NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University football signed 16 student-athletes to National Letter’s of Intent, head coach Bobby Wilder announced on Wednesday. The Monarchs signed nine players in December for a total number in the class of 25.
“We are excited with our signing class for 2015. We feel like we addressed needs at every position. We signed 14 defensive players and 11 offensive players at the midyear and today. This class has great balance by position. With five defensive backs, four linebackers, four defensive linemen, three offensive lineman, three running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end and one quarterback. Signing day does not mark the end of recruiting for the class of 2015. We will continue to evaluate all positions in the coming weeks and months before the 2015 season,” Wilder said. “I want to thank the many people in the community that contributed to the success our coaching staff enjoyed with this class. Starting with President Broderick, Athletic director Selig and our many professors and administrative staff that spent time with the recruited student athletes and their families. There is no question in my mind that the success our current and former players have enjoyed on the field contributed to our success in recruiting this year!
Casey Bernard – 6-2, 222 – DE – White Plains, Md./St. Mary’s Ryken
A three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Played in the annual “Crab Bowl,” a high school All-Star Game featuring players from Washington, D.C. and Maryland … Named to the Maryland All-State Private School Team as a junior and senior … Earned All-County honors as a junior and senior … Recorded 67 tackles and seven sacks as a junior.
Other Schools Considered: Buffalo
Jamez Brickhouse – 5-10, 165 – CB – Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside
Ranked as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Earned All-Beach District honors as a junior … Named one of the top defensive backs in the state by Virginia Preps … Ranked the 10th best player in Hampton Roads by the Virginian Pilot … Earned First-Team All-Conference honors.
Other Schools Considered: Duke, Virginia, Wisconsin
Jelani Carter – 6-1, 190 – DB – Roanoke, Va./Northside
Ranked as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Earned All-State honors as a senior at defensive back … Helped Northside to a 14-1 record and state championship as a junior … Recorded 57 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Other Schools Considered: Charlotte, Cincinnati
Nijee Cox – 6-3, 235 – TE – Virginia Beach, Va./Salem
Rated a two-star recruit by 247 Sports … Named First-Team All-State at defensive tackle and Second-Team All-State at offensive line … Named Conference 9 Defensive Lineman of the Year and earned First-Team honors at offensive and defensive line … Played in the Adidas 757 All-Star Game … Returned an interception for a touchdown in win over Cox.
Other Schools Considered: Charlotte
Miles Fox – 6-1, 270 – DT – Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill
A three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Named First-Team All-County at defensive line … Earned First-Team All-Region accolades … Recorded 45 tackles, three sacks and three quarterback hurries in his senior season … Notched 11 tackles and two tackles for loss in a 27-20 win over South Gwinnett … Registered a season-high 16 tackles and four tackles for loss against Norcross .Other Schools Considered: Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Iowa, Kent State, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama
Kyle Goddard – 5-10, 180 – WR – Lexington Park, Md./St. Mary’s Ryken
Rated a two-star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN … Selected to play in the prestigious Big 33 All-Star Game between high school players from Maryland and Pennsylvania (Every Super Bowl has featured a player from the Big 33 game) … One of four ODU signees to play in the “Crab Bowl,” an all-star game featuring high school players from Washington D.C. and Maryland … Earned Maryland All-State Private School Team honors at wide receiver.
Other Schools Considered: Buffalo, Charlotte, Nevada
Devin Hannan – 6-4, 275 – OL – Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon Area
Ranked as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Selected to play in the Big 33 Pennsylvania vs. Maryland All-Star Game … Joins fellow ODU recruit Kyle Goddard who will play for Maryland … A four-year starter on the offensive and defensive line at Belle Vernon Area … A two-time All-Conference honoree at offensive and defensive line … Earned Second-Team All-State at defensive tackle … Recorded 48 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery as a senior.
Other Schools Considered: Army, UConn, Temple
Eri’Reon Hayes – 6-2, 190 – WR – Dillon, S.C./Dillon
Rated a two-star recruit by Rivals … Named the State Offensive Back of the Year as a senior … Earned Region Offensive Player of the Year honors and was named First-Team All-Region wide receiver … Registered 65 receptions for 1,353 yards and 22 touchdowns … Caught five passes for 109-yards and a touchdown in the state championship game, a 49-27 win over Newberry to give Dillon three-straight state championships … Scored three touchdowns in the state championship game as a junior … Named to the 2014 All-Zone Team … Played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolina’s All-Star Game.
