NCCU 2012 Recruiting Class -A Closer Look-

[Eagle Banker]

One of the things that was apparent during our inaugural season "back" in the MEAC was that we needed to get Bigger, Stronger and Faster on both sides of the football.  Having sat through 9 games last season, we were being pushed around on the line of scrimmage and in many cases in the fourth quarter teams just ran the ball up the middle.  We didn't have many answers.

The 2012 recruiting class addresses size on the offensive line.  Here are a few examples:
Decarreus Mason
(OL, 6-5, 270, Boynton Beach H.S., Boynton Beach, Fla.)
Earned All-Conference and All-State honors. 247Sports ranks as No. 225 recruit in Florida and No. 146 offensive tackle in the nation. Rating of 77 by 247Sports, making him a 2-star prospect.

Clevonne Davis
(OL, 6-2, 285, Miramar H.S., Miramar, Fla.)
Played offensive guard and defensive tackle. Earned underclassman award. Team won 2009 Florida state championship and advanced to the state title game in 2011, finishing with a 13-1 record. 2-star prospect.

Jamaal Symmonett
(OL, 6-3, 285, Champagnat Catholic, Opa-Locka, Fla.)
Named All-Dade County Second Team by The Miami Herald as a senior in 2011.  Received offers from BCU, FAMU, Howard U, Idaho State and Univ. South Dakota

Michael Wells
(OL, 6-2, 290, Citrus College, Pomona, Calif.)
Selected All-Area and All-League at Diamond Ranch High School (Pomona, Calif.). Named San Gabriel Valley Lineman of the Year. Participated in the Hall of Fame All-Star Game. Three-year letterman. Transfer from Citrus College (Glendora, Calif.).

We also needed a taller, faster secondary to compete in a league with taller wide receivers.  We addressed that with incoming freshmen and a JC Transfer.

Aldain Barham
(DB, 5-11, 165, Pierce College, Rosedale, N.Y.)
Starting cornerback for 8-3 Pierce College (Woodland Hills, Calif.) in 2010. Named to JCgridiron.com 2011 Preseason Top Cornerback list. Selected All-Area and All-Conference as a defensive back at Lindedwold (N.J.) High School, where he also ran track. Finished high school career at Campus Magnet (Cambria Heights, N.Y.), garnering Second-Team N.Y. All-Metro honors.

DaQuarius Wilson
(DB, 6-0, 180, Myrtle Beach H.S., Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Honored as “Toast of the Coast” Defensive Player of the Year by The Sun News. Chosen for the Shrine Bowl. Garnered All-State accolades. As a senior in 2011, amassed 101 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 4 interceptions, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble for 11-2 team. Honor Roll student.

Our Defensive Line was undersized and with the exception of John Drew, we got pushed around late in games on the Defensive Line.  We added three solid defensive lineman that will help us stop the run:

Joseph Theard
(DL, 6-0, 297, St. Augustine H.S., New Orleans, La.)
Named All-District and All-Metro New Orleans as a senior in 2009. Two-star Rivals.com recruit (2010). Two-year starter. Finished the 2009 season with 11.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. Provided the game-winning safety with a sack in a 2-0 win over archrival McDonough. Originally signed with SMU in 2010. 2-star Prospect.

Zach Kerry
(DL 6'2", 323 Quince Orchard H.S., Gaithersburg, Maryland)
three star recruit that transferred to NCCU in 2011 and will be eligible to participate in spring football and eligible for the 2012 season.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncstate/football/recruiting/player-Zach-Kerr-64952

Steve Davis
(DL, 6-1, 275, Richland Northeast H.S., Beaufort, S.C.)
Two-time All-Region pick. As a senior in 2011, recorded 75 tackles for 9-3 squad. Posted 14 takedowns against Dreher in 2011 season-opener (Aug. 18, 2011). As a junior in 2010, amassed 61 tackles with 8 sacks. Team Captain and four-year starter.


