- February 1st, 2006, 6:29 pm
#2514
coach patton is looking to get back to the top of the big south with this class oF mainly carolina boys, as has recieved much attention
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GWU Football Inks 15 Student-Athletes On Wednesday By GWUSports.com Staff 2/1/2006 3:38:00 PM
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Head coach Steve Patton and staff announced Wednesday that 15 student-athletes had signed National Letters of Intent, giving GWU one of its most complete classes since moving to Division I-AA.
Eight of the players who signed Wednesday were named to All-State teams, one played in the prestigious Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and one was named State Player of the Year. An impressive 11 of the 15 were listed by either ESPN.com, Rivals.com or Scout.com in their respective national recruiting databases – spots reserved traditionally for Division I-A prospects.
Both Stan Doolittle, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound quarterback from Ninety Six (S.C.) High, and Dylan Stevens, a 6-foot-4, 315-pound guard from Morristown (Tenn.) West High, were rated among the top-75 players at their positions nationally by ESPN.com in the Class of 2006 – believed to be the first time GWU has inked a national top-100 prospect at any position.
Doolittle, who was named Offensive MVP of the 2005 Shrine Bowl and Statewide Offensive Player of the Year in South Carolina as a senior, threw for 73 career touchdowns and is rated the No. 71 quarterback prospect nationally. Stevens, a punishing blocker who was named Class 4A All-State in Tennessee, is rated the No. 72 offensive guard prospect nationally. Both drew considerable recruiting interest from elite Division I-A programs as prep seniors.
The strength of Gardner-Webb’s 2006 recruiting haul comes on defense, however, as nine of the 15 players signed are expected to suit up on that side of the ball in college. Headlining the defensive group is 6-foot-1, 218-pound linebacker Mario Brown of Greene Central (N.C.) High, a speedy (4.55 in the 40) and physical player who was a first-team All-State selection in 2005 and also drew considerable interest from a handful of Division I-A programs.
Brown also anchored a successful effort in the home state for Gardner-Webb, as six of the 15 prospects hail from the Old North State. GWU added three from South Carolina, three from Georgia and one each from Florida, Ohio and Tennessee.
“Our staff did a great job getting out and identifying young men who have proven themselves, both academically and on the field,” Patton said. “The academic quality of this group will enhance our program, and we feel that it is as complete a recruiting class as we’ve signed on the first day since we’ve been at the I-AA level.
“We needed help on defense, and found quality young men in the secondary, at linebacker and at defensive end. On offense, we targeted specific players, and came away with outstanding talent with very few spots to fill in this class. These guys really wanted to be a part of the program and Gardner-Webb University, and that’s exciting for the near future.”
GWU’s 2006 Football National Letter of Intent Signees
Alfred Artis * 6-3 * 210 * OLB/ATH * Wilson, N.C. / Beddingfield HS
Mario Brown * 6-1 * 218 * OLB * Snow Hill, N.C. / Greene Central HS
Stan Doolittle * 6-3 * 190 * QB * Ninety Six, S.C. / Ninety Six HS
Andre Elliott * 6-2 * 180 * FS * Cleveland, Ohio / Maple Heights HS
Javonte Gaitwood * 6-0 * 165 * CB * Wilson, N.C. / Beddingfield HS
Leon Hudson * 6-2 * 230 * DE * Fayetteville, N.C. / Jack Britt HS
Henry Hunt * 6-3 * 220 * DE * Wilmington, N.C. / Laney HS
Brandon Jackson * 5-11 * 180 * RB * Orlando, Fla. / Pine Castle Christian HS
Brian Lewis * 6-5 * 225 * DE * Elizabeth City, N.C. / Northeastern HS
Cameron Lyles * 6-5 * 205 * LB * Spartanburg, S.C. / Dorman HS
Cedric McGowan * 5-11 * 180 * CB * Greer, S.C. / Greer HS
David Montgomery * 5-8 * 175 * RB * Sugar Hill, Ga. / North Gwinnett HS
Jamal Patmon * 6-7 * 190 * WR * Greenville, Ga. / Greenville HS
Philip Peoples * 6-0 * 215 * RB * Atlanta, Ga. / Cross Keys HS
Dylan Stevens * 6-4 * 315 * OL * Morristown, Tenn. / Morristown-West HS
Alfred Artis * 6-3 * 210 * WR/LB * Wilson, N.C. / Beddingfield HS
Played at Beddingfield (N.C.) High under Coach Tom Nelson … An outstanding prospect on both sides of the football … Also handled kickoffs and punts for the Bruins … A Class 3A All-State selection by NCPreps.com … Named Area Ironman of the Year by the Wilson Daily Times for his two-way efforts in 2005 … Had 81 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four interceptions at linebacker … Hauled in 36 passes for 687 yards and five scores on offense … Rated one of the state’s top linebackers in the Class of 2006 by NCPrepFootball.com … Had 95 tackles and two interceptions as a junior … An All-Area choice by the Wilson Daily Times in 2004 as a junior … Chose Gardner-Webb over Western Carolina.
