Elon Football Announces 22-Player Class

ELON, N.C. – In his third recruiting class, Elon Phoenix football coach Rich Skrosky continued his promise to recruit close to home as 11 of the program’s 22 signees hail from North Carolina. Of the 22, two have already enrolled at Elon.

Along with the 11 players from North Carolina, this year’s class includes five players from the state of Georgia, two from Virginia and one each from Florida, Massachusetts, New York and South Carolina. The group is comprised of three defensive linemen, three linebackers, three defensive backs, three offensive linemen, three wide receivers, two tight ends, two running backs, a quarterback, a kicker/punter and a long snapper. The group also contains four players who received two-star rankings by either Rivals or Scout.com.

“I am excited about the signing of another quality class as we continue to bring the football program back to national prominence,” said Skrosky. “As was the plan from the start, it is another large class; that together with the 2015 class will be the cornerstone of our future success. Beyond the productivity they achieved in high school and their measurables they bring to our program, I am just as excited about the character and leadership qualities of these young men. From a position standpoint, it is a well-rounded group that adds overall quality and depth to our roster. I am extremely proud of our staff for the amount of effort put forth to getting to this day.”

2016 Elon Football Commitments:
Jeremiah Bridges (WR • 5-11 • 180 • Powder Springs, Ga. • Hillgrove • Coach Philip Ironside)
Stephen Copeland (LB • 6-1 • 230 • Virginia Beach, Va. • Kellam • Coach Chris Dewitt)
Brelynd Cyphers (RB • 5-10 • 190 • Virginia Beach, Va. • Green Run • Coach Jeff McGowan)
Michael Ebaugh (DL • 6-4 • 225 • Boone, N.C. • Watauga • Coach Ryan Habich)
Matt Foster (TE • 6-4 • 230 • Williamsville, N.Y. • Williamsville South • Coach Kraig Kurzanski)
Seth Harrell (QB • 6-1 • 190 • Byfield, Mass. • Governor’s Academy • Coach Jim O’Leary)
Karl Hofmeister (OL • 6-6 • 295 • Fayetteville, N.C. • Jack Britt • Coach Brian Rimpf)
Tre Marsh (WR • 6-4 • 205 • Greensboro, N.C. • Northern Guilford • Coach Johnny Roscoe)
De’Sean McNair (RB • 5-10 • 195 • Jacksonville, Fla. • Ribault • Coach Anthony Flynn)
Khalil Moore (DB • 5-11 • 180 • Charlotte, N.C. • Davidson Day • Coach Chad Grier)
Chad Nelson (OL • 6-3 • 275 • Dunwoody, Ga. • Saint Pius X • Coach Paul Standard)
Alex Parker (TE • 6-2 • 235 • Charlotte, N.C. • Charlotte Christian • Coach Jason Estep)
Jack Pawloski (K/P • 6-1 • 165 • Florence, S.C. • Wilson • Coach Chad Eaddy)
Daniel Reid-Bennett (DB • 6-1 • 200 • Lexington, N.C. • Lexington • Coach Chuck Henderson)
Marshall Simmons (LS • 5-10 • 190 • Charlotte, N.C. • Charlotte Country Day • Coach Drew Whitman)
T.J. Speight (LB • 6-0 • 230 • Wilson, N.C. • Hunt • Coach Stevie Hinnant)
Cole Taylor (WR • 6-3 • 205 • Marietta, Ga. • Lassiter • Coach Jep Irwin)
Pete Townsend (OL • 6-3 • 295 • Lumberton, N.C. • Lumberton • Coach Mike Setzer)
Martel Waugh (DL • 6-1 • 295 • McDonough, Ga. • Eagle’s Landing • Coach Shawn Jones)
Zavier Williams (DB • 6-2 • 180 • Ellenwood, Ga. • Cedar Grove • Coach Jimmy Smith)
Marcus Willoughby (DL • 6-3 • 230 • Durham, N.C. • Durham Riverside • Coach Chris Howell)
Cameron Wright (LB • 6-2 • 230 • Hudson, N.C. • South Caldwell • Coach Butch Carter)

Wide receiver Jeremiah Bridges (Powder Springs, Ga. / Hillgrove) earned both first-team all-county and first-team all-region honors as both a junior and senior. During his 2015 season for coach Philip Ironside, Bridges caught 53 passes for 890 yards and 12 touchdowns. Bridges is an A-B Honor Roll student. Jeremiah is the son of Wendell and Trakita Bridges.