On offense, we also needed more playmakers.  Last year we had success running the ball but had inconsistent play at quarterback.  Geo Irvine, Andre Clarke and Idreis Augustus all made big plays but we needed more true playmakers that could change the game when the ball was in their hands.  The coaching staff addressed this with two players:

Shaheed Swinson
(ATH, 5-8, 167, Kinston H.S., Kinston, N.C.)
Named All-Conference as a running back. As a senior in 2011, rushed for 975 yards and 17 touchdowns, and recorded 652 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns. Team posted 13-2 record and advance to the 2011 N.C. 2AA state championship game.

Malcolm Bell
(QB, 6-1, 176, Henrico H.S., Richmond, Va.)
Selected First-Team All-District, First-Team All-Central Region and Second-Team All-Metro. As a senior in 2011, passed for 2,560 yards and 28 touchdowns, and rushed for 587 yards and 6 touchdowns to lead the region in total offense. Honor Roll student.

Overall I think the coaching staff did a great job of addressing the current needs of the team.  While I would have liked to see a speedy receiver to line up opposite Geo Irvine, I think this recruiting class deserves a solid B+.

What are your thoughts of the NCCU's 2012 recruiting class?

[Thinkingaboutit]

What happened to the receiver out of Charlotte?  This is an exceptional class that will forge a new history in NCCU football.  In 2 years, who knows. We finally got some depth. Are you going to finish the list of recruits since posting  less than half.  What about the ones signed and redshirted last year(2010) who did not play but loaded with talent. Frazier got a wool blanket over the conference eyes in terms of   "HERES NCCU"!!  

[WileECoyote06]

What happened to the receiver out of Charlotte?  This is an exceptional class that will forge a new history in NCCU football.  In 2 years, who knows. We finally got some depth. Are you going to finish the list of recruits since posting  less than half.  What about the ones signed and redshirted last year(2010) who did not play but loaded with talent. Frazier got a wool blanket over the conference eyes in terms of   "HERES NCCU"!!  

I agree with this. . we've had good classes the last two seasons.  2013-2014 are going to be some good years.

[Eagle Banker]

I am cautiously optimistic. On paper we have recruited well, but frankly so has the rest of the MEAC.   It will be very interesting to see the improvement.
We are bigger, faster and have been able to attract a higher caliber football player.

[EL-COTTON]

I like the recruits and I like Coaches attitude going after these guys.

[TrueEagle]

What happened to the receiver out of Charlotte?

He signed with UNC Charlotte.

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

You all know how I feel about making Linemen Recruitment the first primary for this year's class, ESPECIALLY OFFENSIVE LINEMEN. It looks like the NCCU recruitment staff has delivered so far on paper.
 

Now, the next step is to get them officially enrolled in school, develop very good study habits, as well as  GREAT scheduled Weight room training and diet for their future football Service at NCCU.

Take Care!

[WileECoyote06]

What happened to the receiver out of Charlotte?

He signed with UNC Charlotte.

Anybody surprised? 

[BIG GRAY]

  The Recruitment piece looks good.

  Now the HARD work is getting them WELL Coached, WELL Conditioned, WELL Disciplined, WELL Focused and WELL Trained.

     Our Staff will have their work cut out for them.  The more quality players you have sometimes the more you have push and demand the five (WELLS).

  Go Eagle Nation...

[Eagle Banker]

What happened to the receiver out of Charlotte?

He signed with UNC Charlotte.

Anybody surprised? 

I am not surprised at all.  UNC Charlotte is going to pose a significant recruiting challenge for HBCUs and smaller football programs in the near term.
New stadium, nice campus, large market and the allure of moving up to FBS.

[WileECoyote06]

What happened to the receiver out of Charlotte?

He signed with UNC Charlotte.

Anybody surprised? 

I am not surprised at all.  UNC Charlotte is going to pose a significant recruiting challenge for HBCUs and smaller football programs in the near term.
New stadium, nice campus, large market and the allure of moving up to FBS.

Said this years ago. . and everyone acted like they were not going to be a problem.   

