Elon, N.C. – Elon University head football coach Tony Trisciani has announced the signing of 13 student-athletes during the first day of the 2025 early signing period Wednesday. Eight of those 13 call North Carolina home with an almost even split between offense (6) and defense (7) in the class.
 

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NATIONAL SIGNING DAY RELEASE/BIOS

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The Elon Football team went 6-6 in 2024 and closed the season on a four-game win streak. The Phoenix went 5-3 in CAA play and has won 22 conference games over the past four years, tied for most in the program's FCS history. 

Jaedon Alford
WR | 5-11 | 190 | Fr.
Rolesville, N.C. / Rolesville
 
High School:

• Played three years of varsity football at Rolesville High School
• First team all-state
• Recorded 138 receptions for more than 2,400 yards and 34 touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons
• Had 92 catches for 1,815 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2024 as his team won 12 games

 
Personal:

• Full name is Jaedon Quincy Alford
• Son of Jerron Alford Sr. and April Russell
• One sister, Kristina Edwards, and a brother, Jerron Alford Jr.

 
 
Sincere Cyrill
DB | 6-2 | 180 | Fr.
Kennesaw, Ga. / North Cobb
 
High School:

• Played two years of varsity football at North Cobb High School
• Team went 11-1 as a senior

 
Personal:

• Full name is Sincere I Cyrill
• Son of Mike and Diana Cyrill
• Two sisters, Asha and Ishani

 
 
Ryder Duffy
LB | 6-0 | 210 | Fr.
Roswell, Ga. / Roswell
 
High School:

• Earned four varsity letters at Roswell High School
• Team went 42-10 over four years including a trip to the state semifinals in 2022 and to the quarterfinals in both 2021 and 2023
• Recorded over 100 tackles three times, including 119 with 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and eight forced fumbles in 2024
• Had 132 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two sacks, five fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles as a junior
• As a sophomore, posted 117 tackles, 10 for loss, two fumble recoveries, a sack and a forced fumble
• 2024 preseason first team all-state
• 2023 first team all-state, first team all-region, first team all-Metro and team Defensive MVP
• 2022 second team all-region and B2C Linebacker of the Year finalist
• Team captain

 
Personal:

• Full name is Ryder Anthony Duffy
• Son of Paul and Marcey Duffy
• Father played football at Duquesne
• One sister, Dilyn, and a brother, Brody

 
 
Tyler Hart
DB | 6-1 | 180 | Fr.
Baltimore, Md. / Dunbar
 
High School:

• Played three years of varsity football at Dunbar High School
• Team went 36-0 over three years at Dunbar, including 12-0 in 2024
• Team won state titles in 2022 and 2023 and will play for a third straight state championship Friday
• Posted 75 career tackles, four interceptions and eight pass break-ups
• All-state and all-city
• Team captain

 
Personal:

• Full name is Tyler Donte Hart
• Son of Tony Hart Jr. and Jewel Brittingham
• Brother is current Elon football player Tony Hart III
• Two sisters, Nyla and Reagan Hart
• Principal's List as a junior

 
 
Nolan Irwin
OL | 6-6 | 295 | Fr.
Concord, N.C. / Northwest Cabarrus
 
High School:

• Played four years of varsity football, starting for three years, at Northwest Cabarrus High School
• Teams went 29-6 over the last three seasons, including 9-2 in 2024
• 2023 SPC champions with a record of 10-2
• 2023 SPC All-Conference player and named team's offensive lineman of the year
• Team Before Self Leadership Award winner as a sophomore
• Team captain

 
Personal:

• Full name is Nolan Gabriel Irwin
• Son of Eric and Stephanie Irwin
• One brother, Hudson

 
 
Nick Johnson
DE | 6-2 | 225 | Fr.
Jacksonville, N.C. / White Oak
 
High School:

• Played final two seasons at White Oak High School after attending West Carteret High School
• Earned four varsity letters in football
• Also lettered in basketball and track & field
• Teams went 33-11 over four years including identical 9-2 records as a junior and senior, earning four conference championships
• Had 64 tackles, 12 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries and a caused fumble as a senior
• Posted 79 tackles, 11 sacks, 19 quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery in junior campaign
• As a sophomore, had 64 tackles, four sacks, two fumbles caused and a fumble recovery
• Two-time first team all-conference, first team all-area
• Team Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore
• Two-time team captain

 
Personal:

