Football National Signing Day Sponsored By Owen & Owens

02/06/2019 | Football

2019 Richmond Signing Class

RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond's football program enters National Signing Day with 14 new Spiders already in the fold from early signing period and mid-year transfers. Today, the Spiders' have signed five more raising their total for the signing class to 19 future Spiders. The Spiders' signing day is sponsored by Owen & Owens.

Xavier Marshall • DB • 6-2 • 200 • Charlotte, N.C./Vance
Four-year letterwinner at Vance High School … Led the Cougars to their first-ever state title game appearance, finishing as the North Carolina 4A State Final runner-up … Guided Vance to a 14-2 record as a senior … Named Associated Press First Team All-State as a senior … Earned Charlotte Observer First Team All-Mecklenburg County honors … Named First Team All-Conference … Played both free safety and strong safety … Recorded 83 tackles as a senior while notching eight interceptions and forcing four fumbles … Guided Vance to the State Final Four as a junior, posting an 11-4 overall record before falling in the regional finals … Played wide receiver as well as a freshman and sophomore.

Scott Schenke • DL • 6-3 • 270 • Venice, Fla./Venice
Three-year letterwinner at Venice High School … Played with fellow Richmond signee Marlem Louis … Played first two seasons on the offensive line, playing primarily at the guard position as a junior … Moved over to defensive line as a senior … Recorded 93 tackles as a senior, including 67 solo tackles … Posted 17 tackles for loss and five sacks on the year … Forced one fumble and tallied five quarterback hurries … Named the Venice High School Defensive Line Most Valuable Player in 2018 … Guided Venice to a 12-2 record as a senior, falling in the 7A state playoffs … Helped Venice win the 2017 Florida 7A State Championship and a 14-1 overall record.

Marlem Louis • DL • 6-3 • 225 • Venice, Fla./Venice
Three-year letterwinner at Venice High School … Played with fellow Richmond signee Scott Schenke … Named Venice High School Defensive Most Valuable Player as a senior … Recorded 93 tackles on the year … Posted 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks, while forcing three fumbles … Named First Team All-Area for his efforts … Finished his Venice career with 172 tackles, including 22 tackles for loss … Posted 13 career sacks and forced four career fumbles … Guided Venice to a 12-2 record as a senior, falling in the 7A state playoffs … Helped Venice win the 2017 Florida 7A State Championship and a 14-1 overall record.

Noah Holmes • LB • 6-2 • 205 • Williamsburg, Va./Warhill
Four-year letterwinner at Warhill High School … Named the No. 13 recruit in the 757 FAB in 2018 … Earned First Team All-Region honors on defense at linebacker while also earning First Team All-Region honors at All-Purpose on offense as a senior playing at running back and quarterback … Picked up First Team All-District at both linebacker and running back … Named the Daily Press Player of the Week August 24, 2018 after recording a school-record 8.0 sacks in a single game against Heritage … Posted 126 tackles, averaging 11.5 tackles per game … Recorded 16 sacks on the season and finished with 29 tackles for loss … Blocked three punts on special teams … Offensively, rushed for 615 yards on 84 carries, an average of 7.3 yards per carry … Tallied 103 tackles as a junior, averaging 10.8 tackles per game … Recorded 9.0 sacks and 17 tackles for loss … Rushed for 673 yards on 80 carries, averaging 8.5 yards per rush.

Gavin Lamp • OL • 6-5 • 295 • Viera, Fla./Viera
Four-year letterwinner at Viera High School … Led the Hawks to four Conference Championships and four sectional championships in his career … Team co-captain as a senior … Invited and started for the 64^th FACA North/South All-Star Football Classic after senior season … Named First Team All-Cape Coast as a senior while earning First Team Offense honors from Florida Today and Space Coast Daily … Named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association District First Team … Earned Player of the Week accolades vs. Palm Bay when he registered six pancake blocks and did not allow a sack … Named Honorable Mention All-State as a junior when he led Viera to the Regional runner-up finish … Helped the Hawks finish as regional runner-up as a sophomore and was part of the Viera team in 2015 that finished as the 7A State Runner-Up … Also lettered in track in the shot put and discus … Member of the National Honor Society and Class of 2019 Vice President … Rho Kappa & Beta Club member … Participated in the St. Baldrick's Foundation "Knight of the Bald Table" for childhood cancer research.

