NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State University head

football coach Pete Adrian announced Wednesday the signing of 19 players to

national letters-of-intent.

The list includes 14 players from the Hampton Roads area, five of whom were

All-Tidewater selections. In all, four of the recruits received all-state honors

their senior seasons.

"We're very excited about the class," Adrian said. "When we have

position needs, we'll always look around this area first because we like for

the good players to stay close to home. We were able to get a lot of quality

local players. They see we're starting to make a turnaround and they wanted to

be a part of it."

Adrian and his staff focused on improving the Spartans' athleticism at the

running back, receiver, linebacker and defensive back positions, which accounted

for 11 of the 17 signees.

"This group has some excellent speed and open-field types of players who will

certainly improve our special teams," Adrian said. "We feel everyone we

signed will be able to help us right away on special teams, and if they prove

themselves worthy, they'll compete for playing time at their position, as

well."

Adrian also announced that two transfers have enrolled at NSU and are taking

classes this semester: defensive back Vince Hicks from Central Michigan and

linebacker Marquez Davis from Delaware.

Hicks (5-9, 175) played in six games for the Chippewas last season, mostly on

special teams, and will have three seasons of eligibility left. A star running

back and defensive back at Southfield (Mich.) High School, Hicks was rated the

No. 46 player in Detroit his senior season by the Detroit Free Press.

Davis (6-2, 222), the twin brother of Spartans' second-team All-MEAC

linebacker Maguell Davis, lettered two seasons for the Blue Hens. Marquez, like

his brother a star at Woodside High School in Newport News, Va., started all 11

games at outside linebacker in 2005 at Delaware and was sixth on the team with

59 tackles, five for losses. He will sit out this coming season, and has one

year left.

Adrian expects as many as five or six more signees in the coming days and weeks.

Following are the recruits and transfers, in alphabetical order:

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School

DeAngelo

Branche RB 5-11 190 Norfolk, Va./Maury HS

Notes: A first-team All-Tidewater and second-team All-State Group AAA pick as a

senior…the Eastern District Offensive Player of the Year, Branche rushed for

1,521 yards and 24 touchdowns to lead Maury to a berth in the Eastern Region

playoffs…had seven games with 100 or more yards and three with 200 or

more…second-team All-Tidewater as a junior.

Shawn and Sherron Childress.

The pair helped lead Hampton High to the state Group AAA Division 5 championship

this past season, the state-record 17th title in school history. Sherron

Childress (6-2, 215) played linebacker and doubled as a tight end, where he

earned second-team All-Peninsula District recognition. Shawn Childress (6-2,

235) played offensive tackle and helped bolster one of the state's top

defenses from his defensive tackle position.

Sherron is projected to play linebacker for NSU, and Shawn at defensive tackle.

Darrell Davis OL 6-3 300 Norfolk, Va./Maury HS

Notes: First-team All-Eastern District and second-team All-Tidewater pick as a

senior.

*Marquez Davis LB 6-2 222 Newport News, Va./Univ. of Delaware

Darryl Dickerson WR/Ath. 5-11 195 Richmond, Va./Highland Springs HS

Notes: A second-team All-Capital District selection…caught 31 passes and

averaged 5.1 yards per rush…scored nine total touchdowns.

Marcus Dodson DL 6-2 255 Danville, Va./GW Danville HS

Notes: A first-team All-Western Valley District selection as a junior and

senior…was named team's Defensive MVP and team captain in his final

season…first-team All-Northwest Region…rated the No. 69 senior in the state

according to The Roanoke Times.

Calton Ford OL 6-4 275 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS

Notes: Second-team All-Southeastern District…also wrestled for the

Braves…teammates with fellow NSU signee Garrard Quigley.

Remo

Gay LB 6-2 210 Virginia Beach, Va./Green Run HS

Notes: Second-team All-Beach District at receiver his senior year…had 65

catches for 628 yards, and also tallied 55 tackles and three forced fumbles from

his linebacker spot…team MVP as a senior…also starts for the GRHS basketball

team and runs track.

Brian Harman OL 6-7 280 Chesterfield, Va./L.C. Bird HS

Notes: Was second-team All-Dominion District and All-Metro as a senior…was

honorable mention All-Central Region and named the team's Most Outstanding

Lineman…helped team to a 10-3 record, the district and Division 6 Central

Region titles, and a berth in the state semifinals.

*Vince Hicks DB 5-9 175 Detroit, Mich./Univ. of Central Michigan

Marcellous Jackson LB 6-3 215 Washington, D.C./Calvin Coolidge HS

Notes: A two-time first-team All-DCIAA West selection…played in the D.C.

Coaches Association East-West All-Star game his senior year…selected to the

All-Met first team by the Pigskin Club.

Ray Jennings DL 6-0 265 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS

Notes: First-team All-Southeastern District as a senior.

Anthony

"T.J." Minor WR 6-1 185 Rhoadesville, Va./Orange County HS

Notes: A first-team All-State Group AA selection…all-district and

all-region…caught 59 passes for 1,054 yards and 19 touchdowns…a three-year

varsity player.

Garrard Quigley RB/KR 5-9 175 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS

Notes: First-team All-Southeastern District at RB…rushed for 950 yards and 12

touchdowns…scored five touchdowns in one game…averaged 6.8 yards per carry.

Naron Sanderlin WR 5-10 175 Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS

Notes: A second-team All-State Group AAA pick as a utility player…first-team

All-Tidewater at defensive back…first-team All-Southeastern District selection

at receiver and second-team at defensive back…second-team All-Eastern Region

at receiver…caught 40 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns, and rushed

for 130 yards and two scores as a senior…also had 45 tackles, three sacks and

two fumble recoveries…joins former OSHS players Andre Cook and Kyle Ryland at

NSU.

Ryan

Tillman OL 6-4 260 Centreville, Va./Westfield HS

Notes: A first-team All-Concorde District and All-Northern Region performer as a

senior, Tillman was also an honorable mention All-Met pick by The Washington

Post…helped his team to an 9-1 record, the district championship and to the

regional championship game.

J. R. Ware LB 6-4 235 Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee HS

Notes: Was an AP Group AA first-team all-state defensive lineman as a junior and

second team as a senior…led the state in sacks with 17 as a junior along with

eight other tackles for loss…posted 10 sacks as a senior…was also first-team

All-Region 2 and All-Valley District and the News Leader City/County Defensive

Player as a junior.

Terrell Whitehead DB 6-2 200 Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville HS

Notes: First-team All-Tidewater and All-Beach District his junior and senior

seasons…had 81 tackles and four interceptions as a senior…had 12

interceptions his final two seasons…also started at point guard for the KHS

basketball team.

Jeremy Wicker DB 6-0 185 Stafford, Va./North Stafford HS

Notes: Named to the All-Commonwealth District first team at wide receiver, kick

returner and defensive back…honorable mention All-Northwest Region at all

three positions…also a first-team all-area pick by the Fredericksburg Free

Lance Star.

Derrick Williams LB 6-3 215 Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS

Notes: A first-team All-Southeastern District and All-Tidewater selection at

tight end…had 68 tackles, 10 sacks and four interceptions on defense to go

with 20 receptions for 410 yards and four touchdowns on offense…Oscar Smith

won back-to-back district championships his junior and senior seasons, and

advanced to the Eastern Region Division 6 championship each year…joins former

OSHS players Andre Cook and Kyle Ryland at NSU.