Furman Signs Another Star-Studded Class

GREENVILLE, S.C.–For a third-straight year under the direction of Bruce Fowler, Furman brings in a class that it can be proud of and one that will once again not only help it keep pace with the other schools in the Southern Conference, but combined with the past three signing classes, will ensure the Paladins will stay atop the Southern Conference standings.

The Paladins are coming off an 8-6 season and an unprecedented 13th Southern Conference title–the first since 2004–and the first appearance in the FCS play0ffs since 2006–the first playoff appearance for the program since 2006.

The signing class of 2013 was certainly a huge factor in Furman’s success last season, with players in that class on both sides of the football making the kind of plays that enabled the Paladins to bring home the league title last season. First-year players were a big part of the Paladin class, with players like T.J.

The Paladins brought in 22 new signees, with several standout recruits that will make a difference in the near future for Bruce Fowler’s Paladins, and for a team that had just 10 seniors last season, the latest class must seem like an added bonus for a team that will head into the 2014 campaign as the favorites in the Southern Conference.

Perhaps the reason most are so high on the Paladins’ signing class in 2014 is the number of playmakers signed on both sides of the football, with Bartram Trail High School product and Jacksonville, FL native P.J. Blazejowski. The 6-0, 175-pound dual-threat signal-caller was a 6A All-State performer, passing for 2,468 yards and 17 TDs as a senior, while rushing for 874 yards and 14 scores, accounting for 31 TD responsibilities. He led Bartram Trail to the semifinals of the state playoffs, after starting 0-5 to begin the season. He led Bartram Trail to eight-straight wins and helped them make a Furman-like run into the postseason.

Blazejowski runs in the 4.5-4.6 range in the forty-yard dash, and throws especially well on the run. He will remind Paladin fans of former Furman quarterbacks Philly Jones and Frankie DeBusk, who were both run-pass threats as Paladin signal-callers.

Another impressive talent on the offensive side of the football is three-star wideout A’lencio Graham, who seemed all set to be a Wofford Terrier until pulling a bit of a surprise on signing day and deciding on Furman. The Flowery Branch High School product out of Lawrenceville, GA, has good speed, clocking a 4.52 in the forty-yard dash, and the 5-10, 161-pound receiver has great hands and route-running skills. Graham has a lot of similarities to that of current Furman wide receiver Andre Suttles, and he could see some time as a slot receiver, with his ability to make plays in the open field.

Graham isn’t the only key addition to the Paladin passing game, with the signing of Bradford Lemmons out of Dreher High School in Columbia, S.C. The 6-3, 175-pound wideout blocks well and has good size and athleticism. The addition of Lemmons adds even more speed to a receiving corps that already possesses plenty of it, with Suttles and Gary Robinson among the speed merchants already donning the Purple and White. Lemmons, who won the state title in both the 200m (22.12) and 400m (48.20), hauled in 60 passes for 670 yards in his senior season.

The Paladins also addressed the running back position, where Kealand Dirks and Issac Garcia become the newest players to don the Purple and White of Furman. Both will figure prominently into the mix in the future of the Paladin ground game, and possibly in the immediate, with backup running back Marcus Anderson no longer a part of the Furman program.

Dirks comes to Furman from Lewisville, N.C., where he rushed for 1,501 yards and 14 TDs during his senior season at West Forsyth High School, while his classmate Garcia posted 1,231 yards, posting an impressive average of 8.1 YPC this past fall. Garcia could be a definite early contributor for the Paladin special teams, as he posted 7,000 all-purpose yards during his career.

Rounding out the signees in the Paladin backfield is Ridge Gibson, who will play fullback in the Paladin offense. Gibson, a 5-11, 206-pound, native of Mariertta, GA, where he starred for Wilson High School. Gibson is the son of former Furman defensive back Ernest Gibson, who ranks as one of the best defensive backs to ever play for the Paladins. Gibson played for the Paladins from 1979-82 before going to the NFL to a six-year career with the New England Patriots. During his four seasons as a Paladin, Gibson was a member of two Southern Conference title teams.

Another signee with prior Paladin progeny is Evan Jager, who comes to Furman from Lakeview High School in Orlando, FL. Jager’s father, Brian Jager,  was an All-SoCon performer and played on the 1985 national runner-up Paladin squad, while also helping lead the Paladins to a 13-2 record, led the club with 835 yards rushing and nine scores. Jager also got it done in the classroom, garnering CoSIDA Academic All-American, NCAA Post-Graduate Scholar twice in his career.

Perhaps the area addressed the most on the offensive side of the football is the offensive line, which saw the Paladins sign four interior linemen and a pair of talented tight ends. Tuscaloosa, AL product Terrell Bush comes to Furman from Tuscaloosa Academy, where he helped his program to a perfect 13-0 season, garnering all-state honors twice and rated a two-star recruit, according to 24/7. The 6-3, 300-pound lineman has excellent footwork and will be one of the newest Paladins that will have a chance to compete right away for a starting job along the offensive front, as the Paladins will have to find a replacement for Dakota Dozier at the left tackle spot.