[Brother Tony]

GOOD JOB OF RECRUITING IN SOUTH FLORIDA

[BIG GRAY]

What happened to the receiver out of Charlotte?

He signed with UNC Charlotte.

Anybody surprised?  

I am not surprised at all.  UNC Charlotte is going to pose a significant recruiting challenge for HBCUs and smaller football programs in the near term.
New stadium, nice campus, large market and the allure of moving up to FBS.

Said this years ago. . and everyone acted like they were not going to be a problem.  

  I don't think recruitment is going to be a problem in NC because UNC-Charlotte is on the scene. My concern is that our recruits need to be well coached...regardless of where they are from.

  For example - ODU past and current recruits were/are ok.  But they are very, very, very, very well coached...it can make a big difference, and they are winners because of it. 

[HBCU]

Way to go Coach Henry Frazier NCCU Eagles.  Great job of recruiting.  See you against FSU this season.  Again, Great job Coach Frazier and Staff.

[STLAGGIE]

Looks like Frazier and his boys were road warriors this off season.  Looking forward to the Aggie invasion at O'Kelley this year...

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/37566092/60944275/North_Carolina_Central_Suprises_on_Signing_Day

North Carolina Central Suprises on Signing Day; MEAC Beats Out SWAC
Published - Feb 02 2012 04:31AM EST

Gregory Smith, Black College Sports Examiner

Perhaps it was the eagerness of a relatively new NCAA Division I football program wanting to make its mark in a tough conference. Or maybe it was the presence of head coach Henry Frazier III, who took Prairie View A&M to its first SWAC title in more than 40 years back in 2009.

Whatever the cause, North Carolina Central suprised the HBCU world Wednesday by signing the most recruits on National Signing Day.

An astounding 27 high school and junior college transfers signed letters-of-intent to play for Frazier and the Eagles, who became full-time members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference just a few years ago. The number was one better than Florida A&M, a founding member of the MEAC and a traditional pigskin powerhouse in black college football.

"We're extremely excited," said Frazier. "This year's class is really off the charts."

In a sign of how aggressive Frazier and his coaches were in their recruiting, only four of the 27 signees are from North Carolina.

The MEAC's other powerhouse -- South Carolina State -- announced 23 signees.

Overall, the MEAC trounced the Southwestern Athletic Conference in the recruiting race between the NCAA's two HBCU conferences.

The MEAC had 209 signees among the 11 institutions that play football (Coppin State and Maryland-Eastern Shore don't participate), for an average of 19 recruits.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference, by comparison, had 132 signees, for an average of 13 for each of the 10 institutions.

Alabama State had the most signees in the SWAC with 23.

For various reasons, Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State had the fewest recruits.

The Tigers, under NCAA sanctions for lack of academic progress among student-athletes, had just five signees, though Jackson State could compensate with later signings from junior college transfers. However, the NCAA sanctions don't explain everything. Southern, whose student-athlete academic performance rate was worse than JSU, garnered 15 signees.

The Delta Devils were even worse, with just three recruits. For a program that hasn't had much to cheer about since the days of Willie Totten and Jerry Rice, it will be that much more difficult to turn fortunes around.

Tennessee State, the lone HBCU in the Ohio Valley Conference, had 18 signees for head football coach Rod Reed, with nine aggressively recruited to the Nashville institution out of Florida.

2012 Letter-of-Intent Signees


MEAC


Bethune-Cookman -- 15

Delaware State -- 18

FAMU -- 26

Hampton -- 14

Howard -- 17

Morgan State -- 18

Norfolk State -- 15

North Carolina A&T -- 18

North Carolina Central -- 27

Savannah State -- 18

South Carolina State -- 23

Ohio Valley


Tennessee State -- 18

SWAC


Alabama A&M -- 16

Alabama State -- 23

Alcorn State -- 19

Arkansas-Pine Bluff -- 15

Grambling State -- 21

Jackson State (under sanctions) -- 5

Mississippi Valley State -- 3

Prairie View A&M -- 12

Southern (under sanctions) -- 15

Texas Southern -- 13