Tom Elia • OL • 6-3 • 280 • McDonald, Pa./South Fayette
Led South Fayette for the 2018 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Class AAAA Championship at Heinz Field (home of the Pittsburgh Steelers) over Thomas Jefferson … Guided his team to a 12-2 record as a senior and a 7-0 mark in league play before falling in the PIAA state playoff quarterfinals … Named First Team All-State by PA Football News ... Two-time First Team All-Conference selection as an offensive lineman as a junior and senior … Anchored the South Fayette offensive line and he did not allow a sack for the entire 2018 season … Also played on the defensive line, notching 55 tackles and 3.5 sacks as a senior … Named All-Conference as a defensive lineman as well … Named to the top 100 players in the state of Pennsylvania in the class of 2019 … Team captain as a senior … Three-year starter on the offensive line.

Tristan Wheeler • LB • 6-2 • 225 • Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom
First Team All-Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (EPC) … Named 6A All-State by the Pennsylvania Football Writers as a senior ... Led Freedom High School to a 12-2 record, the most wins in program history as a senior … Guided the team to its first-ever District Championship and the first time appearing in the PIAA State Class 6A quarterfinals … Named the Calling All Sports EPC Defensive Player of the Year … Rated No. 8 linebacker in all of FCS recruiting by HERO Sports and No. 8 overall recruit in the Colonial Athletic Association … Recorded 125 tackles as a senior, including 8.0 sacks and 20.0 tackles for loss … Forced three fumbles and notched one interception … Also, played on offense as a running back, scoring six touchdowns on eight carries in short yardage situations … Named the Mini Max Award Winner by the Maxwell Club as a senior … Earned the Morning Call Player of the Week for District 11 in the Class 6A Championship win over Emmaus, with 11 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one rushing touchdown.

Nick King • DL • 6-2 • 265 • Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic
Led Charlotte Christian to the 2018 3A North Carolina State Championship … Won three state championships during his career, including the 2017 state title with current Richmond running back Milan Howard … Named the 3A State Championship game Defensive Most Valuable Player with 6.5 total tackles … Earned First Team All-Conference as a senior … Posted 100 total tackles on the season with an impressive 17 sacks and 20 tackles for loss … Scored one defensive touchdown … Ranked the No. 20 defensive lineman in all of FCS by HERO Sports … Earned Second Team All-Conference as a junior.

Avery Close • TE • 6-5 • 225 • Salem, Va./Salem
Three-time state champion in Virginia's Class 4A, winning three-straight from 2015-17 at Salem High School … Earned All-Conference honors as a senior … Posted 14 receptions for 269 yards in the run-heavy offense at Salem … Scored four touchdowns on the year, averaging 19.21 yards per catch … Earned First Team All-State as a junior at tight end while playing both outside linebacker and tight end … Posted 69 tackles and one interception as a junior … Grabbed seven receptions for 172 yards while scoring four touchdowns as a junior … Played at the same high school as former Spider standout and current Green Bay Packer Alex Light.

Louis Montana • DL • 6-4 • 250 • Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII
Two-year standout at Pope John XXIII High School … Named First Team All-Conference on defense as a junior … Missed half of his senior season due to an injury … Combined for 65 tackles in his two years at Pope John XXIII … Recorded nine sacks and forced two fumbles from his defensive line position.

