Western Carolina University

Feb. 1, 2011

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head football coach Dennis Wagner announced the signing of 13 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play football for the Catamounts beginning in the fall of 2011 on National Signing Day. In June, WCU added a pair of local recruits in Erwin High School's Garrett Brown and Polk County High's Tyler Philpott.

All told, Wagner and the Catamounts currently have 22 officially in this year's incoming class including eight junior and one sophomore transfers, with one player transferring and having enrolled last spring semester.

Of those signed on NSD, six are junior college transfers and six are incoming freshmen from either high or preparatory school. Two additional linemen signed to bring the JuCo class to eight (Feb. 8). Junior transfer Isaiah Moore was WCU's lone mid-semester transfer and joins the incoming signing class.

Ten of the 22 incoming players are on the offensive side of the ball and 11 on defense including five linemen with one specialist. Combined, eight players are slated to play along the offensive or defensive line.

"We are very excited about the future of Western Carolina football and the fresh faces that we are bringing to Cullowhee," said Wagner on Wednesday afternoon. "The junior college players bring instant size and experience on both the offensive and defensive lines, while we were able to sure up some depth on the perimeter with the young and talented high school student-athletes."

He added, "Although myself and the staff are pleased with the players we are bringing in, our work here is not done. Over the next few weeks, we will continue to bring players in to finish out our 2011 class. In the end, we are looking to having a signing class of about 18 new Catamounts."

Western Carolina Football and the Catamount Club held a National Signing Day Recap party in conjunction with the Catamounts' home men's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 12 on-campus in Cullowhee. The event will be held in the First Floor Hospitality Room in the Ramsey Center prior to WCU's Southern Conference North Division showdown with the Samford Bulldogs.

The event, which was open to the public, began at 12:30 pm and included light refreshments. WCU head football coach Dennis Wagner and his staff will be on hand to talk about this year's signing class and will also feature video highlights of each signee.

As per NCAA rules, prospective recruits (ninth grade and up as well as individuals enrolled at two-year schools), signees and family members of prospects or signees are not permitted to attend this event.

Updated Tuesday, June 28 at 4:30 pm

Olukayode Akinmoladun
OL - 6-2 - 320 lbs. - Jr.
Kansas City, Mo. (College of the Sequoias / Grandview HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Originally attended Independence Community College out of high school ... Played in nine games at Independence recording 20 tackles along the defensive line including 10 solo stops ... Transferred to the College of the Sequoias where he converted to offensive line, starting at right guard ... Committed to transfer to Kansas State before signing with Western Carolina; At Grandview HS: Finished with 115 career hits including 16 sacks in three seasons along the defensive front ... Was an honorable mention all-conference selection as a junior, earning second team all-conference accolades in his final year as a prep.
Personal: Is the son of Sherryee Akinmoladun ... Is one of eight children.

Rainey Ala
DL - 6-2 - 315 lbs. - Jr.
Pago Pago, American Samoa (Monterey Peninsula College / Tafuna HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Appeared in 15 games over two seasons at Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, Calif., recording 40 total tackles with 9.5 for loss and two and a half sacks ... Played for head coach Mike Rasmussen; At Tafuna HS: Played prep football for Jason Magalei ... Tafuna High School is the alma mater of Cincinnati defensive tackle Jonathan Fanene.
Personal: Full name is Kodaro Rainey Ala ... Is the son of Kodaro and Noa Ala ... Has two younger siblings.

Eric Banford
DL - 6-2 - 275 lbs. - Jr.
Newark, Calif. (Foothill College / Newark Memorial HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Was a two-time All-NORCAL Conference selection at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif. ... Recorded 92 total hits in two seasons, amassing 26.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks ... Returned a fumble 96 yards as a freshman for his lone collegiate score ... All told, forced four fumbles while recovering five ... Was a part of two Silicon Valley Bowl championship teams at Foothills, earning Defensive Player of the Game following the 2010 victory; At Newark Memorial HS: Earned first team All-Mission Valley Athletic League honors both his junior and senior seasons ... Was also a first team all-conference selection in track & field throwing the discus.
Personal: Full name is Eric Cameron Banford ... Is the son of Eric, Sr., and Jaime Banford ... Has four younger siblings - Damien, Dante, Kaleb and Tuff Tuff.

Karnorris Benson
DB - 6-1 - 195 lbs.
Atlanta, Ga. (Therrell HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: As a two-way player, amassed over 1,400 yards receiving with 16 touchdowns on offense and recorded 142 career tackles in two varsity seasons at Therrell HS ... Set a city record with nine interceptions his senior season, finishing with 16 career INTs ... Tabbed All-Area by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution (AJC) ... Named Defensive Player of the Year as a junior... Also rushed 17 times for 200 yards and a pair of scores along with completing four passes for 30 yards and a score ... Earned first team All-State as a wide receiver during his final prep season.
Personal: Full name is Karnorris Bernard Benson... Is the son of Lula Kemp.

