STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern University Football received commitments from 23 student-athletes on Wednesday (February 3) to enroll at the University and join the Eagle football team in 2010. Head Coach Jeff Monken introduced his first signing class during an afternoon press conference in the Dan J. Parrish, Sr. Football Center.

"We are thrilled with the young men who are joining our program," said Eagles Head Coach Jeff Monken. "It is an exciting day for all of us - especially the kids. We're most looking forward to having them join our team. Our staff did a great job in assembling this class. The enthusiasm they showed was the difference in us being able to sign high-quality student-athletes who will be Eagles this fall." 

Georgia Southern Football 2010 Signing Class

Robert Brown (RB, 5-11 1/2, 199) Macon (Westside-Macon)
Region I AAAA Offensive Player of the Year... first-team All-Region selection as a senior... helped lead Seminoles to 11-2 record and Elite 8 appearance... rushed for 1,917 yards 274 carries and 22 touchdowns as a senior... averaged 6.99 yards per rush and 147.5 yards per game... had six receptions for 80 yards and one TD... 2009 Macon Touchdown Club Back of the Year and earned "Back of the Week" honors three times... named one of "Middle Georgia's 12 to Treasure" by the Macon Telegraph... All-Middle Georgia first team selection at running back... Westside-Macon team MVP following 2009 season... selected to play in the 2009 Georgia Coaches North-South game... gained 770 yards in junior season... coached by Cedric Risper.

Tray Butler (A-Back, 5-9, 179) Stockbridge (Woodland)
Selected to 2009 4AAA All-Region team... 71 career receptions for 1,525 yards... scored 25 career touchdowns for Wolfpack... earned second-team All-Region honors as a junior... named Woodland High School Player of the Year as a junior and senior... played for Coach Scott Schmitt... son of Leartis Butler.

Dorian Byrd (OL, 6-1, 245) Macon (Westside-Macon)
First-team All-Region as a senior... graded out an average of 90 percent during senior season... three-time "Lineman of the Week" for Westside-Macon as a senior... named Macon Touchdown Club Lineman of the Week (2009)... coached by Cedric Risper.

Carlos Cave (LB, 5-10, 188) Macon (Westside-Macon)
First-team All-Region pick at inside linebacker as a senior following first-team All-Region selection at outside linebacker as a junior... recorded 85 tackles and six sacks as a senior for the Seminoles... also had one fumble recovery and one interception, scoring touchdowns on each... voted by team as "Spirit of the Defense" as a senior... at OLB as a junior, recorded 112 tackles and four interceptions with one returned for a touchdown... sleected as lineman of the week vs. Jones County in 2008 with two interceptions, including one a touchdown... won team's Most Improved Award as a junior... coached by Cedric Risper... son of Renita Tate.

Justice Ejike (DT, 6-1, 241) Covington (Newton County)
Pronounced: E-gee-key

All-State honorable mention at offensive tackle as a senior... 2-AAAAA first team All-Region Offense and Defense... also tabbed as first-team All-Newton County Offense and Defense... served as Rams defensive captain with 65 tackles and team-leading eight sacks... also recorded 21 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and 10 quarterback pressures... played for Coach Nick Collins... son of Angie Ejike.

Aaron Fisher (B-Back, 5-5 ¾, 188) Tulsa, Okla. (Central)
Gained 774 yards as a senior with 12 touchdowns... averaged 8.15 yards per carry... played on defense as junior racking up over 100 tackles... helped lead Braves to the Oklahoma 5A state playoffs for the first time in 13 years... named most improved player by his teammates... selected to first- team All-District... senior team captain... runs a 4.5 40-yard dash... played for Coach Corey Russell... son of Michael and Bernadette Fisher.

Alex Ford (A-Back, 5-11, 177) Nashville, Tenn. (Franklin)
Repeat selection as Region 6-5A Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior... voted first-team All-State by Tennessee Sports Writers as a junior... helped lead Rebels to 10-3 mark in 2009... carried 433 times for 3,328 yards and 49 touchdowns during his career... averaged 7.7 yards per carry... coached by Craig Clayton... parents are Jerry and Molly Ford.

