UNCP Football Announces 16-Member Signing Class

PEMBROKE - The University of North Carolina at Pembroke signed 16 football players to national letters of intent on Wednesday during the first day of the 2010 spring signing period. A total of 15 newcomers join one other student-athlete that has already enrolled at the institution in time for spring semester classes in January.

UNCP, which loses just four starters off of last season’s 9-2 club advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs and concluded the campaign in the national rankings, found recruits at six different positions, as well as two athletes (multiple-position possibilities). The Braves finished the 2009 campaign with one of the country’s top scoring offenses (33.5 points/game) but added 10 new offensive players to its roster, including three on the offensive line. The Black and Gold also inked three wide receivers, two running backs and a pair of multi-purpose offensive threats.

“We are excited about these 16 guys who fit our program,” said head coach Pete Shinnick. “We knew this would be one of our smaller classes because we only lost nine seniors. We already have more than 100 guys on the roster, so we were very selective as to who we offered scholarships to. We are really excited about the quality of person, student and athlete that we are adding with these guys.”

JOSH BARBOUR
Defensive Line, 6-1, 230
Four Oaks, NC (South Johnston HS)
Prepped at South Johnston High School for coach Joe Salas … Registered 188 tackles, five interceptions, two pass break-ups and seven blocked kicks (three punts) in helping to lead the Trojans to a 14-2 record and a spot in the state championship game … Named defensive most valuable player of 3AA state championship game … Earned second consecutive all-conference laurels, as well as South Johnston’s defensive most valuable player award … Amassed 91 tackles (two sacks), two pass break-ups and three blocked kicks as a junior … Also a member of the basketball and track & field squads at South Johnston.

WILLIAM BROWN
Athlete, 6-2, 200
Snow Hill, NC (Dean College)
Played in nine games for Dean College and helped lead Bulldogs to a 9-1 record and the Northeast Football Conference championship … Booked 475 all-purpose yards, including 318 yards through the air on 24-of-44 passing with four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions … Rushed 30 times for 157 yards and an additional touchdown, while also catching 16 passes for 133 yards and another score … Prepped at Greene Central High School (2004-07) for coach Jim Bryant … Named offensive player of the year and a first team all-conference selection following a senior campaign that saw him throw for 1,557 yards and 15 touchdowns in pacing Rams to a 9-3 clip and a spot in the state playoffs.

JOE BURNETT
Wide Receiver, 6-1, 180
Long Beach, MS (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Already enrolled in classes at UNCP … Played one season for Mississippi Gulf Coast CC and was an integral part of 2008 state championship … Hauled in 28 catches for 281 yards and a trio of touchdowns, while also registering 24 knock-down blocks and a pair of blocked punts … Also played basketball in junior college.

MIKE DANIELS
Defensive Back, 5-11, 195
Greenville, NC (Hargrave Military Academy)
Originally signed with Kent State following senior prep campaign in 2007 … Prepped at Southeast Raleigh High School for coach Daniel Finn … Earned all-state laurels as a senior after recording 112 tackles, two interceptions, a pair of forced fumbles and a sack ... Helped team to a 10-3 mark while earning defensive most valuable player honors for the second time … Finished his career with 337 tackles, 15 interceptions, eight forced fumbles and three sacks ... Was a two-time all-region selection ... Also lettered in basketball and track, winning the state long jump title as a senior.

COLLIN FLOYD
Wide Receiver, 6-3, 197
Winston-Salem, NC (Carver HS)
Prepped at Carver High School for coach Keith Wilkes … Earned all-conference laurels after helping to lead the Yellowjackets to an 8-5 record and the second round of the state playoffs … Hauled in 42 catches for 856 yards and nine touchdowns.

JORDAN GIBBS
Defensive Line, 6-0, 260
Newton, NC (Newton-Conover HS)
Prepped at Newton-Conover High School for coach Nick Bazzle … Booked 121 tackles, including 26 tackles for loss and a trio of sacks, in pacing the Red Devils to a 14-2 record and a spot in the state championship game … Also forced two fumbles, recovered another and tallied eight pass break-ups … Earned second consecutive all-area, all-conference and team defensive most valuable player accolades, while also capturing first team all-state laurels … Also named area and conference defensive player of the year.

ROOSEVELT “R.J.” HARVIN
Offensive Line, 6-3, 284
Asheville, NC (Asheville HS)
Prepped at Asheville High School for coach Danny Wilkins … Earned second consecutive all-area and all-conference laurels as a senior after pacing Cougars to a 10-1-1 record and a deep run in the state playoffs … Also earned best offensive lineman awards in each of last two prep seasons … Integral part of offensive line that paved the way for a pair of 1,100-yard+ runners, including a 1,500-yard season by an individual tailback.