Cameron Cloud • WR • 5-10 • 180 • Greensboro, N.C./Northwest Guilford
Four-year starter at Northwest Guilford, including a school-record 44 career starts … Named Second Team All-Area by the Greensboro News & Record as a senior ... Named First Team All-Area by the Greensboro News & Record as a junior while picking up Honorable Mention All-Area accolades as a sophomore and freshman … Tabbed the Metro 4A Conference Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior … Two-time First Team All-Metro 4A Conference selection … Rated the No. 3 running back in all of FCS by HERO Sports and the No. 20 overall recruit in the Colonial Athletic Association … Recorded 1,486 all-purpose yards as a senior, averaging 124.6 yards per game and scoring 14 total touchdowns … Tallied 475 yards receiving, 477 yards rushing, 487 kickoff return yards and 57 punt return yards … Scored seven touchdowns, both rushing and receiving … Notched 1,430 all-purpose yards as a junior, averaging 130 yards per game and scoring 12 total touchdowns … Recorded 601 yards receiving, 218 yards rushing, 356 kickoff return yards and 225 punt return yards … Scored 11 of his 12 touchdowns receiving as a junior.

Cade Salyers • OL • 6-4 • 310 • Kingsport, Tenn./Dobyns-Bennett
Named the Region I-6A Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior for Dobyns-Bennett High School … Earned First Team All-State as a senior … Two-time First Team All-Region selection … Selected by the Times-News as the captain of the All-Tough Guy Team as a senior … Participated in the Toyota East-West All-Star Classic in the state of Tennessee … Standout wrestler at Dobyns-Bennett … Region Champion and participated in the state tournament as a sophomore … Finished sixth in the state as a junior while repeating as Region Champion … Currently ranked third in the state in his senior season.

Ryan Coll • OL • 6-5 • 295 • Gainesville, Va./Battlefield
Three-time All-Conference selection as a defensive lineman at Battlefield High School and a two-time All-Conference selection as a tight end … Named First Team All-State in Virginia 6A ... Named First Team All-Region D Class 6 at tight end as a defensive lineman … First Team 6A All-State underclassman as a sophomore … Recruited as an offensive lineman … Rated the No. 14 offensive lineman in all of FCS by HERO Sports and the No. 16 overall recruit in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Jackson Walker • QB • 6-3 • 210 • Memphis, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian
Four-year starter for Briarcrest Christian High School … Passed for 7,060 yards in his career, connecting on 482-of-891 in 45 games … Accounted for 80 touchdowns in his career, 73 through the air and seven on the ground … Ranked the No. 6 quarterback in the state of Tennessee by Rivals … Ranked the No. 13 quarterback in all of FCS by HERO Sports and the No. 17 overall recruit in the Colonial Athletic Association … Earned First Team 3A All-State honors as a senior ... Named First Team All-Region D2AAA as a senior when he passed for 1,524 yards on 103-of-201 passing … Threw for 18 touchdowns while also rushing for a career-high 373 yards on 77 carries with five rushing touchdowns … Earned First Team All-State in D2AAA as a junior when he passed for a career-high 2,526 yards … Connected on 160-of-267 as a junior, with a career-best 29 touchdowns … Finished his sophomore season going 130-of-259 through the air for 1,943 yards and 19 scores … Played some as a freshman, passing for 1,067 yards on 89-of-164 passing with seven touchdowns.

Ben Castellano • WR • 6-4 • 225 • Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove
Led Woodgrove High School to the Virginia State Class 4A Championship as a senior, the school's first ever title … Named USA Today All-Virginia Second Team ... Named First Team All-Region 4C as a senior when he hauled in 45 receptions for 390 yards … Scored eight touchdowns on the season, including two in the state playoff semifinals against Blacksburg … Scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime to send Woodgrove to the championship game … Two-Time All-Dulles District First Team selection … Named the Burg Sports Wide Receiver of the Year … Rated the No. 1 tight end in all of FCS football by HERO Sports and the No. 3 overall recruit in the Colonial Athletic Association … Ranked the No. 9 tight end in Virginia by Rivals … Earned Second Team all-State honors in Class 4A as a junior … Grabbed 61 catches for 804 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior … Posted 26 receptions for 306 yards and six touchdowns during his sophomore year.

Gio Seigler • DB • 6-0 • 175 • Leesburg, Va./Heritage
Two-time First Team All-Region selection as a defensive back at Heritage High School … Also earned First Team All-Region accolades as a punt returner during his junior season … Invited to play in the VHSCA All-Star Game … Recorded 75 tackles, 50 solo, as a senior … Posted 7.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one interception … Scored two defensive touchdowns as a senior and notched 10 pass breakups … Named the Burgh Sports Defensive Back of the Year … Also played on offensive with 43 receptions for 832 yards and 13 touchdowns … Registered 63 tackles and one forced fumble as a junior … Intercepted four passing and notched 17 pass breakups in 2017.

