Football odds and ends

Charlotte, N.C. – Charlotte 49ers head coach Brad Lambert has announced the first eighteen members of the 49ers 2018 recruiting class who signed national letters of intent on the first day of the Dec. 20-Dec. 22 signing period. A second signing period will begin Feb. 7.

Nine members of the 49ers’ seventh recruiting class will enroll in January and join the team for the Spring 2018 semester. The 18-member class includes 11 three- and two-star prospects, four junior college transfers and two prep school players.

“This is a fun day for us,” said Lambert. “To bring new guys in to infuse your program. Our staff did a tremendous job – worked extremely hard on the road and did a fantastic job finding the right student-athletes to come to Charlotte. We’re excited about the length we’ve added to our team. Good students, good kids who are going to be good players for us so were excited about that. I really like the early signing day and getting guys on board. This class is most mid-year guys (9) we’ve brought in.”

The 2018 class is highlighted by three-star recruits Justin Jeffery, a 6-1 receiver from Richmond Hill, Ga. and Terrick Smalls Jr., a 5-9 running back from Savannah, Ga., as well as Coffeyville C.C. offensive lineman Jon Timmons, a former three-star recruit out of Memphis Southwind High. Four in-state recruits are among the signee class, including Charlotte area products Matt Martinez, a 6-2 defensive back from Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville Senior, Brady Pope, a 6-3 two-star quarterback from Statesville, N.C./South Iredell and Emmanuel White, a 6-7 defensive lineman from Huntersville, N.C./Victory Christian who attended Georgia Prep Sports Academy this past year. Linebacker Markees Watts, of nearby Lancaster, S.C. and offensive lineman Malik Harkness (Lugoff, S.C.) are a pair of two-star prospects from South Carolina.

The class includes seven offensive and defensive linemen, five receivers/tight ends, three defensive backs, and a linebacker, quarterback and running back.

Name Ht. Wt. Pos. Hometown Previous School(s)

Daymon (DJ) Anderson^ 6-0 195 DB Silver Spring, Md. Montgomery Blair/Lackawanna College

**Rico Arnold^ 6-1 168 WR Athens, Ga. Clarke Central

**Malik Harkness^ 6-5 280 OL Lugoff, S.C. Lugoff-Elgin

**Jacob Hunt 6-4 255 TE Rome, Ga. The Darlington School

***Justin Jeffery 6-1 170 WR Richmond Hill, Ga. Richmond Hill

Matt Martinez 6-2 175 DB Mooresville, N.C. Mooresville Senior

**Jonnie Pitman 5-11 175 DB Oxon Hill, Md. Potomac

**Brady Pope 6-3 182 QB Statesville, N.C. South Iredell

Moss Saccomanno^ 6-5 235 TE Smiths Station, Ala. Smiths Station/Dodge City C.C.

***Terrick Smalls Jr. 5-9 199 RB Savannah, Ga. Benedictine Military

Dominic Taylor^ 6-5 280 OL Snellville, Ga. Shiloh/Hutchinson C.C.

(***)Jon Timmons^ 6-5 335 OL Memphis, Tenn. Southwind/Coffeyville C.C.

Bryan Wallace 6-5 260 DL Berryville, Va.  Clarke County

**Markees Watts 6-2 205 LB Lancaster, S.C. Lancaster

Damon Weldon^ 6-5 235 DL Roanoke, Va. William Fleming/Fork Union Military

Emmanuel White^ 6-7 235 DL Huntersville, N.C. Victory Christian/Georgia Prep Sports

**Dalton Widner 6-4 280 OL Corryton, Tenn. Gibbs

**Chris Wiggins^ 6-2 190 WR Greensboro, N.C. Grimsley

^ – to enroll in January, 2018

BIO INFO

Daymon (DJ) Anderson

6-0; 195; DB

Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair/Lackawanna College

A first-team Northeast Football all-conference defensive back … among the Falcons’ leaders with three interceptions and three pass break-ups as a sophomore … Falcons went 7-2 and were ranked 19th in the final NJCAA rankings … had 25 tackles (3.1/game) in eight games played … Falcons went 10-1 in his freshman season, winning the NEFC Championship with a perfect 10-0 record … advanced to the 2016 Valley of the Sun Bowl (L, 48-41 to Mesa Community College) … averaged 3.2 tackles and had one INT … led Blair High to a 9-4 record as a senior — the Blazers second eight-win season since 1994 … earned the Blazers their first-ever post-season bid … reached Class 4A Regional Semifinals under head coach Dr. Andrew Fields.

