Jax State NSD
- Updated: February 7, 2024
Gamecocks announce eight signing-day signee, eight January transfers to go with early-signee class. Includes lists, bios and quotes from Jax State coach Rich Rodriguez on each new addition.
By East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State announced the additions of 10 football signees and eight transfers during Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
Jax State coach Rich Rodriguez also said the Gamecocks will add 18 invited walk-ons, including Oxford running back Jaydon Thomas.
What follows are signing-day bios, transfer bios and bios from the early signing period with quotes from Rodriguez:
Jax State signing day bios
Ryland Bragg — OL 6-3, 300, Pensacola, Fla./Pensacola Catholic HS
Jawaun Campbell — DL, 6-0, 275, DeFuniak Springs, Fla./Walton HS
Talan Carter — DL, 6-1, 290, Ocean Springs, Miss./Ocean Springs HS
Jaedon Hill — OL, 6-7, 285, Elberta/Elberta HS
Tyler Huff — QB, 6-1, 216, Orange Park, Fla./Ridgeview HS/Presbyterian/Furman
Jayke Jones — CB, 6-0, 170, Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian HS
Josh Knapp — S, 6-3, 215, Abingdon, Md./Archbishop Curley HS/VMI
Daylan Martin — OL, 6-2, 305, Saraland/Saraland HS
Walter Reddick — DL, 6-3, 240, Thomasville, Ga./Thomas County Central HS
Jamal Siler — OL, 6-4, 283, Elba/Elba HS
RYLAND BRAGG
Prepped at Pensacola Catholic High School in Pensacola, Fla. … led the Crusaders to an 11-3 record and an appearance in the state semifinals in 2023 … during his senior season with the Crusaders, did now allow a sack and recorded 56 pancake blocks and received the Mr Pancake Award … paved the way for an offense that rushed for nearly 3,000 yards … named First Team All-Area by the Pensacola News Journal and selected to play in the Pensacola Sports East/West All-Star Game … named to the All-Florida Panhandle Team by SBLive … named to the Select 50 Showcase All-America Team by Prep Redzone.
Rich Rodgriguez on Ryland Bragg: “He’s a kind of center-guard from Pensacola, Fla. Tough guy. Really intelligent players with great strength.”
JAWAUN CAMPBELL
Prepped at Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs, Fla. … led the Braves to an 11-1 record and the District Championship in 2023 … posted a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season … selected to play in the FACA North vs South All-Star Classic … recorded 99 tackles, including 6.0 TFL and 6.5 sacks … also recorded an interception, two pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and a blocked field goal in his senior season … chose Jax State over several offers, including Cincinnati and Miami (Ohio).
Rich Rodgriguez on Jawaun Campbell: We kind of got on him late. He’s down there in Walton High School, down on the border, and was a basketball player, very active. If he was a few inches taller, there’d be a lot of Power 5s on him. I really like the way he’s active. He’s got great strength. Several people from other schools will look at him, but he should be able to compete and help us at the nose guard position early on.”
TALAN CARTER
Prepped at Ocean Springs High School in Ocean Springs, Miss. … a First-Team All-State selection in Class 7A … named the All-Region 4-&A Player of the Year after recording 45 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss and one interception … led the Greyhounds to their third-straight Class 7A Region 4 Championship in 2023 … anchored a defense that allowed just 10.8 points per district game … selected to play in the Alabama vs Mississippi All-Star Game following his senior season.
Rich Rodgriguez on Talan Carter: He’s another nose guard, kind of the same kind of build out of Ocean Springs, Miss. Very productive. He has 16 tackles for loss. Played at a really good high school program. Played in the all-star game. Really active. We still need to get bigger up front, defensively, both those two guys (Campbell and Carter) can be nose guards going forward.
JAEDON HILL
Prepped for Elberta High School. … led the Warriors up front on both sides of the ball as a senior
in 2023 … recoded 51 pancake blocks and graded 91 percent in all snaps played … also the Class 6A state runner up in wrestling … chose Jax State over several Division I offers.
Rich Rodgriguez on Jaedon Hill: Jaedon Hill is another guy we got on kind of late. Big, tall, athletic guy. Coach (Rick) Trickett went and watched him work out a little bit and watched him wrestle. Very rarely do you see a guy that’s 6-7 that’s a wrestler. He’s a very good wrestler. He was a 6A state runner-up. He’s going to be a very active player for us at tackle.
