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2019 National Signing Day Recap: The MAC Early Signing Period

Several MAC squads made some noise during the early signing period.

James H. Jimenez

The National Signing Day for the early signing period was Wednesday and several teams of the MAC took advantage as they tabbed a number of talented freshmen for the 2019 class. We will now go team-by-team through the additions to see how this class will impact the league in the coming years.

Ball State

Brandon Berger, ILB, 6-4, 215, Indianapolis, Ind., Roncalli HS

Clayton Coll, ILB, 6-3, 225, Franklin, Ind., Franklin Community HS

Chris Crothers, TE, 6-5, 240, Mishawaka, Ind., College of DuPage

John Harris, DL, 6-3, 260, Greenwood, Ind., Roncalli HS

Rahmon Hart Jr., WR, 6-2, 215, Pittsburgh, Pa., Imani Christian Academy

Porter Haught, OL, 6-5, 275, Fort Wayne, Ind., Homestead HS

Nic Jones, DB, 6-0, 170, Southfield, Mich., Southfield A&T HS

Derin McCulley, DB, 6-0, 170, Indianapolis, Ind., Lawrence North HS

Jalen McGaughy, WR, 6-3, 205, Detroit, Mich., Martin Luther King HS

Solvauhn Moreland, DL, 6-3, 305, Aliquippa, Pa., Aliquippa Senior HS

Caden Niekamp, OL, 6-6, 315, St. Henry, Ohio, St. Henry HS

Mark Nondorf, QB, 6-3, 195, Indianapolis, Ind., Bishop Chatard HS

Justen Ramsey, DL, 6-1, 285, Merrillville, Ind., Merrillville HS

Seth Schmidt, OL, 6-6, 250, Wilmington, Ohio, Clinton-Massie HS

Eddie Schott, QB, 6-4, 215, Indianapolis, Ind., Southport HS

Jerwuan Thomas, DB, 5-11, 170, Huntsville, Ala., Grissom HS

Tavion Woodard, OLB, 6-4, 215, West Lafayette, Ind., West Lafayette HS

Bowling Green

Grant Abbott, OL, 6-4, 275, Cleveland, Ohio, St. Ignatius HS

Darren Anders, LB, 6-0, 197, North Olmsted, Ohio, North Olmsted HS

Jordan Anderson, DB, 5-11, 195, Harper Woods, Mich., Harper Woods HS

Tyrone Broden, WR, 6-5, 180, West Bloomfield, Mich., West Bloomfield HS

Joey Carroll, TE, 6-6, 235, Toledo, Ohio, St. Francis de Sales HS

Davion Daniels, CB, 6-0, 155, Hubbard, Ohio, Hubbard HS

Konota Gaskins, DB, 6-1, 190, McKeesport, Pa., McKeesport HS

Luke Harmon, OL, 6-5, 240, Grand Rapids, Mich., Catholic Central HS

Brock Horne, LB, 6-2, 205, Romeo, Mich., Romeo HS

Jajuan Hudson, DB, 5-11, 175, Camden, N.J., Camden HS

Dawan Martin, DL, 6-5, 245, Youngstown, Ohio, East HS

Chris Oliver, DL, 6-4, 290, Erie, Pa., Cathedral Prep HS

Jake Rogers, WR, 5-8, 160, Medina, Ohio, Highland HS

Brennan Spiess, ATH, 6-2, 200, Swanton, Ohio, London HS

Blaine Spires, DL, 6-3, 220, Youngstown, Ohio, East HS

Buffalo

Jelani Foster, WR, 6-1, 185, Laurel, MD, St. Vincent Pallotti HS

Anthony Laudicina, OL, 6-6, 280, Villanova, PA, Radnor HS

Ronald McGee, DT, 6-3, 295, Sumter, SC, Highland Park Community College

Trevor Solomon-Wilson, WR, 5-11, 190, Tallahassee, FL, Amos P. Godby HS

Trevor Bycznski, QB, 6-5, 230, Berea, OH, Berea-Midpark HS

Javien Cuff, WR, 6-2, 170, Vero Beach, FL, Vero Beach HS

C.J. Bazile, DE, 6-3, 255, Bayonne, NJ, Bayonne HS

Trey Franklin, CB, 5-9, 170, Robins, GA, Warner Robins HS

Marcus Fuqua, S, 6-0, 185, Southfield, MI, Southfield A&T HS

Georell Kidd, DT, 6-2, 270, Miami, FL, Miami Northwestern HS

