Greensboro, N.C. — Guilford College head football coach Kevin Kiesel announced the intention of three incoming freshmen to play football for the Quakers Friday. All three students have paid their deposit to the college and will enroll for classes in August. They join 23 other new students already committed to Guilford for 2008.
John Carraher Jr. (Charlotte, N.C.) lettered two seasons at Myers Park High School for coach Jim Roark’s football team. The 6-1, 235-pound offensive lineman captured All-Southwestern 4A Conference recognition as a senior. He also lettered one season for the Mustangs’ lacrosse team. In addition to Guilford, Livingstone College also recruited Carraher.
Keegan Rush (Cary, N.C.) recently concluded his scholastic career with coach Gary Fowler’s Clayton High School football team. In his lone Clayton campaign he helped the Comets to a 5-7 record and a state playoff appearance one year after a winless 2006 season. The 6-3, 225-pound quarterback twice lettered at Athens Drive High School for coach Jeff Smouse. He earned Academic All-Greater Neuse 4A Conference recognition in 2007. Rush’s brother, Courtland, played sparingly in three football seasons at Shaw University. Keegan considered East Carolina University, Wake Forest University, Duke University, Concordia (Minn.) University and the University of Central Missouri before choosing Guilford.
D.J. Wilson (Keene, N.H.) lettered at Vermont Academy for coach John Visconti as a receiver, defensive back and punter. The 6-4, 190-pounder led the team in receptions, touchdowns and receiving yards in 2007 and earned first team all-state recognition. Wilson also lettered in basketball and was an All-Evergreen League golfer. Salve Regina University and Plymouth State College were also among Wilson’s suitors. His uncle, Robert Wilson, played with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League.
Guilford concluded the 2007 season with a 6-4 overall record, 2-4 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), and posted its first back-to-back winning campaigns since 1990-91. The Quakers lost nine seniors from the 2007 team and expect as many as 71 letter winners back in 2008. Guilford set or tied at least 26 team and individual school records last year and led NCAA Division III in passing yards per game for the second straight season (376.9 ypg.). The Quakers open the 2008 campaign at home Sept. 6 under the lights of Armfield Athletic Center versus crosstown-rival Greensboro College.