ELON, N.C. – Elon University coach Paul Hamilton announced the addition of 14 players from six different states to his first Phoenix football team during Wednesday’s National Signing Day. The group – nine national letter-of-intent signees, two transfers and three mid-year athletic scholarship signees – consists of three defensive backs, three wide receivers, two offensive linemen, two linebackers, one defensive end, one defensive lineman, one quarterback, one running back and one tight end. Hamilton welcomes the following student-athletes to Elon:

Running back Kevin Bailey (Richmond, Va./Huguenot) – a national letter-of-intent signee – piled up numerous accolades for coach Richard McFee’s Huguenot High School program. The 6-1, 205-pound Bailey was named first team all-district, second team all-region, second team all-metro, all-regional and team MVP. He was also declared the best defensive player in the Southeast Bowl and recognized by his team for both academics and sportsmanship. He is the son of Kevin and Denita Bailey.

Linebacker Anthony Barcel (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) – a national letter-of-intent signee – helped coach John Bowles’ Science Hill High School team to an 8-3 record and a playoff appearance last fall. The 6-7, 220-pound Barcel was a four-year letterman and a two-year starter. He was also selected as all-conference, Johnson City Press Elite 11, Johnson City Press All-Tuff Guy and honorable mention all-state. He is the son of David and Pat Barcel.

Defensive back Chris Bland (Shallotte, N.C./West Brunswick) – who signed a national letter-of-intent for Elon – led coach Jimmy Fletcher’s West Brunswick High School squad into the third round of the NCHSAA playoffs last fall for the first time since 1995. The 6-4, 190-pound Bland led his prep team in rushing, passing and scoring last season, piling up 912 rushing yards, 624 passing yards, 100 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns (six rushing, three passing, two receiving) on his way to all-conference and county player of the year recognition. On the other side of the ball, he collected 32 tackles – including 15 solo stops – and a pair of interceptions. The three-sport standout has obtained all-conference honors the past three years in basketball and last spring in baseball. He is the son of Ethel Bland.

Linebacker Mike Cullen (Roswell, Ga./Roswell) – a mid-year athletic scholarship signee – started all 12 contests for East Tennessee State as a red-shirt freshman last season, amassing a team-leading 122 total tackles. That tally – the second highest in the Southern Conference in 2003 – included 52 solo stops, eight tackles for lost yardage (-18 yards) and a sack (-7 yards). The 6-0, 230-pound Cullen forced three fumbles and recovered two more last fall. He racked up 20 tackles, including eight solo hits and two tackles for a loss, in a game against Western Carolina, marking the highest single-game total in the Southern Conference last season. As a senior on coach Tim McFarlin’s Roswell High School unit, Cullen collected 151 tackles and team defensive player of the year accolades. For his prep career, the three-year starter recorded 356 tackles, first team all-region honors twice and first team all-area recognition twice. He is the son of Frank and Anita Cullen.

Tight end Justin Cruze (Knoxville, Tenn./South-Doyle) – a transfer from East Tennessee State – played in 10 games and started six as a sophomore for the Buccaneers last fall. While at ETSU, the 6-2, 245-pound Cruze was known not only as a bruising blocker, but as a sure-handed receiver as well. He averaged 23.4 yards per reception and scored a touchdown for the Buccaneers. Cruze was also a valuable special teams player for ETSU.

Offensive guard Ricky Durham (Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor) – a national letter-of-intent signee – helped coach Hank Sawyer’s Lake Taylor High School program to back-to-back 8-2 playoff seasons in 2002 and 2003. Last year’s squad also captured the Eastern District championship. The 6-4, 285-pound Durham earned first team all-district distinction twice, second team all-region recognition once and Second Team All-Tidewater once. He is the son of Kenneth and Tina Durham.

Wide receiver/defensive back Stephen Gibbs (Goose Creek, S.C./Stratford) – a national letter-of-intent signee – helped coach Ray Stackley’s Stratford High School unit to a 36-3 record with three consecutive undefeated region championships and two playoff semifinal appearances during his three years on the varsity. A three-year letterman and two-year starter, the 5-10, 185-pound Gibbs led Stratford receivers with 29 catches for 519 aerial yards last fall – an average of 17.9 yards per reception. He also received all-county and all-region recognition last year. He is the son of Raymond and Arcenia Gibbs.

