Troy Football Adds to Top Signing Class in School History

Signing Day Central

TROY, Alabama – Troy added to its already loaded recruiting class with the addition of five student-athletes on Wednesday. The new additions join 15 players from the early signing period in December to comprise the highest-rated signing class in Troy history.

Head coach Neal Brown and his staff added depth across various positions on Wednesday with the addition of two safeties, a tight end, a wide receiver and a defensive tackle. All told in the 2018 signing class, the Trojans welcomed six defensive linemen, four offensive linemen, three safeties, two wide receivers and single players at quarterback, running back, tight end, linebacker and cornerback.

"The five additions today cement this class as the top-rated class in Troy history," Brown said. "Our home areas of Alabama, Georgia and Florida are all well represented, and we filled a variety of needs on both sides of the ball. Our primary areas of focus were on both lines and we are very pleased with the players we signed at those positions. Our staff continues to do a tremendous job with not only their talent evaluation on the recruiting trail, but also finding high character young men."

Troy's class boasts an average score of 81.02 on 247Sports marking the first time in school history that a Troy signing class has topped an 80 average by the recruiting service. The average is the second-highest in the Sun Belt (just .05 behind first) despite not counting Troy's two transfers who will be immediately eligible to play.

The Trojans added wide receiver Traveon Samuel from Louisville in December. An Alabama native, Samuel was rated as the eighth-best all-purpose back in the country coming out of Phenix City HS. On Wednesday, Troy welcomed four-star safety Will Sunderland to the program. Sunderland was rated as the seventh-best safety in the country coming out of Midwest City (Okla.) HS and has two years of eligibility remaining after transferring from Oklahoma.

Georgia 7A all-state defensive tackle and one of the top 100 players at his position in the country Will Choloh, Jr., made it official on Wednesday as he signed with the Trojans. Troy also signed one of the top 35 players in the state of Alabama in Bob Jones HS wide receiver Demontrez Brown.

The Trojans added two other nationally rated players Wednesday in Murphy (Ala.) HS tight end AJ Lewis and Lee County (Ga.) safety TJ Harris.

Brown has guided Troy to a 22-5 record over its last 27 games dating back to the 2015 season and Troy's current seven-game winning streak is the fourth-longest active streak in the country. The Trojans are coming off an 11-2 season in which they won their sixth Sun Belt Conference championship and claimed the New Orleans Bowl title.

Jake Andrews
OL • 6-3 • 300
Millbrook, Ala. / Stanhope Elmore HS

High School: Named second team all-state in 2016 … Also named all-county and all-metro twice … Ranked the 46^th overall recruit in the state of Alabama by 247 Sports … Recorded 45 pancakes in 11 games his senior year … Won the state championship in wrestling his senior year … Invited to play in the 2017 Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game

Personal: Full name is Jacob Wesley Andrews … Born Nov. 11, 1999, in Montgomery, Ala. … Son of Lisa and Robert Andrews … Has two sisters, Olivia and Emily

Gerald Bell
OL • 6-4 • 300
Bessemer, Ala. / Bessemer City HS / Pearl River CC

Pearl River CC: Earned First Team MACJC All-State honors … Part of an offensive line unit that paved the way for a rushing attack that amassed 2,364 yards, the eighth most in Pearl River history

High School: Ranked in the top 200 offensive guards in the country by 247 Sports … Earned second team all-state honors his junior and senior seasons at Bessemer City High School … Helped lead the Purple Tigers to an 8-5 record and a berth in the Alabama 6A Quarterfinals … Bessemer City advanced to the state playoffs his sophomore, junior and senior seasons and posted a 10-2 record his sophomore year ... High school teammate of current Trojan Jeremiah Jones

Personal: Full name is Gerald Clifton Bell, Jr. … Son of Katherine Carter and Gerald Bell, Sr. ... Born April 30, 1998 … Has one sister, Jackie Carter

Grant Betts
OL • 6-3 • 270
Spanish Fort, Ala. / Spanish Fort HS

High School: Three-time all-county selection at Spanish Fort High School … Selected to represent Alabama in the 2017 Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game … Team captain for the Toros … Caught two passes; one for a touchdown … Helped lead Spanish Fort to a combined 36-5 record over his final three seasons with a 23-1 record in its region … Sophomore on the 2015 6A state championship team that went 15-0 on the year … Helped lead Spanish Fort to four playoff appearances, including a semifinal berth as a freshman … Also lettered in baseball and bowling for the Toros

