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By J.T. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Staff Writer
SouthernPigskin.com Staff Writer J.T. Bennett talks with Wofford College recruiting coordinator Jack Teachey about Wofford's 2010 recruiting class. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin. Become a fan of us on Facebook at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page
Wofford Recruiting Coordinator Jack Teachey
the 2010 recruiting class -
"We feel like we addressed all of our needs first of all, with top flight or as we say first round type of kids. Athletically I think we addressed the need to increase our team speed. Size wise we didn't sacrifice anything because in year's past we have done that for speed. Our kids especially defensively all have nice size and room to grow. We are very excited about a great group of kids who are great students and a good group of citizens. We are pretty fired up.
On the position of need -
"We really touched on most everything. We did sign four offensive lineman so as far as the total number that was a big position for us. We feel like we have some versatility because we have some guys that can play both center and guard. I feel like we did a real good job from a special teams stand point. We got a great long snapper here locally. We got a great kid who can do some kickoffs and punting for us."
On the star of the class -
"You never know. I think defensively we addressed a big need at nose guard with a kid who has proven himself at a great system at Camden County (Georgia) who has won two state championships. At linebacker we got three great ones that we feel could be all conference type of kids who have great speed and athleticism. You never know how these things turn out but those are some kids that on paper that kind of stand out. As for our two quarterbacks that we signed, they are some athletics kids that could play a number of positions for us. The one kid from Florida has played everything except offensive line in high school, so he is a really good athlete.
On any underrated members of the class -
"Some guys that are probably going to pop out, a tight end for us from Marist. They run an option style offense so his stats really aren't great. We had him at a camp and he really stood out for us. Michael Crawford is a kid we feel like we have a chance that a lot of people don't know about. A kid out of Illinois, James Atto, a linebacker who athletically is really special. He is 6'2'' who will end up at around 225 lbs. I think he really may end up being a big timer for us. Those two kids along with many others. Ryan Peachtree is a local kid from Boiling Springs High School who is a first year football player; best athlete in the school deemed by many. Great basketball player. We went to see another player and saw him play and he just stood out. We asked about him and he had a 4.5 GPA. He had a great vertical leap. Football came easy to him which is something that doesn't happen very often for a basketball kid. We think he could be really special for us."
2010 Wofford College Recruiting Class Release; athletics.wofford.edu
SPARTANBURG, SC – Wofford College football coach Mike Ayers announced on Wednesday the signing of 18 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent or a letter of commitment for the upcoming season.
The Terriers will welcome twelve players on offense, five players on defense and one specialist. The student-athletes are from five different states, including five each from Georgia and North Carolina, four from Florida, three from South Carolina and one from Illinois.
On defense, the five players include three linebackers, one lineman and one defensive back. On offense, the twelve players include four offensive linemen, one running back, three wide receivers, two tight ends and two quarterbacks. Also included is one kicker/punter.
“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.”
The defensive line welcomes Jeremiah Booth (Kingsland, Ga.). Linebackers are Charquavis Bell (Miami, Fla.), Michael McCrimon (Bushnell, Fla.) and James Zotto (Libertyville, Ill.). In the secondary, Andrew Gehring (Elm City, N.C.) will join the Terriers.
On offense, the linemen are Jon Boyd (Fayetteville, N.C.), Tony Goodwin (Charlotte, N.C.) and Kane Sherrill (Mooresville, N.C.). At quarterback, Madison Burr (New Port Richey, Fla.) and Willie Favors (Lithonia, Ga.) join the Terriers. Michael Crawford (Dunwoody, Ga.) and Michael Harpe (Spartanburg, S.C) come aboard at tight end. Backs and receivers include Jeff Ashley (Brooks, Ga.), Rob Greene (Moore, S.C.), Donovan Johnson (McDonough, Ga.) and Ryan Petrea (Boiling Springs, S.C). The kicker/punter is Kasey Redfern (Jamestown, N.C.).
In 2010, the Terriers will open the season September 4 at Ohio. Spring practice will begin for the Terriers on March 1 and end on March 20.