Linebacker Stephen Copeland (Virginia Beach, Va. / Kellam) was a three-time all-conference and two-time all-Tidewater honoree during his prep career. The team MVP and captain led his squad in tackles as both a junior and a senior. Copeland’s performance helped lead coach Chris Dewitt’s program to four state playoff appearances. An honor roll student, Copeland has also been a varsity wrestler for three seasons. Stephen is the son of Stephen and Keketrius Copeland.

Running back Brelynd Cyphers (Virginia Beach, Va. / Green Run) collected both all-conference and all-region honors twice during his prep career. As a senior, he led his team with 1,345 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. His rushing total rated fourth in the region. The three-year honor roll student and two-time team captain has earned team MVP honors. Cyphers’ performance helped coach Jeff McGowan’s program to a 2013 regional final and a 2014 state playoff appearance. Cyphers, who is the vice president for the Green Run Minority Club, placed seventh in the state in the long jump. Brelynd is the son of Edwin and Ivy Cyphers.

Defensive lineman Michael Ebaugh (Boone, N.C. / Watauga) served as a team captain for coach Ryan Habich’s program during his senior season. Ebaugh was an all-conference performer as both a junior and a senior and was a Winston-Salem Journal All-Northwest Team honoree. Ebaugh lettered three years in both football and basketball and has been an academic all-conference selection and is an honors student. Michael is the son of Nevin and Robin Ebaugh.

Tight end Matt Foster (Williamsville, N.Y. / Williamsville South) collected all-state honors following both his junior and senior seasons. Foster has also claimed both all-Western New York and all-Buffalo first-team distinction during his prep career. He also holds program records for both career and single-season touchdowns and receiving yardage. Foster’s play helped lead coach Kraig Kurzanski’s team to a Class A North title. Matt is the son of Dan and Kim Foster.

Quarterback Seth Harrell (Byfield, Mass. / Governor’s Academy) holds program records for both career passing yardage and career touchdown passes. The team captain and three-year starter picked up all-conference accolades as a sophomore, junior and senior. The four-year letter-winner’s play helped coach Jim O’Leary’s team to a 26-game winning streak, three consecutive Independent School League titles and two New England Preparatory School Athletic Council crowns. Harrell also earned four varsity letters in baseball and two in basketball. Seth is the son of Mark Harrell and Tracy Simpson. His sister Devon played soccer at Roanoke College.

Offensive lineman Karl Hofmeister (Fayetteville, N.C. / Jack Britt) was rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com. The two-year starter followed up an all-conference junior season by collecting first-team all-league and first-team all-region honors as a senior. During Hofmeister’s career, coach Brian Rimpf’s program captured three conference titles and made four state playoff appearances, including a state title appearance in 2012. Karl is the son of Chris and Sheryl Hofmeister.

Wide receiver Tre Marsh (Greensboro, N.C. / Northern Guilford) helped lead coach Johnny Roscoe’s program to a 2014 state championship. Marsh has been an all-conference, all-state and all-area selection as a prep. He has enrolled at Elon for the spring semester. Tre is the son of Clyde Marsh Jr. and Marlene Williamson.

Running back De’Sean McNair (Jacksonville, Fla. / Ribault) ran for 1,707 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 12 receptions for 157 yards and a score in his senior season. McNair was a first-team all-conference, first-team all-First Coast and second-team all-state selection. He picked up running back MVP honors as the 2015 NUC Combine in Atlanta, Ga., as well as the Step It Up Combine. His play helped coach Anthony Flynn’s team to the second round of the state playoffs. De’Sean is the son of Sheila Dixon-Williams.

Defensive back Khalil Moore (Charlotte, N.C. / Davidson Day) amassed 61 tackles and three interceptions during his senior season. On offense, he added 56 receptions for 978 yards. Following the conclusion of Moore’s senior campaign he was honored with first-team all-state, first-team all-Lake Norman and first-team all-Charlotte accolades. Under coach Chad Grier, Moore helped Davidson Day to four state titles in five seasons, including a perfect 12-0 championship season in 2015. Khalil is the son of former East Stroudsburg University football player Douglas and Julie Moore.

Offensive lineman Chad Nelson (Dunwoody, Ga. / Saint Pius X) was a three-year starter who earned both all-region and all-state honors twice in his career. Nelson also picked up all-DeKalb County accolades while playing for coach Paul Standard’s program. The team advanced to the state 4A semifinals. Nelson has served on the team’s leadership council. Chad is the son of Eric and Libby Nelson.

