Story and photo courtesy of Elon Athletics
ELON, N.C. - Elon football head coach Jason Swepson today announced that his program has signed 17 players to National Letters of Intent. He also announced the addition of one player who has enrolled at Elon for the spring semester. This class includes five players who hail from the state of North Carolina.
The 2012 class includes four players from Florida, two each from Pennsylvania, Georgia and New Jersey, and one from Massachusetts, South Carolina and Virginia. The group is comprised of four offensive linemen, three linebackers, two running backs, two tight ends, two defensive linemen, two defensive backs, a quarterback, a wide receiver and an athlete. Six members of the class are rated as either two or three-star recruits.
"We feel that this is one of the top classes in the Southern Conference this year," said Swepson. "We were able to add some size, strength and toughness on the lines as well as add some quality players at the skill positions. Our coaching staff worked extremely hard to secure this class and it is one that I believe will help the Elon program rise to the top of the SoCon. Much of this group comes from very successful high school programs and know what it takes to win. It is also a smart class as 13 of the 18 have a GPA of 3.0 or better."
The program also revealed a group of 11 student-athletes who have accepted preferred walk-on spots for the 2012 season.
2012 Elon Football National Letter of Intent/Grant-in-Aid Signees:
Gordon Acha (OL • 6-4 • 270 • Duxbury, Mass. • Duxbury)
Ty Alt (OL • 6-2 • 255 • Sewickley, Pa. • Greensburg Central Catholic)
B.J. Bennett (RB • 6-0 • 205 • West Columbia, S.C. • Hammond School)
Haris Cesko (OL • 6-4 • 260 • Grayson, Ga. • Grayson)
Tracey Coppedge (RB • 5-8 • 170 • Nashville, N.C. • Southern Nash)
Jeremy Gloston (LB • 6-2 • 190 • Orlando, Fla. • Colonial)
Jacob Ingle (OL • 6-2 • 285 • Burlington, N.C. • Williams)
Chris Jones (DL • 6-2 • 260 • Fayetteville, N.C. • Douglas Byrd)
John Loughery (QB • 6-5 • 215 • Wayne, Pa. • Hun School)
Adrian McClendon (DB • 5-9 • 155 • Jacksonville, Fla. • First Coast)
Corey Mitchell (LB • 6-1 • 205 • Jacksonville, N.C. • Northside)
Julius Moore (DB • 5-10 • 185 • Chesterfield, Va. • Cosby)
Justin Osborne (WR • 5-8 • 150 • Jacksonville, Fla. • First Coast)
Javaris Seastrunk (ATH • 6-2 • 180 • Crestview, Fla. • Crestview)
John Silas (LB • 6-0 • 225 • Powder Springs, Ga. • Hillgrove)
Jesse Tate (TE • 6-3 • 220 • Toms River, N.J. • Toms River North)
Mike Warren (DL • 6-4 • 230 • Jacksonville, N.C. • White Oak)
Doug Warrick (TE • 6-6 • 210 • Hamilton, N.J. • Cheshire Academy)
Offensive lineman Gordon Acha (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) was selected as ESPN Boston’s state lineman of the year and was an all-state choice in 2011. His performance helped lead Dave Maimaron’s Duxbury Dragons to four consecutive league titles as well as three Eastern Massachusetts Super Bowl crowns. The team compiled back-to-back 13-0 seasons in 2010 and 2011. Gordon is the son of Gordon Acha, Sr. and Cindy Lovett.
Ty Alt (Sewickley, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) is an offensive lineman who was a 2011 U.S. Army All-America pick. He participated in the 2011 ESPN/Nike Elite All-Northeast Combine and was a three-time all-state selection. A team captain, Alt participated in the 2011 Chesapeake Bowl All-Star Game as well as the 2012 Super 60 All-Star Game. Rivals.com and Scout.com both rate Alt as a two-star prospect while Scout.com ranks him as one of the top 30 centers in the nation. He was chosen as one of the top 100 prospects in the football-rich state of Pennsylvania by ESPN in 2012. Alt was named the 2011 Pittsburgh Post Gazette Interstate Conference Player of the Year. On the field, Alt helped coach William Colisimo’s Greensburg Central Catholic program to two conference titles and a state runner-up finish. During his tenure with the team, Greensburg Central Catholic posted a 44-6 record. A four-year football letterman, Alt also played basketball and was a member of the track and field squad where he was a three-year qualifier for the WPIAL championships in shot put and discus. Ty is the son of former University of Pittsburgh tennis player David and Hallie Alt.
