A year ago, Samford football coach Chris Hatcher used the transfer portal, mixed in with some key junior college transfers, to help build a roster that won 11 games, captured an outright Southern Conference title for the first time and advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals.
It appears that Hatcher is taking the same approach as last year. Rory Starkey, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound wide receiver graduate transfer from Penn, announced his commitment in late November. In his final three seasons at Penn, Starkey had 119 catches with 14 touchdowns. Samford does have a commitment from high school offensive lineman Tyler Douthit of Woodstock High in Georgia. The 6-5, 280 Douthit announced his commitment on Twitter in early December.
For the most part, though, most of the players who announced on social media that they received an offer from Samford came from the transfer portal or junior college.
Transfer portal
Damion Charity, CB, 6-1, 178, Old Dominion
Frank Lee, OLB, 6-2, 225, Carson-Newman,
Ray Eldridge, DT, 6-4, 310, Richmond
Jeffrey Griffin Jr., DL, 6-0, 301, Northern Illinois
Hayden Harris, DL, 6-5, 260, UCLA
Cody Jantzen, LB, 6-3, 230, University of Sioux Falls
Gage Larvadain, WR, 5-10, 160, Southeastern Louisiana
James Makszin, DL, 6-3, 290, Rhode Island
Michael Pleas, OLB, 6-3, 232, Jackson State
Jerrad Price, DL, 6-2, 290, Davidson
Lucas Raber, TE, 6-3, 230, Davidson
Omar Rogers, S, 6-0, 200, Elon
Jake Saltonstall, DL, 6-4, 260, New Mexico
Shon Stephens, CB, 6-0, 180, West Liberty
Isaiah Watson, DB, 5-10, 175, Eastern Michigan
Junior college
MarQuez Baxter, OLB/SS, 6-4, 208, NE Oklahoma A&M
T.J. Gilbert, ILB, 6-2, 240, Iowa Central
Jaden Mosley, S, 6-2, 205, Hutchinson CC
Darrian King, OL, 6-4, 310, East Mississippi College
Jamarian Samuel, RB 5-10, 190, Hinds Community College
In other recruiting news:
*Montgomery Catholic’s Josh Palmer said he’s been re-offered by the new UAB coaching staff. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Palmer could play either tight end or wide receiver. He has several reported offers with UAB and Georgia State being the favorites to get his commitment, according to On3 Sports.
*Former Jacksonville State defensive lineman Mitchell Etheridge III is transferring to North Carolina A&T. Etheridge, who graduated from Shades Valley High, played in two games in 2021 as a true freshman and six games this past season. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Etheridge had five tackles in the six games this season but he didn’t play after the overtime win over Kennesaw State on Oct. 1.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email steve.irvine@1819news.com.
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