NSD 2018: @BG_Football Constructs One Of MAC's Elite Recruiting Classes

Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University football coach Mike Jinks and staff announced the addition of 23 student-athletes to the BGSU football program Wednesday during National Signing Day. The Falcons had signed 18 student-athletes during the new December early signing period, added early enrollee Hassan Belton for the spring semester, and then brought home Karl Brooks, Ra'veion Hargrove, Presley Motes and Cameron Stage during Wednesday's traditional February signing day.

Bowling Green's class consists of five linebackers, four offensive linemen, three wide receivers, three tight ends, two running backs, two defensive linemen and two defensive backs. The Falcons also added a quarterback and a punter. BGSU brought in four student-athletes from the state of Ohio but gathered three from each of four other states -- Florida, Michigan, Missouri and Texas. BGSU also added student-athletes from the states of Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, South Carolina and Wisconsin.

FULL RELEASE (.pdf)
February Signing Day Central (with bios and highlight videos)
December Signing Day Central (with bios and highlight videos)

Bios of each student-athlete are listed below.

Hassan Belton | Linebacker | 6-1 | 215 | Columbia, S.C. | Blythewood HS | Butler Community College
Played in all 11 games for Butler Community College in 2017 ... Fourth on the team with 67 tackles ... Added team highs with 14.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks ... Returned one interception for a touchdown ... recovered two fumbles ... Honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference ... Began his college career at Western Carolina, posting 11 tackles and a sack ... Moved on to South Carolina before going to Butler CC ... Three-year starter at Blythewood High School, finishing with 279 tackles.

Caleb Biggers | Defensive Back | 5-11 | 180 | Prince Frederick, Md. | Calvert Hall College
Played two years of varsity football at Calvert Hall College High School for head coach Donald Davis … Team captain … Named All-MIAA and team Most Valuable Player … Set to play in Crab Bowl … Had 37 tackles as a junior, including 4.0 for loss, and two interceptions … Born Nov. 2, 1999 … Plans to study sports medicine.

Karl Brooks | Defensive End | 6-4 | 235 | Lansing, Mich. | Lansing Sexton HS
Detroit News Second Team All-State at Lansing Sexton High School ... First Team all-conference ... Also played wide receiver in high school ... Lansing State Journal "Dream Team" ... Posted more than 100 tackles, including 12 sacks, and five forced fumbles ... Scored a defensive touchdown ... Helped team to an 8-5 record, including 4-3 in the Capital Area Activities Conference (Blue Division).

Deandre Fitz-Henley | Linebacker | 6-0 | 235 | Clearwater, Fla. | Clearwater Central Catholic
Earned four letters at Clearwater Central Catholic, playing for coach Chris Harvey … Also lettered in wrestling … Team went a combined 45-6 over four years, including a 12-1 record as a senior to advance to the state semifinals … Posted 149 tackles as a senior, including 19.0 tackles for loss and four sacks … Also ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns … Named Class 3A All-Florida Second Team as a junior … Two-time All-Pinellas County … Son of Andre Fitz-Henley and Yanique Miller ... Has one brother, Nicholas Fitz-Henley, and two sisters – Aniya Young and Amani Young ... Born Dec. 6, 2000 ... Plans to study criminal justice.

Rico Frye | Running Back | 5-10 | 185 | Cartersville, Ga. | Cartersville
Lettered each year as a running back for Coach King ... Also lettered in basketball … Served as team captain his junior and senior seasons ... Led the Hurricanes to the second round of the state tournament in two seasons ... Had 1,064 rushing yards as a senior with 22 touchdowns and five 100-yard games … Also had 599 receiving yards and five touchdown catches … Rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior … First team all-state as a sophomore with 1,800 yards and 30 touchdowns … Named a Freshman All-American after rushing for 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns … Son of Fredrico Frye Sr. and Makia Roberson ... Has one brother and three sisters ... Born Dec. 25, 1999 ... Plans to study business and marketing.

Ra'veion Hargrove | Running Back | 5-7 | 175 | Trotwood, Ohio | Trotwood-Madison HS
Named Gatorade's Ohio High School Player of the Year ... Runner-up for Mr. Football ... Finished his career with 7,364 rushing yards and 100 touchdowns ... Ran for 2,264 yards and 30 touchdowns to lead Trotwood-Madison High School to the Division III state championship and a 15-0 record ... Had 1,562 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior ... Ran for 3,039 yards as a sophomore, the ninth-most in a single season in OHSAA history ... Has also been a state qualifying sprinter in track and field.

James Harris Jr. | Defensive Back | 6-1 | 175 | Pompano Beach, Fla. | Blanche Ely
Played three years of varsity football at Blanche Ely High School under head coach Calvin Davis ... Also lettered in track & field … Team MVP as a senior … 2016 Second Team All-Broward County … Son of James Harris and Kathlyn Rigby ... Born July 14, 2000 ... Plans to study psychology.

