TALLAHASSEE,Fl (Feb.1) - Coach Joe Taylor Announced the 2012 signing class today at 3 p.m. at the Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse. With 27 seniors last season, there were holes to fill on the Rattler football squad.
Taylor is very excited about the recruits this year, possibly his best class ever. "We pretty much met all of our needs. I think its very important to get local talent. It probably stems from our first-ever 7-on-7 tournaments. When you can go to the local talent that won a state championship, it's certainly helpful...and when they play, they bring in a whole community of people," Taylor said.
Taylor is also making preparation for future seasons. "We are bringing in kids that can help us in the future in some positions. In building a program, you must get what you need immediately and down the line. When a young man comes in right away, he normally plays on special teams, but it has happened where kids come right in and play considerable time at a position. The guys on my wall who are NFL players, had the caliber of talent to play their first year," Taylor said.
Here is a list of the class of 2012:
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Amos, Christopher 6-2 180 SS Fr. McDonough, Ga. / Henry County
Snake Bites: Recorded 10 INTs his senior season earning First Team All-State and Second Team All-District honors; He was named the team's Most Valuable Player his junior and senior season.
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Blanton, Colby 6-0 175 K Fr. Jacksonville, Fla. / Atlantic Coast HS
Snake Bites: Finished season nine-for-11 in field goals with his longest being for 48 yards, while tallying a 42.0 punting average; Also had 80 percent of his kickoffs for touch backs. Served as team Captain his senior season, while earning First Team All-Area and Atlantic Coast Honors and participated in the Shrine Bowl;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Blount, Akil 6-3 215 LB Fr. Clayville, Pa./Linsly HS
Snake Bites: Recorded 49 tackles and seven sacks earning First Team All-Conference and All-State honors, while serving as Team Captain; In addition, broke the school record for sacks; Also played in the Nike All-Star Game; Son of NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount, that played for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-1983);is also an outstanding basketball player.
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Bone, Trevor 6-3 225 OLB Fr. Orlando, Fla. /Winter Springs HS
Snake Bites: Recorded 58 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks, earning First Team All-State and All-Conference honors, while serving as Team Captain his senior season; Played in the Nike All-
Star Game;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Caffey, Timmy 6-4 210 QB Fr. Port St. Lucie, Fla. / Centennial
Snake Bites: Served as Team Captain his senior season as he reaped First Team All-State and All-Area honors and participated in the Nike All Star Game;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Cunningham, Neal 6-2 190 FS Fr. Pompano, Fla./Pompano Beach HS
Snake Bites: Recorded 52 tackles and six interceptions on the season, while leading his team to a 2A Region Four Championship, while earning First Team All-Area honors; Served as the team's Co-Captain and was rated a two-star athlete by Rivals.com; Enrolled in January of 2012;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Escandon, Ignacio 6-4 285 OL Fr. Miami, Fla. / Hialeah HS
Snake Bites: Received First Team All-Dade County Honors; Played in the Dolphins Under-Armor All-Star Game; Recorded 10 pancakes in a game;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Gay, Jamal 6-3 275 OL Fr. Tallahassee, Fla. / Florida HS
Snake Bites: Received First Team All-State honors; Played in the Nike All-Star Game; Served as Team Captain his Senior Season and rated as a 3-Star Player;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Godbolt, Marshane 5-10 175 CB Fr. Crawfordville, Fla./Wakulla HS
Snake Bites: Recorded 87 tackles and five interceptions his senior season earning First Team All-Area honors.
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Hall, Bryce 6-4 270 OL Fr. Ft. Pierce, Fla./ Central HS
Snake Bites: Recorded 10 pancakes in a game his senior season earning First Team All-Area honors, while serving as the team's Co-Captain; Also played in the Treasure Coast and the North vs. South All-Star Game;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Helms, Caleb 6-4 255 DE Fr. Tallahassee, Fla. / N. Fla. Christian
Snake Bites: Recorded eight sacks and five tackles for loss his senior season earning First Team All-Area honors, leading North Florida Christian to a perfect 13-0 season winning a State Championship.
