Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University head football coach Rashaan Jordan announces the signing of 59 student-athletes who will be joining the Bulldogs in the fall of 2025. The group includes 58 student-athletes who signed their official letters Wednesday, Feb. 5, which was National Signing Day. One student-athlete joins the Bulldog family as a transfer.
 
"We are very excited about this class," Jordan says. "We were able to secure very highly sought after young men with high character. We truly believe our commitment to the High School recruiting model will pay long term dividends for our program."
 
Jordan and his staff signed 30 offensive student-athletes, 26 defensive student-athletes and three special teams' student-athletes. Seven states are represented on Wingate's signee list, led by 40 student-athletes from North Carolina.
 
The complete state-by-state breakdown:
 
North Carolina 40
South Carolina 9
Georgia 5
Florida 2
Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts 1 each
 
What They Are Saying about their WU recruiting journey
Wingate football alumnus Craig Casalou ('96)
 
"This turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. My recruiting journey to Wingate began when one of my best friends from high school (Brandon Kirouac) had committed in the spring of 1992. I was playing for Anderson University in Indiana at the time and was looking to get back closer to home. Wingate seemed like it would be a great fit."
 
"After a few calls with Coach Doug Malone, I was invited up for a visit to see the campus and meet some of the coaches. Coach Malone gave me a tour and then we went to the football office to meet the other coaches to further discuss me coming to play at Wingate. After our meeting, Coach Malone offered me a walk-on opportunity, which I accepted. Wingate was a great school for me and allowed me to not only play with some great players during my time, but also prepared me for life after graduation."
 
Wingate football alumnus Jerry Ratchford ('92)
 
"My Wingate recruitment journey started in 1986 after I visited Mars Hill for the Mars Hill versus Elon football game. I met Coach Malone while on a recruitment visit to Mars Hill. I was watching the game, while Coach Malone was scouting future opponents. He approached me as he was leaving the game. I was under the press box and he introduced himself. He told me he was going to come visit me at Shelby High School."
 
"I had made a verbal commitment to play for Mars Hill that weekend along with buddies Eric Peeler and Rodney Robinson. I talked to my dad after coming home from Mars Hill. I told him that I did not like Mars Hill because the weather changed several times that weekend. I told my dad that a Wingate College coach spoke to me and that he was going to come visit me at school."
 
"After Coach Malone came to visit me at Shelby High, we spoke and he invited me to come visit Wingate. At the time, I had never heard of Wingate, but I was interested in talking to them. They had just started the program that spring before the 1986 season."
 
"I loved the visit. I met Russell Booker that same weekend at Mars Hill and he was visiting Wingate the weekend I came to visit. Coach Malone and one of his assistants came to our playoff game against Forest Hills and saw us play, since it was in Marshville. After that game, Coach Malone offered me the opportunity to play and I committed to Wingate. I remember when Coach Malone, his wife Jenny and their daughter Megan came to sign me. Megan and I have the same birthday, which was cool at the time."
 
"Wingate seemed like home to me and the entire school treated me like family. To be honest, I just wanted to play ball and they showed the most interest in me and that is why I chose the Bulldogs. We became a family and 30-plus years later the players became brothers. The experience of playing here changed my life for the better." 
 
Wingate University Football
Class of 2025 signees
 
Name:  Kayden Bash
Position: WR
High School: Berkeley High School
Hometown: Summerville, S.C.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150
 
Name: Sawyer Belue
Position: WR
High School: Pisgah High School
Hometown: Canton, N.C.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155
 
Name: Brooks Brien
Position: QB
High School: Cherokee Bluff High School
Hometown: Hoschton, Ga.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
 
Name: Zion Burden
Position: DL
High School: Mallard Creek High School
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 230
 
Name: Killian Burr
Position: LS
High School: West Davidson High School
Hometown: Lexington, N.C.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 150
 
Name: Cole Butler
Position: LB
High School: East Bladen High School
Hometown: Bladen County, N.C.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200
 
Name: Wyatt Cannon
Position: QB
High School: Palmetto Prep Academy
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
 
Name: Jamari Clark
Position: DB
High School: Monroe High School
Hometown: Monroe, N.C.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
 
Name: Keegan Cole-Byran
Position: LB
High School: Pinecrest High School
Hometown: Southern Pines, N.C.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 225
 
Name: Noah Collins
Position: DB
High School: West Charlotte High School
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
 
Name: Joshua Corry
Position: DL
High School: Gaffney High School
Hometown: Gaffney, S.C.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 220
 
Name: Anthony Dangerfield
Position: DB
High School: Mallard Creek High School
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
 
Name: Michael Davis
Position: OL
High School: Lake Norman High School
Hometown: Mooresville, N.C.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 265
 
Name: Zachary Dilworth
Position: QB
High School: Forest Hills High School
Hometown: Monroe, N.C.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200
 
Name: Gabriel Dupont
Position: LB
High School: Brookwood High School
Hometown: Snellville, Ga.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 190
 
Name: Elijah Evans
Position: DL
High School: Jack Britt High School
Hometown: Fayetteville, N.C.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 280
 
Name: Eli Falls
Position: WR
High School: Gaffney High School
Hometown: Shelby, N.C.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185
 
