Kent State Announces 2004 Football Recruits
2/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
The 2004 Kent State recruiting class includes five players from Ohio; two each from Florida, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and one each from Maryland and West Virginia. There are five players recruited for offense (three linemen, one running back and one wide receiver) and eight for defense (four linebackers, three linemen and one back). Eleven are high school recruits who will join the team in the fall, while two others are prep school standouts who currently are enrolled at Kent State and will participate in spring practice in April.
We didnt have a lot of scholarships to give so we looked to plug some holes left by graduation and didnt just recruit every position, said seventh-year head coach Dean Pees. I feel we did a great job of recruiting our needs, especially linemen, wide receivers and linebackers. Im particularly pleased that we were able to get some big players on defense.
A lot of our current recruits come from very successful high school programs and will come in with a winning mindset, including some who helped build winning programs at schools that hadnt been very successful in the past.
Kent State won two of its final three games of the 2003 season to finish with a 5-7 overall record and a 4-4 mark in the MAC, good for fourth place in the East Division. The five wins were the programs second most in the last 15 years to the 2001 team that finished 6-5 overall. The Golden Flashes scored 30 or more points a school-record eight times, including each of the last six games.
In the Dec. 15 edition of The Sporting News, the magazines editors called Kent State the MAC team most likely to break out in 2004. The Flashes return 17 starters nine on defense and eight on offense next season plus their starting placekicker and punter.
Home to 18 varsity teams, the Intercollegiate Athletic program at Kent State University competes at the highest National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level (I-A for football) and provides select men and women with the opportunity, challenge and support to achieve their full academic and athletic potential, while operating as an integral part of the Universitys educational mission.
2004 Football Signees
JOEY BARCUS
Wide Receiver 6-0 165 Freshman
Decatur, Ga. Chamblee H.S.
Was named to the All-Region 6-AAAA Team as well as the all-area second team as a senior at Chamblee High School in suburban Atlanta ... Led DeKalb County in receiving last season with 26 catches for 615 yards and seven touchdowns ... Averaged 23.7 yards per catch ... Helped lead the Bulldogs to 6-4 records each of his last three seasons ... ... Was coached by Wade Beale ... Has earned three letters in football. Personal: Born Dec. 5, 1985 ... Son of Joey Barcus Sr. and Janine Williams ... Plans to major in psychology ... Last name is pronounced BAR-kus.
DEREK BURRELL
Linebacker 6-2 225 Freshman
Richmond, Va. James River H.S. Hargrave (Va.) Academy
Is enrolled at Kent State following a semester at Hargrave Academy in Chatham, Va., and will participate in spring practice ... Helped the team to a 7-1 record in 2003 ... Was coached by Robert Prunty ... Sat out his senior season at James River High School in Richmond, Va., due to injury ... Rushed for 1,800 yards as a junior and earned first-team all-district and all-region honors for the Rapids ... Earned letters in football and track and field. Personal: Born Sept. 11, 1984 ... Son of Carl and Cheryl Burrell ... Plans to major in marketing.
DAN COLEMAN
Offensive Line 6-8 280 Freshman
Canfield, Ohio Canfield H.S.
Earned second-team Division II all-state honors as a senior at Canfield High School, located just outside Youngstown ... Also was selected to the All-Northeast Inland District First Team ... Was a three-time first-team All-Metro Athletic Conference honoree ... Received second-team All-NEI honors as a junior ... Helped the Cardinals to an undefeated regular season and the Metro Athletic Conference title that season ... Was coached by Mike Pavlansky ... Has earned three letters in football. Personal: Born March 20, 1985 ... Son of Kevin Coleman and Mary Coleman ... Is undecided on a major.
SHAWN DONALDSON
Offensive Line 6-5 270 Freshman
Dover, Ohio Dover H.S.