Rico Arnold

6-1; 168; WR

Athens, Ga./Clarke Central HS

A two-star 2016 recruit (247Sports) … three-year letterwinner … over 1,500 career receiving yards … AAAAA Region 8 First Team all-Region … had 47 catches for 766 yards (16.3/rec.) and 7 touchdowns as a senior … named GITV Offensive Player of the Year … helped the Gladiators to a 7-5 record under coach David Perno … Clarke Central lost in the second round of the 2016 AAAAA Georgia state playoffs … AAAAA state runner-up in track and field (4×100 relay).

Malik Harkness

6-5; 280; OL

Lugoff, S.C./Lugoff-Elgin HS

A two-star recruit (247Sports) … participated in South Carolina’s North-South All-Star game … named all-Region 4A at Offensive Tackle … graded out at 85% in 2017 with 30 knockdowns and five demon blocks (driving defender back 10+ yards) … only alowed one sack as a senior … Demons’ Offensive Lineman of the Year … team captain as a senior … three-year letterwinner … led the Demons to an 8-6 mark that included a trip to the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs … A-B Honor Roll.

Jacob Hunt

6-4; 255; TE

Rome, Ga./The Darlington School

A two-star recruit (247Sports) … three-year starter for coach Tommy Atha … two-time team captain … preseason all-state selection for 2017 … had 19 catches for 231 yards and four TDs … added 70 tackles, 15 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT and 2 PBU’s on defensive side of the ball … Tigers reached the quarterfinals of the state A Private playoffs … finished season with an 8-5 record … several collegiate offers including Georgia Southern, Tulane and Ball State.

Justin Jeffery

6-1; 170; WR

Richmond Hill, Ga./Richmond Hill HS

A three-star recruit (247Sports) … had 10-plus collegiate offers, including FAU, Cincinnati and Central Michigan … saw time on varsity all four years with standout seasons in 2016 and 2017 … Wildcats went 7-3 in his senior season under head coach Matt LeZotte … had 27 catches for 341 yards and one touchdown … averaged 12.6 yards per catch and 34.1 yards per game … Wildcats advanced to the AAAAAA GHSA State playoffs … reached  GHSA state playoffs as a junior as well, with a 6-4 record … 22 receptions for 300 yards and four TDs … averaged 13.6 yards per catch and 30.0 yards per game.

Matt Martinez

6-2; 175; DB

Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville Senior HS

A 2016 North Piedmont 3A/4A all-conference selection (Charlotte Observer) … team captain for head coach Marty Paxton … averaged 7.3 tackles with two interceptions and 4 pass breakups as a senior … three-year varsity player … had 6.0 tackles with 1 INT as a junior … helped Blue Devils to an 8-4 record as a junior … North Piedmont runner-up with a 6-1 conference record … advanced to a 4AA state playoffs … 4 career interceptions.

Jonnie Pitman

5-11; 175; DB

Oxon Hill, Md./Potomac HS

A two-star recruit (247Sports) … had over 20 collegiate offers, including Army and Navy … 2017 Maryland Crab Bowl participant … two-time all-conference defensive back … averaged 2.3 tackles with 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, 6 passes deflected and a blocked field goal for coach Ronnie Crump … played on varsity all four years … career stats: 61 tackles, 5 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, 21 passes deflected … Wolverines reached Maryland 3A state playoffs all four years with back-to-back state semifinal trips in his sophomore and junior seasons … had 25 tackles and 8 passes deflected as a junior with one interception returned for a touchdown and one fumble recovery … went 7-4, winning 7 of 8 to reach the semifinals … Wolverines went 10-3 to reach state semifinals in his sophomore season … 10-2 as a freshman, reaching the 3A Regional finals.

