GREENSBORO, N.C.- Guilford College head football coach Chris Rusiewicz announced the official commitment of five more student-athletes to play football for the Quakers Tuesday. These students have paid their deposits to Guilford and will enroll for classes beginning in August. To date, 25 students have expressed their intent to join Rusiewicz’s seventh recruiting class.
James Barrow Jr. (Pinetown, N.C.) lettered four years for coach Keith Boyd at Northside High School. The 5-10, 205-pound running back helped his team to an 8-5 record in 2016 and led them to their first state playoff win in 12 years. Barrow was awarded All-Coastal Plains Conference and First Team All-Beaufort County laurels. He also lettered two years in both baseball and basketball. The two-time Northside High School Athlete of the Year plans to major in psychology.
Russell “Trey” Cohen (Chesterfield, Va.) is a 5-8, 155-pound wide receiver who lettered three years for coach Derrick Johnson at Matoaca High School. He helped the Warriors to 16 wins over his three-year campaign. The speedy running back also lettered two years in track, and was a part of the school’s record-setting indoor 800-meter relay team.
Shay Jeffers (Milton, N.C.) is a 5-10, 175-pound running back who lettered four years for coach David Weathersby at Bartlett-Yancey High School. Jeffers was awarded All-Mid-State 2A Conference, Danville Register & Bee All-Metro, and all-region laurels. He ran for 1,566 yards and 12 TDs as a senior and helped BY to its first four-game winning streak in 30 years. The crafty running back also lettered four years on the track team as a sprinter, and received all-conference and all-region honors. He plans on majoring in business.
Drason Little (Candor, N.C.) is a 5-11, 160-pound wide receiver who lettered four years for coach Benjamin Hammer at East Montgomery High School. He joins East Montgomery quarterback Gavin Watts as a Guilford commitment. The pair helped the Eagles to a 12-2 record and a deep run into the third round of the 2016 state playoffs. Little also lettered two years in track and four years in basketball. He served as a class president and was inducted into the National Honor Society.
Aaron McCullough (Durham, N.C.) is a 5-9, 235-pound linebacker who lettered four years for coach Ray Harrison at Hillside High School. He helped the Hornets to an undefeated conference record, and their seventh consecutive PAC-6 title in 2016. McCullough was a three-time all-conference and all-area selection. He earned the team’s Defensive Player of the Year Award and twice took home the team’s top defensive back honor.
Guilford expects 13 starters among 59 returning letter winners from the 2016 team, which went 4-6. The Quakers open the 2017 campaign September 2 at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama.