Appalachian State signed 18 student-athletes as part of National Signing Day 2017 on Wednesday. Sixteen signees inked National Letters of Intent early Wednesday morning, joining a pair of early enrollees to complete the Mountaineers’ 2017 Signing Class.

“We’re extremely excited that these young men have joined our program and the Appalachian Family,” App State Head Coach Scott Satterfield said. “We’ve met a number of our needs with this signing class and we’re looking forward to seeing what these student-athletes can do on the field and in the classroom.”

App State signed another strong academic class, a group that collectively averaged a 3.47 GPA in high school.

“Academically, this is another very strong class,” Satterfield added. “We continue to try and identify top student-athletes that meet our high standards here at App. We want those kind of guys on our team.”

NOTES: Six players from South Carolina comprise a third of App’s signing class, followed by four each from Georgia and Florida, and three from North Carolina…The class features four DBs, three linebackers, two defensive linemen, two running backs, and one quarterback…Five signees – including all three WRs – played QB at some point in high school…OL signee Joe Hartung is from the same high school as App great and former NFL WR Armanti Edwards…Ryan Huff was the first signee at 7:04 a.m.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Charlotte 49ers head football coach Brad
Lambert has announced the program’s sixth recruiting class. The 49ers announced
the signing of 18 players, today, who join four mid-December signees. Now in
the program’s fifth year, Charlotte will be competing for the third time at the
FBS level as a member of Conference USA. In 2016, the 49ers improved to 4-8 and
recorded their first three Conference USA victories on its way to a 3-5 league
record.

The full 22-member signee class is the third-largest in the
program’s short history and helps make up for the 49ers first recruiting class,
which was the biggest in school history and graduated this past year. The 2017
class includes four in-state players from North Carolina and 11 from the North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia/D.C. region. Charlotte signed
six players from Florida, the most of any state and added seven junior college
transfers.

The class includes five three-star recruits: WR Cameron Bent
(247Sports), RB Kameron Duncan (Rivals, 247Sports), OL D’Mitri Emmanuel
(Rivals, 247Sports), WR Victor Tucker (Scout.com) and DL Chrishawn Wilson
(Rivals, 247Sports, Scout.com).

Charlotte signed six offensive linemen (including three
junior college linemen), five linebackers, three wide receivers, three tight
ends, two defensive linemen, and a running back, quarterback and defensive back

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell has announced its 2017 football signing class.

The 23-man group will come from five different states, including North Carolina (11), Florida (3), Virginia (3), Georgia (2), South Carolina (2), Alabama (1) and New Jersey (1).

The class is made up of eight offensive linemen, four defensive backs, three linebackers, three defensive linemen, two wide receivers, a quarterback, a long snapper and one athlete.

View the entire signing class below.

Barker-Lane Stadium ranked among the highest attended FCS venues in the country in 2016. Campbell was one of just four programs to average its capacity, averaging 100.42 capacity percentage and being joined by Mercer (110.17), Montana State (100.73) and Montana (100.63).

Campbell heads into its 10th and final season as a member of the Pioneer Football League in 2017. Campbell moves to the Big South Conference in 2018.

Campbell kicks off its 2017 schedule on August 31, hosting Methodist at Barker-Lane Stadium.

The Camels set program highs for average per game (5,523) and total attendance (33,138). Barker-Lane Stadium's top two attendances in its nine-year history came in 2016, including a record 6,673 on Oct. 22 against Stetson. 6,610 witnessed Campbell's overtime win over Butler on Sept. 24.

Campbell ranked third in the PFL in rushing offense this season, standing 19th nationally at 209 yards per game, as well as 17th in the country in total defense (322.1 yards per game) under fourth-year head coach Mike Minter. Sophomore wide receiver Aaron Blockmon also led the PFL in receiving yards (1,038) and touchdowns (10), headlining a group of 11 Camels that earned all-conference accolades. 

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke University head football coach David Cutcliffe and his staff announced Wednesday that 22 student‐athletes have signed national letters of intent to join the Blue Devil gridiron program.

