Elon Football Signs 10 in Early Period

ELON, N.C. – Fresh off of an NCAA FCS Playoff appearance, the Elon University football team has announced that 10 players have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Phoenix next year. The class includes four players who hail from the state of North Carolina. One will enroll at Elon for the spring semester.

Along with the four players from North Carolina, this class includes three players from Virginia and one each from Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The group contains a trio of both offensive linemen and linebackers, two wide receivers, one defensive lineman and one defensive back.

“I am pleased and excited about today’s signed group of student-athletes, the first ever in an early signing period. Recruiting is ongoing and we look forward to adding to this list in the next signing period in February,” said Elon head coach Curt Cignetti.

Elon Football Signing Class:
Mike Barone • OL • 6-7 • 305 • Apex, N.C. • Northwood
Zach Bevins • OL • 6-3 • 290 • Virginia Beach, Va. • Bishop Sullivan Catholic
Nick Cerimele • OL • 6-2 • 304 • Allentown, Pa. • Allentown Central Catholic
Devonte Chandler • LB • 6-0 • 225 • Chester, Va. • Thomas Dale
Cole Coleman* • DB • 5-10 • 180 • Raleigh, N.C. • Leesville Road
Bryson Daughtry • WR • 6-1 • 180 • Charlotte, N.C. • Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology
Avery Jones • WR • 6-2 • 205 • Joppa, Md. • The Kiski School
Jamir Malone • LB • 6-0 • 215 • North Ridgeville, Ohio • North Ridgeville
Malik Medley • DL • 6-4 • 235 • Raleigh, N.C. • Sanderson
Zack Monson • LB • 6-3 • 215 • Alexandria, Va. • West Potomac
* will enroll at Elon for the spring semester

Mike Barone
6-7 • 305 • Offensive Lineman
Apex, N.C. • Northwood
Honors
• Team captain for coach Brian Harrington’s squad
• All-conference honoree
• Honor Roll student

Personal
• Son of former U.S. Military Academy football player Michael and former LIU Post basketball player Mary Barone
• Born July, 28, 1999

Barone Highlights

Zach Bevins
6-3 • 290 • Offensive Lineman
Virginia Beach, Va. • Bishop Sullivan Catholic

Honors
• Rated as a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247 Sports
• Rated as the #1 guard in Virginia by 247 Sports
• Four-year starter (51 games)
• Four-year first-team all-757 honoree
• Earned first-team All-Tidewater accolades
• Began his prep career at Ocean Lakes, helping the team to 2014 Group 6A State title and a 15-0 record
• Ocean Lakes reached the 6A semifinals and was ranked as high as #6 in the country by USA Today in 2015
• Honors student

Personal
• Son of former East Carolina University soccer player Jeffrey and Sharon Bevins
• Born January 5, 2000

Bevins Highlights

Nick Cerimele
6-2 • 304 • Offensive Lineman
Allentown, Pa. • Allentown Central Catholic

Honors
• Helped Allentown Central to a 2016 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference North Division championship
• Earned first-team all-league honors as an offensive lineman twice
• Was a first-team all-conference performer at defensive end
• Second-team all-area guard
• Will participate in the 2017 NUC All-American Game in Daytona, Fla.
• Team captain
• Played his first two seasons at Marian Catholic where he helped the team to a 2015 District XI Class A title
• Honor Roll student
• Lettered in both football and track

Personal
• Son of Fred and Renee Cerimele
• Cousin Mike Cerimele played football at Penn State and with the Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Born September 30, 1999
Cerimele Highlights

Devonte Chandler
6-0 • 225 • Linebacker
Chester, Va. • Thomas Dale

Honors
• Garnered first-team all-conference, all-metro and all-region honors
• Helped coach Kevin Tucker’s program to both regional and district titles
• As a junior, recorded 132 tackles (11.0 per game), including 19 for a loss and 10 sacks, had 15 quarterback hurries and a pair of interceptions