Personal: Full name is Grant Andrew Betts … Born Sept. 9, 1999, in Mobile, Ala. … Son of Julie and Ira Betts … Has two brothers, Walker and Owen … Cousin of current Troy offensive lineman J.L. Gaston

Demontrez Brown
WR • 6-3 • 200
Madison, Ala. / Bob Jones HS

High School: Reeled in 41 receptions for 998 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior year … Represented Alabama at the 2017 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game … Caught 27 passes for 787 yards and six touchdowns his junior year … In his 20-game career, he had 68 receptions for 1,785 yards and 18 touchdowns; while rushing for 276 yards and five scores

Personal: Full name is Marion Demontrez Brown … Son of Mrytina Wimbley-Akese and Sonny MaCall; step-father Francis Akese … Has one brother, Myron Wimbley, and one sister, Martinique Wimbley

Will Choloh, Jr.
DT • 6-1 • 280
Lawrenceville, Ga. / Archer HS

High School: Named to the Georgia AAAAAAA All-State Second Team following his senior season at Archer High School … Also named all-county and all-region after recording 63 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, a pass break up and a fumble recovery … Helped lead Archer to a 12-1 record and a No. 9 ranking in Georgia by MaxPreps; lost to eventual state runner-up Colquitt County in the state quarterfinals … Leader on defense that pitched three straight shutouts and allowed 13 or fewer points in 10-of-13 games … As a junior, registered 40 tackles, four sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in nine games … Finished his sophomore season with 49 tackles and five sacks … Tigers won a state title his freshman season … Named Freshman Defensive Player of the Year on the Archer squad after recording 40 tackles, 18 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions (against other freshmen teams) … Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … Ranked among the top 100 defensive tackles in the country by 247Sports … Won a sectional wrestling title for Archer; earned all-region and all-county honors in the sport

Personal: Full name is Williamson Yanti Choloh, Jr. … Son of Princess and Williamson Choloh … Has one brother, Alexander, and three sisters, Lovette, Willimae and Mardia Davis … Cousin Alvin Kamara played football at Tennessee and currently plays for the New Orleans Saints

Jaquez Dunmore
S • 6-0 • 185
Tallahassee, Fla. / Godby HS

High School: Recorded 58 tackles (46 solo) the past two seasons for Godby High School … Intercepted two passes and forced two fumbles … Ranked as a top 200 safety nationally by 247 Sports … Leader on one of the top defensive units in the state of Florida

Personal: Full name is Jaquez Malik Dunmore ... Son of Ellis Dunmore II and Yulonda Souter ... Has two brothers, Ellis III and Kiree ... Cousin Trey Marshall played football at Florida State and cousin Timmy Jernigan plays in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles following a career at Florida State

Levon Fletcher
CB • 5-11 • 170
Huntsville, Ala. / Randolph School

High School: Recorded 65 tackles and four interceptions in 11 games for Randolph School his senior year … Earned all-region and all-city honors … Finished his career as Randolph's all-time leader in career rushing yards … As a junior, rushed for 1,066 yards on 141 carries with seven touchdowns … Also returned two punts for scores …Rated as the 78^th best player in the state by 247 Sports ... Earned second team all-Huntsville region honors by AL.com his junior year … First-ever player from Randolph School to sign a Division I football scholarship

Personal: Full name is Levon O'shai Fletcher III … Son of Latasha Stewart Robinson and Levon Fletcher … Has one brother, Fred, and three sisters, Shanicia Garner, Jania Fletcher and Jasmine Stewart

TJ Harris
S • 6-1 • 190
Leesburg, Ga. / Lee County HS

High School: Named to the Georgia AAAAAA All-State Second Team following his senior season at Lee County High School … Three-time first team all-region selection … Rated as one of the top 200 safeties in the country by 247Sports … Helped lead Lee County to a No. 80 national ranking and a No. 6 state ranking from MaxPreps … Trojans finished 14-1 his senior season and won the Georgia AAAAAA State Championship with an overtime victory over Coffee HS

Personal: Son of Shamatea Diaz and Tyrone Harris … Born Nov. 18 … Has one sister, Jada Harris

Hamilton Hawthorne II
OL • 6-2 • 330
Jacksonville, Fla. / Sandalwood HS

High School: Earned All-Gateway Conference honors following his senior season at Sandalwood High School … Helped lead the Mighty Saints to a trio of Florida 8A playoff appearances … Named the school's top offensive linemen two straight seasons … Placed third in the district in the shot put … Played both offensive and defensive line

Personal: Full name is Hamilton Ellsworth Hawthorne II … Born May 30, 1999, in Jacksonville, Fla. … Son of Michelle and Hamilton Hawthorne, Sr. … Has one brother, Harrison, and one sister, Chelsea

