 | Gr. | Newark, NJ (VMI)
Was a mainstay in the offensive backfield for head coaches Danny Rocco and Scott Wachenheim at Virginia Military Institute…Was part of a historic run as the Keydets pieced together back-to-back winning seasons in 2020-21 for the first time since 1961-62, winning the Southern Conference during the 2020-21 spring season (6-2 overall, 6-1 league)…Played in 40 games, gaining 1,315 yards on 301 carries with four touchdowns…Added 328 career receiving yards on 48 receptions…Set a career-highs with 492 rushing yards (on 90 carries) and touchdowns (three) in 2021…Sported the most carries (102) of his VMI career in 2023, gaining 387 yards on the ground…Established career-highs in rushing attempts (20) and rushing yards (163) with an 80-yard touchdown scamper at Mercer on Oct. 16, 2021…Also had a 100-plus yard outing (105 on 19 totes) against Western Carolina on Nov. 20 in the 2021 season finale…Graduated from Jireh Preparatory Academy, located in Matthews, NC…Rushed for 50 yards and scored a touchdown against the Naval Academy…Was a four-year starter at Cinnaminson High School…Scored exactly 100 points (15 touchdowns, five 2-point conversions) while going off for 1,406 yards of total offense as a junior…Accounted for another 1,400-yard season with 21 touchdowns (132 of the 248 points that CHS scored) in 2018…Returned a kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown during his sophomore season.
Chris Rhodes* | CB | 6-0 | 180 | R-Jr. | Independence, Mo. (Arkansas)
Spent two seasons at Arkansas, where he was a wide receiver for head coach Sam Pittman…Was part of a Razorback squad that posted a 7-6 overall record in 2022…Played cornerback under head coach Tim Schaffner at Butler Community College as a redshirt freshman in 2021, dialing up eight tackles, an interception and a tackle for loss over four contests…Made a season-best three tackles (two solo) against Independence on Sept. 17…Redshirted but played two contests during the 2021 campaign the cornerback position at South Dakota State under head coach John Stiegelmeier…Was part of a Jackrabbit squad that went 11-4 (5-3 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference) and made the FCS playoff semifinals before falling to Montana State…Saw playing time in two games, making one tackle (against Lindenwood on Sept. 11)…Prepped at Truman High School, where he captured all-conference and all-district accolades…Was selected to play in the 2020 Blue-Grey All-American Bowl…Was also a standout in track and field, setting the school record and qualifying for state in the triple jump event.
Kaiya Sheron* | QB | 6-3 | 210 | R-Jr. | Somerset, Ky. (Kentucky)
Joins the Skyhawks from Kentucky where he spent three seasons playing for head coach Mark Stoops…Was part of a Wildcat squad that posted 24 wins during his playing tenure, including a 10-3 mark (5-3 in Southeastern Conference play) in 2021…Played in nine games over three seasons, completing 19-of-33 pass attempts for 192 yards and two touchdowns…Saw action in five games in 2023, completing 2-of-4 pass attempts for five yards…Played in four games for the Wildcats in 2022 – including one start against South Carolina – completing 17-of-29 pass attempts for 187 yards and two touchdowns…Redshirted 2021 season…Prepped at Somerset High School where he played for head coach Robbie Lucas…Ranked as a three-star prospect and top-10 in the state of Kentucky by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN…Ranked as the nation’s No. 21 pro-style quarterback in the 2021 class…Passed for 2,016 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior while also rushing for 465 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground as a senior…Two-time Class AA Player of the Year by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association…Named 2020 Commonwealth Journal Offensive Player of the Year…Led team to 14-1 record and state championship in 2019…Threw for 3,218 yards and 28 touchdowns while adding 959 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground as a high school junior.
Lamar Smith | LB | 6-2 | 210 | Fr. | Miami, Fla. (Miami Central HS)
Prepped at Miami Central High School where he played for head coaches Gibudale Joseph and Roland Smith…Helped the Rockets post a 34-6 overall record with a 10-1 district mark over his final three prep seasons…Was part of back-to-back FHSAA state championship squads as MCHS went 14-0 en route to the 2M title in 2022 and 12-2 on the way to the 5A state title in 2021…Was an integral part of a defensive unit that allowed 16.1 points per contest with three consecutive shutouts during his senior campaign…Added three more shutouts and a 14.6 defensive points per game average during Smith’s junior campaign, one year after the Rockets managed two shutouts and conceded only 13.1 points per outing in 2021.
