Marshall University Athletics
Thundering Herd Signs Five Junior College Student-Athletes
12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall football program has signed five junior college student-athletes, Thundering Herd coach Doc Holliday announced Thursday.
Linebacker/safety Artis Johnson, tight end Armani Levias, defensive back Kereon Merrell, linebacker Donyae Moody and wide receiver Marcel Williams all inked national letters of intent.
"I'm proud of the guys we signed," said Holliday. "We're adding five talented young men to our roster and I can't wait to coach them."
The signees bios are below.
LB/S, 6-1, 210
Reedley Community College
Recruited by: Adam Fuller
A three-star prospect according to Rivals.com ... Tenth-best JUCO safety according to Scout.com ... Named Region II All-California First Team Defense at defensive back in 2015 ... Led team to a 6-4 record in 2015 after redshirting in 2014 ... Also played "wildcat" quarterback and returned kicks (22.5 yards per kick return) ... Leading tackler in 2015 with 57 stops (43 solo) to go with 8.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions ... Posted 52 tackles in 2016 (38 solo), including 8.5 tackles for loss and a sack ... Also had two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and an interception ... On offense, he rushed for two touchdowns and threw another as a sophomore ... Returned three punts for an average of 21.3 yards as a sophomore ... Attended Rosebud-Lott High School in Lott, Texas.
TE, 6-4, 245
Laney Community College
Recruited by: Dave Dunn
A three-star prospect according to Rivals.com ... Caught 16 passes in 2016 for 186 yards and six touchdowns ... Snared 15 passes for 204 yards and one score in 2015 ... Attended Pittsburg Senior High School in Pittsburg, California where he began his career as a quarterback and also played basketball.
DB, 5-11, 175
Dodge City Community College
Recruited by: Todd Goebbel
A two-star prospect according to Rivals.com ...Posted 27 tackles (17 solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions (one returned for touchdown) in 2016 ... Also had offers from Arkansas State and Louisiana-Monroe ... Attended Dooly County High School in Vienna, Georgia where he also competed in track and field.
LB, 6-2, 220
Hartnell Community College
Recruited by: Adam Fuller
A three-star prospect according to Rivals.com ... The fifth-best inside JUCO linebacker and 49th-best overall JUCO prospect according to Scout.com ... Also had offers from Ole Miss, ECU, Utah State, UTEP, Georgia State, ULM, Northern Colorado and SE Louisiana ... Posted 90 tackles in 2016 with eight sacks and two forced fumbles to earn first-team All-Northern California Football Conference honors ... Attended Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
WR, 5-10, 170
Ellsworth Community College
Recruited by: Todd Goebbel
A two-star prospect according to Rivals.com ... Caught 20 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns in 2015 ... Sophomore season was cut short due to injury, but not before he snared 33 passes for 351 yards and three scores in seven games ... Also averaged 23.2 yards per kick return and 11.6 yards per punt return ... Committed to Marshall in August of 2016 ... Attended Flagler-Palm Coast High School in Palm Coast, Florida where he was an all-area first team selection as a senior, catching 30 passes for 520 yards and five touchdowns.
