Elon, N.C. – Elon University Head Coach
Tony Trisciani has announced that nine student-athletes have joined the program as spring enrollees and will take part in spring practice. Of the nine, five are freshmen and four are transfers.
"I am excited about our mid-year enrollees," Trisciani said. "We have addressed some specific positional needs with transfers and built depth with talented high school players who will have a head start developing their position skills and learning our schemes."
The nine mid-year enrollees join a program that is set to return 59 letterwinners and 15 starters (seven on offense, eight on defense) from a team that went 6-5 overall and 6-2 in CAA Football play in 2023, just one win shy of a conference championship. Elon has won 10 of its last 11 games at home inside Rhodes Stadium and returns All-American safety
Caleb Curtain as well as three players named Freshman All-American.
Bios of each are listed below:
GJOK DEDVUKAJ | WR | 6-1 | 185 | Bedford, N.Y. | Archbishop Stepinac
High School: Played three years of varsity football at Archbishop Stepinac … Coach was Mike O'Donnell … Also played a season of postgraduate football at Salisbury School in Salisbury, Conn. … Named Northeast Prep Football Conference First Team All-League at Salisbury School … In his postgrad season, recorded 48 catches for 924 yards and eight touchdowns … At Archbishop Stepinac, had 65 receptions for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior … Totaled more than 1,900 yards receiving over three years at Archbishop Stepinac with 122 catches and 14 touchdowns … Two-time all-state … Super 11 Finalist … Senior Bowl nominee.
Personal: Son of Nick and Liza Dedvukaj … One sister, Bella, and a brother, Mark … Uncle Frank played one year of football at Iona.
TYLER DEVERA | TE | 6-4 | 235 | Wayne, N.J. | Bergen Catholic
Prior to Elon: Spent the 2019 season at Maryland before transferring to Stony Brook from 2020-22 … Sat out the 2023 season … Played in 22 games over three seasons at Stony Brook, including all 11 in 2022 … In 2022, had 22 catches for 308 yards and three touchdowns … Posted 37 catches for 465 yards and five touchdowns in his three years at Stony Brook … CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Dean's List.
High School: Played two years at Bergen Catholic for Coach Vito Campanile after two years at Wayne Hills … Named All-New Jersey first team by the USA Today Network after catching a team-leading 45 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns … 2018 Non-Public Group 4 runner-up as a senior … 2019 all-state.
Personal: Full name is Tyler Nicholas Devera … Son of Brian and Benette Devera … Two brothers, Devin and Brendan.
GEORGE HELMS | DB | 5-11 | 195 | Big Sky, Mont. | IMG Academy
High School: Played at Lone Peak High School and then spent senior year at IMG Academy … Coaches were Kyle Brey (IMG Academy) and Dustin Shipman (Lone Peak) … As a senior, team went 10-3 and was Florida 6A state champions … At Lone Peak, went 8-2 as a junior and made first playoff appearance in school history … Started all 13 games at IMG … As a junior, was named team MVP, first team all-state, and all-conference as a kick returner, running back and outside linebacker … Broke the Lone Peak school record with 24 touchdowns in a season … As a sophomore, named team MVP … Also lettered in basketball and track & field, breaking Lone Peak's school records in the 100 and 200 … Team captain as a sophomore and junior at Lone Peak.
Personal: Full name is George Patrick Helms … Son of Jefferson and Margie Helms … One brother, William.
JORDAN GLOVER | DB | 6-1 | 182 | Durham, N.C. | Southern Durham
(Announced During December Signing Period)
High School: Played four years of varsity football at Southern Durham High School … Head coach was Darius Robinson … Team went 7-5, including a 5-1 league mark, in 2023 … Had 216 career tackles and five interceptions at Southern Durham … Recorded 44 tackles, an interception and 11 passes defended as a senior … Had 81 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble and four fumble recoveries as a junior … As a senior, posted 90 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Team captain.
Personal: Son of Scottie and Aishia Glover … Plans to study business.
NATHAN KIBAMBE | LB | 5-11 | 205 | Charlotte, N.C. | Providence
Prior to Elon: Redshirted at Garden City Community College in 2018 and then spent the 2019 season at Georgia Military College … After opting out of the 2020 COVID-19 season, spent three years at Appalachian State … Played in 12 games, starting four times, and had 12 tackles for Georgia Military College in 2019 … Named Special Teams Player of the Year at Georgia Military College … Georgia Military went 8-3 and ranked No. 12 nationally at the junior college level … In his one season at Garden City, team went 12-1 and appeared in the national championship game.
High School: Played at Providence High School in Charlotte … Head coach was Brad Bowles … Earned two varsity letters, leading team to a 9-4 record as a senior … Led the conference with 12 pass break-ups and had two interceptions … First team all-conference cornerback.
Personal: Full name is Nathan Ejiba Kibambe … One brother, Stephane Kibambe, and two sisters, Cynthia Ejiba and Emmanuella Kibambe.
JACK SALOPEK | QB | 6-3 | 190 | Irwin, Pa. | Norwin
Prior to Elon: Spent four years at Western Michigan from 2020-23 … Played in 15 games during his career, starting seven times in 2022 and another three times in 2023 … Was 149-of-280 passing with eight passing touchdowns and a rushing score during his career … Also ran for 98 yards … Academic All-MAC … Threw for 193 yards against Michigan State and ran for 61 more … Had four 200+ yard passing games, including a career high 252 yards against CAA foe New Hampshire, throwing three touchdowns … Team captain.
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Norwin High School under coach Dave Brozeski … Two-time All-Big 56 Conference selection, earning second team honors as a junior and first team recognition as a senior … Three-time team MVP … 2019 Fab-22 selection … Set school and county records for career passing yards (6,150) and touchdowns (40) … Threw for a school-record 2,231 yards as a senior … National Honors Society and FBLA President … Two-time team captain.