Petey Boone
RB - 6-0 - 210 lbs.
Ahoskie, N.C. (Hertford County HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Played quarterback, running back and defensive back during his prep career ... Rushed for 47 career touchdowns ... Was a part of Hertford County's 10-2 Northeaster Coastal Conference Championship as a sophomore and led the Bears to a 13-1 mark during his junior season ... Also played high school baseball and basketball earning all-conference honorable mention in 2009-10 in the latter ... As a sophomore, set a school single-game record with nine made 3-pointers.
Personal: Full name is Alfred Alonzo Boone, but prefers to go by "Petey" ... Is the son of Alvin Boone and Joan Godwin ... Has two younger siblings, Jeston and Christopher.

* Added June 28, 2011
Garrett Brown
Ath. - 5-11 - 185 lbs.
Asheville, N.C. (Erwin HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Named the 2010 Asheville Citizen-Times All-Western North Carolina Football Player of the Year after accounting for a WNC-record 55 touchdowns his senior year ... Set a Buncombe County record for passing yards in 2010, amassing 3,429 yards ... Selected to the NCPreps.com 3-A All-State football team as a quarterback ... Is a two-sport athlete and will play both football and baseball at WCU ... An All-Mountain Athletic Conference (MAC) outfielder and catcher, was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 43rd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft ... On the diamond as a senior, hit a team-leading .449 with six home runs, four doubles and 13 RBI ... Stole 17 bases in 18 attempts ... Is expected to play outfield for the Catamount baseball team ... Also played basketball as a prep.

* Added June 28, 2011
Myles Daughtry
WR - 5-9 - 175 lbs. - R-So.
Germantown, Md. (New Mexico / Clarksburg HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU from New Mexico during the summer of 2011 ... Was a key return man for the Lobos, recording a 100-yard kickoff return against UTEP ... Redshirted the 2009 season; At Clarksburg HS: A 2009 graduate of Clarksburg (Md.) HS, which was only founded in 2006 ... Averaged an eye-popping 25.9 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on his 29 catches (750 yards) as a senior team captain for the class 2-A power Coyotes ... Named first team all-league and honorable mention Small School All-State selection in 2008 ... Clarksburg went 10-0 in the regular season before losing in the state semifinals in both 2007 and '08 ... Played for head coach Larry Hurd.

Christon Gill
DB - 6-0 - 180 lbs. - Fr.
Bridgeport, Conn. (Avon Old Farms School / Bridgeport Central HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Was a three-time all-league selection as both a quarterback and defensive back as a prep ... the two-way athlete rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 37 touchdowns, caught 29 passes for 469 yards and six scores while also passing for over 3,000 yards and 21 scores at Bridgeport Central ... On defense at BCHS, was credited with over 230 tackles and 23 interceptions ... Became the first quarterback to win the MVP award at the Thanksgiving Day game ... In one season of post-graduate play at Avon, rushed for 1,159 yards and 20 touchdowns while also hauling in 22 passes for 600 yards and eight TDs - defensively, recorded nine interceptions ... Rated as a two-star athlete out of high school by Rivals.com ... Also played basketball as a prep, earning all-league honors in helping Bridgeport Central win the state championship his senior year ... Was originally recruited by Penn State out of high school.
Personal: Full name is Christon Lamar Gill ... Is the son of Beverly Gill ... Has three siblings - Chakeya, Kelleray and Shynaya ... His brother played football at American International College in Springfield, Mass.

* Added June 28, 2011
Terrence Green
DB - 6-1 - 190 lbs.
Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Helped First Coast HS to an 11-1 record as a senior, falling in the second round of the Florida 5-A playoffs ... As a cornerback, returned a fumble 15 yards for a score against Ribault HS ... Was a high school teammate of current Catamount wide receiver, Deja Alexander.

