FOOTBALL INKS 16 ON EARLY SIGNING DAY
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn football team received National Letters of Intent from 16 future Huskies, as announced by head coach Randy Edsall on Wednesday morning.
16 players hail from seven different states, one player is from Australia and one is from Canada. Five signees are from Texas, three are from Florida and two are from the Nutmeg State.
Kaleb Anthony, Eagles Landing Christian Academy (GA), 6-1, 175, DB
Played cornerback and free safety and returned kicks for head coach Jonathan Gess at Eagles Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Ga. … His team advanced to the third round of the 2020 state playoffs … Helped lead the team to three state championships … First Team All-Region in Georgia … Recorded five interceptions and one fumble recovery in 20 games played … Also lettered in basketball… Plans to major in either business administration or sport management. Son of Karl and Kaylen Anthony, his father played in the CFL for six years.
Malcolm Bell, Clarkson Football North (Ont.), 6-2, 180, DB
Finished high school playing in the secondary for head coach Larry Jusdanis at Clarkson Football North in Mississauga, Ontario … Played at College Sainte-Anne (QC) prior to that … Was named to the CFC All-Canadian Team in 2018… Son of Louis le Jeune Bell and Odette Mireille Libai.
Stan Cross, Iowa Central CC (IA), 5-11, 185, DB
Played defensive back for head coach Jesse Montalto at Iowa Central Community College during his freshman year … Saw action in 11 games and racked up 45 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble … Graduated from East Nashville Magnet High School (TN) in 2019… Second Team All-State, First Team All-City, First Team All-Regional honors in high school… Second Team All-Conference for Iowa Central CC … Son of Carl and Aileen Cross… His brother Javon played football at Tennessee Tech.
Langston Hardy, Sandalwood HS (FL), 6-3, 225, DL
Played outside linebacker and defensive end for head coach Adam Geis at Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville … His team advanced to the third round of the 2020 state playoffs … Previously played at Episcopal School of Jacksonville … Competed in 11 games, posting 49 tackles and one pick six … Also saw time at receiver as a junior, racking up 332 yards on 22 receptions and caught seven touchdown passes … Earned All-State honors his junior and senior year and was an All-City selection his sophomore, junior, and senior years… Also named All-City in baseball… Son of Kevin and Terrie Hardy… His father Kevin was an NFL Pro Bowl Linebacker.
Christopher Johnson, Westside HS (FL), 6-2, 215, TE
Played tight end and outside linebacker for head coach Rodney Dubose at Westside High School in Jacksonville … His team advanced to the first round of the 2020 playoffs … Defensively, he has made 30 tackles and recorded one sack … Previously played at Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville … During his junior year, he totaled 23 receptions for 385 yards and four touchdowns … 2019 Times-Union All-First Coast second-team selection as an athlete… First team All-Gateway… Also went Second Team All-Gateway in basketball… Son of Ricky Westfield and Andrea Tinsley.
Joe McFadden, Southlake Carroll HS (TX), 5-11, 180, K
Handled kicking and punting duties for head coach Riley Dodge at Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas … His team won its first-round playoff game, 49-14, over Haltom and will compete against Permian in the second round on Friday, December 18 … Played in 29 games his first three years and connected on 14 field goals and 167 extra points … Longest field was 43 yards and his longest punt went for 70 yards … Scored 182 points over his first three years… Honored as an Adidas All-American, First Team All-District, First-Team All-Area, First Team preseason All-State and was the third-highest ranked kicker in the Nation by 247 Sports… Plans to major in finance… Son of Terry and Marsha McFadden… His sister Haley ran cross country at Trinity University.
Deon McLean, The Lawrenceville School (NJ), 6-1, 196, DB
Played running back and defensive back for head coach Harry Flaherty at The Lawrenceville School … Previously played at Lawrence High School for head coach Rob Radice … Two-time All-Area selection at Lawrence … Earned mention as a West Jersey Football League Valley Division First Team honoree as a defensive back…Times of TrentonCo-Defensive Player of the Year… Led the area in interceptions with six … 2020 State Champion in the 400-meter dash… Plans to major in business management… Son of Deon McLean Sr. and Molenda Busch.
