ELON, N.C. – Elon University head coach Pete Lembo announced the addition of 14 players from five different states – seven from North Carolina – to his third Phoenix football team during Wednesday’s National Signing Day. 

“We are excited to welcome a very bright, talented and diverse group of student-athletes to the football program and the Elon community,” Lembo said. “I believe we have a very unified team right now, and these signees could really sense the chemistry and support that is building on campus when they visited last month. We hope that many of these players will come in and improve our internal competition right away.”  

The recruiting class consists of 13 high school seniors who have signed a national letter-of-intent along with one midyear enrollee. The group consists of three defensive backs, three wide receivers, two offensive linemen, a defensive end, a linebacker, a kicker, a running back, a tight end and a quarterback. 

“Our staff continues to put a high priority on recruiting our home state and developing strong ties with the North Carolina high school coaches,” Lembo said. “At the same time, it is rewarding to see Elon's reputation growing throughout the Southeast. I am very pleased with the job assistant coach Shane Burnham has done for us on the West Coast of Florida and assistant coach Jay Bateman continues to give us a presence in Atlanta.” 

Lembo will welcome the following student-athletes to his third Elon football roster:
Clint Duggan (OL, 6-3, 265, Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett)
Andre Labinowicz (TE, 6-4, 240, Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg)
Olufemi Lamikanra (DE, 6-2, 220, Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles)
Darrius McQueen (WR, 5-8, 175, Tallahassee, Fla./North Florida Christian)
Aaron Mellette (WR, 6-3, 200, Sanford, N.C./Southern Lee)
Deven Persaud (DB, 5-10, 180, Tampa, Fla./Chamberlain)
Elliott Richardson (DB, 6-1, 205, Columbia, S.C./A.C. Flora)
Dale Riley (LB, 6-1, 205, Charlotte, N.C./Victory Christian)
Jordan Robinson* (WR, 6-5, 200, Fayetteville, N.C./E.E. Smith)
Jamal Shuman (RB, 5-7, 165, Fayetteville, N.C./Seventy-First)
Adam Shreiner (K, 5-9, 190, Marietta, Ga./Walton)
Andrew Straus (DB, 6-1, 200, West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West)
Justin Ward (OL, 6-4, 285, Summerfield, N.C./Rockingham County)
Thomas Wilson (QB, 6-3, 200, Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road)
* Denotes midyear enrollee        

Offensive lineman Clint Duggan (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett) led the way for coach Bob Sphire’s team on its trek to achieve the best season in the program’s history as North Gwinnett made its fourth consecutive playoff appearance – and first in the championship game – while finishing 13-2 and ranked second in the state and 17th in the Southeast. The 6-3, 265-pound Duggan posted first team all-county, all-region and all-state accolades and concluded his prep career with 39 consecutive varsity starts. He was elected to his team’s leadership council and played in the Gwinnett County All-Star Game. North Gwinnett also honored Duggan as a scholar-athlete of the week and a red zone player of the week. The North Gwinnett scholar-athlete forged a 4.13 cumulative GPA for his high school career. He is the son of Tracey Bailey. 

Tight end Andre Labinowicz (Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg) helped coach and former Elon football player Greg Hill’s squad advance to three state playoff appearances. The 6-4, 240-pound team captain earned first team all-conference accolades. Labinowicz is also an honor roll student. He is the son of Tad and Anna Labinowicz.
 
Defensive end Olufemi Lamikanra (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) pushed coach Art Witters’ squad to three consecutive winning seasons. The 6-2, 220-pound team captain led his squad with 57 tackles, seven sacks and 10 pressures last season. A first team all-area and honorable mention all-state selection, Lamikanra went on to become an area finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. Also a standout in the classroom, the honors student sports a 3.5 cumulative GPA. He is the son of Dr. Olusola Lamikanra and Dr. Verian Thomas. 

Wide receiver Darrius McQueen (Tallahassee, Fla./North Florida Christian) paced coach Casey Weldon’s team to three district championships, two regional crowns and back-to-back state runner-up finishes. The 5-8, 175-pound McQueen broke his conference’s receiving records on his way to reaching all-state status. The Big Bend Receiver of the Year was also honored as a FSU Quarterback Club Offensive Player of the Week. Also a superior student, McQueen has fashioned a 3.4 cumulative GPA and won the Alan Award, recognizing his academic achievements. He is also a member of the National Honor Society and Men of Honor and a graduate of Youth Leadership Tallahassee. McQueen also played for North Florida Christian’s state champion baseball squad. He is the son of Darrell and Bernice McQueen.

Wide receiver Aaron Mellette (Sanford, N.C./Southern Lee) helped coach Bryan Lee’s unit to a pair of playoff berths, including a second-round appearance last fall. Over the past two seasons, the 6-3, 200-pound Mellette hauled in 1,900 receiving yards and 29 aerial touchdowns and collected another 800 yards and five more scores as a return specialist. Mellette is a two-time first team all-conference choice and a two-time offensive team MVP. He is the son of Merle and Beverly Mellette.