Mario Brown * 6-1 * 218 * LB * Snow Hill, N.C. / Greene Central HS
Played at Greene Central (N.C.) High under Coach Jim Bob Bryant … Speedy, physical linebacker … Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds at the 2005 Shrine Bowl Combine … A first-team All-State selection (All Classifications) by NCPreps.com in 2005 … Rated as one of the state’s top four linebackers … Also a strong running back on offense … Finished senior season with 89 tackles and seven sacks … A first-team All-Area linebacker selection as a senior by the Goldsboro News-Argus … Named first-team All-Free Press by the Kinston Free Press at linebacker … Also a first-team All-Area selection by the Wilson Daily News … An honorable mention All-Area selection at running back … A preseason Class 2A All-State selection by the NC Prep Report … A two-time All-Eastern Plains 2A Conference selection at linebacker … Had 43 total tackles as a junior in only nine games played … Chose Gardner-Webb over Coastal Carolina … Drew recruiting interest from I-A programs NC State, Duke, Wake Forest and NC State, among others.
Stan Doolittle * 6-3 * 190 * QB * Ninety Six, S.C. / Ninety Six HS
Played for his father, Coach Mike Doolittle, at Ninety Six (S.C.) High … A finalist for the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl … Passed for 8,569 career yards and 73 touchdowns … Rated the No. 71 quarterback in the nation and No. 21 quarterback in the South by ESPN.com … Rated the No. 17 overall prospect in South Carolina by ESPN.com … A First-team Class 2A All-State selection, as selected by the S.C. High School Coaches’ Association … Three-year starter under center for the Wildcats … Named 2005 Statewide Offensive Player of the Year in the Palmetto State by the S.C. High School Sports Report … A finalist for the 2005 South Carolina Mr. Football Award … An All-Classification All-State selection by SCVarsity.com … 2005 Palmetto Champions Class 2A Back of the Year … Selected captain for the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas … Started at quarterback and earned Offensive MVP honors for the Sandlappers after completing 19-of-33 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns … … Completed 244-of-376 passes (65 percent) for 2,911 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior … Also ran for seven scores … Completed 20-of-27 passes for 307 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Gilbert … Completed 28-of-33 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns against Woodruff … Led team to an 8-4 record … A Class 2A All-State choice as a junior by the Columbia State newspaper … Completed 204-of-354 passes for 3,227 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2004 … Also rushed for 261 yards and six touchdowns to lead Wildcats to the Upper State finals … A three-time All-Lakelands selection by the Greenwood Index-Journal … Passed for more than 2,000 yards as a sophomore … Chose Gardner-Webb over Appalachian State, The Citadel, Elon, Presbyterian and several other I-AA programs … Also recruited by Division I-A South Carolina.
