Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Football Announces its 2011 Recruiting Class
2/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
http://herdzone.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/signing-day-2011.html
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University Head Coach Doc Holliday has announced the Thundering Herd's 2011 recruiting class. The class features 29 student-athletes and includes four individuals that are already enrolled.
"I am extremely proud of our football staff and support personnel for all of their hard work," Holliday said. "This is an outstanding recruiting class and it shows you the amount of respect that individuals around the country have for Marshall University's football program."
Marshall's recruiting class is being rated by several services as the No. 1 overall class in Conference USA and is arguably the most highly-touted class in school history. The class features 12 players from the state of Florida and a balanced mix of offensive and defensive personnel that fill Marshall's immediate needs.
Rivals.com ranked Marshall's recruiting class No. 1 in C-USA and No. 48 overall in the nation through 4 p.m. on Wednesday. In fact, Marshall boasted the highest ranked recruiting class among Non-BCS AQ schools (TCU is moving to the Big East and UTAH to the PAC-10 next season), according to Rivals at that time.
Rivals also ranked Marshall's individual position groups as some of the finest in the country. Marshall's tight ends were rated at No. 19, Marshall's linebackers and the Herd's running back class are both ranked at No. 20, Marshall's defensive end recruits are ranked No. 32 overall, the Herd's receivers are ranked No. 33 overall, Marshall's offensive linemen are ranked at No. 44 overall and finally the Herd's quarterback class is ranked 50th overall in the nation.
Earlier Wednesday, Holliday was mentioned by former University of Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer during ESPN's coverage of National Signing Day.
"He (Holliday) is a guy who knows how to recruit and had coached for nearly 27 years. He recruited and coached a lot of the parents of the up and coming recruits. He was key in the Palm Beach, Dade and Broward area of Florida. He had his hands in our national championships in 2006 and 2008," Meyer said.
Below are biographical capsules on each Marshall signee:
Davonte Allen-WR
6'1", 180
Glades Central High School (Fla.)
Belle Glade, Florida
Coached By: Jessie Hester
Recruited By: JaJuan Seider
Senior Stats: Recorded 30 receptions, 730 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
Other Accolades: A Palm Beach County Treasure Coast All-Star...rated as the No. 95
overall wide receiver in the country by Rivals.com.
Other Offers: WVU, Miami (Fla.), USF, Kansas, Iowa St., Rutgers, FIU, and FAU
Chris Alston-WR
5'11", 185
Fairfield Central High School (S.C.)
Winnsboro, South Carolina
Coached By: Reggie Kennedy
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Stats: Recorded 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-DB
5'11", 180
Homestead High School (Fla.)
Homestead, Florida
Coached By: Bobby McCray
Recruited By: JaJuan Seider
Career Stats: Recorded four interceptions that he returned for a total of 132 yards, including three INT returns for touchdowns...produced 87 tackles, 32 pass breakups, two sacks and recovered six fumbles in his prep career.
Accolades: A Honorable Mention All-Dade selection in 2010, ranked second in the 100-meter in state of Florida... a Preseason 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.
Other Offers: Syracuse, Memphis, Florida International University and New Mexico
Steward Butler-RB
5'10", 170
Lakeland High School (Fla.)
Lakeland, Florida
Coached By: William Castle
Recruited By: Sean Cronin
Senior Stats: Recorded 294 carries, 2,934 rushing yards, 12.4 yards per carry and 30 touchdowns as a senior.
Accolades: He is the third all-time single season rushing leader in the history of Florida high school football...broke numerous Lakeland High rushing records that were previously held by Florida's Chris Rainey.
Other Offers: Arizona State, WVU, Boston College, USF, Cincinnati, Rutgers, and UCF
Cortez Carter-ATH/LB
6'0", 210
Liberty High School (Va.)
Bealeton, Virginia
Coached By: Tommy Buzzo
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Year Stats: Produced 118 tackles, 1 FF, 2 FR, 1.5 Sacks, and blocked a punt as a senior.
Other Offers: UConn, Ohio, and Temple
Rakeem Cato-QB
6'1", 170
Miami Central High School (Fla.)
Miami, Florida
Coached By: Telly Lockette
Recruited By: JaJuan Seider
Career Stats: Recorded 9,412 passing yards and 103 passing touchdowns against only 23 interceptions in his prep career.
Accolades: A four-year varsity starter that holds numerous Miami-Dade County passing records.
Other Offers: WVU, Cincinnati, and Florida International
6'4", 225
Avon High School (Ind.)
Avon, Indiana
Coached By: Mark Bless
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Stats: Posted 72 tackles, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and five pass breakups as a senior.
Career Stats: Recorded a total of 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.