Tight end Alex Parker (Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Christian) was rated as a two-star recruit by Scout.com. Parker compiled 28 receptions for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns during his prep career. His play helped lead coach Jason Estep’s program to three state championships. Alex is the son of Fred and Amy Parker.

Kicker/punter Jack Pawloski (Florence, S.C. / Wilson) averaged 40.3 yards per punt and placed 14 of his punts inside the 20-yard line on his way to first-team all-region honors. Pawloski recorded 14 touchbacks on 19 kickoffs and was 17-for-20 on PAT tries. He was the special teams player of the year for coach Chad Eaddy’s prep squad. Jack is the son of Don and Tammy Pawloski.

Defensive back Daniel Reid-Bennett (Lexington, N.C. / Lexington) collected four all-conference honors and was a three-time all-county pick. The league player of the year served as team captain during his senior season playing for coach Chuck Henderson. Daniel, who is a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society, is the son of Morlon Bennett and Nanyamka Reid-Fowler.

Long snapper Marshall Simmons (Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Country Day) has already enrolled at Elon. An honor roll student, Simmons went two seasons without missing a snap. He also snapped on the team-record for longest field goal while playing for coach Drew Whitman’s prep program. Marshall is the son of Kemp and Beth Simmons.

Linebacker T.J. Speight (Wilson, N.C. / Hunt) was a three-time all-conference and all-area honoree as a prep. As a senior, Speight finished with 110 tackles, including 21 stops for a loss and seven sacks, and one interception. The previous season he posted 113 tackles with 17 for a loss and seven sacks. As a sophomore, he tallied 109 tackles with six sacks. During his career for coach Stevie Hinnant, Speight helped the squad to a 2013 Big East Conference title and a state playoff appearance. T.J. is the son of Derrick Speight and Katina Ruffin.

Wide receiver Cole Taylor (Marietta, Ga. / Lassiter) served as a team captain for coach Jep Irwin’s two-time region champion squad. Taylor has earned first-team all-county and first-team all-region honors as well as honorable mention all-state accolades as a prep. As a senior, he caught 39 passes for 1,043 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cole is the son of Kevin and Elle Taylor.

Offensive lineman Pete Townsend (Lumberton, N.C. / Lumberton) twice earned all-county and all-conference honors. The two-year team captain also was recognized with all-region accolades while playing for coach Mike Setzer’s team. Townsend is a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society. An honor roll student, he has also served as a junior marshal and participated in the Science Olympiad. Pete is the son of Ronnie Townsend and Amanda Colletti.

Defensive lineman Martel Waugh (McDonough, Ga. / Eagle’s Landing) claimed first-team all-region honors following his senior campaign for coach Shawn Jones’ program. The A-B Honor Roll student tallied 70 tackles, including 24 tackles for a loss and eight sacks his senior year. Martel is the son of former Albany State University (Ga.) football player Karl Waugh and Roberta Flowers.

Defensive back Zavier Williams (Ellenwood, Ga. / Cedar Grove) was rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com. He was a two-year starter and served as a team captain his senior season. Williams was a second-team all-region pick in 2015 as he helped coach Jimmy Smith’s program to a 10-3 record, the best ledger in school history, as well as a state semifinals appearance. He made 75 tackles and intercepted nine passes in his career. Zavier is the son of Terrance Holmes and Letoya Williams.

Defensive lineman Marcus Willoughby (Durham, N.C. / Durham Riverside) was rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com. Willoughby was an all-conference performer as both a junior and senior season for coach Chris Howell’s program. He was named the squad’s defensive player of the year. Willoughby has also lettered in lacrosse and basketball. He has achieved the rank of Life Scout and is an engineering pathway student. Marcus is the son of former North Carolina A&T State University football player Marvin and former Winston-Salem State University basketball player Jacquline Willoughby.

Linebacker Cameron Wright (Hudson, N.C. / South Caldwell) earned three offensive player of the year honors as a prep. The two-time all-conference performer helped lead coach Butch Carter’s program to county championships in 2012, 2014 and 2015 as well as the third round of the state playoffs in 2015. Wright was also a track and field all-conference honoree. Cameron is the son of Jamie and LaShae Wright.

Elon will open up its 2016 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 at home in Rhodes Stadium against Gardner-Webb. Season tickets are now available at elonphoenix.com or by calling 336-278-6750.