The Citadel 2008 recruiting notes.

[CID1990]

Copied from our site. Don't know how many "stars" we have here, and don't care. Coach Higgins says these guys are a bunch of studs, some stolen from FBS, some stolen from other FCS schools. Higgins says it is his best class so far.

2008 Recruiting Class Notes


Tolu Akindele
5’10 205 LB
Westfield HS (Texas)
• Team Captain
• Played football and track
• All-District
• Four year record: 47-7
• National Honor Society
• Academic All-State
• Led district in tackles

Chris Billingslea
6’5 230 DL
Fort Mill HS (S.C.)
• Played football and basketball
• All-Area, All-Region
• Team Defensive Player of the Year award
• Charlotte Observer Def. end of the Year
• Career: 35.5 sacks, 87.5 tackles for loss

Jeremy Buncum (Chose us over Appy)
6’0 195 LB
Stratford HS (S.C.)
• Team Captain
• All-Region, Hon. Ment. All-Low Country
• Knights Pride Award winner
• National Honor Society
• Member of JROTC

Luke Caldwell
6’1 205 WR
John T. Hoggard HS, (N.C.)
• 1st Team All-State in football
• All-Region baseball (short stop)
• 2007 NC 4AAAA State Champions
• Career: 120 receptions, 2,600 yards, 30td’s
• 3 year starter in football


Dequan Coles
5’9 170 WR
Dinwiddie HS (Va.)
• 1st Team All-Metro, All-Region
• All-District, All-Tri Cities
• 2nd Team All-State
• Career: 132 receptions, 2,145 yards, 26 td’s
• Letterwinner in track

Cass Couey
6’1 185 Punter
Freedom HS (Fla.)
• 43.2 yard average
• Long punt of 70yards
• 13 Punts inside the 20 yard line


Terrell Dallas
6’0 205 RB
Fernandina Beach HS (Fla.)
• All-Conference Soph/Sr year
• Leadership Award recipient
• Career: 1,542 yards rushing, 14 td’s

Keith Gamble (Wofford was offering?)
5’9 155 DB
Crestwood HS (S.C.)
• Captain in basketball
• All-Area, All-Region football and basketball
• Best DB Award
• 2007: 70 tackles, 3INT’s, 3 tackle for loss, 9 pass break ups, 13 punt returns for 209 yards

Nate Gerber
6’3 260 OL
Bishop Carroll HS (Pa.)
• 2 year captain
• 2007 Team MVP
• 3 year All-State, All-Area
• Max Emfinger All-American Bowl selection
• PA East/West All-Star game selection


Christopher Hammett
5’11 190 DB
Manning HS (S.C.)
• Team Captain
• Football Pride Award
• 1,000 yards rushing and passing
• Won 41 games as starting QB
• Basketball MVP 2 years
• All-State basketball, 1,000 points junior year


Kevin Hardy
6’0 175 WR
Vanguard HS (Fla.)
• 31 catches 681 yards 11TD’s
• 1st team All-Area
• All-State Honorable Mention

Rod Harland
5’10 195 DB
Hart County HS (Ga.)
• Team Captain
• Defensive MVP
• All-Area, All-Region
• Anderson Individual All-State
• Career: 334 tackles, 12 INTs, 32 Sacks

Asheton Jordan
6’0 206 RB
Stratford HS (S.C.)
• 4 year letterwinner in football, 2 year letterwinner in basketball
• All-State, All-Region, All-Low Country
• Played in North/South All-Star game
• 2007: 1,100 yards rushing, 15 td’s, 24 receptions 3 td’s
• National Honor Society

Kenny Melvin
6’0 194 DB
Florida State HS (Fla.)
• 3 year letterwinner in football and basketball
• Offensive and Defensive MVP
• 2007 district and region champions


Jake Moorer
6’3 225 DL
Briarwood Christian (Ala.)
• 2 year starter in football and baseball
• Earned Special Teams and Coaches Awards
• Team finish 14-1 and state runner up in 5A
• 2007: 99 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 2 blocked punts, 1def. score, 1off. score

Graham Reeder
6’2 250 DL
Denton Ryan HS (Texas)
• Co-captain
• 3 year letterwinner in football, 2 year letterwinner in baseball
• All-District
• FCA member


James Robey
6’3 218 TE
South Brunswick HS (N.C.)
• All-State, All-Conference TE
• All-Area DE
• Special Teams player of the year
• 2007: 5 td receptions