Was a first-team All-Ohio pick in Division III as a senior at Dover High School, located south of Canton ... Had 25 pancake blocks as an offensive lineman and 50 tackles on defense ... Helped lead the Tornadoes to a 10-1 record and the East Central Ohio League title ... Also was named to the Eastern District, ECOL and Region II first teams ... Received All-Region II honorable mention as a junior ... Is a teammate and classmate of fellow Kent State recruit David Filippi ... Was coached by Dan Ifft ... Has earned three letters in football and one in track and field. Personal: Born Aug. 14, 1985 ... Son of Greg and Linda Donaldson ... Plans to major in business management.
DAVID FILIPPI
Linebacker 6-3 225 Freshman
Dover, Ohio Dover H.S.
Earned first-team All-Ohio honors in Division III as a senior at Dover High School, located south of Canton ... Had 101 tackles plus four sacks and one interception ... Helped lead the Tornadoes to a 10-1 record and the East Central Ohio League title ... Also received first-team honors in the East District, the ECOL and Region II ... Was selected the Eastern District Defensive Player of the Year ... As a junior, earned first-team all-region accolades and was a second-team All-ECOL pick ... Made 104 tackles with eight sacks and two interceptions that season ... Is a teammate and classmate of fellow Kent State recruit Shawn Donaldson ... Was coached by Dan Ifft ... Has earned three letters each in football and baseball, and one in basketball. Personal: Born Feb. 25, 1986 ... Son of David and Janet Filippi ... Is undecided on a major .. Last name is pronounced fil-IPP-e.
GUY HURT
Linebacker 6-1 220 Freshman
McKeesport, Pa. McKeesport Area H.S.
Earned first-team All-WPIAL AAAA honors as a quarterback each of his final two seasons at McKeesport Area High School in suburban Pittsburgh ... Was a two-time pick on the Pittsburgh Post Gazettes South Fab 22 Team ... Led the Tigers to back-to-back playoff appearances his two seasons on varsity ... Rushed for 1,230 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior after gaining 1,242 yards with 17 touchdowns his junior year ... Was coached by George Smith ... Earned two letters in football ... Was a high school teammate of current Kent State backup center Bill Starry. Personal: Born April 17, 1985 ... Son of Guy Hurt and Emma Williams ... Is undecided on a major.
FRITZ JACQUES
Defensive Back 6-0 180 Freshman
Naples, Fla. Lely H.S.
Received Class 5A all-state honorable mention as a senior at Lely High School in Naples, Fla. ... Made 111 tackles that season ... Also earned all-region honors was named the Trojans team MVP ... Was a three-time All-Southwest Florida Conference selection, garnering first-team honors his junior and senior seasons after being a second-team pick his sophomore season ... Was coached by Chris Metzger ... Has earned three letters each in football and basketball. Personal: Born Aug. 13, 1985 ... Both his parents are deceased ... Plans to major in education ... Last name is pronounced jock-QUEZ.
LINWOOD JENKINS
Wide Receiver 6-2 185 Freshman
Newport News, Va. Woodside H.S.
Received second-team All-Peninsula District honors as both a wide receiver and defensive back as a senior at Woodside High School in Newport News, Va. ... Made 18 receptions for 300 yards last season after having 12 for 210 yards his junior campaign ... Helped lead the Wolverines to an 8-2 overall record as a junior and a 6-4 mark his senior year ... For his career, had 35 catches for 510 yards ... Has been timed at 4.48 in the 40 ... Was coached by Danny Dodson ... Earned letters in both football and track and field. Personal: Born March 3, 1985 ... Son of Linwood and Denise Jenkins ... Plans to major in business management.
PRISHOD KOONCE
Defensive Line 6-4 265 Freshman
Chester, Pa. Chester H.S.
Was named to the All-Southeastern Pennsylvania First Team as a senior at Chester High School just southwest of Philadelphia ... Also was selected to the All-Delaware County Second Team after receiving honorable mention his junior year ... Was a four-time All-Delaware Valley Conference selection ... As a senior, had 31 tackles, 12 sacks and 35 quarterback hurries for the Clippers ... For his career, was credited with 133 tackles, 24 sacks and 92 hurries ... Also had two career interceptions ... Was coached by James Howard ... Has earned four letters in football and one in basketball. Personal: Born Dec. 26, 1985 ... Son of Philita Albritton ... Plans to major in sports management ... First name is pronounced prish-ODD.
