Spring Break
Football team signs 19 players
Matt Tessnear
Issue date: 2/25/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Head Coach Steve Patton and the Gardner-Webb University football staff signed 19 high school seniors to letters of intent on Feb. 2, National Signing Day.
As in years past, Patton and his staff had good fortunes in the state of Georgia. This year's recruiting class continued to bring in players from the state.
"Georgia has become a good area for us," said Patton. "In metropolitan Atlanta, there are more players playing football than in the state of South Carolina."
GWU had 30 players from Georgia on last season's roster.
"These players have done well in our program," said Patton.
Patton and his staff were able to grab local prospects as well. Running back, Martray Littlejohn is a hometown standout from Crest High School in Boiling Springs. A small, agile back, Littlejohn won two North Carolina 3AA State Championships during his high school career. He brings talent and experience to GWU.
"Everybody likes his character," said Patton. "Martray has to prove that he can play at the next level."
Littlejohn is not the only Bulldog signee who knows about winning championships. Two players come from a history-rich program in Charlotte. Offensive tackle Demario Deese and free safety Daniel Cooke won two state titles at Independence High School, the recent powerhouse of N.C. high school football.
"We're counting on them to play early," said Patton. "They're used to being more disciplined, and they know what it takes because of that winning tradition."
Additionally, the Bulldogs were able to sign Michael Hanna, a 6-foot-2 punter from Suwannee, Ga. Patton hopes that Hanna can fill the tremendous hole that is left by Graham Whitlock, a Div. I-AA All-American punter, who is graduating.
The new Bulldogs hail from five different states. Eight players are from Georgia, five from North Carolina, four from South Carolina and one each from Tennessee and Minnesota.
As in years past, Patton and his staff had good fortunes in the state of Georgia. This year's recruiting class continued to bring in players from the state.
"Georgia has become a good area for us," said Patton. "In metropolitan Atlanta, there are more players playing football than in the state of South Carolina."
GWU had 30 players from Georgia on last season's roster.
"These players have done well in our program," said Patton.
Patton and his staff were able to grab local prospects as well. Running back, Martray Littlejohn is a hometown standout from Crest High School in Boiling Springs. A small, agile back, Littlejohn won two North Carolina 3AA State Championships during his high school career. He brings talent and experience to GWU.
"Everybody likes his character," said Patton. "Martray has to prove that he can play at the next level."
Littlejohn is not the only Bulldog signee who knows about winning championships. Two players come from a history-rich program in Charlotte. Offensive tackle Demario Deese and free safety Daniel Cooke won two state titles at Independence High School, the recent powerhouse of N.C. high school football.
"We're counting on them to play early," said Patton. "They're used to being more disciplined, and they know what it takes because of that winning tradition."
Additionally, the Bulldogs were able to sign Michael Hanna, a 6-foot-2 punter from Suwannee, Ga. Patton hopes that Hanna can fill the tremendous hole that is left by Graham Whitlock, a Div. I-AA All-American punter, who is graduating.
The new Bulldogs hail from five different states. Eight players are from Georgia, five from North Carolina, four from South Carolina and one each from Tennessee and Minnesota.