HAMPTON, Va. (Feb. 5, 2025) … Head football coach Trenton Boykin announced the signing of 11 players to football grant-in-aid. The group includes six players on offense: two running backs, two wide receivers and two linemen and five on the defensive side of the ball including two defensive backs, two linemen and a linebacker.
"We're really excited about our class. We wanted to continue recruiting players who fit our program and culture," Coach Trenton Boykin said. "It is important that we recruit the local area and we have seven recruits from Virginia (3), North Carolina (3), and Washington, D.C. (1)."
Hampton's 2025 Football Recruiting Class
| Name |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
Wt. |
Hometown (High School) |
| Dakari Bryant |
OL |
6-4 |
265 |
Springs, Texas (Grand Oaks High) |
| Jai'Kei Chavis |
RB |
5-10 |
187 |
Richmond, Va. (Armstrong High) |
| Jaysaun Coggins |
WR |
6-5 |
200 |
Putnam, Conn. (Putnam Science Academy) |
| Kobe Davis |
DB |
6-2 |
184 |
Washington, D.C. (Flint Hill School) |
| Josiah Downing |
OL |
6-4 |
250 |
Winston-Salem, N.C. (Parkland High) |
| Nijay Gay |
DB |
6-0 |
180 |
Hampton, Va. (Phoebus High) |
| Gracen Goldsmith |
RB |
5-10 |
205 |
Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton High) |
| McOwens Innocent |
DL |
6-4 |
245 |
West Palm Beach, Fla. (Palm Beach Central High) |
| Keyshaun McQueen |
LB |
6-2 |
200 |
Laurinburg, N.C. (Scotland County High) |
| Nare Means |
WR |
5-11 |
170 |
Cary, N.C. (Panther Creek High) |
| Jordan Rayner |
DE |
6-2 |
250 |
Chesapeake, Va. (Oscar Smith High) |
Dakari Bryant OL 6-4 265 Springs, Texas (Grand Oaks High)
A two-year starter along the Grizzlies offensive line … named honorable mention all-area in 2023 as a junior and first-team all-district in 2024 as a senior … with Bryant along the offensive line, Grand Oaks High averaged 33.9 points per game in 2024.
Jai'Kei Chavis RB 5-10 187 Richmond, Va. (Armstrong High)
All Metro Player of the Year … named Richmond Times-Dispatch Player of the Week in a 36-32 win over Collegiate when he scored the game-winning TD on a 21-yard run as time expired … rushed for 1,217 yards on 113 totes (10.8 ypc) with 19 touchdowns and caught 39 passes for 1,014 yards (26.0 ypc) for 11 scores … received a scholarship offer from Navy.
Jaysaun Coggins WR 6-5 200 Putnam, Conn. (Putnam Science Academy)
Hauled in 41 passes for 1,076 yards (26.2 ypc) with seven TDs in six games … caught nine passes for 178 yards and a score against Anna Maria College JV team on Sept. 8, 2024 … also a member of the Mustangs basketball team.
Kobe Davis DB 6-2 184 Washington, D.C. (Flint Hill School)
Earned second-team all-state honors as a senior … made 33 total tackles while breaking up eight passes, forcing two fumbles, and recovering a fumble in 2024 … also a member of the Huskies basketball team … offered scholarships from Pittsburgh, Temple, and Marshall.
Josiah Downing OL 6-4 250 Winston-Salem, N.C. (Parkland High)
Starter at left tackle at Parkland High … named 4A All-Central Piedmont District in 2023 … graded out 90 percent in his career … recorded 27 pancake blocks in 2024 … on defense, he totaled 46 total tackles including 12 solo stops with four sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Nijay Gay DB 6-0 180 Hampton, Va. (Phoebus High)
Played at four-year state champion Phoebus High in Hampton … named first-team all-district as a junior and second-team All-Tidewater as a senior … recorded 74 total tackles, with 3.5 sacks and five interceptions … also blocked two punts for touchdowns … received scholarships offers from North Carolina Central, Delaware State, and Maine.
Gracen Goldsmith RB 5-10 205 Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton High)
Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Ohio, first-team all-district and All-Greater Miami Conference honoree … named Gold Star Athlete of the Week after rushing for 166 yards and three scores in a 34-0 win over Princeton High … also had an 80-yard TD run in a 7-3 victory over Mason High … rushed for 1,750 yards and 24 TDs as a senior … also a member of the school's wrestling team where he finished with a 17-1 record with 15 pins.
McOwens Innocent DL 6-4 245 West Palm Beach, Fla. (Palm Beach Central High)
Named first-team all-county and second-team All-Palm Beach as a senior … finalist for the 561 DL/Edge of the Year Award … finished the season with 74 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and two forced fumbles … also was a member of the track team specializing in the shot and discus … offered scholarships from James Madison, Temple, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, and West Georgia.
Keyshaun McQueen LB 6-2 200 Laurinburg, N.C. (Scotland County High)
Recorded 89 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, broke up eight passes, forced two fumbles while recovering another, and returned an interception for a touchdown as a senior … earned first-team All-Sandhills Conference honors as a senior.
Nare Means WR 5-11 170 Cary, N.C. (Panther Creek High)
Caught 57 passes for 967 yards (17.0 ypc) with seven TDs … had 1,233 all-purpose yards … had 14 receptions for 296 yards against Holly Springs High on Nov. 1, 2024 … On3 All-Star … voted to all-conference team … also entertained offers from Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, North Carolina Central, Morgan State, and Maine.
Jordan Rayner DE 6-2 250 Chesapeake, Va. (Oscar Smith High)
Played for Coach Chris Scott at Oscar Smith High, leading the team to the 6A state championship in 2024 with a perfect 15-0 record … named first-team all-region, first-team all-state … totaled 65 tackles as a senior including nine tackles for loss and seven sacks … fielded 11 scholarship offers before deciding to attend Hampton.