TYLER HUFF
Transfer from Furman University in Greenville, S.C., where he was a team captain and the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 … led the Paladins to two 10-win seasons and the 2023 SoCon Championship … a dual-threat quarterback, passed for 1,869 yards and 10 touchdowns on 184-for-301 passing and ran for 591 yards and six touchdowns … ran for four touchdowns against Kennesaw State and threw for two in three-straight games during the season … as a junior in 2022, threw for 2,199 yards and 15 touchdowns on 199-of-292 passing and ran for 694 yards and eight touchdowns … spent three seasons at Presbyterian before transferring to Furman … prepped at Ridgeview High School, where he was an all-county player that threw for 5,000 yards and 62 touchdowns – both program records.
Rich Rodgriguez on Tyler Huff: He was the Southern Conference player of the year, led them to the playoff. He’s been a two-year starter at Furman. We’re very excited about Tyler. Right now, he went in the Army reserves to help pay for his school out of high school, so he’s doing his reserve duty down at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. It’s about 60-70 miles from Tucson. When I was at Arizona, we used to do our August camp down there. A couple of weeks ago, I flew out to Arizona, landed at Tuscon then got to spend the night at my house there and got to see Tyler and his wife. He’s married. Very mature guy, as you can imagine. I’m really excited about him. He’s got all of the intangibles. He’s athletic. He can throw. He’s intelligent. He’s got one year left. You get a guy like that, you expect him to come in and compete.
JAYKE JONES
Prepped at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla. … led the Conquerors to a 9-4 record and the district title in 2023 … according to 247Sports, a three-phase playmaker for Trinity Christian, which made it to Florida’s 1M semifinals … got snaps at both DB and WR. Totaled 38 tackles, 4 INT and 4 PBU on defense … caught 10 passes for 342 yards and 3 TD on offense. Also averaged 21.3 yards per punt return … chose Jax State over several offers that included FIU, Kennesaw State, UNLV and USF.
Rich Rodgriguez on Jayke Jones: Jayke Jones is a long, athletic corner out of Jacksonville, Fla., Trinity Christian High School. He played in a very good program and played receiver, too. He was probably good enough to play either side of the ball, and we got on Jayke and are excited about him.”
JOSH KNAPP
Spent the previous four seasons at VMI in Lexington, Va. … received All-Southern Conference honors from Phil Steele in 2023, when he was third on the team in tackles with 87, including 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for a loss, and added three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble … one of the defensive leaders for the Keydets in 2022 before suffering an injury in the fourth game of the season … in 2021, played in all 11 games, recording 82 tackles and two pass breakups … a three-sport athlete at Archbishop Curley High School in Abingdon, Md.
Rich Rodgriguez on Josh Knapp: He is a transfer from VMI. He’s a bigger safety, kind of a linebacker guy. We’ll probably play him at our nickel safety, outside linebacker/safety kind of role. Very intelligent guy. He’s going to graduate from VMI.
DAYLAN MARTIN
Prepped his senior season at Saraland High School. … a First-Team All-State selection for Class 6A as a senior, led the Spartans to a 14-1 record and a state runner-up finish … graded 96
percent for the season and didn’t allow a sack, while also recording 47 knockdowns … named to
Icons Sports Super 77 and one of the Top 10 Offensive Linemen in Alabama in 2023 … selected to
compete in the Alabama vs Mississippi All-Star Game and received the Academic Achievement Award for Alabama … started his prep career at Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette, Ala.
… chose the Gamecocks over several Division I offers.
Rich Rodgriguez on Daylan Martin: Daylan Martin may be one of the guys who was kind of a steal of the class. He played at a great high school program at Saraland. At 6-2, 305, he could probably play every position up front. He’s got a great personality, but he tore his knee in the state-championship game, like, the first series. We watched him. Everything is on track. He should be healthy enough to play this season. We’re real excited about Daylan. We think he’s going to have a great career.
WALTER REDDICK
Prepped at Thomas County Central High School in Thomasville, Ga. … as a senior in 2023, led the Yellow Jackets to a 15-0 record and the GHSA Class 6A State Championship … a First Team All-Region selection as a senior … finished the season with 57 tackles, including 16 tackles for a loss and seven sacks … added 24 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … invited to participate in the U.S. Army Bowl National Combine and to the Georgia vs Florida High School Showcase … chose the Gamecocks over several Division I offers.
Rich Rodgriguez on Walter Reddick: Walt Reddick is kind of a long, lanky defensive end. He’s 6-3, probably about 245 now. Great program. State championship. Very active guy. We were looking for some length at pass rusher, and that’s what Walt was.