Jack Bryant, Matthew Schmidt and Chris Wade round out the remaining three interior offensive linemen picked up by the Paladins in the 2014 class, in what might be the strongest offensive line class in the Bruce Fowler era. Bryant is another linemen who could be a difference-maker along the offensive line for the Paladins, as the 6-3, 273-pound native of Atlanta, GA, has good footwork and leverage and strength.

He will remind fans of another Peach State offensive lineman for the Paladins, in rising junior Joe Turner. Bryant played his prep football at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, where he was a two-star recruit according to rivals, and was versatile as a senior, playing both the tackle and guard positions.

Chris Wade comes to Furman from the highly-acclaimed prep program of Independence High School out of Charlotte, N.C., where he was a two-star recruit out according to rivals.com. He was a two-time 4A First-Team All-Conference selection as a junior and senior, while helping Independence to a state quarterfinal appearance and an 8-5 record in his senior season. Wade has good size, at 6-4, 278 pounds.

Rounding out the key recruits on the interior offensive front will be Matthew Schmidt, who comes to Greenville out of Stokesdale, N.C., and McMichael High School where the versatile athletic performer, playing on both the offensive and defensive lines. The 6-3, 287-pound Schmidt was a two-time All Mid-State All-Conference, All Rockingham County and Greensboro News-Record All-Area selection.

The tight end position was a big focus for Furman, which loses one of its 10 seniors to graduation, in starter Cameron Mason, marking each of the past two seasons the Paladins have lost their starting tight end, with the loss of Colin Anderson to graduation a couple of years ago. Furman has been a school that has traditionally produced great tight ends over the years, with Anderson along with the likes of Paul Siffri and Luther Broughton coming to mind as some of the greats to play tight end for the Purple and White.

Both Ajay Williams and Kedar Bryant being a pair of tight ends that can be downfield threats, much the same as the aforementioned threats of the previous seasons were for the Paladins. Williams matriculates to the Upstate of South Carolina from Elm City, N.C., where he was a standout at 2A Beddingfield High School, where he also played some in the backfield, rushing for 566 yards. The 6-4, 241-pound Tarheel State product caught 39 passes 614 yards and seven TDs, showing a propensity to make plays in the passing game as a prep.

Bryant, a 6-4, 230-pound native of Jacksonville, FL, played his prep football at Providence High School and was productive catching the football while a prep in his senior season and showed his athleticism, as he saw time on both sides of the football.

Like the offensive side of the football, the Paladin coaching staff added to what is already a strong scroll of underclassman returnees on the defensive side of the football, bringing in a class of six new players on the defensive side of the football.

The top player on the defensive side of the football is Cobb County Touchdown Club Defensive Lineman of the Year Jaylan Reed, who is one of four strong signees on the defensive line that could see time as a contributor up front this fall.

Reid has excellent athleticism and he is yet another signee out of Hillgrove High School. A 5-11, 266-pound native of Marietta, GA, will be a bit bigger defensive end than the Paladins have signed in recent seasons, with Furman having been smaller, leaner bunch, favoring athleticism over size the past few seasons. Furman picked up a diamond in the rough with the signing of Reid, who was a two-star recruit, and racked up 94 tackles, 16 TFLs and seven sacks. He could end up playing end or some tackle at Furman, but is too talented to completely keep off the field this season.

The other talented signee along the defensive front for the Paladins is Chinedu Okonya, who is another signee along the defensive line, and like Reid, is an exceptional athlete. Unlike Reid, Okonya will play exclusively at defensive end and is more accustomed to the type of defensive lineman that the Paladins have recruited over the past few years, which is the leaner more athletic type of defensive line product.

The 6-1, 215-pound native of Riverdale, GA, playing his prep football at Riverdale High School. According to 24/7 sports, Okonya is a two-star recruit from Riverdale High School, finishing out his senior season with 66 tackles, 19 TFLs and seven sacks as a senior. Having seen Okonya in several clips, Paladin fans have a lot to be excited about in years to come.

The final signee on the defensive line for the Paladins was Connor Jackson, who comes to Furman from Tallahassee, FL, and the Florida State

University school, where he was a two-star recruit coming to Furman, according to rivals.com. The 6-2, 254-pound Jackson played both defensive end and offensive tackle during his prep career. In his junior and senior seasons combined, Jackson registered 71 tackles, six TFLs and 5.5 sacks.

Rounding out the recruits along the defensive front for the Paladins is Daniel Butler out of Enterprise, AL. The 6-4, 250-pound two-star recruit (24/7 and rivals.com)  played primarily defensive tackle and nose guard during his prep career at Enterprise High School.

He helped Enterprise to a pair of 7-5 records each of the past two campaigns, and posted 47 tackles, six tackles for-loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery, three caused fumble, and 11 quarterback pressures as a senior.

