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NEWS
Mr. Florida, Crawford sign with MU
HUNTINGTON — Marshall University football’s National Letter-of-Intent Day kicked off with a resounding coup Wednesday morning, receiving a signed letter from Florida’s high school state Player of the Year.
A.J. Graham arrived on campus Friday afternoon for an official visit, hours after being named Mr. Florida. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound quarterback from Godby High School is ranked No. 27 at his position nationally by Rivals.com.
Graham completed 244 of 396 passes for 3,870 yards and 38 touchdowns against 13 interceptions as a senior. He also rushed for 551 yards and 10 TDs and has earned scholarship offers from the Thundering Herd, Clemson, Illinois and Kansas State.
Fellow Florida high school standout Quanthony Fletcher faxed his letter-of-intent to Marshall moments after Graham’s signing. Fletcher, a 6-1, 244-pound linebacker from Dr. Krop H.S., rated as high as No. 9 at his position nationally and also was offered by Tennessee, Purdue, Colorado State and UCF.
Letters from top prospects C.J. Crawford (6-2, 205), Huntington High School’s versatile wideout/quarterbac; South Charleston H.S. wide receiver Aaron Dobson (6-3, 195); Andre Booker, a tailback from Riverview H.S. (Fla.); Independence H.S. (N.C.) wide receiver Michael Rhynes (6-5, 202); and Big Walnut H.S. (Ohio) defensive tackle Colton Griffis (6-6, 300) followed.
Also signing were Walnut Ridge H.S. (Ohio) linebacker Zakee Bashir (6-2, 212); Harrisonburg H.S. (Va.) defensive end James Rouse (6-5, 212); Providence H.S. (N.C.) linebacker Matt Pickett; Oswego H.S. (Ill.) offensive lineman Jordan Jeffries (6-7, 298); and Collegiate H.S. (Kan.) offensive lineman Alex Schooler (6-5, 245).
The Marshall list also includes Craig County H.S. (Va.) offensive lineman Corey Tenney (6-7, 269); Glades Central H.S. (Fla.) defensive back Cartavious Baldwin (6-1, 185); Rickards H.S. (Fla.) cornerback Monterius Lovett (5-10, 168); Cypress Bay H.S. (Fla.) linebacker Phil Walker (6-1, 210); Martin Luther King H.S. (Ga.) offensive lineman Darrell Martin; Boyd Anderson H.S. (Fla.) defensive end Marques Aiken (6-4, 230); West Mecklenburg H.S. (N.C.) linebacker Trevor Black (6-2, 196); and Frostproof H.S. (Fla.) defensive back Donald Brown (6-1, 190).
Crawford ranked as West Virginia’s No. 1 senior prospect by Rivals.com. He totaled 1,084 yards of offense and nine touchdowns in 2008 after throwing for 1,611 yards and adding 492 rushing yards as a full-time quarterback as a junior. Purdue and Wake Forest also offered scholarships to Crawford, who projects at numerous positions.
“I’d like to be on offense, wide receiver or somewhere touching the ball,” Crawford said following his verbal commitment. “I feel I’d be a better fit, but defensive-wise I’ll do what I can if I can get playing time.
“I’ll do what I can do.”
Like Fletcher and several others, Dobson, a 6-3, 185-pound first team all-state selection in football and basketball, rates among Marshall recruits likely to impact sooner than otherwise. He hauled in 45 passes for more than 1,298 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Serving double-time as a defensive back, he also totaled eight interceptions. As a junior, Dobson compiled approximately 850 yards and nine TDs on 39 receptions.
For the second time in as many months, Laney College (Calif.) athlete Troy Evans signed with the Thundering Herd. Initially, the tailback/slot receiver signed on junior college signing day, but academics invalidated the commitment. Saying “I was always with the Herd,” Evans secured his Marshall career by signing again on Wednesday.
Last season, Evans averaged 162 total yards a game, ranking sixth among California junior college players. The 5-foot-9, 210-pound athlete totaled 407 rushing yards, 268 receiving, 224 on punt returns and 559 on kickoffs.
Evans earned All American honors in 2007, averaging 13 yards on punt returns and 30 on kickoff runbacks. He averaged 12.4 yards on punt returns in ’08. Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas State, Oregon and Wyoming have offered Evans, who’s been timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Wednesday’s signees join quarterbacks Press Taylor and Jacob Laudenslayer and wide receiver Wayne Bonner, junior college recruits who enrolled in January and will participate in spring practice. Wide receiver Jamal Wilson also enrolled this month and counts against the 2009 recruiting class.
Marshall football recruits
Marques Aiken, DE, 6-4, 230, Boyd Anderson H.S. (Fla.)
Cartavious Baldwin , DB 6-1, 185, Glades Central H.S. (Fla.)
Zakee Bashir, LB, 6-2, 212, Walnut Ridge H.S. (Ohio)
Trevor Black, LB, 6-2, 196, West Mecklenburg H.S. (N.C.)
Wayne Bonner , WR, 6-5, 210, East Mississippi C.C.
Andre Booker, RB, 5-10, 175, Riverview H.S. (Fla.)
Donald Brown ,S, 6-1, 190, Frostproof H.S. (Fla.)
C.J. Crawford ,ATH, 6-2, 205, Huntington H.S.
Aaron Dobson, WR, 6-3, 185, South Charleston H.S.
Troy Evans , ATH, 5-9, 210, Laney College (Calif.)
A.J. Graham, QB, 6-4, 195, Godby H.S. (Fla.)
Quanthony Fletcher, LB, 6-1, 244, Dr. Krop H.S. (Fla.)
Colton Griffis, DT, 6-6, 300, Big Walnut H.S. (Ohio)
Jordan Jeffries, OL, 6-7, 298, Oswego H.S. (Ill.)
Jacob Laudenslayer, QB, 6-3, 225, Mendocino College (Calif.)
Monterrious Lovette ,CB, 5-10, 168, Rickards H.S. (Fla.)
Darrell Martin, OL, 6-5, 305, Martin Luther King H.S. (Ga.)
Matt Pickett, LB, 6-2, 206, Providence H.S. (N.C.)
James Rouse ,DE, 6-5, 215, Harrisonburg H.S. (Va.)
Alex Schooler, OL, 6-5, 245, Collegiate H.S. (Kan.)
Michael Rhynes, WR, 6-5, 202, Independence H.S. (N.C.)
Corey Tenney, OL, 6-7, 269, Craig County H.S. (Va.)
Press Taylor, QB, 6-2, 210, Butler C.C. (Kan.)
Phil Walker, LB, 6-1, 210, Cypress Bay H.S. (Fla.)
Jamal Wilson, WR, Oscar Smith H.S. (Va.)