JAMAL SILER
Prepped at Elba High School. … a first-team all-state selection in 2023, led the Tigers to a
13-1 record, a region title and to the semifinals of the state playoffs … a key on the EHS line, paving the way for 3,000-yard rusher Alvin Henderson … credited with 61 devastation blocks and didn’t allow a sack, while earning an 87 percent grade … on defense, credited with 56 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss and two sack.
Rich Rodgriguez on Jamal Siler: Jamal Siler is another guy that we thought, I don’t want to say overlooked, but we thought this guy is going to have a great career. He’s another freshman out of high school, Elba, down south. Very active on both sides of the ball. He was a two-way player and very good, so we’re real excited about Jamal.
Jax State January transfer bios
Reginald Hughes — BA, 6-2, 240, R-JR, Tunica, Miss./Rosa Fort HS/NE Mississippi CC/Ole Miss
Cam Jones — OT, 6-8, 330, R-SR, Knott County, Ky./Fredrick Douglass HS/Cincinnati
Demarcus Lacey — WR, 6-0, 181, JR, Birmingham/Pleasant Grove HS/North Alabama
Samario Rudolph — WR, 5-9, 180, R-SR, Mobile/Cottage Hill Christian/UAB
Kam Snell — S, 5-11, 194, R-SR, Owings Mills, Md./Good Counsel HS/Gannon
Brannon Spector — WR, 6-1, 205, R-SR, Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun HS/Clemson
Zion Turner — QB, 6-0, 203, R-SO, Miami, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS/UCONN
James Ziglor — S, 5-11, 190, R-JR, Marietta, Ga./Harrison HS/Vanderbilt/Buffalo/Navarro
REGINALD HUGHES
Transferred to Jax State from Ole Miss, where he was a defensive end for the Rebels in 2022 and
2023 … in 2022, played in 12 games in his first season at Ole Miss, recording six tackles, four solo … signed with the Rebels out of Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville, Miss., where he was one of the top JUCA players in the nation … a consensus three-star prospect by Rivals, On3 and 247Sports … ranked as the No. 1 junior college linebacker and No. 10 overall prospect by 247Sports … member of the ESPN JUCO50, checking in at No. 38 … tabbed as the fourth-best JUCO player in Mississippi according to 247Sports … prepped at Rosa Fort High School in Tunica, Miss., where he notched 84 tackles with 10.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks during his senior season.
Rich Rodgriguez on Reginald Hughes: Reggie Hughes is kind of a defensive end/linebacker type of guy, very productive. Played some at Ole Miss, and we’re going to look at him at both linebacker and defensive end.
CAM JONES
Spent the previous five seasons as a member of the football program at Cincinnati, where he had a unique path to the offensive line … started his UC career as a 6-1, 205-pound quarterback after signing as a four-star signal caller out of Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington, Ky. … transitioned to tight end during his redshirt season in 2019, played as a reserve tight end in 2020 before moving to the offensive line prior to the start of the 2021 season … appeared in 12 games on the Bearcats offensive front in 2023 after playing nine games in 2022 and 10 games in 2021 … as a high school quarterback, was the No. 7 player in Kentucky and a Top-30 quarterback nationally … chose Jax State over several offers that included Western Michigan, Marshall and UAB.
Rich Rodgriguez on Cam Jones: Cam Jones is an interesting story. He’s got great size, 6-8, 330. He’s out of Knott County, Ky., country town, and he played at Cincinnati. He was a quarterback in high school, believe it or not. Then he ate his way into being a tight end. He must’ve killed more deer and rabbit and ate more that, and now he’s at tackle, but he’s got a very athletic guy. He has a great personality. He’s fit in very quick. We thought we need some competition at tackle, and big Cam is giving that to us.
DEMARCUS LACEY
Transferred to Jax State from North Alabama in Florence, Ala., where he was the Lions’ leading
rusher in 2023 … ran for 589 yards and three touchdowns on 121 carries as a sophomore, while also hauling ion 21 receptions for 212 yards … in 2022, was a third-team All-ASUN Conference selection as a freshman after catching 19 passes for 316 yards and an average of 16.6 yards per catch and rushing for 215 yards on 34 carries … prepped at Pleasant Grove High School in Birmingham, where he helped lead the Spartans to two state championship game appearances … a first-team all-state selection and named the AHSAA Class 5A Back of the Year.