Max Modeste, Byron Nelson HS (TX), 6-1, 190, RB
Played running back for head coach Travis Pride at Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club, Texas … Helped lead his team to an appearance in the 2020 Texas state playoffs … Ran for 793 yards and nine touchdowns on 161 carries during his junior year … Honored as a Second Team All-District 5-6A selection… Lettered in track and field also… Plans to major in kinesiology and pathology… Son of Ray and Nadina Modeste.
Tyler Phommachanh, Avon Old Farms (CT), 5-11, 190, QB
Played quarterback for head coach Pierce Brennan at Avon Old Farms School … Saw action in nine games his sophomore and junior year … Threw for 1144 yards and 15 touchdowns on 67 completions … Ran for 208 yards on 60 carries and three touchdowns … Son of Sam and Jasmine Phommachanh… His brother Taisun plays football at Clemson.
Femi Sakiri, Byron Nelson HS (TX), 6-5, 277, OL
Played on the offensive line for head coach Travis Pride at Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club, Texas … Helped lead his team to an appearance in the 2020 Texas state playoffs … All-District 2019 Offensive Tackle… Second Team All-State Academics… Football team Captain… Plans to major in biology… Son of Sejdin and Zamili Sakiri.
Deondrick Speight, Champagnat Catholic (FL), 6-2, 205, LB
Played for head coach Hector Clavijo at Champagnat Catholic School in Hialeah, Fla. … Most recently in the 2020 state playoffs, his team defeated Seffner Christian, 56-14, to advance to the state championship game against University Christian, which will take place on Wednesday, December 16 … Competed on the defensive line during his sophomore and junior seasons before moving to linebacker during for his senior year … Totaled 55 tackles, eight sacks, one interception, and a forced fumble in 16 games played his sophomore and juniors years… Two-time Football State Champion… Plans to major in criminal justice… Son of Rodrick Speight and Lasonja Poole.
Josh Tracey, Avon Old Farms (CT), 5-10, 170, WR
Played receiver for head coach Pierce Brennan at Avon Old Farms School … Reeled in 41 receptions for 817 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games his sophomore and junior years… Won award for most valuable athlete in his school twice… Plans to major in Sport Management… Son of Jarvis and Sandra Tracey.
Aaron Turner, Gonzaga College HS (Washington, D.C.), 5-9, 180, WR
A wide receiver for head coach Randy Trivers at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. … Tallied 32 receptions for 687 yards and eight scores … Also rushed for 201 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries in 12 games during his junior year … First Team All-Conference… Offensive player of the year for his team… Plans to major in business administration… Son of Elijah and Jandie Turner… His brother Eli plays football at Davidson.
Yakiri Walker, DeSoto HS (TX), 6-3, 265, OL
Played on the offensive line for head coach Claude Mathis at Desoto High School in Desoto, Texas … His team defeated Shoemaker, 57-32, in the first round of the 2020 playoffs and will take on Rockwall in the second round on Friday, December 18 … 2019 First Team All-District and honorable mention All-State… 2020 All-State Academic team selection … Also went First Team All-District in baseball… Plans to major in education… Son of Dennis Walker and Laneya Pruitt.
Pryce Yates, Reagan HS (TX), 6-4, 240, DL
Played on the defensive line for head coach Lyndon Hamilton at Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas … His team advanced to the first round of the 2020 state playoffs … 2019 First Team All-District and First Team All-Area...Selected to compete in the San Antonio Sports All-Star Football Game … Also selected to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at AT&T Stadium … Son of Steven and Cori Yates … Yates is in the top 10 percent of his class at Reagan High School … His brother Preston plays football at Colorado School of Mines and sister Preslie plays volleyball at Reagan HS.
Haydn Kerr, St. Dominic’s College (Australia), 6-2, 195, P
Attended St. Dominic’s College for high school in Kingswood, New South Wales Australia … Plans to major in computer science… Son of Gerard and Leanne Kerr.