John Shaw
5’7 200 RB
St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.), N. Iowa Transfer
• Captain
• 4 year letterwinner in football and track
• 10th All-Time career rushing leader in Philadelphia
• 2x All-City, All-Area, and team MVP
• USA Today National Player of the Week• Team ranked 3rd in the nation

Demarrio Sims
6’2 240 DL
North Marion HS (Fla.)
• Team Captain
• 1st team All-State (07)
• 1st team All-Area (06, 07)
• 3rd team All-State (06)
• Marion County single season sack record
• Career: 38.5 sacks, 62 tackle for loss, 236 tackles

DeAndre Smith
5’9 185 DB
Carver HS (Ga.)
• Team Captain
• 1st team All-Region
• Team was 3A state champions (15-0)
• 4 year letterwinner in football and track

Miguel Starks (Coach Higgins said this kid was invited to visit Appy but turned them down)
6’2 200 QB
Mundy’s Mill HS (Ga.)
• Team Captain
• 1st team All-Region
• 2007: 1,100 yards, 13 td’s passing; 700yards, 7td’s rushing
• 4 year letterwinner in football and baseball
• Played in Georgia’s North/South game

Neal Strange
6’6 260 TE/OL
Irmo HS (S.C.)
• 2x All-Area and All-Region
• 2007: 11 receptions, 241 yards, 5 td’s

Pre’Andre Watson (Inner city kid whos dad begged Coach Higgins to allow visit to El Cid-recruited by Mich St.)
6’3 265 DL
West Catholic HS (Pa.)
• Captain
• 4 year letterwinner
• All-State
• 2x All-City and All-Catholic
• 2007: 61 tackles, 3 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 14 receptions, 210 yards, 5 td’s
• 2007 Catholic League Champions

Alexander Wall
6’2 205 QB/P
AC Reynolds HS (N.C.)
• Captain in both football and baseball
• North Western 4A All Conf. in football and baseball
• All Western NC in football and baseball
• Led team to 2 conference championships
• In 2007: 1145yds + 6td’s passing, 755yds + 11td’s

Ryan Williams (Was recruited as preferred walk on by Florida; committed to El CId after Florida asst coach bad mouthed El Cid)
5’11 245 RB
North Marion HS (Fla.)
• 2nd team All-Area
• 7.6 yards per carry
• 3rd place in State Lifting Championships

[blueballs]

A good amount of Northern FL recruits... Citadel posters, who on your staff has all the connnections in NoFL?

[Eyes of Old Main]

John Shaw
5’7 200 RB
St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.), N. Iowa Transfer
• Captain
• 4 year letterwinner in football and track
• 10th All-Time career rushing leader in Philadelphia
• 2x All-City, All-Area, and team MVP
• USA Today National Player of the Week• Team ranked 3rd in the nation

If he transfers in, that'd make him a sophomore, junior or senior.

Does he still have to be a knob?

[CID1990]

He is a redshirt freshman from UNI. He will sit out this season and then have 3 years eligibility with us. He will have to do his knob year, but from what I know and hav heard of him, he really wants to be at El Cid and will do fine.

[CID1990]

A good amount of Northern FL recruits... Citadel posters, who on your staff has all the connnections in NoFL?

Not sure. Higgins' son (who played for us last year) played for the Gators. In fact, he was the one who talked to Ryan Williams and told him that as a guy who was on the UF team who also played for The Citadel, he said that El Cid was the better experience. This came after one of the UF assistant coaches badmouthed El Cid while they were trying to recruit him.

I would say that our PA connections come from Higgins himself and maybe the OC, but I really have no idea about the FL connection.

[AppMan]

Can you elaborate on who was stolen from which FBS & FCS schools?

[seantaylor]

Can you elaborate on who was stolen from which FBS & FCS schools?

None.

[CID1990]

Any time a kid is recruited by another school and decides to go to The Citadel instead, it's a steal! It's hard enough to get these kids even when we are the only ones offering some times. That being said, Ryan Williams was getting the hard sell from UF. It took Higgin's son to call BS on them when a UF assistant started talking smack to convince the kid. I'd definitely call that a steal.

[mrklean]

DeAndre Smith
5’9 185 DB
Carver HS (Ga.)
• Team Captain
• 1st team All-Region
• Team was 3A state champions (15-0)
• 4 year letterwinner in football and track

I know this guy. This young man attends my church. He is a good kid and will become a fine officer.

