LEXINGTON, Va. – Virginia Military Institute head coach Scott Wachenheim today announced the signings of the 2016 football recruiting class.
“Under the leadership of Dr. Dave Diles and through the hard work of the coaching and support staffs, VMI football is proud of the 2016 signing class we have put together,” said Wachenheim. “We were looking for young men who have an intense desire to be extraordinary. Young men that are willing to compete in the classroom, in barracks, and on the athletic field to be the best that they can be. Men who wanted to play Division 1 FCS football, receive a top 100 education, and gain the leadership skills necessary to become the future leaders of America. We signed 17 student-athletes today. Our goal is to always recruit The Commonwealth first and we did, 13 student-athletes come from Virginia high schools. We signed seven players on defense, nine on offense, and one kicker. Our hope is that all will come ready to make an immediate positive impact on The Corps and the VMI football team. We still have work to do and look forward to adding to our signing class in the near future.”
The following signees are members of the 2016 VMI Football recruiting class. The info below includes name, position, height, weight, high school, and hometown. Further capsule information on each signee follows.
2016 VMI FOOTBALL SIGNEES (As of 2/3/16)
Josh Andre OL 6-6, 257 Warrenton, Va./Fauquier H.S.
Elliott Brewster LB 6-2, 200 Dublin, Va./Pulaski H.S
Sawaar Canady OL 6-5, 290 Newport News, Va./Heritage H.S.
Ryan Clark DE 6-6, 220 Alcoa, Tenn./Alcoa H.S.
Kuony Deng OLB 6-6, 190 Aldie, Va./ John Champe H.S.
Jay Gavin WR 6-4, 185 Big Stone Gap, Va./Union H.S.
Kendrick Jackson WR 5-8, 170 Roswell, Ga./Roswell H.S.
Critt Johnson OL 6-7, 275 Virginia Beach, Va./Bishop Sullivan
Reed King K 5-9, 150 Grafton, Va./Grafton H.S.
Tyler Kisling OL 6-5, 260 Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown
Javeon Lara WR 6-0, 175 Schulenburg, Texas/Schulenburg H.S.
Najee Lawrence OLB 6-1, 193 Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen H.S.
Bradley Lythgoe SS 5-11, 190 Daleville, Va. /Lord Botetourt
Rohan Martin WR 5-10, 175 Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge H.S.
Daz Palmer RB 5-10, 175 Virginia Beach, Va./Lake Taylor H.S.
Tyain Smith RB 6-2, 195 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River H.S.
Kaleb Tucker CB 6-1, 165 Kecoughtan, Va./Kecoughtan H.S.
Josh Andre OL 6-6 257 Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier H.S.
Four-year letterwinner at Fauquier HS...Second Team All-State honoree...First Team all-conference, both OL and DL...First Team all-region as an OL...Team MVP...Most Outstanding Player and team captain...also four-year letterwinner for basketball and track teams.
Elliott Brewster LB 6-2 200 Dublin, Va./ Pulaski H.S
Three-year letterman under coach Stephen James as a wide receiver and strong safety … as a senior, named first team All-Conference 24 as both a defensive back and wide receiver … Southwest Times Player of the Year … named to the 4A West second team defense and the 4A West honorable mention offense … a VHSCA All-Star team first team safety … as a junior, named to the All-Conference 24 second team defense as a safety … nominated for STEM academy in engineering, National Honor Society member and received multiple academic honors throughout his four years … also played basketball and competed for indoor/outdoor track … plans to major in civil or electrical engineering.
Ryan Clark DE 6-6 220 Alcoa, Tenn./Alcoa H.S.
Four-year letterwinner under coach Gary Rankin as both a tight end and defensive end…PrepXtra Player of the Year for defense…also received PrepXtra Player of the Week honors once during the 2015 season…named All-County in 2015…helped team to a perfect 5-0 mark in district as a senior …also played two years of baseball (pitcher) and basketball (center)…plans to major in computer and information sciences.
Sawaar Canady OL 6-5 290 Newport News, Va. /Heritage H.S.
Four-year letterwinner at Heritage HS...First Team All-conference honoree...Second Team All-4A East...Second Team all-757 junior team...member of Peninsula team for Nike 757 All-Star Classic...3.83 HS GPA...three-year honor roll member...intends to major in business and economics.
Kuony Deng OLB 6-6 190 Aldie, Va./ John Champe H.S.
Played three years of football under head coach Jason Dawson as a wide receiver and outside linebacker…named the conference Player of the Year…Loudoun Times Defensive Player of the Year after helping team to a 10-0 season in 2015…Loudon Times first team defense as a defensive end… also played four years of basketball, earning 19.2 points per game en route to first team all-state and conference Player of the Year honors.
