List of Herd Recruits, "Gray-Shirts" and Walk-Ons
Marshall University’s head football coach John “Doc” Holliday announced the Thundering Herd’s 2011 recruiting class on Wednesday afternoon on Feb. 2, the first day for football recruits to officially sign their national letters of intent.
The highly-ranked class features 29 student-athletes, and it includes four individuals who are already enrolled at Marshall for the spring semester.
Here is a biographical capsules on each Marshall signee, with others of interest at the end of the article:
Davonte Allen - wide receiver
courtesy of Rivals.com
6-foot-1/180-pounds
Glades Central High School
Belle Glade, Florida
Coached by: Jessie Hester
Recruited by: Jajuan Seider
Senior stats: 30 receptions, 730 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Accolades: A Palm Beach County Treasure Coast All-Star…rated as the No. 95 overall wide receiver in the country by Rivals.com.
Offers: WVU, South Florida (USF) and Rutgers (Big East-BEC), Miami (Atlantic Coast Conference-ACC), Kansas and Iowa State (Big 12) and FIU and FAU (Sun Belt-SBC)
***
Chris Alston – wide receiver
5-foot-11/185-pounds
Fairfield Central High School
Winnsboro, South Carolina
Coached by: Reggie Kennedy
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 33 receptions, 1,154 All-Purpose Yards and 14 total touchdowns…averaged 27.5 Yards per touch for Fairfield Central
Accolades: The South Carolina Class 3-A Offensive Back-of-the-Year, a two-time All-Region selection, and a South Carolina Shrine Bowl selection
***
Keith Baxter, Jr. - defensive back
courtesy of Rivals.com
5-foot-11/180-pounds
Homestead High School
Homestead, Florida
Coached by: Bobby McCray
Recruited by: Jajuan Seider
Career stats: Four interceptions returned for a total of 132 yards, including three interception returns for touchdowns…produced 87 tackles, 32 pass breakups, two sacks and recovered six fumbles in career.
Accolades: Honorable Mention All-Dade selection in 2010, ranked second in the 100-meter in state of Florida… a Pre-Season All-American…rated as a Top 25 Player in Dade County...the son of former Marshall standout flanker Keith Baxter, Sr., who lettered for Marshall from 1985-87 and helped lead Herd to first I-AA championship game and a then-MU record of 10 wins in 1987 as one of the MU “Killer B’s” (receivers Mike Barber, Vince Bodie, Bruce Hammond and Baxter).
Offers: Syracuse (BEC) Florida International University (SBC), New Mexico (Mountain West-MWC) and Memphis (C-USA)
***
Steward Butler - running back
courtesy of Scout.com
5-foot-10/170-pounds
Lakeland High School
Lakeland, Florida
Coached by: William Castle
Recruited by: Sean Cronin
Senior stats: 294 carries, 2,934 yards, 12.4 yards per carry and 30 touchdowns
Accolades: He is the third all-time single season rushing leader in the history of the state of Florida for high school football…broke numerous Lakeland High rushing records that were previously held by Florida’s Chris Rainey.
Offers: Arizona State (Pac-10), WVU, USF, Cincinnati and Rutgers (BEC), Boston College (ACC) and UCF (C-USA)
***
Cortez Carter - athlete
courtesy of Rivals.com
6-foot/210-pounds
Liberty High School
Bealeton, Virginia
Coached by: Tommy Buzzo
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 118 tackles, forced fumble. recovered two fumbles, 1.5 sacks and blocked punt
Offers: UConn (BEC) and Ohio and Temple (Mid-American Conference-MAC)
Rakeem Cato - quarterback
courtesy of Scout.com
6-foot-1/170-pounds
Miami Central High School
Miami, Florida
Coached by: Telly Lockette
Recruited by: Jajuan Seider
Career stats: 9,412 passing yards and 103 passing touchdowns, just 23 interceptions .