Running back B.J. Bennett (West Columbia, S.C./Hammond School) was named his team's MVP and served as a team captain during his senior season. In 2011, Bennett rushed for 1,200 yards and 22 touchdowns on 116 carries on his way to all-state and High School Sports Report SCISA Mr. Football honors. He also caught 29 balls for 418 yards and another five scores last year. As a junior, Bennett collected SCISA 3A Offensive Player of the Year, all-state and team MVP honors after he rushed for over 800 yards and 17 TDs and caught 56 passes for over 900 yards and six scores. He led the team with 1,272 rushing yards as a sophomore, finding the end zone 13 times on the ground. That year he accounted for 126 receiving yards and three TDs on 11 receptions. Bennett holds Hammond School career records with over 4,600 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns. His performance on the gridiron has helped lead coach Erik Kimrey's program to the last three of six consecutive South Carolina state titles. Also a standout on the track, Bennett was named the SCISA 2011 Male Track Athlete of the Year after scoring 36 individual points in the state meet where he earned three gold medals. B.J. is the son of former University of South Carolina wide receiver Bralyn and Angela Bennett. His sister Amber plays volleyball at Tulane University while his uncle Brandon Bennett had a nine-year NFL career and is the second all-time leading rusher in the history of the University of South Carolina program.
An offensive lineman, Haris Cesko (Grayson, Ga./Grayson) earned all-conference pick, all-county and player of the month honors as a prep. Cesko helped lead coach Mickey Conn’s Grayson team to a perfect 15-0 season in 2011 as the squad captured the AAAAA state title and a fourth-place national ranking by USA Today. Haris is the son of Salim and Nezira Cesko.
Running back Tracey Coppedge (Nashville, N.C./Southern Nash) racked up 4,157 career rushing yards and amassed 5,000 career all-purpose yards. He was named the 3A Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all-league pick. A member of the A-B Academic Honor Roll, Coppedge helped guide Brian Foster’s Southern Nash program to a state semi-finals appearance in 2010 and a state playoff berth in 2011. Tracey is the son of Tracey and Ophelia Coppedge.
Jeremy Gloston (Orlando, Fla./Colonial) is rated as a two-star linebacker by Rivals.com. He earned a defensive player of the week honor while playing for coach Steve Brietbeil’s Colonial program. Gloston is also a standout on the track where he holds the school record in both the 200m and 400m. Jeremy is the son of Dave Gloston and Claire Sumrall and his brother R.J. played football at Iowa State.
Offensive lineman Jacob Ingle (Burlington, N.C./Williams) was a four-year varsity starter and three-year all-conference honoree for coach David Green at nearby Walter M. Williams High. Ingle, who is rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN and as a two-star recruit by Scout.com, has also earned all-region and all-state accolades during his career. ESPN rates Ingle as one of the top 50 prospects in the state of North Carolina. He served his team as a captain and helped the squad advance to the third round of the state playoffs. Ingle was selected to participate in the Shrine Bowl. He has been a member of the All-State Orchestra program for four years and is a member of the National Latin Honor Society. Ingle plays seven musical instruments. Jacob is the son of Matt Ingle and Kim Black. His stepfather Fred Black is a 1985 graduate of Elon.
Chris Jones (Fayetteville, N.C./Douglas Byrd) is a defensive lineman who served as a team captain. In 2011, Jones helped guide Russell Stone’s Byrd team to a 13-1 record with the lone defeat coming in the third round of the state playoffs. A three-year starter, Jones racked up 86 total tackles and 11 sacks as a senior. He was a Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee who earned all-conference and all-region honors. Jones was also a member of the 3AA state championship track team. Chris is the son of Crystal Rheames.
Quarterback John Loughery (Wayne, Pa./Penn Charter/Hun School of Princeton) is a two-star recruit according to Rivals.com. While playing for coach Jeff Humble at Penn Charter, Loughery was a two-time first-team all-league pick. He also earned all-city, all-state and team MVP accolades. He graduated as the all-time leading passer in the history of the program and league – 4,900 yards and 42 touchdowns. Loughery was a recipient of the Mini-Maxwell Award. He was rated as the top quarterback in southeastern Pennsylvania. At the Hun School, Loughery played for Dave Dudeck and helped the team to a fifth-place national ranking among all prep schools. The team won the league title with a 7-1 record in 2011. Loughery was a first-team all-prep pick after passing for 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. John is the son of former Boston College football player John and Liz Loughery. He is the cousin of former Boston College star and current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
Defensive back Adrian McClendon (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast) totaled 30 tackles and two interceptions during his senior campaign. McClendon is rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com He helped guide coach Marty Lee’s team through an undefeated regular season and a state runner-up finish in 2011. Adrian is the son of Adrian McClendon and LaKiesha Shakur. He is the cousin of former Kansas University running back Harold McClendon.
