Football Announces Early Decision Commitments
2/25/2013 11:51:00 AM | Football
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson head football coach Paul Nichols announced the first recruits of his tenure Monday, naming 17 members of the Class of 2017 that were accepted via early decision.
The future Wildcats hail from eight different states, with North Carolina (4), Georgia (3), Virginia (3) and Texas (3) garnering the most representation. Grant Polofsky, a two-time all-conference, all-county and all-state defensive end from Butler High School in Charlotte, is the lone local product. Three others in the class were all-state players, including quarterback John Cook (North Raleigh Christian Academy/Raleigh, N.C.) and defensive backs Ryan Felice (Mount Pisgah Christian/Alpharetta, Ga.) and Ben Kase (Flint Hill/Oakton Va.)
“This recruiting class adds significant value to Davidson College,” said first-year head coach and Davidson football alumnus Paul Nichols. “We have a class that is poised to help our program become an annual championship contender. It is a privilege to have these young men and their families join our program.”
The group is split between 10 who are expected to play defense and seven who are projected to play on the offensive side.
“Our staff looks forward to coaching and mentoring these young men over the course of the next four years,” said Nichols.
The complete early decision class is listed below. Regular decision commitments will be announced in May.
Alex Behrend
6-3/220
Defensive End
Alpharetta - Alpharetta, Ga.
- Scholar athlete for highest academic achievement
Jared Carr
6-4/210
Quarterback
West Carteret - Morehead City, N.C.
- Honorable mention all-conference
- RBC Centura Scholar Athlete for varsity football, baseball, and basketball
- Ranked No. 1 in high school class
John Cook
6-1/195
Quarterback
North Raleigh Christian Academy – Raleigh, N.C.
- Threw 33 touchdown passes with just six interceptions during senior year
- Two-time first-team NCISAA All-State and BEIFC All-Conference selection
- 2012 Conference Co-Player of the Year
- Holds school records for single game, season and career passing attempts, completions and yardage
Chase Davis
6-6/260
Offensive Lineman
Palmetto Ridge - Naples, Fla.
- Florida Athletic Coaches Association Honorable Mention
- Varsity basketball letterman
Raphael Douglas
6-3/270
Offensive Lineman
Patuxent - Lusby, Md.
- First-team All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference offensive lineman
Ryan Felice
6-1/190
Safety
Mount Pisgah Christian – Alpharetta, Ga.
- First-team all-state defensive back (Class A Georgia Sportswriter's Association)
- All-area first team selection
- All-county second-team defense
- Fulton County All-Star Team selection
James Gessner
6-0/220
Linebacker
MacArthur – San Antonio, Texas
- First-team all-district linebacker
Eric Haas
6-2/280
Defensive Lineman
Walnut Hills – Cincinnati, Ohio
- Second-team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference defensive lineman
Ben Kase
6-1/190
Safety
Flint Hill - Oakton, Va.
- Virginia VISAA Division 1 first-team all-state
- Three-time All-MAC Conference
- Also played varsity basketball and baseball
Ryan Leak
6-0/170
Cornerback
Scotland - Laurinburg, N.C.
- Member of 2012 team that won school's first ever state title
Jaylen Mize
5-10/175
Safety
Buford - Buford, Ga.
- Team won three state titles and finished as runner-up once.
Patrick O'Connor
6-1/205
Running Back
Thomas Jefferson - Alexandria, Va.
- Won over 100 career wrestling matches in high school
Grant Polofsky
6-2/265
Defensive End
Butler - Charlotte, N.C.
- Team claimed 4AA State Championship three times and went 57-2
- Two-time all-conference, all-county and all-state player
- Second in North Carolina with six fumble recoveries
Dylan Sandlin
6-0/170
Safety
Fort Bend Christian Academy – Sugar Land, Texas
- First-team all-district
Craig Stevens
6-0/210
Linebacker
Richmond Benedictine - Richmond, Va.
- Three-time Richmond Times Dispatch Top-Performer
Travis Stubblefield
6-1/265
Offensive Lineman
Northwest - Justin, Texas
- Three-time unanimous first-team all-district
- Three-time academic all-district
- Two-time Wise County top Gridiron Performer Selecion
- Strongest Texan Award (2011, 12)
- Co-Captain of football and powerlifting teams
- Set school records for bench press (425 lbs.) and squat (670 lbs.)