Accolades: A four-year varsity starter who holds numerous Miami-Dade County passing records
Offers: WVU and Cincinnati (BEC) and Florida International (SBC)
Armonze Daniel - linebacker
courtesy of Scout.com
6-foot-4/225-pounds
Avon High School
Avon, Indiana
Coached by: Mark Bless
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 72 tackles, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and five pass breakups
Career stats: 191 tackles, four interceptions, five forced fumbles and 15 pass breakups in his prep career…rated as a four-star player by ESPNU….rated as the No. 21 overall linebacker prospect in the nation by Rivals.com.
Offers: Iowa, Purdue, Illinois and Indiana (Big Ten), Toledo (MAC) and Western Kentucky (SBC)
Terry Franklin - defensive end
courtesy of Scout.com
6-foot-4/235-pounds
Tyler Junior College
Tyler, Texas
Mansfield High School
Mansfield, Texas
Coached by: Danny Palmer (JC)
Recruited by: Fred Tate
2010 stats: 51 tackles (40 solo), seven sacks, ten tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble returns and a fumble return for a touchdown
Accolades: Signed with the University of Oklahoma out of high school, when ranked as No. 96 player in Lone Star state in 2009…added one inch of height and 36-pounds at junior college from high school senior season
Other Offers: Middle Tennessee and UL-Lafayette (SBC) and Houston, Tulsa, Memphis and UAB (C-USA)
Blake Frohnapfel - quarterback
courtesy of theringer.com
6-foot-5/210-pounds
Colonial Forge High School
Stafford, Virginia
Coached by: Bill Brown
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 95 of 159 passes (60 percent) for 1,733 yards, rushed for 257 yards
Career stats: Over 4,000 passing yards and 50 touchdowns
Accolades: A two-time First-Team Commonwealth Player-of-the-Year, a second-team All-Region pick and a first-team All-Area selection
Offers: Wake Forest (ACC), WVU (BEC) and Vanderbilt (Southeastern Conference-SEC)
Eric Frohnapfel - tight end
courtesy of Rivals.com
6-foot-6/220-pounds
Colonial Forge High School
Stafford, Virginia
Coached by: Bill Brown
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 28 catches, 641 yards, eight touchdowns while making 70 tackles, 12 sacks and an interception return for a touchdown on defense
Accolades: A two-time All-State selection, a two-time All-Met pick and a two-time first team All-Region selection…signed with Marshall along with his brother (and fraternal twin) Blake, who was his quarterback at Colonial Forge
Offers: WVU and UConn (BEC), Virginia (ACC), Vanderbilt (SEC) and Miami, Oh. (MAC)
Jermaine Holmes - linebacker
courtesy of Scout.com
5-foot-11/230-pounds
Valdosta High School
Valdosta, Georgia
Coached by: Rance Gillespi
Recruited by: Tony Peterson, Sean Cronin
Senior stats: 67 total tackles, 47 solos, 15 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries
Accolades: Georgia Class 5A-Region 1 Defensive Player-of-the-Year, “Border Wars” All-Star Game MVP
Offers: Illinois (Big Ten), Louisville (BEC), North Carolina (ACC), Middle Tennessee State (SBC) and UCF (C-USA)
Levern Jacobs- - wide receiver
courtesy of Scout.com
6-foot/165-pounds
Suitland High School
District Heights, Maryland
Coached by: Ed Shields
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 1,140 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns
Accolades: Maryland Crab Bowl All-Star
Offers: New Mexico (MWC) and Temple (MAC)
Conelius Jones - athlete
courtesy of Scout.com
6-foot-2/195-pounds
Enrolled at Marshall University in January 2011
Spartanburg High School
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Coached by: Freddie Brown
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 2,374 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns
Accolades: Shrine Bowl All-Star
Offers: Michigan (Big Ten), Stanford (Pac-10), Miami, Fla., Wake Forest and Duke (ACC), Florida International (SBC) and Toledo (MAC)
Josue Joseph - offensive line
courtesy of Facebook.com
6-foot-4/275-pounds
Freedom High School
Orlando, Florida
Coached by: Andy Johnson
Recruited by: Bill Legg
Senior stats: Graded out with 95% blocking efficiency with 31 pancakes and did not allow a single sack as a senior.
