JMU's signing class full of Virginia natives - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

HARRISONBURG, VA (WWBT) -

James Madison University has signed 16 to National Letters of Intent to play football for the Dukes next fall, Head Coach Mickey Matthews announced today.

Of the signees, Madison remained strong through the region, signing 11 out of Virginia, two from Maryland and one each from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Jersey.

 

James Madison's 2013 Football Signing Class

 

Name                                               Pos          Yr.          Ht.         Wt.         Hometown/High School (Previous)

Khalid Abdullah                         RB            Fr.          5-10       195         Newport News, Va./Heritage

Andrew Ankrah                          DE            Fr.           6-4         220         Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard

Brandon Brown                          TE            Fr.           6-4         240         Chester, Va./Matoaca

Jordan Brown                       WR/DB      Fr.              6-1         190         Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley

Rashard Davis                             WR           Fr.           5-9         180         Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville

Nick Edwards                           TE/DE        Fr.           6-4         225         Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam

Raven Greene                             DB            Fr.           6-0         185         Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial

Kyre Hawkins                               LB            Fr.           6-2         200         Baltimore, Md./Dunbar

Cody Hendrickson                    DL            Fr.           6-3         250         Senford, Va./York

Cardon Johnson                        RB            Fr.           5-9         180         Newport News, Va./Warwick

Evans Osuji                                   DE            Fr.           6-4         235         Maplewood, N.J./West Orange

Brandon Ravenel                      WR           Fr.          5-10       180         Stafford, Va./North Stafford

Simeyon Robinson                   DL            Fr.           6-2         265         Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial

Blaine Stewart                            WR           Fr.           6-2         190         Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown

Aaron Stinnie                          OL/DL        Fr.           6-5         260         Troy, Va./St. Anne's-Belfield

Brad Szoka                                   WR           Fr.          5-11       180         Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County

 

Signees by State:

Virginia (11) - Abdullah, B. Brown, Davis, Edwards, Greene, Hendrickson, Johnson, Ravenel, Robinson, Stinnie, Szoka

Maryland (2) - Ankrah, Hawkins

Pennsylvania (1) - J. Brown

New Jersey (1) - Osuji

West Virginia (1) – Stewart

 

Khalid Abdullah                       RB           Fr.         5-10       195        Newport News, Va./Heritage

High School Head Coach: George Massenburg

As a senior had 1,621 yards rushing on 228 carries and 21 touchdowns, including two kick returns for touchdowns, earning him Peninsula District Offensive Player of the Year

Was also named to the First Team All-District squad as a running back, kick returner and punt returner, while also garnering First Team All-757 and All-Eastern Region accolades

Led Heritage to a berth in the playoffs his senior year

Had a strong junior year gaining 927 yards and rushing for five touchdowns on the season.

 

Andrew Ankrah                        DE           Fr.          6-4        220        Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard

High School Head Coach: Dave Mencarini

Earned First Team All-Montgomery County and Second Team All-Sentimental High School honors and was named the team's outstanding defensive lineman after recording 17 quarterback hurries and six sacks

Also was selected to playing in the Maryland Crab Bowl

Was a vital part of the defense for the state runner-up Cougars that only allowed nine touchdowns and posted five shutouts his senior year, the second state runner-up finish for Quince Orchard during his time

Was a member of the Honor Roll

Son of Kofi Ankrah and Nana Bonsu

Younger brother of Nebraska defensive end Jason Ankrah

Undecided on major

 

Brandon Brown                        TE            Fr.          6-4        240        Chester, Va./Matoaca

High School Head Coach: Patrick Manuel

Played on both sides of the ball playing linebacker and tight end for the Warriors

Was named to the First Team All-AAA Central District as a tight end both his junior and senior years, as well as being named Honorable Mention All-Metro both seasons

Was also Honorable Mention his sophomore year

Named First Team All-Academic his senior year

Was on the Honor Roll throughout high school, graduating with advance studies

Son of Daryl and Stephanie Brown and Jerry Brown & Whitney Maynor

Undecided on major

High school teammate of current JMU quarterback Michael Birdsong

 

