SIGNING DAY BROUGHT TO YOU 111 SOUTH

STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern football program announced Wednesday a football recruiting class composed of 24 student-athletes who signed national letters of intent with the Eagles. Included in those 24 student-athletes are four Florida players who signed Letters of Intent today on the first day of the Signing Period who round out the class.

"While we signed most of our class in December, we wanted to leave spots open for today that would go to the right fits for our program," said head coach Chad Lunsford. "I think we signed four talented players who will help us go from good to great. They're all successful players, good kids, know how to win and embody the GS Man. In all, this class of 24 student-athletes will go a long way in shaping the future of this program and we're excited to be able to add Chase, Beau, Darius and Zack to the class."

Signing with the Eagles Wednesday were three offensive skill players and one of the top kickers in the country. Tight ends Chase Hancock (Macclenny; Baker County HS) and Beau Johnson (Plantation; American Heritage HS), slot receiver Darius Lewis (Jacksonville; First Coast HS) and place-kicker Zack Sessa (Venice; Venice HS) round out the GS class.

In all, GS welcomed 13 players from the state of Georgia, six from Florida, three from Alabama, and one apiece from North Carolina and South Carolina, all states whose borders touch Georgia's. 

"Georgia Southern sits in a prime area for recruiting," Lunsford said. "We always put a heavy emphasis on recruiting our state and adding GS Men from the state of Georgia. Our recruiting radius also includes the states that border Georgia and we had the opportunity to add players from those states today. For Georgia Southern, there is no need to go outside the southeast except for special circumstances."

In all The Eagles added 11 defensive players (three defensive linemen, two linebackers and six secondary players), 12 on offense (five linemen, two running backs, two receivers, two tight ends and a quarterback) and a specialist (one kicker).

GS will open the 2019 football season on Aug. 31 at LSU. Season ticket renewals will are underway for the 2019 season.

Georgia Southern fans can join the Eagle coaching staff at the Hall on Vine for The Unveiling 2019 as the staff will discuss the signing class and the upcoming spring football session! Tickets are only $10 in advance ($15 at the door) and include complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres! Buy yours now: http://bit.ly/2RWjGI2

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

Georgia Southern 2019 Signing Class (listed alphabetically) - DECEMBER BIOS
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
* - expected 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