ELON, NC – Elon University football coach Al Seagraves announced the inking of 20 players from seven different states to letters-of-intent during Wednesday’s National Signing Day. The group – Elon’s first class since accepting membership into the Southern Conference last spring – consists of five offensive linemen, two quarterbacks, three running backs, two linebackers, three wide receivers, two defensive linemen and three defensive backs. The Phoenix will welcome the following student-athletes onto the campus this fall:

Defensive back Danny Boback (Ft. Myers, FL/Bishop Verot H.S.) helped coach Mike Marciano’s prep team to a 10-2 record and a state quarterfinal berth in 2002 after forging an 11-3 mark with a regional final appearance in 2001. The 6-1, 200-pound Boback also helped Bishop Verot to lead the area in total defense the past two years. The two-time team defensive MVP and two-time all-state selection amassed 275 tackles the past two seasons, including 144 last year. This past fall, he collected his third varsity letter, was named to the first team all-district and earned all-area distinction for the second-straight year. Also a standout in the classroom, Boback has fashioned a 4.08 career grade-point average while obtaining Principal’s List status eight times to go with three academic letters. He is the son of Jim and Debi Boback.

Wide receiver Dan Brooks (Monroe, NC/Piedmont H.S.) was a three-time all-conference selection and a three-time all-state player for coach Rusty Jester’s squad. The 6-4, 190-pound Brooks hauled in 63 receptions last season for 1,659 yards and 27 touchdowns on his way to offensive player of the year accolades for both his conference and his county. For his career, he has piled up 2,909 yards and 42 touchdowns on 143 receptions. Brooks earned both all-county and all-area honors last year. He is also a three-time all-conference baseball player. He is the son of Stan Brooks and Mary Ellis.

Running back T.J. Clegg (Graham, NC/Southern Alamance H.S.) paced coach Tony Perrou’s 11-2 unit to a Five County 3A Conference championship and an appearance in the second round of the state playoffs last fall. At 5-9 and 170 pounds, Clegg rushed for 1,700 yards and added 430 receiving yards to score 22 touchdowns last season. The conference offensive player of the year also collected both his team’s most outstanding offensive back and most outstanding defensive back awards last season. He was also an all-region and two-time all-conference star on the gridiron. On the baseball field, Clegg was also a two-time team MVP and the NCHSAA Sportsmanship Award recipient. Altogether, the three-sport standout earned 10 varsity letters during his prep career with four in basketball, three in baseball and three in football. He is the son of Tony and Virginia Clegg.

Wide receiver Josh Crawford (Durham, NC/C.E. Jordan H.S.) totaled 1,120 yards and 10 touchdowns on his way to team MVP honors last season for coach and Elon graduate Mike Briggs’ team. The 6-0, 175-pound Crawford also collected all-conference and all-area recognition last season. The three-year letterman and two-year team captain led his sophomore squad in handing Northern Durham its first league loss in 69 contests. Also that year, Crawford helped Jordan to advance to the third round of the playoffs for the first time in program history.

Quarterback Anthony Crews (Madison, NC/Reidsville H.S.) guided coach Jimmy Teague’s Rams to a near-perfect 15-1 ledger, the North State 2A Conference title and the 2A state championship last season. The state crown marks Reidsville’s 15th overall, the most in North Carolina. The 6-3, 180-pound Crews was responsible for 58 touchdowns (30 passing, 28 rushing) last season, racking up 4,770 yards of total offense (3,700 passing, 1,070 rushing). His long list of accolades include Mr. Football (NCHSAA 2A player of the year), state championship game MVP, North State 2A offensive player of the year, all-region, Rockingham County offensive player of the year and North Carolina East/West all-star honors. He is the son of former Virginia Tech standout linebacker James and Margaret Crews.

