Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University head football coach Joe Reich has announced the signing of 42 student-athletes to join Wingate University in the fall of the 2020. The incoming class joins a Bulldog football program which has piled up a school-record 28 wins over the last three seasons, coming off the first 10-win season in program history in 2019. 

Porfirio Acosta (OL)
Etowah High School
6-0/270
Woodstock, Ga.

Acosta was a four-year starter on the offensive line for head coach Dave Svehla at Etowah High School in Woodstock, Ga. A three-time All-Region and All-County player, Acosta served as a team captain, leading Etowah to four playoff appearances. He was named Etowah lineman of the year and Cherokee County lineman of the year.
 
Logan Anderson (FB)
Central Cabarrus High School
6-1/240
Concord, N.C.

Anderson was a three-year starter, playing at Central Cabarrus High School for head coach Kenneth McClamrock. Anderson was a two-time all-conference selection and was named leader of the team.
 
Jabari Tyrese Avery (OL)
Irmo High School
6-2/287
Columbia, S.C.

Avery was a three-year starter at Irmo High School. A varsity football captain, Avery is a Palmetto Boys State alumnus. On the gridiron, Avery was named Region 4-AAAAA All-Region for the past two years. He earned the Captain and Coaches Award. Avery received an academic excellence award as well. He plays center for the Irmo basketball team. They are currently undefeated in region play. Jabara is the son of Greta Frazier-Avery and Anthony and Claudia Avery.
 
O'Brien Barnett (RB)
Clarke Central High School
5-11/195
Athens, Ga. 

Barnett was named the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year in Region 8 5A and was also a 2019 All-State honoree. He racked up over 1500 yards on 246 carries, scoring 19 touchdowns. He tallied over 3000 rushing yards for his career.
 
Noah Bell (QB)
Saluda High School
6-2/200
Saluda, S.C.

Bell was a four-year starter for the 2019 AA state champion Saluda High School Tigers and head coach Stewart Young. He had over 10,000 career passing yards and accounted for 154 touchdowns (third most in S.C. history). He was a three-time All-State selection, earning All-Region honors four seasons. In addition, Bell earned All-Lakelands honors twice. In 2019, he was named the CSRA Offensive Player of the Year and the HSSR Player of the Year. Bell threw for 3,988 yards and 49 touchdowns as a senior, adding 554 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Bell was also an All-Region and All-State baseball player at Saluda. Noah is the son of Denise and Wayne Bell.

Dontorian Best (LB)
AC Flora High School
6-1/225
Columbia, S.C.

Best was voted a team captain by his teammates as a senior. He had 89 tackles, five QB sacks and 12 tackles for loss his final season. On offense, Best had 23 carries for 163 yards and seven touchdowns, adding a receiving TD. Best played in the Touchstone Energy North/South Game. He was also voted the Region Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, Best was a member of the AC Flora High School track and field team.

Trevor Bryan (WR)
Independence HS
5-10/165 lbs
Charlotte, N.C.

Bryan was a three-year starter at Independence under head coach Mike Natoli. Over the course of his career, he hauled in 86 catches for 1,486 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. During his senior year, Bryan led his team in receiving touchdowns, scoring 10 times off 22 catches while accumuluating 583 yards. He helped lead his team to its first winning record and playoff appearance in four years. Bryan was named to the Southwestern 4A all-conference team and received his team's annual Patriot Award, commemorating his hard work on and off the field.

Tailyn Caldwell (CB)
Newberry High School
6-2/175
Newberry, S.C.

Caldwell attended Newberry High School and was a three-year starter for head coach Phil Strickland. In his senior year, Caldwell accounted for three interceptions, 50 total tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was named to the all-region, all-county and All-Academic team his senior year. While in high school, Caldwell also excelled in basketball and track. He has a 4.189 GPA. His mother is Latasha Caldwell.

Austin Cain (TE/FB)
Parkwood High School
6-3/230
Roughedge, N.C.

Cain was a three-year starter for Parkwood High School. He compiled 74 receptions for 858 yards and four touchdowns in his career. As for defense, Cain had 161 Tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. He was named the 2018 Team MVP, while earning All-Conference honors each of his last two seasons. Cain was selected to be part of the Dream Team for Union County.

Brock Cain (QB)
Parkwood High school
6-0/205
Monroe, N.C.

Cain was a three-year varsity starter at Parkwood High School and as a senior he accumulated 2,225 all-purpose yards. He had 1,639 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Cain also ran for 586 yards and another 15 scores. He helped lead his team to the playoffs for the first time in three years and Parkwood finished the regular season 7-4. Cain was named the First Team All-Conference Athlete by UCHFS and was selected as the First Team All-Conference quarterback for Union County. He was also named Union County Offensive Player of the Year.

Ryan Chavous (RB)
5-11/220
Fox Creek High School
Edgefield, S.C.

Chavous was an All-Region and All-Area running back this season at Fox Creek High School for Head Coach Lafayette Stewart. In his senior season he rushed for 1,255 yards, scoring 15 touchdowns. The son of Dannie and Erica Chavous, Ryan plans to earn his degree in physical therapy due to his passion of helping others from physical disabilities and injuries.
 
Stephen Chadwick (TE/FB)
Western High School
6-1/225
Sunrise, Fla.

Chadwick was a three-year starter under Head Coach Adam Ratkevich on a state ranked team all three years. A two-year team captain, he earned first team All-District and All-County honors. He scored six touchdowns this year on a predominantly run offense. Western High School made it to the 8a regional finals and lost to the state champions Christopher Columbus High. During his junior year he also played linebacker on one of the top defenses in the state and earned First team all-county Honorable mention.
 
Roe Chitwood (LB)
Myers Park High School
6-2/225
Charlotte, N.C.

Chitwood was a three-year starter and team captain and was selected to play in the 2019 Shrine Bowl, where he was team captain and starter. He played all four years under head coach Scott Chadwick. During his high school career Roe amassed 250 career tackles, 30 Tackles for loss, two interceptions, five forced fumbles, three blocked punts (two returned for touchdowns), seven pass blocks and one touchdown. He was a two-time southwestern 4A all-conference and was voted Myers Park football Defensive Player of the Year for the Southwestern 4A conference champions. Chitwood finished his career with a record of 40 wins and 5 losses. He is ending his high school playing career as a pitcher and team captain of the Myers Park Baseball team.

Marquise Fleming (DE)
Olympic High School
6-1/225
Charlotte, N.C.

Fleming was a two-year starter for Olympic High School for head coach Brandon Thompson and former head coach Jason Fowler. He piled up 117 career tackles, 19.5 sacks, 45 Tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles. This past season he had 63 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and a touchdown for a 8-3 team. Fleming was a two-time all-conference selection and Queen City senior bowl player.
 
Jay Fletcher (QB)
West Brunswick High School
5-9/185 LBS
Shallotte, N.C.

Fletcher started as the varsity quarterback for two years and led his team to 10-2 season with the most passing yards and the best record in over 20 years. He was also named to the All-Conference and All-Area teams. Fletcher was a multi-sport athlete at West Brunswick High School and was also a member of the national honor society.
 
Jackson Fox (FB)
Panther Creek High School
5-10/215
Cary, N.C.

Fox was a varsity starter and captain at Panther Creek High School for coach Sean Crocker. Over his career he became a rugged run blocker who pancaked defenders and helped pave the way for running backs while protecting the quarterback in an air raid system which had two all-conference wide receivers and an all-conference running back. He was a four-time academic all-conference and earned the catamount award from his football program.

Ethan Guest (DL)
First Baptist High School
6-1/ 240
Charleston, S.C.

Guest was a four-year starter who played the 2019 season at First Baptist High School for head coach Johnny Waters, after transferring in from St John's High School. He registered 210 career tackles, 33 sacks and 75 tackles for loss. This season Guest had 30 tackles with five tackles for loss on a team that went 8-4.

Richard Handy (TE/FB/OL)
McDowell High School
6-3/235
Marion, N.C.

Handy was a two-year starter at TE/FB, amassing 591 yards on 43 receptions and five touchdowns. He also ran for 322 yards on 58 carries and two scores. Handy was an all-conference tight end for the 3a/4a North Western Conference. He was Asheville Citizen Times Top 5 TE's and Asheville Citizen Times list of Players to Watch. He was a four-year member of the basketball team and a four-year member of the track team.
 
Cameron Harper (LB)
South Florence High School
6-1/237
Florence, S.C.

Harper was an All-Region Linebacker from South Florence High School. In 2019 he amassed 108 Tackles and five sacks. His play earned him a selection to the North-South All Star Game this past season as well as being an Honorable Mention for South Carolina's All-State Team.

Trequel Hutchison (WR)
Clyde A. Erwin High School
6-1 /165
Asheville, N.C.

Hutchison was a two-year starter and senior team captain this year at Erwin High School for head coach Rodney Pruett. For his career he compiled 524 receiving yards with 39 catches and two touchdowns. This season at Erwin he had 416 receiving yards on 30 catches and a touchdown, adding 88 solo tackles, four sacks, one interception, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles on a team that finished 5-6. Hutchison was named all-conference and won Dirty Jersey award on television against Enka High School.

