WILLIAMSBURG, VA (February 1, 2006) — William and Mary head football coach Jimmye Laycock has announced that 17 prep players have signed letters of intent to play football for the Tribe starting this fall.

"We had the focus of bringing in some depth along both sides of the line of scrimmage," remarked Laycock. "We also wanted to have some versatility with this class and find the type of player that has potential to contribute at a couple of the different skill positions. I am very pleased with the outstanding job the staff has done at identifying and signing such a complete class."

The incoming freshman class consists of eight student-athletes from the state of Virginia, while the remaining out-of-state prospects come from locations ranging from Georgia to New Jersey. The emphasis in targeting depth along the line of scrimmage shows, as the class features seven linemen. Eight of the remaining 17 players will give the staff options to contribute at either defensive back or running back/receiver, while the class is rounded off with one quarterback and a punter/kicker.

William and Mary will return 13 starters from last season's squad that posted a 5-6 record, including eight on the offensive side of the ball. The Tribe's offense should be particularly potent, once again, as all 4,158 yards of total offense from a season ago returns to the fold for 2006.

2006 William and Mary Football Recruiting Class

Kyle Allison

Burke, VA

Lake Braddock Secondary

6-2, 280 – Line

Head Coach: Jim Poythress

Lake Braddock Secondary: Named All-Patriot District at both offensive line and defensive line as a senior for coach Jim Poythress … Selected to Washington Examiner second team offense as a senior … Named one of state's top junior high school players in 2004 by Roanoke Times … Personal: Son of Paul and Karen Allison … Born on February 15, 1988.

Michael Alvarado

Gaithersburg, MD

Gaithersburg High School

6-0, 188 – DB/WR

Head Coach: Kreg Kephart

Gaithersburg: Recorded 70 tackles and four interceptions as a senior to lead team to state playoffs under coach Kreg Kephart … Earned honorable mention status on the Maryland Big School All-State Team … Also a defensive honorable mention selection on Washington Post All-Metro team … First team All-Gazette selection by Montgomery Gazette … All-county selection as a senior … Personal: Son of Miguel Alvarado … Born on March 5, 1988.

David Caldwell

Montclair, NJ

The Lawrenceville School

5-11, 200 – DB/RB

Head Coach: Ken Mills

The Lawrenceville School: Rushed for 822 yards and nine touchdowns under coach Ken Mills … Named to Trenton Times and Star-Ledger first team All-Prep offense in 2005 … Earned All-Essex County honors as a senior in 2004 at Montclair High for coach Ed Lebida … Rushed for 1,410 yards and 19 TDs as a senior at Monclair and participated in the 2005 New Jersey North-South All-Star Classic … Personal: Son of David and Karen Caldwell … Born on May 19, 1987.

Marshall Dill

Woodbridge, VA

C.D. Hylton High School

5-10, 170 – WR/DB

Head Coach: Lou Sorrentino

C.D. Hylton: Honorable mention All-Metro by the Washington Post as a senior after recording 11 touchdown receptions as a senior … Tallied 34 receptions for 749 yards in 2005 to earn All-Cardinal District honors … Totaled 67 catches for 1,441 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons under coach Lou Sorrentino, guiding Hylton to back-to-back Northwest Regional Championships … Personal: Son of Peter and Lynne Dill … Born on November 27, 1987.

Cameron Dohse

Clifton, VA

Centreville High School

6-0, 180 – WR/DB

Head Coach: Mike Skinner

Centreville: Two-time All-Concorde District and second team AP all-state selection for coach Mike Skinner … Named second team All-Metro by the Washington Post after hauling in 53 receptions for 825 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior … Also named Times Community Wide Receiver of the Year as a senior after averaging 15.6 yards per receptions and 82.5 yards receiving per game … Honorable mention All-Metro selection as a junior as well … Brought in a school-record 94-yard touchdown reception against T.C. Williams as a junior … Personal: Son of Jeff and Sally Dohse … Born on October 14, 1987.

Evan Francks

Medford, NJ

Shawnee High School

5-11, 200 – DB/RB

Head Coach: Tim Gushue

Shawnee High School: Member of two South Jersey Group 4 championship teams under coach Tim Gushue … Named to AP all-state first team as a senior after recording 58 total tackles and two interceptions and rushing for 1,055 yards and 17 touchdowns on 190 attempts … Added eight receptions for 90 yards … Named Burlington County's Offensive Player of the Year as a junior by the William Gordon-George Masters Burlington County Football Club after leading the county with 114 total points on 17 rushing touchdowns and two receiving scores … Rushed for 1,086 yards on 170 attempts as a junior to become just the second Shawnee player to ever rush for 1,000 yards in a season … Also tallied 270 yards receiving on 18 receptions to lead Shawnee to a perfect 12-0 season and its second Group 4 championship in three years … Personal: Son of Frank and Barbara Francks … Born on May 30, 1988.

Max Harris

Marietta, GA

Sprayberry High School

5-10, 175 – DB/WR

Head Coach: Wade Beale

Sprayberry HS: Received All-Cobb County honorable mention status as a senior for coach Wade Beale … Voted Sprayberry's special team's player of the year … Also an all-county performer as a junior … Personal: Son Darrell and Sharon Harris … Born on November 15, 1987.