[CID1990]

We are tickled to have him. I thought we would need all the DBs and LBs we could get. I think we are a little thin still in that area, since we really went after the running backs. DeAndre will likely be competing for a starting slot his knob year.

[Millwoch]

We won more battles this year with other top socon teams then in years past. We got a couple of kids that Wofford, Appy, and Furman wanted. I do not think we were in on any of GSU's class or vice versa. Elon got one from us, as well as FU and Woffy(that is nothing new). I am just happy that this staff is going after a different caliber of athelete than we have before. Only time will tell how these kids develop, but I would venture to say at this time this is the best class we have ever signed...ever!

All those teams above signed great classes. Look for the socon to be very competitive in the top 5-6 spots. The gap between Appy and the rest of the league may be narrowing somewhat. It will be interesting 3 years from now and see where everyone is.

[elcid96]

We won more battles this year with other top socon teams then in years past. We got a couple of kids that Wofford, Appy, and Furman wanted. I do not think we were in on any of GSU's class or vice versa. Elon got one from us, as well as FU and Woffy(that is nothing new). I am just happy that this staff is going after a different caliber of athelete than we have before. Only time will tell how these kids develop, but I would venture to say at this time this is the best class we have ever signed...ever!

All those teams above signed great classes. Look for the socon to be very competitive in the top 5-6 spots. The gap between Appy and the rest of the league may be narrowing somewhat. It will be interesting 3 years from now and see where everyone is.

------------------------------------------------
I agree about the gap closing and the socon becoming more competitive. The final Jeff Saragin rating had the socon higher than some FBS conferences. Thats says alot about how competitive our conferene is. We are a top 10 Conference.
1 SOUTHEASTERN (A) = 81.99 81.83 ( 1) 12
2 PAC-10 (A) = 79.47 79.63 ( 2) 10
3 BIG 12 (A) = 78.62 78.35 ( 3) 12
4 BIG EAST (A) = 77.46 77.12 ( 4) 8
5 ATLANTIC COAST (A) = 75.21 74.98 ( 5) 12
6 BIG TEN (A) = 74.63 74.17 ( 6) 11
7 MOUNTAIN WEST (A) = 70.95 70.84 ( 7) 9
8 I-A INDEPENDENTS (A) = 61.74 61.79 ( 8) 4
9 WESTERN ATHLETIC (A) = 61.29 61.72 ( 9) 9
10 SOUTHERN (AA)= 60.50 59.92 ( 11) 8
11 CONFERENCE USA (A) = 59.54 60.06 ( 10) 12
12 COLONIAL (AA)= 59.52 59.33 ( 12) 12
13 SUN BELT (A) = 59.19 59.25 ( 13) 8
14 MID-AMERICAN (A) = 58.37 58.51 ( 14) 13
15 GATEWAY (AA)= 56.05 54.35 ( 16) 7
16 GREAT WEST (AA)= 54.99 54.75 ( 15) 5
17 PATRIOT LEAGUE (AA)= 45.91 44.39 ( 20) 7
18 SOUTHLAND (AA)= 45.46 45.48 ( 17) 8
19 BIG SKY (AA)= 44.85 45.37 ( 18) 9
20 IVY LEAGUE (AA)= 43.90 44.41 ( 19) 8
21 BIG SOUTH (AA)= 41.03 41.10 ( 21) 5
22 SOUTHWESTERN (AA)= 40.04 39.01 ( 23) 10
23 MID-EASTERN (AA)= 39.80 39.46 ( 22) 10
24 OHIO VALLEY (AA)= 36.80 37.23 ( 24) 10
25 PIONEER (AA)= 35.38 35.17 ( 25) 8
26 I-AA INDEPENDENTS (AA)= 30.86 30.28 ( 27) 4
27 NORTHEAST (AA)= 30.85 31.36 ( 26) 7
28 METRO ATLANTIC (AA)= 21.98 20.47 ( 28) 4
29 ***UNRATED*** (**)= -90.00 -90.00 ( 29) 1

[soweagle]

Congrats, looks like a good class.

[Eaglesrus]

Rod Harland
5’10 195 DB
Hart County HS (Ga.)
• Team Captain
• Defensive MVP
• All-Area, All-Region
• Anderson Individual All-State
• Career: 334 tackles, 12 INTs, 32 Sacks


I've never heard of that before, can you tell me what it means?

