Watch the Football Signing Day Party

SPARTANBURG, SC – Wofford College football coach Mike Ayers announced on Wednesday the signing of 18 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the upcoming season.

The Terriers will welcome nine players on offense and nine players on defense. The student-athletes are from eight different states, including seven from North Carolina, five from Florida, and one each from California, Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio and Virginia.

On defense, the nine players include four defensive linemen, two linebackers and three defensive backs. On offense, the nine players include five offensive linemen, three running backs, and one wide receiver.

“The guys we recruited we feel very good about academically as well as athletically,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “It has been a lot of hard work, but I think our coaches have done a great job of going out and finding the personnel that we need. We feel good where we are right now.”

The defensive line welcomes Darius Burton (Durham, N.C.), Marcus Isom (Winter Garden, Fla.), Zach Muller (Plymouth, Minn.) and E.J. Speller (Chesapeake, Va.). Linebackers are Tyrese Little (Ayden, N.C.) and Kevin Thomas (Mills River, N.C.). In the secondary, Brion Anderson (St. Augustine, Fla.), Zach Cole (Morganton, N.C.), and Philemon Permis (Indiantown, Fla.) will join the Terriers.

On offense, the linemen are T.J. Chamberlin (Land O’Lakes, Fla.), Michael Comer (Conover, N.C.), Brandon Kersnowski (Waxhaw, N.C.), Mike Nicklas (Westport, Conn.), and Ben Rader (Cincinnati, Ohio). Running backs include Cam Flowers (Damascus, Ga.), Octavius Harden (Conover, N.C.) and Jonny Martin (San Diego, Calif.). Will Irwin (Land O’Lakes, Fla.) joins the team at wide receiver.

In addition, cornerback Caleb Lucas (6-0, 205) will be joining the team this spring. A 2009 graduate of South Johnston High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, he played at Navy and will have two seasons of eligibility at Wofford. In high school, he earned three letters in football and four in track and field.

The Terriers will open the 2011 season on September 3 at Presbyterian College. Spring practice will begin for the Terriers on February 28 and end on March 23.

The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to Wofford College and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center.


Brion Anderson (DB, 5-11, 185, St. Augustine, Fla.) was a three-year starter in the secondary at Bartram Trail High School. During his senior season he had 34 total tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and four blocked punts. He was named All-County honorable mention as a junior and senior.

Darius Burton (DE, 6-3, 225, Durham, N.C.) was a three-year letterman in football at Riverside High School. As a senior he recorded 88 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, ten sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception as he earned All-Conference honors. He also lettered twice as a forward on the basketball team, finishing as state runner-up his junior season. His father, Richard Burton, played at Clemson from 1982-85.

T.J. Chamberlin (OL, 6-2, 260, Land O’Lakes, Fla.) was an offensive lineman at Land O’Lakes High School. As a senior he earned All-Conference, All-District and All-North Suncoast first team honors and was All-Suncoast honorable mention. He also was on the wrestling team. His father was captain of the wrestling team at Indiana University and his sister swam for Florida Gulf Coast University.

Zack Cole (DB, 6-2, 195, Morganton, N.C.) started four seasons at safety for Patton High School and recorded eight career interceptions. During his senior season, he was named All-Conference, All-Burke County and earned a NC Shrine Bowl selection. He played in eleven games with 83 tackles and four interceptions at safety and added nine catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Also competed in track and field, winning the conference championship in the high jump and placing fourth in the state meet.

Michael Comer (OL/LS, 6-2, 285, Conover, N.C.) started for three seasons on the offensive line for Newton-Conover High School. As a senior he recorded 23 pancake blocks and earned All-Conference and All-Greater Hickory honors. For his career, he started 51 of 54 games played. He also served as the team’s long snapper during his senior year. He was named a 2010 Carolina Panther Community Captain.

Cam Flowers (RB, 5-8, 165, Damascus, Ga.) was a starter at halfback for Early County High School. In 31 career games, he recorded over 5,000 all-purpose yards and scored 22 touchdowns. He earned All-Region honors in football as a senior. He also ran track, finishing second in the state in the 4x100 relay.

Octavius Harden (RB, 5-9, 165, Conover, N.C.) lettered three years at running back for Newton-Conover High School. For his career, had 348 carries for 3,188 yards and 44 rushing touchdowns. As a senior he earned All-Conference and All-State honors. He played in the 2010 Shrine Bowl held at Gibbs Stadium. During his junior season he had 1,264 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns and also returned kickoffs. Also lettered twice in track, earning All-Conference honors.

