HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University Pirates' first-year head coach Donavon Rose announced the signing of 10 student-athletes to NCAA National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, including nine high school students and one junior college transfer.
Hampton's recruiting class is highlighted by three student-athletes from the Tidewater area, three from Florida, one from Washington, DC, one from Georgia, one from Pennsylvania and one from Missouri. Rose said he's expecting additional signees later this week.
"Overall, I feel like we did a great job with the overall recruiting and we went out and got a lot of high school students who are not only good athletes but also great students in the classroom," said Rose.
The Pirates, who finished this past year with a 6-5 overall record, are looking to add to what many are already calling one of the most talented rosters in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
"I just feel really good about this group of student-athletes that we are bringing in," stated Rose. "I got a great feeling from the parents as well as the students and they want to be at Hampton and that's what we like to see."
The Pirates' list of signees is listed below:
2009 FOOTBALL SIGNEES
Denzel Bonner 6-2 305 OL Godby HS Tallahassee, FL
· Second team All Big Bend
· Second team All-State
· Participated in the Florida vs. Georgia Border War All-Star Game
Rey Rijos 6-2 330 OL Bayside HS Virginia Beach, VA
· Second team All-Tidewater
· Two-time first team All-Beach District
· Selected as Bayside's Most Outstanding Lineman twice
Antonio McCloude 5-7 175 RB Glades Central HS Belle Glade, FL
· All-State and All-Area
· MVP as a freshman in the 2006 Florida High School State Championship Game
· Team MVP senior season
· Outback Steakhouse All-Star Game participant
· Rated a Top 25 Running Back in Southeast Region
Steven Robinson 6-2 220 RB Georgia Military JC Buford, GA
· Rated among top five running backs nationally among junior colleges
· Second team All-America
· MVP of Mississippi Bowl Game
· Had over 3,000 yards of total offense in two years and scored 25 touchdowns
Gabriel Smith 5-11 250 FB Friendship HS Washington, DC
· All-Independent selection by the Washington Post
· Three-year starter
· DC Sports Fan First Team
· All- Defense
Vincent Harper 6-0 260 FB Central HS Belle Glade, FL
· All-Area
· Voted Toughest Player In Area
· Accumulated over 50 pancake blocks in career
· Won State Championship as a freshman
Jordan Davis 6-0 180 QB William Penn HS York, PA
· County Player-of-the-Year
· All-State Honorable Mention
· First team All-County
· Two-time Wendy's Player-of-the-Week
Jamie Slaughter 6-3 280 DT Hazelwood HS East Kansas, MO
· First team All-State and All-Area
Lance Hawkins 6-2 310 DT Atlantic Shores HS Norfolk, VA
· First team All-State as a junior and senior
Daryell Walker 6-5 255 DE Bethel HS Hampton, VA
· Second team All-District