Jean Jones (OL)
Andalusia High School
6-1/285
Andalusia, Ala.

Jones was a three-year starter for head coach Trent Taylor. For his career Jones had over 120 knockdowns and was a 2019 AHSAA First-Team All-State player. He was named a team captain. Jones was a two-time All-County selection, allowing only two sacks for his junior and senior seasons.

Chris Johnson (TE)
Clarke Central High School
6-5/220
Athens, Ga.

Johnson was a two-year starter for Georgia 5-AAAAA both football and basketball under head coach David Perno. For his career Johnson had 353 receiving yards with 21 catches averaging 19.6 yards per game. He also played on defense, collecting 18 tackles five solos and one pass deflection with seven sacks.
 
Michael Koromah, Jr.
Sumter High School
6-0/265
Sumter, S.C.

Koromah has played the last four years with the Sumter High School Gamecocks under head coach Mark Barnes and was the last remaining returning starter from the 2018 Offensive Line. He held the record of having the highest bench press and power clean on the Sumter Gamecock's football team. As well as playing football for his school, Michael has also been actively involved with track and field team since 2017.

Austin Lowery (OL)
Freedom High School
6-3/250
Morganton, N.C.

Lowery was a three-year starter at Freedom High School for head coach Luke Little. He earned all-conference honors each of his last two seasons. Lowery's team played for a conference championship each of the last two seasons and went 7-5 this season, earning a play-off bid. 
 
Amari Martin (LB)
Lakewood High School
6-2/205
Sumter, S.C.

Martin was a three-year starter for Lakewood High School under head coach Larry Cornelius. Over the past three years, Martin finished with 110 solo tackles, 64 assisted tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. He ended his senior year with 81 total tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown. He was also named a first team All-Region linebacker, All-Area team, and received Defensive MVP. He also wrestles and is ranked number one in the region on his track and field team for the triple jump. Outside of athletics, Martin has had numerous academic awards which include The Golden Apple Award and being inducted into Mu Alpa Theta.
 
Daniel Morrison (DE)
Parkwood High School
6-2/235
Roughedge, N.C.

Morrison was a four-year varsity letterman and three-year varsity starter for Parkwood High School. Over the three years starting for the varsity team, Morrison registered 254 tackles, 47 TFL and 15 sacks. While being a three-year starter he is also a three-year captain for wrestling and football. Morrison was a finalist for Charlotte Football awards under the leadership category, selected for the Union County Dream Team, Finalist for Charlotte Football Awards Bronco Nagurski award, all Southern Carolina Conference.

Nickili Muhammad (LB)
Knightdale High school
6-1/220
Raleigh, N.C.

Muhammad was a four-year starter at Knightdale High School making it to the playoffs his last three years. He was a linebacker, running back, long snapper and punter. He appeared in eight games, collecting six touchdowns, 70 Tackles and two blocked field goals his senior year. Muhammad is also a wrestler for Knightdale High School. 

Caleb Reavis (LB)
Crest High School
6-1/235
Shelby, N.C.

Reavis played three varsity seasons for head coach Nick Eddins at Crest High School. He finished his senior season with 86 total tackles, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and an interception.
 
Austin Richardson (DB)
Louisburg College
6-1/195
Indian Trail, N.C.

Richardson is originally from Katy, Texas. He was a two-year starter at Porter Ridge High School. Richardson has spent the last two years starting at cornerback for Louisburg College and was on the honors list both years at Louisburg. 

Justin Rhodes (DE)
Northern High School
6-1/245
Durham, N.C.

Rhodes was a two-year captain for the Northern Durham Football team, a two-time all-conference and ranked in the top 10 in the state for sacks. He racked up 160 tackles in the 2018 season and had 30 sacks over his career. Rhodes also carried a 3.5 GPA and is an honors student.

Cole Shehan (LB)
Mountain Heritage High School
6-2/215
Burnsville, N.C.

Shehan was a three-year starter for Mountain Heritage High School under head coach Joey Robinson. For his career, Cole accumulated 282 tackles, 153 solo tackles with 129 assist tackles. Offensively he played running back, rushing for a total of 895 yards, and wide receiver, with 47 receptions totaling 823 receiving yards yielding 22 total touchdowns. As a team captain he helped lead his team to an 11-2 season, winning their fifth consecutive conference championship. Shehan was named Co-Athlete of the Year for the conference and received all-conference honors for the second year in a row. He was a three-year varsity basketball player that is currently ranked as the number five player in the state of North Carolina, receiving all-conference accolades in 2019. Off the field and court, he was awarded academic all-conference all three years.
 
