STATESBORO - The Georgia Southern football program will welcome its newest members to the program Wednesday as the February signing period begins at 7 a.m. (ET). Be sure to follow us on
Twitter as we announce each signee, as well as back here where each player will have their bio posted when their NLI is received and verified by the compliance office.
Georgia Southern 2019 Signing Class
February Class
Name, Pos., Ht., Wt., Hometown, High School (Last School)
Chase Hancock, TE, 6-0, 245, Macclenny, Fla., Baker County
Beau Johnson, TE, 6-1, 225, Plantation, Fla., American Heritage
Darius Lewis, SLOT, 5-10, 170, Jacksonville, Fla., First Coast
Zack Sessa, PK, 6-0, 185, Venice, Fla., Venice
December Class
Name, Pos., Ht., Wt., Hometown, High School (Last School)
Derrick Canteen, CB, 5-11, 175, Evans, Ga., Evans *
Griffin Carder, OL, 6-4, 300, Leesburg, Ga., Lee County
Caree Collier, ILB, 6-0, 190, North Augusta, Ga., North Augusta
Justin Ellis, DE, 6-2, 245, Roswell, Ga., Roswell (Syracuse) ^
Reynard Ellis, ILB, 6-1 , 220, Birmingham, Ala., Shades Valley (Furman) ^
Gerald Green, RB, 5-9, 185, Columbus, Ga., East Coweta *
Verneal Henshaw Jr., OL, 6-4, 250, Palm Coast, Fla., Flagler Palm Coast
Amaru Herring, DL, 6-1, 260, Beulaville, N.C., East Duplin
Jaden Jenkins, QB, 6-3, 195, Bartow, Ga., Jefferson County
J.D. King, RB, 5-11, 210, Fitzgerald Ga., Fitzgerald (Oklahoma State) *
Javonte McGriff, OL, 6-1, 270, Thomasville, Ga., Thomasville *
Tremaine Osborne, S, 6-0, 180, Montgomery, Ala., Park Crossing
Treun Pace, S, 6-0, 180, Pelham, Ga., Pelham *
Aaron Pyron, OL, 6-4, 310, Stone Mountain, Ga., Arabia Mountain
Java'n Singletary, S, 6-0, 185, Bonaire, Ga., Veterans *
Emil Smith, WR, 6-1, 170, Attalla, Ala., Etowah
David Spaulding, CB, 6-2, 175, Hinesville, Ga., Bradwell Institute *
AJ Watkins, DL, 6-2, 270, Fairburn, Ga., Langston Hughes *
Jordan Wiggins, OL, 6-4, 265, Tallahassee, Fla., Godby
Anthony Wilson, CB/S, 5-10, 185, Columbia, S.C., Spring Valley
^ - already enrolled at Georgia Southern
* - January enrollee
Georgia Southern 2019 February Signing Class (listed alphabetically)
Player Bios
Chase Hancock
Tight End
6-0 • 245 • Fr.
Macclenny, Fla.
Baker County HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Baker County High for Coach Jamie Rogers … Selected for the NFFCA Senior Bowl … Named second-team All-First Coast by the Florida Times-Union as a defensive lineman … Had 89 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, as a senior … Named second-team all-district … Also participated in track & field, throwing the discus and shot put …Was also a member of the weightlifting team … Voted vice president of his class.
PERSONAL: Born Chase Klate Hancock on September 12 in Orange Park, FL … Son of Klate Hancock and Jackie Wilmott … Has three sisters: Taylor Hancock, London Wilmott and Hailey Hancock.
INTENDED MAJOR: Accounting
Beau Johnson
Tight End
6-1 • 225 • Fr.
Plantation, Fla.
American Heritage HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at American Heritage High for Coach Patrick Surtain … Selected for the Freedom Bowl … Rated as the No. 79 tight end in the country and the No. 256 player in the state of Florida by 247Sports Composite Rankings … Listed as the No. 245 player in Florida by Scout … Ranked as the No. 87 tight end in the country and the No. 249 player in the Sunshine State by 247Sports … Helped lead his team to two state titles … Also played baseball.
PERSONAL: Born Beau Alexander Johnson on October 20 in Pembroke Pines, FL … Son of Rhonda and Charles E. Johnson Jr. … Both his parents went to the University of Miami … Has a brother, Brandon … Father was a two-time All-Star catcher with the Florida Marlins (1994–1998, 2001–2002), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998), the Baltimore Orioles (1999–2000), the Chicago White Sox (2000), the Colorado Rockies (2003–2004), and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2005), winning four consecutive Gold Glove Awards between 1995 and 1998 and a world championship in 1997 with the Marlins … Brother is a wide receiver at Tennessee … Other relatives include Chad Johnson and Fred McGriff.
INTENDED MAJOR: Engineering
Darius Lewis
Slot-Back
5-10 • 170 • Fr.
Jacksonville, Fla.
First Coast HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at First Coast High for Coach Marty Lee … Named honorable mention All-First Coast Football as a senior by the Florida Times-Union … Rated as the No. 181 athlete in the country and the No. 300 player in the state of Florida by 247Sports Composite Rankings … Selected to the NFFCA Senior Bowl as a running back … An All-First Coast selection in track & field as a junior.
PERSONAL: Born Darius Kelo Lewis on February 1 in Jacksonville … Son of Niteria Gamble and grandson of Sheriel Tucker.
INTENDED MAJOR: Business engineering
Zack Sessa
Place-Kicker
6-0 • 185 • Fr.
Venice, Fla.
Venice HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Venice High for Coach John Peacock … Rated as the No. 1 kicker in the country by kornbluekicking.com … Named first-team all-area by both the Venice Herald-Tribune and The Sarasota Herald-Tribune as a senior … Averaged 53.1 on his 65 kickoffs with 49 touchbacks and made 26-of-27 PAT kicks … Made 7-of-8 field goals with a long of 47 yards … Rated as the No. 22 kicker in the country and the No. 353 player in the state of Florida by 247Sports Composite Rankings … Listed as the No. 245 player in Florida by Scout … Ranked as the No. 23 kicker in the country and the No. 344 player in the Sunshine State by 247Sports … Listed as the No. 43 kicker in the country by ESPN Recruiting … Earned first-team all-state and helped lead his team to a state championship as a junior … Converted 54-of-57 PAT attempts and 8-of-13 field goal tries as a freshman … During his sophomore and junior seasons, made 146-of-160 extra point attempts and 7-of-13 field goal tries … Named special teams player of the year by the Venice Herald-Tribune as a senior for the fourth time … Caught five touchdown passes his final season … As a junior, named first-team all-area and special teams player of the year by the Venice Herald-Tribune … Also named first-team all-state by the Florida High School Athletic Association … Named all-area honorable mention by the Venice Herald-Tribune and special teams player of the year as sophomore … Named first-team all-area and the special teams player of the year by the Venice Herald-Tribune as a freshman … Also named second-team all-state by the FHSAA … Holds the school record with a 50-yard field goal … Is the fourth all-time leading scorer in Venice High history with 322 points scored … Graduated with the most field goals made in school history:(22) and extra points made (226).
PERSONAL: Born Zackary Joseph Sessa on May 22 in Danbury, CT … Son of Jennifer Sessa and the late Thomas Sessa … Has two siblings, Dylan and Tori.
INTENDED MAJOR: Undecided