Kyler Laing, DE, 6-1, 230, Tallahassee, FL, Amos P. Godby HS

Rich Miller, LB, 6-1, 225, Detroit, MI, Martin Luther King HS

Bence Polgar, OL, 6-3, 305, Wayne Hills, NJ, Wayne Hills HS

Larry Robbins, CB, 5-8, 175, Miami, FL, Miami Northwestern HS

Caelan Shepard, OL, 6-6, 315, Annapolis, MD, Broadneck HS

Tyler Stephens, TE, 6-6, 215, Newton Falls, OH, LaBrae HS

Caleb Tate, LB, 6-0, 195, Tampa, FL, Tampa Catholic HS

Central Michigan

Vashon Bailey, OL, 6-7, 295, Sunrise, Fla., Somerset Academy

Josh Crawford, RB, 5-11, 190, Montclair, N.J., Montclair

Ormondell Dingle, DB, 6-3, 205, Detroit, Mich., Cass Technical

Quinton Dormady, QB, 6-4, 225, Boerne, Texas, Boerne, Houston

Javon Gantt, TE, 6-4, 215, Jacksonville, Fla., Westside

Demarcus Governor, DB, 6-0, 185, Plant City, Fla., Durant

Logan Guthrie, LB, 6-2, 215, Alpena, Mich., Alpena

Kamal Hadden, DB, 6-1, 175, Ypsilanti, Mich., River Rouge

Kyron McKinnie-Harper, DB, 6-1, 185, Detroit, Mich., Cass Technical

Dishon McNary, DB, 6-1, 195, Chicago, Ill., East Paulding, Independence CC

Danny Motowski, OL, 6-3, 295, Macomb, Mich., De La Salle

Lew Nichols, RB, 6-0, 215, Detroit, Mich., Cass Technical

Daniel Richardson, QB, 5-11, 195, Miami, Fla., Carol City

Max Saylor, DL, 6-3, 235, Rochester, Mich., Brother Rice

Cameron Vaughn, OL, 6-6, 315, Orlando, Fla., Haines City

Justin Whiteside, LB, 6-1, 200, Flossmoor, Ill., Homewood-Flossmoor

Darrell Wyatt, WR, 6-1, 175, Detroit, Mich., Martin Luther King

Eastern Michigan

De’Anthony Ball, WR, 6-1, 175, Atlanta, Ga., Carver

Richard Bates Jr., OL, 6-3, 300, Kenner, La., Scotlandville Magnet, Independence C.C.

Darius Boone, RB, 5-11, 190, Tulsa, Okla., Union

DeZaun Brooks, DL, 6-4, 240, Indianapolis. Ind., Lawrence Central

Charles Brown Jr., LB, 6-1, 215, Edgewood, Md., Hartford Technical

Brandon Burks, LB, 6-2, 240, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Pickerington, Tiffin, Butler C.C.

Bryson Cannon, TE, 6-2, 240, Columbia, S.C., Dutch Fork, Independence C.C.

Aaron Hamilton, DL, 6-2, 270, Alpharetta, Ga., Johns Creek

Korey Hernandez, DB, 6-0, 180, Decatur, Ga., Cedar Grove, Arkansas, Iowa Western C.C.

Kendric Nowling, DB, 6-2, 195, Chicago, Ill., Marist

Broderick Jordan, OL, 6-3, 295, Lansing, Mich., Okemos

Mark Lee, DB, 6-0, 185, Columbus, Ohio, Northland

Jimi McAdams, OL, 6-5, 290, Parma, Ohio, Padua Franciscan

Alex Merritt, DL, 6-2, 270, Cincinnati, Ohio, Moeller

William Racely, OL, 6-4, 290, Flushing, Mich., Flushing

Kempton Shine, DB, 6-0, 175, Chicago, Ill., St. Rita

Corry Thomas Jr., DB, 5-10, 183, Atlanta, Ga., Westlake

Grant Trueman, DL, 6-3, 240, Chino Hills, Calif., Chino Hills, Citrus College

Kent State

Jack Bailey, OL, 6-3, 293, Willoughby, Ohio, Kirtland H.S.

Bryan Bradford, RB, 6-0, 232, St. Louis, Mo., Christian Brothers College H.S.

Dante Cephas, WR, 6-1, 175, Pittsburgh, Pa., Penn Hills H.S.

Dean Clark, DB, 6-0, 205, Massillon, Ohio, Massillon Washington H.S.

Jaylen Decoteau, DB, 5-11, 177, Richland, N.J., Saint Augustine Prep

Glenn Hayes, DB, 6-0, 179, Lithonia, Georgia, Arabia Mountain

Hayden Junker, TE, 6-3, 235, Massillon, Ohio, Massillon Jackson H.S.

Mike McNicholas, OL, 6-3, 305, Lombard, Ill., Montini H.S.

