After a disappointing 3-8 season last year, Winston-Salem State head football coach Kermit Blount and his assistants hit the recruiting trail to find some new blood for the football program.
Six of the 20 new recruits hail from the Triad area, while others come from as far away as Georgia and even Connecticut.
“This is probably one of the largest classes that I have ever signed here at WSSU,” Blount said in a press release.
Quarterback Jordan Reid hails from High Point Andrews, the same high school as former WSSU standout and current Tennessee Titan William Hayes. The 6-foot-2 inch quarterback threw for more than 2,500 yards in his high school career.
He chose WSSU over Western Carolina, North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central.
With Blount’s affinity for the running game, it’s no surprise that he added two running backs to a backfield that will return both Nic Cooper and Nathan Mumford next season.
John Harris, a 5-foot-10 inch runner with 4.42 speed [40-yard dash], finished his high school career with the ninth most rushing yards in Virginia high school history. He ran for more than 2,600 yards as a senior and averaged a hefty 12.1 yards per carry for his career.
The Rams also signed Jordan Carter, a 6-foot-2 inch, 200 pound bruiser from Burlington, to compete for playing time in the backfield.
Despite the loss of both leading receivers from last year’s team, Bryant Bayne and Brent Thomas, WSSU signed just one wide receiver, Southern Pines’ receiver Jarrin Wooten.
Wooten played just one season at receiver in high school, but at 6 feet 5 inches tall he could be a difficult match up for opposing defensive backs.
The Rams also added Austin Higgins, a tight end from nearby Atkins High School.
The Rams added depth on the offensive line by signing four linemen, including Deylan Buntyn.
The Havelock, N.C. product played on both sides of the ball but will play on the offensive line at WSSU.
Defensively, the Rams added heavily to its defensive line and line backing corp.
The most notable name for many area fans is Kenny Uqdah, a Carver High School standout in Winston-Salem. The 6-foot-2 inch, 260 pound defensive linemen finished first in the state, recording 29 sacks.
The team added four linebackers and two defensive backs, including linebacker Ricky Rozier, from Millford, Connecticut. Rounding out the class was West Forsyth High kicker Landon Thayer.
Overall, Blount seemed pleased with his team’s recruiting results.
“That is certainly a credit to my coaching staff, being able to go out and find the kind of talent that we think can help us to get to the next level,” he said.
“I am truly pleased that we are able to do the things that we have been able to accomplish in the recruiting circles.”
The field house at Bowman-Gray Stadium, home of the WSSU Rams.