The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to Wofford College and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
2010 Wofford Football Signees
Jeff Ashley WR 6-3 180 Brooks, Ga./Whitewater
Charquavis Bell LB 6-1 205 Miami, Fla./Coral Reef
Jeremiah Booth DL 6-2 295 Kingsland, Ga./Camden County
Jon Boyd OL 6-3 315 Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt
Madison Burr QB 6-0 197 New Port Richey, Fla./Gulf
Michael Crawford TE 6-4 220 Dunwoody, Ga./Marist
Willie Favors QB 5-11 185 Lithonia, Ga./Cedar Grove
Andrew Gehring DB 6-2 179 Elm City, N.C./Southern Nash
Tony Goodwin OL 6-5 272 Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg
Rob Greene WR 5-11 175 Moore, S.C./Dorman
Michael Harpe TE/LS 6-2 210 Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg
Donovan Johnson RB 5-8 190 McDonough, Ga./Union Grove
Mike McCrimon LB 6-3 205 Center Hill, Fla./South Sumter
Ryan Petrea WR 6-3 185 Boiling Springs, S.C/Boiling Springs
Kasey Redfern K/P 6-3 207 Jamestown, N.C./Ragsdale
Kane Sherrill OL 6-2 270 Mooresville, N.C./Lake Norman
Jared Wilken OL 6-2 310 DeLand, Fla./DeLand
James Zotto LB 6-2 210 Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville
2010 Newcomers
Jeff Ashley (WR, 6-3, 180, Brooks, Ga./Whitewater) started the last three seasons at wide receiver and free safety at Whitewater High School. Over three seasons had 101 tackles, four interceptions and 433 receiving yards with five touchdowns. In 2009 named second-team All-County and honorable mention All-Region. As a junior earned first-team All-County honors along with honorable mention All-Region recognition. His brother plays football at Air Force.
Charquavis Bell (LB, 6-1, 205, Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) lettered four seasons in football. As a senior had 82 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two touchdowns at strong safety and linebacker. He was named a Dade County North-South All-Star and All-Dade County honorable mention. He also runs the 400 and 4x100 relay on the track team.
Jeremiah Booth (DL, 6-2, 295, Kingsland, Ga./Camden County) played in 56 career games at nose guard for Camden County High School, winning state championships in 2007 and 2008. Named All-State and first-team All-Region. Also played forward/center on the basketball team for two seasons and competes in shot and discus in track.
Jon Boyd (OL, 6-3, 315, Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) was a three-year letterman in football at Jack Britt High School. He earned All-Conference and All-Region honors. As a senior, he had 43 pancake blocks and graded out at 91%. The team finished second in the state his junior and senior seasons, which included a 15-1 record in 2009.
Madison Burr (QB, 6-0, 197, New Port Richey, Fla./Gulf) was a four-year letterman and three-year captain at Gulf High School. As a junior and senior earned All-Conference, All-County and All-State honors. For his career, started 30 of 36 games played and had 3592 passing yards with 36 touchdowns along with 207 carries for 1856 yards and 28 touchdowns. Named team MVP as a junior and senior and holds the school record for single-game passing with 317 yards.
Michael Crawford (TE, 6-4, 200, Dunwoody, Ga./Marist) lettered three seasons in football at Marist. During his senior season, team was 10-3 and reached the second round of the state playoffs. Also played center on the basketball team for three seasons and was team captain as a senior. Grandfather, Jim Hearn, pitched for the New York Giants.
Willie Favors (QB, 5-11, 185, Lithonia, Ga./Cedar Grove) was the starting quarterback three years at Columbia High School and one year at Cedar Grove High School. In 2009, he passed for 1,551 yards and 15 touchdowns in ten games and added 750 rushing yards on 103 carries with 17 touchdowns. Named All-County and All-County Academic all four years. As a senior named a Dekalb County All-Star. Also lettered twice in track.