Accolades: A Central Florida All-Star and Sentinel Super 60 selection.
Offers: Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky (SBC)
Jamar Lewter - offensive line
courtesy of Rivals.com
6-foot-8/280-pounds
Ballou High School
Washington, D.C.
Coached by: Moses Ware
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 60 “pancakes” (defender put on back) and did not allow a sack
Accolades: First-Team All-City and First-Team All-Metro…Chesapeake Bowl All-Star and Washington Pigskin Club’s Top Player…rated as the No. 35 overall offensive lineman in the country by Rivals.com.
Offers: Auburn (SEC), USC and UCLA (Pac-10), Miami, Fla., UNC, Maryland, Clemson, N.C. State and Wake Forest (ACC), Pittsburgh and Cincinnati (BEC), Illinois and Penn State (Big Ten) and New Mexico (MWC)
Evan McKelvey - defensive back
courtesy of Rivals.com
6-foot-1/185-pounds
Enrolled at Marshall University in January of 2011
Berkley High School
Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Coached by: Jerry Brown
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 142 tackles and five interceptions
Accolades: Brother of Marshall starting safety Omar Brown
Offers: Clemson (ACC) and East Carolina (C-USA)
Deon Meadows - linebacker
courtesy of Scout.com
5-foot-11/215-pounds
Smyrna High School
Smyrna, Tennessee
Coached by: Matt Williams
Recruited by: Mike Cassity
Career stats: 467 tackles, 12 sacks, three interceptions, nine forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and blocked a punt
Accolades: A “Mr. Football” finalist in Tennessee…three-time All-Region selection…helped team to the 2006 State Championship and a state runner-up finish in 2010
Offers: Arkansas (SEC), Ohio and Kent State (MAC), MTSU, WKU and Arkansas State (SBC) and Memphis and UAB (C-USA)
Robert Mincey - defensive end
courtesy of Scout.com
6-foot-5/260-pounds
Fairfield High School
Fairfield, Ohio
Coached by: Aaron Fitzstephens
Recruited by: Mike Cassity
Senior stats: 20 tackles and seven sacks in only five games (due to injury)
Accolades: A two-time First-Team All-County and First-Team All-Conference Offers: Illinois (Big Ten), Kansas (Big 12), Ohio, Akron, Ball St., BGSU, Kent St., Western Michigan and Toledo (MAC) and Memphis (C-USA)
Colin Munro - offensive line
courtesy of Scout.com
6-foot-5/310-pounds
Chaffey (Community) College
Rancho Cucamonga, California
King High School
Riverside, California
Coached by: Carl Beach
Recruited by: Bill Legg
2010 stats: 30 pancake blocks and allowed only two sacks
Accolades: Two-time First-Team All-Central West Conference and All-State nominee
Offers: WVU (BEC), Washington State (Pac-10), Utah State (MWC) and Memphis (C-USA)
DeAndre Reaves - athlete
5-foot-10/180-pounds
Dominion High School
Sterling, Virginia
Coached by: Kyle Buckwalter
Recruited by: Phil Ratliff
Senior stats: 1,780 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns
Accolades: Second Team All-Metro
Offers: WVU (BEC) and Maryland (ACC)
Jarquez Samuel - defensive end
6-foot-5/240-pounds
Valdosta High School
Valdosta, Georgia
Coached by: Rance Gillespi
Recruited by: Tony Petersen and Sean Cronin
Senior stats: 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, 11 sacks, a fumble recovery and two passes broken-up
Accolades: First-Team All-Region and “Border Wars” All-Star Game selection…rated as the No. 53 overall strong-side defensive end in the country by Rivals.com
Offers: WVU and Louisville (BEC), LSU (SEC) and ECU and UAB (C-USA)
Tommy Shuler - wide receiver
5-foot-9/185-pounds
Enrolled at Marshall University in January of 2011
Miami Central High School
Miami, Florida
Coached by: Telly Lockette
Recruited by: Jajuan Seider
Career stats: Over 3,000 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns
