NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion Football Head Coach Ricky Rahne announced the addition of 30 players during National Signing Day. The Monarchs added 19 high school players, including five from Virginia, eight junior college players and three from four-year schools.
“We are excited to add 30 players to our team,” Rahne said. “It is a great mix of 19 high schoolers and 11 transfers. This class helps us at every position and allows us to continue to build a championship program.”
ODU’s 2026 Recruiting Class
Zion Agnew – 5-9, 160 – WR - Columbia, S.C./Ridge View/Lenoir-Rhyne/East Carolina
Had 41 receptions for 655 yards and five touchdowns for Lenoir-Rhyne in 2025 … Caught four passes for 112 yards in the season-opener against West Florida … Had a season best six catches twice, against Carson-Newman and Mars Hill … Caught 18 passes for 213 yards and a TD for LR in 2013 … Out of high school, was tabbed to the 2022 SCFCA All-State Team...Selected to play in the 2022 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas ... Posted 1,030 receiving yards on 65 catches and notched 12 touchdowns as a junior in helping Ridge View to the quarterfinals of the South Carolina AAAAA state playoffs ... Ranked eighth in receiving yards in the state of South Carolina in 2021 ... Accumulated more than 100 yards receiving in five of the 10 games in which he played his junior season, highlighted by an 11-catch, 172-yard, two-touchdown effort in a 47-41 second-round state AAAAA playoff win against Hillcrest.
Talan Babin – 6-1, 215 – LB - Ponte Vedra, Fla./Ponte Vedra
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … Has 76 tackles and nine tackles for loss so far this season … He has 242 tackles and 20 tackles for loss in his high school career … He has helped lead Ponte Vedra to an 11-2 record and berth in the state semifinals … As a junior helped lead Ponte Vedra to the regional semifinals.
BJ Bedgood – 6-0, 175 – WR - Alexander City, Ala./Benjamin Russell
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … The No. 31 ranked recruit in Alabama … Earned first team All-State honors … Had 57 catches for 1,010 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior … Caught 52 passes for 833 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior … Helped lead Benjamin Russell to a 12-2 record and berth in the state semifinals.
Omarion Bender – 6-3, 334 – OL - Soso, Miss./West Jones/Mississippi Gulf Coast
A two-year starter on the offensive line at Mississippi Gulf Coast … Earned first team All-State honors as a senior at West Jones high school and helped lead the program to two state championships.
Zialis Blackmon – 6-3, 181 – WR - Biggersville, Miss./Biggersville
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … No. 33 ranked recruit in Mississippi … Caught 43 passes for 1,117 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior.
Demorrison Brown – 6-3, 308 – OL – Canton, Miss./Canton/Mississippi Gulf Coast
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … Started seven games this season in his first year at Mississippi Gulf Coast … Earned first team All-State honors at Canton High School.
Martez Curry – 6-3, 307 – OL - Memphis, Tenn./Freedom Prep/Lincoln
A three-year starter at Lincoln, started 29 games on the offensive line … Helped lead Freedom Prep to the regional championship game as a senior.
Jeremiah Deese – 6-2, 196 – LB - Greensboro, N.C./Northeast Guilford
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … Registered 67 tackles, 10 pass breakups and eight tackles for loss.
Khi’Len Gates – 6-1, 294 – OL - Jonesboro, Ark./Nettleton/LincolnA two-year starter at Lincoln … Made 21 starts … Earned all-conference honors.
Kingston Gregory – 6-1, 160 - CB - Oxford, Miss./Oxford
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … Caught 51 passes for 759 yards and eight touchdowns … Registered 22 tackles, three interceptions and four passes defensed.
Eddie Guerra – 5-11, 170 – CB - Tallahassee, Fla./Thomas County Central (Ga.)
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … Recorded 40 tackles and five pass breakups as a senior.
Kendrick Hall – 6-5, 299 – OL - West Memphis, Ark./West Memphis/Butler CC
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … The No. 27 ranked recruit in Arkansas … Also played at Missouri Southern … Earned all-conference honors as a senior at West Memphis.
JJ Harrell – 6-0, 195 – WR - Sardis, Miss./North Panola/Holmes CC/Mississippi State
A consensus 4-star recruit by 247Sports, On3, ESPN and Rivals … Ranked as the No. 4 overall recruit in the state of Mississippi and the No. 25 overall wide receiver according to 247Sports … Rated inside ESPN’s Top 300 for 2024 at No. 285 … Named to the Clarion Ledger 2023 Dandy Dozen team … Earned First Team All-State honors in 2023 as an Athlete … Helped lead North Panola to the second round of the 2023 Mississippi High School Playoffs … In 2022, Harrell hauled in 41 receptions for 987 yards and 18 touchdowns in 12 games … Lead North Panola to the 3A State Semifinals in 2021 and the quarterfinals in 2022 … Played in the Mississippi Alabama All-Star Game … Caught 14 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns at Holmes CC this season.
