Buies Creek – Campbell head coach Mike Minter announced the Camels’ 22-man 2016 football recruiting class Wednesday, his fourth with the program.
“Signing day is always exciting for the simple fact that it’s about growth and movement,” said Minter. “You’re getting new guys in, new blood, new energy. It’s your future. That’s what signing day is all about. It’s like getting a new car. A new car is always good. All these new guys that we’re bringing into our organization, we’re excited about them.”
“First and foremost, we’re looking for character, we’re looking for a growth mindset and we’re looking for guys that are going to come in and let us transform them, and let us coach them,” said recruiting coordinator Will Phillippi. “This class, more than any other, has the strongest character we’re brought in. Talent-wise, it’s going to be right up there with the best.”
The 22-man class consists of 13 offensive and eight defensive players, as well as a special teamer.
Four wide receivers, plus three tight ends and offensive linemen, two quarterbacks and a running back make up the offensive group, while four linebackers, two defensive backs and two defensive linemen round out the defensive side. The class is completed with a long snapper.
10 in the group are from North Carolina and 12 hail from out of state, including four from South Carolina, three from Virginia, two from Florida and one each from Georgia, New Jersey and New York.
The Camels ranked fifth in the nation in total defense in 2015 (279.3 per game), standing third in team sacks per game (3.55) and ninth in scoring defense (17.7). The team shattered program records for all three categories, adding single season marks for tackles for loss (85.0) and total sacks (38.0).
16 Camels were honored on the conference’s All-PFL teams following the 2015 season. Junior running back De’Shawn Jones, redshirt senior defensive lineman Ugonna Awuruonye and senior defensive lineman Greg Milhouse Jr. all received First Team All-PFL accolades. Picking up Second Team All-PFL honors were senior fullback Dalton Dillon, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Brian Stryffeler and redshirt senior linebacker Jake Barr. 10 Camels also earned honorable mention nods.
The PFL 2015 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year went to Campbell’s Jack Ryan. Four Camels were also named to the 2015 Academic All-PFL teams.
2016 Campbell recruiting class
|
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Previous School |
|
Kaleb Barfield |
LB |
5-9 |
160 |
Durham, N.C. / Southern Durham HS |
|
Darius Barnes |
RB |
6-0 |
205 |
Wilson, N.C. / Hunt HS |
|
Marius Cooper |
WR |
5-11 |
175 |
Raleigh, N.C. / Wakefield HS |
|
Aaron Dobbins |
TE |
6-4 |
240 |
Boone, N.C. / Watauga HS |
|
Joe Fishpaw |
OT |
6-5 |
275 |
Richmond, Va. / Hanover HS |
|
Blake Flemming |
WR |
5-11 |
170 |
Minneola, Fla. / Lake Minneola HS |
|
Gabe Holmes |
OG |
6-2 |
265 |
Tarpon Springs, Fla. / East Lake HS |
|
Jonathan Jeffries |
WR |
6-2 |
180 |
Charlotte, N.C. / Davidson Day |
|
Cameron Kelshaw |
LS |
6-0 |
200 |
Myrtle Beach, S.C. / North Myrtle Beach HS |
|
Jake Kemp |
TE |
6-3 |
220 |
Mayodan, N.C. / McMichael |
|
Keon McCallum |
DE |
6-3 |
220 |
Chesnee, S.C. / Chesnee HS |
|
Ray Miller |
LB |
6-2 |
205 |
Spartanburg, S.C. / Byrnes HS |
|
Jamah Mitchell |
DT |
6-0 |
325 |
Rock Hill, S.C. / Northwestern HS |
|
Joe Pesce |
OG |
6-2 |
305 |
Manorville, N.Y. / Eastport S. Manor HS / Nassau CC |
|
Austin Pluckhorn |
LB |
5-11 |
210 |
Fuquay-Varina, N.C. / Fuquay-Varina HS |
|
Anthony Robbins |
QB |
6-2 |
195 |
Willingboro, N.J. / Willingboro HS / Nassau CC |
|
Zach Roderick |
WR |
6-1 |
180 |
Woodberry Forest, Va. / Woodberry Forest |
|
Darion Slade |
CB |
6-0 |
175 |
Clemmons, N.C. / West Forsyth HS |
|
Daniel Smith |
QB |
6-1 |
185 |
Leesburg, Va. / Tuscarora HS |
|
Demitrius Spury |
LB |
6-1 |
200 |
Mooresville, N.C. / Mooresville HS |
|
Jeremiah White |
CB |
5-11 |
175 |
Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Christian |
|
Preston Wilkie |
TE |
6-3 |
225 |
Bogart, Ga. / North Oconee HS |