Roland Williams • DB • 6-0 • 180 • Memphis, Tenn./White Station (Ellsworth CC)
Originally committed to the Air Force Academy out of high school and attended for one semester, redshirting his freshman year in 2017 … Spent the 2018 season as Ellsworth Community College, earning Second Team All-Region accolades … Recorded 33 tackles, including one sack and four tackles for loss at Ellsworth … Tallied a pair of interceptions and six breakups … Rated the No. 10 junior college corner back in the country … Will have three years of eligibility remaining at Richmond as a redshirt sophomore … Played at White Station High School in Memphis and was teammate of Richmond punter Micah Breckenridge … Named First Team All-Region as a senior when he recorded seven interceptions and 23 pass breakups … Tallied 24 tackles and three forced fumbles, scoring two defensive touchdowns … Earned Second Team All-Region as a junior.

Brandon Feamster • CB • 6-3 • 205 • Exton, Pa./Downington East/Duke
Three-year letterwinner at Duke and four-year member of the team (2015-18) … Played in 37 career games, including starting his last seven games of his redshirt junior year in 2018 … Recorded 55 career takes, 2.0 TFL, one interception and one fumble recovery in his career … Played both cornerback and safety during his career but started last seven games at corner … Posted 11 career games of two-plus tackles, including a career-high nine against Clemson in 2018 … One of 15 Blue Devils all-time to intercept a pass in a bowl game, picking off Temple's Anthony Russo in the 2018 Walk-On's Independence Bowl.

2018 (Redshirt Junior at Duke)
Played in all 13 games and started the final seven games at corner back … Tallied 37 takes and 2.0 tackles for loss … Recorded his first career interception in the opening quarter of the Independence Bowl against Temple … On the field for 712 total snaps … Registered four-plus tackles in six contests, including five-straight games to end the season … Notched a career-high nine tackles and one tackle for loss at No. 2 Clemson … Turned in six tackles and a pass breakup in his first career start against Virginia … Recorded pass breakups against Virginia, Pittsburgh, North Carolina and Temple.

2017 (Redshirt Sophomore at Duke)
Played in all 13 games … Posted 13 tackles and one pass breakup … Finished second on the team with 10 special teams tackles … Tallied a season-high two tackles against Pittsburgh and Northern Illinois … Added a pass breakup against Northwestern … On the field for 253 snaps.

2016 (Redshirt Freshman at Duke)
Played in 11 games … Registered seven tackles and one fumble recovery … Recorded a season-high two tackles against North Carolina Central and Notre Dame … Recovered a fumble at Georgia Tech on kickoff coverage … On the field for 256 snaps.

2015 (Freshman at Duke)
Redshirted

Charlie Fessler • WR • 6-3 • 210 • Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep (Northwestern)
Three-year letterwinner at Northwestern and four-year member of the team (2015-18) … Played in 31 career games for the Wildcats, posting 14 receptions for 174 yards.

2018 (Redshirt Junior at Northwestern)
Played in all 13 games for the Wildcats … Posted a career-high 10 receptions on the year for 101 yards … Tallied a career-high three catches against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship … Added two receptions against Akron and had a 15-yard catch against Illinois … His 33-yards against the Buckeyes was a season-high.

2017 (Redshirt Sophomore at Northwestern)
Appeared in seven games during the regular season … Missed the first two games of the year due to an injury … Recorded his first career multiple-catch game against Maryland … Finished with two catches for 38 yards, including a career-long 30-yard reception in the win over the Terrapins.

2016 (Redshirt Freshman at Northwestern)
Appeared in 11 games as a backup wide receiver and on the special teams units … Made his first career catch for seven yards against Nebraska … Contributed a special teams tackle in the Wildcats' 38-31 win at Iowa.

2015 (Freshman at Northwestern)
Redshirted.