Rich Rodgriguez on Demarcus Lacey: Demarcus Lacey is another guy we kind of knew about coming out of high school. He’s played at North Alabama the last couple of years. He was the leading rusher, and he can play at slot receiver. We’re looking at him at wideout. He’s a really good athlete. He’ll probably learn to play all four receiver positions for us.
SAMARIO RUDOLPH
Transfer from UAB that has one year of eligibility remaining … in his final season with the Blazers, hauled in 22 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown … in his UAB career, caught 45 receptions for 545 yards and five touchdowns … prepped at Cottage Hill Christian in Mobile, Ala., where he was a first-team all-state wide receiver and the AHSAA Class 2A Back of the Year after his senior season in 2018 … led the Warriors to a 10-2 record, a region title and to the second round of the playoffs as a senior … was the Coastal Alabama Offensive MVP in 2018 after catching 81 passes for 1,667 yards and 24 touchdowns, while also returning 10 kickoffs for 517 yards and
three touchdowns.
Rich Rodgriguez on Samario Rudolph: He goes by ‘Flip’. He’s another experienced guy, started several games at UAB. He’s got great speed. He was a great high school player in the state, and we’ve got a chance to have him here for one year and help us out. He’ll play all four receiver positions, as well.
KAM SNELL
Transfer from Gannon University in Erie, Pa., where he spent five seasons with the Golden Knights … as a junior in 2023 was named all-conference after leading the team and tying for the league lead with five interceptions, while adding 46 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, six passes broken up, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … in his Gannon career, recorded 108 tackles, 21 passes defended, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and one recovery … prepped at Good Counsel High School in Olney, Md.
Rich Rodgriguez on Kam Snell: We were looking for a couple of experienced safeties to kind of help us out. He was one that played at a Division II school, where he played a little bit all over the place for them in the secondary. Very, very active. In our new defense, he can play several of the safety positions.
BRANNON SPECTOR
Transferred to Jax State from Clemson, where he spent five seasons with the Tigers … an All-ACC Academic Team member … in his Clemson career, played in 38 games and started at wide receiver in six … caught 38 passes for 372 yards and two touchdowns in his career with the Tigers … signed with Clemson out of Calhoun High School in Calhoun, Ga. … a wide receiver and safety, was the GHSA Region 6 AAA Athlete of the Year and a first-team all-region player … as a senior, had 49 catches for 719 yards and seven touchdowns … on defense, had 47 tackles, five tackles for a loss and five interceptions … named the County Player of the Year and led CHS to the 2017 state championship.
Rich Rodgriguez on Brannon Spector: Same thing, we were looking for some experienced wide receivers. He’s got great experience. He played at the high level at Clemson. He started several games for them, a big physical guy. He has maturity. I think he already has his Masters degree, as a matter of fact, so we’re looking for Brannon to make an immediate impact for us.
ZION TURNER
Transfer from UCONN, where he led the Huskies to a bowl game as a true freshman in 2022 … was redshirted in 2023, giving him three years of eligibility remaining … in his freshman season, played in all 13 games, completing 149-of-258 passes for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns … also ran for 262 yards and a touchdown on 90 carries … prepped at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he led his team to a combined 37-2 record in his career … was a three-star prospect after he threw for 2,103 yards and 25 touchdowns in the passing game … led his team to a 14-1 record as a senior … in his career led St. Thomas Aquinas to three-straight state titles and threw for 4,951 yards and 59 touchdown passes … signed with UCONN out of high school over offers that included Coastal Carolina, Miami, FIU, Texas A&M, Louisville, Toledo, Kentucky, LSU, Arkansas, Pittsburgh, Jax State and Temple.
Rich Rodgriguez on Zion Turner: We lost our Zion (Webb) to graduation. We were looking for some competition at quarterback, with a young guy and an older guy. Zion is a younger guy. He played at a great high school program … then went to UCONN. He was the backup at the beginning of the year, then he became the starter after an injury and led them to a bowl game as a true freshman.
JAMES ZIGLOR
Transferred to Jax State from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas … led Navarro to the SWJCFC
Championship Game and to the Champs Heart of Texas Bowl in 2023 … in his sophomore season,
recorded 52 tackles, 49 of those solo, and 2.0 tackles for a loss … added an interception and four pass breakups … spent the 2022 season at Buffalo after transferring from Vanderbilt … as a freshman at Vandy in 2021, appeared in all but one game, rushing for 41 yards and returning 11 kickoffs for 186 yards … prepped at Harrison High School in Cobb County, Ga., where he was a three-star prospect according to ESPN.com and 247Sports … listed as the No. 85 prospect in Georgia by ESPN.com … helped Harrison to a 15-0 record and the GHSA Class 6A State Title in his junior season … an all- county, all-metro and all-state selection as a senior.