The class includes six defensive backs, six defensive linemen, four offensive linemen, two running backs, two tight ends, one quarterback and one wide receiver. A total of nine states are represented in the group with six signees from Georgia, followed by three from Florida, three from Maryland, two from Alabama, Illinois and Tennessee, and one each from Ohio, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Virginia.

The six products from Georgia include defensive back Joshua Blackwell (Buford), defensive back Michael Carter II (Douglasville), running back Marvin Hubbard III (Tyrone), running back Deon Jackson (Atlanta), defensive lineman Drew Jordan (Suwanee) and offensive lineman Will Taylor (Snellville). Blackwell comes from Buford High School and helped the Rams to a 13‐2 record as a senior with a trip to the GHSA Class 5A state title tilt. Carter II, the No. 43 cornerback in the country by Rivals.com, was named first team all‐region as a junior when he booked 78 tackles with two interceptions. Hubbard helped Sandy Creek High School to the GHSA Class 4A playoffs and is charted as the No. 16 all‐purpose back in the nation by 247Sports.com. Ranked as the No. 46 running back in the nation by 247Sports.com, Jackson was an all‐region selection as a senior after helping Pace Academy to the GHSA Class 3A playoffs. Jordan is a member of the ESPN300 (No. 283), charted as the No. 19 weakside defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com and was named to USA Today’s American Family Insurance All‐USA Georgia second team following his final campaign at North Gwinnett High School. Taylor, rated as a consensus top‐15 center in the nation, was selected to participate in the Under Armour All‐America Game following his senior season at Grayson High School.

Joining Duke from Florida are wide receiver Damond Philyaw‐Johnson (Pensacola), defensive lineman Chris Rumph II (Gainesville) and defensive back Marquis Waters (Delray Beach). Johnson, out of West Florida Tech High School, caught 43 passes for 710 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior en route to receiving all‐state honors from the Associated Press and Super Senior accolades from the Pensacola News Journal. Rumph II, who helped Buchholz High School to consecutive Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs bids, booked 105 tackles, 21.0 TFL, 18.0 sacks, two blocked punts, one interception and two fumble recoveries as a senior. He was named the 2016 Gainesville Sun Large School Player of the Year and picked up Florida High School Football Class 7A All‐State first team accolades following his final season. Waters enrolled at Duke in January after finishing his Atlantic High School career with Sun Sentinel all‐county honors. He was Palm Beach Post Super 11 selection and posted four INTs, nine PBUs and two caused fumbles during final season.

Defensive linemen Victor Dimukeje (Baltimore), Axel Nyembwe (Bethesda) and Derrick Tangelo (Potomac) will come to Durham from Maryland. Dimukeje, who is listed as the No. 36 strongside defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com, recorded 72 tackles, 21.0 TFL, 10.5 sacks and two caused fumbles to earn USA Today American Family Insurance ALL‐USA Maryland Football second team honors and Baltimore Sun All‐Metro first team accolades as a senior at Boys’ Latin. Nyembwe, from The Avalon School, was a member of the USA Football’s Under‐19 national team, which defeated Canada, 33‐11, on January 28, 2017, at the inaugural North American Championships in Orlando, Fla. Tangelo, from The Bullis School, was a 2016 Maryland Crab Bowl selection and USA Today American Family Insurance All‐USA Washington D.C. pick along the defensive line.

From Alabama, the Blue Devils welcome offensive lineman Rakavius Chambers (Opelika) and defensive back Leonard Johnson (Hayden) to the program. Chambers capped his career at Opelika High School with all‐state honors from AL.com and the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Johnson, rated as the No. 64 safety in the nation by ESPN.com, helped Hayden High School host its first playoff game in 24 years in 2016.

The offensive duo of quarterback Chris Katrenick (Algonquin) and tight end Jake Marwede (Wilmette) head to Durham from Illinois. Katernick enrolled at Duke in January after receiving first team all‐state honors from the Illinois Football Coaches Association as a senior at Harry D Jacobs High School. During his final campaign, he completed 143‐of‐280 passes for 2,223 yards and 26 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. Marwede, a member of the ESPN300 (No. 188), was a 2017 Under Armour All‐America Game participant and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Illinois after his final season with Loyola Academy. A pair of offensive linemen from Tennessee ‐‐ Patrick Leitten (Brentwood) and Jacob Rimmer (Milan) ‐‐ will join the Blue Devils in the fall. Leitten ended his time with Ravenwood High School with all‐county, all‐area and all‐region accolades after helping the team to a 7‐6 record and state playoff appearance. Rimmer, from Milan High School, was a two‐time first team all‐state pick by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association and two‐time Region 7‐3A Offensive Lineman of the Year choice.