Tavarus Short (DB)
5-9/165 lbs
Highland Springs High School
Richmond, Va.

Short was a two-year starter at Highland Springs High School. He tallied 187 tackles with 40 being for a loss, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles and a touchdown in his two years as a starter. He also spent his football career as the short and long snapper for the four-time defending state champions. He was named second team all-state and first team all-region utility player his junior year and first team all-state, first team all-metro, first team all-region and twice first team all 804 linebacker as a senior for the Springers. In his career, Short has won two state championships at the class 5 level in Virginia. He was also a member of the Springer basketball team for the 19-20 Season.  Tavarus is the son of Kendall Short and Natasha Short and has a handful of siblings.

Corey Siemer (RB)
Fred T. Foard High School
6-1/210
Hickory, N.C.

Siemer was a three-year starter, played all four years of high school football at Fred T Foard. He rushed for over 4800 yards in his career. Rushed for 54 touchdowns. During his senior year, Siemer rushed for just over 1200 yards in seven games. He did not get to finish his season due to injury. In his career at Foard he had the most rushing yards in a game at (410), was a three-time all-conference selection, four-time Golden helmet winner, Offensive Player of the Year for Catawba County, all-county team, a two-time NCHSAA performance of the week honoree, and Max Preps USA performance of the week.

Caleb Smallwood (LB)
Andalusia High School
6-1/200
Andalusia, Ala.

Smallwood was a three-year starter for an Alabama 4A powerhouse under head coach Trent Taylor. For his career Smallwood had 149 tackles 18 sacks six interceptions and three fumble recoveries. This year at Andalusia he registered 72 tackles seven sacks and three interceptions on a team that went 10-4.

Lucas Snow (WR)
First Baptist School
5-11/165
Charleston, S.C.

Snow was a three-year starter that played this season at First Baptist School for head coach Johnny Waters, after transferring from James Island Charter High School. For his career Snow had 801 yards on 64 catches and nine touchdowns. This season at First Baptist he collected 42 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns on a team that went 8-4. Snow was invited to play in the SCISA North-South game.

Cole Storey (OL)
Harrison High School
6-1/265
Marietta, Ga.

Storey was a two-year starter at Harrison High School for head coach Matt Dickmann, going 15-0 with region and state titles. In last season's 15 games, Storey earned a 92% average grade out. Was first team All-Region, All-County, All-Metro, and Recruit Georgia All-State. Storey was a Burlsworth Award honoree. Has also earned varsity letters for baseball and track and field.

J. Max Swaim (WR)
Starmount High School
5-8/165
Boonville, N.C.

As a three-sport athlete and a three-year starter for the Starmount High School football team, J. Max Swaim set three all-time school receiving records with 1,765 career receiving yards, 145 career receptions, and 13 career touchdown catches. Swaim also holds single season records for receptions and touchdown catches. As a three-time All-Conference selection, Swaim completed his high school career with over 4,000 all-purpose yards, 28 total touchdowns and 339 tackles.
 
Jack Thorne (TE)
Needham Broughton High School
6-5/220
Raleigh, N.C.

Thorne was a three-year varsity football player under Coach Dawson. He was named the 2019 Defensive Most Improved Player. He was the 2018 Defensive Player of the Game against Millbrook. Thorne earned Academic All-Conference honors in 2018. He helped push Broughton to its first playoff win in 15 years. He was also a three-year varsity basketball player.
 
Alex Wilson (RB)
Allatoona High School
6-1/194
Acworth, Ga.

In Wilson's senior year he was named second team all-region and all-state honorable mention in the 6-A class. Wilson had 1400+ all-purpose yards and 1300+ rushing. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns.
 
Derek L. Young, Jr. (WR)
Union Academy
6-4/195
Monroe, N.C. 

Young was a four-year starter at Union Academy Charter School. For his career, Young had 2164 receiving yards on 125 catches and had a total of 27 touchdowns. He also played defense where he had a career total of 398 tackles, 14 sacks and four interceptions. This season he led Union County in tackles with a total of 186, with 123 of them being solo tackles. He was named All-State First Team, All-Conference and Union County First team for this season. Young is also a four-year starter in basketball where he was named All-Conference, Team MVP, Team Defensive MVP and joined the 1,000-point club last year as a junior. Young's most significant accomplishment during his high school athletic career was winning the state championship in track and field in the triple jump as a sophomore. Derek is the son of Derek Sr. and Lashanda Young and has three younger brothers Jordan (13), Gavin (8) and Chase (6).

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 13 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 115 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 124 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.