Jordan Brown                       WR/DB      Fr.          6-1        190        Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley

High School Head Coach: Don Holl

Played quarterback and defensive back in high school, starting his final three years at quarterback and posting an 18-5 record as a starter his junior and senior seasons (with four of the losses to the two-time state champions)

Threw for more than 2,000 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, and rushed for 400 yards with five scores, garnering Honorable Mention All-State honors by Pennsylvania Football News as well as his second straight selection to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and Northern Fabulous 22 Teams

Led the WPIAL in regular-season passing yards in 2012 and led Seneca Valley to a 10-2 record, its second straight playoff appearance and advancing to the state semifinals, earning him First Team All-Section Quad A North as well as being honored on All-Butler County and All-Conference teams.

Selected to play in the Pennsylvania All-Star East-West Game

Threw for 2,200 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and had a 63 percent completion rating his junior year while rushing for 585 yards with six scores while leading Seneca Valley to the WPIAL quarterfinals

Over his career he threw for school records of 5,426 yards and 46 touchdowns while leading Seneca Valley to its first playoff win since 2002

Also rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns in his high school career

Was named First Team All-Butler County and All-Conference three times at quarterback

Recorded a 4.5 40-yard dash and 34" vertical leap

Also ran track and played basketball, earning letters in both during his high school career

A four-year member of the Honor Roll

Son of Clark and Kim Brown

Father Clark was a quarterback at Michigan State while brother C.J. is current starting quarterback at Maryland

Plans to major in business

 

Rashard Davis                           WR           Fr.          5-9        180        Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville

High School Head Coach: Eric Sherry

Was a dual-threat quarterback in high school, throwing for 1,074 yards and 15 touchdowns completing 61 of 142 attempts and ran for 1,383 yards on 130 rushes and 17 touchdowns his senior year to earn First Team All-District honors as an athlete and Second Team All-District accolades at quarterback

Named the team's MVP after leading Charlottesville its first playoff berth in 10 years.

Named Falcon Club Player of the week on September 19, 2012 for his game against Culpeper, accounting for six scores including four on the ground while racking up 200 yards on nine carries and two passing touchdowns finishing with 122 yards while going 5 for 8.

Has a 40-yd dash time of 4.4 and vertical leap of 33''

Also ran track, posting a 10.8 time in the 100-meter dash and jumping 6-1 in the high jump and 21-2 in the long jump, earning 2012 Outdoor Track MVP honors after capturing the districk title in the 100 meters

Also was a member fo the 4x200 relay school-record holder that qualified for indoor regionals

Graduating with Honors

Son of Russell and Katrina Hunter

Undecided on major

Nick Edwards                         TE/DE       Fr.          6-4        225        Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam

High School Head Coach: Chris Dewitt

Saw time at defensive end and tight end, earning First Team All-Beach District, Second Team All-Tidewater, and Second Team All-Eastern Region at tight end while garnering Second Team All-Beach District Team as a defensive end his senior year

Was a Second Team All-Beach District defensive end his junior year after being named Honorable Mention All-District as a sophomore

Also played varsity basketball his first three years of high school

Was named ot the Honor Roll or Principal's List every semester

Son of Barry and Michele Edwards

Undecided on major

 

Raven Greene                             DB           Fr.          6-0        185        Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial

High School Head Coach: Sam Scarborough

Played running back, wide receiver and defensive back in his high school career

Posted 57 tackles, eight passes knocked down, five interceptions and one blocked punt his senior season, earning First Team All-Beach District, Second Team All-757 and Honorable Mention All-Eastern Region honors.