Other Schools Considered: Appalachian State, East Carolina, Georgia Southern
Gemonta Jackson – 5-10, 185 – RB – Petersburg, Va./Petersburg
A two-star recruit by 247 Sports … A two-time All-State selection, earning First-Team honors as a returner as a junior and as an all-purpose player in his senior season … Named Conference 26 Offensive Player of the Year … Caught a touchdown pass in the Big River Rivalry All-Star Game featuring players from Central Virginia … Named to the Richmond Times Dispatch A-List … Rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns and threw the winning touchdown to defeat Kettle Run in the playoffs … Helped Petersburg to the third round of the playoffs … Rushed for 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns and also threw for 700 yards and nine touchdowns while playing quarterback, running back and wide receiver as a senior.
Other Schools Considered: West Virginia
Kane Miskel – 6-2, 175 – DB – Suffolk, Va./King’s Fork
A two-star recruit by ESPN and 247 Sports … Earned First-Team All-State accolades at defensive back … Earned First-Team All-Conference 18 honors … Named First-Team All-757 defensive back … Received Second-Team All-Tidewater and All-Region accolades … Played in the Adidas 757 All-Star Game … Helped King’s Fork to a 10-3 record and the third round of the playoffs … Recorded 65 tackles, eight interceptions, three forced fumbles and scored four touchdowns.
Other Schools Considered: Charlotte
A.J. Oneal – 6-3, 210 – LB – Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs
A two-star recruit by ESPN and 247 Sports … Recorded 8.5 tackles per game, three sacks and an interception as a senior … Named First-Team All-Conference at linebacker … Earned All-District honors as a junior, while making 90 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks … Named linebacker MVP at the Charlotte Nike Camp.
Other Schools Considered: Appalachian State, Charlotte
Hasaan Patterson – 6-2, 185 – WR – Atlanta, Ga./Westlake
A three-star recruit by ESPN and a two-star recruit by 247 Sports and Rivals … Helped Westlake to a 10-2 record and the school’s first region championship in nine years … Had a 63-yard touchdown catch and 30-yard TD reception in wins over Campbell and South Cobb … Earned All-Region accolades … Recorded 23 receptions for 332 yards and four touchdowns … Also notched an 80-yard touchdown run.
Other Schools Considered: Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky
Kesean Strong – 5-10, 185 – RB – Temple Hills, Md./Potomac
A three-star recruit by 247 Sports and two-star recruit by Rivals … Rushed for 648 yards in just four games as a senior before a season-ending injury … As a junior earned First-Team All-County accolades … Rushed 95 times for 1,363 yards and 24 touchdowns … Returned seven kicks for touchdowns.
Other Schools Considered: Buffalo, Marshall, Maryland, New Mexico, Temple, Toledo
Hunter Sosebee – 6-7, 270 – OL – Tunnel Hill, Ga./Ringgold
Helped Ringgold to an 11-2 season … A two-time All-Region honoree at tackle … Named to the Chattanooga Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen … Earned First-Team All-Region honors at offensive line and Second-Team All-Region as a defensive lineman.
Other Schools Considered: Air Force, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee
Mufu Taiwo – 6-5, 250 – DT – Waldorf, Md./McDonough
A two-star recruit by 247 Sports and Rivals … Earned All-Conference accolades at defensive line … Named to the small-school All-State Team at offensive line … Played in the annual “Crab Bowl,” a high school All-Star Game featuring players from Washington, D.C. and Maryland … Ranked the No. 36 player in Maryland and No. 84 strong side defensive end in the country.
Other Schools Considered: Buffalo, Temple
Denzel Williams – 6-2, 200 – FS – Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie
Named First-Team All-State at safety … Earned First-Team All-Region honors at safety … Helped lead Dinwiddie to a 15-0 record and state championship as a junior … Named Conference 20 Defensive Player of the Year, as well as First-Team running back and defensive back … Named to the Richmond Times Dispatch A-List … Played in the second annual Big River Rivalry All-Star Game featuring players from Central Virginia … Rushed for 462-yards and 13 touchdowns … Earned First-Team All-Metro honors as a junior.
Other Schools Considered: Appalachian State