SPARTANBURG, SC – Wofford College football coach Mike Ayers announced on Wednesday the signing of 25 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent or letters of commitment for the upcoming season.
 
The Terriers will welcome thirteen players on defense, ten players on offense, and two specialists. The student-athletes are from seven different states, including six from Tennessee, seven from South Carolina, four from Ohio, three from Florida, two each from North Carolina and Georgia, along with one from Maryland.
 
On defense, the thirteen players include six defensive backs, four linemen, and three linebackers. On offense, the ten players include three offensive linemen, two running backs, three wide receivers, and one tight end.
 
"We feel that this is a strong class that meets our needs," said head coach Mike Ayers. "We put in a lot of time and it is a class that is all over the map from D.C. to Ohio to Florida and Tennessee. We have a lot of excellent players from in-state as well. I feel that our staff did an excellent job of locating guys that fit the Wofford mold. We have helped ourselves with athleticism across the board."
 
On defense, the linemen are Miles Brown (Cheverly, Md.), Thad Mangum (Greenville, S.C.), Jordan Perlotte (Lawrenceville, Ga.), and Brandon Zamary (Aurora, Ohio). In the secondary, Noah Able (Cincinnati, Ohio), George Gbesee (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Dominique Lemon (Columbia, S.C.), Brandon Loudermilk (Riverview, Fla.), JoJo Tillery (Hixson, Tenn.), and Devin Watson (Gainesville, Ga.) will join the Terriers. The linebackers are Billy Hinton (West Chester, Ohio), Alex Horlak (Nashville, Tenn.), and Weston Rountree (Lebanon, Tenn.).
 
The offensive linemen are Justus Basinger (Longwood, Fla.), Jacob Milam (Greenville, S.C.), Michael Ralph (Loveland, Ohio), and Liam Ronan (Lexington, S.C.). Running backs include Lennox McAfee (Nashville, Tenn.) and Seth Marshall (Knoxville, Tenn.). Wide receivers Cole Cleary (Flat Rock, N.C.), Armani Helligar (Kissimmee, Fla.), and Jason Hill (Spartanburg, S.C.), along with tight end Nick Karas (Waxhaw, N.C.) round out the offense. Luke Carter (Florence, S.C.) and Buddy Anderson (Clover, S.C.) are the specialists.
 
Several additional players will be signing letters of commitment. Due to NCAA regulations, Wofford can't comment on these players until they have been accepted and paid the admissions deposit. In addition, RB Ellis Pace has joined the team as a transfer from East Carolina University. A 5-11, 175 pound native of Flat Rock, N.C., he played football at Christ School. As a senior he had 199 carries for 1,428 yards and 21 touchdowns.

 
Several additional players will be signing letters of commitment. Due to NCAA regulations, Wofford can't comment on these players until they have been accepted and paid the admissions deposit. In addition, RB Ellis Pace has joined the team as a transfer from East Carolina University. A 5-11, 175 pound native of Flat Rock, N.C., he played football at Christ School. As a senior he had 199 carries for 1,428 yards and 21 touchdowns.
 
The Terriers will begin spring practice on Monday, March 2, in preparation for the 2015 season opener at Clemson.
 
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.

