(Courtesy FAMU Sports Info.)
Florida A&M University announced its 2015 recruiting class in FAMU’s School of Pharmacy’s Blue Auditorium, which seems appropriate as new head coach Alex Wood looks to build chemistry.
There were a total of 14 players who were announced and Wood explained the prospects during a presentation of their highlight tapes. He talked about the possibilities of additional signees to join after spring training.
Nine of the signees came from the defensive side of the ball with three linebackers, three defensive backs and two defensive linemen.
On offensive, FAMU attained three receivers, one offensive linemen and all-state quarterback, Ryan Stanley.
Wood spoke about the recruits and recruiting criteria that went into selecting the new class.
“We want to know as much about these players as we can,” Wood said. “Once the film is evaluated, we ask the young men to send us in academic, social and medical information.”
The coach expressed his concern about returning players and his new class in terms of getting the right people within the organization.
He wants to impact the future by getting the right kind of Rattlers in his program as he begins to rebuild.
“We are still in the process of evaluating the talent on hand, but we are very optimistic about the coming year,” Wood said.
Wilbert Johnson, a FAMU alumnus, assessed his thoughts on the offensive strategy to run a no-huddle offense.
“If one of those quarterbacks can run his kind offense, then we would be in good shape,” Johnson said. “I haven’t seen any of the guys here run that … I don’t think that they can, but if Stanley can run it then we will be in good shape.”
The team didn’t address its need for a young talented running back on signing day, but they hope to pick up a transfer that can fill that void.
Steven Jerry, FAMU’s running back coach and a former quarterbacks coach, said he's looking forward to the future of the team and rebranding FAMU football to rebuild the program.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back on the hill and being a rattler again,” Jerry said.“This is the most prestigious HBCU in the country and you hear about this university all over the country. There are some schools that have local or regional base, but we’re one of the few schools who has a national base…so it’s a tremendous opportunity and hopefully I can just be apart of continuing to help the brand be successful.”
2015 FAMU Signees
#75 Keenen Anderson, OL – 6’6, 380 – Mays High in Atlanta, Ga.
#4 Demetrius Artis, LB – 5’10, 220 – Seminole High in Sanford, Fla.
#13 Xavier Bailey, DB – 5’11, 175 – Northwestern High in Miami, Fla.
#6 Cameron Burton, LB – 6’3, 230 – Vanguard High in Ocala, Fla.
#5 Keynan Foster, WR – 5’8 165 – Jackson High in Mill Creek, Wash.
#27 Quentez Gallon, LB – 5’10 – Lincoln High here in Tallahassee
#5 Emilo Gibbs, LB – 6’1 245 – Coral Gables High in Miami, Fla.
#12 Alvin Harper, JR., WR – 5’10, 175 – Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland, Fla.
#64 Jehojada Jean-Baptiste, DL – 6’3, 230 – Oak Ridge High in Orlando, Fla.
#1 Terry Jefferson, DB – 5’9, 170 – Booker T. Washington High in Miami, Fla.
#7 Ryan Stanley, QB – 6’3, 190 – Flanagan High in Pembroke Pines, Fla.
#23 Tyler Woodley, DB – 5’10, 175 – McEachren High in Atlanta, Ga.
#2 Willie Young, WR – 6’3, 190 – Trinity Catholic in Ocala, Fla.