Other Offers: Iowa, Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, Toledo and Western Kentucky
Terry Franklin-DE
6'4", 235
Tyler College (Texas)
Tyler, Texas
Coached By: Danny Palmer
Recruited By: Fred Tate
2010 JUCO Stats: Recorded 51 Tackles (40 Solo), 7 Sacks and 10 tackles for loss...also credited with two forced fumbles, two fumble returns and a fumble return for a touchdown.
Accolades: Signed w/ Oklahoma out of HS
Other Offers: Houston, Tulsa, Memphis, UAB, Middle Tennessee, UL-Lafayette
6'5", 210
Colonial Forge High School (Va.)
Stafford, Virginia
Coached By: Bill Brown
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Stats: Completed 95 of 159 passes for 1,733 yards and also rushed for 257 yards
Career Stats: Passed for more than 4,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in his career.
Accolades: A two-time First-Team Commonwealth Player-of-the-Year, a second-team All-Region pick and a first-team All-Area selection...joins his brother Eric who is also in the 2011 MU signing class.
Other Offers: Wake Forest, WVU, and Vanderbilt
6'6", 210
Colonial Forge High School (Va.)
Stafford, Virginia
Coached By: Bill Brown
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Stats: Produced 28 catches, 641 yards, 8 touchdowns, 70 tackles, 12 sacks, and an interception return for a touchdown as a senior.
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 Blake.
Other Offers: WVU, Virginia, UConn, Vanderbilt, Miami (OH)
5'11", 230
Valdosta High School (GA)
Valdosta, Georgia
Coached By: Rance Gillespi
Recruited By: Tony Peterson, Sean Cronin
Senior Stats: Recorded 67 total tackles, 47 solo stops, 15 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior.
Accolades: The Georgia Class 5A-Region 1 Defensive Player-of-the-Year, Border Wars All-Star Game MVP
Other Offers: Illinois, Louisville, North Carolina, UCF, and Middle Tennessee
Levern Jacobs-WR
6'0", 165
Suitland High School (Md.)
District Heights, Maryland
Coached By: Ed Shields
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Stats: Amassed 1,140 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. Accolades: A Maryland Crab Bowl All-Star.
Other Offers: New Mexico and Temple
Conelius Jones-ATH
6'2", 195
Spartanburg High School (S.C.)
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Coached By: Freddie Brown
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Stats: Produced 2,374 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns.
Accolades: a Shrine Bowl All-Star that enrolled at Marshall in January.
Other Offers: Michigan, Stanford, Miami (Fla.), Wake Forest, Duke, Florida International, and Toledo
Josue Joseph-OL
6'4", 275
Freedom High School (Fla.)
Orlando, Florida
Coached By: Andy Johnson
Recruited By: Sean Cronin
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.
Other Offers: Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky
Jamar Lewter-OL
6'8", 280
Ballou High School, (Washington, D.C.)
Washington, District of Columbia
Coached By: Moses Ware
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Stats: Recorded 60 pancakes and did not allow a sack.
Accolades: First-Team All-City and First-Team All-Metro...a Chesapeake Bowl All-Star and Washington Pigskin Club Top Player...rated as the No. 35 overall offensive lineman in the country by Rivals.com.
Other Offers: Auburn, USC, Miami (Fla.), Pitt, UCLA, UNC, N.C. State, Cincinnati, Clemson, Illinois, Rutgers, Maryland, Wake Forest, New Mexico, and many others.
Evan McKelvey-FS/SS
6'1", 185
Berkley High School (S.C.)
Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Coached By: Jerry Brown
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Stats: Recorded 142 tackles and five interceptions last season for Berkley H.S....enrolled at Marshall in January.
Other Offers: Clemson and East Carolina
Deon Meadows-LB
5'11", 215
Smyrna High School (Tenn.)
Smyrna, Tennessee
Coached By: Matt Williams
Recruited By: Mike Cassity
Career Stats: Recorded 467 tackles, 12 Sacks, three interceptions, nine forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and blocked a punt in his prep career.
Accolades: A Mr. Football Finalist in Tennessee...three-time All-Region selection...helped his team to the 2006 State Championship and a state runner-up finish in 2010.
Other Offers: Arkansas, Memphis, UAB, Ohio, Kent State, MTSU, WKU and Arkansas State
Robert Mincey-DE
6'5", 260
Fairfield High School (Ohio)
Fairfield, Ohio
Coached By: Aaron Fitzstephens
Recruited By: Mike Cassity
Senior Stats: Credited with 20 Tackles and seven sacks in only five games (Injury shortened season).
Accolades: A two-time First-Team All-County and First-Team All-Conference selection.
Other Offers: Illinois, Kansas, Memphis, Ohio, Akron, Ball St., BGSU, Kent St., WMU, and Toledo
Colin Munro-OL
6'5", 310
Chaffey College (Calif.)
