2006 Signee Biographies
February 01, 2006 05:51 PM | General
February 1, 2006
Franchot Allen
6-1, 190, CB, Jacksonville, Fla., Milford Academy
Prepped at Milford (N.Y.) Academy for Coach Bill Chaplick … a teammate at Milford of WVU running back Jetavious Best, who enrolled for the second semester … made five interceptions this season at safety and helped Milford to a 9-2 record … played high school football at Trinity Christian in Jacksonville, Fla., for Coach Verlon Dorminey, where he helped them to back-to-back state titles and a runner-up finish his senior season … goes by the nickname Boogie … Rivals.com No. 49-rated prep school player … older brother Gus Scott played college football at Florida and is a current member of the New England Patriots … nephew of Pamela Stirks … will enroll in general studies … picked West Virginia over Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan State.
Ryan Brinson
5-9, 175, DB, Canton, Ohio, Hargrave Military Academy
Spent the 2005 fall campaign at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia … Rivals.com No. 25-rated prep school player … Scout.com No. 17-rated post-graduate player … AP Ohio big school co-offensive player of the year as a senior in 2004… Stark County player of the year … two-time AP first-team Division I all-Ohio … set a Canton McKinley record with 4,772 career rushing yards and 336 points … ran for more than 2,400 yards and scored 29 touchdowns as a senior … helped Canton McKinley to the Ohio Division I state championship game … ran for 202 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 20-7 victory over rival Massillon in the 2004 season finale … threw a halfback pass for a touchdown against Glenville High School to help McKinley get to the state title game … the top three rushing games in McKinley history belong to Brinson, including a career-high 339 yards … SuperPrep Magazine No. 117-rated player in Midwest … PrepStar Midwest all-region … No. 34-rated player in Ohio by Rivals.com … No. 33-rated player in Ohio by Scout.com … No. 91-rated cornerback by Scout.com … three-year track letterman who also plays basketball … son of Felicia Smith … plans to major in broadcast journalism.
Marcus Broxie
6-4, 230, DE, Tampa, Fla., Middleton High School
Standout linebacker who played his senior season at Tampa Middleton High School after transferring from Tampa Tech … recorded 70 tackles and 12 sacks, helping Middleton to the state playoffs … St. Petersburg Times all-Hillsborough County second team defensive end … Tampa Tribune all-Hillsborough County honorable mention … first team all-conference … older brother Antoine Broxie played basketball at Minnesota … president of the Future Business Leaders of America … sone of Frank and Valencia Broxie … plans on studying business or marketing … picked West Virginia over North Carolina State and Rutgers.
Eddie Davis
5-11, 185, DB/RB, Tampa, Fla., Freedom High School
Prepped at New Tampa (Fla.) Freedom High school where he earned second team all-country for Coach Adam Stegeman … voted team MVP … St. Petersburg Times honorable mention all-county … ran for more than 700 yards on just 89 carries in four games as a running back, and also played in the secondary on defense … ran for a school-record 275 yards in a game against Tampa Tech … clocked at 10.64 in the 100-meter dash … played in the Hillsborough County East-West all-star game … cousin Marcus Broxie also signed with WVU … plans to major in business … son of Eddie and Harriett Davis … plans on being a business major … considered South Florida, Rutgers, Michigan State and Bowling Green before choosing West Virginia.
Greg Davis
6-2, 205, CB, Woodlawn, Md., Blue Ridge High School
Earned first team all-state honors at Blue Ridge High School for Coach Mike Alley, leading the Barons to a 7-2 record … Old Dominion Football Conference Defensive player of the year … earned second team all-conference honors as a wide receiver … produced 70 tackles and six interceptions on defense and caught 21 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns on offense … also returned 12 punts for 200 yards and scored a touchdown … had 42 tackles and four interceptions as a junior at Blue Ridge after transferring from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore … Daily Progress Gold List … No. 38-rated player in the Mid-Atlantic Region by Tom Lemming … No. 77-rated cornerback by ESPN Scouts Inc. … No. 16-rated player in Virginia by Roanoke Times … No. 20-rated safety by Rivals.com … Rivals.com postseason Virginia Top 30 (No. 16) … No. 77-rated player in the East by Scout.com … No. 25-rated safety by Scout.com … son of Lisa Vaughn … will enroll in general studies … selected West Virginia over Tennessee and N.C. State.
