Davidson Announces Football Class of 2012
5/6/2008 4:19:34 PM | Football
Marc Gignac
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Davidson football coach Tripp Merritt announced today that 27 student-athletes, making up the class of 2012, have committed to play football for the Wildcats, beginning in the 2008 season. The student-athletes will report to preseason camp Aug. 12.
“We make recruiting our own backyard a priority, and I feel like we've done well in North Carolina again with seven student-athletes from the state coming in,” said Merritt. “We were able to get some talented players at quarterback and wide receiver and improved our height at wide receiver as well. We got a quality and versatile selection of inside and outside linebackers, which will work well in our defensive system, and added a punter and a place-kicker to our kicking game.”
The Wildcats continued to draw from around the country as 13 different states are represented in the class. Fourteen players are on the defensive side of the ball, 11 play offense and two are special teams. With only 17 graduating this spring, the 2008 Davidson roster should be the largest in terms of numbers in a few seasons.
“If we have no attrition between now and preseason camp, our roster will be at 85, which is the most we've had in a while,” said Merritt.
The Wildcats, who are coming off back-to-back 6-4 campaigns, finished ninth in The Sports Network FCS Mid-Major Poll in 2007. Davidson opens the 2008 campaign Sept. 6, at UNC Pembroke.
The football student-athletes in the Class of 2012 are listed below.
“We make recruiting our own backyard a priority, and I feel like we've done well in North Carolina again with seven student-athletes from the state coming in,” said Merritt. “We were able to get some talented players at quarterback and wide receiver and improved our height at wide receiver as well. We got a quality and versatile selection of inside and outside linebackers, which will work well in our defensive system, and added a punter and a place-kicker to our kicking game.”
The Wildcats continued to draw from around the country as 13 different states are represented in the class. Fourteen players are on the defensive side of the ball, 11 play offense and two are special teams. With only 17 graduating this spring, the 2008 Davidson roster should be the largest in terms of numbers in a few seasons.
“If we have no attrition between now and preseason camp, our roster will be at 85, which is the most we've had in a while,” said Merritt.
The Wildcats, who are coming off back-to-back 6-4 campaigns, finished ninth in The Sports Network FCS Mid-Major Poll in 2007. Davidson opens the 2008 campaign Sept. 6, at UNC Pembroke.
The football student-athletes in the Class of 2012 are listed below.
Name Pos Ht. Wt. Hometown High School
Jonathan Adams WR 6-0 175 King, N.C. West Stokes
Josh Arthur DL 6-1 240 Jackson, Miss. Callaway
John Behm WR 6-1 200 Chagrin Falls, Ohio Kenston
Clem Butler DB 5-10 180 Roseboro, N.C. Harrells Christian Aacdemy
Ethan Clark DL 6-3 235 Wilmington, Del. Brandywine
Joe Cline OL 6-1 245 Raleigh, N.C. Ravenscroft
Chase Culbertson FB 6-0 210 Chicago, Ill. Hinsdale Central
Drew Daniller-Varghese DL 6-2 235 Austin, Texas St. Stephens Episcopal
Alex Fleming OL 6-3 260 Murreysville, Pa. Kiski Prep
Brenton Goodman P 5-11 175 Pensacola, Fla. Pensacola
Tyler Hammett QB 6-1 185 Waynesboro, Ga. Burke County
Matt Heavner QB 6-3 185 Jamestown, N.C. Ragsdale
Patrick Hunt OLB 6-1 215 Potomac, Md. Landon
Brian Kelly DB 5-10 175 McLean, Va. Landon
Peter Kidwell DB 6-0 190 Marshall, Va. Faquier
Kam Konert FB 6-1 215 Bolivar, N.Y. Bolivar-Richburg
Richard Lockridge ILB 5-11 220 Lebanon, Va. Lebanon
Ellis Martin OLB 6-1 230 Morganton, N.C. Freedom
Malcolm Moses-Hampton ILB 5-9 185 Windsor Mill, Md. The McDonogh School
Joe Newlon OL 6-3 265 Bull Valley, Ill. McHenry West
Morgan Popham DL 6-2 245 Marietta, Ga. Sprayberry
Gianni Ricci ILB 5-10 215 McKees Rocks, Pa. Montour
Jordan Starck DB 6-1 175 Columbia, Md. The Bullis School
Philip Swanger DB 5-7 170 Austin, Texas St. Andrews Episcopal
Bo Swanson K/PK 6-3 185 Alpharetta, Ga. Alpharetta
Colin Wint OL 6-3 265 Weddington, N.C. Weddington
Josh Yost WR 6-2 205 Huntersville, N.C. North Meck
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