Defensive lineman Ben Frye, a native of Dublin, Ohio, was first team all‐state pick as a senior by the Associated Press. He also earned Ohio Capital Conference‐Central Co‐Defensive Player of the Year and first team all‐league honors. Tight end Noah Gray, from Leominster, Mass., helped Leominster Senior High School to a 7‐4 record as a senior, when he caught 30 passes for 619 yards and eight TDs and to earn all‐state honors from the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association. Safety Lummie Young IV capped his time with Westside High School in Anderson, S.C., by earning USA Today American Family Insurance ALL‐USA South Carolina first team and Defensive Player of the Year honors. A high school teammate of Tangelo at The Bullis School, defensive back Damani Neal, of Sterling, Va., is a consensus top‐60 safety nationally who carded 55 tackles, two INTs and two caused fumbles to earn USA Today American Family Insurance All‐USA Washington D.C. honors as a senior.  

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest head football coach Dave Clawson today announced the addition of 20 newcomers to the Demon Deacon football team.

Wake Forest’s signing class includes 10 offensive players and 10 defensive players. The 20 players come from 10 states including six from Georgia and four from North Carolina. The six signees from Georgia marks the most by the Deacons from the Peach State since signing seven Georgians in 2003.

Sixteen of the 20 signees served as team captain of their high school team.

Running back Christian Beal, a 5-10, 175-pound freshman from Kernersville, N.C, is the lone early enrollee. Beal started classes at the start of the spring semester and will take part in spring football which begins later this month. Beal was rated as the No. 2 running back in the state after a standout prep career at East Forsyth.

On defense, the Deacons have a pair of linemen signed. Mike Allen, a 6-5, 245-pound defensive end from Sugar Hill, Ga. (Lanier) is the highest-rated signee according to Rivals.com. Allen is a 4-star prospect and the No. 169 rated player in the country. The other defensive lineman is Tyler Williams, a 6-1, 310-pound tackle from West Palm Beach, Fla. (Oxbridge Academy). Williams was the Palm Beach County Player of the Year in 2016.

Wake Forest signed four linebackers in this class. Chase Monroe, a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker from Huntersville, N.C. (Davidson Day), was the state defensive player of the year in 2016 by both USA Today and the Charlotte Observer. Jeff Burley, a 6-2, 225-pound linebacker from Jackson, Ga. (Jackson), is rated the No. 31 inside linebacker in the nation by 247Sports. He was a first team all-state pick as a senior. Jake Simpson is a 6-0, 210-pound linebacker from Buford, Ga. (Buford) who helped the Wolves to three straight state championship games. D.J. Taylor, a 6-1, 225-pounder from Belvidere, Tenn. (Huntland) rounds out the linebacking corps. Taylor was a first team all-state selection and an outstanding running back who finished as Huntland’s all-time rushing leader with over 5,100 career yards.

Wake Forest is adding a quartet of defensive backs. Coby Davis is a 5-11, 185-pound cornerback from Upper Marlboro, Md. (Maret School) who was a second team All-Met pick by the Washington Post in 2016. Ja’Sir Taylor, a 5-10, 165-pound cornerback from Asbury Park, N.J. (Brick Township) has excellent speed and was ranked among the top recruits along the Jersey Shore in 2016. Two other defensive backs will be looked as nickel backs and/or safeties. Troy Simon, a 6-0, 190-pounder from Alpharetta, Ga. (Milton), was ranked as the No. 75 safety nationally by ESPN. Tyriq Hardimon, a 6-0, 190-pounder from Marietta, Ga. (Lassiter), is rated the No. 60 safety in the nation by Rivals.com.

