Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Football Announces 2015 Recruiting Class
2/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University Head Coach Doc Holliday has announced the Thundering Herd's 2015 football recruiting class. The group features 25 student-athletes and includes six student-athletes who are already enrolled at Marshall.
"We’re where we want to be," said Holliday of the recruiting effort by the MU staff. “We’re excited, and we’ve gotten some really good players. It’s all good.
“We’re heading into our sixth class here and it’s a class where we went out and targeted what we had to have and we met those needs and I like this class. We’ve had about five straight classes that have been excellent.”
Marshall has 17 of its 25 signees ranked as three-star prospects by Rivals, Scout or 247Sports – or some combination of the three. Rivals ranks it as the top class in Conference USA and, as usual, among the best in the Group of Five.
Below are biographical capsules on each Marshall newcomer:
Hakeem Bailey
S, 6-1, 180
Pebblebrook High School
Mableton, Ga.
Recruited by: Chris Barclay
Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Had offers from Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Temple and Toledo … Had four interceptions and two forced fumbles for Pebblebrook (2-8) … Also scored one touchdown on special teams and three touchdowns on offense … Plans to major in sports management.
OL, 6-4, 275
Heard County High School
Franklin, Ga.
Recruited by: Alex Mirabal
Rated a three-star prospect by Scout and 247Sports … Had offers from Coastal Carolina, Elon and Georgia State … Helped Heard County run for 3,771 yards and 43 touchdowns on 532 carries and throw for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns on 60-of-131 passing with his blocking … Had 28 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick on defense … Helped Heard County (7-6) advance to the third round of the Class AA state playoffs earned All-State first-team honors from The Associated Press and Atlanta Journal Constitution … Runs the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds … Bench presses 280 pounds and squats 505 pounds … Plans to major in physical therapy.
Emanuel Byrd
TE, 6-3, 225
Georgia Military College
Albany, Ga.
Recruited by: Chris Barclay
Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals … Enrolled at Marshall in January … Played at quarterback and tight end in 2014 for GMC … Completed 3-of-4 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions … Had 15 carries for 22 yards and 15 catches for 263 yards and three touchdowns … Played quarterback in 2013 for GMC … Completed 16-of-35 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns with one interception … Also had 36 carries for 116 yards and one touchdown … Was a four-year starter at quarterback at Albany High School … Was a three-sport athlete at Albany (football, basketball and track) … Advanced to the state track meet in the high jump … Majoring in sports management.
Leron Carn
WR, 6-3, 215
Woodland High School
Dorchester, S.C.
Recruited by: Mike Furrey
Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Received interest from Georgia, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Tennessee … Had 47 catches for 978 yards and 14 touchdowns … Scored five more touchdowns on defense and two more touchdowns on special teams … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds … Bench presses 280 pounds, power cleans 275 pounds and squats 315 pounds … Averages a double-double in points and rebounds for Woodland’s basketball team … Plans to major in sports medicine or physical therapy.
OLB, 6-2, 215
Miami Central High School
Miami, Fla.
Recruited by: Alex Mirabal
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals and Scout … Was the first member of the Thundering Herd’s 2015 recruiting class, committing to Marshall on Feb. 18 … Enrolled in January … Received interest from Kentucky and Louisville … Recorded 56 tackles, eight sacks and three fumble recoveries during his senior season … Helped Miami Central win three consecutive Class 6A state titles … Bench presses 255 pounds and squats 325 pounds … Majoring in business or finance.
George Davis
OLB, 6’3, 185
Fort Myers High School
Fort Myers, Fla.
Recruited by: Adam Fuller
Received interest from Cincinnati, Florida International, Indiana, North Carolina State and Western Kentucky … Played both outside linebacker and wide receiver at Fort Myers High School … As a senior, had 67 tackles, three sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception … Also had seven catches for 238 yards and three more scores on offense and five kick returns for 205 yards to lead Fort Myers (12-1) to the third round of the Class 7A state playoffs … Named all-conference and all-SWFL … As a sophomore he played in eight games and had five catches for 50 yards, 16 tackles on defense with an interception and forced fumble.
Von Davis
S, 6-0, 175
Mount Dora High School
Mount Dora, Fla.
Recruited by: Sean Cronin
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Ranked the No. 78 cornerback in America by Rivals … Had offers from Arizona, Cincinnati, FAU, FIU, Georgia Southern, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, Mississippi State and Wisconsin … Made 59 tackles as a free safety in 2014 season, but is projected as a cornerback for the Herd … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds … Has a 33-inch vertical … Bench presses 230 pounds and squats 405 pounds … Plans to major in education.