Accolades: Miami-Dade All-County pick…selected for the Miami-Dade vs. Broward Nike All-Star Game…teammate of signee Rakeem Cato at Miami Central
Offers: Cincinnati (BEC) and Florida International (SBC)
Anthony Spano - center
6-foot-2/275-pounds
Gulf Coast High School
Naples, Florida
Coached by: Andrew Mirati
Recruited by: Bill Legg
Senior stats: 12 games started and played both center and right tackle positions…recorded 38 pancake blocks
Accolades: Scout.com listed him as 1-of-25 players to watch in Florida…Third-Team All-Florida by Reebok
Offers: Florida Atlantic (SBC)
Travon Van - running back
5-foot-10/190-pounds
Milford Academy Prep
New Berlin, New York
Helix High School
La Mesa, California
Coached by: Bill Chaplick (Milford) and Troy Starr (Helix)
Recruited by: Doc Holliday
Senior stats: 1,237 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior at Helix High before attending Milford Academy…rated as a four-star recruit by several recruiting services…signed with the University of Florida last year before enrolling at Marshall and sitting out fall as prop….went to the same high school as Reggie Bush…rated as a four-star player by ESPNU…practiced two weeks with Herd last August
Offers: Florida (SEC), WVU (BEC), Cal and USC (Pac-10), Miami, Fla. (ACC), San Diego State (MWC) and San Jose State (WAC)
Remi Watson - running back
5-foot-11/195-pounds
Lake Gibson High School
Lakeland, Florida
Coached by: Keith Demyer
Recruited by: Sean Cronin
Career stats: 428 rushes, 28 receptions, 3,457 all-purpose yards and a total of 48 touchdowns
Accolades: 2009 Polk County and Lakeland-Ledger Player-of-the-Year, a two-time All-State selection and a First-Team All-Area
Offers: USF (BEC), Ohio (MAC), Western Kentucky (SBC) and UCF (C-USA)
Robert Way - defensive end
6-foot-2/200-pounds
Glades Central High School
Belle Glade, Florida
Coached by: Jessie Hester
Recruited by: Jajuan Seider
Career stats: 243 tackles, 43 sacks and 69 tackles for loss
Accolades: A two-time All-State selection and Palm Beach County Defensive Player-of-the-Year.
Offers: Florida (SEC), Miami, Fla.(ACC), Syracuse (BEC), CMU, WMU and Buffalo (MAC) and FIU and FAU (SBC)
Deontae West - defensive back
5-foot-10/170-pounds
Hialeah High School
Hollywood, Florida
Coached by: Mark Berman
Recruited by: Jajuan Seider
Career stats: 91 tackles and 11 interceptions
Accolades: Miami-Dade All-County, Miami-Dade North/South All-Star Game
Offers: Texas Tech (Big 12), Duke (ACC), Western Michigan and Toledo (MAC) and Florida Atlantic (SBC)
Craig Wilkins - wide receiver
5-foot-11/180-pounds
Hialeah High School
Hialeah, Florida
Coached by: Mark Berman
Recruited by: Jajuan Seider
Career stats: 53 receptions, 992 yards receiving, 11 touchdowns, as well as 80 tackles, three tackles for loss and seven interceptions in the defensive secondary
Accolades: Miami-Dade All-County and Miami-Dade vs Broward Nike All-Star Game…joins teammate Deontae West at Marshall
Offers: Miami, Fla. and Duke (ACC), Mississippi, Kentucky and Vanderbilt (SEC) Kansas and Kansas State (Big 12), Cincinnati (BEC), Minnesota (Big Ten), Northern Illinois (MAC) and Memphis (C-USA)
Corie Wilson - defensive back
5-foot-10/170-pounds
Enrolled at Marshall University in January 2011
Edison High School
Miami, Florida
Coached by: Eddie Jackson
Recruited by: Jajuan Seider
Senior stats: 57 tackles, 45 solos, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries
Other Offers: UCF and Western Michigan (MAC)
The official Marshall Sports Information list doesn’t include “gray-shirts” who enrolled in Marshall in January or those who will “gray-shirt” this season and enroll in January of 2012, nor are walk-on candidates included on the official release from Marshall.