2015 Newcomers
Noah Able (CB, 5-10, 160, Cincinnati, Ohio)
Buddy Anderson (PK, 5-9, 150, Clover, S.C.)
Justus Basinger (OL, 6-4, 285, Longwood, Fla.)
Miles Brown (DL, 6-1, 286, Washington, D.C.)
Luke Carter (P/K, 6-1, 225, Florence, S.C.)
Cole Cleary (WR, 6-1, 190, Flat Rock, N.C.)
George Gbesee (CB, 5-8, 170, Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Armani Helligar (WR, 6-2, 175, Kissimmee, Fla.)
Jason Hill (WR, 5-11, 180, Spartanburg, S.C.)
Billy Hinton (LB, 6-1, 205, West Chester, Ohio)
Alex Horlak (LB, 6-2, 215, Franklin, Tenn.)
Nick Karas (TE, 6-4, 212, Waxhaw, N.C.)
Dominique Lemon (CB, 5-9, 180, Columbia, S.C.)
Brandon Loudermilk (S, 6-3, 190, Riverview, Fla.)
Thad Mangum (DL, 6-1, 280, Greenville, S.C.)
Lennox McAfee (RB, 5-7, 170, Nashville, Tenn.)
Seth Marshall (RB, 5-9, 185, Knoxville, Tenn.)
Jacob Milam (OL, 6-4, 255, Greenville, S.C.)
Jordan Perlotte (DL, 6-2, 245, Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Michael Ralph (OL, 6-4, 250, Loveland, Ohio)
Liam Ronan (OL, 6-3, 255, Lexington, S.C.)
Weston Rountree (LB, 6-1, 215, Lebanon, Tenn.)
JoJo Tillery (S, 6-2, 190, Hixson, Tenn.)
Devin Watson (S, 5-11, 190, Gainesville, Ga.)
Brandon Zamary (DL, 6-0, 255, Aurora, Ohio)

Noah Able (5-10, 160, Cincinnati, Ohio) was a two-year starter at cornerback for Archbishop Moeller High School. During his senior season, he recorded 48 tackles with five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He earned All-GCL first team honors and All-District honorable mention as the tem was 11-3 overall. As a junior, he had 22 tackles and was second team All-GCL as the team won the state championship. He also plays basketball, with the team posting a 24-2 overall record last season.

Buddy Anderson (5-9, 150, Clover, S.C.) was a three-year kicker at York Comprehensive High School. As a senior he was 7-of-13 on field goals with a long of 40 yards and made 59-of-61 PATs. He averaged 33.6 yards per punt and had a 59.2 yard average on kickoffs as he earned All-Region 3-AAAA honors. During his junior year he averaged 53.9 yards per kickoff and made 49-of-50 PATs. He was also a four-year starter on the soccer team. He served as team captain for three seasons and was named All-Region twice.

Justus Basinger (OL, 6-4, 285, Longwood, Fla.) was a two-year starter at offensive guard for Lake Brantley High School. As a senior, he earned first team All-District, first team All-Conference, second team All-Central Florida, and second team All-State honors. During his junior season, was named second team All-Conference. He was also a three-year letterman in weightlifting.

Miles Brown (DL, 6-1, 286, Cheverly, Md.) was a four-year starter at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. As a senior, he had 97 tackles, 12 sacks, and two interceptions on defense. As a running back and tight end, he had 136 carries for 1,012 yards, plus 22 receptions for 314 yards and 28 total touchdowns. He earned All-League and All-State honors as the team won the conference championship. During his junior season he recorded 72 tackles and five sacks, along with 400 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He was also a member of the wrestling team, going 23-0 during his junior year as a heavyweight.

Luke Carter (P/K, 6-1, 225, Florence, S.C.) was a four-year letterman at Wilson High School, earning three time all-region and two time all-state accolades, including USA Today/HSSR 2013 South Carolina Punter of the Year. He set a school record while leading all South Carolina punters with an average 43.0 yards per punt. During his senior season, he set school and region records by kicking a 52 yard field goal, while averaging a 3A best 42.2 yards per punt with 39 of 49 kickoffs recorded for touchbacks. He also starts as goalie on the Wilson soccer team.

Cole Cleary (6-1, 190, Flat Rock, N.C.) started the last two seasons at Hendersonville High School, playing wide receiver, linebacker, quarterback, and strong safety. As a senior, he had a school-record 75 catches for 1,818 yards, along with 24 carries for 262 yards, with a total of 2,184 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns. On defense, he added 59 tackles and four sacks. He was named first team All-State by N.C. Preps, Associated Press, and USA Today, along with Hendersonville Times-News Player of the Year and Western Highlands Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. As a junior he recorded 1,600 passing yards, 1,200 rushing yards, 200 receiving yards, 65 tackles, and 26 total touchdowns to earn Hendersonville High School Athlete of the Year honors. He also played basketball and baseball.