CEDRICK MAXWELL
Linebacker 5-11 215 Freshman
Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay Tech H.S.
Earned All-Western Conference first-team honors as a senior at Tampa Bay Tech High School ... Also was named to the All-Hillsborough County Second Team ... Made 88 tackles and had 14 sacks his junior season ... Was rated as the 18th-best prospect in the Tampa Bay metro area by the St. Petersburg Times ... Was coached by Mike Bradley ... Has earned letters in both football and track and field. Personal: Born Dec. 16, 1985 ... Son of Cheryl Maxwell ... Plans to major in business or justice studies.
TRAVIS McGRAW
Offensive Line 6-6 315 Freshman
Silver Spring, Md. Wheaton H.S. Hargrave (Va.) Academy
Is enrolled at Kent State following a semester at Hargrave Academy in Chatham, Va., and will participate in spring practice ... Helped the team to a 7-1 record in 2003 ... Was coached by Robert Prunty ... Prior to Hargrave, graduated from Wheaton High School, which also produced Kent State junior offensive tackle Daniel Carter ... As a senior at Wheaton High School in 2002, was named to the small-school all-state second team ... Also was an all-league selection ... Helped the Knights to an 8-1 record and a co-division championship that season ... Was coached by Lee Branthover ... Earned letters in football, track and field and basketball. Personal: Born April 30, 1985 ... Son of Jeff and Tracey McGraw ... Plans to major in justice studies.
PHIL McNEAL
Defensive Line 6-1 300 Freshman
Warren Ohio Warren G. Harding H.S.
Received all-state special mention in Division I as a senior at perrennial state power Warren G. Harding High School in Warren ... Also earned first-team all-district honors after receiving honorable mention his junior season ... Was a two-time All-Trumbull County and All-Steel Valley Conference selection ... Was credited with 21 solo tackles and 11 assists as a senior ... Made 11 tackles-for-loss with four quarterback sacks ... Led the Warriors to back-to-back conference titles his final two years with a combined record of 25-2 ... Helped his team to the top ranking in the Division I state poll both seasons ... Was coached by Thom McDaniels. Personal: Born July 24, 1986 ... Son of Phillip and Lynne McNeal ... Plans to major in justice studies.
DALTON MEMEL
Defensive Line 6-4 295 Freshman
Washington, W.Va. Parkersburg South H.S.
Earned first-team All-Class AAA honors in West Virginia as a senior at Parkersburg South High School ... Led the Patriots to a 13-1 overall record and their first West Virginia state title as a senior with a 26-20 victory over Martinsburg ... Was a team captain his final season ... Made 148 tackles with 15 sacks last year after having 138 tackles and 14 sacks his junior campaign ... Helped the team to a 12-2 record and a state runner-up finish that season ... Received second-team all-state honors as a junior ... Was a two-time all-area first-team selection ... Parkersburg South posted a record of 35-5 during his three years on the varsity ... Was coached by Mike DeVol ... Earned three letters in football. Personal: Born Dec. 14, 1985 ... Son of Joseph and Janet Memel ... Plans to major in education ... Last name is pronounced MEE-muhl.
JOSHUA PASTORE
Running Back 5-11 210 Freshman
Salineville, Ohio Beaver Local H.S.
Was named to the all-state team as a senior at Beaver Local High School, located in east-central Ohio ... Also was a two-time all-district and three-time All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference selection ... Rushed for 1,600 yards and a 10.6-yard average his senior season ... Helped lead the Beavers to back-to-back state conference championships and state playoff appearances each of his final two years ... Was coached by Rich Wright ... Has earned four letters in football and two in wrestling. Personal: Born March 13, 1986 ... Son of Jim Pastore and Toni Pastore ... Older brother, Jamin, will be a junior cornerback at Duke University in the fall ... Plans to major in business ... Last name is pronounced pas-TORE-e.
