Story and photo courtesy of Furman Athletics
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Furman head coach Bruce Fowler today announced the signing of 17 recruits to national letters of intent.
The Paladins’ recruiting class, which features eight defensive players, seven offensive performers, and two specialists, includes six recruits from South Carolina, five from Georgia, four from North Carolina, and one from both Tennessee and Florida.
Among Furman’s additions are a pair of first team all-state defenders, including cornerback Reggie Thomas (Abbeville, S.C./Abbeville H.S.) and linebacker Cory Magwood (Varnville, S.C./Wade Hampton H.S.), and two quarterbacks, Reese Hannon (Greer, S.C./Greer H.S.) and Terry Robinson (Hephzibah, Ga./Hephzibah H.S.).
Thomas helped lead Abbeville to back-to-back 13-1 records and 1A state championships in 2010 & ‘11 and played in the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game for the winning North squad.
Magwood, a two-time all-state choice, tallied 15 quarterback sacks in 2011 and 31 quarterback takedowns in his career at 2A Wade Hampton.
Hannon passed for 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 500 yards and six scores for 3A Greer last fall. A finalist for South Carolina Mr. Football, he served as captain of the victorious North squad in the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game, passing for two touchdowns.
Robinson threw for 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns at 3A Hephzibah in 2011 and will join older brother, Gary, a rising sophomore wide receiver, at Furman this fall.
In addition to Thomas, Magwood, and Hannon, the other Palmetto state signees include safety Thomas Brown (Seneca/Seneca H.S.), punter/placekicker Hunter Townes (Greenville/Christ Church Episcopal School), and tight end Gibson Klapthor (Sumter/Wilson Hall School).
Both Townes and Klapthor fashioned outstanding senior seasons as quarterbacks. Townes earned state player of the year honors after passing for 3,500 yards and accounting for 58 touchdown on a state championship CCES squad that went 13-1. He went on to kick a pair of field goals in the North’s 42-3 rout in the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game. Klapthor, meanwhile, passed for 611 yards and 18 scores for a 13-1, state runner-up Wilson Hall squad and wrapped up his career by throwing a pair of touchdowns and leading South Carolina to a 25-24, comeback win over North Carolina in the 2011 SCISA Oasis Shrine Bowl.
Three Paladin signees played on state championship teams in 2011, including Thomas, Townes, and defensive tackle Sebastian Rice (Ellenwoood, Ga./Grayson H.S.), who helped lead Grayson to a 15-0 record and Georgia 5A state crown.
This year’s class includes a pair of prep teammates, linebacker Carl Rider and wide receiver Chad Scott (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett H.S.) and one prep school product, Jairus Hollman (Atlanta, Ga./Tri-Cities H.S./Air Force Prep).
In number terms, Furman’s biggest positional recruitment area was in the defensive backfield with four signees. The Paladins also inked three linebackers, a pair of tight ends, wide receivers, and quarterbacks, and two specialists, including a punter/placekicker and long snapper. In addition Furman signed one offensive lineman and one defensive lineman.
Furman is expected to return 15 starters this fall off a squad that went 6-5 in 2011 under first year head coach Bruce Fowler.
2012 FURMAN FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS
Thomas Brown, S, 6-2, 190, Fr., Seneca, S.C. (Seneca H.S.)
Reese Hannon, QB, 6-2, 201, Fr., Greer, S.C. (Greer H.S.)
Jairus Hollman, S, 6-2, 180, Fr., Atlanta, Ga. (Tri-Cities H.S./Air Force Prep)
Gibson Klapthor, TE, 6-2, 230, Fr., Sumter, S.C. (Wilson Hall School)
Danny LaMontagne, LS, 6-0, 200, Fr., Snellville, Ga. (Brookwood H.S.)
Cory Magwood, LB, 6-2, 195, Fr., Varnville, S.C. (Wade Hampton H.S.)
Kevin Mall, TE, 6-2, 245, Fr., Melbourne, Fla. (Viera H.S.)
Corey Miller, WR, 6-1, 180, Fr., Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek H.S.)
Jamarri Milliken, CB, 5-10, 171, Fr., High Point, N.C. (T.W. Andrews H.S.)
Harrison Monk, OL, 6-4, 256, Fr., Charlotte, N.C. (Providence H.S.)
Sebastian Rice, DL, 6-4, 266, Fr., Ellenwood, Ga. (Grayson H.S.)
Terry Robinson, QB, 5-11, 185, Fr., Hephzibah, Ga. (Hephzibah H.S.)
Carl Rider, LB, 6-2, 204, Fr., Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett H.S.)