Rancho Cucamonga, California
Coached By: Carl Beach
Recruited By: Bill Legg
2010 JUCO Stats: Registered 30 pancake blocks and allowed only two sacks last season at Chaffey.
Accolades: A two-time First-Team All-Conference and All-State Nominee
Other Offers: WVU, Washington St., Memphis, Utah St.
DeAndre Reaves-ATH
5'10", 180
Dominion High School (Va.)
Sterling, Va.
Coached By: Kyle Buckwalter
Recruited By: Phil Ratliff
Senior Stats: Recorded 1,780 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns last year.
Accolades: 2nd Team All-Metro
Other Offers: WVU and Maryland
6'5", 240
Valdosta High School
Valdosta, Georgia
Coached By: Rance Gillespi
Recruited By: Tony Petersen & Sean Cronin
Senior Stats: Recorded 52 Tackles, 5 TFL, 11 Sacks, 1 FR, and two pass breakups.
Accolades: First-Team All-Region and a Border Wars All-Star Game Selection...rated as the No. 53 overall strongside defensive end in the country by Rivals.com.
Other Offers: WVU, LSU, Louisville, ECU and UAB
Tommy Shuler-WR
5'9", 185
Miami Central High School (Fla.)
Miami, Florida
Coached By: Telly Lockette
Recruited By: JaJuan Seider
Career Stats: Produced more than 3,000 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns in his prep career.
Accolades: A Miami-Dade All-County pick...selected for the Miami-Dade vs. Broward Nike All-Star Game.
Other Offers: Cincinnati and Florida International
6'2", 275
Gulf Coast High School (Fla.)
Naples, Florida
Coached By: Andrew Mirati
Recruited By: Bill Legg
Senior Stats: Started 12 Games and played both center and right tackle...recorded 38 pancake blocks.
Accolades: Scout.com listed him as one of 25 players to watch in 2010...Third-Team All-Florida by Reebok.
Other Offers: Florida Atlantic
Travon Van-RB
5'10", 190
Milford Academy Prep (N.Y.) via Helix High School (Calif.)
La Mesa, Calif.
Coached By: Bill Chaplick (Milford) and Troy Starr (Helix)
Recruited By: Doc Holliday
Senior Stats: Rushed for 1,237 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....went to the same high school as Reggie Bush...rated as a four-star player by ESPNU.
Other Offers: Florida, WVU, USC, Miami (Fla.), and numerous others
Remi Watson-RB
5'11", 195
Lake Gibson High School (Fla.)
Lakeland, Florida
Coached By: Keith Demyer
Recruited By: Sean Cronin
Career Stats: Recorded 428 Carries, 28 Receptions, 3,457 Total Yards, and a total of 48 touchdowns in his prep career.
Accolades: 2009 Polk County & Lakeland-Ledger Player-of-the-Year, a two-time All-State selection, and a First-Team All-Area pick.
Other Offers: South Florida, Central Florida, Ohio, and Western Kentucky
Robert Way-LB
6'2", 200
Glades Central High School (Fla.)
Belle Glade, Florida
Coached By: Jessie Hester
Recruited By: JaJuan Seider
Career Stats: Credited with 243 Tackles, 43 sacks and 69 tackles for loss in his career.
Accolades: A two-time All-State selection and Palm Beach County Defensive Player-of-the-Year.
Other Offers: Florida, Miami (Fla.), Syracuse, CMU, WMU, Buffalo, FIU, and FAU
Deontae West-DB
5'10, 170
Hialeah High School (Fla.)
Hollywood, Florida
Coached By: Mark Berman
Recruited By: JaJuan Seider
Career Stats: Recorded 91 tackles and 11 interceptions
Accolades: Miami-Dade All-County, Miami-Dade North/South All-Star Game
Other Offers: Texas Tech, Duke, Western Michigan, Toledo and Florida Atlantic
5'11", 180
Hialeah High School (Fla.)
Hialeah, Florida
Coached By: Mark Berman
Recruited By: JaJuan Seider
Career Stats: 53 Receptions, 992 Yards Receiving, 11 TD's, 80 Tackles, 3 TFL, 7 INTs Accolades: Miami-Dade All-County, Miami-Dade vs Broward Nike All-Star Game
Other Offers: Miami (Fla.), Ole Miss, Kansas, Kansas St., Kentucky, Cincinnati, Duke, Vanderbilt, Memphis, and many others
Corie Wilson-DB
5'10", 170
Edison High School (Fla.)
Miami, Florida
Coached By: Eddie Jackson
Recruited By: JaJuan Seider
Senior Stats: Recorded 57 tackles, 45 solo stops, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries as a senior...already enrolled at Marshall.
Other Offers: UCF and Western Michigan