Andre Elliott * 6-2 * 180 * DB * Cleveland, Ohio / Maple Heights HS
Highly regarded safety prospect who played at Maple Heights (Ohio) High under Coach Jeff Rotsky … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds … Rated the No. 77 overall prospect in Ohio by CouchScout.com … Helped Mustangs to a 10-1 record in 2005, playing at receiver and safety … Had 45 tackles, six pass break ups and an interception on defense … Recovered a fumble for a touchdown … Chose Gardner-Webb over Division I-A Bowling Green, Akron, Eastern Michigan and Kent State … Also recruited by major conference programs North Carolina, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
Javonte Gaitwood * 6-0 * 165 * CB * Wilson, N.C. / Beddingfield HS
Played at Beddingfield (N.C.) High under Coach Tom Nelson … Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the 2005 Shrine Bowl Combine held in Snow Hill, N.C. … A first-team All-Area choice at cornerback in 2005 by the Wilson Daily Times … Registered 60 tackles, seven interceptions and seven tackles for loss as a senior … Also an All-Area choice at corner as a junior … Registered 43 tackles, 10 interceptions and two blocked punts … Chose Gardner-Webb over The Citadel and Western Carolina.
Leon Hudson * 6-2 * 230 * DE * Fayetteville, N.C. / Jack Britt HS
Played at Jack Britt (N.C.) High under Coach Richard Bailey … Very athletic defensive end … Has an explosive 37.5 inch vertical leap … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds … A first-team All-Conference selection in 2005 … Had 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks as a senior … Made 78 hits, had eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss as a junior … An honorable mention All-Conference selection for the Bucs in 2004 … Helped team to a 12-4 record and a berth in the Class 4A State Championship Game as a junior … Chose Gardner-Webb over Western Carolina … Also recruited by Maryland.
Henry Hunt * 6-3 * 220 * DE * Wilmington, N.C. / Laney HS
Played at Laney (N.C.) High under Coach Robert Tate … Tremendous student who played linebacker and tight end end as a senior … A first-team All-Mideastern 4A Conference selection at linebacker in 2005 … Excellent pass rusher who is expected to play defense end on the college level … Chose Gardner-Webb over Liberty.
Brandon Jackson * 5-11 * 180 * RB * Orlando, Fla. / Pine Castle Christian Academy
Played one season of football under Coach David Langdon at Pine Castle Christian (Fla.) Academy … Plans to play both football and basketball for Gardner-Webb … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds … A second-team All-State selection by the Florida Sportswriters Association at running back in 2005 … Finished fifth in the Orlando Metro area in rushing a senior … Carried 85 times for 1,271 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging an amazing 14.9 yards per rush … Scored 21 total touchdowns (15 rushing, three receiving, two punt returns, one kickoff return) … Led team to an 8-2 record … Named District 10 Class 1B Player of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches’ Association … A second-team All-Orange County selection at kick returner by the Orlando Sentinel … A four-year starter in basketball … Named Class 1A All-State in that sport as a junior … Helped team to a 24-8 record and the state semifinals in 2004-2005 … Helped hoops’ team to the Class 1A Final Four as a freshman, sophomore and junior … Chose Gardner-Webb over Liberty and Illinois State … Also recruited by Duke.
Brian Lewis * 6-5 * 225 * DE * Elizabeth City, N.C. / Northeastern HS
Played at Northeastern (N.C.) High under Coach Antonio Moore … Athletic defensive end prospect … Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds at the Shrine Bowl Combine … Led Eagles to a 10-2 record and a Northeastern Coastal 2A Conference title in 2005 … Spearheaded a defensive unit that allowed just 17.8 points per game … A first-team All-Area selection by the Elizabeth City Daily Advance in 2005 … Excelled in the pass rush as a senior, recording 12 sacks to go with four blocked punts and four fumble recoveries … Chose Gardner-Webb over Hampton.
Cam Lyles * 6-5 * 205 * LB * Spartanburg, S.C. / Dorman HS
Played at Dorman (S.C.) High under Coach Dave Gutshall … Named to the SCADA North/South All-Star Game … A second-team All-Area choice by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal in 2005 … Registered 120 hits during his senior season.
