Mountaineers reel in

15 football recruits
From staff reports

Appalachian State did its best to reload with recruiting this year.

Fifteen student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to join Appalachian State football program this fall, head coach Jerry Moore announced Wednesday.

The three-time-defending NCAA Division I national champion’s incoming class includes one quarterback, one running back, one tight end, one offensive lineman, three defensive linemen, two linebackers, four defensive backs, a place kicker and a versatile athlete whose college position has yet to be determined.

“Our coaches did a great job of identifying not only great players, but great students and people for this class,” Moore said. “We’re excited to have them all on the field in August.”

The class includes two three-star players, according to the recruiting Web site Rivals.com. The two are Ingram Bell, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound defensive back from Murrell’s Inlet, S.C., and Malcolm Bennett a 6-2, 255-pound defensive lineman from Georgia Military College.

Appalachian State also signed Independence running Rodrick Chisholm, who set a Mecklenburg County record by scoring 42 touchdowns. He also gained 2,496 yards for the Patriots last season.

The Mountaineers are also high on quarterback DeAndre Presley, a 5-11, 170-pound quarterback from Tampa, Fla. Presley threw for 1,600 yards, 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions during his senior season. He completed 70 percent of his passes and also ran for 500 yards.

As an added bonus, Appalachian State also welcomes a load of freshmen who were redshirted last year, including 6-6, 285-pound defensive tackle Gordy Whitte.

The Mountaineers’ signees include incoming freshmen Ingram Bell (DB, 6-0, 190, Murrell’s Inlet, S.C./St. James), Demery Brewer (LB, 6-2, 200, Lincolnton, N.C./Lincolnton), Rod Chisholm (RB, 5-9, 190, RB, Charlotte, N.C./Independence), Jordan Gary (TE, 6-3, 245, Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood), Ed Gainey (DB, 5-11, 190, Winston-Salem, N.C./Mt. Tabor), Justin Lloyd (DB, 5-10, 180, Charlotte, N.C./Victory Christian), Sam Martin (PK, 6-1, 180, Fayetteville, Ga./Starr’s Mill), Dominique McDuffie (ATH, 6-2, 195, Chattanooga, Tenn./Red Bank), Terrence McLean (LB, 6-0, 215, Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland County), DeAndre Presley (QB, 5-11, 170, Tampa, Fla./Middleton), John Rizor (DL, 6-2, 215, Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt), Lanston Tanyi (DL, 6-2, 230, Shelby, N.C./Shelby), Chad Turner (OL, 6-3, 270, Twin City, Ga./Emanuel County Institute) and a pair of junior-college transfers in Malcolm Bennett (DL, 6-2, 255, College Park, Ga./Banneker/Georgia Military College) and DeMorris Brooks (DB, 5-10, 200, Shelby, N.C./Shelby/San Bernardino Valley College).