Samford Football adds 15 Bulldogs for 2019 class

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - The Samford football program has signed 15 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, head coach Chris Hatcher announced Wednesday.

You can learn more about the class below, courtesy of Samford Athletics.

The class includes 10 players that were signed in the early period in December, and five additional student-athletes signing in the later signing period. The class is made up of six players from Georgia, five from Alabama and four from Florida. Ten members of the class are offensive players, while five play on the defensive side.

CADE BLACKMON (5-10, 180, QB, OPELIKA, ALA./OPELIKA HS)

Cade Blackmon was a standout quarterback at Opelika High School . . . he passed for 1,362 yards and 18 touchdowns . . . he was named his team’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2018.

CHRIS OLADOKUN (6-2, 184, QB, TAMPA, FLA./UNIV. OF SOUTH FLORIDA)

Chris Oladokun transferred to Samford from the University of South Florida . . . he appeared in six games, including two starts for USF in 2018 . . . Oladokun completed 22-of-44 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns . . . he prepped at Sickles High School in Tampa, where he threw for 1,390 yards and 15 touchdowns with only three interceptions in nine games as a senior . . . he totaled 57 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in his prep career . . . he transferred to Sickles before his senior year after throwing for 3,646 yards and 32 touchdowns in two seasons at Alonso High School . . . Oladokun was selected to play in the Blue-Grey Football All-American Bowl as a senior . . . he is a dual-threat quarterback rated as a three-star recruit by Scout, 247Sports and Rivals.

CHANCE BUTTS (6-3, 265 OL, FRANKVILLE, ALA./LEROY HS)

Chance Butts starred on the offensive line at Leroy High School . . . he was named All-County and All-Region at Leroy . . . Butts also played baseball in high school.

KASRA BOJNORDI (6-3, 290, OL, MILTON, GA./CAMBRIDGE HS)

Kasra Bojnordi was a four-year letter-winner and started 45 career games at Cambridge High School in Georgia . . . he is rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com . . . he was a two-time All-Region selection . . . he was also selected as his team’s captain as a senior . . . he played both offensive line and defensive line.

LUKE BYRNE (6-4, 275, OL, FORSYTH, GA./MARY PERSONS HS)

Luke Byrne was named first team All-State at Mary Persons High School at the 4-AAAA level in Georgia . . . he also earned first team All-Region honors . . . he was named first team All-State by the Georgia Sports Writers Association and Recruit Georgia . . . he was also named first team All-Central Georgia by The Sports Report.

JOCQUET JILES (5-9, 170, RB, AUBURNDALE, FLA./AUBURNDALE HS)

Jocquet Jiles starred as a running back at Auburndale High School . . . he rushed for 1,118 yards on 37 carries . . . he was named first team All-Polk County.

JAY STANTON (6-0, 195, RB, CRESTVIEW, FLA./CRESTVIEW HS)

Jay Stanton prepped at Crestview High School in Florida . . . he had 196 carries for 1,832 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns . . . he also caught 11 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns . . . he holds the school’s rushing touchdowns record . . . defensively, he had nine tackles, one sack, one interception and a blocked punt . . . he was named his team’s Offensive Player of the Year . . . Stanton also played basketball in high school.

A.J. TONEY (5-9, 165, WR, BIRMINGHAM, ALA./JACKSON-OLIN HS)

A.J. Toney was a standout wide receiver at Birmingham’s Jackson-Olin High School . . . he is rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com . . . he helped lead his team to the first 10-0 regular season in school history in 2018 . . . he had 41 carries for 390 yards and four touchdowns, caught 26 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns, and added 280 yards and a touchdown on seven kickoff returns.

JASON HOUSTON (6-5, 210, WR, BREMEN, GA./BREMEN HS)

Jason Houston was a star receiver at Bremen High School in Georgia . . . as a senior, he caught 45 passes for 700 yards and 12 touchdowns . . . he was named first team All-Region as a senior . . . he also played basketball and ran track in high school.

MICHAEL VICE (6-4, 240, TE, VESTAVIA HILLS, ALA./VESTAVIA HILLS HS)

Michael Vice prepped at nearby Vestavia Hills High School . . . he served his team as one of its captains as a senior . . . he caught 29 passes for 491 yards . . . he also played basketball for the Rebels.

JAMAL ELLIS (6-3, 290, DT, ALPHARETTA, GA./ALPHARETTA HS)

Jamal Ellis was a standout at Alpharetta High School . . . he earned All-Region honors, and was named Defensive Player of the Game several times . . . he tallied nine sacks . . . he played defensive line, running back and tight end . . . he also ran track in high school.

NICK JACKSON (6-1, 255, DE, ORLANDO, FLA./WINTER PARK HS)

Nick Jackson was a first team All-Area honoree at Winter Park High School . . . he helped lead his team to district and metro area titles . . . he had 88 tackles, 14 sacks and 22 tackles for loss as a senior.

TRIMARCUS CHEEKS, JR. (6-2, 205, LB, HAMPTON, GA./DUTCHTOWN HS)

TriMacus Cheeks was a standout linebacker at Dutchtown High School . . . he was named first team All-Region.

THOMAS NEVILLE (6-3, 200, LB, LOGANVILLE, GA./DUNWOODY HS)

Thomas Neville tallied 113 total tackles, averaging 11.2 per game as a senior at Dunwoody High School . . . he also had an interception and two tackles for loss . . . offensively, Neville rushed 12 times for 90 yards and three touchdowns . . . for his career, he finished with 223 total tackles . . . he served as a three-time team captain . . . Neville was named first team All-Region twice, and also earned All-County honors.

KYLE ROSS (6-0, 187, S, MUNFORD, ALA./MUNFORD HS)

Kyle Ross had 76 tackles and four interceptions at Munford High School . . . he was named a permanent team captain . . . Ross also competed in track in high school.

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