Corey Mitchell (Jacksonville, N.C./Northside) is a linebacker who earned both all-conference and all-area accolades for coach Bob Eason’s Northside program. As a senior, Mitchell picked off one pass, forced and recovered two fumbles and tallied four sacks. Corey is the son of Corey and Kapresha Mitchell.
Defensive back Julius Moore (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby) was an all-prep as well as an all-state selection on the gridiron during his career at Cosby High for coach Peter Mutascio. In 2011 he collected all-academic honors in football. Moore was also an all-prep and all-state standout on the track. Julius is the son of Ronald Moore and Simone Nicholas.
Wide receiver Justin Osborne (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast) earned third-team All-First Coast Team honors as well as second-team all-district accolades in 2011. He amassed 739 yards and 11 touchdowns on 39 receptions as a senior. Osborne’s performance helped lead coach Marty Lee’s team to its second consecutive undefeated regular season and a 2011 state runner-up finish. He was named the National Underclassman MVP in both 2010 and 2011 and earned the National Language Arts Award this school year. Osborne was selected to the UNF Leadership team in 2010. Justin is the son of Bennie and Gwendolyn Osborne.
Athlete Javaris Seastrunk (Crestview, Fla./Crestview) earned his school's Anne T. Mitchell Academic Honors award in 2010. In 2011 he was the recipient of the Crestview High School Quarterback Club Football Scholarship and collected the school's Student of the Quarter Award. Seastrunk is also a member of Crestview's track and field team. Javaris is the son of Donald and Regina Seastrunk.
John Silas (Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove) is a linebacker who maintains a 3.8 GPA and is rated as a two-star recruit by both ESPN and Scout.com. In 2011 Silas collected first-team all-state, all-county and all-region honors. He was named to the Cobb County All-Star Team and racked up over 100 tackles, forced six fumbles and intercepted two passes. Silas was named a member of the Marietta Daily Journal Dynamite Dozen. He helped lead coach Phillip Ironside’s Hillgrove team to a Division 5A region title. John is the son of John and Kimberly Silas and his sister Jasmine is a cheerleader at North Carolina A&T.
Tight end Jesse Tate (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) collected second-team Ocean Offense honors from the Star Ledger along with all-division distinction from the Asbury Park Press in 2011. He also earned second-team All-Shore Media accolades. Over his career for coach Chip LaBarca, Tate caught 52 balls for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. Tate served as a team captain and was named his squad’s offensive MVP as both a junior and senior. He is also a member of the school’s basketball team. Tate was the recipient of the Gateway Toyota Football Academic Award. Jesse is the son of former Kean University football player John and Donna Tate.
Defensive lineman Mike Warren (Jacksonville, N.C./White Oak) is a two-time all-conference honoree. He helped guide coach Bob Blick’s White Oak program to three state playoff appearances. Mike is the son of Michael and Sonya Warren.
Doug Warrick (Hamilton, N.J./Cheshire Academy) is a tight end who enrolled at Elon for the spring semester. He earned second-team All-New England honors in 2011. He was a first-team all-area pick and earned the team’s Most Outstanding Player award in 2010. Warrick’s performance helped lead coach Dan O’Dea’s Cheshire program to an undefeated 2011 campaign and a victory in the Valicenti Bowl. Doug is the son of David and Kimberly Warrick. His brother David rowed crew at Rutgers University.
Slated to join the Phoenix program with preferred walk-on status will be:
Tyler Drake (DL • 6-1 • 204 • Annapolis, Md. • Broadneck)
Zach Duprey (TE • 6-1 • 228 • Stanardsville, Va. • William Monroe)
Bo Hartman (DB • 5-8 • 171 • Centreville, Va. • Westfield)
Jackson Huggett (DB • 6-1 • 175 • Coconut Grove, Fla. • Gulliver Prep)
John Lopez (LB • 5-10 • 195 • Westchester, N.Y. • Kennedy Catholic)
David Lowrey (WR • 6-0 • 164 • Maitland, Fla. • Orangewood Christian)
Aaron Siegel (OL • 6-2 • 289 • Duluth, Ga. • Northview)
Carson Simpson (WR • 6-0 • 157 • Greenwood, S.C. • Greenwood)
Chris Smith (K • 6-0 • 185 • Darien, Conn. • Darien)
Will Steele (DL • 6-0 • 305 • Burlington, N.C. • Williams)
Jack Williams (DL • 6-0 • 273 • College Park, Ga. • Woodward Academy)