Oly Okombi, DL, 6-1, 308, Silver Spring, Md., Blair H.S.

Jabbar Price, DL, 6-4, 241, Youngstown, Ohio, Ursuline H.S., Garden City CC

Collin Schlee, QB, 6-3, 182, Ijamsville, Md., Oakdale H.S.

Logan Swartz, OL, 6-5, 293, Rock Island, Ill., Rock Island H.S.

Adam Tourville, OL, 6-3, 330, La Habra, Calif., La Habra H.S., Cerritos College

Miami

Luke Bolden, LB, 6-2, 228, Cincinnati, Ohio, Colerain

Trevon Booker, DB, 6-0, 185, Indianapolis, Ind., Lawrence Central

Jack Coldiron, TE, 6-5, 215, Florence, Ky., Covington Catholic

Anthony Collier, DL, 6-3, 275, Nashville, Tenn., East Nashville Magnet

Austin Ertl, DL, 6-2, 290, Wauwatosa, Wis., Wauwatosa West

Rusty Feth, OL, 6-5, 315, Colerain, Ohio, Colerain

Brett Gabbert, QB, 6-0, 200, St. Louis, Mo., Christian Brothers

Richard Hagarty, LB, 6-3, 235, New Palestine, Ind., Cathedral

Kobe Hilton, DL, 6-3, 275, Farrell, Pa., Farrell

Ben Jackson, OL, 6-7, 290, Winchester, Ky., George Rogers Clark

Nathan Jacobs, OL, 6-5, 315, Shelbyville, Ky., Martha Layne Collins

Syncere Jones, ATH, 6-1, 185, Cincinnati, Ohio, Colerain

Jeremiah Josephs, DB, 5-11, 175, Pittsburgh, Pa., Gateway Senior

Ja’Von Kimpson, DB, 5-11, 190, Clinton Township, Mich., Chippewa Valley

Nick Manson, WR, 6-2, 195, Jonesboro, Ga., Mundy’s Mill

James Maye, WR, 5-9, 160, Charlotte, N.C., Rocky River

Deland McCullough II, DB, 6-1, 180, Leawood, Kan., Blue Valley North

Mehki Miller, DB, 6-1, 175, Park Forest, Ill., Rich Central

Ivan Pace Jr., LB, 6-0, 220, Cincinnati, Ohio, Colerain

Lonnie Phelps, DL, 6-3, 235, Cincinnati, Ohio, Mount Healthy

Austin Robinson, WR, 6-1, 170, Cornelius, N.C., William A. Hough

Ontario Russell, RB, 5-11, 200, Kansas City, Mo., Lee’s Summit North

Matthew Salopek, DB, 6-1, 200, Kent, Ohio, Archbishop Hoban

Caleb Shaffer, OL, 6-5, 300, Carmel, Ind., Carmel

Sam Vaughan, OL, 6-7, 275, Versailles, Ky., Lexington Catholic

Rhett Williams, TE, 6-6, 220, Carmel, Ind., Carmel

Julius Wood, DB, 6-2, 185, Columbus, Ohio, Walnut Ridge

Max Wynn, LB, 6-2, 220, Centerville, Ohio, Centerville

Jahmal Wynter, DL, 6-2, 300, McDonough, Ga., Henry County, Highland CC

Northern Illinois

Mark Aitken, DB, 5-9, 175, Chicago, Ill., Kenwood Academy

Justin Clark, WR, 5-11, 185, Aurora, Ill., Oswego East

Leif Engstrand, OL, 6-8, 290, Oconomowoc, Wis., Oconomowoc

Romel Goston, DB, 6-0, 180, Chicago, Ill., Raby

Tyrik Henderson, DB, 5-11, 165, Carol Stream, Ill., Glenbard North, St. Thomas More Prep [Conn.]

Reece Heyerdahl, DT, 6-2, 250, Neenah, Wis., Neenah

Michael Love, ATH, 5-10, 160, LaGrange Park, Ill., Nazareth Academy

Cam Mattox, DE, 6-2, 205, Fr., Markham, Ill., Hillcrest

Fabian McCray, WR, 6-2, 175, Chicago, Ill., Phillips

Tyrice Richie, WR, 5-11, 190, Chicago Heights, Ill., Homewood-Flossmoor, Dodge City CC

Chamaar Smith, DE, 6-2, 210, Indianapolis, Ind., Decatur Central

Demond Taylor, DT, 6-2, 273, East St. Louis, Ill., East St. Louis

Messiah Travis, WR, 5-10, 171, Chicago, Ill., Solorio Academy

Tom Trieb, TE, 6-2, 230, Arlington Heights, Ill., Buffalo Grove

Mariano Valenti, QB, 6-0, 180, Rochester, Mich., St. Thomas Aquinas [Fla.]