Brady Pope

6-3; 182; QB

Statesville, N.C./South Iredell HS

A two-star recruit (247Sports) … threw for over 10,000 (10,624) yards with 112 passing touchdowns … both numbers rank in NCHSAA all-time Top 10 … four-year varsity player and three-year starter … led Vikings to an 11-3 record as a senior with 4,052 passing yards, 43 touchdowns and a .645 completion pct. … added 315 rushing yards and six TDs … North Piedmont 3A Conference Champions … first team all-conference QB was named the Conference Offensive Player of the Year … head coach Scott Miller led Vikings to 3AA state quarterfinals … threw for 3,624 yards as a junior with 40 touchdown passes and a .672 completion pct … named all-North Piedmont Conference … 9-4 Vikings reached second round of the 3AA state playoffs … 2,425 passing yards and 25 TDs as a sophomore with a .624 completion pct … added 523 passing yards and four TDs as a freshman … had a career QBR of 115.1 and a .641 completion pct.

Moss Saccomanno

6-5; 235; TE

Smiths Station, Ala./Smiths Station HS/Dodge City CC

Spent 2017 season with the Conquistadors at Dodge City Community College under coach Gary Thomas … started 11 games … received offers from Southern Miss, Kansas and Bowling Green … started eight games as Tight End at Alabama Prep of Birmingham in 2016 … four-year letterwinner at Smiths Station … went 6-4 as a senior at Smiths Station for head coach Jason Dukes in 2015 … Panthers were 5-5 in his junior year … three-year letterwinner in track and field.

Terrick Smalls Jr.

5-9; 199; RB

Savannah, Ga./Benedictine Military HS

A three-star recruit (ESPN, Scout, 247Sports) … 2016  AA GHSA State Champs … four-year varsity player; two-year starter for the two-time Region 2-AA Champs … owns a 4.57 40 … had 1,687 career rushing yards with 27 rushing touchdowns … had 821 rushing yards (74.6/game) and 10 TDs as a senior to lead Cadets to a 12-1 record, including a 7-0 Region 2-AA Championship … Reached third round of AA GHSA state playoffs … 729 rushing yards and 15 TDs as a junior … Cadets posted best record in school history with a perfect 15-0 record and a state and Region 2-AA title.

Dominic Taylor

6-5; 280; OL

Snellville, Ga./Shiloh/Hutchinson CC

2017 KJCCC Honorable Mention all-conference center … team captain as a sophomore for the Blue Dragons … helped Hutchinson C.C. to a 7-5 record as a sophomore … started 15 games at tackle and six at center for Hutchinson … starred on the O-Line and D-Line for Ryan Andrews-coached Shiloh Generals … three-year varsity player … started 28 games … named Shiloh Male Athlete of the Year as a senior … graduated with honors … recipient Kevin Maloof Leadership Award.

Jon Timmons

6-5; 335; OL

Memphis, Tenn./Southwind/Memphis/Coffeyville CC

2017 KJCCC Second Team all-conference tackle for the Red Ravens … served a red-shirt season at Memphis in 2016 … selected to play for the 2016 US Under 19 National Team … rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and two-star by Rivals out of Southwind High … three-year varsity player led Jaguars to an 8-3 record and a 5A Region 8 runner-up finish as a senior in 2015 … Jaguars reached the Division I Class 5A state playoffs under head coach Rahnmann Slocum in 2015.