Jarvis Hayes
DE • 6-4 • 230
Slocomb, Ala. / Slocomb HS / Itawamba CC

Itawamba CC: Recorded 63 tackles (39 solo), with eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks his sophomore season … Picked off three passes and scored two defensive touchdowns (one interception and one fumble recovery) … Selected to the MACJC All-State Second Team … The Indians ranked second in the MACJC in forced turnovers with 12 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries … In his freshman year, tallied 27 tackles (22 solo) in nine games, while recording six sacks for 57 sack yards

High School: Led Slocomb in tackles with 77 (69 solo) with five tackles for loss in 11 games his senior year … As a receiver, caught four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown … Recorded 163 total tackles throughout his high school career … Also played basketball for the Red Tops

Personal: Born March 5, 1998 … Son of Jennifer McMiller … Has two sisters, Tophana and Zahnevia

John Hines
DE • 6-4 • 250
Montgomery, Ala. / Park Crossing HS / Southwest Mississippi CC

Southwest Mississippi CC: Played nine games his freshman season at Southwest Mississippi Community College; missed all the but the opener his sophomore season due to injury … Comes to Troy with three years of eligibility … Recorded 56 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery his freshman season

High School: Tallied 82 tackles, 10 sacks as a senior for Park Crossing High School … Named second team all-metro for 5A-7A … As a junior, recorded 46 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries … Rated among the top 100 players in the state coming out of high school by 247 Sports

Personal: Born Feb. 9, 1998 … Son of Valerie Laws and John Hines, Sr.

AJ Lewis
TE • 6-4 • 228
Mobile, Ala. / Murphy HS

High School: Caught 28 passes for 446 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games as a senior at Murphy High School … Finished his junior season with 26 catches for 320 yards and a pair of scores … Caught a career-high five touchdown passes as a sophomore … Finished his prep career with 71 catches for 1,013 yards and 10 touchdowns … Rated as one of the top 75 tight ends in the country and one of the top 55 players in the state of Alabama by 247Sports … Rated as a three-star recruit … Earned all-area honors following his senior season

Personal: Full name is Anthony Lewis, Jr. … Son of Anthony and Carla Lewis … Born March 30, 2000 … Has two sisters, Carly Lewis and Amber Turner

Kevin Perkins
RB • 6-0 • 230
Tunica, Miss. / Rosa Fort HS / Northwest Mississippi CC

Northwest Mississippi CC: Rushed for 884 yards on 163 carries and scored 12 touchdowns for Northwest Mississippi Community College as a freshman … Comes to Troy with three years of eligibility … Helped lead the Rangers to the MACJC North Division title and an 8-1 regular season record … Reached the 100-yard mark four times in 11 games for the Rangers … Ran for a season-high 116 yards on 19 touches and three scores against East Mississippi … Earned second team All-MACJC honors … Redshirted his freshman season ... Made the 2016-17 MACJC All-Academic Team

High School: Helped lead Rosa Fort to a 9-3 overall record and the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs as a senior ... Finished with 127 carries for 1,288 yards and 19 touchdowns during his senior season ... Added 26 receptions for 484 yards and two touchdowns through the air ... Received first team all-state recognition and was the Lions' leading rusher

Personal: Born Feb. 28, 1998 … Son of Sonia Robinson and Kevin Perkins, Sr. … Has two younger siblings, Asianae and Lillian

AJ Pierce
DT • 6-1 • 310
Dothan, Ala. / Northview HS

High School: Tallied 39 tackles (18 solo) in 10 games his junior year … Rated as the No. 65 overall player in the state of Alabama and as one of the top 140 defensive tackles in the country by 247 Sports – rated a three-star recruit

Personal: Full name is Anthony Pierce, Jr. … Born June 6, 2000 … Son of Linda and Anthony Pierce, Sr.