Derek Hayes
6-3, 270, OL, Tallahassee, Fla., James Rickards High School
One-time high school teammate of WVU freshman defensive back Kent Richardson at Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Fla., playing for Coach Maurice Belser … named offensive lineman of the year for his high school … graded out at 91 percent for his senior season … made 64 tackles, 14 tackles for losses with a pair of sacks as a defensive lineman … earned all-Big Bend Conference honors … Rickards teammate Ryan Hill is going to Miami … Image Award for academics … Wendy’s High School Heisman … son of Doris Trawick and Al Hayes … plans on majoring in exercise physiology … also visited Iowa State, East Carolina and Florida International.
Eric Jobe
6-2, 270, OL, La Plate, Md., La Plata High School
Three-year starter for Coach Chris Davidson at La Plata High School … two-year captain … recorded 87 tackles and 11.5 sacks as a senior … Rivals.com preseason No. 25-rated player in Maryland; moved up to No. 19 in postseason rankings … Rivals.com No. 16-rated center … No. 98-rated offensive guard by ESPN Scouts Inc. … first-team all-SMAC offense and defense … first-team all-conference … Washington Post honorable mention all-met … committed to West Virginia in September of his senior season … outstanding wrestler who was the 4A/3A south region champion his junior season … also finished second at the Maryland state wrestling championships at heavyweight in 2005 with a 32-4 record … Maryland distinguished scholar who ranks fourth in a class of 392 … junior academic marshal and National Honor Society … son of Mike and Kay Jobe … plans to major in engineering … also had a scholarship offer from Marshall.
Anthony Leonard
6-2, 215, LB, McKeesport, Pa., McKeesport High School
Helped McKeesport High School to the Pennsylvania Class 4A state championship, defeating Bethlehem Liberty 49-10 in the title game … first team Class4 all-state … ran for 639 yards and scored six touchdowns as a fullback and was one of the team’s defensive leaders at linebacker for Coach George Smith’s 14-2 Tigers squad … had 92 tackles, 14 sacks and four forced fumbles on defense … Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 team … Pittsburgh Tribune Review Terrific 25 team … Pittsburgh Sports Report second team all-WPIAL … No. 24-rated outside linebacker by ESPN Scouts Inc. … No. 69-rated player in the East by Tom Lemming … Rivals.com preseason No. 45-rated player in Pennsylvania; improved to No. 22 in postseason rankings … Rivals.com No. 30-rated outside linebacker … Scout.com No. 50-rated linebacker … Scout.com No. 33-rated player in Pennsylvania … Scout.com East 100 (No. 79) … the first player to commit to the Mountaineers last July … is playing basketball for McKeesport as well … son of Shawn Leonard and Anthony Gray … plans on studying athletic coaching education … also considered Iowa and Temple before picking West Virginia.
Wesley Lyons
6-6, 180, WR, North Braddock, Pa., Woodland Hills High School
Helped Woodland Hills to a 10-3 record and a spot in the WPIAL Class $A championship game, where his team lost to WVU recruit Anthony Leonard’s McKeesport team … caught 21 passes for 446 yards and six touchdowns with a 21-yards-per-catch average as a senior for Coach George Novak … broke the Woodland Hills record for receptions for a junior with 33 catches for 563 yards and six touchdowns … Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 team … Pittsburgh Tribune Review Terrific 25 team … Pittsburgh Sports Report first-team all-WPIAL … Harrisburg Patriot News Platinum 33 team … No. 48-rated wide receiver by ESPN Scouts Inc. … No. 52-rated player in the East by Tom Lemming … No. 54-rated wide receiver by Rivals.com … No. 27-rated player in Pennsylvania by Rivals.com; improved to No. 26 in postseason rankings … Preseason No. 15-rated player in Pennsylvania according to Pittsburgh Post Gazette … younger brother of Devon Lyons, currently playing at Ohio State … has lettered in track … honor roll student … son of Marva LaMar and Wes Lyons … plans on majoring in business … also considered Ohio State and Boston College before choosing the Mountaineers.
John Maddox
6-3, 170, WR, Philadelphia, Pa., West Philadelphia Catholic High School
Led West Philadelphia Catholic High School to a 10-3 record … finished his career with 1,804 receiving yards, third most in city history … his 108 catches and 18 career touchdown catches are West Catholic High School records … preseason No. 12-rated player in Pennsylvania according to Pittsburgh Post Gazette … No. 21-rated player in Pennsylvania according to Pittsburgh Sports Report … Pittsburgh Sports Report Pennsylvania all-state first team … Philadelphia Daily News first-team all-city defensive back … Harrisburg Patriot News Platinum 33 team … AP first team Pennsylvania big school all-state (utility) … No. 70-rated player in the East by Tom Lemming … No. 26-rated safety by ESPN Scouts Inc. … Rivals.com preseason No. 20-rated player in Pennsylvania; fell one spot to No. 21 in postseason rankings … Rivals.com No. 28-rated safety … Scout.com No. 68-rated wide receiver … Scout.com No. 12-rated player in Pennsylvania … also lettered in basketball … son of Novinca Johnson and John and Cheryl Maddox … will enroll in general studies … selected West Virginia over Michigan State, Purdue and North Carolina.