Also had 900 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns while playing wide receiver and tailback his senior year

Garnered Honorable Mention All-Beach District as a junior

Was a member of the Honor Roll

Son of Rasean and Cheria Greene

Plans to major in sports management

 

Kyre Hawkins                             LB            Fr.          6-2        200        Baltimore, Md./Dunbar

High School Head Coach: Laurence Smith

Named to the 2012 Pre-season All-City team

Helped lead team to a 13-1 record and a Class 1A State Championship in 2012, recording 104 tackles and one interception on the season

Defense recorded 10 shutouts and only allowed 28 points through the entire season

Played on the Baltimore Side for the Maryland Crab Bowl

Transferred from Archbishop Curley High School to Dunbar for his senior season

Runs a 4.6 40-yard dash and has a vertical of 32 inches

Ran track on the 100 and 200-meter dash and 4x100 and 4x200 relay squads, including qualifying for the Penn Relays as a junior

As a wrestler is currently 44-3 and ranked No. 1 in his weight class in Baltimore.

Also played basketball, serving as the team captain of the freshman hoops squad

Named ot the Honor Roll and selected to the National Honor Society of High School Scholars

Son of Michael and Lisa Wilson

Plans to major in kinesiology

Worked in the Ray Lewis foundation.

 

Cody Hendrickson                  DL           Fr.          6-3        250        Senford, Va./York

High School Head Coach: Douglas Pereira

Played all four years in high school after starting to play football as a freshman

As a senior served as team captain and had 52 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles.

Earned First Team All-State, Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Region and First Team All-District his final high school season on the defensive line

Helped lead the 2012 Falcons defense to a runner-up finish in the district, allowing just 165 yards and 11.6 points per game.

Also played on the offensive line, earning Honorable Mention All-State, First Team All-Region and First Team All-District accolades

Earned his school's Falcon Award for outstanding leadership, commitment and courage

Son of Tom Hendrickson and Cammie Kirkwood

Plans to major in sports management

 

Cardon Johnson                       RB           Fr.          5-9        180        Newport News, Va./Warwick

High School Head Coach: Juan Jackson

As a senior was impressive with 415 yards and three touchdowns in three games before an injury sidelined him the remainder of the year

In his junior year rushed for 1,134 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning First Team All-District and First Team All-757 Juniors and was picked to attend the U.S. Army All-American combine.

As a sophomore rushed for 1,235 yards and 15 touchdowns garnering him Second Team All-District honors.

Selected JMU over Charlotte, Hampton, Liberty, Howard, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Richmond, Bowling Green and Temple

 

Evans Osuji                                  DE           Fr.          6-4        235        Maplewood, N.J./West Orange

High School Head Coach: John Jacob

Four-year varsity letterwinner in football at West Orange, serving as team captain his final two years

During his senior year at West Orange recorded more than 60 tackles including eight just for loss and 15 sacks, as well as three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one field goal block

Received 2012 Super Essex Conference American Division First Team All-Conference, MSG Varsity All-New Jersey Defensive Line Honorable Mention, Worrall Community Newspaper All-Area team  and First Team All-County

Ranked as the No. 4 player in the county (No. 1 at defensive line) and in the top 10 defensive linemen in the state of New Jersey

Selected to play in the North vs. South All-State game

Transferred from Columbia HS after his junior year when he earned Essex County All-Junior team on the offensive line.

Also was a four-year varsity basketball letterwinner where he was team captain as a junior and senior and made Second Team All-Conference in the Liberty Division in 2011.

Named to the Honor Roll during his high school career

Son of Christian Osuji and Berenadine Osuji

Plans to major in biology

 

Brandon Ravenel                     WR           Fr.         5-10       180        Stafford, Va./North Stafford

High School Head Coach: Joe Mangano

A four-year, two-way starter at North Stafford and a three-star recruit

Was named First Team All-State, All-Region and All-District as a wide receiver and kick returner following his senior season, as well as Second Team All-Staet and First Team All-Region and All-District as a punt returner, while also garnering the Team MVP award

Invited to play in the Shrine Bowl follow his senior year

During his senior year, had a stellar game against Stafford where he caught 14 passes for 173 yards and four touchdowns