• Full name is Nicholas Edward Johnson
• Son of Steven and Yolanda Lewis
• Two sisters, Veronica Carter and Shanae Lewis, and a brother, Steven Lewis
• Cousin is former Tennessee Lady Volunteer women's basketball player Andraya Carter
• Five cousins played college football including John "Skeets" Thomas (South Carolina), Doug Thomas (Clemson), Mike Thomas (North Carolina), Oscar Sturgis (North Carolina) and Eric Thomas (North Carolina)

 
 
Ben Kirsch
WR | 6-3 | 190 | Fr.
Charlotte, N.C. | Ardrey Kell
 
High School:

• Played four years of varsity football at Ardrey Kell High School
• Injured during his senior year but had 900 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a junior
• Had 300 receiving yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore
• Team went 8-3 in both freshman and sophomore seasons, 7-4 as a junior and 6-6 in senior season
• Team's offensive player of the year as a junior, as well as all-conference
• Team captain as a senior

 
Personal:

• Full name is Benjamin Stephen Kirsch
• Son of Todd and Debbie Kirsch
• One sister, Katy, and a brother, Josh

 
 
Chaz Knox
DT | 6-1 | 285 | Fr.
Concord, N.C. / Mallard Creek
 
High School:

• Finished his senior season at Mallard Creek High School after playing at Kannapolis for two years and West Cabarrus as a freshman
• Mallard Creek went 10-3 in 2024
• Conference sack leader in 2023 and earned the Golden Helmet Award at Kannapolis
• Also lettered in wrestling where he was a two-time state qualifier
• Football team captain

 
Personal:

• Full name is Chaz Lamont Knox
• Son of Charles and Octavia Knox
• National Honors Society, Beta Club

 
 
 
Demari Lassiter
OL | 6-2 | 290 | Fr.
Ahoskie, N.C. / Highland Springs (Va.)
 
High School:

• Played four years of varsity football at Highland Springs High School
• Team went 9-4 as a freshman, 15-0 as a sophomore, 14-2 as a junior and 10-4 as a senior
• Team won a state title in 2022
• 6A all-region first team center and 5A all-region second team center
• Academic all-region
• Team captain

 
Personal:

• Full name is Demari Jaquan Lassiter
• Son of Demetrius Lassiter and Pamela Tann
• One brother, Demetrius Lassiter, and a sister, Brittany Lassiter

 
 
Owen Moreland
LB | 6-0 | 220 | Fr.
Beverly, Mass. / Avon Old Farms
 
High School:

• Played three years of varsity football at Avon Old Farms
• Two-time First Team All-Founders League and two-time All-New England Team
• Also lettered in basketball
• Football team captain

 
Personal:

• Full name is Owen Marciano Moreland
• Son of Tim Moreland and Lisa Marciano
• One brother, Duncan Moreland, and a sister, Alyssa Moreland
• Brother Duncan is a safety at New Hampshire
• Sister Alyssa plays basketball at Brown

 
 
Doug Quarles III
DE | 6-4 | 200 | Fr.
Charlotte, N.C. / Corvian Community
 
High School:

• Earned three varsity letters at Corvian Community High School
• Also lettered in basketball
• Had 61 tackles, including 18.0 tackles for loss as a senior, adding 5.0 sacks
• Had 140 career tackles and 40.5 tackles for loss to go with 24.0 career sacks
• Also had more than 600 career receiving yards and seven touchdowns

 
Personal:

• Full name is Douglas Eugene Quarles III
• Son of Douglas Quarles and Che'Landra Moore-Quarles

 
 
Josiah Robinson
RB | 5-8 | 195 | Fr.
Clinton, N.C. / Marlboro County (S.C.)
 
High School:

• Played four seasons of varsity football between Clinton High School and Marlboro High School
• Teams went a combined 41-7 over four years, including 15-1 as a junior and 7-1 as a senior
• Team was state runner-up
• Had more than 2,500 career rushing yards
• Carried the ball 90 times for 1,087 yards as a junior and then 54 carries for 632 yards as a senior
• MVP of the 2A state championship
• Also lettered in track & field
• Team captain

 
Personal:

• Full name is Josiah Marcell Robinson
• Son of Christopher and Letisha Robinson
• Three brothers – Onias, Uriah and Adonai – and a sister, Tamar
• Honor roll and Principal's List

 
 
Sean Tanner
OL | 6-7 | 309 | Fr.
Red Lion, Pa. / Red Lion Area
 
High School:

• First team all-county offensive tackle
• School record holder in pancake and effort blocks
• Team captain

 
Personal:

• Full name is Sean Matthew Tanner
• Son of Chad and Michelle Tanner
• Father played golf at York College
• One brother, Evan, who played baseball at Penn State York
• 2023 Honor Roll member