Jevon Henderson | Defensive Line | 6-4 | 265 | Centerville, Ohio | Centerville HS
Earned three varsity letters at Centerville High School for coaches Rodney Roberts and Brent Ullrey … Also lettered three times in basketball … Team went 10-2 and won the GWOC as a senior … Had 49 tackles and 6.5 sacks as a senior … All-Greater Western Ohio Conference East Division First Team in 2017, as well as Second Team All-Southwest District … Posted 52 tackles and 5.0 sacks as a junior, earning second team All-GWOC East Division honors and honorable mention All-Southwest District … Son of Jamar Reid and Heather Henderson ... Father played basketball at Pacific and Eastern Oregon … Born Feb. 20, 2000.

Antwuan Johnson | Linebacker | 6-1 | 231 | Dayton, Ohio | Huber Heights Wayne
Played four years of varsity football, including his final season at Wayne High School … Also lettered in basketball … Honorable Mention All-GWOC at Wayne, and two-time second team All-GWOC at Springfield … 2017 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Southwest All-District Honorable Mention … Posted 36 tackles in eight games as a senior, including one sack, a forced fumble and an interception … Team went 7-4 and advanced to the OHSAA D-I playoffs … First team all-area as a junior after posting 129 tackles to lead Dayton Dunbar to an 8-2 record … Son of Anthony Johnson and Marguerite Hart Johnson ... Three brothers – Anthony Johnson Jr., D'Angelo Johnson and Antonio Jones – and a sister, Antanae Redwine ... Born Nov. 16, 1999 ... Plans to study accounting.

James Lachey | Tight End | 6-4 | 230 | Columbus, Ohio | Grandview Heights
Played for coach Jason Peters, a BGSU alumnus who played on the offensive line from 1990-94 … Had 10 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown … Also rushed for 762 yards and 14 more scores … Defensively, had 82 tackles, including 14.0 tackles for loss and seven sacks, as a senior … All-Ohio First Team in Division VI and Division VI Defensive Player of the Year … All-Central District First Team as a senior … As a junior, caught 12 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns … Also ran for 280 yards and two TDs … Had 63 tackles on the defensive side of the ball and 10 sacks … First Team All-Ohio as a junior and Central District Player of the Year in Division VI … Son of Jim and Ann Lachey … Father was an All-American at Ohio State, a three-time Pro Bowler, and won Super Bowl XXVI as a member of the Washington Redskins … Three sisters – Paige, Emily, and Ali – and a brother, Luke … Born May 9, 1999.

Cooper Lee | Punter | 6-1 | 195 | De Soto, Kansas | De Soto / Coffeyville CC
Played two seasons at Coffeyville Community College, following his high school career at De Soto High School … Made 8-of-12 field goals and 40-of-45 extra points in 2017 at Coffeyville … Averaged 39.4 yards per punt on 80 punts, including 22 inside the 20 … Averaged 42.5 yards per punt as a freshman with 28-of-71 inside the 20 … Named Kansas Jayhawk Conference Special Teams Player of the Week … Son of Cooper and Katie Lee … Two brothers, Jakob Shields and Adam Lee, and a sister, Sidney Lee … Born Sept. 23, 1997 … Plans to study computer science.

Noah Massey | Wide Receiver | 6-3 | 215 | Houston, Texas | Spring Westfield
Played three years on varsity, earning two varsity letters, at Spring Westfield High School … Also lettered in track & field … As a senior, had 27 catches for 617 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 22.8 yards per reception … Team went 11-1 in 2017 under head coach Matt Meekins … Had five catches for 110 yards in six games as a junior … Son of Tim and Kesha Mashey ... Three brothers – Tristen, Micah and Ian – and a sister, Toreah ... Born Sept. 15, 1999 … Plans to study pre-medicine.

Joe Maxwell | Offensive Line | 6-4 | 275 | Florence, Ala. | Florence HS
Played two years of varsity football at Florence High School under coach JB Wallace … Team captain … Led team to a berth in the 6A state playoffs … Son of John and Amy Maxwell … Two brothers, Brandon and Charlie … Born June 3, 2000.

Presley Motes | Tight End | 6-4 | 235 | Thatcher, Ariz. | Thatcher HS | East Arizona CC
Graduated from Thatcher High School in 2013 before serving two years on a Mormon mission ... Played quarterback at Pima Community College in 2016, attempting 16 passes and throwing two touchdowns ... Played in three games, helping Eastern Arizona Community College to an 8-4 record in 2017 ... Played quarterback at Thatcher High School, completing 116-of-192 passes as a senior for 2,064 yards and 24 touchdowns ... Also ran 76 times for 376 yards as a senior ... Also had 92 tackles and 13.0 tackles for loss over two years of high school.

John O'Brian | Offensive Line | 6-5 | 250 | Charlotte, Mich. | Charlotte
Played three years of varsity football at Charlotte High School under coach Jeff Finney … Also lettered in track & field … Team captain in both football and track & field … 2017 Detroit News First Team All-State for Division 3-4 … 2017 Associate Press Honorable Mention All-State for Division 3-4 … Three-time all-conference player … Son of Tim and Ame O'Brian ... Has one sister, Erin ... Born March 4, 2000.