Quarterback Kye Hamilton (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) – a mid-year athletic scholarship signee – paced coach John Bowles’ Science Hill High School team to a second-round appearance in the Class 5A State Playoffs. The 6-1, 170-pound Hamilton’s long list of individual prep accomplishments include First Team All-Big East Conference, team captain, team most valuable player, WJHL High School Player of the Week, WCVB High School Player of the Week and Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. The three-time team player of the week amassed 3,200 career passing yards to go with 39 touchdown passes at Science Hill. He is the son of Elon coach Paul and Jane Hamilton.

Defensive tackle Desuan Lindsey (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) – a national letter-of-intent signee for the Phoenix – helped coach Michael F. Mischler’s Cathedral Preparatory School squad to three winning seasons during the past four years. The Ramblers fashioned a 34-14 record (.708), three Erie Metro League crowns, one Allegheny Football Conference title, three PIAA Class AAAA District 10 championships and one PIAA Class AAAA state title during that time. The 2000 state championship team finished second in the nation according to the ESPN poll. The 6-2, 261-pound – a four-year letterman – Lindsey earned first team all-metro honors and an all-star game invitation last season. His guardian is Mary Helen Lindsey.

Wide receiver Michael Mayers (Norfolk, Va./Landstown) – who signed a national letter-of-intent with Elon – led coach Chris Beatty’s Landstown High School squad to a 13-1 state runner-up finish last season. That team also claimed Eastern Region and Beach District championships. The 5-9, 165-pound Mayers hauled in 24 receptions for 463 yards and four touchdowns as a junior and made 63 catches for 828 yards and six touchdowns as a senior. In special teams action last year, he averaged 23.2 yards per punt return and ran a kickoff back for a 95-yard score. He is the son of Nicolas and Michelle Mayers.

Offensive lineman Jamie Ownbey (Belton, S.C./Belton-Honea Path) – a transfer from East Tennessee State University – started all 12 games for the Buccaneers last season as a sophomore, making appearances at three different positions on the offensive line. The 6-3, 278-pound Ownbey did not yield a single sack in 2003. He made up part of the offensive line that blocked for Gavin Varner, who averaged 99.9 yards per game on the ground last season on his way to becoming the Southern Conference’s second-leading rusher in 2003. During his prep career, Ownbey lettered four years for coach Wayne Green’s Belton-Honea Path High School program. He helped the 2000 team to a program-best 12-1 record and a first-ever appearance in the third round of the SCHSAA playoffs. Ownbey received WRYX Player of the Week accolades five times, earned all-region honors three times, achieved all-state status once and served as a team captain his senior year en route to an appearance on the 2000 South Carolina Shrine Bowl team. He is the son of Ronnie and Rhonda Ownbey.

Defensive end Marvin Price (Richmond, Va./Huguenot) – a national letter-of-intent signee – was an all-district selection on both sides of the ball for coach Richard McFee’s Huguenot High School squad in 2003. A two-year starter, the 6-4, 240-pound Price also served Huguenot as one of its team captains last season. Off the football field, he earned his school’s chemistry award. He is the son of Cheryl Price.

Wide receiver Chantz Scott (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) – a mid-year athletic scholarship signee – helped quarterback Kye Hamilton and coach John Bowles’ Science Hill High School team to a state playoff appearance. The 6-0, 180-pound Scott collected First Team All-Big East Conference, Johnson City Press Elite 11 and offensive team MVP accolades. The four-time team player of the week finished his senior season with 46 receptions for 851 yards and 10 touchdowns on his way to becoming the league’s second all-time leading receiver in both receptions and receiving yards. He is the son of Carol Cloyd.

Strong safety Corey Weaver (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) signed a national letter-of-intent with the Phoenix. The 6-1, 190-pound Weaver helped coach Chip Williams’ New Bern High School squad to three league titles and two eastern state crowns. In 2003, the two-time all-area selection led the Bears with 110 tackles and surpassed the 50-sack mark for his career. In 2002, he registered 22 sacks. He is the son of Doug Abrams and Yvette Weaver.

– ELON –