LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Head Football Coach Ashley Ingram announced his first signing class in Lexington on Wednesday, as the Keydets got 23 players who committed to come to VMI this fall.  

The group will be joined by the early signees from December. Today's signees hail from 10 states, with nine coming from the Commonwealth. The Keydets also were able to get a commitment from walk-on Zander Atwell (Long Snapper, Kannapolis, NC) on Wednesday.

Isiah Anthony – Offensive Line – Nashville, TN – Pearl-Cohn HS
Anthony had a strong high school career, earning four varsity letters for Pearl-Cohn playing both center and defensive tackle. Projecting as an offensive lineman, Anthony was named to the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association West All-Star Team.

HT/WT: 6-2, 290
X: @iiamluzay

Jace Ballard – Running Back – Knoxville, TN – Grace Christian HS
While he projects as a running back in the Ingram offense, Ballard played a variety of roles in high school including wide receiver and corner. This past season Ballard had 71 receptions for 1,120 yards and 12 touchdowns receiving to go with 688 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.

HT/WT: 5-10, 175
X: @ballard_jace

Caden Baugh – Quarterback - Greeneville, TN – Greeneville HS
Earning multiple local awards including the Class 4A Mr. Football honor this past year, Baugh was 122 of 159 for 2,653 yards passing in 2025. A dual threat, Baugh rushed for 1,152 yards on the ground, leading Greeneville High School to the state semifinals and totaling 39 touchdowns.

HT/WT: 6-0, 180
X: @cadenbaugh

Dequan Bradley – Offensive Line – Boca Raton, FL – West Boca HS
The lone Florida native, Bradley played both center and guard for West Boca, earning three varsity letters in the process. Bradley will hope to bolster coach Joe Ray's unit up front for the Keydets.

HT/WT: 6-0, 290
X: @DequanBradley52

Matthias Corbin – Defensive Line – Richmond, VA – Douglas S. Freeman HS
A three-year member of the Douglas S. Freeman Varsity Football Team, Corbin racked up numbers at nose guard and defensive tackle, totaling 51.0 tackles in his senior season. Corbin is also a member of the Freeman varsity wrestling team.

HT/WT: 6-3, 270
X: @Matthias_Corbin

Raul Cruz-Palma – Offensive Line - Leesburg, VA – Riverside HS
Seeing time on both sides of the ball, Cruz-Palma projects to be an offensive lineman for the Keydets. Cruz-Palma earned three varsity football letters for Riverside, was a force on the defensive line and made First Team All-District as an offensive lineman.

HT/WT: 6-2, 290
X: @RaulCruzPalma74

Ellis Daniels – Defensive Line - Warren, OH – Warren G. Harding HS
A three-sport athlete at Warren G. Harding, Daniels played both sides of the ball in high school but thrived at nose guard and defensive tackle. Football runs in Daniels' blood, as his father (Leshun Sr.) played at Ohio State before an NFL career, and his brothers James (Dolphins) and LeShun Jr. both spent time in the NFL.

HT/WT: 6-3, 275
X: @EllisDaniels78

Jamary DeBerry – Defensive Line – Glen Allen, VA – Glen Allen HS
DeBerry has been a member of the Glen Allen varsity football squad since 2023, playing mainly defensive end and outside linebacker. A well-rounded athlete, DeBerry has also played varsity basketball for Glen Allen since his freshman year.

HT/WT: 6-3, 223
X: @JamaryDeBerry

Luke Finch – Wide Receiver – Dunlap, TN – Sequatchie County HS
A versatile athlete, Finch is one of two receivers in this class. While he saw time at quarterback and linebacker, Finch earned 2024 Region 3-4A Offensive Player of the Year honors. This past season, Finch got injured in his first game but returned in time to help Sequatchie County in its playoff game.

HT/WT: 6-2, 185
X: @lukefinch2008

Avan Fortner – Defensive Back – Manassas, VA – Osbourn HS
Fortner had a strong finish to his high school career, totaling 37.0 tackles, 11 pass breakups, 4.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble for Osbourn High School. Due to his play, Fortner would earn both First Team All-District and All-Region honors for defensive backs.

HT/WT: 6-0, 175
X: @Avan_Fortner1

Rashad Fortune – Linebacker - Leesburg, VA – Loudon Sports Academy
Originally a Navy commit, Fortune totaled 33.0 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 12.0 tackles for loss and two pass break ups in just eight games played this past fall for Loudon Sports Academy.