Chase Hill

Virginia Beach, VA

Princess Anne High School

6-2, 195 – QB

Head Coach: Curt Brown

Princess Anne HS: Two-year varsity letter winner for coach Curt Brown … Earned second team All-Beach District honors as a senior, while serving as team captain … Completed 55% of his passes in throwing for 1,285 yards and 10 touchdowns … Also rushed for 501 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games … Named team's MVP both junior and senior seasons … Also named Princess Anne's fall male student-athlete of the year … Member of the FCA executive council and editor of school yearbook sophomore and junior years … Served as the president of the school's Latin Club … Personal: Son of Jeff and Veronica Hill … Born on January 2, 1988.

Keith Hill

Hamilton SQ, NJ

The Lawrenceville School

6-4, 305 ­– Line

Head Coach: Ken Mills

The Lawrenceville School: Trenton Times First-Team All-Area for coach Ken Mills … Trenton Times First Team All-Prep … Earned team's Black Lion Award as a senior … Personal: Son of Keith and Carla Hill … Born on November 23, 1987.

Gareth Hissong

Hanover, PA

Delone Catholic

6-3, 250 – DE / TE

Head Coach: Dennis Frew

Delone Catholic: Three-year letterwinner as an offensive and defensive lineman for coach Dennis Frew … Earned all-district honors as both an offensive and defensive lineman in his senior season … Posted 45 tackles, including 31 solo hits, to go along with five sacks, two pass deflections and a fumble recovery in his senior season … Played two years of basketball, before concentrating on football only during his junior and senior seasons … High School teammates with current Tribe offensive lineman Eric O'Brien … Personal: Son of Greg Hissong and Trish Howser … Born on October 31, 1987.

Bryan Jean-Pierre

Doraville, GA

Dunwoody

6-3, ­245 – Line

Head Coach: James Teeter

Dunwoody: Three-year starter and letterman on the defensive line for coach James Teeter … Recorded 44 solo stops and had 23 assisted tackles for a total of 67 in his senior season … Also contributed four sacks, six TFLs, caused and recovered a fumble … Lettered in track and field as a thrower … Personal: Son of Ernest Jean-Pierre and Therese Joacin … Born on June 22, 1988.

Courtland Marriner

Chesapeake, VA

Western Branch

5-9, 180 – RB/DB

Head Coach: Lew Johnston

Western Branch: Four-year letterwinner as both a running back and defensive back for coach Lew Johnston … Earned all-district honors at both positions as a senior … Named team MVP as a senior … Averaged nearly 9.0 yds/rushing attempt in his senior season, finishing year as team's leading rusher with 780 yards and 13 touchdowns … Has 4.5 second speed in the 40-yard dash … One of state's top scholastic 55-meter runners with a personal record time of 6.51 … Personal: Son of Melvin and Melody Marriner … Born on May 18, 1988.

David Miller

Centreville, VA

Westfield

6-0, 170 – K/P

Head Coach: Tom Verbanic

Westfield: Named one of Virginia's Top 60 recruits by the Roanoke Times … Named All-Met by Washington Post for AAA Concorde District … Had 36 touchbacks and five field goals as a senior, including a season-long 48-yarder … Also handled punting duties and averaged 35 yards an attempt … Personal: Son of David and Barbara Miller … Born on September 15, 1988.

Tyler Miller

Virginia Beach, VA

Kellam

6-3, 280 – Line

Head Coach: Chris DeWitt

Kellam: Four-year letterman as a center and offensive tackle for coach Chris DeWitt … Ranked 14th nationally amongst scholastic centers by ESPN.com … First team All-Virginia Beach and All-Tidewater as a senior … Second-team All-Eastern Region … Earned second-team all-district honors as a junior, while earning honorable mention honors as a sophomore … Member of National Honor Society and earned place on Principle's List (straight A's) … Personal: Son of Donald and Karen Miller … Born on June 16, 1988.

Joshua Raxter

Marietta, GA

Pope

6-6, 270 – Line

Head Coach: Bob Swank

Pope: Three-year letterwinner along the offensive line for coach Bob Swank … Earned honorable mention all-region honors as a senior … Personal: Son of Suzanne Raxter … Born February 19, 1988.

William "Wes" Steinman

Wilmington, NC

Hoggard

6-2, 205 – DB/LB

Head Coach: Scott Braswell

Hoggard: Four-year letterwinner as a wide receiver and free safety for coach Scott Braswell … Two-time all-conference and all-district performer as a free safety (junior and senior seasons) … Named conference's Defensive Player of the Year (2005) … Also selected as an all-state performer (2005) … Participated in the North/South Shrine game … Helped program to streak of four consecutive conference titles … Also played baseball (freshman and sophomore) and track and field (junior and senior) … Former high school teammate of current Tribe tight end Rob Varno … Personal: Son of Bill and PJ Steinman … Born on November 28, 1987.

Derek Toon Chester, VA Matoaca 6-3, 280 – Line Head Coach: Pat Manuel

Matoaca: Two-year letterwinner as an offensive and defensive lineman for coach Pat Manuel … Helped lead team to a AAA Central Regional Championship as a senior … Hugh O'Bryan Youth Leadership Alumni award winner … Played in summer baseball league as outfielder … Volunteer for Special Olympics and a mentor for at-risk ninth graders … Member of National Honor Society … Personal: Son of Patrick and Andree Toon … Born on May 23, 1988.