KJ Robertson
LB • 6-1 • 220
Alabaster, Ala. / Thompson HS

High School: Recorded 130 tackles, five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries for Thompson High School … Named first team All-Shelby County … Selected to represent Alabama in the 2017 Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game … Rated as the 61^st best player in the state and one of the top 125 outside linebackers in the country as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Ranked as the 34^th best overall player in Alabama and a three-star recruit by Rivals.com … Led the Warriors from an 0-10 season his freshman year to a 12-1 season during his senior year … Won two state championships in wrestling and set a school record in the shot put

Personal: Full name is Kenneth Joseph Robertson, Jr. … Born Oct. 30, 1999, in Chicago, Ill. … Son of Berni Dalcour and Ken Robertson, Sr. … Has one brother, Kodie … First cousin of Tracy Porter, former Saints player that sealed New Orleans' first Super Bowl win with a pick-six of Peyton Manning

Travis Sailo
DT • 6-3 • 285
Buhl, Ala. / Sipsey Valley HS / Itawamba CC

Itawamba CC: Recorded 33 tackles (24 solo) with six sacks and eight tackles for loss in two seasons at Itawamba … Finished his sophomore season with three sacks and four tackles for loss to go along with a forced fumble and a pass break up

High School: Ranked the 50^th overall recruit in Alabama by 247 Sports coming out of Sipsey Valley High School … Also rated as the 61^st best inside linebacker and as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … Named second team all-state linebacker by the ASWA in 2015 … Received offers from Mississippi State, Utah and Washington State

Personal: Born July 8, 1998, in American Samoa … Son of Aumoana Sailo and Travis Laufou … Has six siblings; Sigalo, Aumoana, Amilale, Tomasi, Galu and Helen

Traveon Samuel
WR • 5-7 • 170
Phenix City, Ala. / Louisville / Central HS Louisville

2017 (Junior): Started six games for the Cardinals in 2017 and finished fifth on the team with 21 catches for 339 yards ... Also rushed four times for 46 yards and returned 11 kickoffs for 203 yards ... Caught a season-high five passes for 55 yards in the season opener against Purdue ... Caught two passes for a season-best 100 yards against Clemson ... Tied his season-high with five grabs for 72 yards at Wake Forest ... Recorded a catch in 10 games and multiple catches in five different games

2016 (Sophomore): Caught 35 passes for 390 yards in his first two seasons ... Recorded 17 receptions for a career-high 213 yards and one score ... Tallied two receptions for 25 yards and scored on an 18-yard pass versus Charlotte ... Caught three passes for 30 yards against Syracuse ... registered a season-best five receptions for 69 yards against Virginia ... Recorded two catches for 42 yards versus Wake Forest

2015 (Freshman): Made an appearance at wide receiver and a kick returner in all 13 games ... Caught 18 passes for 177 yards as a true freshman ... Averaged 26.8 yards a kick return ... Corralled an 18-yard pass in the second quarter against Pittsburgh for his first career touchdown ... Broke off two rushes for 30 yards in the home win over Virginia ... Made collegiate debut vs Auburn and recorded two receptions for 22 yards while rushing once for 21 yards ... Returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the loss to Clemson— the first freshman to return a kick-off for a touchdown since 2006 ... Recorded first career start and logged six receptions for 55 yards against Houston

High School: Played for Jamey Dubose at Central High School ... Appeared in 10 games this season during his senior season, accounting for 1,764 all-purpose yards ... Rushed 111 times for 861 yards and 11 scores, while catching 39 passes for 553 yards and three touchdowns ... Racked up 781 rushing yards, 452 receiving yards and 24 total touchdowns during his junior season ... Totaled 823 yards on the ground and 19 touchdowns, while catching 43 passes for 734 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore ... Named the top running back at the MVP Camp in Valdosta, Ga., Samuel totaled 2,050 all-purpose yards, including 484 in the return game as a sophomore

Personal: Son of Tyesa Wilson-Bass and Robert Wilson ... Born March 29, 1997

Antonio Showers, Jr.
BAN • 6-1 • 240
Tucker, Ga. / Tucker HS

High School: Earned all-region and all-county honors three times at Tucker High School … Earned Georgia Class AAAAAA First Team All-State honors … Selected to Class AAAAAA Preseason All-State Team by Recruit Georgia … Helped lead the Tigers to a 25-4 record over his final two seasons with a perfect 14-0 region record … Named Region 4-AAAAAA Defensive Player of the Year … Recorded 202 (141 solo) career tackles with 35 sacks and 25 tackles for loss for the Tigers … Forced eight fumbles, recovered three, intercepted a pass and scored one defensive touchdown … Member of the wrestling and track & field teams

Personal: Full name is Antonio Domminic Showers, Jr. … Born Jan. 28, 2000, in East Point, Ga. … Son of Monica Jones and Antonio Showers, Sr. … Has three brothers and three sisters

Will Sunderland
S • 6-3 • 201
Midwest City, Okla. / Oklahoma / Midwest City HS

Oklahoma:
2016 (Sophomore): Played in eight games in a reserve role ... Logged a career-high eight of his 15 tackles on the season and his first career interception in win against Texas ... Recorded his lone career tackle for loss vs. ULM in home opener