DE, 6-4, 215
Virginia Episcopal School
Raleigh, N.C.
Recruited by: J.C. Price
Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports … Enrolled at Marshall in January … Had offers from Campbell, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Delaware State, Maine, Virginia and Virginia Tech (early commit) … Could not play his senior season because it was his ninth semester of high school, and North Carolina High School Athletic Association rules allow players only eight semesters of eligibility … Spent a year at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg and had to reclassify upon returning to Enloe … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds … Bench presses 280 pounds and squats 385 pounds.
Larry Dunnon
WR, 6-4, 200
Palm Beach Central High School
Greenacres, Fla.
Recruited by: Alex Mirabal
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Had 10 carries for 151 yards and one touchdown along with 11 catches for 134 yards and one touchdown, although those totals do not include one regular-season game that was not reported to the local newspaper … Helped Palm Beach Central (7-4) advance to the Class 8A state playoffs.
Raylen Elzy
WR, 6-4, 198
Georgia Sports Prep Academy
Stone Mountain, Ga.
Recruited by: Chris Barclay
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals … Spent the fall semester at Atlanta Sports Academy … Enrolled at Marshall in January … Had 20 catches for 376 yards and four touchdowns in eight games for Atlanta Sports Academy (9-6) … Was a two-sport athlete at Stephenson High School, graduating in 2014 … Received interest from Coastal Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Southern and Georgia State … Also attracted attention from Florida State, Stanford, Tennessee and Virginia as a baseball prospect (catcher and pitcher) … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds … Majoring in education.
Keivonte Gallmon
WR, 6-4, 213
Chickasaw High School
Chickasaw, Ala.
Recruited by: Chris Barclay
Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals … Had offers from Kentucky, Troy and Southern Miss … Had 48 catches for 1,110 yards and 16 touchdowns along with 12 carries for 171 yards and two scores for Chickasaw (4-7) … Transferred from Godby High School in Tallahassee, Fla. … Is a four-sport athlete (football, basketball, baseball and track) … Plans to major in business.
OLB, 6-2, 210
South Dade High School
Homestead, Fla.
Recruited by: Alex Mirabal
Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports … Had offers from Akron, Alcorn State, Appalachian State, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Syracuse and Indiana … Rated the No. 114 outside linebacker in the nation by 247Sports … Had 104 tackles and three forced for South Dade (8-3) … Returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown and a fumble 79 yards for a touchdown … Originally committed to Syracuse in July.
DE, 6-5, 255
St. Frances Academy
Baltimore, Md.
Recruited by: J.C. Price
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals and 247Sports … Ranked the No. 30 overall prospect in Maryland by Rivals … Had scholarship offers from Boston College, Charlotte, Connecticut, North Carolina, Old Dominion, Purdue, Temple, Virginia, Wake Forest and West Virginia … Had 47 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and six sacks for St. Frances … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds … Bench presses 285 pounds and squats 475 pounds … Plans to major in family studies or marketing.
CB, 5-10, 163
Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School
Hialeah, Fla.
Recruited by: Alex Mirabal
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Decommitted from West Virginia and committed to Marshall on the final weekend before Signing Day … Had offers from UCF, Akron, Alcorn State, Cincinnati, FAU, FIU, Georgia Southern, Kentucky, Miami, Pittsburgh, USF, Syracuse, Temple, Utah State and West Virginia … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds … Has a 33-inch vertical … Bench presses 275 pounds and squats 300 pounds … Father played for Coach Holliday at West Virginia.
OL, 6-4, 275
Miami Central High School
Miami, Fla.
Recruited by: Alex Mirabal
Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Had an offer from FIU … Helped Miami Central run 3,306 yards and 41 touchdowns and throw for 1,810 yards and 19 scores with his blocking … Helped Miami Central win two of its three consecutive Class 6A state titles … Bench presses 385 pounds … Plans to major in engineering.
Roosevelt Lawrence
DB, 5-10, 159
Alonso High School
Tampa, Fla.
Recruited by: Adam Fuller
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Had offers from South Alabama, Western Michigan and Wisconsin … Had 33 carries for 410 yards and three touchdowns in only five games for Alonso … Had 19 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked kick … Returned a punt for a touchdown.
QB, 6-6, 212
Wharton High School
Tampa, Fla.