Defensive back Deven Persaud (Tampa, Fla./Chamberlain) propelled coach Billy Turner’s squad to four consecutive conference playoff trips, including a visit to the regional finals. The 5-10, 180-pound team captain piled up 80 tackles and picked off four passes while leading his team to a 9-4 campaign. The two-time team MVP was tabbed to the first team All-Florida Athletic Coaches Association. Persaud also collected second team all-county and all-conference accolades. He garners a 3.3 cumulative GPA. He is the son of Danny and Gina Persaud. 

Defensive Back Elliott Richardson (Columbia, S.C./A.C. Flora) helped coach Robin Bacon’s team to a playoff appearance last fall. The 6-1, 205-pound team captain tallied 57 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and eight pass deflections. Richardson also made appearances on the Midlands Team of the Week, the All-State Team of the Week and Preseason All-State Team. He is the son of Elliott and Vernesta Richardson.

Linebacker Dale Riley (Charlotte, N.C./Victory Christian) led coach Frank Crockett’s program to a semifinal appearance in the state playoffs. The 6-1, 205-pound Riley earned four varsity letters in football and captained both his football and basketball teams. On the gridiron, the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award candidate reached all-state status and performed in the Shrine Bowl. Off the field, Riley, a President’s Cup recipient, has served as a senate page, a house page, SGA President and a member of the National Honor Society. He is the son of Alvin and Cheryl Riley.

Wide Receiver Jordan Robinson (Fayetteville, N.C./E.E. Smith) helped coach Haney Catchings’ squad to a conference championship and a regional title during his prep career. The 6-5, 200-pound Robinson hauled in 64 receptions for 850 yards to go with eight touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions on his way to earning first team all-conference and all-region recognition as a senior. He made 20 catches for 348 yards and two touchdowns with a pair of two-point conversions as a junior. Robinson is a 4.0 student who graduated high school in three-and-a-half years. He is already enrolled for the spring semester at Elon. He is the son of Ronald and Patricia Robinson.
 

Running back Jamal Shuman (Fayetteville, N.C./Seventy-First) earned all-conference accolades twice and all-region honors once for coach Bob Paroli’s program. The 5-7, 165-pound Shuman amassed 1,479 yards and 17 touchdowns on 221 carries as a senior after compiling 1,127 yards and 16 touchdowns on 110 carries as a junior. The team MVP also hauled in nine interceptions over two seasons as a defensive back and turned in a 4.31-second time in the 40-yard dash at the Nike Combine. Shuman has received the DK Sports Extra Effort Award, his school’s scholarship athletic award, NCHSAA Scholar-Athlete honors, first team all-conference accolades twice, Nelson & Nelson Player of the Game recognition, Lloyd Foster Extra Effort Award distinction four times, his squad’s best all-around player status and all-region recognition. He is the son of Mark and Varonda Shuman.

Kicker Adam Shreiner (Marietta, Ga./Walton) helped coach Ed Dudley’s unit to a 12-2 record, a regional championship, a state semifinal appearance and a No. 4 state ranking. The 5-9, 190-pound first team all-county and first team all-state honoree was also elected the Cobb County Kicker of the Year. Shreiner also booted a 58-yard field goal in the CSS TV Game of the Week en route to earning Atlanta Journal Constitution Player of the Week recognition. A 3.5 student, he is the son of Kurt – former Washington & Lee University football player – and Elizabeth Shreiner.
 
Defensive Back Andrew Straus (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) recorded first team all-conference, all-county and all-city accolades and second team all-region recognition for coach Larry Cox’s squad. The 6-1, 200-pound team MVP amassed 95 tackles, six pass deflections, five tackles for loss, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick on his way to finishing as runner-up for 2007 GMC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Straus helped his junior year squad to an 8-3 ledger and a state playoff appearance. That season, the Lakota West defense permitted just 11.2 points per game. His senior year team finished 5-5. A three-year starter and three-year academic all-conference pick, Straus also received Greater Cincinnati Area Player of the Week honors from both Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kroger’s. He also participated in the U.S. Army Junior All-Star Combine and the Ohio Elite Camp. Also a standout in the classroom, Straus has fashioned a 3.5 cumulative GPA. He is the son of Robert – a former Youngstown State University offensive lineman – and Jennifer Straus.   

Offensive lineman Justin Ward (Summerfield, N.C./Rockingham County) helped coach Lin Stadler’s program to a playoff appearance during his prep career. The 6-4, 285-pound Ward earned all-conference recognition the past three seasons and all-area accolades once. He was a North Carolina Preps preseason all-state selection and Coca-Cola Scholar-Athlete. The two-sport star is a four-year letterman and all-conference honoree for Rockingham County’s basketball team. Ward is also a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club and the FCA. He is the son of April Long.

Quarterback Thomas Wilson (Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road) led coach David Green’s team to the best two seasons in school history. The 6-3, 200-pound Wilson guided his squad to a 13-2 record and a trip to the fourth round of the playoffs last fall following an 11-2 campaign with a conference crown and a third-round playoff appearance the previous year. The two-time all-conference and all-area player was named all-state last season. Wilson also earned conference player of the year recognition and played in the Shrine Bowl. He is the son of Matt and Fran Wilson.

Elon will enter its 87th football season next fall as well as its 10th campaign as an official NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision member and sixth year in the Southern Conference. The 2008 season will include the eighth Phoenix home schedule in Rhodes Stadium.