Cedric McGowan * 5-11 * 180 * CB * Greer, S.C. / Greer HS
Played at Greer (S.C.) High under Coach Will Young … Standout cover man who moved to cornerback midway through senior season … Named to the SCADA North/South All-Star Game … An honorable mention Class 3A All-State selection … All-Region … A first-team All-Area selection by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal on defense … Had 62 tackles, five pass break ups and four interceptions as a senior … Recovered two fumbles … Also returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in 2005 … Played just one season of defense after logging time at receiver as a junior for the Yellow Jackets … Chose Gardner-Webb over Hampton.
David Montgomery * 5-8 * 175 * RB * Sugar Hill, Ga. / North Gwinnett HS
Played at North Gwinnett (Ga.) High under Coach Matt Moore … Speedy back who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds at the 2005 Nike Training Camp in Athens, Ga. … Had the fifth-fastest time among running backs at the event … An honorable mention All-Gwinnett County selection by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution … A second-team All-Region 7-AAAAA choice in 2005 … One of the most versatile backs in the area as a senior … Compiled 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns combined rushing and receiving … Carried the football 91 times for 561 yards and six touchdowns … Led team and finished third in Gwinnett County with 52 receptions for 579 yards and six touchdowns … Chose Gardner-Webb over Southeastern Louisiana.
Jamal Patmon * 6-7 * 190 * WR * Greenville, Ga. / Greenville HS
Played at Greenville (Ga.) High under Coach Jeremy Williams … Finished senior season with 37 receptions for 512 yards and four touchdowns … Averaged 13.8 yards per catch … A Class 2A Academic All-State selection in 2005 … Also a standout basketball player … Helped Greenville hoops team to the 2005 Class AA state championship game … Scored 18 points in the title game loss to North Hall (Ga.) High … Chose Gardner-Webb over Division I-A Tulane … Also recruited by The Citadel.
Phillip Peoples * 6-0 * 215 * RB * Atlanta, Ga. / Cross Keys HS
Played at Cross Keys (Ga.) High under Coach Douglas Blackwell … Powerful and explosive running back … Rated the No. 130 back in the nation and the No. 8 back in Georgia by ESPN.com … Finished with 3,188 career rushing yards and 25 touchdowns in just 18 games (177.1 ypg) … Averaged 5.4 yards per carry for his career … An honorable mention Class 3A All-State selection … A first-team All-DeKalb County selection on offense by the DeKalb County Touchdown Club as a senior … A second-team All-Area selection on defense (linebacker) by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution following the 2005 season … Carried 217 times for 1,381 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games … Averaged 6.4 yards per carry and 138.1 yards per game … Rushed for at least 150 yards in five different games … Accounted for 80.4 percent of the team’s total rushing yards in 2005 … Had 48 tackles (44 solo) and an interception defense … Carried 203 times for 1,218 yards and led the county with 17 rushing touchdowns as a junior … A first-team All-Area selection in 2004 as a running back by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution … Averaged 6.0 yards per carry and 135.3 yards per game … Accounted for 96.0 percent of the team’s rushing offense as a junior … Had 41 tackles (24 solo) at linebacker … Ran for 589 yards and two touchdowns on 172 carries as a sophomore (2003) … Registered 18 total tackles on defense in 2003 … Chose GWU over Holy Cross and Tennessee-Chattanooga … Also recruited by Division I-A programs Tulane, Memphis, Maryland and UAB.
Dylan Stevens * 6-4 * 315 * OL * Morristown, Tenn. / Morristown West HS
Played at Morristown (Tenn.) West … Rated the No. 72 offensive guard in the nation by ESPN.com … Also capable of lining up at tackle … A first-team Class 4A All-State selection by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association in 2005 … A first-team All-PrepXtra selection by the Knoxville News-Sentinel … Rated the state’s No. 17 overall prospect by ESPN.com … Also an All-Conference and All-Area selection as a senior … Led team to a 13-1 record and a No. 5 state ranking in Class 4A as a senior … Helped Trojans to more than 4,500 yards of total offense in 14 games as a senior … Heavily recruited lineman who drew early interest from Division I-A programs Tennessee, Alabama, Louisville, Marshall and Middle Tennessee State … Chose Gardner-Webb over Tennessee Tech.
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Last edited by bigsmooth on February 2nd, 2006, 4:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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