[CID1990]

I've never heard of that before, can you tell me what it means?

Absolutely no idea. I copied it from our site.

[citdog]

Welcome to our new class! now lets go win the whole damn thing!

[AppMan]

We won more battles this year with other top socon teams then in years past. We got a couple of kids that Wofford, Appy, and Furman wanted. I do not think we were in on any of GSU's class or vice versa. Elon got one from us, as well as FU and Woffy(that is nothing new). I am just happy that this staff is going after a different caliber of athelete than we have before. Only time will tell how these kids develop, but I would venture to say at this time this is the best class we have ever signed...ever!

All those teams above signed great classes. Look for the socon to be very competitive in the top 5-6 spots. The gap between Appy and the rest of the league may be narrowing somewhat. It will be interesting 3 years from now and see where everyone is.

Don't think The Citadel actually got anybody ASU "wanted." You may have signed a player or two ASU recruited at some point in time, but there is a big difference in bring recruited and being wanted. GSU & SC State got players ASU actually "wanted."

[AppMan]

Any time a kid is recruited by another school and decides to go to The Citadel instead, it's a steal! It's hard enough to get these kids even when we are the only ones offering some times. That being said, Ryan Williams was getting the hard sell from UF. It took Higgin's son to call BS on them when a UF assistant started talking smack to convince the kid. I'd definitely call that a steal.

If The Citadel (or any other FCS team) signs a player offered by a FBS school, that would qualify as a steal. Signing a player who was simply recruited at some point by an FBS school, can not be considered a steal. If that were the case, 80% of ASU's class would have been steals, but only 4 were actually offered by FBS schools.

[seantaylor]

El Cid got players that the "Blue Oyster Club" wanted. They can't get anything that will make us worry. Yes, they might beat Van Gorder if he is around.

[Millwoch]

Don't think The Citadel actually got anybody ASU "wanted." You may have signed a player or two ASU recruited at some point in time, but there is a big difference in bring recruited and being wanted. GSU & SC State got players ASU actually "wanted."

Miguel Starks(QB out of GA) was asked twice to make an official visit to Appy. I never said that Appy did not get what they needed or did not sign a good class. Why would they ask a kid to an official visit if they did not "want" him. You only got 52 visits total. The Citadel also lost some kids that visited. (DL to Wofford, Tb to VMI, and Tb and Lb to Furman) But again the good news is we are on these kids now, and starting to win some of the battles.


Quote from Post and Courrier on The Citadel Class:

"Higgins also praised the four defensive linemen in the class — Chris Billinglsea (6-5, 230), Jake Moorer (6-3, 225), Demarrio Sims (6-2, 240) and Pre'Andre Watson (6-3, 265), who was recruited as a walk-on by Michigan State. Quarterback Miguel Starks (6-3, 205) ignored late overtures from Appalachian State to stick with The Citadel."

[phillyAPP]

Miguel Starks(QB out of GA) was asked twice to make an official visit to Appy. I never said that Appy did not get what they needed or did not sign a good class. Why would they ask a kid to an official visit if they did not "want" him. You only got 52 visits total. The Citadel also lost some kids that visited. (DL to Wofford, Tb to VMI, and Tb and Lb to Furman) But again the good news is we are on these kids now, and starting to win some of the battles.


Quote from Post and Courrier on The Citadel Class:

"Higgins also praised the four defensive linemen in the class — Chris Billinglsea (6-5, 230), Jake Moorer (6-3, 225), Demarrio Sims (6-2, 240) and Pre'Andre Watson (6-3, 265), who was recruited as a walk-on by Michigan State. Quarterback Miguel Starks (6-3, 205) ignored late overtures from Appalachian State to stick with The Citadel."



How about the Philly connnection At THE CIT ? ArchBishop Carroll , West Catholic, And St Joe Prep. Catholic school, South division connection. I will have to follow their progress. I almost went to Carroll myself.

[08Dawg]

There are a couple of YouTube videos on Shaw floating around, which I watched. He looks both fast and strong. I can't wait to watch this kid play.

[Millwoch]

How about the Philly connnection At THE CIT ? ArchBishop Carroll , West Catholic, And St Joe Prep. Catholic school, South division connection. I will have to follow their progress. I almost went to Carroll myself.

I think that is why Citdog likes our yankee coach.xnodx