Butler is another player that will have a chance to carve out a spot in the depth chart along the depth chart, but the reality of it is, Okonya and Reid are likely the only recruits along the defensive line that won’t redshirt, although with the talent recruited the past couple of seasons, the effort will be made to redshirt the past two seasons.

Rounding out the 22 signees for the Paladins as members of the 2014 class are a pair of talented defensive backs, in Antonio Wilcox and Joe Farrar, who will have opportunities to step in and be factors immediately. Wilcox and Farrar both likely equate as safety and nickel on the defensive side of the ball, and one of and potentially the greatest loss on the defensive line heading into the 2014 season on the defensive side of the ball for the Paladins is safety Greg Worthy, who finished with 343 tackles, which is the most ever recorded by a Paladin defensive back.

Wilcox is probably another player that wasn’t on most people’s radar for the Paladins’ recruiting board, but he is perhaps the steal of the class. The 6-2, 190-pound native of Fitzgerald, GA, is a tremendous athlete and vicious hitter at safety, and played both sides of the football, rushing for 566 yards and two TDs as a running back, while posting 46 tackles, two interceptions, and three fumble recoveries as a safety on the defensive side of the football.

Farrar, registered time at corner, safety, quarterback and safety. An excellent all-around athlete, Farrar, will have a chance to compete for a starting job right away. During his senior season, the Antwan Randle-El type athlete helped Tucker High School st a 14-1 record and state runner-up finish, passing for over 1,000 yards and rushing for 722 yards as a senior. Farrar is very similar to the type of athlete that Richard Hayes III, who came in and was a huge boost to the Paladin offense in the wildcat when there were injury issues on the offensive side of the ball under center.

The most important signee for Furman might have been Jon Hollingsworth, who will look to fill the shoes of potential NFL prospect and All-SoCon kicker Ray Early, who had four field goals of 50 or more yards in his career. Hollingsworth was instrumental in Greenwood High School’s success over the past three years, helping the program to a 36-6 record as the placekicker and punter. During his prep career, connected on 9-of-12 kicks, including going 7-for-10 as a senior. He was a two-time All-Lakelands selection as a punter and is poised to compete to step into both roles this fall.

Overall, it’s another fine job by the Paladin coaching staff and if it can turn out the kind of production the type of success the past two signing classes have, which were a large majority of the 2013 conference title squad, the Paladins will be in excellent shape. Listed below are the 22 signees that the Paladins acquired last Wednesday.

2014 Furman Signing Class

P.J. Blazejowski, QB, 6-0, 174, Fr., St. Augustine, Fla. (Bartram Trail H.S.)
Hunter Branch, WR, 6-0, 175, Fr., Birmingham, Ala. (Mountain Brook H.S.)
Jack Bryant, OL, 6-3, 273, Fr., Atlanta, Ga. (Woodward Academy)
Kedar Bryant, TE, 6-4, 230, Fr., Jacksonville, Fla. (Providence H.S.)
Terrell Bush, OL, 6-3, 310, Fr., Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Tuscaloosa Academy)
Daniel Butler, DL, 6-4, 268, Fr., Enterprise, Ala. (Enterprise H.S.)
Kealand Dirks, RB, 6-0, 228, Fr., Lewisville, N.C. (West Forsyth H.S.)
Joe Farrar, DB, 5-10, 189, Fr., Tucker, Ga. (Tucker H.S.)
Issac Garcia, RB, 5-10, 195, Fr., Charlotte, N.C. (Olympic H.S.)
Ridge Gibson, FB, 5-11, 206, Fr., Marietta, Ga. (Walton H.S.)
A’lencio Graham, WR, 6-0, 173, Fr., Lawrenceville, Ga. (Flowery Branch H.S.)
Jon Croft Hollingsworth, PK/P, 5-11, 152, Fr., Greenwood, S.C. (Greenwood H.S.)
Connor Jackson, DE, 6-2, 254, Fr., Tallahassee, Fla. (Florida State University School)
Evan Jager, ATH, 6-2, 200, Fr., Orlando, Fla. (Lake Highland Prep)
Bradford Lemmons, WR, 6-3, 177, Fr., Columbia, S.C. (Dreher H.S.)
Chinedu Okonya, DE, 6-2, 200, Fr., Riverdale, Ga. (Riverdale H.S.)
Jaylan Reid, DL, 5-11, 266, Fr., Marietta, Ga. (Hillgrove H.S.)
Harris Roberts, QB, 6-2, 175, Fr., Cumming, Ga. (North Forsyth H.S.)
Matthew Schmidt, OL, 6-3, 287, Fr., Stokesdale, N.C. (McMichael H.S.)
Chris Wade, OL, 6-4, 278, Fr., Charlotte, N.C. (Independence H.S.)
Antonio Wilcox, S, 6-2, 190, Fr., Fitzgerald, Ga. (Fitzgerald H.S.)
Ajay Williams, TE, 6-4, 241, Fr., Elm City, N.C. (Beddingfield H.S.)