Will Irwin (WR, 6-2, 185, Land O’Lakes, Fla.) was a three-year letterman at wide receiver for Land O’Lakes High School. For his career, he had 89 catches for 1,863 yards and 29 touchdowns in 32 games. As a senior he earned All-Sunshine Conference, All-County, and All-North Suncoast first team honors and All-Tampa Bay Suncoast second team honors. He holds the school record for touchdowns in a single game. Also played one season of baseball in centerfield.

Marcus Isom (DL, 6-0, 270, Winter Garden, Fla.) started the last three seasons at defensive tackle for West Orange High School. In 2010 he earned All-Metro honorable mention honors. Also threw the shot and discus in track and field for three years and was on the weightlifting team.

Brandon Kersnowski (OL, 6-3, 285, Waxhaw, N.C.) started for two seasons on the offensive line at Weddington High School. During his senior season he allowed only one sack while blocking for a 1,000 yard rusher and a 2,200 yard passer to earn All-Conference and All-County honors. On the defensive line, he had 58 tackles and 6.5 sacks in two seasons. He also has played four seasons of baseball as a pitcher and first baseman.

Tyrese Little (LB, 6-1, 215, Ayden, N.C.) started for three seasons at linebacker for Ayden Grifton High School. As a senior he had 126 solo tackles, two interceptions, 24 tackles for loss, six sacks, four fumble recoveries and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. He was named All-Conference, All-County, All-Area and honorable mention All-State after his senior season. He played three seasons of varsity basketball and also ran sprints for the track team.

Caleb Lucas (DB, 6-0, 205, Benson, N.C.) graduated from South Johnston High School in Raleigh in 2009 where he earned three letters in football and four letters in track and field. He earned All-Conference honors twice in football. At Navy, he played in five games as a freshman primarily on special teams.

Jonny Martin (RB, 5-10, 183, San Diego, Calif.) was a four-year letterman at Cathedral Catholic. In all four seasons the team won Eastern League titles and CIF titles, and added a state championship his sophomore season. He earned first team All-Eastern League and All-CIF honors and twice was named Union Tribune Player of the Week. In two seasons as a starter, he had 3,600 rushing yards on 512 carries with 45 touchdowns. He played lacrosse for two seasons and also ran track.

Zach Muller (DE, 6-2, 242, Plymouth, Minn.) was a three-year letterman at defensive end for Wayzata High School. In eleven games during his senior season, he had 28 tackles, nine tackles for loss and seven sacks in addition to 15 receptions for 249 yards and three touchdowns at tight end. He was named All-Area and Pioneer Press All-State. The team won three conference championships and two 5A State Championships.

Mike Nicklas (OL, 6-2, 250, Westport, Conn.) was a three-year starter on the offensive and defensive lines at Staples High School. As a senior he earned All-FCIAC, All-Norwalk Hour and All-State honors at offensive tackle. He recorded 52 pancake blocks on offense and had 48 tackles, two sacks and twelve quarterback pressures on defense. Played one season of lacrosse and also wrestled for one year. His father played football at New Hampshire (1979-83) and his sister rows for the University of Texas.

Philemon Permis (DB, 6-1, 180, Indiantown, Fla.) played free safety at South Fork High School. During his senior season he recorded 100 tackles along with three interceptions and ten pass break-ups.

Ben Radar (OL, 6-6, 270, Cincinnati, Ohio) was a two-year starter at offensive tackle for Sycamore High School. As a senior was team captain and earned second-team All-Greater Miami Conference honors. Also earned three letters in track and field throwing the shot and discus. Attends same high school as current Wofford quarterback Mitch Allen.

E.J. Speller (DL, 6-2, 285, Chesapeake, Va.) was a two-way starter at defensive tackle and center for Deep Creek High School. In his senior season he had 60 tackles, including twenty tackles for loss and nine sacks. He was named All-Southwestern District first team and All-Tidewater Region.

Kevin Thomas (LB, 6-3, 235, Mills River, N.C.) started four seasons at linebacker for West Henderson High School. During his senior season, had 121.5 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries at linebacker and added 606 rushing yards, 123 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on offense. Three-time All-Conference and All-Area honoree and All-Area Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He holds the school record for career tackles with 396. He also played basketball, earning All-Conference honors.