Andrew Gehring (DB, 6-2, 179, Elm City, N.C./Southern Nash) is a three-sport athlete at Southern Nash High School, lettering three years in basketball, twice in football and twice in baseball. As a senior, started at cornerback and safety as the football team was 11-4 and reached the Eastern Finals. Named All-Conference and All-Area as a junior and senior. Also named All-Conference honorable mention in basketball and received the team’s Golden Glove award in baseball.
Tony Goodwin (OL, 6-5, 272, Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg) started for three seasons on the offensive line at East Mecklenburg High School for coach Greg Hill. As a junior, he graded out at 81% and had 18 knockdown blocks.
Rob Greene (WR, 5-11, 175, Moore, S.C./Dorman) was a four-year letterman at Dorman High School. Team captain his senior season in which team was 14-1 and won the state championship. He had 19 catches for 446 yards and three touchdowns in 2009 after playing quarterback the previous three seasons. Named to the 2009 and 2008 All-Area Academic Team. He also lettered twice in basketball.
Michael Harpe (TE/LS, 6-2, 210, Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg) lettered three years in football at Spartanburg High School. As a senior, team advanced to the Upper State Championship. In 14 games, had 29 catches for 400 yards and earned Max Robbins Award for highest GPA on the team. Named to the Spartanburg Herald Journal All-Academic Team in 2009. Also lettered twice in basketball and in track. Father played football at Wofford from 1974-78.
Donovan Johnson (RB, 5-8, 190, McDonough, Ga./Union Grove) played four years at Union Grove High School. He received All-Region first team honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. As a junior, he rushed for 1500 yards and 16 touchdowns to earn team MVP honors and All-Southern Crescent recognition.
Mike McCrimon (LB, 6-3, 205, Center Hill, Fla./South Sumter) played linebacker for four years at South Sumter High School. As a senior was team captain and led the team with 101 tackles along with two sacks and two interceptions. He was named to the Leesburg Commercial All-Area Team and the Orlando Sentinel All-Area Team, along with being selected to play in the Orlando East/West All-Star game. His brother played football at Western Kentucky.
Ryan Petrea (WR, 6-4, 190, Boiling Springs, S.C./Boiling Springs) had 29 receptions for 452 yards and six touchdowns as a senior at Boiling Springs High School. Also a guard on the basketball team, receiving All-Conference, All-Area third team and All-Region first team All-Academic honors in 2009.
Kasey Redfern (K/P, 6-3, 207, Jamestown, N.C./Ragsdale) was the starting kicker/punter for three seasons at Ragsdale High School and played in the Shrine Bowl this season. In 2009, had an average of 34.75 yards per punt with 23 of 56 inside the 20. Added 80 kickoffs with 53 touchbacks along with 66 total points with a career-long 48-yard field goal. Twice named All-Region in football and was All-State in 2009. As the goalkeeper on the soccer team, won three conference championships and earned All-Region honors. A four-time scholar-athlete.
Kane Sherrill (OL, 6-2, 270, Mooresville, N.C./Lake Norman) was a three-year starter on the offensive line at Lake Norman High School. In 622 passing attempts, did not allow a sack and received a 92% grade in blocking efficiency. School set a record for 2,600 rushing yards on the season. Earned Associated Press All-State honors in addition to All-Conference, All-Region, All-Iredell County and All-Charlotte Observer team honors.
Jared Wilken (OL, 6-2, 310, DeLand, Fla./DeLand) helped lead DeLand High School to a 13-2 record and a region championship. Named All-Central Florida second team, All-Area first team and was the team’s offensive lineman of the year. Lettered in football and weightlifting.
James Zotto (LB, 6-2, 210, Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) was a three-year starter at Libertyville High School. As a senior, had 422 rushing yards, 400 receiving yards, 76 tackles and three interceptions with nine total touchdowns. He earned All-Conference, All-Area, All-State and Chicago Tribune Top 50 honors. During his junior year had 1300 all-purpose yards along with 101 tackles and eight touchdowns. Twice named Academic All-Conference and Academic All-State. Also lettered in basketball.
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