Feb. 5, 2003

Charleston, Sc - Citadel football coach Ellis Johnson announced Wednesday afternoon that 28 high school players have accepted grant-in-aid packages to play football for the Bulldogs.

"Overall it is another exciting class that meets many of our needs as a football team," Johnson stated. "We were able to get a bulk of our needs in-state and that says a lot about the recruiting effort of our coaching staff as we are one of six I-AA football schools that are actively recruiting in the state."

The recruiting class consists of 12 players from South Carolina, six from Georgia, three from Alabama, two from Tennessee and New Jersey and one from Connecticut, North Carolina and Virginia. The class is comprised of 13 all-state performers, 15 all-region selections, 13 all-area nominees, 11 all-conference players, three conference or regional players of the year, a lineman of the year, five team captains, six postseason all-star bowl participants and a finalist for Mr. Football in Tennessee.

"This is the second year in a row we have signed such a large class of players," Johnson stated. "We are still working on cutting down the attrition rate of players here, while meeting the needs of our football team."

The 28 players signed are second only to The Citadel's signing class of a year ago in size, when the Bulldogs inked 30 commitments. The class is heavy with eight defensive lineman and seven defensive backs, all areas of concern for The Citadel's coaching staff.

"We were able to land many players in the areas we felt we needed help like defensive line and the secondary," Johnson added. "We signed some defensive linemen that will likely produce right away and a group of defensive backs that are very skilled and will add valuable depth in a depleted secondary from a year ago."

In addition to the 28 signees there are two players who are already on campus that will be added to the Bulldogs 2003 roster. Cliff Conant a 6-6, 290-pound offensive lineman from Northwestern High School and transfer quarterback Ryan Moody from the Naval Academy will each be added to the squad during spring drills.

"I would like to commend our coaching staff for the recruiting effort for three reasons," Johnson continued. "No. 1 for bringing in such a talented class. No. 2 for working through three coaching changes during the recruiting process and No. 3 for not only competing but for excelling in the state of South Carolina's tough recruiting environment that includes two major Division I programs (Clemson and South Carolina) and five competitive I-AA (Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Furman, South Carolina State and Wofford) programs besides The Citadel that are actively recruiting our state."

2003 Signees (Alphabetically)

SIGNEE POSITION HT WT HIGH SCHOOL/HOMETOWNCHARLIE BROOKS QB 6'4 210 CENTRAL HS/ALEXANDER CITY, AL* First Team All-State* Central's Most Valuable Player Award* Senior Year passed for 700 Yards and rushed for 747 yards.* Senior year recorded 50 tackles with six interceptions* Teammate of Bulldog signee Kevin Jones* Played for coach Jeff Steers

Marcus Brown RB 5'10 220 CAMDEN MILITARY/CAMDEN, SC* Teammate of Bulldog signee Ibin Raheen* Originally signed with The Citadel in 2001 from Camden High School* 5000 career yards and Third on the all-time touchdown list* Led team to State Championship during his senior season.* Played for coach Eric Boland at Camden Military

CLAY CARTER DL 6'3 230 LEXINGTON HS/LEXINGTON, SC* Played for coach Jimmy Satterfield

ZACH DIBOIS OL/DL 6'0 280 BLECKLEY COUNTY HS/COCHRAN, GA* Four year starter* All Region Selection* All State Selection* Two-time Bleckley County Lineman-of-the-Year* Track & Field State Champion in the discus* Played for coach Dick Williams

Tory Cooper DB 5'9 180 SOUTH FLORENCE HS/EFFINGHAM, SC* Senior year rushed for 873 yards* Played for coach Ken Cribb

Deon Douglas DL 6'2 240 MARLBORO COUNTY HS/BENNETTSVILLE, SC* All Region Selection* Recorded 75 tackles and four sacks during his senior season* Played for coach Dean Boyd

JOHN ESTHER QB 6'2 210 DUNWOODY HS/DUNWOODY, GA* Dekalb Extra First team All County* All Region Selection* All State Selection* Dunwoody Team Captain* Dunwoody's Most Valuable Offensive Player Award winner* Set Dekalb county record for passing yardage in a single game as he completed 18-of-33 passes for 343 yards* During his senior year he passed for 1,339 yards and 13 touchdowns* Played for Coach Jim Teeter

Nick Fender DL 6'2 240 MARSHALL COUNTY HS/CULLEOKA, TN* East-West Shriner All-Star game selection* Finalist for Tennessee's Mr. Football Award* Tennessee Sports Writer's Association First Team All State selection* Tennessee Associated Press First Team All State selection* First Team All Mid State* Two-time Marshall County Most Valuable Player selection* Senior year recorded 67 tackles and 12 tackles* Played for Coach Mac McCurry