2015 (Freshman): Played in eight games ... saw playing time against TCU, Baylor and Iowa State ... Had a career-high two tackles at Kanas ... Made first tackle of career against Texas Tech (10/24) ... Saw playing time at Kansas State and Tennessee

High School: Four-star recruit according to ESPN, Scout and Rivals and a three-star recruit according to 247Sports ... Listed as No. 109 overall player in country by Rivals, No. 125 by Scout and No. 227 by ESPN ... Rated as seventh-best safety in country by Rivals and Scout, No. 17 by ESPN and No. 23 by 247Sports ... Ranked as No. 1 player in state of Oklahoma by Scout, No. 2 by Rivals, No. 5 by ESPN and No. 6 by 247Sports ... Rated 35th in the Midlands Region by ESPN ... Invited to The Opening showcase event and Semper Fidelis All-American Game ... Also received offers from Nebraska, Ohio State and Oklahoma State among others

Gunnar Watson
QB • 6-3 • 205
Butler, Ga. / Taylor County HS

High School: Named Regional Offensive Player of the Year following his senior year at Taylor County High School … Four-year starter for the Vikings and helped lead Taylor County to a 19-5 record his final two seasons … Earned all-state honorable mention after his junior year … Threw for over 6,700 yards and 65 touchdowns in 43 games for the Vikings … Did not throw an interception during the regular season of his senior year … Selected to Georgia Class A Preseason All-State Team by Recruit Georgia … Ranked as the 23^rd best pro-style quarterback nationally by Rivals.com and as a three-star … 247 Sports pegged his as the 42^nd best pro-style quarterback in the country and as a three-star … Was a two-time all-state and three-time all-region selection in baseball

Personal: Full name is Milton Gunnar Watson … Born Jan. 11, 2000, in Macon, Ga. … Son of Mindy and Jeff Watson … Has one sister, Bree

2018 Troy Football Signing Class
Jake Andrews (6-3, 300, OL, Millbrook, Ala. / Stanhope Elmore HS)
Gerald Bell (6-4, 300, OL, Bessemer, Ala. / Bessemer City HS / Pearl River CC)
Grant Betts (6-3, 270, OL, Spanish Fort, Ala. / Spanish Fort HS)
Demontrez Brown (6-3, 200, WR, Madison, Ala. / Bob Jones HS)
Will Choloh, Jr. (6-1, 280, DT, Lawrenceville, Ga. / Archer HS)
Jaquez Dunmore (6-0, 185, S, Tallahassee, Fla. / Godby HS)
Levon Fletcher (5-11, 170, CB, Huntsville, Ala. / Randolph School)
TJ Harris (6-1, 190, S, Leesburg, Ga. / Lee County HS)
Hamilton Hawthorne II (6-2, 330, OL, Jacksonville, Fla. / Sandalwood HS)
Jarvis Hayes (6-4, 230, DE, Slocomb, Ala. / Slocomb HS / Itawamba CC)
John Hines (6-4, 250, DE, Montgomery, Ala. / Park Crossing HS / Southwest Mississippi CC)
AJ Lewis (6-4, 228, TE, Mobile, Ala. / Murphy HS)
Kevin Perkins (6-0, 230, RB, Tunica, Miss. / Rosa Fort HS / Northwest Mississippi CC)
AJ Pierce (6-1, 310, DT, Dothan, Ala. / Northview HS)
KJ Robertson (6-1, 220, LB, Alabaster, Ala. / Thompson HS)
Travis Sailo (6-3, 280, DT, Buhl, Ala. / Sipsey Valley HS / Itawamba CC)
Traveon Samuel (5-7, 170, WR, Phenix City, Ala. / Louisville)
Antonio Showers, Jr. (6-1, 240, BAN, Tucker, Ga. / Tucker HS)
Will Sunderland (6-3, 201, S, Midwest City, Okla. / Oklahoma)
Gunnar Watson (6-3, 205, QB, Butler, Ga. / Taylor County HS)

Troy Football Adds to Top Signing Class in School History

Players Mentioned

Jake Andrews

Gerald Bell, Jr.

Grant Betts

Demontrez Brown

Will Choloh

Jaquez Dunmore

O'shai Fletcher

J.L. Gaston

TJ Harris

Tyrone Harris

Hamilton Hawthorne II

Jarvis Hayes

John Hines, Jr.

Jeremiah Jones

AJ Lewis

Kevin Perkins

AJ Pierce

KJ Robertson

Travis Sailo

Traveon Samuel

Antonio Showers

Will Sunderland

Gunnar Watson

Troy University Athletics