Jay Gavin WR 6-4 185 Big Stone Gap, Va./Union H.S.
Four-year starter at Union HS...Fall Sports Leadership Award winner in 2014-15...was a two-year starter in basketball and also competed on the track team for two seasons, receiving leadership awards during both basketball and track seasons...was the 2A West 400-meter regional champion in track...intends to major in psychology.
Kendrick Jackson WR 5-8 170 Roswell, Ga./Roswell H.S.
Amassed 790 all-purpose yards between rushing, receiving and returning kicks as a senior...averaged 8.8 yards a carry and 11.4 yards per catch...holds a 3.3 GPA...received all-region honors his senior season...intends to major in economics and business.
Critt Johnson OL 6-7 275 Virginia Beach, Va./Bishop Sullivan
Played four years as an offensive lineman and tight end, earning second team All-State and first team All-Conference honors…also played four years of basketball, earning all-conference and MVP honors in 2014…two-year team captain for basketball…AAU basketball player for Virginia Squires and Team Loaded…member of the National Honor Society…father, Andrew, played crew and rugby at the US Naval Academy…plans to major in biology.
Reed King K 5-9 150 Grafton, Va./Grafton H.S.
Four-year letterwinner at Grafton...Group 4A All-State First Team...also earned First Team All-Region, All-Conference and All-District as a kicker and punter...Daily Press All-Star as kicker and punter...9 of 12 on field goals and 36 of 37 on extra points as a senior...32 of 36 kickoffs were touchbacks...42.7 yard average as a punter...also lettered three years in soccer and one in basketball...National Honor Society and Region 4A East All-Academic Team...intends to major in electrical and computer engineering.
Tyler Kisling OL 6-5 260 Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown
Two-year letterman under head coach John Bowers…played both offensive tackle and defensive tackle…named first team all-conference and honorable mention all-state as an offensive tackle… father, Thomas, was a professional boxer and mother, Toni, a collegiate swimmer…brother, Zachary, played collegiate baseball…plans to major in civil engineering.
Javeon Lara WR 6-0, 175 Schulenburg, Texas/Schulenburg H.S.
Four-year letterwinner in four different sports at Schulenburg Secondary HS...played as a running back and safety in addition to WR on the gridiron...was an all-district honoree each season...also lettered all four years in track, where he earned third place in the state in the 100-meters, as well as baseball and basketball...intends to major in engineering.
Najee Lawrence OLB 6-1 193 Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen H.S.
Two-year letterwinner at Glen Allen...amassed 90 tackles and nine sacks over those two seasons...also forced five fumbles, recovering three...intends to major in biology.
Bradley Lythgoe SS 5-11 190 Daleville, Va. /Lord Botetourt
2015 1st Team All District DB and Blue Ridge District Most Valuable DB…also named 2015 3A West Region 1st Team DB, VHSL 1st Team All State DB, Vapreps.com 1st Team All State DB... VHSCA 1st Team All State DB…VHSCA All Star Game Selection…1st Team All Timesland DB… #91 Overall Player in VA by Roanoke Times… Career stats -Offensive: 2361 All-Purpose Yards, 29 Touchdowns…Defensive: 326 Tackles (173 solo, 144 assists, 40.5 TFL, 7 Interceptions)… National Honor Society (Junior and Senior Year).
Rohan Martin WR 5-10 175 Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge H.S.
As a senior, totaled 21 touchdowns, three interceptions and 1,536 all-purpose yards as a starter on both sides of the ball…played in multiple positions on offense, defense and as a kick/punt returner on special teams…received all-state, all-region, all-area and all-conference honors throughout his tenure…runs a 4.37 40-yard dash…played one year of basketball as a junior, helping team to a state championship…A-B Honor Roll member…plans to major in economics and business.
Daz Palmer RB 5-10 175 Virginia Beach, Va./Lake Taylor H.S.
Four-year letterman who played running back and defensive back on two high school state title teams that went 54-4…set school single season mark for rushing yards and touchdowns with 2,179 yards and 35 TDs…First team all-Tidewater and named to 4A conference, region, and district offensive player of the year...also played basketball.
Tyain Smith RB 6-2 195 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River H.S.
Second Team All-Conference...Offensive Team MVP for Indian River HS...doubled his rushing yards from junior to senior season, when he fell just short of the 1700-yard mark and scored 19 touchdowns.
Kaleb Tucker CB 6-1 165 Kecoughtan, Va./Kecoughtan H.S.
Four-year letterwinner at Kecoughton...played both defensive back and wide receiver...also lettered four years in wrestling, earning all-state honors, and two years in track...National Honor Society...Math Honor Society...intends to major in civil engineering.