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Lennon, Daniel 6-3 290 OL Fr. Miramar, Fla. / Miramar HS
Snake Bites : Team Captain Senior Season; Second Team All-Broward County; Played in Nike Under Armor Games; Recorded 15 Pancakes in a game; Brother of FAMU wide receiver Lenworth Lennnon;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Lewis, Victor 6-1 175 CB Fr. Orlando, Fla. / Lake Nona HS
Snake Bites: Earned First Team All-District honors and was named the team's Most Valuable Player and was named the Defensive Backs Most Valuable Player.
Name Ht. Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Lovejoy, Michael 6-3 280 DL Fr. Pensacola, Fla. / Escambia HS
Snake Bites: Recorded 47 tackles, ten tackles for loss and six sacks his senior season earning First Team All-State and All County Honors and served as the Team Captain.
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Orr, DaLawrence 6-3 175 WR Fr. Miami, Fla./McArthur HS
Snake Bites: Earned First Team All-State and All Area honors; Served as Team Captain his senior season and played in the Nike All-Star Game; In his senior season recorded 700 receiving yards on 40 catches with 12 TDs on the season.
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Patterson, Zerrie 6-3 315 OL Fr. Ft. Pierce, Fla. / Central HS
Snake Bites: First Team All-Area; Second Team All-State; Played in the Treasure Coast and North vs. South All-Star game; Recorded 10 pancakes in a game;
Name Ht. Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Riley, Tyler 6-0 220 LS Fr. Ocala, Fla. / Ocala Trinity Catholic
Snake Bites: Lead his team to a 2009 State Championship and earned First Team All-Area honors and served as the Team's Captain his senior season; Also a member of the Honor Roll;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Rios, Ivan 6-3 300 OL Fr. Orlando, Fla. / East River HS
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Sarvary, Drew 6-6 315 OL Fr. Tallahassee, Fla. / N. Fla. Christian
Snake Bites: Led a North Florida Christian to a State Championship as they finished the season a perfect 13-0; Recorded 10 pancakes in game and was named Team Captain his senior season;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Turner, Reggie 6-4 330 OL Fr. Kissimmee, Fla. / Osceola HS
Snake Bites: Received First Team and Second Team All - Broward County honors; Team Captain Senior season and recorded 12 pancakes his senior season; The No. 5 Wrestler in the State of Florida his junior season.
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
White, David 6-2 200 OLB Fr. Tampa, Fla./Jefferson HS
Snake Bites: Recorded 87 tackles for ten sacks earning First Team All-State and All-Conference honors, while serving as Team Captain; Grandson of FAMU Hall of Famer Chuck White, who was a three sport athlete at FAMU during the 1950's;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Williams, Denzel 6-2 275 LS Fr. Wildwood, Fla. / Wildwood HS
Snake Bites: Served as Team Captain his senior season, while earning First Team and All State Honors; Also member of the Honor Roll;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Williams, Ziaire 6-3 225 OLB Fr. Apopka, Fla. / Wekiva, Fla.
Snake Bites: Recorded 60 tackles, eight sacks and two tackles for loss earning First Team and All-County honor his senior, while serving as the Team Captain .
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Chisholm, Romario 6-4 230 DE Fr. Orlando, Fla. / Evans HS
Snake Bites: Earned First Team All-Metro and All-Area honor, while serving as Team Captain his senior season and recording ten sacks on the season; Played in the Nike All-Star Game;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Williams, Lee 5-10 180 RB Fr. Tallahassee, Fla. / Maclay HS
Snake Bites: Earned First Team -State and All Area honors; Rushed for 2,300 yards and 28 TDs, while serving as Team Captain his senior season and is rated as a two-star athlete by Rivals.com;
Name Ht Wt. Pos. Class. Hometown / Previous School
Mayo, Tyreece 6-1 175 FS Fr. Eufaula, Ala./ Eufaula HS
Snake Bites: Recorded 18 career INTs and 72 tackles. He was named the 5A Player of the Year, Outstanding Defensive Back and Out Standing Wide Receiving and earned First Team All-State honors;