Chad Scott, WR, 6-0, 172, Fr., Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett H.S.)
Reggie Thomas, CB, 5-11, 165, Fr., Abbeville, S.C. (Abbeville H.S.)
Hunter Townes, PK/P, 6-0, 200, Fr., Greenville, S.C. (Christ Church Episcopal School)
T.J. Warren, LB, 6-1, 196, Fr., Chattanooga, Tenn. (Ooltewah H.S.)
Thomas Brown, S
6-2, 190, Freshman
Seneca, South Carolina (Seneca High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Seneca (3A) High School...football coach was Wayne Green...played free safety and wide receiver...two-time all-region selection who tallied 63 tackles and four interceptions in keying Seneca to a 9-3 record and state playoff second round appearance in 2011...served as team captain and was named team defensive MVP last fall...earned all-region honors in the triple jump and 4x100m relay in 2011.
Personal: Full name is Thomas Alexander Brown...born April 13, 1994, in Fort Riley, Kansas...son of Robert and Frances Brown...has a brother, Robert, and a sister, Tamara.
Reese Hannon, QB
6-2, 201, Freshman
Greer, South Carolina (Greer High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Greer (3A) High School...football coach was Will Young, husband of Furman volleyball coach Michelle Young...paced Greer to a 9-2 record and Region 3 Championship in 2011, passing for 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns...also rushed for 500 yards and six scores...earned all-region, Greenville Touchdown Club All-County, and High School Sports Report (HSSR) All-State honors as a senior...finalist for South Carolina Mr. Football...served as a team captain in the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game, teaming with Abbeville cornerback Reggie Thomas and Christ Church Episcopal School kicker/punter Hunter Townes — both fellow Paladin signees — in leading the North to a 42-3 rout of the South in the annual classic, passing for two touchdowns...Scout.com two-star recruit...also played baseball.
Personal: Full name is Reese Gentry Hannon...borh October 4, 993, in Greenville, South Carolina...son of Benny and Linda Hannon...has a brother, Luke...father played football at Newberry...cousin, Justin Hill, was a quarterback and three-year starter for Furman (1997-00) who led the Paladins to SoCon championships in 1999 & ‘00.
Jairus Hollman, S
6-2, 180, Freshman
Atlanta, Georgia (Tri-Cities High School/Air Force Preparatory School)
2011 graduate of Tri-Cities (4A) High School who attended Air Force Preparatory School last fall...football coach at Tri-Cities was Kenneth Miller...registered playing time at wide receiver, free safety, and as a punt returner...caught 12 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010, his senior year despite missing six games due to injury...tallied 28 tackles and three passes defensed...played quarterback his sophomore year at Upson-Lee High School before moving to Tri-Cities for his junior and senior campaigns...also played basketball and baseball.
Personal: Full name is Jairus Nehemiah Hollman...born December 10, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia...mother is Jarvis Dunn and step-father is James Tate...has two brothers, Antonio and Zacchaeus, and two sisters, Tahayra and Tahera.
Gibson Klapthor, TE
6-2, 230, Freshman
Sumter, South Carolina (Wilson Hall School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Wilson Hall (SCISA 3A) School...football coach was Jet Turner...played quarterback and tight end...passed for 611 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for 700 yards and 11 scores for a 2011 Wilson Hall squad that went 13-1 and finished as state runner-up...served as team captain, earned all-state, and was named SCISA 3A state player of the year...took home SCISA Oasis Shrine Bowl Game MVP honors after throwing a pair of touchdowns, including the game winner, in South Carolina’s 25-24, comeback win over North Carolina...hit .446 (6 HR, 29 RBI) as a junior in helping Wilson Hall to a 2011 state baseball championship, earning all-state honors and a invite to the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game...state finalist for Wendy’s High School Heisman...AP Scholar, Furman Scholar.
Personal: Full name is Gibson Arthur Edward Klapthor...born March 8, 1994, in Sumter, South Carolina...son of Susan Krotz and the late Paul Klapthor...has a brother, Brent.
Danny LaMontagne, LS
6-0, 200, Freshman
Snellville, Georgia (Brookwood High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Brookwood (5A) High School...two-year letterman who handled long snapping duties and saw action at both defensive end and tight end...member of Brookwood’s 14-1 state championship team in 2010, his junior year...squad was ranked No. 1 in Georgia and 14th nationally..captured four squad special teams player of the week scrolls during his two-year varsity career.
Personal: Full name is Daniel Phillip LaMontagne...born November 10, 1993, in Atlanta, Georgia...son of Dan and Tish LaMontagne...has a brother, Nick, and two sisters, Allison and Megan.