Rich Rodgriguez on James Ziglor: He’s been everywhere. … We looked at him at Navarro Junior College. He’s going to come in here with two years to play as a safety. He also played running back. He’s got good size, and he’s a mature guy.
Jax State early signee bios
Jeremiah Colbert — WR, 5-10, 165, FR, Atlanta/Buford HS
Zevi Eckhaus — QB, 6-1, 205, SR, Los Angeles/Culver City HS/Bryant University
Amare Grayson — OL, 6-2, 282, FR, Stockbridge (Ga.) HS
Nick Igbeare — DL, 6-4, 260, FR, Suwanee, Ga./Collins Hills HS
Alex Moore — TE, 6-6, 230, FR, Huntsville HS
Nick Pace — LB, 5-11, 190, FR, Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt County HS
Justus Savage — RB, 5-10, 195, FR, Atlanta/Langston Hughes HS
Wyatt Sonderman — WR, 6-1, 175, FR, Marietta, Ga./Walton HS
Zedric Washington, Jr. — LB, 6-3, 225, FR, Magnolia, Miss./Parklane Academy
A.J. Watkins — ATH, 6-2, 195, FR, Lithonia, Ga./Norcross HS
Marc Woods, Jr. — SAF, 6-4, 187, FR, Madison/James Clemens HS
JEREMIAH COLBERT
A three-star prospect by 247Sports and a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … played his senior season at Buford High School in Buford, Ga. … primarily a wide receiver and kick returner for BHS … also an accomplished track star at Buford … played the 2022 season at Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Ga. … a big play threat with excellent speed both from the receiver position and as a returner on special teams … chose Jax State over several offers that included Army, Georgia State, James Madison, Liberty, Maryland, Middle Tennessee, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Florida and Western Michigan.
Rich Rodriguez on Jeremiah Colbert: We got some speed in Jeremiah Colbert.
ZEVI ECKHAUS
Transferring to Jax State from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, where he was the Big South-OVC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 … in his senior season, passed for 2,907 yards and tied the single-season record with 28 passing touchdowns … left Bryant as its career leader in total offense with 9,287 yards, completions with 724 and passing touchdowns with 75 … threw for 8,513 career yards at Bryant … averaged 315 passing yards per game in conference play as a senior … selected to the All-New England Team by the New England Football Writers Association … was a second-team All-Big South quarterback in 2022 after passing for 3,228 yards and 26 touchdowns … as a freshman in 2021, was named All-NEC First Team and was fourth in the race for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman in FCS each year, after passing for 2,392 yards and 21 touchdowns … prepped at Culver City High School in Culver City, Calif., where was named the Los Angeles Times Back of the Year as a senior … a two-time all-state performer that threw for 10,210 yards and 137 touchdowns in his career … chose Jax State over several offers that included Akron, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Buffalo.
Rich Rodriguez on Zevi Eckhaus: He played at Bryant and had a great three years there, and he’s going to be coming in. We’re really excited about him. He’s an older mature guy, and he was highly productive. He has unbelievable accuracy and timing. He’s an athletic guy who can run, but every pass is right on the money. Extremely intelligent, extremely mature. We needed an older guy. We lose an old guy in Zion (Webb), and we need an older guy to come in and compete right away.“
AMARE “BUBBA” GRAYSON
A three-star prospect by 247Sports and a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … prepped at Stockbridge High School in Stockbridge, Ga. … an all-state offensive lineman and a first-team all-region performer for SHS …led the Tigers to a 12-3 record and to a runner-up finish in the 2023 GHA Class 4A State Championship … named to the 2023 GPB Sports All-Finals Team … chose Jax State over several offers that included West Virginia, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, James Madison, Liberty, Maryland, Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion and Western Kentucky.
Rich Rodriguez on Bubba Grayson: Bubba Grayson was one of the best offensive linemen out of high school we were recruiting, so we’re very excited about him.
NICK IGBEARE
Prepped at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga. … was a first-team all-region defensive lineman in Region 8- AAAAAAA for the Eagles as a senior … was named Gwinnett County Player of the Month for October … as a senior, racked up 66 tackles and an impressive 27.0 tackles for a loss, including 11.0 sacks and 25 quarterback hurries … chose Jax State over several offers that included UCF, Georgia Southern, and Buffalo.
Rich Rodriguez on Nick Igbeare: We think he’s got a lot of potential as a defensive lineman.