As a junior caught 59 passes for 1010 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning Honorable Mention All-State First Team All-Commonwealth and First Team All-Region honors and leading the Wolverines to the Northwest Region Division Five Championship

Caught a touchdown pass in his first varsity game

Runs a 4.5 40-yard dash

Maintained a 3.8 grade point average, graduating with honors and will earn Football Academic Award

Son of Harry and Ana Ravenel

Undecided on major

Selected JMU over Boston College, Buffalo, Old Dominion, Purdue, Temple and West Virginia, having received more than 10 Division I scholarship offers

 

Simeyon Robinson                 DL           Fr.          6-2        265        Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial

High School Head Coach: Sam Scarborough

Was named to the First Team All-Beach District and Second Team All-Tidewater following his senior year

Also earned his team's Defensive MVP award

Had a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown in his final season

Runs a 4.87 40-yard dash

Was a member of the Honor Roll

Joins fellow Patriot Raven Greene as a JMU commit

Son of Wanda Robinson

Undecided on major

Blaine Stewart                          WR           Fr.          6-2        190        Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown

High School Head Coach: John Bowers

Was a three-year varsity letterwinner at Morgantown

Had an outstanding senior season at wide receiver with 41 catches, 615 yards and six touchdown receptions, earning Honorable Mention Class AAA All-State, First Team All-TRAC, Honorable Mention All-OVAC and Dominion Post All-Area honors

Also served as MHS's PAT and field goal holder, long snapper on punts, was the backup quarterback, and amassed 104 return yards.

Had 21 catches for 305 yards and three scores his junior year, after recording one receiving and one rushing touchdown his sophomore year

Also played baseball and ran track during high school, earning a spot in the OVAC Ohio vs. West Virginia All-Star Baseball Game

Was on the Honor Roll and was a member of the National Honor Society

Father, the late Bill Stewart, was a long-time college football coach, including serving as head coach for West Virginia at the end of his career.

Son of Karen and the late Bill Stewart

Planning to major in business

Selected JMU over Wake Forest, Duke, Ohio, Akron, Richmond, William & Mary

 

Aaron Stinnie                         OL/DL       Fr.          6-5        260        Troy, Va./St. Anne's-Belfield

High School Head Coach: John Blake

Played organized football for only two years, playing on both of the offensive and defensive lines at St. Anne's-Belfield

Had 45 total tackles (21 solos) along with eight tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery

Earned First Team All-State VISAA Division 2 recognition at both offensive and defensive lineman his senior year

Was also named Second Team All-Central Virginia and Second Team All-ODFC as a defensive lineman

After his first season as a junior  was named to the Second Team VISFA Old Dominion on defense

Also played basketball in high school

Earned a place on the Honor Roll

Son of Phil Stinnie and Julia Stinnie

Undecided on major

 

Brad Szoka                                 WR          Fr.        5-11       180        Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County

High School Head Coach: Todd Hill

Was a three-year varsity wide receiver, finishing with a school-record140 career catches, 2,354 yards, and 32 touchdowns.

Earned VirginiaPreps.com and MaxPreps.com Class AA All-State, Second Team Virginia Group AA All-State and Second Team All-Met as a wide receiver as well as garnering First Team Group AA All-State, First Team All-Region and All-District as a wide receiver and return specialist

Led Loudon County to its first regional playoff appearance since 1996 his final year

Recorded a school-record 67 pass receptions his senior season for 1,071 yards and a school-record 15 touchdowns his senior season

Also had five return touchdowns his final high school season, three of the punt returns and a pair of interceptions

As a junior hauled in 52 receptions for 966 yards and 14 touchdowns while being named to the VirginiaPreps.com Class AA All-State Underclassmen team and Second Team All-Dulles District as a return specialist after having one kick return for a touchdown and one punt return TD

Was also selected to compete at the U.S. Army All-American combine following following his junior season

Had 21 receptions his sophomore season

Has a 4.4 time in the 40yd dash and a max bench press of 235

Four-year Honor Roll student

Son of Michael and Kathlene Szoka

Plans to major in computer information systems