Personal: Full name is Jack Timothy Salopek … Son of Tom and Susan Salopek … Mother played volleyball at Slippery Rock and father played basketball at Pitt Johnstown … Two brothers, TJ and Michael … TJ played quarterback at Allegheny College and Michael wrestled at Virginia.
BRYCEN SCOTT | DB | 5-11 | 185 | Florence, S.C. | Wilson
(Announced During December Signing Period)
High School: Played four years of varsity football … Head Coach was Rodney Mooney … Team Most Valuable Player … Had 48 tackles as a senior … Finished his career with 79 tackles, five pass break-ups, two interceptions, a forced fumble and two touchdowns … First team all-region … WPDE All Zone team … Two-year team captain.
Personal: Son of Brian and Samantha Scott … One brother, Javontay Robinson, and a sister, Kaelyn Scott … Member of National Honors Society … Plans to study business.
JAMES SHAFFER | OL | 6-5 | 280 | Naples, Fla. | Community School of Naples
(Announced During December Signing Period)
High School: Played three years of varsity football at Community School of Naples … Coached by Eugene Chung and Mike Stannard … Team went 16-5 over final two years, including 8-2 as a senior … Also lettered in track & field … Team captain.
Personal: Son of Jason and Marilyne Shaffer … One brother, Peter … Plans to study accounting with a focus on a career in business.
BRANDON SMILEY | DL | 6-2 | 300 | Durham, N.C. | Palmetto Prep
Prior to Elon: Played in eight games over two seasons at Western Carolina, recording 16 tackles and 0.5 sack … Had three tackles and 0.5 sack against Charleston Southern … In 2022, posted seven tackles at Furman.
High School: Played high school football at Riverside High in Durham, finishing at Palmetto Prep in West Columbia, S.C. in 2021 … Had 58 tackles, 7.3 per game, in his final season at Riverside High, adding 13.5 quarterback hurries and five passes defended … Team went 15-8 over final two seasons at Riverside … 2019 all-conference player … Team captain.
Personal: Full name is Brandon Thadous Smiley … Son of Spencer and Selena Smily … One brother, Darius.
Along with those nine mid-year enrollees, four student-athletes joined the program for J-Term. Bios of those student-athletes are listed below:
KHALIL BAKER | DB | 6-0 | 190 | Winston-Salem, N.C. | East Forsyth
(Announced In December)
Prior To Elon: Played from 2019-23 at North Carolina Central … 2022 AFCA All-American, Associated Press First Team All-American … First player from NC Central to earn those distinctions at the FCS level … 2022 Aeneas Williams Award winner, given to the nation's best defensive back in HBCU Division I college football … 2022 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year … 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP after posting 10 tackles in an overtime victory over Jackson State … 111 career tackles, 3.5 for loss, and 14 passes defended … Five career interceptions, including a return for a touchdown in 2022 against New Hampshire … 37 career games played at NC Central.
High School: Two-time all-conference and all-county selection at East Forsyth High School … Two-time sportsmanship award recipient … Posted 61 tackles and three interceptions as a senior … Team captain on 2018 state championship team.
RUSHAWN BAKER | RB | 6-0 | 228 | Victory, N.Y. | Victory
(Announced in December)
Prior To Elon: Played in 30 games over three seasons at Bucknell … Ran for 1,359 yards and 15 touchdowns … Also has 26 career receptions for 176 yards and two more scores … Rushed for 478 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 after posting 646 rushing yards and seven TDs in 2022 … Had 235 rushing yards as a freshman in 2021 … Has four career 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 120 yards against Marist to close the 2022 season.
High School: 2021 Spring All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year … Named first team all-state, honorable mention all-state, first team All-Greater Rochester and first team all-league … Rushed for 1,173 yards and 19 touchdowns on 123 carries as a senior, leading Victor to a 6-1 record … Ran for 814 yards on 107 carries, leading the team in touchdowns, as a sophomore … Two-year team captain … Also lettered in track & field.
BROCK WILKINS | LS | 6-1 | 225 | Vandergrift, Pa. | Kiski Area
Prior to Elon: Spent two years at the University of Pittsburgh.
High School: Helped lead Kiski Area High School to a 6-4 record as a senior … Had 88 tackles, six sacks and seven forced fumbles defensively as a senior, while rushing for 515 yards and 11 touchdowns … Two-time first team AK Valley linebacker and two-time first team 5A all-conference linebacker … Team captain.
Personal: Full name is Brock Tj Wilkins … Son of Dan and Anne Wilkins … Brother Ryan was a long snapper for Elon from 2019-23.
JEFF YURK | P | 6-2 | 218 | Southern Pines, N.C. | Pinecrest
Prior to Elon: Spent the 2021-22 seasons at Elon before transferring to the University of Pittsburgh prior to the 2023 season … Will return to Elon for 2024 … HERO Sports Sophomore All-American and third team All-CAA in 2022 after breaking Elon's single-season school record with a 44.1 yard per punt average … That 44.1 yard per punt average ranked fifth in all of FCS.
High School: All-state as a junior at Pinecrest High School … First team 4AA … Had a career-long punt of 70 yards and a career long field goal of 52 yards … Averaged 42 yards per punt as a senior and made 7-of-12 field goals … First team all-state punter and third team all-state kicker … Also played basketball and baseball … Team captain in both football and baseball.
Personal: Full name is Jeffrey David Yurk … Parents are Jeff and Jennifer Yurk … Mother played softball at Methodist University … Two brothers, Liam and Connor, and two sisters, Keigan and Landry.
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