Isaiah Johnson
WR - 6-1 - 195 lbs.
Montclair, N.C. (Panther Creek HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Spent four years on the varsity team, moving to the senior squad for the final four games of his freshman season ... Two-way player who recorded 71 career tackles including 50 solo stops and eight sacks ... Finished with 13 career interceptions including seven during his senior season returning two for touchdowns in earning first team NCPreps.com All-State at defensive back ... Two-time All-Tri-Nine Conference selection, garnering second team plaudits as a junior and first team as a senior ... Caught 46 passes for 666 yards and 11 touchdowns as a wide receiver in his final prep season helping Panther Creek HS - also nicknamed the Catamounts - go 13-2 and advance to the regional round of the North Carolina state high school playoffs ... Averaged 13 yards on 20 punt returns in his final season ... Listed as a two-star athlete by Rivals.com ... Was also a four-year varsity letterwinner in boys basketball where he earned first team all-conference accolades as a junior.
Personal: Full name is Isaiah Nigel Johnson ... Is the son of Chris and Mary Johnson ... Has three siblings ... His cousin, Keith Hamilton, played professionally for the New York Giants.

Julian Johnson
DL - 6-3 - 235 lbs. - Fr.
Eatonville, Fla. (Lake Highland Prep)
Prior to Western Carolina: A two-way player at Lake Highland Prep for head coach Tim Borcky as a tight end and defensive end ... Was named his team's defensive line MVP and selected to the county all-star game as a senior ... Helped guide the Highlanders to a 10-3 record and a district championship during his senior year, and a 10-2 mark as a junior ... Also participated in track & field as a prep.
Personal: Full name is Julian Edward Johnson ... Is the son of Jay and Portia Johnson ... Was born in Boston, Mass. ... Has two siblings, Jylisa Hill and Jaleah.

Isaiah Moore
DB - 5-11 - 175 lbs.
Garner, N.C. (Hargrave Military Academy / Garner HS)
Notes: Mid-term transfer who enrolled at Western Carolina for the Spring, 2011 semester.
Prior to Western Carolina: Played postgraduate football at Hargrave Military Academy ... Finished with 108 tackles his senior season ... Intercepted 12 passes during his prep career while also blocking three punts.
Personal: Full name is Ronald Isaiah Moore.

* Added June 28, 2011
Tyler Philpott
OL - 6-2 - 280 lbs.
Columbus, N.C. (Polk County HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Was a three-time all-conference selection and was named to the Times-News All-Area team four times ... Named to the 2010 NCPreps.com 2-A All-State football team as an offensive lineman ... Additionally named second team All-Area by the Herald-Journal as a senior ... Tabbed the 2010 Western Highlands Conference Lineman of the Year ... Playing along the defensive line, the team captain recorded 104 tackles and tied the team lead in sacks with eight as a senior in 2010 ... Added 30 tackles for loss, five pass deflections and two fumble recoveries ... Selected to participate in the US Army High School All-American Junior combine program ... Was also tabbed to play in the East-West All-Star game in Greensboro, N.C., during the summer of 2011 ... Played for Polk County HS head coach Bruce Ollis ... Was additionally an undefeated state-championship wrestler, winning the NCHSAA 2-A heavyweight title with a 37-0 record, and played baseball as a prep.

J.D. Polk
DB - 6-1 - 175 lbs.
Fayetteville, N.C. (Jack Britt HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Started one year for the Jack Britt HS Buccaneers, making 30 tackles as a senior as a corner back ... Additionally credited with five pass break-ups ... Helped JBHS post an 11-2 record including a 5-1 mark in 2010 under head coach Richard Bailey ... Tallied 15 tackles as a reserve as a junior in high school.
Personal: Full name is Jeff Dwayne Polk, but goes by "J.D." ... Is the son of Jeff and Janet Polk ... Was born in Anaheim, Calif. ... Is one of seven children ... Had two brothers that played at Virginia Tech (George) and Oregon State.

Isaiah Reupena
DL - 6-2 - 260 lbs. - Jr.
Garden Grove, Calif. (Orange Coast College / Mater Dei HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Earned All-Southern California Football Association (SCFA) East All-conference accolades in 2010 ... Finished with 48 tackles to rank second on the team at OCC with seven tackles for loss and 2.5 TFLs as a defensive tackle ... Also blocked a kick last season ... Earned "Most Inspirational Team Player" as a sophomore ... Received his Associates Degree from Orange Coast College.
Personal: Full name is Isaiah Tone Reupena ... Is the son of Fa'auuga and Rutini Reupena ... His father played point guard for Samoa in the South Pacific game.

De'Von Richardson
DB - 6-0 - 195 lbs. - Jr.
Bowie, Md. (Navy / Bowie HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. ... Played in 12 of Navy's 13 games a year ago including starting the final nine contests in the defensive secondary ... Recorded 55 tackles and four pass breakups a season ago ... Recorded his only interception in a 35-17 victory over Notre Dame at New Meadowlands Stadium ... Attended the Naval Academy Prep School during the 2008-09; At Bowie HS: Graduated from BHS in 2008 where he was a two-sport athlete, lettering in football and track & field ... Was an all-county and all-league selection his senior year while also being named honorable mention All-Met Conference in football.
Personal: Full name is De'Von Keyonte' Richardson ... Is the son of Pamela Richardson ... Was born in Germany where both of his parents were stationed in the Army.

