SoCon Rankings

Southern Conference Recruiting Rankings

1. Western Carolina - Dennis Wagner's third recruiting class in Cullowhee is his best. The Catamounts signed 19 recruits, including eleven defensive players. Western Carolina signed four defensive linemen and defensive backs. Their class includes players from ten different states, reaching up to Massachusetts and out to Kansas. WCU added transfers from Central Michigan, UAB, Connecticut and Hofstra. Quarterback Casey Turner, the transfer from UConn, will compete for the starting job under center.

Star - Casey Turner, QB
Sleeper - Edixon Pino-Alvarez, OL

Quotable - "We believe that our 2010 recruiting class is our best class to date here at Western Carolina not only in talent - which we thought was very solid in our 2009 class - but in also meeting the needs in adding depth to our football team," said Catamount third-year head coach Dennis Wagner on his signing class. "We originally set out to sign 19-to-20 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent and we wound up signing 20-21.

2. Appalachian State - The Mountaineers signed 16 players in the 2010 haul, including three junior college prospects all from Georgia Military College. Seven of the newcomers had star rankings on Rivals.com. The class is heavy with talent at the line of scrimmage as ASU nabbed five offensive linemen, four defensive linemen and three tight ends. Head coach Jerry Moore brought in two quarterbacks, Elijah Adamiak from Carroll, Georgia and Kalik Barnes from Atlanta, Georgia. Half of the class consisted of players from the Peach State.

Star - Dylan Bostick, OL
Sleeper - Kalik Barnes, QB

Quotable - “This is an exceptional class of newcomers and we couldn’t be more pleased to have all 16 join our program,” head coach Jerry Moore said. “Perhaps the thing that excites me the most is the eagerness that this group has displayed to take ownership of their team as soon as possible. We’re looking forward to them doing so beginning this summer.”

3. Chattanooga - The headliner for the Mocs is former Tennessee linebacker Chris Donald. A five-star recruit in 2006, Donald will bring SEC talent to the Southern Conference. UAB-transfer Nick Davison will join Donald on a new-look UTC defense. Quarterback Terrell Robinson was the 2009 Mr. Football Division 1-A Back of the Year. Coach Russ Huesman signed all but two of his recruits from Georgia and Tennessee.

Star - Chris Donald, LB
Sleeper - Keon Williams, RB

Quotable - "The class is a good, solid class, added Huesman. "It was a different year from last year because we were on some kids throughout the year and through the summer. We got some commitments early and we had those kids hang in with us through the entire process."

4. Samford - Pat Sullivan brought in the largest class in the Southern Conference, 26 signees. The Bulldogs grabbed 14 players from their home state of Alabama including six players from the Birmingham area. Six offensive linemen were brought in along with three running backs, two from Alabama (Noah Wilson and Fabian Truss) and one from Las Vegas, Nevada (Victor Belen).

Star - Quin Roberson, WR
Sleeper - Kasey Morrison, OL

Quotable - "We needed to address the offensive line issue and we were able to sign six kids at that position and that is really going to help us. i think we needed some more speed at wide out and we were able to do that. At running back I think we signed a couple of guys that could be a game changer. Defensively you are always looking for quality players and we wanted a big cornerback and we were able to get that. We signed three quality defensive lineman that we are excited about."

5. The Citadel - Kevin Higgins signed 24 recruits, with 11 coming from the state of South Carolina and four coming from Florida. Hometown hereo Del'Javon Simmons from Charleston is one of the top signees. He is one of three quarterbacks signed. The Bulldogs added four running backs, five linebackers and five defensive backs. The Citadel went all of the way to Ohio to sign linebacker Doyel Harris.

Star - Del'Javon Simmons, QB
Sleeper - Akeem Garnett, S

Quotable - "There is no question this is our deepest and most talented class during our five year tenure," Higgins said. "We met our needs at every position. Since last signing day we had more recruits on campus for junior day, camps and home games than ever before. I know our facility enhancements and the completion of the stadium made a difference in the hearts of our recruits. Also, recruits appreciated the passion and vision provided by General Rosa and faculty during their recruiting trip."

6. Georgia Southern - First year head coach Jeff Monken signed 23 players in his inagural class in Statesboro. With the Eagles transitioning to the triple option offense, GSU signed three quarterbacks and five running backs. Tailback Robert Brown from Macon may be the headliner. Monken went out to Oklahoma to sign speedy b-back Aaron Fisher tom Tulsa. Cornerback Javonte Martin from Tampa power Plant might be the defensive headliner.

Star - Robert Brown, RB
Sleeper - Darries Robinson, RB

Quotable - "We are thrilled with the young men who are joining our program," said Eagles Head Coach Jeff Monken. "It is an exciting day for all of us - especially the kids. We're most looking forward to having them join our team. Our staff did a great job in assembling this class. The enthusiasm they showed was the difference in us being able to sign high-quality student-athletes who will be Eagles this fall."

7. Elon - A North Carolina-heavy class was brought in by head coach Pete Lembo. Of the 14 prospects signed, eight of them are from the home state of the Phoenix. The defensive backfield was a major point of emphasis as Elon signed five cornerbacks and safeties. Quarterback Mike Quinn comes to Elon from Wayne, New Jersey. Lembo also signed three defensive linemen, one from Georgia, one from North Carolina, one from Tennessee.

Star - Michael Quinn, QB
Sleeper - Danny Sellers, WR

Quotable - “From the day our coaching staff set foot on this campus, one of our primary recruiting goals has been to build great relationships with the high school coaches in North Carolina and to sign quality student-athletes from the Tar Heel State,” said Pete Lembo. “We were fortunate to get some excellent results this year in our own backyard as well as in some primary outlying areas like Georgia.”

8. Wofford - Veteran coach Mike Ayers added 19 signees, including 12 players on the offensive side of the football. The Terriers added quarterbacks from Florida and Georgia in Madison Burr and Willie Favors. Tackle Jeremiah Booth from Peach State power Camden County has the ability to play right away. Ayers signed four offensive linemen.

Star - Jeremiah Booth, DT
Sleeper - Andrew Gehring, S

Quotable - “It has been a lot of hard work but I think our coaches have done a great job of going out and finding the personnel that we need,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “The guys we recruited we feel very good about academically as well as athletically. We think they are all kids that are going to be able to add to our program. There are some needs that have been met in a few positions that we deemed very important for us. We feel good where we are at right now.”

9. Furman - The Paladins tied Elon for the smallest class in the Southern Conference with just 14 signees. The class addressed needs on defense as head coach Bobby Lamb signed four defensive linemen. Linebacker Michael Howard was a first-team All-State selection in South Carolina and was a finalist for the Mr. Football Award. Running back Hank McCloud is a major get on offense.

Star - Michael Howard, LB
Sleeper - Charles Emert, C

Quotable - “We had the faxes in early,” Lamb added. “Once we get our kids committed, it's very unlikely that something happens to them, because we are dealing with a different clientele than most of those other schools. It's always great to get them in early, so we can cruise the rest of the day.”