Landry Taylor
5-10/175
Cornerback
Baylor - Chattanooga, Tenn.
The future Wildcats hail from eight different states, with North Carolina (4), Georgia (3), Virginia (3) and Texas (3) garnering the most representation. Grant Polofsky, a two-time all-conference, all-county and all-state defensive end from Butler High School in Charlotte, is the lone local product. Three others in the class were all-state players, including quarterback John Cook (North Raleigh Christian Academy/Raleigh, N.C.) and defensive backs Ryan Felice (Mount Pisgah Christian/Alpharetta, Ga.) and Ben Kase (Flint Hill/Oakton Va.)
“This recruiting class adds significant value to Davidson College,” said first-year head coach and Davidson football alumnus Paul Nichols. “We have a class that is poised to help our program become an annual championship contender. It is a privilege to have these young men and their families join our program.”
The group is split between 10 who are expected to play defense and seven who are projected to play on the offensive side.
“Our staff looks forward to coaching and mentoring these young men over the course of the next four years,” said Nichols.
The complete early decision class is listed below. Regular decision commitments will be announced in May.
Alex Behrend
6-3/220
Defensive End
Alpharetta - Alpharetta, Ga.
- Scholar athlete for highest academic achievement
Jared Carr
6-4/210
Quarterback
West Carteret - Morehead City, N.C.
- Honorable mention all-conference
- RBC Centura Scholar Athlete for varsity football, baseball, and basketball
- Ranked No. 1 in high school class
John Cook
6-1/195
Quarterback
North Raleigh Christian Academy – Raleigh, N.C.
- Threw 33 touchdown passes with just six interceptions during senior year
- Two-time first-team NCISAA All-State and BEIFC All-Conference selection
- 2012 Conference Co-Player of the Year
- Holds school records for single game, season and career passing attempts, completions and yardage
Chase Davis
6-6/260
Offensive Lineman
Palmetto Ridge - Naples, Fla.
- Florida Athletic Coaches Association Honorable Mention
- Varsity basketball letterman
Raphael Douglas
6-3/270
Offensive Lineman
Patuxent - Lusby, Md.
- First-team All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference offensive lineman
Ryan Felice
6-1/190
Safety
Mount Pisgah Christian – Alpharetta, Ga.
- First-team all-state defensive back (Class A Georgia Sportswriter's Association)
- All-area first team selection
- All-county second-team defense
- Fulton County All-Star Team selection
James Gessner
6-0/220
Linebacker
MacArthur – San Antonio, Texas
- First-team all-district linebacker
Eric Haas
6-2/280
Defensive Lineman
Walnut Hills – Cincinnati, Ohio
- Second-team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference defensive lineman
Ben Kase
6-1/190
Safety
Flint Hill - Oakton, Va.
- Virginia VISAA Division 1 first-team all-state
- Three-time All-MAC Conference
- Also played varsity basketball and baseball
Ryan Leak
6-0/170
Cornerback
Scotland - Laurinburg, N.C.
- Member of 2012 team that won school's first ever state title
Jaylen Mize
5-10/175
Safety
Buford - Buford, Ga.
- Team won three state titles and finished as runner-up once.
Patrick O'Connor
6-1/205
Running Back
Thomas Jefferson - Alexandria, Va.
- Won over 100 career wrestling matches in high school
Grant Polofsky
6-2/265
Defensive End
Butler - Charlotte, N.C.
- Team claimed 4AA State Championship three times and went 57-2
- Two-time all-conference, all-county and all-state player
- Second in North Carolina with six fumble recoveries
Dylan Sandlin
6-0/170
Safety
Fort Bend Christian Academy – Sugar Land, Texas
- First-team all-district
Craig Stevens
6-0/210
Linebacker
Richmond Benedictine - Richmond, Va.
- Three-time Richmond Times Dispatch Top-Performer
Travis Stubblefield
6-1/265
Offensive Lineman
Northwest - Justin, Texas
- Three-time unanimous first-team all-district
- Three-time academic all-district
- Two-time Wise County top Gridiron Performer Selecion
- Strongest Texan Award (2011, 12)
- Co-Captain of football and powerlifting teams
- Set school records for bench press (425 lbs.) and squat (670 lbs.)
Landry Taylor
5-10/175
Cornerback
Baylor - Chattanooga, Tenn.
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