Andre Shishkin
DL - 6-3 - 285 lbs. - Jr.
Izehusk, Russia (Santa Rosa Junior College / Novato HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Accounted for 52 tackles including 12 for loss and nine sacks in two seasons at Santa Rosa ... Recovered a fumble during his freshman season ... Also during his rookie year, set the SRJC defensive line vertical and shuttle run records; Attended Novato HS in Novato, Calif.
Personal: Is the son of Sirgay Shishkin, who lives in Russia, and Elena Shishkin who resides in Petaluma, Calif. ... Has an older sister, Jenny.

Richard Sigmon
K - 5-11 - 160 lbs.
Mount Holly, N.C. (East Gaston HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: A two-time All-Mega-7 Conference selection who garnered first team Gaston Gazette honors as a senior ... Was named Dynamic Performance Sports 2010 Kicker of the Year... Finished his prep career 16-for-21 on field goal attempts including four field goals of over 40 yards during his senior season ... Held a 38-yard punting average as a senior ... Went 6-for-7 on field goals as a junior with his lone miss of the season blocked ... Was a 4.5 star kicker by Chris Sailer kicking exposure camp ... Additionally played club soccer for the North Meck Soccer Club for seven years.
Personal: Full name is Richard DeWitt Sigmon ... Is the son of Mike and Jeannie Sigmon.

Jawan Simmons
QB - 6-2 - 195 lbs.
Syracuse, N.Y. (North Carolina Tech / Nottingham HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Attended North Carolina Tech after graduating from Nottingham HS in Syracuse, N.Y., in June of 2010 ... Tabbed first team offense on the New York Section 3 National Division Class A football team as a junior at Nottingham HS ... Threw for more than 3,000 yards during his career with the Bulldogs ... Rated a three-star quarterback coming out of high school class 2010 by Rivals.com ... Preseason top 10 in New York State by rivals.com while also ranked as one of the Top 125 QBs in the nation by Scout.com ... Played in the Upstate-Downstate All-Star game in New York at the Carrier Dome during the summer of 2010 ... Listed in the 2010 preseason issue of Super Prep Magazineþ ... Guided NC Tech to a 9-1 record a season ago ... Also played basketball at Nottingham HS.
Personal: Is the son of Bill and Helen Simmons.

* Added June 28, 2011
Steven Steiner
OL - 6-5 - 320 lbs. - R-Jr.
Perris, Calif. (Palomar College / Vista Murrieta HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU during the summer of 2011 after two seasons at Palomar College in California ... Suffered an injury during a preseason scrimmage in 2008 that sidelined him for entire season ... Returned to play two seasons along the offensive line for the Comets; At Vista Murrieta HS: Named All-Southwestern League selection under coach Coley Caneal ... Was selected as Athlete of the Month ... Also particiapted in track & field as a prep.
Personal: Full name is Steven Phillip Steiner ... Born in San Bernardino, Calif. ... Is the son of Tammy Green ... Has two sisters, Avi and Captri Steiner.

* Added June 28, 2011
Michael Vaughn
RB - 5-9 - 220 lbs. - Jr.
La Joya, Texas (Glendale CC / La Joya HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Played in 11 games over two seasons at Glendale Community College, scoring nine combined touchdowns ... Rushed 146 times for 536 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore ... Added 26 catches for 290 yards and a pair of receiving touchdowns ... Rushed a career-best 22 times for 100 yards against New Mexico Military Institute on Nov. 13, 2010 ... Only played in one game during his freshman season, rushing seven times for 47 yards while scoring two rushing TDs.

Shaun Warren
RB - 5-9 - 180 lbs.
China Grove, N.C. (Carson HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Concluded his prep career with 6,023 yards rushing and over 60 rushing touchdowns in three seasons ... Led the state of North Carolina in rushing as a senior, amassing 2,967 yards - the second-highest total in state history - with 31 rushing TDs to earn State Player of the Year by NC Preps.com ... Rushed for over 200 yards 10 times for head coach Mark Woody ... Earned All-North Piedmont Conference and North Piedmont Offensive Player of the Year honors, while also garnering All-Area and All-State accolades.
Personal: Full name is Shaun Everith Warren ... Is the son of Shaun, Sr., and Trina Warren ... Both parents ran track in high school ... Has an older sibling, Greg, who played high school football at A.L. Brown HS.