Linebacker Mark Ewing (Charlotte, NC/Myers Park H.S.) earned first team all-conference status for coach Tommy Strahan’s squad last year. The three-year letterman was also a first team all-conference defender in lacrosse and a member of Myers Park’s track and field team. The 6-2, 210-pound Ewing was named the most outstanding linebacker at the 2002 Western Carolina University Football Camp. He has also excelled outside of athletics via his participation in the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, the Key Club, the National BETA Club and as a Junior Marshall. The A/B honor roll student has also earned the Lifetime Sports and Fitness Award and the Chemistry II Advanced Award at Myers Park. He is the son of Mark and Ruth Ewing. His father was a defensive lineman for football coaching legend Joe Paterno at Penn State University.

Defensive lineman Robbie Goins (Laurinburg, NC/Scotland County H.S.) reeled in team defensive lineman of the year and all-state accolades last fall for coach Mark Barnes’ unit. The 6-2, 265-pound Goins was tabbed to a Shrine Bowl roster and the Bigger, Faster, Stronger All-America team. He was also nominated for the All-American Game team. The versatile Goins has logged all-conference honors in not only football, but baseball and track and field as well during his prep career. He is also a Lumberton weightlifting champion and a two-time Scotland County High School weightlifting champion. Last spring, Goins received his baseball team’s leadership award. He is the son of Robert and Cindy Goins.

Offensive lineman Charles Hairston (Rocky Mount, VA/Franklin County H.S.) helped coach Billy Miles’ club to a 9-1 record, a district championship and a playoff appearance last fall. The 6-4, 280-pound Hairston collected first team all-district and second team all-region honors. The two-year letterman was also a standout in the weightroom, earning a spot in the 1,000-pound club. He is the son of Charles and Anita Hairston.

Running back Reggie Hall (Charlotte, NC/Zebulon B. Vance H.S.) led coach Michael Jordan’s team to a 7-5 season slate, a MECA-8 Conference runner-up finish and a playoff appearance last year. The 5-11, 192-pounder rushed for 1,727 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior en route to a Shrine Bowl selection. A three-time all-conference pick, Hall was also chosen to all-county and all-area teams as well as the Ncprep.com all-state squad last season. For his prep career, the power back amassed 4,732 all-purpose yards and 38 touchdowns. The versatile Hall is also an all-state track athlete in the 300-meter hurdles and a regional champion in the 200-meter dash. The three-time all-conference trackster was a key member of Vance’s 2000 4A state champion relay team. Also a star in the classroom, Hall collected four-straight NCHSAA student-athlete awards and was a Wendy’s High School Heisman finalist, thanks to his 4.7 cumulative GPA. He is the son of Ron and Laurette Hall.

Fullback Jarrett Meadors (Pembroke, NC/Purnell-Swett H.S.) was a three-year starter for coach Frank Jernigan’s program. The 5-10, 220-pound Meadors piled up 2,400 yards and 24 touchdowns during his junior and senior campaigns combined on his way to all-county, all-conference and all-region recognition. He is the son of Allen and Barbara Meadors.

Offensive lineman Michael Moody (Laurinburg, NC/Scotland County H.S.) helped coach Mark Barnes’ team compile a 19-7 record and a conference title over the past two seasons. The 6-4, 295-pound Moody collected all-conference (second-straight season), all-region and all-state honors last year in addition to a Shrine Bowl selection. The Brook Hale lineman of the year has also appeared on the A/B honor roll. He is the son of Sylvester and Michelle Moody.

Linebacker Chad Nkang (Hyattsville, MD/Northwestern H.S.) spearheaded Prince George County’s top-ranked defense for coach Ed Shields’ 7-2 conference co-championship team last year. The 6-1, 220-pound Nkang is listed among the top linebackers in the Washington, DC area. The team MVP racked up 15 tackles and three sacks in the recent Washington, DC all-star game en route to defensive player of the game honors. He is currently the number-one ranked wrestler in the state of Maryland, having fashioned a near-perfect 48-1 record the past two seasons. The 2002 Maryland wrestler of the year, Nkang was selected to wrestle in the East National Duels. He is the son of Glenna Nkang.

