NEWBERRY, S.C. – Newberry College and head football coach Zak Willis announced the signing of 39 football players who will enroll next fall at Newberry to suit up for the Indians. The first-day class is the largest in Willis’ tenure with the Indians. The list below reflects the additions to the original list since signing day.
“We met all of our needs, and it was a great class because of the quality of the people that we signed. We have some quality student-athletes and we’re very excited about that,” Willis said of his third signing class at Newberry.
“It was the most successful recruiting class I’ve been a part of, and the best class in terms of academics that we’ve brought in so far. We got every first choice at every position that we wanted.”
The 2005 Newberry signing class had members that were being recruited heavily by Division I-A and I-AA programs such as Vanderbilt, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Elon, Western Carolina, Appalachian State, S.C. State, Wofford, Furman, UTEP, and Akron.
In addition to the phenomenal freshman class, three talented transfers will join the squad for next year’s campaign: Thomas Chambliss, a 6-4, 320-lb. defensive lineman from Pasadena City College; Antoine Morgan, a 6-5, 225-lb. defensive end from Vanderbilt University and Marlboro County High School; and Hal Clary, a 5-10, 210-lb. running back from Coastal Carolina and Newberry High School.
Newberry comes off a 5-6 season highlighted by victories over I-AA Coastal Carolina University and rival Presbyterian College in the battle for the Bronze Derby. The Indians still await anticipated signings from a number of high-profile South Carolina players.
2005 Signing Class (arranged alphabetically)
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. High School Honors
Dontay Bennett OL 6-3 290 Timberland Shrine Bowl
Gary Blair OL 6-3 280 West Oak All-County
Jeremy Bunch LB 6-0 190 Strom Thurmond All-Region
Gabriel Butler OL 6-2 260 Greenwood All-Region
Andre Clark DE 6-2 235 Rock Hill North-South Def. MVP
Rashaud Commodore OL 6-5 265 West Ashley
Brent Copeland QB 6-3 170 T.L. Hanna All-State
Kelvin Crome OL 6-6 385 Rock Hill All-Region
Matthew Eckenroth P 5-9 165 Camden North-South
Zack Edwards LB 6-0 185 Ben Lippen SCISA All-State
Larry Gadsden RB 6-0 230 Bishop England
Brett Gault RB 6-0 205 Pinewood Prep. S.C./Ga. All-Star
Jare Gault QB 6-3 195 Jonesville 1A Off. POY
Eric Goode WR 6-1 185 Chesnee North-South Off. MVP
Michael Green FB 6-2 220 Wren
Cody Guyton DE 6-2 210 Jonesville All-Region
Cameron Hames DB 5-10 170 Jonesville All-Region
Pat Hickman DE 6-3 215 1st Bap.Chas. S.C./Ga. All-Star
Mike Hill DE 6-2 235 Hanahan Shrine Bowl
Isaac Johnson LB 5-11 195 Stratford
Taylor Kirkman DB 5-10 165 1st Bap.Chas.
Damarcus Jones RB 5-10 215 Dreher North-South
Jamar Lampkin DE 6-3 260 Timberland All-Region
P.J. Little DE 6-3 240 Stratford North-South
January Maclin DB 5-8 170 Stall
Jarius Mack DE 6-3 215 Ridge View
Bobby McDonald OL 6-3 265 Wren
Ryan McLain DL 6-0 275 West Ashley Shrine Bowl
Derrell Mills FS 5-11 185 Hillcrest North-South
Brian Moore DL 6-0 260 Fairfield Central
Andre Moyd CB 5-11 190 Andrews North-South
Will Newell LB 6-2 225 Irmo Shrine Bowl
Zigmund Osby WR 5-8 160 Fairfield Central
Jamar Porter DE 6-3 215 Union North-South
Mark Scott LB 5-10 195 Kingstree
Cedric Simmons DE 6-3 250 Stratford North-South
Andrew Slenski TE 6-2 225 Mauldin All-Region
Barrett Stanley FB 5-8 200 Maiden (N.C.) All-Conference
Reginald Stuckey LB 5-10 190 1st Bap.Chas. SCISA All-State
Phil Timms OL 6-4 265 Fairfield Central
Brenton Walters TE 6-3 215 Andrew Jackson All-Region, Area POY
Delvin Ware ATH 5-10 175 Rock Hill All-Area
Tobias Wheeler LB 6-1 220 Berkeley North-South
Carlnel Williams FS 6-3 180 Midland Valley All-Region
Garrett Williams CB 5-8 155 Andrew Jackson All-Region