Josh Gebhardt (DE, 6-2, 235) Douglasville (Landmark Christian Academy)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution First-Team All-State selection as senior... Offense-Defense All-American in 2009... Region 5A Defensive Player of the Year... three-time member of Region 5A first team as a sophomore, junior and senior... earned Region 5A honorable mention recognition as a freshman... Georgia Sports Writers Association All-State honorable mention... played for Kenny Dallas... son of Aron and Marianne Gebhardt.

Matthew Gilbert (OL, 6-2, 275) Marietta (Walton)
First-team All-Region 6-5A... first-team All-Cobb County... Cobb County Senior Bowl participant...three-year starter for Raiders...coached by Rocky Hidalgo... parents are Jimmy and Rhonda Gilbert.

Marcus Howton (OL, 6-2, 315) Pensacola, Fla. (West Florida)
First-team All-District I pick... Northwest Florida All-Star team as selected by Pensacola Sports Association... Pensacola News-Journal All-Area team...recorded 35 pancake blocks as a senior... helped team to 245 yards-per game average in triple option-based offense... three-year letter winner in football and track for Jaguars... FCA Challenger Award recipient... team captain... moved to varsity squad after five games as a sophomore... holds school record for discus throw... played for Coach Ronnie Gilliland... son of Crystal Cabico.

Omari Jones (LB, 6-0 1/2,199) Jonesboro (Mundy's Mill)
Pronounced: OH-mar-ee

Led Tigers as a senior with 82 tackles and seven sacks... first-team All-Region 4-AAAAA team at linebacker position... defensive captain as a junior... recorded 54 tackles during 2008 season... earned three-star ranking from Rivals.com... member of the Region 4 6-A All-Academic team... played for Coach Peniel J. Dany... parents are Marcellus and Oneatha Jones.

Zach Lonas (OL, 6-1, 275) Acworth (Etowah)
Three-year starter and two-way player at offensive line and defensive tackle... All-Cherokee County Gridiron Club selection as a junior and senior... helped Eagles to 8-2 overall record as a senior and 350 yards per game in offense (262 rushing, 88 passing)... recorded 29 tackles including four tackles for loss and two sacks... had 11 hurries and a fumble recovery... coached by Bill Stewart.

Javonte Martin (CB, 5-9, 170) Tampa, Fla. (Plant)
Tampa Tribune and St. Pete Times All-County first team as a senior... garnered second-team honors from Tampa Tribune and honorable mention recognition from St. Pete Times as a junior... voted top corner in the state of Florida as a junior and senior...helped Panthers to 13-1 record and state championship as a senior... part of the 14-1 Plant state championship team as a junior... finished career at Plant with 112 total tackles including 81 solos with 10 interceptions and 50 pass break-ups... also had 13 career tackles for loss... recorded 53 total tackles with 42 solo in senior season... also had three interceptions and 23 pass break-ups... recorded 46 total tackles (30 solo) with five interceptions and 24 pass break-ups as a junior... won Playmaker award as a junior... All-Suncoast first team in 2009 following honorable mention status in 2008... All-Western Conference first team pick as a senior and second team selection as a junior... grabbed two interceptions to go along with 13 total tackles (nine solo) and three pass break-ups... Panthers were 53-4 during his career... first four-year varsity letterman under Coach Robert J. Weiner... son of Sonya White and Leroy Blue, Jr.

Trevor McBurnett (OL, 6-1, 300) Lawrenceville (Peachtree Ridge)
Tabbed first-team All-Region 8-AAAAA as a junior and senior... First-team All-Gwinnett County as a junior and second-team selection as a senior... honorable mention all-state pick at offensive lineman for junior year as Peachtree Ridge finished as runner-up in 5A... pre-season all-state selection by Atlanta Journal-Constitution for senior campaign... helped lead team to 10-3 mark and quarterfinals... member of the Lions offensive line that did not allow a sack over 28 games and two years... finished 10^th in state weightlifting meet as a senior... Scholar-Athlete award winner... joins current Eagle Mitch Williford in coming from Peachtree Ridge... played for Bill Ballard... son of Todd and Mia McBurnett.

Jerick McKinnon (QB, 5-9, 177) Marietta (Sprayberry)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution first-team All-State pick at quarterback... tabbed first-team All-State by Georgia Sports Writers Association as an athlete...named Region 7 AAAA Player of the Year... three-year starter for the Yellow Jackets... passed for 1,500 yards and ran for 1,300 as a senior... Cobb County Touchdown Club Quarterback of the Year... also participated as a member of the track and field team... played for Coach Billy Shackelford...son of Rungie and Frances McKinnon.

