SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College football program announced the signings of ten student-athletes during the three-day early signing period that began on Wednesday.
 
The Terriers will welcome four players on offense, five players on defense, and one athlete. The student-athletes are from six different states, including three each from South Carolina and Georgia.     
 
"First off, I want to say thank you to our staff," said head coach Shawn Watson. "Our staff did a great job of getting kids on campus during the summer. We're a relationship-based team. The first attraction is their film, but the second is the human being. We did a great job of getting guys on campus multiple times and having a chance to get to know them and their families, which I think is critical in today's environment and of college football. We've got an excellent group of kids who address many of our needs on offense and defense due to graduation. I am excited about the class."

On defense, the newcomers include defensive linemen Noah Clark (Perry, Ga.) and Mike Jones (McClellanville, S.C.), linebacker Palmer Flake (Columbia, S.C.), and defensive backs Marek Marcellus (Cooper City, Fla.) and Ky'ree Murphy (Middle River, Md.).
 
Joining the team on offense are quarterback Kaeden Gilstrap (Marietta, Ga.), tight end Walker Kelley (Anderson, S.C.), running back Tay Franklin (Waycross, Ga.), and offensive lineman Drew Scaggs (Bryson City, N.C.), along with athlete Jovon Williams (West Haven, Conn.).
 
The regular signing period will begin on February 4, while transfers will be announced upon enrollment. The team will return to campus in January for strength and conditioning work during interim, with spring practice slated to begin in March.  
 
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.

2026 Wofford Football Newcomers
Name                              Pos.       Ht.     Wt.       Hometown / High School
Noah Clark                       DT        6-1     290        Perry, Ga. / Perry
Palmer Flake                    LB         6-2     220        Columbia, S.C. / Chapin
Tay Franklin                    RB        6-0     210        Waycross, Ga. / Ware County
Kaeden Gilstrap               QB        6-2     185        Marietta, Ga. / Walton
Mike Jones                       DT        6-2     280        McClellanville, S.C. / Oceanside Collegiate
Walker Kelley                  TE         6-5     235        Anderson, S.C. / T.L. Hanna
Marek Marcellus             DB        6-1     180        Cooper City, Fla. / McArthur
Ky'ree Murphy                DB       5-11    173        Middle River, Md. / Milford Mill Academy
Drew Scaggs                    OL        6-4     280        Bryson City, N.C. / Swain County
Jovon Williams              ATH       6-1     170        West Haven, Conn. / Cheshire Academy
 
2026 Newcomers

Noah Clark (6-1, 290, Perry, Ga.) played on both the defensive and offensive lines at Perry High School. During his senior season, he had 40 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, and three blocked field goals. He earned All-Conference honors three times, along with being named Region Defensive Lineman of the Year.
 
Palmer Flake (6-2, 220, Columbia, S.C.) was a three-year varsity starter at linebacker, playing at A.C. Flora High School as a sophomore and junior before playing his senior season at Chapin High School. He earned All-Region honors as a junior and senior. As a junior, he had 80 tackles and an interception.
 
Tay Franklin (6-1, 210, Waycross, Ga.) was a four-year letterman at running back at Ware County High School. For his career, he had 1,700 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns as he earned All-Region and All-State honors. During his senior season, he had 130 carries for 1,038 yards with 20 touchdowns. He also played basketball, earning All-Region honors three times, and competed on the track team.
 
Kaeden Gilstrap (6-2, 185, Marietta, Ga.) is a four-year letterman at quarterback from Walton High School. He originally signed with Wofford last December; however, he delayed enrollment until January of 2026. He threw for 1,925 yards on 124-of-231 passing with 19 touchdowns as a senior. He added 467 rushing yards on 112 carries with three touchdowns. During his junior season, he ran for 177 yards with three touchdowns and threw for four touchdowns on 23-of-33 passing. A three-sport athlete, he was named All-Region in baseball and basketball.
 
Mike Jones (6-2, 280, McClellanville, S.C.) was a three-year letterman at Oceanside Collegiate Academy at defensive tackle. For his career, he had 152 tackles, 31 sacks and 25 tackles for loss. He earned All-Region and All-State honors as a sophomore and junior, along with first team All-Low Country honors as a junior. The team won four straight lower state championships and will play for a third state championship on Dec. 5. He also plays rugby.
 
Walker Kelley (6-5, 235, Anderson, S.C.) earned three letters at T.L. Hanna High School playing tight end and linebacker. He earned All-Region honors as a junior and a senior, while being a 2025 Shrine Bowl selection. For his career, he had 115 tackles, 11 sacks, and an interception on defense, along with ten touchdowns and a 30-yard per reception average. He also played varsity basketball for two seasons.
 
Marek Marcellus (6-1, 180, Cooper City, Fla.) played defensive back at McArthur High School, with the team reaching the third round of the playoffs. His older brother, Maddox, is a linebacker at Virginia, and his father, Madsen, played football at Wyoming.
 
Ky'ree Murphy (5-11, 173, Middle River, Md.) played cornerback at Milford Mill Academy. As a senior, he earned first-team All-County honors with 33 tackles, ten pass break-ups, two interceptions, and a pair of tackles for loss. The team was 10-1 on the season, winning county and region championships. He also ran track.
 
Drew Scaggs (6-4, 280, Bryson City, N.C.) was a four-year letterman on the offensive and defensive lines at Swain County High School, recording 35 career starts. He was named All-Conference three times and added All-WNC honors. He was selected to play in the North Carolina East-West All-Star game. He also played basketball and threw the discus and shot put for the track team.
 
Jovon Williams (6-1, 170, West Haven, Conn.) played cornerback and wide receiver at Cheshire Academy. As a senior, he had 12 touchdowns, 1,250 all-purpose yards, 20 tackles, three interceptions, and six pass break-ups. He was named Northeast Prep League Offensive Player of the Year and Connecticut Player of the Year as the team won the NEPSAC championship.