Here are the players known to Herd Insider as planning to join the Herd for the 2011 campaign:
Austin Dumas - punter - kicker
6-foot-1/185-pounds
Bradenton Christian High School
Bradenton, Florida
Expected to be an invited walk-on in August for 2011 season
Tevin McCleave - athlete
5-foot-9/210-pounds
Jireh Prep
Monroe, North Carolina
Colonial Forge High School
Stafford, Virginia
Played with Frohnapfel twins in 2009 at Colonial Forge, and spent fall at Jireh. Currently enrolled at Marshall and will compete either at fullback or linebacker for Herd as 2011 invited walk-on for spring, hoping to earn scholarship for fall
Stefone Grace - linebacker
6-foot-3/200-pounds
Milford Academy Prep
New Berlin, New York
Grace in enrolled at Marshall as a prop last fall, but will not be able to practice with Herd until August
Sebastian Johansson - offensive lineman
6-foot-5/315-pounds
Raceland High School
Raceland, Kentucky
Johansson was a Swedish exchange student at Raceland, playing the 2009 season for the Rams. He may already be enrolled at Marshall and would be eligible for spring practice in 2011 (if enrolled)
Joe Massaquoi - defensive end
6-foot-5/230-pounds
T.C. Williams High School
Alexandria, Virginia
Expected to “gray-shirt” and report in January of 2012
Trenton Martin - kicker
6-foot-2/210-pounds
Floyd Kellam High School
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Expected to join Herd as invited walk-on in August of 2011
Darien Moody - defensive end
6-foot-2/210-pounds
Gahanna High School
Gahanna, Ohio
Moody was a 2009 recruit for former MU head coach Mark Snyder who was asked to “gray-shirt” and report in 2011. He is enrolled at MU and eligible for spring practice
Tyler Pate - athlete
6-foot/165-pounds
Hurricane High School
Hurricane, W.Va.
Signed a letter of intent as an invited walk-on for August practice in 2011, the former quarterback (2,300 yards and 19 touchdowns passing) may be used on offense or defense, as he also played defensive back for Redskins
Rakim Reed - tight end
6-foot-4/210-pounds
Timken Senior High School
Canton, Ohio
Expected to “gray-shirt” this year and report in January of 2012
Clinton Van Horn - offensive lineman
6-foot-6/300-pounds
Woodrow Wilson High School
Beckley, W.Va.
Signed letter of commitment (meaning he may wait until January of 2012 as "gray-shirt" or join Herd in August) with Marshall as an invited walk-on, Van Horn is from same school which produced the Pittsburgh Steelers Doug Legursky and former MU head coach Bobby Pruett, two outstanding members of Herd football history, and played on both sides of ball for Flying Eagles
Raheem Waiters - athlete
6-foot-2/180-pounds
Riverside High School
Quincy, W.Va.
Waiters was a 2009 recruit for Snyder, but delayed his enrollment at Marshall while rehabbing injury from 2009 season. He enrolled at MU in January of 2011 and is expected to participate in spring football
Phillip Warren - defensive back
5-foot-9/180-pounds
Southridge High School
Miami, Florida
Signed with Texas Tech in 2010, Warren transferred to Marshall after failing to qualify for the Red Raiders. He is in school and will practice this spring, starting Wednesday, March 31, through Saturday, April 23, the annual Green-White game
Allen Wasonga - running back
5-foot-9/200-pounds
Parkersburg High School
Parkersburg, W.Va.
Wasonga, who rushed for 2,203 yards as a junior but saw his senior season with Big Reds hampered with injuries, is expected to join Herd as an invited walk-on and signed the letter of commitment. Also played at Point Pleasant in AA and Wahama as ninth grade player in Class A
The Herd lost recruits Chevelle Buie (running back, signed with East Carolina), Brandon King (lineman, probably headed to junior college due to academic shortcomings), Derrick Campbell (lineman, who also may head to junior college due to academics) and South Charleston's Pierria Henry (who will play basketball at the collegiate level), but no player who made a verbal and then de-committed