Cory Magwood, LB
6-2, 195, Freshman
Varnville, South Carolina (Wade Hampton High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Wade Hampton (2A) High School...football coach was Eric Scaife...played split end, outside linebacker, and defensive end...started for three seasons and twice earned all-region and High School Sports Report (HSSR) First Team All-State honors...racked up 275 tackles and 31 quarterback sacks in his career, including a school record 15 quarterback takedowns and 39 tackles for-loss in 2011...in all established six new school game, single season, and career standards...ranked by AthleteVault at No. 114 among North Carolina-South Carolina Top 200 players...is also a highly honored basketball player, twice earning all-region and 2010-11 all-state honors...ESPN.com two-star recruit with a Scout Grade of 86 and the No. 6 rated shooting guard in South Carolina at the end of his junior season...averaged 23.4 ppg through Wade Hampton’s first 17 games this year, included in which was a 42-point performance versus Ridgeland and 40-point display against Allendale-Fairfax.
Personal: Full name is Cory Jon-Christopher Magwood...born May 7, 1994, in Varnville, South Carolina...son of Sophia and Charles Magwood...has two brothers, Charles and Patrick.
Kevin Mall, TE
6-2, 245, Freshman
Melbourne, Florida (Viera High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Viera (7A) High School...football coach was Kevin Mayes...played tight end, defensive end, and linebacker...ranked by the Orlando Sentinel as its No. 24 player in the Mideast Florida Regional Super60...named Region 3 District 12 Offensive Player of the Year...placed fifth in the state in the shot put in 2011, his junior year.
Personal: Full name is Kevin Louis Mall...born January 20, 2012, at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho...son of Glenn and Dyan Mall...has two sisters, Cassie and Kendall.
Corey Miller, WR
6-1, 180, Freshman
Charlotte, North Carolina (Mallard Creek High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Mallard Creek (4A) High School...football coach was Mike Palmerii...played wide receiver and also returned kicks...caught 36 passes for 800 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2011 while helping his squad to a 13-1 record and state semi-final finish...earned I-Meck All-Conference honors...also competed in track.
Personal: Full name is Corey Mikeem Miller...born September 9, 1993, in Kershaw, South Carolina...mother is Kimberly Miller...has two sisters, Keyanna and Courtney.
Jamarri Milliken, CB
5-10, 171, Freshman
High Point, North Carolina (T.W. Andrews High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of T.W. Andrews (2A) High School...football coach was Rodney McKoy...played wide receiver and defensive back...two-time All-Piedmont Athletic Conference (PAC) selection...helped lead his squad to an 8-3 record in 2011...also starred in track, earning team MVP, all-conference, and all-state honors as a junior.
Personal: Full name is Jamarii A. Milliken...born December 16, 1994, in Greensboro, North Carolina...mother is Shelly Martin...has a brother, Jamal.
Harrison Monk, OL
6-4, 256, Freshman
Charlotte, North Carolina (Providence High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Providence (4A) High School...football coach was Randy Long...played both offensive and defensive tackle...three-year starter and two-time Southwestern 4A All-Conference and Charlotte Observer All-Mecklenburg County selection.
Personal: Full name is Harrison Michael Monk...born January 18, 1994, in Charlotte, North Carolina...mother is Amy Monk...has a sister, Jenna, and a brother, Alexander.
Sebastian Rice, DL
6-4, 266, Freshman
Ellenwood, Georgia (Grayson High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Grayson (5A) High School...football coach was Mickey Conn...played defensive tackle and defensive end during his prep career...recorded 39 tackles and six sacks on 2011 Grayson squad that went 15-0 and captured state championship...earned All-Gwinnett County honors and participated in Gwinnett County All-Star Game...also played basketball.
Personal: Full name is Sebastian Yale Rice...born July 5, 1994, in Ellenwood, Georgia...mother is Wanda Rice.
Carl Rider, LB
6-2, 204, Freshman
Suwanee, Georgia (North Gwinnett High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of North Gwinnett (5A) High School, where he was a football teammate of fellow Furman signee, wide receiver Chad Scott...football coach was Bob Sphire...played linebacker and also saw duty as a long snapper...totaled 182 tackles over his three-year career, helping North Gwinnett to a 21-0 region record, three consecutive region crowns, and state playoff appearances, and 34-5 overall record during that span...recipient of 2011 Gwinnett Touchdown Club Scholar-Athlete Award...two-time area wrestling champion and three-time state medalist.
