HU adds players with FBS experience, NSU loads up on JUCO talent on signing day
The early signing period started Wednesday, and both Hampton University and Norfolk State stocked their respective football rosters with talent.
NSU coach Dawson Odums signed nine players as of Wednesday evening, while HU coach Roberty Prunty added six players.
Hampton picked up two offensive linemen from the transfer portal with FBS experience, along with Phoebus High star lineman Emery D’Urso — ranked 29th by The Pilot and Daily Press in the 757’s Class of 2024.
With star running back Darran Butts graduating, the Pirates went to the portal to address the gap in the roster and added UVA transfer Amaad Foston.
“We have completed Phase I of our recruiting and have added two high school standouts and four transfers to our roster for 2024,” Prunty said in a release. “We addressed our need for offensive linemen and added a local player who played on three state championship teams at Hampton’s Phoebus High. This concludes Phase I of our recruiting efforts this year. Phase II will be completed in February and Phase III will be in the spring of 2024 as we continue the recruiting process.”
Norfolk State added nine players on signing day, including five from the junior-college or Division II ranks. The Spartans lost two quarterbacks to the transfer portal in the past month and addressed that by adding JUCO quarterback Devon Tott and high school quarterback Vinson Berry from Georgia.
The Spartans beefed up offensive positions, with seven of the nine players signed on the offensive side of the ball.
Hampton University signees
RB Amaad Foston, 6-0, 212, Milledgeville, Ga./UVA
OL Zach Perkins, 6-3, 215, Tampa, Fla./Maryland and South Florida
OL Omari Allen, 6-4, 300, Henderson, N.C./East Carolina
OL Emery D’Urso, 6-4, 290, Hampton/Phoebus High
DB Randy Jordan Jr., 5-10, 190, Tulare, Calif./Fresno State and Rhode Island
LB Zekai Wimberly, 6-2, 230. West Orange, N.J./West Orange High
Norfolk State signees
WR Jahee Blake, 6-5, 220, Lynchburg/ Tennessee State
DL Dawson Rivers, 6-2, 245, Tucker, Ga./Georgia Military
DB Eric Ivory Jr, 6-0, 188, Vienna, Ga./Southeast Missouri State
RB La’tavion Lowe, 5-10, 195, Chesterfield/L.C. Bird High
QB Devon Tott, 6-2, 182, Mandeville, La./Copiah-Lincoln CC
WR Jacquez Jones, 6-0, Orlando, Fla./Lane College
OL Bryson Hurst, 6-6, 320, Gautier, Miss./Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
WR Carlos Martin, 5-9, 151, Laurel, Miss./Copiah-Lincoln CC
QB Vinson Berry, 6-3, 200, Fairburn, Ga./Creekside High
RB/DB Robert Kendrick, 5-10, 170, Kings Mountain, N.C./Kings Mountain High
WR Shane Kelley, 5-11, 170, Fairburn, Ga./Creekside High