Bryan Wallace

6-5; 260; DL

Berryville, Va./Clarke County HS

Four-year varsity standout for three-time Region Champs and 2015 2A VHSL State runner-up … three-time First Team 2A all-State defensive end … 2017 first team 2A all-State Offensive Lineman … two-time second team all-state offensive lineman (2015, 2016) … two-time Winchester Star Athlete of the Year (2015, 2016) and Winchester Star Defensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017) … four-time First team all-Bull Run District Defensive End and three-time First team all-Bull Run District Offensive Lineman … Eagles’ Golden Helmet Award winner (Team MVP) in 2016 and 2017 … Clarke County’s leading tackler in 2017 and all-time sack leader with 45.5 sacks … helped Eagles to 2A VHSL State playoffs in each of his four years … Eagles went 10-3 under head coach Chris Parker to reach the 2017 2A state playoffs second round … In 2016, Eagles went 10-3 and were Bull Run District co-champs with a 5-1 mark … reached 2A state quarterfinals … posted a 12-2 record his sophomore season, winning the 2A Conference 35 Region title with a 4-0 record … defense allowed just six points in first three playoff games to reach the 2A VHSL State title game … Region co-champs (4-0) as a freshman with an 11-2 record … three-time 2A state wrestling champ: 2014, 182; 2015, 195; 2016, 220 … competing at 285 as a senior.

Markees Watts

6-2; 215; LB

Lancaster, S.C./Lancaster HS

Two-star recruit (247Sports) … two-time Region III Defensive Player of the Year after winning award as a sophomore and junior … amassed a total of 42 Tackles for Loss (TFL) and 27 sacks in sophomore and junior seasons … Tri-Country Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 … first team all-Area … season-ending injury on opening kickoff of 2017 season … led Bruins to a 6-5 record as a junior to reach the Class AAAA SCHSL state playoffs … 2016 Region III (AAAA) Defensive Player of the Year … had 95 tackles, 20 TFL and 19 sacks … one forced fumble for a scoop and score … 14 QB hurries, 7 passes knocked down … 2 blocked kicks (punt; PAT) … 8-3 as a sophomore … Region III runner-up … 2015 Region III (AAA) Defensive Player of the Year … 8-4 as a freshman … reached Class AAA SCHSL State playoffs first two seasons.

Damon Weldon

6-5; 235; DE

Roanoke, Va./William Fleming HS/Fork Union Military Academy

Versatile athlete who has played defensive end, tight end and offensive line … attended Fork Union Military Academy this past year … had 22 tackles (9 solo), 12 sacks, nine QB hurries and two blocked passes for coach John Shuman … had 38 tackles with 4.5 sacks and 2.5 TFL at Fleming High for coach Bobby Martin … 2016 First Team all-Conference 24 … played in the VHSL All Star Game.

Emmanuel White

6-7; 235; DE/DL

Huntersville, N.C./Victory Christian/Georgia Prep Sports Academy (Decatur, Ga.)

Originally from Africa … played locally at Victory Christian … spent 2017 season at Georgia Prep Sports Academy … had 39 tackles with 19 sacks in nine games at Georgia Prep … added 19 tackles for loss … four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries and one blocked kick … two-sport athlete played both football and basketball … Honor roll student as a junior and senior at Victory Christian.

Dalton Widner

6-4; 280; OL

Corryton, Tenn./Gibbs HS

Two-star recruit ( 247Sports) … three-time all-Region 2-5A … selected for the Toyota East-West All-Star Classic … team captain as a senior … played both O-Line and D-Line during his career … four-year varsity player … Eagles went 5-5 in his senior season under head coach Brad Conley … 8-4 as a junior … reach second round of the Div. I Class 5A playoffs … 3.5 GPA in NCAA required courses.

Chris Wiggins

6-2; 190; WR

Greensboro, N.C./Grimsley HS

Two-star recruit ( 247Sports) … two-time Metro 4A all-Conference (2016, 2017) … won Whirlies’ Bob Jamieson Team MVP Award as a senior … Whirlies’ Offensive Player of the Year as a junior … Greensboro News & Record all-Area in 2017 … Honorable Mention all-Area in 2016 … had 47 catches for 567 receiving yards (63.0/game) with five touchdowns as a senior … added 10.5 tackles, 1 TFL, 4 PBU and 1 INT … had 426 receiving yards as a junior with three TDs … career totals of 74 catches, 993 receiving yards and 11 TDs.