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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.