Hampton, Va. – Still riding the wave from a third consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football championship, Hampton head coach Joe Taylor announced today that the Pirates have signed 19 players to National Letters of Intent for the upcoming 2007 football season. With the loss of the entire starting secondary and three starters along the offensive line, immediate needs were addressed with the signing of four defensive backs and five offensive linemen. The 2007 class also includes: four (4) linebackers, two (2) wide receivers, two (2) tight ends, one (1) defensive lineman and one (1) running back.
“I thought the staff did an excellent job of addressing the APR (Academic Progress Rate), leverage and the skills area,” said Taylor who will be entering his 16th season at Hampton when the Pirates kickoff in September. “I’m also proud of the fact that this class has a local flavor to it with five guys from the Hampton Roads area. Recruiting always starts at home for this program and it’s good to know that people recognize our program as a place to be.”
2007 Hampton University Football National Letter of Intent Signees
Daniel Allen LB 6-3 226 Olympia Fields, Ill. Homewood-Flossmoor HS
All-Conference… All-Region
Tyler Bailey S 6-2 220 Irmo, S.C. Hammond HS
Member of 3-A state championship team… SCISA All-State… totaled 100 tackles and three interceptions… rated by Rivals.com as the No. 25 prep senior in the state of South Carolina prior to the 2006 season
Chris Burley TE 6-6 240 Windsor Hill, Md. Woodlawn HS
James Butts DB 5-10 185 Norfolk, Va. Maury HS
First Team AAA All-State as a defensive back and Second Team as a punt returner… District Defensive Player of the Year
Carson Byrd LB 6-3 250 Dayton, Ohio Trotwood-Madison HS
All-Conference as a senior with nine sacks… 55 tackles, 13 TFL and seven sacks as a junior… ranked No. 58 among seniors in Ohio
Jobie Dowling OL 6-4 250 Columbia, S.C. Columbia HS
Named to the Class AA All-State Team
Jacobi Fenner LB 5-9 180 Hampton, Va. Hampton HS
First Team All-State… Daily Press Defensive Player of the Year… played both tailback and linebacker… helped lead the Crabbers to the 2005 state title
Trey Fowlkes OL 6-4 300 Columbus, Ohio East HS
As a junior, Fowlkes was named All-City, All-District, and Honorable Mention All-State
Justin Hairston C 6-0 298 Woodbridge, Va. Woodbridge HS
Second Team AAA All-State… First Team All-Region and All-District
Nathaniel Hood OL 6-6 300 Birmingham, Ala. West End HS
Second Team All-State… ranked as a Super Senior
Anthony Humphries DE 6-6 270 Detroit, Mich. Northwestern HS
Most improved Offensive Lineman… Honorable Mention All-City
Darius Johnson LB 6-1 220 Sussex, Va. Sussex Central HS
Second Team A All-State... First Team All-District and Region… Regional Defensive Player of the Year… Defensive MVP of regional championship
Andrew Jolly OL 6-6 322 Alexandria, Va. TC Williams
All-District on offense and defense
Dennis Mathis RB 5-9 190 Hampton, Va. Phoebus HS
First Team All-State… Daily Press Offensive Player of the Year… ran for 2,148 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior to help the Phantoms capture a state title… had 122 yards and two scores in the Virginia Division 5 state championship game… chose HU over James Madison… 4.45 40-yard dash
Dyrri McCain WR 5-10 180 Norfolk, Va. Maury HS
4.4 40-yard dash… caught 31 passes for 1,074 yards and 12 TDs as a junior… had two touchdown receptions in the regional semifinals, including the 42-yard game-winner with 2.4 seconds to play… Second Team AAA All-State.
Quanta Poittilo TE 6-2 235 Chesapeake, Va. Atlantic Shores HS
Isaiah Thomas WR 5-11 185 Washington, D.C. Dunbar HS
DCIAA All-Conference… Second Team All-Met… led area in receptions
Jonathan Wade S 6-1 205 Richmond, Va. Meadowbrook HS
Rated No. 58 among seniors prior to the season by VirginiaPreps.com … chose HU over two-time defending I-AA champion Appalachian State… Second Team All-Central District
Rasoul Wilson DB 6-2 185 Plainfield, N.J. Milford Academy
All-State… All-County… All-Conference