Personal: Full name is Carl Wesley Rider...born June 16, 1993, in Honolulu, Hawaii...mother is Loni Metter and father, Lynn Rider...has five sisters: Kayla, Cassidy, Lindsey, Annie, and Nicki...father played football at United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Terry Robinson, QB
5-11, 185, Freshman
Hephzibah, Georgia (Hephzibah High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Hephzibah (3A) High School...football coach was John Bowen...played quarterback...three-time all-region selection...passed for 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns and added three rushing scores in 2011...threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns and ran 18 times for 138 yards and two scores versus Cross Creek last fall...named to the 2011 Augusta Chronicle Preseason Dream 16 Team.
Personal: Full name is Terry DeShaun Robinson...born August 6, 1994, in Augusta, Georgia...parents are Feliz and Grace Robinson...has a sister, Jasmine, and a brother, Gary, who is a redshirt sophomore wide receiver at Furman.
Chad Scott, WR
6-0, 172, Freshman
Suwanee, Georgia (North Gwinnett High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of North Gwinnett (5A) High School, where he was a football teammate of fellow Furman signee, linebacker Carl Rider...football coach was Bob Sphire...played wide receiver and returned punts...caught a school record 71 passes for 890 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2011 in helping North Gwinnett to an 11-2 record, region championship, and state playoffs...was a second team Gwinnett Daily Post All-County honoree...member of three region title teams that combined to go 21-0 in region play and 34-5 overall...also competes in track.
Personal: Full name is Chad Robert Scott...born January 17, 1994, in Irvine, California...son of Chuck and Julie Scott...has a brother, Caleb, and a sister, Jenna...father played football at Vanderbilt and spent two years in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys.
Reggie Thomas, CB
5-11, 165, Freshman
Abbeville, South Carolina (Abbeville High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Abbeville (1A) High School...football coach was Jamie Nickles...played cornerback, free safety, and wide receiver...helped key Abbeville to back-to-back 13-1 record and state championships his junior and senior seasons...earned all-region, All-Lakelands, High School Sports Report all-state honors in 2011 after totaling 55 tackles, four interceptions, and 15 pass deflections...selected to play in South Carolina’s North-South All-Star Game, where he teamed with Greer quarterback Reese Hannon and Christ Church Episcopal School kicker/punter Hunter Towns — both fellow Paladin signees — in helping the North to a 42-3 rout of the South in the annual all-star classic...all-region selection in basketball and all-region and state qualifier in track.
Personal: Full name is Reginale Corrnell Thomas, Jr...born June 20, 1994, in Palatka, Florida...son of Victoria Calhoun and Gabriel Calhoun...has four siblings: Kay’Arial, Gabe, Jr., Gavin, and Jeremiah.
Hunter Townes, PK/P
6-0, 200, Freshman
Greenville, South Carolina (Christ Church Episcopal School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Christ Church (1A) Episcopal School...football coach was Don Frost...played quarterback and also handled punting and kicking chores...passed for 3,500 yards and 46 touchdowns and rushed for 500 yards and 12 scores in 2011 while leading CCES to a 13-1 record and state championship...two-time all-region, region player of the year, and all-state selection...named 2011 state player of the year...member of four region championship football teams...selected to play in South Carolina’s North-South All-Star Game, where he kicked two field goals (27, 43 yards) and four PATS while teaming with Greer quarterback Reese Hannon and Abbeville cornerback Reggie Thomas — both fellow Paladin signees — in leading the North to a 42-3 rout of the South in the annual all-star classic..all-region and all-state soccer honoree...member of 2011 CCES state championship soccer team.
Personal: Full name is Hunter Wright Townes...born May 4, 1993, in Greenville, South Carolina...son of John and Kathy Townes...has two brothers, Rivers and Taylor...brother Rivers was a member of Furman’s football program in 2008...grandfather, Dick Wright, was a standout basketball guard for the Paladins (1956-58) and is member of Furman’s Athletic Hall of Fame...another grandfather, Bob Townes, also attended Furman.
T.J. Warren, LB
6-1, 196, Freshman
Chattanooga, Tennessee (Ooltewah High School)
Projected 2012 graduate of Ooltewah (5A) High School...football coach was Shannon Williams...played linebacker, defensive end, and wide receiver...two-time all-district selection...garnered Ooltewah’s special teams MVP honors as a junior and team MVP accolades in 2011...also competed in basketball and in multiple events in track & field.
Personal: Full name is Thomas Jesten Warren, Jr....born November 18, 1992, in Chattanooga, Tennessee...son of Tommy and Angela Warren...mother ran track at Auburn.