HAMPTON, Va. (Jan. 15, 2026) … New head coach Van Malone announced that quarterback Jalen Woods, tight end Dedrick Borden, quarterback Tre'Von Taylor and defensive back Caimon Mathis are transferring to Hampton and will be eligible for the 2026 season.
 
A native of College Park, Ga., Woods comes from Southern University and will have three years of eligibility remaining. A dual threat, the 6-1, 200-pound quarterback played his prep football at Woodward Academy in Georgia. As a freshman in 2024, he completed 24-of-66 passes (.576) for 541 yards with four touchdowns in six games. He played in two games in 2025 before suffering a concussion in the second quarter against Mississippi Valley State on Aug. 30, 2025. He did not see any action the remainder of the season. For the year, he completed 13-of-18 passes (.722) for 88 yards.
 
A 6-4, 245-pound tight end, Borden played at Alcorn State before deciding to transfer to Hampton. The native of Birmingham Ala. attended Minor High. He played at Garden City (Kan.) Community College before spending last season at Alcorn State. He played eight games for the Braves last season as a tight end and return specialist. Borden has one year of eligibility remaining.
 
Quarterback Tre'Von Taylor comes to Hampton after playing at Iowa Central Community College. A native of Palm Beach, Fla, Taylor passed for 1,219 yards with 13 TDs and rushed for 196 yards and four scores at William T. Dwyer High and was named 561 Public School Offensive Player of the Year. As a junior he passed for 3,200 yards and 19 TDs at Palm Beach High. The 6-0, 185-pound junior spent a season at fellow CAA member Bryant in 2022 before moving to Iowa Central Community College where he played in 10 games.
 
Caimon Mathis played at Texas-Permian Basin last season and led the team with 13 pass break ups. He also had an impressive 3.5 tackles from loss from his defensive back position. Mathis earned second-team All-Lone Star Conference honors in 2025. The 5-11, 170-pound Mathis spent two years at Georgia Southern before a stop at Wofford. At DeSoto High, he helped lead the team to an 11-3 mark and the Texas 6A D-1 regional final as a senior. He was named the Padilla Poll Texas 6A Defensive MVP and a first-team All-Area selection by the Dallas Morning News as a senior. He recorded 53 tackles, including 4.0 for loss, along with a league-high 19 pass breakups, and four interceptions as a senior and earned Academic All-State recognition.
 
 
Hampton's Early Signees
 
Gavin Bennett            OL       6-3       270       Fr.        Washington, D.C. (Gonzaga College High)
A solid offensive lineman who drew much attention from college recruiters … Gonzaga College High finished with a 7-5 record in 2024 and finished as runner up in the WCAC … advanced to the playoffs defeating Our Lady of Good Counsel in the semifinals before falling to DeMatha in the championship game …  committed to Hampton on Aug. 25 ,2025 … posted a 3.5 grade point average in high school … had football scholarship offers from Brown, Cornell, Maine, Morgan State, Howard and Sacramento State
 
Xavier Brookins         QB       6-3       180       Fr.        Owings Mills, Md. (Pallotti High)
Was a two-year team captain at Pallotti High for Coach Tony Ashley … named first-team All-MIAA while passing for 1,533 yards as a senior with 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions … committed to Hampton on July 12, 2025 … the Cardinals finished with a 9-3 record in 2024 with a 6-1 record in conference play and advanced to the championship finals. 
 
Brysen Conner           CB       5-10     170       Fr.        Fort Mill, S.C. (Indian Land High)
Named all-region in 2023-24 … played wide receiver on offense and free safety on defense for the Warriors … led team with three forced fumbles and had two pass interceptions for Coach Adam Hastings … Indian Land High finished 11-2 with a 5-1 record in AAAAA Region 3 play … had football scholarship offers from Charlotte, Delaware State, Middle Tennessee State and UAB.

Joshua Hawley           QB       6-2       185       Fr.        Virginia Beach, Va. (Kempsville High)
Two-year starter for Coach Daryl Cherry … team captain for the Chiefs … passed for 1,012 yards as a senior completing 70-of-143 passes with 10 touchdowns … member of the Kempsville High Honor Roll … named to the National Honor Society in 2025 … was a participant in the Governor's Entrepreneurship and Business Academy.
 
Malik Porter               LB/WR6-0       170       Fr.        Richmond, Va. (Huguenot High)
Played both defensive back and wide receiver for Coach Charles Scott at Richmond's Huguenot High … helped lead the Falcons to an 11-2 mark advancing to the state playoffs … earned all-region honors as a defensive back, wide receiver and punt returner … had seven interceptions at 28 tackles as a senior … invited to play in the Big River Rivalry All-Star Game … received football scholarship offers from Duke, Howard, Marshall and East Carolina.
 
Amari Pryear              RB       5-6       185       Fr.        Hampton, Va. (Bethel High)
Played at nearby Bethel High … three-year starter for Coach David Porter … rushed for 1,580 yards with 24 touchdowns … had 338 yards and five scores against Menchville High … also rushed for 315 yards and seven touchdowns against Gloucester High … earned a multitude of awards during his prep career including 2024 Peninsula District Offensive Player of the Year, first-team all-district, first-team all-region, second-team all-state … boasts a 3.6 grade point average.
 
Antonio Turner          DB       5-10     150       Fr.        Midlothian, Va. (Manchester High)
Nicknamed "Dubb" … a standout defensive back at Manchester High … registered 30 tackles with two interceptions as a senior … didn't allow any touchdowns and only one catch as a senior … had 400 all-purpose yards with five touchdowns … named all-region in 2022 … had a multitude of football scholarship offers from Wake Forest, James Madison, Charlotte, Appalachian State, Lafayette as well as from CAA members North Carolina A&T, Bryant,
Campbell, and Stony Brook.