AGGIES FILL NEEDS WITH FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS

N.C. A&T signs 12 in-state players, six transfers during initial signing period

GREENSBORO, N.C., February 3, 2005 - A season removed from numerous injuries at running back and quarterback, the N.C. A&T football team filled some immediate needs with offensive skill players, while building for the future on the defensive side of the ball.

On Thursday, N.C. A&T head coach George Small released his initial National Letter of Intent signees. The list included 21 players total, 12 in-state, four junior college transfers and two Division I-A transfers. The Aggies return 15 starters from last season's team.

"We are excited about this class," Small said. "We feel like some of these young men will have a significant impact on Aggie football. Some we're hoping can compete for a spot right away, and some we feel like will help us down the road."

The Aggies lost two running backs to season-ending injuries last season, and senior tailback Micheaux Hollingsworth missed three games with high ankle sprain. Hollingsworth's eligibility has expired, but a lack of bodies at the running back position should not be a problem in 2005.

Five-foot-eight, 190-pound running Derrick Eddington will join the Aggies after transferring from the University of Cincinnati. Also signing with the Aggies is 6-foot-1 Kevin A. London out of East Mecklenburg in Charlotte, N.C. London rushed for 2,760 and scored 25 touchdowns for the Eagles of East Mecklenburg.

London and Eddington will join rising sophomore Quante Speight, who showed promise before missing the Aggies last four games with an injury. Chris Jones is also scheduled to return. He rushed for 107 yards against Alcorn State last season, but missed seven games because of injury.

Quarterback was another position with a lot of turnover because of injuries. Rico Watkins was lost to a season-ending injury two weeks into the season, and Marshall Glenn missed time with a shoulder injury.

The Aggies signed Rodrick Stevens, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback who transferred from East Mississippi Community College, to add depth at quarterback. Small will also bring in Brenton Smith from Richmond County High in Rockingham, N.C.

"We're building the pieces it's going to take to compete for conference titles and win playoff games year-in-and-year out," Small said. "We felt we did an excellent job of bringing quality lineman last season and we feel like we did a good job of adding skill players this season. We especially like we did on the local level."

The Aggies landed two players from Greensboro, N.C. in defensive backs Quinton Corry of Dudley and Simeon Platt of Ragsdale. Two recruits from Winston-Salem Carver signed in wide receivers Frederick McClure and Herbert Miller III.

Four Fayetteville, N.C., recruits are on the list, including three from E.E. Smith. The Aggies signed one player apiece from Raleigh, Cary, Charlotte and Rockingham.