JOE FREEMAN DL 6'5 255 SOUTHWEST MACON HS/MACON, GA* Southwest Macon's Team Captain* Southwest Macon's Most Valuable Lineman award recipient* Recorded 60 tackles and eight sacks during his senior season* Played for Coach Tommy Macon

Travis Gentry WR 5'11 170 GILES COUNTY HS/PULASKI, TN* Tennessee Elite (Top Prospects in Tennessee)* Two-time All-Region Most Valuable Player* All-Region Selection* Giles County Best Defensive Back Award* Giles County Most Valuable Offensive Back Award* Played for coach Jackie Smith

Nuru Goodrum FB 6'0 225 PINE FORREST HS/FAYETTEVILLE, NC* Played for coach Dean Saffos

Lukas Gleissner DL 6'0 250 STATESBORO HS/STATESBORO, GA* Statesboro's Team Captain Coaches' Award* Statesboro's Most Valuable Lineman Award* Senior year recorded 48 pancake blocks and 50 tackles* Junior year membor of Statesboro's State Championship Team* Played for Coach Buzz Buzby

Chris Gunter LB 6'0 225 CENTRAL HS/PHOENIX CITY, AL* Four-year starter* Birmingham News Top-50* Columbus Ledger Enquirer "Dandy Dozen"* Three-time Opelika-Auburn Newspaper All Region selection* Birmingham News All-State selection* Two-time Central HS Most Valuable Defensive lineman* During his junior year he was a member of Central's State Championship Team=* Recorded 256 tackles and 31 tackles for loss* Played for coach Ron Nelson

Alex Hartsell DL 6'3 270 RIDGE VIEW HS/COLUMBIA, SC* 2002 Stats: 69 tackles with eight tackles for loss and graded out at 92% for the year* Played for Coach Kirk Burnett

VINCE HILL DB 5'9 160 TUCKER HS/STONE MOUNTAIN, GA* Played for Coach Bill Ballard

Raleigh Jackson LB 6'3 200 ORANGEBURG WILKINSON HS/ORANGEBURG, SC* Superprep South Carolina Top-30* SCPigskinprep.com Top-40* Played for coach Tommy Brown

John Johnson OL 6'3 290 TATNALL SQUARE ACADEMY/MACON, GA* Four-year starter* Two-time All State selection* Three-time All Region selection* Senior year recorded 60 Pancake blocks and graded out at 90% for the season* Junior year was a member of Tatnall's State Championship Team* Played for Coach Barney Hester

Kevin Jones DL /OL 6'3 250 CENTRAL HS/ALEXANDER CITY, AL* Two-time Central High School Most Valuable Lineman award recipient* Senior year recorded 60 tackles with 12 sacks and 30 Pancake blocks* Teammate of Bulldog signee Charlie Brooks* Played for coach Jeff Steers

JOSH LAWSON DB 5'11 185 SCOTT'S BRANCH HS/SUMMERTON, SC* SCHSSR All State selection* Played for coach Raleigh Jackson (Father fo Bulldog Signee Raleigh Jr.)

CHRIS MURRAY LB 5'10 210 MILFORD ACADEMY/WEST HAVEN, CT* All State Selection* Two-time First Team All Conference* First Team All County* Milford Academy Two-year Captain

BILLY OWENS OL 6'3 285 HAMILTON EAST HS/TRENTON, NJ* Was tabbed to New Jersey's Super 100* All State Selection* All Mercer County* All Area Selection* Sunshine Foundation Football Classic All-Star game selection* Hamilton East Team Captain

Ibin Raheem DB 5'8 190 CAMDEN MILITARY/MONTCLAIR, NJ* Teammate of Bulldog Signee Marcus Brown* Played for Coach Eric Boland

Waleed Rushdan WR 6'0 180 WILSON HS/FLORENCE, SC* North-South All-Star Game Selection* SCVARSITY All State selection* SCHSSR All State selection* SCHSSR Top 100* Two-time All-Region selection* Two-time WPDE All Area Team* Florence Morning News All Pee Dee Team* 2002 Stats: 62 receptions for 986 yards (Both School Records) and 10 touchdowns* Career Stats: 115 receptions for 1,884 yards and 21 touchdowns* Played for Coach Darryl Page

David Smith DB 5'10 190 A.C. FLORA HS/COLUMBIA, SC* Two-time The State All Area Team* SCPIGSKINPREP.COM Top 40* Recorded 200 career tackles with 20 sacks and 35 tackles for loss* Played for Coach Robin Bacon