Julian Ortega-Jones | Wide Receiver | 6-3 | 185 | Fort Worth, Texas | North Crowley
Earned three varsity letters at North Crowley High School … Also lettered in baseball and track & field … Team captain … Unanimous all-district selection as both a junior and a senior … Had 126 receptions for 1,974 yards in his high school career, including 31 touchdowns … Had 18 touchdown receptions as a senior, adding 53 catches for 887 yards … As a junior, caught 42 passes for 601 yards … Had 31 catches for 486 yards as a sophomore … Son of Dietrich and Maria Jones ... Two brothers, Ivan and Isaiah Ortega-Jones … Born March 15, 2000 ... Plans to study pre-medicine.

Brad Papez | Offensive Line | 6-6 | 265 | Wentzville, Mo. | Timberland
Earned three varsity letters at Timberland High School … Also lettered in track & field and was a football team captain … Two-time third-team all-state player and two-time first-team all-conference ... Four-time Academic All-Conference player … Ranked No. 13 on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Super 30 entering senior year … Defensively, recorded 39 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss as a senior … Son of Tom and Lori Papez ... Three sisters – Victoria, Julia, and Hannah – and a twin brother, Jake … Born March 25, 1999 … Plans to study either entrepreneurship or business management.

Jake Papez | Tight End | 6-5 | 230 | Wentzville, Mo. | Timberland
Played four years of varsity football at Timberland High School … Had 17 catches for 251 yards and two touchdowns as a senior … Team went 9-4 as a senior … Named Class 5 Third Team All-State … Caught 13 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns as a junior, averaging 29.1 yards per reception … Ranked No. 19 on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Super 30 following his junior campaign … Team captain who also lettered in basketball and track & field ... Son of Tom and Lori Papez ... Three sisters – Victoria, Julia, and Hannah – and a twin brother, Brad … Born March 25, 1999.

Brandon Perce | Linebacker | 5-11 | 220 | West Allis, Wis. | West Allis Central / Rochester CC
Played linebacker as a captain for coach Dax Rodriguez ... Also lettered in wresting ... Totaled 115 total tackles, including 90 solo tackles, his senior year at West Allis Central ... Was also named first team all-conference and all-region his senior year ... Named Team MVP and Defensive MVP ... With Rochester Community College, ranked second in the nation in the NJCAA for tackles per game with 14.2 … Led the nation in tackle assists with 72 … Son of Jim Perce and Michelle Daniels ... Has a brother, Noah, and sister, Jessica ... Born April 7, 1997 ... Plans to study psychology.

Devin Ruffin Jr. | Linebacker | 6-1 | 210 | St. Louis, Mo. | Lutheran North
Played linebacker and was a captain for coach Carl Reed ... Also lettered in baseball ... Had 71 tackles and three interceptions as a senior, leading team to the Class 2 semifinals … Team won first conference championship since 2002 … Second team all-state and first-team all-conference as a senior … Also named first team all-conference as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore … Son of Devin Ruffin and Claudia Reed ... Two brothers, Kyrell Roberts and Carl Reed III, and a sister, Gaia Ruffin … Born June 23, 2000 ... Plans to study education.

Onyx Smith | Wide Receiver | 6-2 | 196 | Cibolo, Texas | Steele
Had 31 catches for 397 yards and three touchdowns as a senior despite spending time at quarterback as well … Threw for 706 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 97 yards and two more scores … As a junior, caught 50 passes for 801 yards and eight touchdowns.

Cameron Stage | Offensive Line | 6-4 | 295 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Cardinal Gibbons HS
Will graduate from Cardinal Gibbons High School ... Prior to his senior year, played at Coral Springs High School ... Named one of the top 10 offensive prospects at the UA All-America Camp in Miami by Scout.

Bryce Veasley | Quarterback | 6-4 | 230 | Southfield, Mich. | West Bloomfield
Earned three varsity letters in football, playing his final two seasons at West Bloomfield High School for coach Ron Bellamy … Played at Southfield Lathrup High School as a sophomore … Led team to the state championship game as a senior, finishing 11-3 on the season … Threw for 3,700 yards a season, totaling 28 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing … Runner-up for Mr. Football in the state of Michigan … 2017 Team Most Valuable Player, All-County, Associated Press First Team All-State for Division 1-2 … Won a host of awards from MLive, including Football Player of the Year top ten, Detroit Player of the Year, and Detroit Football Dream Team … Detroit Free-Press All-North Team and First Team All-State, as well as Detroit News All-North Team and Dream Team All-State … As a junior, was AP Honorable Mention All-State, All-County, and team's Offensive MVP … Son of David and Monique Veasley ... Father played football at Eastern Michigan … One brother, David Veasley III, and a sister, Danielle Veasley ... Born May 18, 2000.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results