Blake Riley (DT, 6-1, 250) Crescent (McIntosh Academy)
Three-year starter for Buccaneers team that advanced to state playoffs... first-team All-Region 2AA as a junior... second-team All-Region 2AA for offensive and defensive line as a senior... WTOC Super 11 selection in 2009... most valuable defensive lineman as a junior and senior... recorded 15 sacks over last two seasons... team captain and coaches award winner as a senior... played for Coach Robby Robinson... son of Alexandria Riley.

Darries Robinson (RB, 5-8, 165) Brunswick (Glynn Academy)
Brunswick News Coastal All-Purpose Player of the Year as a senior... first-team All-Region and all-area at running back as a junior... Region 2AAA All-purpose Player of the Year as a senior... amassed 1,344 total yards during senior season with 426 rushing, 290 receiving and 529 return yards... rushed for 1,100 yards and had 600 receiving yards as a junior... starting point guard averaging eight points and 10 assists per game for 16-3 Red Terrors squad... coached by Rob Ridings.

Michael Spaulding (LB, 5-11, 224) Fayetteville (Sandy Creek)
Only two-way starter (running back and linebacker) for Patriots state championship team... four-year starter... All-Region team at linebacker... recorded 94 tackles with seven tackles for loss... team captain... Coach Chip Walker called him the "heart and soul of the team."

Deion Stanley (S, 5-9 1/2, 185) Dry Pond (Twiggs County)
First-team All-State pick at defensive back as a senior and Defensive Player of the Year of Middle Georgia... also earned All-Middle Georgia honors at defensive back... Georgia Sports Writers Association first-team member at defensive back... threw for 543 yards passing and gained 283 yards rushing... scored four rushing touchdowns and had one as a receiver for the Cobras... recorded 84 tackles with 10 interceptions as a senior... forced two fumbles... played for Coach Dexter Copeland.

Julian Suber (QB, 5-9, 165) Lawrenceville (Brookwood)
Pronounced: SOO-ber

Named to the 2009 Gwinnett All-County Team at quarterback... three-year letterman and two-time Brookwood Offensive Player of the Week ... rushed for 957 yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior season... averaged 6.5 yards per carry... completed 12 of 18 passes with four touchdowns in three games... 2008 Old Spice "National Player of the Year" nominee and twice named Sun Times "Player of the Week"... rushed for 1,784 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry as a junior... ran back two kick returns (80 and 85 yards) and one punt return (65 yards) for touchdowns... one of three sophomores to earn a spot on Broncos varsity squad ... won MVP-Coaches Award as a freshman... played for coach Mark Crews... parents are Alvin and Renae Keitt.

Lavelle Westbrooks (S, 5-11 1/2, 174) Riverdale (Riverdale)
Earned first-team All-Region honors as a junior and second-team all-region honors as a senior... team captain as a senior... led Raiders in interceptions in 2008... voted best defensive back for Riverdale for 2008 season... placed second in triple jump and fifth in long jump at Regional 4-AAAAA track meet... in coached by Nick Davis.

Rashad Williams (LB, 6-1, 223) Dunwoody (Dunwoody)
First-team All-Region and All-DeKalb County at defensive end... Wildcats team leader in tackles and sacks in 2009 with 88 total, 58 solo and six sacks... also posted 18 tackles for loss and returned one interception for a touchdown... team captain as a senior... selected for team "Player of the Week" honors three times... ... two-sport letterman in football and track... threw shotput, discus and ran 200 meter dash... played for Coach Michael Youngblood... son of Genita Williams.

Ezayi Youyoute (QB, 5-11 1/2, 171) Wauchula, Fla. (Hardee County)
Pronunciation: AH-sigh YOU-yute

As a senior, rushed for 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns on 97 carries... averaged - per rush and 108 yards per game... passed for an additional 350 yards and five touchdowns... led Wildcats to a 9-2 record and 2009 FHSAA Class 2A District 6 championship... team's offensive most valuable player as junior and senior... recorded 20 tackles, seven passes defended and four interceptions in spot play at defensive back... returned interceptions for a total of 141 yards and one touchdown... awarded the L. Dale Carlton Award presented to the most valuable player who demonstrates dedication and leadership in the sport of football... coached by Tim Price... parents are Virgil and Cederina Youyoute.