George Gbesee (5-8, 170, Murfreesboro, Tenn.) played cornerback and wide receiver for four seasons at Oakland High School. As a senior, he had 31 catches for 731 yards on offense and three interceptions with seven pass deflections on defense. He scored ten total touchdowns as the team was 12-2 overall and reached the fourth round of the state playoffs. He was named first team All-District and All-County, along with second team All-Area honors as a senior. During his junior year he was named All-District as he had two interceptions. He was born in Ghana, Africa, and did not play football until his freshman year at Oakland High School.

Armani Helligar (6-2, 175, Kissimmee, Fla.) was a three-year starter at wide receiver for Osceola High School. During his senior season, the team was 13-2 and reached the state finals as he had nine catches for 219 yards and four touchdowns. He was named the 7-A Scholar Athlete of the Year and also earned second team All-County honors. The team also reached the state semifinals his sophomore and junior seasons. He also competed in the long jump and 400 meters on the track team. His brother, Jules, played football at Alabama State.

Jason Hill (5-11, 180, Spartanburg, S.C.) was a four-year letterman at Boiling Springs High School. As a senior, he had 82 catches for 1,395 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was received 2-AAAA All-Region, All-Area, and team MVP honors. During his junior season he had 42 receptions for 604 yards and seven touchdowns. He also plays basketball for Boiling Springs, earning three varsity letters and All-Region honors as a junior. His father, Jason, played football from 1986-89 at Wofford and served on the coaching staff from 1994-96. His mother, Jameica, also graduated from Wofford and is currently chair of the chemistry department.

Billy Hinton (LB, 6-1, 215, West Chester, Ohio) played linebacker at Bishop Fenwick High School. A team captain and preseason All-State selection as a senior, he missed the season due to injury. As a junior, he recorded 87 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, four sacks, and an interception. He was named first team All-Conference, All-Southwest District, All-Dayton Area, along with team defensive MVP honors. He also played lacrosse, leading the team in assists as a sophomore.

Alex Horlak (6-2, 215, Franklin, Tenn.) played middle linebacker and fullback last season at Father Ryan High School in Nashville. The team was 5-6 overall and defeated in the first round of the state playoffs by the Baylor School. He played his junior year at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Fairburn, Georgia, earning first team All-Conference recognition at middle linebacker. He also finished eighth in the state championship in the discus as a sophomore.

Nick Karas (6-4, 212, Waxhaw, N.C.) was a three-year letterman at Cuthbertson High School, where he played tight end and defensive end. During his senior season, he had 41 catches for 761 yards and 8 touchdowns on offense, along with 38 tackles and four sacks on defense. He earned team MVP, first team All-Conference, and first team All-County honors as the team was 11-4 overall and advanced to the state semifinals. As a junior he had eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, plus 47 total tackles and ten tackles for loss on defense. He also earned two letters playing basketball. His sister, Kalli, currently plays tennis for Wofford.

Dominique Lemon (5-9, 180, Columbia, S.C.) was a three-year letterman at Blythewood High School, playing both cornerback and free safety. As a senior, he has 71 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two interceptions, and five pass deflections, along with a punt return for a touchdown. He earned team MVP honors, first team All-Region, and first team All-Area honors. During his junior season, he had 61 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two interceptions with 12 pass deflections. He also plays point guard on the basketball team, averaging 13 points and 5 rebounds per game.

Brandon Loudermilk (6-3, 190, Riverview, Fla.) was a three-year letterman for Durant High School. As a senior, he played outside linebacker and had 67 total tackles. During his junior season, he played at strong safety and outside linebacker and had 48 total tackles. He has also earned three letters in track and field, running primarily the 400 meters. He is a distant relative of the founder of Wofford College, Benjamin Wofford.

Thad Mangum (6-1, 280, Greenville, S.C.) was a two-year starter at defensive tackle for Christ Church. During his senior season, he had 84 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and six sacks to earn All-State, All-Conference, and All-Region honors. As a junior, he recorded 96 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and eight sacks as he was named All-State. Christ Church won state championships in both his junior and senior seasons. He also played basketball for three seasons.