Logan Zschernitz, OL, 6-4, 290, Spencer, Wis., Spencer-Columbus

Ohio

Jay Amburgey, OL, 6-5, 285, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Reynoldsburg

Thomas Aronokhale, OL, 6-3, 295, Innsbruck, Austria, Linsly School (W. Va.)

Christophe Atkinson, OL, 6-3, 275, Leesburg, Va., Tuscarora

Cannon Blauser, LB, 6-1, 225, Hilliard, Ohio, Hilliard Bradley

Jeremiah Burton, DT, 6-2, 280, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Reynoldsburg

Casey Clanton, TE, 6-3, 240, Phoenix, Ariz., Central

Denzel Daxon, DT, 6-2, 335, Nassau, Bahamas, Carol City (Fla.)

Jett Elad, S, 6-0, 190, Cleveland, Ohio, Saint. Ignatius

Tyler Foster, TE, 6-6, 225, Pickerington, Ohio, Pickerington North

Keniuel Gates, CB, 6-0, 195, Citra, Fla., North Marion

Gary Hoover, OL, 6-4, 325, Neptune, N.J., Asa College

Ben Johnson, LB, 6-2, 190, Pickerington, Ohio, Pickerington North

Kyle Kelly, LB, 6-1, 200, Newport, Ky., Newport Central Catholic

Joe Oakes, OL, 6-2, 260, Cincinnati, Ohio, Indian Hill

Kurtis Rourke, QB, 6-3, 200, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, Holy Trinity

De’Montre Tuggle, RB, 5-9, 185, Channelview, Texas, Kilgore College

Luke Vannest, OL, 6-4, 325, North Canton, Ohio, Hoover

Walter Wilbon III, RB, 5-11, 205, Tampa, Fla., Plant

Toledo

Najeh Baker, WR, 5-10, 157, Homestead, Fla., South Dade

Michael Bergen, OL, 6-4, 272, Avon, Ohio, Avon

Mike Coleman, S, 5-11, 155, Pittsburgh, Pa., Woodland Hills

Evan Davis, K, 5-9, 170, Shelby, N.C., Crest

Dequan Finn, QB, 6-1, 190, Detroit, Mich., King

Willie Gaines, WR, 5-10, 165, Cocoa, Fla., Cocoa

Elija Griffin, CB, 6-0, 167, Detroit, Mich., Harper Woods

A.J. Gucciardo, QB, 6-1, 170, Holland, Ohio, Springfield

Jerome Henderson, DE, 6-5, 235, Erie, Pa., McDowell

Gaige Hill, DT, 6-3, 285, Altoona, Pa., Altoona

Chris McDonald Jr., CB, 5-10, 175, Miami, Fla., Southridge

Troy Simon, CB, 6-0, 184, Alpharetta, Ga., Milton, Coffeyville CC

Joe Smith, LB, 6-1, 193, Homestead, Fla., Southridge

Justin Stephens, TE, 6-5, 235, Trotwood, Ohio, Trotwood-Madison

Chris’Seon Stringer, WR, 6-2, 214, Cincinnati, Ohio, Taft

Jacquez Stuart, WR, 5-9, 170, Miami, Fla., Miami Northwestern

Logan Whitson, OT, 6-8, 265, Holland, Ohio, Springfield

Adrian Woliver, DE, 6-2, 230, Stow, Ohio, Stow-Monroe Falls

Western Michigan

Cameron Coleman, WR, 5-10, 185 lbs, Cardinal Ritter College Prep, Saint Louis, Mo.

Joacheim Price, OL, 6-8, 315 lbs., Harry D Jacobs, Algonquin, Ill.

Damari Roberson, WR, 6-1, 180 lbs., Mona Shores, Muskegon, Mich.

Marshawn Foster, WR, 6-4, 170 lbs., Al Raby School, Chicago, Ill.

Calob Dalton, LB, 6-4, 185 lbs, Carrollton, Carrollton, Ohio

Skyy Moore, CB, 5-9, 185 lbs, Shady Side Academy, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Boone Bonnema, LB, 6-3, 215 lbs, Zeeland East, Zeeland, Mich.

Sean Tyler, RB, 5-9, 175 lbs, Rich Central Campus, Olympia Fields, Ill.

Christian Singleton, RB, 5-11, 210 lbs, North Cobb, Kennesaw, Ga.

Jack Sherwin, TE, 6-4, 230 lbs, Central, Traverse City, Mich.