Patrick Smith* | RB | 5-9 | 190 | Sr. | Egg Harbor Township, N.J. (Vanderbilt)
Joins the Skyhawks from Vanderbilt where he spent three seasons playing for head coach Clark Lea…Played in 29 games since 2021, tallying 217 carries for 838 yards and four touchdowns…Racked up 79 carries and 327 yards as a junior while rushing for two touchdowns…Tallied 38 yards and touchdown against Kentucky…Recorded a 21-yard rushing touchdowns on the opening drive against Hawai’i…Tallied a season-high 77 rushing yards at Wake Forest…Played in eight games as a sophomore in 2022…Posted a career-high 82 carries and 360 yards while starting three games as a true-freshman…Prepped at Holy Spirit High School for head coach A.J. Russo…Ranked as a three-start prospect by ESPN.com and 247Sports.com…Named NJ.com’s Offensive Player of the Year and first team all-state selection…Tabbed to 2020 USA Today’s All-New Jersey first team…Rushed for 1,719 yards and 16 touchdowns as a high school senior…Crossed the 300-yard rushing plateau in pair of contests and the 200-yard rushing mark in five games…Turned in a pair of four-touchdown performances as a senior while adding seven scores against Hudson Catholic…Set the Cape-Atlantic League single-game record with 362 yards and four scores in a win over Cedar Creek…Rushed for 1,338 yards and 19 touchdowns as a prep junior…Previously attended The Peddie School and St. Augustine.
Andrew Smithberger* | OL | 6-5 | 270 | Fr. | Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Bay Tech HS)
Prepped at Tampa Bay Tech where he played for head coach Jayson Roberts…Named to Big County Preps first team…Tabbed to All Western Conference first team…Previously attended Sumner High School where he played prior to his senior season…Named to Prep Redzone Florida’s Top 20 Stock Risers in the Class of 2024.
Riley Turner | OL | 6-5 | 295 | Fr. | Tuscaloosa, Ala. (American Christian Academy)
Prepped at American Christian Academy where he played for head coach Cody Martin…Helped team to 8-3 overall record as a senior…Ranked as Alabama’s No. 21 prospect in “Unlocked” Postseason Top 25 as a senior…Invited to play in Hawaii Tiki Bowl.
Todd Williams* | DL | 6-3 | 225 | Fr. | Crawfordville, Fla. (Wakulla HS)
Prepped at Wakulla High School where he played for head coach Scott Klees….Compiled 252 career tackles – including 159 solo stops…Racked up 59 tackles for loss – including 34 sacks for his prep career…Tallied 73 total tackles as a senior while recording 13 sacks…As a junior, he set career-highs with 106 tackles and 26 tackles for loss…Notched five forced fumbles, four blocked punts, four fumble recoveries and one interception…Ranked as a two-star prospect by 247Sports.com.
Chris Wilson | DE | 6-3 | 250 | Fr. | Sylacauga, Ala. (B.B. Comer Memorial HS)
Prepped at B.B. Comer High School where he played for head coach Adam Fossett and was a two-way starter at offensive tackle and defensive end…During his senior season, he recorded 74 total tackles – including 32 solo stops – while accumulating eight tackles for loss, three sacks and fumble recovery…During his junior campaign, he racked up 70 tackles and two defensive touchdowns as he led the Tigers to a state runner-up finish…Was a three-sport athlete, playing basketball and track and field.
Preston Yarber* | OL | 6-5 | 290 | R-So. | Canton, Texas (Lamar)
Joins the Skyhawks after spending two seasons under head coaches Pete Rossomando and Blane Morgan at Lamar University…Did not see game action during redshirt freshman season in 2023…Utilized redshirt during 2022 campaign…Prepped at Canton High School where he was a three-time all-district selection…Was a three-sport athlete, playing basketball and track and field.