Lennox McAfee (5-7, 170, Nashville, Tenn.) played four seasons of football at East Nashville High School. During his junior and senior seasons he saw action at running back, corner back, kick return, and punt return. As a senior, he had 125 carries for 1,400 yards and 11 catches for 300 yards, with 22 total touchdowns. He was named preseason All-State and All-City at running back. During his junior season, he rushed for 938 yards on 94 carries, 237 yards on 17 receptions, and 555 return yards. On defense he had 72 tackles and three interceptions as a junior and three interceptions as a senior. He also played baseball and ran track.

Seth Marshall (5-9, 185, Knoxville, Tenn.) started for four seasons at West High School, primarily at quarterback. For his career, he totaled 83 touchdowns and 3,901 rushing yards. As a senior he led West High School to the first Class 5A state championship in school history. He was 5A All-State, Region 4AAA MVP, All-KIL team, and KIL Offensive Player of the Year as he rushed for 1,950 yards during his senior year. He also ran track, winning the state championship in the 4x200 relay.

Jacob Milam (6-4, 255, Greenville, S.C.) was a four-year letterman at Saint Joseph's Catholic School where he played both offensive and defensive line. He was team captain his senior season as the team was 8-4 overall and reached the second round of the state playoffs. He also wrestled his sophomore year and threw the shot put for the track team as a junior. He is a Wofford Scholar.

Jordan Perlotte (6-2, 245, Lawrenceville, Ga.) won three state championships while playing defensive end and fullback for Buford High School. As a senior, he had 77 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and six sacks on defense. He added 133 yards on 23 carries with nine touchdowns on offense.

Michael Ralph (6-4, 250, Loveland, Ohio) lettered twice as an offensive lineman at Loveland High School. As a senior, he was named first team All-Conference. During his junior season, the team won a state championship and he was named honorable mention All-Conference. He also played basketball, earning a letter at center. His father played soccer at Michigan State, while both sisters rowed at Ohio State.

Liam Ronan (OL, 6-3, 255, Lexington, S.C.) was a three-year letterman on the offensive line at Lexington High School. As a senior, he played at left tackle and right guard as he earned All-Region and HSSR All-State honors. The team MVP was also selected to the 2014 Shrine Bowl. During his junior season he played at left tackle as the team was 10-3 overall and reached the second round of the playoffs. He also lettered in lacrosse of two seasons.

Weston Rountree (6-1, 215, Lebanon, Tenn.) lettered four years in football, playing two seasons at McClain Christian Academy and two seasons at Wilson Central. As a senior, he recorded 113 tackles to earn District 9-AAA Defensive MVP honors. He also ran for 412 yards with six touchdowns at running back. During his junior season he led the team with 108 tackles. As a sophomore, he led the team with 101 tackles and had 1,120 yards rushing with 21 touchdowns. He added two letters in basketball and one letter in track, where he placed third in the 100 meters to earn All-District honors.

JoJo Tillery (6-2, 190, Hixson, Tenn.) was a four-year starter at East Ridge High School in Chattanooga where he played quarterback and free safety. As a senior, he posted over 2,200 yards of total offense and had three interceptions on defense. He started in the Tennessee East/West All-Star game and was a three-time All-District honoree. As a junior he had five interceptions and over 2,000 yards of total offense to earn Offensive Player of the Year recognition. He also played basketball for four seasons, primarily as a shooting guard.

Devin Watson (5-11, 190, Gainesville, Ga.) was a three-year starter at quarterback and defensive back at East Hall High School. During his senior season, he had 123 carries for 763 yards and 13 touchdowns, while he passed for 1,755 yards and had 16 passing touchdowns. As a junior, he rushed for 669 yards on 124 carries with nine touchdowns, plus had 2,478 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. He was named Region Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior, along with honorable mention All-State recognition. He was also a four-year letterman on the basketball team as a guard.

Brandon Zamary (6-0, 255, Aurora, Ohio) was a three-year starter on the offensive and defensive lines at Aurora High School. During his senior season, he recorded 56 tackles and five sacks to earn team MVP honors and third team All-Ohio honors. He was named first team All-Chagrin Valley and first team All-Northeast Inland District as a junior and senior. As a junior he recorded 96 tackles and seven sacks. He also threw the shot put and discus for the track team and played basketball.