Personal
• Son of Stacy and Danielle Chandler
• Born February 2, 2000

Chandler Highlights

Cole Coleman
5-10 • 180 • Defensive Back
Raleigh, N.C. • Leesville Road

Honors
• Will enroll at Elon for the spring semester
• Four-year varsity player
• Helped the team to four consecutive playoff appearances
• Team captain
• Gave up just one total touchdown in coverage in 27 varsity games
• Returned an interception for a score in 2017
• Named an All-CAP 8 performer in 2016
• Finished his junior year with 32 tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a forced fumble
• Put up 1,116 all-purpose yards and scored 17 touchdowns in 2016
• Made 64 tackles, intercepted one pass and recovered a fumble as a sophomore

Personal
• Son of former North Carolina State football player Chris Coleman and Shani Alston
• Father played pro football for the Tennessee Titans
• Stepfather Richard Alston played pro football for the Cleveland Browns
• Born June 25, 2000

Coleman Highlights

Bryson Daughtry
6-1 • 180 • Wide Receiver
Charlotte, N.C. • Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology

Honors
• Caught 66 passes for 1,469 yards (22.3 ypc) and 13 touchdowns as a senior
• Ranked third in the state of North Carolina in receiving yards and receiving yards per game (133.5) in 2017
• Named the Greater Charlotte Football Awards 2017 Receiver of the Year
• A/B Honor Roll student

Personal
• Son of James and Tajuana Daughtry
• Born October 3, 2000

Daughtry Highlights

Avery Jones
6-2 • 205 • Wide Receiver
Joppa, Md. • The Kiski School

Honors
• Name the 2017 offensive MVP at The Kiski School
• Caught 39 balls for 860 yards (22.1 ypc) and 13 touchdowns in 2017
• Finished 2017 with 16 total touchdowns and 1,454 all-purpose yards
• Selected to the Big 33 Classic
• Helped coach James Perry’s The Kiski School to a 9-0 record and a 2017 Prep League crown
• 2016 first-team all-conference for coach Keith Rawlings at John Carroll High
• 2016 Baltimore Touchdown Club All-Star game
• Recipient of the Bud Bitzer Award
• Had 29 receptions for 868 yards (29.9 ypc) and 11 touchdowns as a junior
• Helped John Carroll to a 12-0 record and a MIAA title in 2015

Personal
• Son of former Rutgers University and LIU Brooklyn basketball player Charles Jones and former LIU Brooklyn basketball player Ana Louis-Guerrero
• Father also played professional basketball for the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers
• Born December 10, 1999

Jones Highlights

Jamir Malone
6-0 • 215 • Linebacker
North Ridgeville, Ohio • North Ridgeville

Honors
• Holds program records with 268 career tackles and 52 tackles for loss
• Three-year varsity player
• Two-time all-county honoree
• Two-time all-conference selection
• Earned second-team all-district honors as a senior
• Recorded five sacks his senior season
• Two-time team linebacker of the year
• Selected as the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year by The Morning Journal
• Four-year Merit Roll student

Personal
• Son of Craig Malone and Katherine Bonner
• Born April 13, 2000

Malone Highlights

Malik Medley
6-4 • 235 • Defensive Lineman
Raleigh, N.C. • Sanderson

Honors
• 2017 CAP-7 All-Conference
• Had 48 total tackles, including 39 solo stops and four sacks, and one interception as a senior
• 2016 Honorable mention all-conference performer
• Four-time academic all-conference honoree

Personal
• Son of Joe and Alison Nuccio-Medley
• Born March 18, 2000
Medley Highlights

Zack Monson
6-3 • 215 • Linebacker
Alexandria, Va. • West Potomac

Honors
• 2017 first-team All-Gunston Conference linebacker and tight end
• Named 2017 conference defensive player of the year
• Earned first-team all-region honors as a linebacker and second-team all-region honors as a tight end his senior year
• As a tight end, had 34 catches for 496 yards (14.6 ypc) and four scores as a senior
• Team captain
• Team MVP
• Earned first-team all-league players on defense and second-team all-conference accolades on offense in 2016
• 2016 Second-team all-region

Personal
• Son of Michael and Jane-Ellen Monson
• Brother Grant plays football at Bridgewater College
• Born January 19, 2000

Monson Highlights