Catawba's Recruiting Class Swells to 47

Recruiting coordinator DJ Summers released the college's official commitment list early Monday.

The list currently has 47 names, including both letters of intent and transfer players.

Click the link to read the list of future Tribe football players.



High School Letters of Intent

Name Position Height Weight High School

Robbie Aldridge DE 5'10 220 Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)
Nick Bodenheimer OL 6'2 245 Ronald Reagan HS
Tobias Brown DT 6'2 265 Beddingfield HS
Vincent Brown TE 6'3 205 Wilkes Central HS
Keith Bryant DB 5'9 180 Starmount HS
Jared Crabtree WR 6'1 170 Wakefield HS
Rob Creason DT 6'2 293 North Davidson HS
Dylan Crump WR 6'1 190 Hibriten HS
Bo Davidson WR 5'9 175 Gaffeny HS (SC)
Robert Davis WR 6'0 175 Bunker Hill HS
Daniel Donaldson OL 5'11 230 South Rowan HS
Matthew Draughn DB 5'10 160 Providence Grove HS
Scottie Floyd DB 5'10 165 Ashbrook HS
Jerome Gadberry LB 6'0 180 Starmount HS
Rashaun Gaither RB 5'11 190 Starmount HS
Chance Green QB 6'6 205 Northridge HS (CO)
Sammy Houston DB 5'9 170 Richmond Senior HS
James Hunt LB 6'1 220 Clinton HS
Alex Ingram DB 5'9 170 Richmond Senior HS
Jonathan Ingram RB 5'8 190 Lincolnton HS
Landon Isenhour QB 6'2 195 Fred T. Foard HS
Cory Johnson LB 5'11 230 Jack Britt HS
Terrance Johnson WR 5'9 175 West Stokes HS
Bobby Krauk P 6'6 210 Westminster HS (MD)
Damien Lee DE 6'3 235 Reidsville HS
Payton McCollum WR 5'10 175 Mount Tabor HS
LJ McCray DB 6'1 175 Harding University HS
Dennis McFatten LB 6'2 195 Lake Weir HS (FL)
Anthony McGill DB 6'0 185 Butler HS
Alex Miller DB 5'9 175 Fred T. Foard HS
Richard Miller FB 6'1 235 Western Alamance HS
Brett Mooring QB 6'4 235 West Craven HS
Thomas Phillips FB 6'3 255 Ashe County HS
Michael Priest LB 6'0 190 North Davidson HS
Aaron Rainey FB 6'0 230 Bessemer City HS
Jumal Rolle DB 6'1 180 Beddingfield HS
Keith Royal DE 6'4 220 North Wilkes HS
Kyle St. Clair OL 6'2 265 Alexander Central HS
Jacob Todd LB 6'2 220 South Stanly HS
Ethan Winn OL 6'4 295 Gretna HS (VA)

Transfer Commitments

Name Position Height Weight Previous School

James Collins DB 6'1 200 Suffolk Community College (NY)
Darrius Massey DB 5'8 175 Winston-Salem State University
Marcus McFadden DB 5'9 165 Lenoir-Rhyne University
Dustin Morgan LB 6'0 230 Louisburg Junior College
Cameron Sexton QB 6'1 190 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Nathan Smith DB 5'7 160 Forsyth Technical Community College
Justin Terwilliger DL 6'2 260 Cape Fear Community College
Josh Wright RB 5'10 210 Western Carolina University. Full Story

Rashaun Gaither Inks with Catawba

Starmount running back Rashaun Gaither has decided to join teammates Keith Bryant and Jerome Gadberry as part of the 2009 Catawba football recruiting class.

Gaither had earlier opted to be apart of the inaugural Carolina Sports Academy, a new post-graduate institution in Greensboro, NC.

The Indian's official commitment list released on Monday morning has Gaither listed among a group of players that has grown to nearly 50 names. The program only had eight seniors in last year's class.

As a prep senior, Gaither rushed 217 times for 2,138 yards and 30 touchdowns en route to Mountain Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Gaither's sensational rushing totals broke the school's single-season rushing mark.

On defense, the 5'11 190 running back tallied 63 tackles and five interceptions.

For his career, he finished with 3,272 rushing yards with 46 touchdowns and became the all-time leader in receiving yards with 746 yards. As a defensive back, he finished with 10 interceptions.

Gaither's reasoning for considering post-graduate school was to test his abilities for FBS and FCS schools in future recruiting wars.

Starmount's option-oriented offense suited Gaither well throughout his career, and had aspirations for the Air Force Academy and Georgia Tech because of their style of play.
Full Story

Starmount Defenders Commit to Catawba

By: Eric Lusk
The Yadkin Ripple

When Starmount endured a 1-10 football season in 2006, coach Scott Johnson looked to a group of sophomores to help turn things around.

Two players from that group, now seniors, not only helped to elevate the Rams back to conference championship status, but have earned the chance themselves to continue playing at the next level.

Jerome Gadberry and Keith Bryant have signed to play football for Catawba College in Salisbury. Gadberry played wide receiver and linebacker for the Rams, which finished 11-4 and advanced to the 2A West Regional championship game this past fall. Bryant was a linebacker, defensive back, running back and one of the most feared kick-returners in the conference.

