The Times West Virginian

Sports

FSU RECRUIT PROFILES

By Nick Cammuso

A look at Fairmont State’s 14 football signings to date, with comments from first-year Falcons’ head coach Jason Woodman:

• Renard Pointer
S, 6-2, 170/Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Coach quote: “He’s a big, rangy, long-armed kid that we think has huge potential. He brings a different element to us — the speed of a true free safety and also has the footwork to play corner. He was one of the ones we were really excited to get.”

• Emanuel Ivey
DB, 6-1, 180/Richmond, Va.
Coach quote: “He’s from a solid program in Virginia and he started at safety, but he also played corner and that’s what we brought him in for. He has the speed to play corner and the toughness and instincts to play safety.”

• Jalen Thomas
LB, 5-11, 235/Morgantown, W.Va.
Coach quote: “He’s an in-state guy who comes from a good program (Morgantown High). He’s a tough kid and is going to fit our scheme perfectly at inside linebacker. That he’s from up the road is an automatic plus, but he’s a good football player. His film and stats speak for themselves.”

• Evan Jones
LB, 6-1, 200/Gambrills, Md.
Coach quote: “He is a kid we hope can grow and develop into an inside linebacker. He’s tough. He can run and can tackle and plays with a good motor.”

• Cooper Hibbs
QB, 6-2, 180/Gambrills, Md.
Coach quote: “He’s a pocket-style quarterback. I’m excited to get him in here, and to be able to get a guy that kind of fits where we want our offense to go and who can sling it right away.”

• Zach Hoover
LB, 6-0, 190/Tallahassee, Fla.
Coach quote: “He’s actually from the same high school (Florida High) as Garrett Davis, our own all-region linebacker. He reminded us so much of Garrett on film and personality-wise, he’ll fit our mold. We want him to play outside linebacker right away and hopefully have him grow into an inside linebacker.”

• Gavan Meade
RB/OLB, 5-10, 195/Clintwood, Va.
Coach quote: “He is probably one of the most electric guys we’ve seen on film. He’s just a downhill guy, and we want the ball in his hands. You can put him in the game; put him in the slot as a receiver; put him in the backfield; and he can block on the edge. He’s someone we have very high hopes for.”

• Kyl Francis
RB/DB, 5-9, 175/Havana, Fla.
Coach quote: “He’s a corner who reminds us a lot of some guys who played for us at Florida State. He’s a quick-twitch, super-fast kind of kid and he’s a very good punt returner. He’s just a game-changer and we can’t wait to get him in here.”

• Eric Bethea
DE, 6-3, 210/Havana, Fla.
Coach quote: “He’s still a young kid. You look at him and he has a baby face and has braces, so he’s a guy who is just going to grow. We see him being a big human being who can run, and we’re excited about him.”

• Jacob Van Meter
DE, 6-2, 230/Beckley, W.Va.
Coach quote: “He was an early graduate and is already enrolled. He’s been on campus for just about as long as I have, and you talk about a kid who should be going to the prom and he’s in here getting ready. We’re excited to have him.”

• Cody Wilburn
C, 6-1, 265/Midlothian, Va.
Coach quote: “We’re excited to get him on campus and see what he can do. He adds depth immediately to that position and comes from good football in Virginia.”

• Janorris Cunningham
WR, 5-11, 175/Havana, Fla.
Coach quote: “He was kind of a late add. A couple days before signing day we saw his tape and thought, ‘We don’t want to miss this kid.’ We’re glad we got him.”

• Calvin Pringles
CB, 6-0, 180/Clearwater, Fla.
Coach quote: “He’s a corner we’re looking to step in right away and play. He’s very athletic and has a little bit of size to him. He’s, again, a kid from a good program who has been coached well.”

• Jordan Adderly
DE/Clearwater, Fla.
Coach quote: “We think he can play both inside on the defensive line and outside on the end. He’s a versatile 260-pound kid who shows a lot of quickness and strength and power. It’s high school but that goes a long way right now.”
Email Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com or follow him on Twitter @NickCammusoTWV.

February 13, 2013

First wave of recruits excites FSU

New coach Woodman signs 14

By Nick Cammuso Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT — To succeed in football, be it coaching or playing, one must be quick on his feet and willing to adapt.

The same applies to the art of recruiting. But in the case of Fairmont State’s football program, mere quickness wouldn’t be enough after a new coaching staff was recently brought into the fold — no, first-year head coach Jason Woodman and company needed to go warp speed.

Woodman, a Farmington native and FSU alum, was hired just before Christmas. And by the time he got the bulk of his coaching staff assembled, there were only a few weeks before National Signing Day on Feb. 6.

So the Falcons hit the ground running and ended up inking 14 recruits last week, with more to come down the road.

Of the group, nearly half (six) are from Florida. It’s an area that FSU has picked from in the past and present, as several key Falcons from last year’s squad — most notably linebacker Garrett Davis, running back Daniel Monroe and quarterback Bobby Vega — hail from the Sunshine State.

“Obviously, the talent from Florida has been good to Fairmont State in the past and that’s something we wanted to keep going,” Woodman said. “We weren’t able to get as in-depth there as we’d hoped because of the timeframe, but the players we were able to see we were very happy with the talent there.”

Woodman also plans to mine West Virginia for recruits. On his first signing day, he brought in a pair of in-state prep players in Morgantown High all-stater Jalen Thomas and Woodrow Wilson’s Jacob Van Meter.

 

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