ALEX MOORE
Prepped at Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Ala. … named one of the Top Tight End Prospects by Rocket City Preps prior to the 2023 season … was a key member of the Panthers offense as a tight end that was a key blocker in the run game and also an option in the passing game.
NICK PACE
Prepped at Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Ga. … helped the Packers to their second-straight region title in 2023 … CCHS finished his senior season with a 12-1 record after falling in the third round of the GHSA 7-A playoffs … was named the Packers Defensive Player of the Year and a Team Captain as s senior … a First-Team All-Region 1-7A selection after his senior season … was also First Team All-Region as a junior in 2022 after leading the Packers in tackles with 160 … chose Jax State over several offers that included Charlotte, Georgia Southern and UMass.
Rich Rodriguez on Nick Pace: Nick Pace is a really good athlete on defense.
JUSTUS SAVAGE
A three-star prospect by 247Sports … prepped at Langston Hughes High School in Fairburn, Ga. … 247Sports ranked him the No. 48 running back in the nation in the 2024 class and the No. 63 player in Georgia … ran for over 1,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in the rgular season alone in his senior campaign … opened his senior season in a big way, running for 135 yards and two scores in a 39-34 win over Carrollton on ESPN2 … as a junior, ran the ball 153 times for 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead LHHS to a 15-0 record and the GHSA Class 6A state title … chose the Gamecocks over offers that included Indiana and Toledo.
Rich Rodriguez on Justus Savage: There were some Power 5 opportunities for him. I thought he was one of the most dynamic high school guys that we had on our board. We think he can make an impact pretty quickly. … The more we watched him and ranked him, he shot up to the top of the board, just from ability to make somebody miss that kind of fits a lot of stuff that we do. He’s a good-sized guy, too, 5-10, 195. I don’t know if the first guy ever made a tackle on him. Extremely dynamic. Loved him when he came on his visit. Great personality.
WYATT SONDERMAN
Prepped at Walton High School in Marietta, Ga. … an all-state wide receiver in Class 7A in Georgia … led WHS to a 14-1 record and a runner-up finish in the GHSA Class 7A Playoffs in 2023 … Walton finished the season ranked 18th in the MaxPreps National HS Football Rankings, after being ranked in the top 10 before falling in the state championship game … named First-Team All-Region 5 for Class 7A as a senior after catching 32 passes for 506 yards and seven touchdowns … as a junior in 2022, caught 42 passes for 744 yards and 11 touchdowns … also
had offers from UMass, Charleston Southern and Wofford.
Rich Rodriguez on Wyatt Sonderman: He’s a wide receiver that we think can play all four wide receiver positions.
ZEDRIC WASHINGTON, JR.
Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … 247Sports ranked him the No. 131 Edge linebacker in the nation and the No. 51 player in Mississippi in his class … prepped at Parklane Academy in McComb, Miss. … selected to play in the MAIS 4A-5A-6A All-Star Football Game, where he was named Defensive MVP for the Blue Team … an MAIS All-State selection … chose the Gamecocks over several offers that included Louisiana, Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Middle Tennessee, Southern Miss and UAB.
Rich Rodriguez on Zedric Washington: Zedrick Washington is another athletic linebacker.
A.J. WATKINS
Prepped at Norcross High School in Norcross, Ga. … served as Norcross’ quarterback and earned First-Team All Region 7 for GHSA Class 7A as a senior … was named the Class 7A Region 7 Player of the Year after scoring 17 rushing touchdowns, nine passing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns … threw for 1,114 yards, ran for 1,103 yards and added 370 receiving yards in his senior campaign … chose the Gamecocks over offers that included Air Force, Army, Kennesaw State and Toledo.
Rich Rodriguez on A.J. Watkins: He’s going to get a look at quarterback first and get a chance to learn the system quickly from that. He probably could help us in other areas, but we’ll give him a shot. Really athletic. I think he was probably overlooked in a lot of ways because people weren’t sure what position, but he can really run, and he’s an outstanding athlete, so we’ll put him at quarterback to help him learn the system and go from there.
MARC WOODS, JR.
Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, who ranked him the No. 158 safety and the No. 55 player in the state of Alabama in his class … prepped at James Clemens High School in Madison, Ala. … a First Team All-Region 4 selection for Class 7A as a senior after recording 67 tackles, six tackles for a loss, two interceptions, seven pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
Rich Rodriguez on Marc Woods: Mark Woods is a big 6-4 safety from down there in Madison. Marc’s going to be a really good player.
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