“It all goes back to that year when they were sophomores and us having to struggle,” Johnson said. “The leadership that they displayed this year, the work ethic and how hard they pushed their teammates — they pushed themselves that hard first. That’s how we were able to get to where we were this year.”

Catawba, which competes at the NCAA Division II level with schools like Mars Hill, Lenoir-Rhyne and Brevard, gained both Starmount players in its 2009 class of signees.

Gadberry and Bryant will follow in the footsteps of several former Starmount athletes who have played football for Catawba. That list includes Joel Brown, Daniel Granzyk, Neil Love, Brian Ray and Seth Wagoner.

Chip Hester is Catawba’s head football coach. The Indians went 6-4 last season, including a 4-3 record in its conference. Assistant coach Ben Hepler, a former South Stokes standout, led the recruiting effort with the Starmount players.

“We have a really good history with Catawba here,” Johnson said. “Ben has been recruiting here the last three years. It all started when they watched (the three players) on film. They went down for a workout and Jerome and Keith really liked what they saw. I think it’s going to work out real well for them.”

Bryant likely will be used on special teams early in his career. He’s been tabbed to play defensive back as well.

“A lot of my friends are going down there,” Bryant said. “I’m the kind of person who learns well in a small school environment. I just like that.”

Gadberry played several roles during his Starmount career, including starting at quarterback for a time. He ended up catching passes as a wideout and playing in the defensive backfield this past season.

“Jerome might be one of those kids where it takes a year or two to see how much he grows and how his speed develops before they are really sure what they’ll do with him,” Johnson said.

Gadberry is fine with that. He just wants to keep playing football.

“Right now, I just want to get in good with the system, learn everything and work my way up,” he said.

Johnson believes this Ram trio, as well as the other seniors from the 2008 team, can leave a lasting legacy on the program.

“Hopefully, it will be an imprint that carries on,” the coach said. “I know last year’s seniors had an impact on them. It’s going to carry on to next year’s seniors and on down the road I feel.” Full Story

2009 Blue-White Game Picture Gallery

All-American left tackle Terence Crosby provides a running lane for sophomore tailback Casey Hall in the 2009 Catawba Blue-White game.

Click Here for Picture Gallery

Full Story

Trexler Field Goal Wins it for White Team

Catawba College Sports Information

The defense shined at Catawba’s Blue-White Spring Game as Thomas Trexler provided the lone points with a 22-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give the White a 3-0 win. The White totaled only 89 yards on the day, but had three interceptions and recorded four sacks.

Marqus Davis had three of the sacks for the White squad, which stated its winning drive after an interception by Bryant Vennable on its own 37-yard line with 1:51 left. Daniel Griffith moved the White across midfield with a 14-yard scramble and later hit Brandon Bunn for 10 yards on a key third-down conversion.

A pass interference penalty on the Blue moved the ball to the 20-yard line and Griffith tossed an 11-yard pass to Bobby Morrison to move the White inside the 10. Trexler converted from short range on the final play.

The White had a touchdown called back for an illegal formation on its previous possession. The penalty wiped out a 60-yard strike from Griffith to Gerron Bryant. Griffith completed eight passes on the day for 67 yards. Logan Hulslander had one completion for one yard. Bunn was the favorite target with four catches for 25 yards.

Patrick Dennis threw for 109 yards for the Blue, completing 9-of-24 passes, but was picked off three times. Cortez Best intercepted a desperation pass in the end zone to end the first half and Lakeem Perry had an interception early in the third quarter. Wilbur Pender had the other sack for the White.

Josh Wright led all rushers on the day. He had 49 yards on eight carried for the Blue team. Eric Morman had five receptions for 41 yards. The Blue had one scoring chance in the first half, but Trexler missed on a short field goal attempt. Melquan Fair had a sack and recovered a fumble for the White. Brandon Sutton and Julian Samolu combined on a sack.


SCORING SUMMARY

White – Thomas Trexler 22 FG, 0:00 – 4th


STATISTICS
RUSHING: White 14-21 (Antonio Hall 4-14, Logan Hulslander 2-13, Daniel Griffith 6-10, Brian Terwilliger 1-3, Team 1-(-19); Blue 18-43 (Josh Wright 8-49, Casey Hall 5-9, Patrick Dennis 5-(-15).
PASSING: White 9-21-0-68 (Daniel Griffith 8-19-0-67, Logan Hulslander 1-2-0-1); Blue 9-24-3-109 (Patrick Dennis 9-24-3-109).
RECEIVING: White 9-68 (Brandon Bunn 4-25, Bobby Morrison 2-8, Martel Shaw 1-23, Brian Terwilliger 1-8, Antonio Hall 1-4); Blue 9-109 (Eric Morman 5-41, Travis Landrum 2-50, Colby McCanna 1-14, Casey Hall 1-4).

DEFENSIVE STATS
INTERCEPTIONS – White 3 (Cortez Best, Lakeem Perry, Bryant Vennable); Blue 0/
SACKS – White 4 (Marqus Davis 3, Wilbur Pender 1); Blue 2 (Melquan Fair 1, Brandon Sutton .5, Jullian Samolu .5).
FUMBLE RECOVERIES – White 0; Blue 1 (Melquan Fair). Full Story