EMMANUEL TURNER LB 6'1 220 AMHERST COUNTY HS/AMHERST, VA* Two-time All District* Senior year recorded 115 tackles with six sacks* All District and All Region performer in Baseball* Played for Coach Scott Able

Rontreal Tyler DB/WR 5'11 175 WAGNER SALLEY HS/WAGNER, SC* Four-year starter* North-South All-Star Game Selection* SCHSSR All State* Augusta Chronicle First Team All Area* Aiken Standard First Team All Area* All Region* Senior year caught 31 passes for 861 yards and recorded 63 tackles with five interceptions* Played for Coach Rayburn Poston

ROBERT WELLS DB/WR 5'11 165 BROOKLAND CAYCE HS/COLUMBIA, SC* North-South All-Star Game Selection* SCPIGSKINPREP.COM All State Selection* SCPIGSKINPREP.COM Sensational 60* SCVARSITY.COM All State Selection* Two-time All Region Selection* The State All Area Team* Finished career with 3,850 total all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns* Played for Coach Brad Coleman

TERREL WILLIAMS RB 6'0 220 PALMETTO HS/WILLIAMSTON, SC* North-South All-Star Game Selection* SCHSSR All State* Skyline Conference Player of the Year* Three-time First Team All Conference* SCHSSR Top 100* Senior year rushed for 2,248 yards and 39 touchdowns* Led the state in scoring* Junior year rushed for 1,346 yards and 23 touchdowns* Played for Coach Tommy Davis

2003 Signees (By Position)

SIGNEE POSITION HT WT HIGH SCHOOL/HOMETOWNCHARLIE BROOKS QB 6'4 210 CENTRAL HS/ALEXANDER CITY, ALJOHN ESTHER QB 6'2 210 DUNWOODY HS/DUNWOODY, GA

Marcus Brown RB 5'10 220 CAMDEN MILITARY/CAMDEN, SCTERREL WILLIAMS RB 6'0 220 PALMETTO HS/WILLIAMSTON, SC

Nuru Goodrum FB 6'0 225 PINE FORREST HS/FAYETTEVILLE, NC

Travis Gentry WR 5'11 170 GILES COUNTY HS/PULASKI, TNWALEED RUSHDAN WR 6'0 180 WILSON HS/FLORENCE, SCRONTREAL TYLER DB/WR 5'11 175 WAGNER SALLEY HS/WAGNER, SCROBERT WELLS DB/WR 5'11 165 BROOKLAND CAYCE HS/COLUMBIA, SC

ZACH DIBOIS OL/DL 6'0 280 BLECKLEY COUNTY HS/COCHRAN, GAJOHN JOHNSON OL 6'3 290 TATNALL SQUARE ACADEMY/MACON, GAKEVIN JONES DL /OL 6'3 250 CENTRAL HS/ALEXANDER CITY, ALBILLY OWENS OL 6'3 285 HAMILTON EAST HS/TRENTON, NJ

Tory Cooper DB 5'9 180 SOUTH FLORENCE HS/EFFINGHAM, SCVINCE HILL DB 5'9 160 TUCKER HS/STONE MOUNTAIN, GAJOSH LAWSON DB 5'11 185 SCOTT'S BRANCH HS/SUMMERTON, SCIBIN RAHEEM DB 5'8 190 CAMDEN MILITARY/MONTCLAIR, NJDAVID SMITH DB 5'10 190 A.C. FLORA HS/COLUMBIA, SC

Chris Gunter LB 6'0 225 CENTRAL HS/PHOENIX CITY, ALRALEIGH JACKSON LB 6'3 200 ORANGEBURG WILKINSON HS/ORANGEBURG, SCCHRIS MURRAY LB 5'10 210 MILFORD ACADEMY/WEST HAVEN, CTEMMANUEL TURNER LB 6'1 220 AMHERST COUNTY HS/AMHERST, VA

CLAY CARTER DL 6'3 230 LEXINGTON HS/LEXINGTON, SCDEON DOUGLAS DL 6'2 240 MARLBORO COUNTY HS/BENNETTSVILLE, SCNICK FENDER DL 6'2 240 MARSHALL COUNTY HS/CULLEOKA, TNJOE FREEMAN DL 6'5 255 SOUTHWEST MACON HS/MACON, GALUKAS GLEISSNER DL 6'0 250 STATESBORO HS/STATESBORO, GAALEX HARTSELL DL 6'3 270 RIDGE VIEW HS/COLUMBIA, SC