ELON COLLEGE, NC -- Elon College football coach Al Seagraves announced Wednesday the signing of 18 players to National Letters of Intent. The Phoenix, 16-6 on the country's toughest schedule (according to www.ncaa.org) the past two years, will welcome the following student-athletes into the program this fall:
Defensive back Lawrence Chetty (Roanoke Rapids, NC/Roanoke Rapids H.S.) helped coach Tim Bennett's squad to a two-year 17-4-1 record, a Northern Carolina Conference championship and a pair of appearances in the state playoffs. The 6-0, 175-pound all-conference cornerback was also honored to the Commonwealth Progress all-area team. So far for his prep years, the versatile Chetty has earned nine varsity letters (three in football, three in basketball and three in track and field). The three-year starting cornerback also finished fourth in the triple jump at the 2000 NCHSAA state track and field championship.
Linebacker Thomas Connor (Greenwood, SC/Greenwood H.S.) helped coach Shell Dula's team to follow up a 1998 regional championship with a pair of SCHSAA 4A Division II state championships. The two-time all-region and all-Lakeland selection also played for the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team. The 6-1, 215-pound Connor was also honored to the High School Sports Report all-state team and the Prep Star Magazine all-region squad for last season. Also in 2000, Connor was named a WCRS player of the game and a South Carolina Prep Football all-state tight end. In 1999, he was named Greenwood's most improved player.
Linebacker Geoffrey Cook (Oakwood, GA/West Hall H.S.) helped coach Tim Marchman's unit to a 9-3 mark and a state playoff quarterfinal appearance last fall. The four-time West Hall High School defensive player of the year earned team MVP honors for the 2000 campaign. Also a four-time Northeast Georgia all-area pick, the 6-3, 235-pound Cook amassed four varsity football letters, 495 career tackles, Super Prep all-Southeast recognition and CBS player of the week accolades. The Georgia preseason all-state choice appeared in three top 100 lists (Rivals.com, Peach State, Pigskin Pep) last year.
Defensive lineman Bob Cooke (Princeton, NC/Rosewood H.S.) was named the 2000 MVP of coach Daniel Barrow's squad and invited to play in the East-West all-star game. His junior year team advanced to the state playoffs. The 6-5, 265-pound two-time all-conference honoree followed up his area lineman of the year honors as a junior by obtaining area defensive player of the year status as a senior. The three-sport star finished seventh in the state in wrestling in 1999 and was ranked third in 2000. Also in 1999, Cooke was a regional champion in wrestling and a state runner-up in the shot put.
Running back Anthony Denson (Naples, FL/Naples H.S.) helped coach Bill Kramer's team to a 15-6 mark and an appearance in the state playoffs during the past two years. Last season's squad set a school record for the most points in a season with 396. The 5-10, 190-pound all-Collier County pick rushed for 860 yards in eight games as a senior after amassing 1,057 yards in eight contests as a junior. Denson, honored as a Collier County prep player of the week last season, also established school records in bench press, squat and power clean. At a recent Nike combine, Denson sprinted to the state's fastest 20-yard shuttle run at 4.06 seconds.
Fullback Wesley Fulmore (Hope Mills, NC/South View H.S.) paced coach Randy Ledford's 15-1 squad to a conference title and a state runner-up finish. The 5-9, 235-pound Fulmore rushed for 1,750 yards and 19 touchdowns last season on his way to outstanding offensive player distinction in the NCHSAA 4A state championship game. A two-time all-conference selection, a two-time all-region pick and a team MVP, Fulmore became South View's all-time leading rusher at the fullback position. The two-time Dickinson Buick Dodge outstanding player of the game was invited to the East-West all-star game.
Defensive lineman Jerome Hodge (Woodbridge, VA/C.D. Hylton H.S.) anchored coach Bill Brown's team that collected two district crowns ('98, '99), three regional titles ('98, '99, '00) and a pair of state championships ('98, '99). The 6-3, 235-pound Hodge served as a catalyst for perennial title chaser C.D. Hylton's defensive and offensive front lines.
Defensive end James Holloway (Greensboro, NC/Page H.S.) helped coach Bill King's program to a 20-3 ledger during the past two seasons, including 11-1 last fall. During Holloway's career, Page has collected four Metro 4A championships. The 6-3, 260-pound team captain put up sizzling numbers as a senior, including 93 tackles, five sacks, 22 tackles for a loss, 18 quarterback pressures, seven fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles. Holloway, an all-Guilford County and two-time all-conference defensive end, earned Page's most improved player award as a junior and most dedicated athlete honors as a senior. Also excelling off the field, the Page Scholar-Athlete earned the school's Academic Achievement Award and Summer Enrichment Award for mathematics and science. Page teammate Gary Tillman is a fellow 2001 Elon signee.