Quarterback Wes Pope (Jamestown, NC/Ragsdale H.S.) amassed a sizzling 47-4 career ledger as a starter for coach Tommy Norwood, a 1981 Elon graduate. The 6-2, 215-pound Pope hauled in all-conference and all-county accolades three times each and earned all-area distinction last season. For his career, the Wendy’s High School Heisman candidate passed for 6,228 yards and 77 touchdowns while completing 60 percent of his passes and winning over 90 percent of his games. His team finished 13-2 and advanced to the state championship game in 2000; ended up 13-1 after being eliminated in a state semifinal contest in 2001 and went 11-1 after being knocked out of the state playoffs in the second round in 2002. He is the son of Richard and Kathy Pope.

Offensive lineman Charles Porterfield (Jonesville, VA/Lee H.S.) captained coach Gary Wolfe’s squad while earning both all-area offensive tackle and all-district defensive tackle honors last season. The 6-5, 280-pound Porterfield was listed among the state’s top 50 players by Rivals.com last fall. As a junior, the four-year letterman was a second team all-district choice. He is the son of John and Lila Porterfield.

Cornerback Irvin Raglin (Atlanta, GA/Creekside H.S.) collected 70 tackles and five interceptions for coach Amos McCreary’s 7-3 team last year. The 5-9, 170- pound Raglin snagged first team all-city, first team all-region and honorable mention all-state accolades in addition to defensive team MVP honors for the 2002 campaign. Last spring, Raglin sprinted to a third-place finish in the 100-meter dash at the regional track meet. He is the son of Irvin and Cecelia Raglin.

Offensive lineman Demario Reid (Farmville, NC/Farmville Central H.S.) helped coach Dixon Sauls’ squad to a 12-3 record, a conference championship and a trip to the regional title game last fall. The 6-3, 270-pound Reid was tabbed to both the first team all-conference and the first team all-area. The team captain was also named the area tough man of the year and selected to play in the North Carolina East-West all-star game. He is the son of Sharon Reid.

Wide Receiver Cody Scoggins (Armuchee, GA/Rome H.S.) powered coach David Humphreys’ club to back-to-back region crowns as a quarterback during his prep days. The 2002 squad finished 11-2 and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs. The 6-2, 190-pound Scoggins tallied all-area status and honorable mention all-state recognition after rushing for 1,000 yards and passing for another 600 last season. He was responsible for 18 touchdowns during the 2002 campaign and was listed among Who’s Who in American High School Sports. He is the son of Tony and Ann Kay Scoggins.

Defensive lineman Michael Singleton (Wando, SC/Hanahan H.S.) helped coach Jeff Cruce’s team to an 11-2 record and a region title last year. The 6-2, 295-pounder was an all-region honoree three-straight years. Singleton’s other accolades include region lineman of the year, team outstanding defensive lineman and Hawk Award lineman honors. He is the son of Michael and Shirley Singleton.

Defensive back Nathan Trott (Hewitt, TX/Midway H.S.) was a second team all-district player for coach Kent Bachtel last season. The 5-11, 185-pound Trott was named a Central Texas Top 25 performer and his squad’s special teams player of the year. The four-year letterman played his first three seasons at Northern Durham High School (NC), where he was a member of three conference championship teams. Trott’s junior year squad was ranked one of the nation’s best by Rivals.com. He is the son of Bob and Barbara Trott. His father was an All-ACC defensive back at the University of North Carolina.

Offensive lineman B.W. Yates (Summerville, SC/Stratford H.S.) paced coach Ray Stackley’s squad to a 13-1 campaign and a region title last season. The 6-5, 295-pound Yates collected all-county, all-region and all-state honors as well as his team’s offensive line MVP honors. He was also chosen for the North/South all-star game. He is the son of Billy and Sandra Yates.

The Big South Conference runner-up last year, Elon enters its fifth official NCAA Division IAA campaign next fall. The Phoenix will join the Southern Conference next season, the premiere NCAA-IAA football league.

-- GO PHOENIX! --