We secured three excellent additions to this 2017 class, 2 Sunday, and one yesterday. These players are under the radar, excellent players. This class is shaping up well. 

On Sunday morning, inside linebacker Feleti Afemui announced he will play for Vanderbilt for the next four or five years. Feleti is a 6’3″, 224 pound solid 3 star out of Maui, Hawaii, who was a 2 time all-state performer for Maui High. He posted 61 solo tackles, 16 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble he returned for a TD. Feleti chose VU over offers from Army, Fresno State, Hawaii, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah, and Washington State. Programs like Southern Cal, Ole Miss, Stanford, and Washington also showed interest. Loved Feleti’s film. He’s tough, aggressive, an excellent tackler, and a leader by example according to his high school coach. Nice pickup. Feleti joins high 3 star linebackers Dimitri Moore (6’2″, 195) and Colin Anderson (6’2″, 210) in this class. Like both of those guys’ film as well. Dimitri is enrolled and will be participating in spring practice. We have 4 star Josh Smith coming back, high 3 star Jordan Griffin, high 3 star Caleb Peart, solid 3 star Jay Hockaday, and, of course, the guy who will be our leader on defense next season, Oren Burks. 

Sunday afternoon we got a commitment from 3 star corner Allan George out of Andalusia, Alabama. Allan is a tall corner at 6’2″, 185, which Coach Mason likes. Allan posted 49 tackles, 7 interceptions and 9 pass breakups this past season. He has good ball skills, obviously, he’s tough, quick and he’s a super tackler. Like what we’re getting out of the Alabama prospect. His film is impressive. He blankets receivers and he is definitely a playmaker. Allan joins 86, 3-star Randall Haynie, a 6’0,” 178 corner, and  85, 3 star safety Tae Daley, as our secondary commits. Tae is already enrolled and will also compete in spring practice. With present corners, rising sophomore Jujuan Williams, a 4-star, Donovan Sheffield, a 4 star sophomore, and rising senior Tre Herndon, who was a high 3 star along with  3 star redshirt freshman Frank Coppet, and solid 3 star corner Elijah Hamilton,  we’re set at corner for next year and for the future beyond next year, though I know Coach Mason always wants to add corners and safeties. Safety looks like a strong position for us, too, with hard hitting LaDarius White, the talented high 3 star Emmanuel Smith, potential superstar Ryan White returning along with the solid Arnold Tarpley and high 3 star redshirt freshman Zaire Jones. We look very good in the secondary next year and for years to come. 

Last night, solid 3 star wide receiver Chris Pierce from Smithfield, Virginia committed. He was the 16th commit as we got another de-commit, Nico Bolden, but it’s fine. Nico will be going to New Mexico. Chris chose us over Old Dominion. Old Dominion won the Bahamas Bowl and is really trending upward into being a high quality program, so we beat out a very good competitor. Chris is 6’4″, 210, and has super hands, solid speed and really good strength. I watched him catch and get a ton of yards after the catch. He breaks a lot of tackles. In the past 2 years, Chris caught 90 passes for 1,485 yards and 24 TDs. He reminds me a lot of a former player for us who is now a standout for the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League, one Jordan Matthews. Chris joins solid 3 star James Bostic, Jr, as our receiver commits. James is 6’3″, 200. Love the length on these guys to go along with the stellar guys we have in Trent Sherfield, Caleb Scott, Kalija Lipscomb, Donaven Tennyson and a guy who I believe will be stellar for us in the future as well, Jackson Winrow. Our receivers all have pretty good to excellent length, good speed and take it to the house ability. Excited about this group. Coach Mason and the staff may add one more as Mobile, AL standout Jalen Tolbert from McGill-Toolen High School is a guy we’ve got a shot with. Jalen is 6’3,” 190 pounds and his film is impressive. Makes the tough catches and has game-changing ability. Will keep you posted on Jalen.

Also, we’re still waiting on California defensive end Michael Owusu. Hopefully, Michael will pull the trigger today. And 4-star Hawaiian defensive tackle, Myron Tagovaioa-Amosa will be deciding between us and Notre Dame. We are slightly leading right now, but it’ll be close. Will keep you posted on those guys.

Will be in touch tonight if anyone else drops anchor and definitely tomorrow. Thanks.  

***Update: We just got our 17th commit this morning. Jonah Buchanan, a 6’3 1/2″, 265 pound defensive lineman out of Hawaii, has committed. Jonah looks talented and has the ability to fill out and become a 300 pounder. He’s very good against the run and the pass, he’s a good tackler, good sacker, good at batting the ball down, which is always helpful for the secondary. Looks like a solid player.