Jake Miller
6-6, 315, OL, Sherrodsville, Ohio, Tuscarawas Valley High School
Outstanding offensive line prospect from Division IV Tuscarawas High School in Zoarville, Ohio … three-year starter for Coach Dale Martini … high school program operates a shot-gun offense and produced a fine 9-2 record his senior season, winning the Principals’ Athletic Conference and advancing to the Ohio state playoffs … team MVP … first team Division IV all-Ohio … selected to play in the Ohio North-South all-star game … also earned letters in basketball and track … mother Carol is a native of Wheeling, W.Va. … plans on majoring in education … picked West Virginia over Illinois, Indiana and Pitt.
Chris Neild
6-3, 275, TE/LB, Stroudsburg, Pa., Stroudsburg High School
Tight end-linebacker at Stroudsburg (Pa.) High School … AP second team Pennsylvania big school all-state (linebacker) … led the Mountaineers to back-to-back conference titles … 86 tackles, 1`6 TFL, 9.5 sacks as a senior … all-Mountain Valley Conference … No. 38-rated player in Pennsylvania according to Keystone Recruiting … Pittsburgh Sports Report Pennsylvania all-state first team … WNEP-TV Super 16 Dream Team … all-Pocono Record first team … No. 17-rated tight end by ESPN Scouts Inc. … Rivals.com No. 50-rated tight end … No. 41-rated player in Pennsylvania according to Rivals.com … Scout.com No. 66-rated tight end … Scout.com No. 84-rated player in Pennsylvania … also a basketball letterman … son of Robert and Cathy Neild … plans on majoring in physical education … picked West Virginia over Syracuse, Georgia Tech, N.C. State and North Carolina.
Eric Rodemoyer
6-3, 305, OL, Sharon, Pa., Kennedy Catholic High School
AP Class A first-team all-state at Kennedy Catholic High School … led Coach Mike Donoato’s Eagles to a 9-3 record and a conference title … Pittsburgh Sports Report Pennsylvania all-state first team … No. 66-rated offensive guard by ESPN Scouts Inc. … No. 50-rated player in Pennsylvania according to Rivals.com … Scout.com No. 54-rated player in Pennsylvania … honor roll student … also lettered in basketball … son of Caryl and Ron Rodemoyer … will enroll in general studies … selected West Virginia over Pitt, Maryland and Syracuse.
James Thomas
6-1, 210, LB, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Ely High School
Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel large-school first-team all-Broward County … Miami Herald first-team class 6A all-Broward County … had 86 tackles (57 solo) three sacks, four fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions at Pompano Beach-Ely High School for Coach Greg McGirt … No. 13-rated prospect in Broward County by Miami Herald … played in the BCAA/Sun-Sentinel all-star game … son of former Mountaineer starting linebacker James Thomas and Andrea Blanks … Rivals.com preseason No. 96-rated player in Florida; moved up to No. 73 in the Florida postseason rankings … Rivals.com No. 40-rated outside linebacker … plans on majoring in mechanical engineering … also considered South Carolina, Mississippi and Vanderbilt.
Robert Williams
5-11, 160, DB, Cincinnati, Ohio, Withrow High School
Three-year starter at Ohio Division I Withrow High School … Cincinnati Enquirer honorable mention football all-star team had 15 career interceptions for Coach Doc Gamble … picked off a state-record five passes in a single game against Taft High School as a sophomore; finished the year with nine INTs, returning two for touchdowns … led Southwest Ohio Public League in punt and kickoff returns … high school team posted a 10-1 record and lost in the first round of the state playoffs his junior season … … No. 61-rated cornerback by ESPN Scouts Inc. … Rivals.com preseason No. 26-rated player in Ohio; moved down to No. 35 in postseason rankings … Rivals.com No. 50-rated cornerback … Scout.com No. 52-rated cornerback … No. 67-rated player in the Midwest by Scout.com … selected to play for the Ohio team in the Pennsylvania-Ohio Big 33 Classic in Hershey, Pa. … baseball and track letterman … also played in the Withrow band … son of Michele and Willie Williams … plans to major in athletic training … chose West Virginia over Illinois, Maryland and Minnesota.