Nick Kargman, QB, 6-3, 175 lbs, Woodrow Wilson, Camden, NJ

Corey Crooms, WR, 5-11, 175 lbs, Hillcrest, Country Club Hills, Ill.

Thiago Kapps, K, 6-0, 190 lbs, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Addison West, OL, 6-4, 270 lbs, Cary-Grove Community, Cary, Ill.

Ali’Vonta Wallace, LB, 6-1, 210 lbs, Muskegon, Muskegon, Mich.

Kyle Davis, RB, 6-0, 205 lbs, Mount Carmel, Chicago, Ill.

Ozziah Williams, CB, 5-11, 180 lbs, Fresno City College, Tampa, Fla.

Keith Jones, CB, 5-10, 160 lbs, Cardinal Ritter College Prep, Saint Louis, Mo.

Stuart Kettler, OL, 6-5, 280 lbs, East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Jacob Gideon, OL, 6-3, 290, Ryle, Union, Ky.

Analysis

The Cardinals stayed mostly in-state on the recruiting trail with ten recruits from Indiana. The transfer of Riley Neal put BSU in a tough spot but it picked up a couple of QBs in Nondorf and Schott that can stabilize the position in the future. The Cards picked up nine recruits to play on defense to shore up that side of the ball in the coming years.

With the Scot Loeffler era underway at BG, it needed an overhaul at several key positions and that’s exactly what it got. Attention is being paid to the defense with the arrival of three DLs, two LBs, and five DBs, which should shore up that side of the ball in the short term. What’s interesting about this class is the addition of a 6-6 TE in Carroll, which could mean the end of the Air Raid era in Bowling Green and a renewed focus in the running game.

The defending MAC East champion Bulls came away with an interesting haul as they picked up six athletes from Florida while making additions from the East Coast and the Midwest. Nine of the commits where on the defensive side of the ball, including JUCO DL McGee. If any of these prove to be impact players in the next few years, MAC East foes might not be able to catch up to Buffalo in the talent department.

Meanwhile, CMU under Jim McElwain is aiming to rebound from its 2018 season real quick with its 2019 recruiting class. The grad transfer QB Dormady and McNary, the DB from Independence Community College (the current home of Netflix's "Last Chance U") look to be difference makers from the jump while the handful of recruits from Cass Tech gives Central Michigan some local talent from a strong program.

EMU has an eclectic mix of recruits this year with six transfers, all of which are on the defensive side of the ball. For the the four-year players, the Eagles got some pretty big recruits out of Ohio to help bolster the class. It’s always a gamble to have a lot of transfers in one class, but we’ll see if EMU is able to get these guys ready to play in the short time that it has them.

Also making some serious moves is Kent State as it bolstered itself on both sides of the line of scrimmage with seven OLs/TEs/DLs. Getting better up front will go a long way in bringing KSU back to prominence as the offense need to be more effective at running the ball and hold up in the run game in their 3-4 defense to be really special.

Miami made the biggest splash of the day with 30 commits, including Blaine Gabbert’s younger brother Brett and recruits that have some championship pedigree with five Colerian players and DB Salopek from Hoban. The RedHawks got some tremendous depth on offense while some newcomers might see the field on defense, particularly on the defensive line. Getting a 300-pound JUCO DT should shore up that side of the ball as the ‘Hawks look to bounce back next season despite graduating a number of starters.

The defending MAC champion remains the champion of the state of Illinois too as NIU had 11 in-state commits today. The Huskies also picked up a couple of OLs from Wisconsin that’ll be valuable additions in a couple of years, but the guy to watch for is Ritchie as a MAC school ending up with a WR from arguably the best JUCO in the country is a very big deal.

While Ohio never has the amazing recruiting classes on paper, it is top-notch when it comes to finding great fits for the program and developing quality football players. The big get for the Bobcats is Kurtis Rourke, the younger brother of current Bobcat QB Nathan Rourke. With a couple athletes from Florida, OU will have some athleticism coming down the pike to go along with its typical brand of toughness.

Toledo ended up with a well-rounded class of nine offensive recruits, eight on defense, and a kicker to boot (pun fully intended). Taking on two QBs is always a bold move, but doing so makes it harder to miss landing a quality passer. Simon, the corner from Coffeyville, can help add to the Rockets’ defensive reputation as a bigger corner in this league.

WMU put together a very skill player-heavy class as four of their 20 commits for 2019 are linemen. Half of the class is comprised of offensive players, which is headlined by a QB in Kargman who certainly has the frame and the skill set to be effective in the MAC. There isn’t a sole DL in this class, which is odd with the attrition at that position over the course of a season.