Name: KaMahri Feamster
Position: OL/DL
High School: North Rowan High School
Hometown: Salisbury, N.C.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 230
 
Name: Christian Garcia
Position: OL
High School: SouthLake Christian Academy
Hometown: Huntersville, N.C.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 260
 
Name: Derrion Geddis
Position: OL
High School: Junius H Rose High School
Hometown: Greenville, N.C.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 310
 
Name: Danny Gilliard
Position: DL/TE
High School: East River High School
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230
 
Name: Aaron Griffin
Position: WR
High School: River Bluff High School
Hometown: Lexington, S.C.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
 
Name: Carson Haines
Position: WR
High School: Hilton Head Island High School
Hometown: Hilton Head, S.C.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
 
Name: Mario Harlee
Position: OL
High School: Starmount High School
Hometown: Hamptonville, N.C.
Height: 6-5
Weight: 290
 
Name: Kisaiah Harris
Position: WR
High School: Porter Ridge High School
Hometown: Indian Trail, N.C.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
 
Name: Alique Hart
Position: DE
High School: Julius Chambers High School
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 240
 
Name: Jaylen Himes
Position: WR
High School: Providence Day School
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 180
 
Name: Jason Hubbard
Position: DE
High School: Metrolina Christian Academy
Hometown: Indian Trail, N.C.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205
 
Name: Cash Hunter
Position: RB
High School: South Mecklenburg High School
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
 
Name: Josh Lee
Position: DB
High School: JL Mann High School
Hometown: Woodruff, S.C.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
 
Name: Eli Lipscomb
Position: DL
High School: Kings Mountain High School
Hometown: Kings Mountain, N.C.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
 
Name: Chase Littlejohn
Position: FB
High School: Newton High School
Hometown: Covington, Ga.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 220
 
Name: Parker Ludwick
Position: LB
High School: Ardrey Kell High School
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205
 
Name: Luke MacPhail
Position: QB
Previous Schools: Syracuse/Utah Tech
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 225
 
Name: Kemarion Massey
Position: DB
High School: Forest Hills High School
Hometown: Monroe, N.C.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 165
 
Name: Tanner Mays
Position: WR/TE
High School: Fort Mill High School
Hometown: Fort Mill, S.C.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 220
 
Name: JT Medley
Position: WR
High School: Pinecrest High School
Hometown: Southern Pines, N.C.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175
 
Name: Derek Moore
Position: WR
High School: Hayfield High School
Hometown: Alexandria, Va.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 170
 
Name: Ryker Moye
Position: K/P
High School: Lee County High School
Hometown: Leesburg, Ga.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 160
 
Name: Wyatt Parker
Position: OL
High School: Piedmont High School
Hometown: Marshville, N.C.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 300
 
Name: Ladainian Person
Position: ATH/RB
High School: Heritage High School
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
 
Name: Jaden Pierce
Position: WR
High School: Hayfield High School
Hometown: New Carrollton, Md.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
 
Name: EJ Reid
Position: DB
High School: Southern Durham High School
Hometown: Durham, N.C.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 160
 
Name: Cooper Riggleman
Position: WR
High School: Lake Norman Charter
Hometown: Mooresville, N.C.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170
 
Name: Daron Rue
Position: DB
High School: Mooresville High School
Hometown: Mooresville, N.C.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
 
Name: Jordan Shaw
Position: OL/DL
High School: Mallard Creek High School
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 265
 
Name: Derek Smith
Position: DB
High School: Dutch Fork High School
Hometown: Irmo, S.C.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
 
Name: Rodney Smith
Position: RB/LB
High School: Forest Hills High School
Hometown: Marshville, N.C.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
 
Name: Griffin Sutherland
Position: OL
High School: Forestview High School
Hometown: Gastonia, N.C.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 275
 
Name: Tyler Teasdell
Position: WR
High School: Dreher High School
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
 
Name: Campbell Throckmorton
Position: LB
High School: High Point Christian
Hometown: High Point, N.C.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 210
 
Name: Johnathan Tobias
Position: DB
High School: York Comprehensive High School
Hometown: York, S.C.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
 
Name: Kale Vest
Position: DT
High School: West Forsyth High School
Hometown: Clemmons, N.C.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 280
 
Name: Oliver Whisonant
Position: P
High School: North Paulding High School
Hometown: Acworth, Ga.
Height: 6-7
Weight: 220
 
Name: Luke Whitt
Position: OL
High School: West Stokes High School
Hometown: King, N.C.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 280
 
Name: DeShawn Wilks
Position: DL
High School: Independence High School
Hometown: Mint Hill, N.C.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
 
Name: Jaylan Willis
Position: DB
High School: Bunker Hill High School
Hometown: Conover, N.C.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 195
 
Name: Jason Willis, Jr.
Position: RB
High School: Bunker Hill High School
Hometown: Conover, N.C.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 190
 
Name: Preston Wright
Position: QB
High School: Chaminade Madonna Prep
Hometown: Pompano Beach, Fla.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University 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.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 26 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 16 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
OneDog, #OneDog, and One Day One Dog are registered trademarks of Wingate University.
 
(Editor's note: Wingate University graduate student Caleb Bonesteel contributed this article. The December 2024 Wingate sport management graduate is a first-semester MASM student at his alma mater.)