Defensive back Trendon King (Jonesville, NC/Starmount H.S.) helped coach Joe Hutchens' squad to regular playoff appearances, including a NCHSAA 1A state championship two years ago. The 5-9, 170-pound two-time all-conference (Northwest 1A) winner was a two-year starter at both defensive back and running back posts. A three-time Who's Who Among American High School Students honoree, King earned coach's award and team MVP status at Starmount. He also received MATV player of the week recognition.
Defensive back Allen Little (Kinston, NC/Kinston H.S.) helped coach Jeff Price's unit to an 8-5 slate, including a first-round playoff victory over defending NCHSAA 3A state champion Williams. Little was tabbed to the all-area team twice as a defensive back and once as a return specialist. During his last two seasons, the Kinston outstanding defensive player award winner snagged nine interceptions. As a senior, he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and a punt for another score. The 5-11, 185-pound Little was an honorable mention choice for all-conference consideration.
Defensive end David McCallum (Maxton, NC/Purnell-Swett H.S.) earned all-conference and all-county accolades while playing for coach Walt Locklear's team. A big-time player in the program and a catalyst for team success, the 6-3, 220-pound McCallum registered 85 tackles as a senior while taking turns between the defensive end and linebacker positions. He was also invited to play in the East-West all-star game.
Quarterback James Murdaugh (Orangeburg, SC/Orangeburg-Wilkinson H.S.) racked up a long list of honors for coach Tommy Brown's program. The two-year team captain and four-year starter earned his squad's best offensive back award three times, all-area distinction three times and all-state recognition once. Murdaugh, a South Carolina North-South game selection, was also tabbed the Orangeburg Wendy's High School Heisman winner, a WLTX player of the week and a Coca Cola player of the week. In addition to making the South Carolina Sports Report top 100 list, the 6-0, 190-pound Murdaugh also won the South Carolina Midland bench press competition, was a member of his FCA chapter and inducted into the National Honor Society. Also an athlete in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay, his track and field team won the 1999 state title.
Offensive lineman Adam Payne (Chesterfield, VA/L.C. Bird H.S.) anchored coach David Bedwell's squad that advanced to the regional finals last fall. In 1999, Bird won the district title and made it to the regional semifinals. The 6-4, 245-pound guard racked up all-district distinction twice, all-region recognition twice, all-metro status twice, Bird's most valuable lineman accolades twice and honorable mention all-state honors twice.
Defensive back Stan Smith (Thomasville, NC/Ledford H.S.) earned all-conference and all-county accolades three times each for coach Dickie Cline's program. The versatile 6-1, 190-pound Smith led Ledford as both a free safety and a wide receiver, collecting 1,013 yards with 12 receiving touchdowns and two defensive scores as a senior while leading his team with 98 points and a school-record 15 career interceptions. The Winston-Salem Journal all-Northwest and Greensboro News & Record all-area selection also collected 466 return yards.
Defensive back Gary Tillman (Greensboro, NC/Page H.S.) helped coach Bill King to a 20-3 run the past two campaigns, including an 11-1 season last fall. The 5-11, 190-pound Tillman and teammate/fellow 2001 Elon signee James Holloway aided the squad's successful quest of four consecutive Metro 4A championships. The all-county and two-time all-conference DB picked off nine passes last season on his way to Greensboro News & Record player of the week status twice. The Page scholar-athlete and honor student was also the school's iron man competition champion. Tillman is listed among Who's Who Among American High School Students.
Kicker/punter Anthony Turowski (Glen Alpine, NC/Freedom H.S.) helped coach Tim McMahon's squad to an 8-3 record a year ago. The 6-3, 200-pound specialist collected a variety of titles (AP North Carolina all-state punter, North Carolina Football Fan all-state punter, Freedom's most valuable special teams player, Who's Who in Sports, Charlotte Observer all-Piedmont selection, first team all-Northwest 4A punter and placekicker) as a senior. The versatile Turowski was a National Honor Society inductee and a standout soccer goalkeeper, earning first team all-conference, all-region and all-state recognition.
Offensive lineman James Watkins (Greenville, NC/J.H. Rose H.S.) anchored coach Greg Thomas' team that finished third in its conference and advanced to the state playoffs last fall. Watkins received all-conference and all-area accolades. The 6-4, 295-pounder was also invited to play in the Shrine Bowl and the Down Under Bowl in Australia. Also a standout in track and field, Watkins finished fourth in the state in shot put a year ago and is currently ranked second in both shot and in discus.
Defensive end Polk Williams (Dalzell, SC/Crestwood H.S.) helped coach Keith Crolley's unit to an 8-4 mark and a playoff berth last season. The team captain doubled as a defensive end and an offensive lineman, earning all-area, all-region and SCHSAA 4A all-state recognition while on his way to earning offensive team MVP honors. He was invited to the South Carolina North/South all-star game. The 6-3 Williams also served his wrestling team as its captain and is currently ranked first in the state in the 215-pound class after finishing fifth at last year's state meet in the 189-pound class.
For the 2000 season, Elon finished 7-4 and 22nd in Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette NCAA-IAA poll. All four losses were to teams that finished in the country's top 10.
-- ELON --