Recruited by: Adam Fuller
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports as a Class of 2014 prospect … Committed to USF last year, but did not sign with the Bulls … Had offers from Marshall, Massachusetts and Tulane as a Class of 2015 recruit and FAU, FIU, LSU, USF, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan as a Class of 2014 recruit … Enrolled at Marshall in January … Threw for 54 touchdowns and ran for 10 scores during a senior season in which he accumulated more than 2,500 total yards … Threw for almost 8,000 yards during his four-year career at Wharton … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds … Bench presses 235 pounds and squats 400 pounds … Majoring in sports journalism.
Alex Locklear
OL, 6-5, 290
Spring Valley High School
Huntington, W.Va.
Recruited by: Bill Legg and Alex Mirabal
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Had offers from James Madison, Holy Cross and William & Mary … Also received interest from Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Missouri, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wake Forest … Missed nine of Spring Valley’s 11 games after suffering a season-ending knee injury … Helped Spring Valley gain more than 750 totals yards in only two games with his blocking … Runs the 40-yard dash in 5.25 seconds … Bench presses 285 pounds and squats 425 pounds … Plans to major in pre-med biology or chemistry.
Latrell Nieves
WR, 6-0, 168
Colleton County High School
Walterboro, S.C.
Recruited by: Mike Furrey
Rated a three-star prospect by Scout and 247Sports … Had offers from East Carolina, South Carolina State and Virginia … Played in only three games during his senior season because of an injury, but still scored five touchdowns … Had 48 catches for 890 yards and seven touchdowns during his junior season, which was his first year playing the sport … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds … Plans to major in business and music.
Reggie Rogers
WR, 6-1, 190
Washington High School
Massillon, Ohio
Recruited by: Bill Legg
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Ranked as the No. 53 overall prospect in Ohio by Rivals … Had offers from Akron, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Rutgers, Toledo and Western Michigan … Had 38 catches for 594 yards and three touchdowns along with 15 carries for 147 yards, 10 kickoff returns for 237 yards and four punt returns for 10 yards to help Washington (7-4) advance to the Division II state playoffs … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds … Plans to major in communications.
Devontre’a Tyler
LB, 6-2, 238
Iowa Central Community College
DeSoto County High School
Nocatee, Fla.
Recruited by: Adam Fuller
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds … Had a vertical leap of 34 inches … Also offered by Appalachian State, Bowling Green, Idaho, South Alabama and North Texas … Had 75 tackles (29 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups last season at Iowa Central Community College…Voted team’s most valuable linebacker … Cousin of fellow signee Ty Tyler … Originally a Class of 2013 prospect.
Ty Tyler
DE, 6-3, 231
Charlotte High School
Nocatee, Fla.
Recruited by: Adam Fuller
Rated a three-star prospect by Scout and 247Sports … Had offers from UAB, Coastal Carolina, South Alabama and Toledo … Had 63 tackles, eight sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two blocked punts and one blocked field goal … Led Charlotte (7-4) to the second round of the Class 7A state playoffs … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds … Bench presses 295 pounds and squats 415 pounds … Has a 34-inch vertical jump … Is a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and weightlifting) … Plans to major in education.
WR, 5-8, 150
Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School
Hialeah, Fla.
Recruited by: Alex Mirabal
Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds … Primarily a running back as a senior, rushing for 596 yards on 48 carries with six touchdowns, but also caught seven passes for 116 yards and two more scores … Had one interception on defense and had an 88-yard kickoff return for touchdown … Played in the fifth annual Miami Dolphins Dade-Broward All-Star Game … Also a track athlete, posting a 11.04 100-meter dash and a 23.21 200-meter dash as a junior.
Delvin Weems
RB, 5-8, 195
Tucker (Ga.) High School
Tucker, Ga.
Recruited by: Chris Barclay
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … Had offers from Cincinnati, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Memphis, Old Dominion and Samford … Ran 144 times for 1,300 yards and 21 touchdowns … Transferred from Sandy Creek High School, where he played with current Marshall quarterback Cole Garvin … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds … Bench presses 345 pounds and squats 435 pounds … Has a 34-inch vertical … Plans to major in sports marketing.
Reese Wooten
WR, 6-1, 170
Milford Academy (N.Y.)
Cairo, Ga.
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals … Already enrolled at Marshall … Spent the fall semester at Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.Y. … Received interest from Troy … Had 20 catches for 300 yards and two touchdowns along with 19 tackles and two interceptions in 2013 to lead Cairo (7-4) to the Class 4A state playoffs … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds … Bench presses 235 pounds and squats 350 pounds … Was a three-sport athlete at Cairo, where he played guard for the basketball team and participated in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay for the track and field team.