LEE JAMES
Offensive Line, 6-1, 320
Fayetteville, NC (Jack Britt HS)
Prepped at Jack Britt High School for coach Richard Bailey … Started all 16 games for the Buccaneers at right guard and was an integral part of an offensive line that paved the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers, including a 1,922-yard season by an individual tailback.

TRAVORES JENKINS
Linebacker, 5-11, 190
Greensboro, NC (Dudley HS)
Prepped at Dudley High School for coach Stephen Davis … Earned all-conference laurels after amassing 71 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and five sacks, in helping to pace the Panthers to a 13-2 record and a spot in the state semifinals … In addition, recorded a pair of interceptions and a defensive touchdown … Also took home team’s best linebacker award.

CADARREUS MASON
Linebacker, 6-1, 234
China Grove, NC (South Rowan HS)
Prepped at South Rowan High School for coach Jason Rollins … Booked 121 tackles, including eight sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries in pacing Raiders to a 9-3 record and a spot in the state playoffs … Also scored a defensive touchdown … Earned second consecutive all-county and all-conference laurels, as well as second-straight defensive player of the year accolades … Earned all-state honors, as well as Old Spice Player of the Year laurels, after outstanding junior season … Is also a two-time all-county and all-conference selection for South Rowan’s track & field squad.

JOSH MCDUFFIE
Defensive Back, 5-11, 173
High Point, NC (Southern Guilford HS)
Prepped at Southern Guilford High School for coach Darryl Brown … Booked 89 tackles, including six tackles for loss and a sack, in pacing Storm to a spot in the state playoffs … Also produced three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception, seven pass break-ups and a trio of blocked kicks (eight career blocked kicks) … Rushed for 578 yards on 84 carrries and seven touchdowns, while also hauling in eight catches for 99 yards and an additional score … Earned second consecutive all-conference and all-area laurels, while also taking home team defensive most valuable player honors.

FISHER MINTON
Offensive Line, 6-4, 319
Lenoir, NC (Hibriten HS)
Prepped at Hibriten High School for coach Chuck Cannon … A three-year starter at both guard and center … Helped lead Panthers to a 13-1 record and a deep run in the state playoffs as a prep senior … Graded out at 94 percent, booked 69 pancake blocks and did not allow a sack … Earned second-straight all-conference and team most outstanding offensive linemen laurels following senior campaign.

ELLIOT POWELL
Running Back, 5-7, 187
Mebane, NC (Eastern Alamance HS)
Prepped at Eastern Alamance High School for coach John Kirby … Rushed 143 times for 987 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading the Eagles to a 14-2 record and a spot in the state championship game … Also hauled in 12 catches for 178 yards … Earned third consecutive all-conference and all-region honors following senior campaign.

TAMARI WHITE
Running Back, 5-8, 170
Midway Park, NC (White Oak HS)
Prepped at White Oak High School for coach Bob Blick … Rushed for 1,670 yards and 14 touchdowns as a prep senior in leading Vikings to state playoff appearance … Earned third consecutive all-conference accolades, second-straight all-area laurels and was in the starting lineup for North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl … Finished three-year prep career with 3,485 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns.

DWAYNE WILLIAMS
Athlete, 5-7, 150
Fayetteville, NC (Westover HS)
Prepped at Westover High School for coach Milton Butts … Registered 893 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns as a multi-threat back … Rushed 63 times for 269 yards and three touchdowns, while also hauling in nine catches for 115 yards … Returned 10 kickoffs for 349 yards and three touchdowns and had five punt returns for 40 yards … Completed 11 of 22 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown from the quarterback position … Earned all-region accolades, as well as second-straight all-conference nods, following senior campaign.

TE’VELL WILLIAMS
Wide Receiver, 6-1, 180
Spring Lake, NC (Pine Forest HS)
Prepped at Pine Forest High School for coach Bill Sochovka … Tallied 70 catches for 1,072 yards and 16 touchdowns as a prep senior in leading the Trojans to a state playoff appearance … Also registered 94 passing yards out of the Wildcat formation … Earned all-region accolades, as well as second consecutive all-conference laurels … Hauled in 37 passes for 454 yards as a prep junior, while also picking off four passes as a defensive back … Earned all-conference honors at both wide receiver and defensive back as a junior.