On offense, the Deacons are adding one quarterback in 6-1, 220-pound Tayvone Bowers of Harrisburg, Pa. (Bishop McDevitt). Bowers was rated the No. 1 quarterback in Pennsylvania by Scout and was a first team all-state pick as a junior.

Three wide receivers will join the Deacons in the fall. Sage Surratt (6-3, 200) is a multi-sport star from Lincolnton, N.C. (Lincolnton) who was a Parade All-American in football and the state’s offensive player of the year. He is also a standout in basketball where he has three games in which he has scored 50 or more points this season. Waydale Jones (6-4, 185) is a big receiver from Beeville, Texas (A.C. Jones) who was among the national leaders with 120 receptions for 1,979 yards and 30 touchdown catches in 2016. Jaquarii Roberson (6-1, 165) from Murfreesboro, N.C. (Hertford County) is another good-sized receiver who was an all-state selection and had 76 catches for 1,370 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior.

The 2017 class includes five offensive linemen, all at 6-3 or taller. Spencer Clapp (6-6, 250) was an all-state pick at Eastern Guilford (N.C.) High who helped the Wildcats to the state championship game in 2016. Sean Maginn (6-3, 260) was a four-year letterman from Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett) who was an all-region selection in 2016. Loic Nya (6-3, 290) from Silver Spring, Md. (Springbrook) is a youngster originally from Cameroon who has shown great promise on both sides of the line. Allan Rappleyea (6-5, 275), from Millbrook, N.Y. (Milton, Mass. Academy) is considered the No. 1 guard in Massachusetts by Scout and was named to the USA Today All-USA team for Massachusetts. Zach Tom (6-4, 280) from Prairieville, La. (Catholic) is the No. 3 tackle in Louisiana according to Scout.

Wake Forest opens the season Aug. 31 at BB&T Field against Presbyterian. Spring practice begins Feb. 28 and concludes on April 8 with the annual Spring Game at BB&T Field.

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Addressing personnel shortages at the offensive line and defensive line positions, as well as enhancing athleticism of his skill performers, were all priorities for second-year East Carolina Head Football Coach Scottie Montgomery as the Pirates announced a balanced 22-member 2017 signing class Wednesday.

Included in ECU’s total number were five mid-year junior college transfers who were announced in December and six freshmen who are currently enrolled in classes at East Carolina and will participate in spring drills next month. True rookies DL Taijh Alston, WR Jayden Borders, WR Leroy Henley, QB Kingsley Ifedi, OL Matt Morgan and LB Ben Norris all joined junior college signees LB Cannon Gibbs, DB Marcus Holton Jr., OL Dqmarcus Shaw and TE Eric Weber in the Pirates’ program early.

Of the 22, 11 are projected to play on the offensive side of the ball, while the remaining 11 will line up on defense. Offensively, the Pirates signed four wide receivers, three linemen, two running backs, a tight end and a quarterback. On defense, ECU is looking forward to bulking up its front seven by adding five linemen and three linebackers, along with three secondary performers. Among the six overall junior college transfers, three are expected to impact the trenches on both lines of scrimmage.

Montgomery’s strong relationships with in-state high school coaches enabled the Pirates to maintain a notable regional flavor with their latest list of roster additions. Nearly half (10) of the 22 overall newcomers hail from prep programs in North Carolina, while Florida (four), South Carolina (three), Mississippi (two), Georgia (1), Ohio (1) and Texas (1) were also represented.

“I’m thrilled about having the opportunity to work with these young men,” Montgomery said. “I think they have a chance to be a special group on and off the field with the character that exemplifies our recruiting philosophy and enhances the academics, community outreach, speed, toughness and overall athleticism of our program.

“I believe we answered our immediate needs on the line of scrimmage and delivered plenty of quality talent in our skill areas,” Montgomery added. “I like our numbers by having 10 currently with us for off-season development and spring ball, and being able to sign a balanced blend on both sides of the ball.”

East Carolina posted a 3-9 overall mark and stood tied for fourth in the American Athletic Conference’s East Division during Montgomery’s initial campaign as head coach.

The Pirates are expected to return six starters on offense and seven on defense when spring drills open March 20. ECU will host Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national champion James Madison on Sept. 2 to kick off the 2017 season.