RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University head football coach Dean Hood announced today that 27 student-athletes will join the Colonel program beginning this spring and next fall. Nine of those student-athletes come from the Commonwealth of Kentucky while nine other student-athletes joined the EKU program this past January.
The class includes 10 offensive linemen, four defensive backs, four defensive linemen, three running backs, two quarterbacks, two linebackers, one wide receiver and one tight end. The 2012 signing class comes from nine different states ranging from Texas to New York.
Name | Position | Hometown |
Ryan ‘TT’ Garretson | OL | Morristown, Tenn. |
Stanley Absanaon* | DB | Lakeland, Fla. |
Moe Vogel* | OL | Brooklyn, NY. |
Julio Geronimo* | DL | West Orange, NJ. |
Travon Carter* | OL | Lancaster, Texas |
Jason Creeden* | OL | Woodberry Forrest, Va. |
Trey Shelton* | OL | Chesterfield, Va. |
De’Shaun Sands* | RB | Pompano Beach, Fla. |
Chris Owens* | S | Georgia Military College |
Courtney Prince* | DL | Virginia Tech |
Brett Eyckmans | OL | Fort Mitchell, Ky. |
Jason Fergerson | S | Lexington, Ky. |
Brandon Guy | OL | Maryville, Tenn. |
Joshua Minor | OL | College Park, Ga. |
Jared Sanders | RB | Hallandale Beach, Fla. |
Kyle Romano | QB | Bedford, TX |
Colton Scurry | OL | Fayetteville, Ga. |
Marquise Piton | LB | Pembroke Pines, Fla. |
Landon Rasnick | OL | Orange, Va. |
Justin Adekoya | DL | Ringgold, Ga. |
Treyvon Neely | LB | Louisville, Ky. |
LaJuan Smith | DB | Glasgow, Ky. |
Ben Lawler | QB | Georgetown, Ky. |
Kiante Northington | WR | Louisville, Ky. |
Avery Pitt | DL | Henderson, Ky. |
Jonathan Floyd | TE | Richmond, Ky. |
J. J. Jude | RB | Hagerhill, Ky. |
* Midyear signee
Student-Athlete Profiles
Stanley Absanaon
DB, 6-0, 180
Lakeland, Fla., Tenoroc High School
–Arizona State signee in 2011
–Polk County 110-meter high hurdle champion
–Scored 10 touchdowns as a senior
–All-Polk County
Justin Adekoyau
DL, 6-5, 280
Ringgold, Ga., Heritage High School
–7-AAA all-region team
–Atlanta Journal-Constitution all-state team
–Selected to play in the GACA North/South all-star game
Travon Carter
OL, 6-3, 315
Lancaster, Texas, Lancaster High School
–Transfer from Trinity Valley Community College (Texas)
–First team all-conference
–Second team All-American
Jason Creeden
OL, 6-5, 295
Woodberry Forrest, Va., Woodberry Forrest School
–Transfer from Fork Union Military Academy (Va.)
–First team all-prep
–First team All-Central Virginia
–First team all-state
Brett Eyckmans
OL, 6-5, 270
Fort Mitchell, Ky., Beechwood High School
–Associated Press first team all-state
–Cincinnati Enquirer’s All-Northern Kentucky team
–Played in the ‘Best of the Bluegrass’ all-star game
–Three-year starter, team finished 31-11 over the last three years
Jason Fergerson
S, 6-3, 195
Lexington, Ky., Lafayette High School
–All-city defensive back, honorable mention all-state
–Team defensive MVP
–Posted 44 solo tackles, 52 assisted tackles, five interceptions, eight pass break-ups, 12 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and one blocked kick as a senior
Jonathan Floyd
TE, 6-3, 240
Richmond, Ky., Madison Central High School
Ryan “TT” Garretson
OL, 6-5, 315
Morristown, Tenn., Morristown East High School
–All-state, all-conference and All-Lakeland as a senior
–Participated in Tennessee’s East vs. West all-star game
–Played every offensive line position during high school career
Julio Geronimo
DL, 6-3, 285
West Orange, N.J., East Orange High School
–Transfer from Nassau Community College (N.Y.)