Chris Hilliard – 6-2, 283 – DL - Huntersville, N.C./William Amos
Recorded 56 tackles, seven sacks and a fumble recovery at William Amos High School.
CJ Jackson III – 5-9, 168 – RB - Norfolk, Va./Green Run
A three-star recruit by 247Sports. The No. 14 ranked player in the 757 by the Virginian-Pilot and the No. 49 ranked player in Virginia … He rushed for 1,386 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior.
Asher Horn – 6-0, 201 – S – Evansville, Ind./Evansville Harrison/Garden City/St. Francis (Ind.)
Played in 11 games in 2025 for Garden City, registering 55 tackles, six interceptions and a sack.
Greg Johnson – 5-10, 185 – CB – Ovilla, Texas/Midlothian Heritage/Navy/Garden City
Played at Navy in 2023 and 2024 … He redshirted for the Midshipmen after playing in four games in 2023 before playing in all 13 games in 2024, recording five tackles and a tackle for loss … Totaled 65 tackles, five interceptions and six pass breakups this season at Garden City.
Shaq Leaks – 5-11, 166 – CB - Baytown, Texas/Baytown Sterling
Recorded 31 tackles, four interceptions, nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles for Baytown Sterling … On the offense, rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns and had 11 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns … Also returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
Dory Lewis-Wilson – 6-1, 293 – OL - Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith
Earned first team All-State honors in 2024 and helped lead Oscar Smith to a state championship … Ranked the No. 26 recruit in the 757 by the Virginian-Pilot.
De’Veion McLilley-Bulo – 5-10, 191 – LB - Ypsilanti, Mich./Ann Arbor Huron
Recorded 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three forced fumbles as a senior.
Brooklyn Nace –6-2, 194 – QB - York, Pa./Central York
A three-star recruit by 247Sports. Ranked as the No. 65 recruit in Pennsylvania … Earned Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors and first team All-District honors as a senior … He completed 365-of-476 passes for 5,127 yards and 65 touchdowns and rushed for 446 yards and four touchdowns in his career … A three-year starter at quarterback, earned All-State honors as a junior and is a two-time first team all-conference honoree.
Daniel Pickens – 6-1, 176 – S - Gautier, Miss./Resurrection Catholic/Pearl River
Recorded 64 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception this year for Pearl River … Played at Resurrection Catholic HS ... Four-time 1A First Team All-District ... 2023 District Player of the Year ... Two-time All-State selection ... Carried the ball 192 times for 1,301 yards and 22 touchdowns ... Caught 25 passes for 327 yards and six touchdowns ... Made 39 tackles, intercepted one pass and tallied two pass breakups.
Malachi Harris – 6-2, 247 – DL - Roxboro, N.C./Rolesville
As a junior, caught 34 passes for 452 yards and five touchdowns … Defensively, registered 44 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
Jason Hoskins – 6-2, 363 – OL - Wilmington, Del./Dover/Lackawanna
Earned first team All-State and All-District honors as a senior at Dover High School.
TaySean Jones – 6-3, 211 – TE - Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … He caught 69 passes for 1,120 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior … A two-time All-Region performer, registered 33 tackles and four tackles for loss.
Landon Kehoe – 6-0, 215 – LB - Danville, Pa./Danville Area
Recorded 361 tackles and 30 tackles for loss in his career at Danville Area … Totaled 143 tackles and 19 tackles for loss as a junior … Also rushed for 654 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 56 passes for 765 yards and eight touchdowns.
Wesley Lattus – 6-5, 278 – OL – Herndon, Va./Oakton
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … The No. 59 ranked player in Virginia … First team All-District and All-Region.
Brayden Myovela – 6-2, 197 – WR - Wichita, Kan./Maize
As a senior at Maize, passed for 1,518 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,153 yards and 20 touchdowns … Led Maize to a regional title and 10-1 record as a senior … Also a standout basketball player.
Keegan Parker – 6-7, 250 – OL - Fredericksburg, Va./Courtland
Earned first team all-conference honors
Will Phillips – 6-2, 181 – S - Trussville, Ala./Hewitt-Trussville
A three-star recruit by 247Sports … Totaled 185 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions at Hewitt-Trussville … Helped lead Hewitt-Trussville to an 8-3 record and first round of the playoffs.
ODU finished the regular season 9-3 and is bowl bound. The Monarchs will find out their fate on Sunday, Dec. 7. Stay tuned to ODUSports.com for more information.