It's Signing Day 2023 for RU Football!

February 1, 2023

Waleska, GA - Just about three months after the 2022 football season came to a close on a heroic comeback in the final seven minutes of the first round of the NAIA Playoffs, the Eagles were back at it adding weapons to their already talented roster. Coach Miller and his hardworking staff added 54 new players on this 2023 signing day.

The Eagles had a tremendous senior class that graduated which included players like Hunter Arters (QB), Jon Perry (DE), Tylan Oglesby (CB), and Kenneth Lowery (LB) just to name a few so getting more talent in the cue is a necessity. There are plenty of skilled athletes already on campus that will be eager to fill those departing seniors' spots, but getting a new crop to keep pushing the competition level up is important. The new class of players that just signed with the Eagles will make sure that the RU Football program stays strong and dominate for years to come.

In this new class, there are plenty of athletic and skilled players that Coach Miller's staff likes to coach and put into their system. Traditionally, Coach Miller's teams are known for being strong and athletic on both sides of the line and fast and skilled at the running backs, defensive backs, and receiver positions. This new class will fit right into the system where we can expect to see many years of great RU Eagle Football.

Coach Miller had this to say about the recruiting season and the new class coming in: "First & foremost I like to thank my staff Greg Blue, Forrest Jackson, Mike Peeples, Chet Pobolish, Cliff Matthews, & Randall Owens for all the hard work they have put into making this great class come together. We are blessed to sign 54 players all from the Great State of Georgia. I truly believe this is the best high school football in the country from the players, families, communities, & facilities. We put a major emphasis on hard work, toughness & grit. We want guys that getting a degree is just as important as playing great football. I feel like we have added Speed at skill positions and beef to our guys up front. We have state champions and young men that made deep playoff runs. Excited to add them with the players currently busting their tails on campus with Coach Gillespie our strength coach. Reinhardt is Georgia Football."

The team will have its spring season coming up this March/April where the staff will get a look at what they will have for the fall season. The first game of fall is currently scheduled for September 2nd with a home game with Faulkner University. The schedule has good slate of home games for Eagles fans and the team will look to win the Appalachian Athletic Conference one again!

Below are the names and information on this year's signing class:

First Name:	Last Name:	Position:	High School:	Head Coach	Height:	Weight:	Recruiting Coach:
RJ	Bellflower	OL	Northside	Chad Alligood	5'10	280	Willie McCloud
1st Team All Region Center for Northside in one of the toughest regions in GA. Can move for his size excited to get him entrenched in the program.
Jaron	Benjamin	LB	Veterans	Josh Ingram	6'0	215	Willie McCloud
Hard worker to earn 4 time lifter of the year at Veterans along with 2 time Iron man. The 1st Team All Region LB had 96 tackles & 8 TFL's
Braxton	Blakey	LB	Briarwood Christian	Bo Fleming	6'2	220	Forrest Jackson
Braxton 3x Captain & Defensive MVP to go along with 2x All Region & State. He had 72 Tackles with 21 TFL & 4.5 Sacks.
Trey	Bowles	RB	East Coweta	John Small	5'10	180	Willie McCloud
647 yards rushing on the season for the Speedster out of Coweta Co. He average 4.7 yards per carry to go along with 12 TDs.
DJ	Brown	DB	Fitzgerald	Tucker Pruitt	6'1	160	Willie McCloud
Fast corner from the state runner up Purple Hurricanes that led them with 4int. 1st Team All Region & Honorable Mention All State on the back end.
Otis	Burley	DB	Lovejoy	Edgar Carson	6'1	205	Greg Blue
Big Strong young man that we feel can play our enforcer position on the back end. He finished with 84 Tackles, 14 TFL, & 4 PBU
Jayden	Calhoun	OL	SE Whitfield	Todd Murray	6'3	310	Mike Peeples
Large Human that can move for his size. 2-time All Region performer and Honorable Mention All State as a senior.
Tyler	Cheatwood	WR	Heritage	Ryan Andrews	5'11	160	Willie McCloud
Tyler had 673 yards on only 673 yards to go along with 11TDs. He earned 1st Team All Region Ath explosive & fast young man.
Eddren	Chester	WR	Jones County	Mike Chastain	5'10	170	Willie McCloud
A return specialist for Coach Chastain at Jones Co. He will help us at all positions in our WR room.
Nyreon	Cooper	DB	Rockmart	Biff Parson	5'10	170	Chet Pobolish
1st Team All State Linbacker that was a do everything guy for Coach Parson. He played all Special Teams and started on Defense.
Cam	Curtis	WR	Calhoun	Clay Stephenson	6'1	185	Mike Peeples
Region 7a All Purpose Player of the year for the Yellow Jackets and All State honorable mention. Cam had 34rec. 673yds w/5TDs
Austin	Davis	TE	Dalton	Kip Carpenter	6'4	225	Mike Peeples
Austin is a tall, long & athletic TE that can catch the ball. We think the 2nd Team All Region pick will be physical in the run game as well.
Harlem	Diamond	RB	Cedartown	Jamie Abrams	5'9	180	Chet Pobolish
Big Time Back 4a State & Region Player of the Year. 1st Team All State & Region, led his team 1,271 yards rushing, 21 TDs, 8 TDs Rec. 70 Tackles & 2ints
Charlie	Fleming	OL	Pickens	Grant Myers	6'3	270	Mike Peeples
Big Kid that comes from a hardworking program where they know how to work. Excited to see him grow and mature as a player. 2 Time All Region pick.
Collin	Fletcher	WR	Cartersville	Conor Foster	5'10	160	Cliff Matthews
Collin led Cartersville in receiving w/40catches for 700 yards &10 TDs. He is a 1st Team All Region & Honorable Mention All State Recipient.
JD	Galligan	DB	North Forsyth	Robert Craft	6'1	180	Greg Blue
Tall guy will play Free Saftey position for Eagles ablity to play Hash to Hash. Had 63 Tackles & 8 PBU for Coach Craft on his way to 1st Team All Region.
Jordan	Ghant	Ath	Peachtree Ridge	Matt Helmrich	5'8	170	Cliff Matthews
Versatile Athlete from Gwinnett Co. that played on both sides of the ball. Jordan had 30 Tackles, 329 yards rushing & 144 yards rushing.
Zach	Giddens	WR	Alexander	Olten Downs	6'1	165	Mike Peeples
Tall rangy WR that average 22.4 yards per catch. Has great hands and we were able to identify him at our 7on7 camp this summer.
Preston	Gilbert	OL	Sonorville	Denver Pate	6'5	290	Mike Peeples
Another large man coming from North Georgia mountains. He has good feet for a man of his size excited to add him to our group.
Cam	Gonsalves	OL	Ware County	Jason Strickland	5'10	300	Willie McCloud
All Region Guard for the State Champion Gators from South Georgia. Very physical young man who Coach Strickland said was hardest workers in Program.
Joshua	Hale	DB	East Paulding	Chris Hirschfield	5'11	178	Mike Peeples
Tall Corner with great length for the position. Contributed 44 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 PBU & Blocked a Kick for his squad.
Cassius	Hann	DB	Walnut Grove	Robert Andrews	5'8	150	Mike Peeples
Played both ways for Coach Andrews contributed 511 yards receiving & 2 TDs on Offense. Defensively had 52 Tackles & 4 PBUs
Julian	Harper	DL	Colquitt	Sean Calhoun	5'10	205	Mike Peeples
Small in stature, but plays with a lot of physicality & effort. Help his team to a Semifinal appearance w/21 total tackles good for 2nd Team All Region
Jack	Hawkins	LB	Chamblee	Bob Swank	6'2	220	Cliff Matthews
Long LB for Coach Swank had 70 Tackles with 11 TFLs, 2 ints, 2 Sacks, 2 FF that we are excited to see how he develops for the years to come.
Namari	Jenkins	DB	Evans	Barrett Davis	5'9	165	Willie McCloud
Speed is 1st word to my mind. Playmaker out of Augusta, Ga that had 51 tackles, 4TFL, 1 Sack, 2 PBU, 1 FF, 1FR & 2 int on his way to 1st Team All Region
Braylon	Jones	DB	Rockmart	Biff Parsons	5'11	172	Chet Pobolish
1st Team All Region Defensive back that contributed 55 tackles, 2 pick sixes, 2 FR, 2FF. He is athletic, long & brings a lot of versatility to our back end.
Dustin	Kerns	WR	Calhoun	Clay Stephenson	5'10	190	Mike Peeples
1st Team All Region Reciever that brings tremondous speed to the position. Dustin receive the iron man award his Senior season
Kace	Kinnamon	QB	Coahulla Creek	Danny Wilson	5'10	165	Mike Peeples
All State & Region Player of the year that threw for 2,256 yards w/26 TDs to go along with 556 yards rushing. Great addition to the Nest.
Logan	Long	OL	Fannin County	Chad Cheatham	6'2	300	Mike Peeples
1st Team All Region & Honorable Mention All State who played both ways. Physical & hardworking young man that will continue to get better.
Jamir	Maxime	DB	Etowah	Matt Kemper	5'9	160	Chet Pobolish
He was a contributer for Etowah defense with 35 Tackles, 2 int, 14 PBU. He earn 2nd Team All County & Region
Ian	McGill	RB	Brookwood	Philip Jones	5'11	185	Mike Peeples
RB from Brookwood that can make plays through the air or on the ground.
Riley	Mckee	LB	West Forsyth	Dave Svehla	5'10	212	Willie McCloud
The Thumper out of Forsyth Co. earned 2nd Team All Region. He contributed 78 tackles with 4.5 sacks and 1int.
Miller	Meeks	DL	Chamblee	Bob Swank	6'0	200	Cliff Matthews
Led his team with 10 Sacks & 15 TFLs to go along with 52 Tackles. The quick twitch DL was a 1st Team All Region performer who also blocked 2 kicks.
TJ	Morrison	DL	Valdosta	Shelton Felton	5'9	280	Cliff Matthews
The Stout man in the middle of Valdosta Defense. Contributed 37 tackles & 11 TFL with a relentless motor & effort to get to the ball.
Quan	Moss	RB	Elbert Co.	Shannon Jarvis	6'0	200	Willie McCloud
Led Elbert with 1,900 yards rushing & 30 TDs on his way to 1st Team All State & Region. Big bruiser that will be great between tackles.
Tristan	Mullins	LB	Sonoraville	Denver Pate	5'10	215	Mike Peeples
Our Staff went back to the mountains to get this LB who contributed 130 Tackles, 23 TFLs, 4 FF, 1 FR & 2 Sacks. Region 4a Player of Year.
Trent	New	RB	North Paulding	Don Stark	5'7	230	Willie McCloud
Trent played for a Region Champion North Paulding. He had multiple roles that help the team be successful.