–Second team all-conference as a sophomore
–Signed with Stony Brook out of high school
–As a high school senior, he was third team all-state and first team all-conference with 66 tackles and seven sacks
–Team won the state championship as a junior in high school
Brandon Guy
OL, 6-3, 270
Maryville, Tenn., Maryville High School
–Two-time 6A first team all-state
–Participated in Tennessee’s East vs. West all-star game
–Played for back-to-back state champions as a junior and senior, finalist as a freshman and sophomore
–Cumulative record in high school of 56-4
J.J. Jude
RB, 5-8, 190
Hagerhill, Ky., Johnson Central High School
–All-time leading rusher in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
–Twice rushed for more than 3,000 yards in a season
–31 touchdowns as a senior
–Two-time first team all-state
Ben Lawler
QB, 6-2, 190
Georgetown, Ky., Scott County High School
–Threw for 1,424 yards and 15 scores as a senior
–Rushed for 496 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior
–24-5 record as the starting quarterback
–Led Scott County to the state championship game
–Honorable mention all-state
–6A District Player of the Year
Joshua Minor
OL, 6-4, 275
College Park, Ga., Woodward Academy
–Two-time All-South Metro
–Two-time all-region
–Two-time most outstanding lineman
–Team MVP
Treyvon Neely
LB, 6-3, 215
Louisville, Ky., Doss High School
Kiante Northington
WR, 5-8, 165
Louisville, Ky., Butler High School
–Louisville Courier-Journal second team all-state
–First team all-district wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner (only player in 6A with that distinction)
–Played in the ‘Best of the Bluegrass’ all-star game
Chris Owens
S, 6-2, 195
Hephzibah, Ga.
–Transfer from Georgia Military College
–18 solo tackles, 16 assists and three tackles for loss
–One pass break-up
–One interception, one fumble recovery
Marquise Piton
LB, 6-2, 210
Pembroke Pines, Fla., West Broward High School
–First team All-Broward County
–Played in Broward County all-star game and Public vs. Private all-star game
–104 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior –241 tackles, 43.5 tackles for loss, 20 sacks and six forced fumbles in his career
Avery Pitt
DL, 6-3, 270
Henderson, Ky., Henderson County High School
–Associated Press first team all-state
–Louisville Courier-Journal second team all-state
–All-Big 8 defensive lineman
–District 1 6A Player of the Year
–Played in and elected captain of the Border Bowl and ‘Best of the Bluegrass’ all-star game
–Offensive team MVP
Courtney Prince
DL, 6-3, 295
Mitchellville, Md., Gwyn Park High School
–Transfer from Virginia Tech
–First player at Virginia Tech since 2008 to see action on offense, defense and special teams in same season
–First team all-league, all-county and all-state as a senior in high school
–As a high school senior, he had 108 tackles, nine sacks, seven pass deflections and three forced fumbles
Landon Rasnick
OL, 6-5, 250
Orange, Va., Orange High School
–All-district offensive lineman as a junior
–Corbette King Memorial Student-Athlete award for Central Virginia as a senior
–Team captain
Kyle Romano
QB, 6-1, 190
Bedford, Texas, LD Bell High School
–Completed 57 percent of his passes, amassing 1,870 yards and 14 touchdowns
–Rushed 148 times for 954 yards and 17 touchdowns
–Unanimous first team all-district quarterback
–Team MVP
–Rivals.com two-star recruit
Jared Sanders
RB, 5-8, 173
Hallandale Beach, Fla., Hallandale High School
–First team All-Broward County
–First team All-Miami Herald and Sun Sentinel
–Broward County Athletic Association all-star game MVP
–900 rushing yards, 400 receiving yards as a senior
–Rivals.com two-star recruit
De’Shaun Sands
RB, 5-8, 180
Pompano Beach, Fla., Piper High School
–Transfer from Kansas University
–Played 10 games as a true freshman at Kansas, posted 211 yards and a touchdown on 55 carries
–Rushed for 1,276 yards as a senior with 10 touchdowns
–Second leading rusher in Broward County as a senior
–Led Broward County in rushing as a junior
Colton Scurry
OL, 6-3, 280
Fayetteville, Ga., Whitewater High School
–Two-time first team all-county
–First team all-region as a senior
–Started at center in GACA North-South all-star game
–Team captain
Trey Shelton
OL, 6-4, 295
Chesterfield, Va., Lloyd C. Bird High School
–Transfer from Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)
–Second team all-district
–Honorable mention all-region
LaJuan Smith
DB, 6-2, 195
Glasgow, Ky., Glasgow
–Two-time all-district player
–Honorable mention all-state
–92 career receptions for 1,781 yards and 18 scores
–Also had five rushing touchdowns in his career
Moe Vogel
OL, 6-4, 295
Brooklyn, N.Y., Christ the King High School
–Transfer from Nassau Community College (N.Y.)
–Third team all-conference as a sophomore
–Can play tackle or guard