HT/WT: 6-2, 220
X: @rashadfortune9

Keegan Guyton – Safety – Pelham, GA – Carson-Newman/Pelham HS
Guyton is another Carson-Newman transplant, spending last year in Jefferson City with Coach Ingram. While at Pelham High School, Guyton earned All-Region honors totaling 100.0 tackles and two interceptions. A member of the track and field team, Guyton also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

HT/WT: 6-2, 205
X: @keegan_guyton1

Amari Harmon – Defensive Back - Chesapeake, VA – Western Branch HS
Harmon is one of two players from Western Branch High School in Ingram's inaugural class. While Harmon will play in the secondary, he totaled 13 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns on offense this past season, collecting 53.0 tackles, three interceptions and a tackle for loss.  

HT/WT: 6-1, 180
X: @AmariHarmon18

Jabrahlyn Jones – Defensive Line – Garrison, TX – Lawrenceville School (PG) / Garrison HS
While Jones played both sides in high school, he will help anchor the defensive front for the Keydets. A force on the field, Jones claimed the Division IV Texas High School Super Heavyweight State Championship in powerlifting last March while at Garrison High School, squatting 800 pounds, bench pressing 420 pounds and deadlifting 625 pounds. This past season, Jones completed his post grad year at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey

HT/WT: 6-3, 300
X: @LongnameJay

Jack Kelly – Defensive Line – Natick, MA – Worcester Academy
Kelly hails from Massachusetts, spending his initial years at Natick High School before a postgraduate year would lead him to Worcester Academy. Kelly looks to add size and depth to the defensive front of the Keydets.

HT/WT: 6-4, 240
X: @Jackkelly61

Zander Lewis – Running Back – Corona, CA – Corona Centennial HS
Representing the state of California, Lewis totaled 606 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior at Centennial High School. With his play, Lewis was a Southern Section All-State nominee.

HT/WT: 5-11, 195
X: @_zanderlewis

Treyvon Litton – Linebacker - Chesapeake, VA – Deep Creek HS
A member of the varsity team for the past three seasons, Litton played defensive end and tackle for Deep Creek High School. Also a member of the track team, Litton qualified for the Virginia High School League's Class 5 State Championship.

HT/WT: 6-2, 230
X: @trey_litton07

Brooks Martin – Wide Receiver – Potomac, MD – Stony Brook/The Bullis School
Martin comes to VMI with rare collegiate experience under his belt, transferring in from Stony Brook, seeing action against Rhode Island and N.C. A&T. In high school, Martin was First Team All-State, All-Region, All-Conference and All-Metro and was the Interstate Athletic Conference Player of the Year while playing in the secondary.

HT/WT: 6-2, 195
X: @brooksmartinn

Drew Parrott – Knoxville, TN – Carson-Newman/Bearden HS – Running Back
On Ingram's Carson-Newman team this past fall, Parrott played his high school ball at Bearden in Knoxville. As a quarterback, Parrott threw for 5,054 yards and 52 touchdowns in four years, earning three-time All-Region honors and was the Region II 6A Offensive Player of the Year. Parrott also earned four varsity letters for basketball at Bearden.

HT/WT: 5-10, 185
X: @drew_parrott2

Drew Ray – Running Back – Hohenwald, TN – Lewis County HS
Spending time at both running back and linebacker, Ray was First Team All-State in 2025 and a Tennessee Mr. Football finalist after rushing for 1,642 yards and 32 touchdowns. A four-year letterwinner in football, Ray has also earned four varsity letters for the Lewis County basketball team.

HT/WT: 6-0, 210
X: @DrewRay02

Caden Rowan – Offensive Line – Haymarket, VA – Battlefield HS
As a junior, Rowan helped Battlefield High School to a district championship, starting 10 games in the process. Before focusing on football, Rowan was a member of the Battlefield Freshman Basketball team. This past year Rowan helped Battlefield to a 10-2 overall record and 4-1 regional record, including two playoff games.

HT/WT: 6-3, 275
X: @Cadenrowan5

Addox Sanders – Defensive Back – Norman, OK – Norman HS
Sanders comes to Lexington by way of Norman, Oklahoma. Competing for Norman High School, Sanders played both corner and wide receiver, racking up over 40.0 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups as a senior. Sanders also returned punts and kicks, taking two to the house.

HT/WT: 6-2, 190
X: @Addoxmsanders

Adin Watters – Running Back – Chesapeake, VA – Western Branch HS
Competing for Western Branch, Watters earned four varsity letters and was moved all around the field including running back and wide receiver offensively, and safety defensively. VMI will look to utilize Watters in its option offense.

HT/WT: 5-9, 180
X: @Adin_W