Kamari	Poindexter	LB	Salem	Jarrett Laws	5'11	205	Forrest Jackson
He is a big and athletic LB that contributed 80 tackles, 10 TFLs and 2 Sacks for Salem. 2 time Honorable Mention All Region selection.
Jace	Presley	RB	Hiram	Pete Fominaya	5'8	180	Willie McCloud
Physical running back from Hiram who loves to run downhill. Jace was a 2nd Team All Region performer his senior year
Jayden	Ponder	RB	Allatoona	Gary Varner	5'11	190	Chet Pobolish
1st Team All Cobb County, All Region, All State & All Metro for talented RB from Allatoona. He led the team with 1,703 yards & 16 TDs
Kamari	Pough	DB	Mundy Mills	Earthwind Moreland	5'11	170	Greg Blue
A safety from the South Atlanta area that was a Honorable Mention All Region performer who finished w/85 tackles, 4 FR, 3 int, & 2 Defensive TDs
Brandon	Rangel	DB	South Paulding	Sumo Robinson	5'11	180	Mike Peeples
Rangy safety from Paulding Co. who wil help the Eagles Def. backfield. He was All Region honorable mention his senior year.
Ilyas	Rashid	DB	Archer	Dante Williams	6'2	180	Mike Peeples
Big Physical corner with great length for Coach Peeples to work with. Plays in a tough region and plays at a very high level.
Andru	Ray	OL	Lowndes	Zach Grage	6'2	285	Willie McCloud
Statring OL for Lowndes. He possess the size we are looking for at that position. Excited to get him in the program on field and weight room.
Dane	Rish	OL	Coffee County	Mike Coe	5'10	280	Willie McCloud
Football and wrestler in High School at Coffee. Multiple time 1st Team All Region & Starter at Center that has led his team deep in playoffs.
Gentry	Sherman	WR	Carver Columbus	Pierre Coffey	5'8	170	Greg Blue
Mr. Sherman finished the season with 617 yards for an average of 13.1 yards per reception to go along with 3 TDs. Gentry will play our slot position.
Andrew	Shockley	Ath	Banks County	Jay Reid	6'0	185	Forrest Jackson
Region Player of the year for Coach Reid led the Team with 1,814 all purpose yards & 21 TDs. Contributed 1,261 of yards on ground.
Julian	Stevenson	LB	Wheeler	Bryan Love	6'1	215	Chet Pobolish
1st Team All Region and 2nd Team All Cobb Co. for the Big Mike LB from Wheeler. Played on all Special Teams, Off & Def. & was a state placer in wrestling
Connor	Tolley	QB	Hampton	Chad Ashley	6'1	170	Cliff Matthews
QB that can hurt you with his arm or feet. Had 1,182 yards passing with 712 yards rushing with 12 passing TDs.
Gavin	Van Dyck	LB	Paulding County	Uriah Brown	5'10	165	Mike Peeples
Athletic LB who contributed 70 Tackles, 5 TFL, 1 PBU, and 1 FF for a very good Paulding County Football Team. Could be a valubale guy on Special Teams
Xavier	Walker	OL	Fitzgerald	Tucker Pruitt	6'0	275	Willie McCloud
1st Team All State & Region Offensive Lineman. Very Physical & Athletic for 275 pounds. He loves to finish his opponent every snap.
Aiden	Watkins	DL	Langston Hughes	Boone Williams	6'2	315	Greg Blue
BIG man from the State Champion Langston Hughes. Played on both sides of the ball for Coach Williams. Physical & mean tempered young man like I like.
Jeremy	Williams	CB	Norcross	Keith Maloof	6'0	165	Mike Peeples
21 Tackles, 1 TFL, 3 PBU for Coach Maloof at Norcross. Long with great hips and feet for the cornerback position.
Peyton	Williams	Ath	Ringgold	Robert Akins	5'11	190	Mike Peeples
Fast young man from NW Georgia who led the team with 1,116 yards rushing for 9.4ypc with 14 TDs on his way to 1st Team All Region & All State.
Tyon	Williams	WR	Northgate	Mike McDonald	6'0	170	Willie McCloud
He is the all time leader in receiving yards at Northgate. He finished his career 1st Team All Region & County w/53rec. 895yards & 8TDs
Brandon	Wilson	TE	Northside	Chad Alligood	6'1	210	Willie McCloud
Athletic TE that is a threat receiving the football. Finished the season with 16rec. For 166 yards on his way to 2nd Team All Region.