Same Place, New Face: 2021 Defensive Additions

KENT, OHIO- In advance of Friday night's open scrimmage, we are taking a look at the new members of the Kent State football team, starting with the additions to the FlashFAST defense in the 2021 offseason.

Branch was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball for Twinsburg High School but will play defensive back for the Golden Flashes. Named second team All-Inland District by the Ohio Sportswriters Association. Rated a three-star prospect by 247sports as well as Rivals.

Cook is a graduate transfer after a successful career at Youngstown State. In 2019, he appeared in 12 games, recording 39 tackles including 17 solo. Cook recorded 6.5 tackles for loss as well as four sacks, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.

Two-way player for Harvest Prep but will line-up at linebacker for the Golden Flashes, also ran track at Harvest Prep.

Played three seasons (one redshirt year) with the East Carolina Pirates...Saw time at on the defensive line and at tight end...Played in eight games on the defensive line for the Pirates in 2020...FInished the season with 19 tackles including 1.5 for loss

A two-sport athlete (basketball, football) at VHS … Helped the Cougars' football program to an 11-4 overall record and a North Carolina Class 4A semifinal appearance as a senior … Was a First-Team All-Mecklenburg choice in 2017 by the Charlotte Observer … Tallied 75 tackles with 25 TFLs and 15 sacks … Listed at the 38th best player in the state by Scout.com … Also experienced action on the offensive line … Earned First-Team All-MECKA 4-A Conference honors as a junior … A second-team all-area selection by Charlotte Observer who helped Vance to a 13-2 record and reached the state 4-A semifinals in 2016 … Played limited snaps as a sophomore … Selected as a "Rising Star Award" nominee at the 5th Annual Charlotte Football Awards in 2015 … A three-star recruit according to 247Sports.com … Officially committed to the ECU program on May 12, 2018 … In addition to Pirates, also recruited by Appalachian State, Army, Colorado State, Georgia Southern, Maryland, Rutgers and Temple.

Two-way star at Wickliffe for the Blue Devils…Rushed for 1,604 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. Recorded 107 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, four fumble recoveries, three pass breakups, two sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and a blocked field goal during his Division-IV All-State senior season

Joins Kent State after two seasons at North Texas, recorded a tackle and a quarterback hurry in four games for the Mean Green in 2020…Saw action in 11 games in 2019…Recorded nine tackles two tackles for loss and two sacks…Played two seasons at Fullerton (CA) College recording 15 tackles and five sacks during junior college career

Named All-State in division-3A as a senior…Represented Pennsylvania in the Big 33 All-Star game…Averaged over eight tackles per game as a senior and recorded 17 tackles for loss and five sacks during seven game senior season

Miller was the leading tackler for Pine-Richland, helping lead them to a Pennsylvania Class 5A title. Miller ended up with 105 tackles including 63 solo and 19 for loss. In the state title game victory, Miller led the way with 19 total tackles, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Helped Pine-Richland finish #22 in the USA Today Super 25 rankings.

Mitchell comes to the Golden Flashes from Jackson State…Over the last two seasons, Mitchell has recorded 16 tackles and five sacks for the Tigers

Graduate transfer from Murray State, also played a year at Butler Community College. Played in all seven games for the Racers in 2020. Recorded 29 tackles, including four for loss and one sack. Forced a fumble against Tennessee Tech and had an interception against Tennessee State….Had 42 tackles in his season at Butler Community College…Helped Mater Dei win the 2016 Non-Public Group II state title.

Two-way player for Hamden Country Day, also seeing time at running back...Totaled 24 tackles in five games last season including three for loss while adding a sack.

Graduate transfer from Southern Utah…Named honorable mention All-Big Sky in 2019 after posting 81 tackles, 40 solo, 5.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble…Totaled 139 tackles in parts of four seasons with the Thunderbirds

Slattery was named second-team All-Ohio as a senior by the Ohio Sportswriters Association and was first-team all-league as well. Finished the season with 102 total tackles for the Minutemen.

Transfer from the University of Virginia where he played in 17 games in parts of three seasons for the Cavaliers…Started the 2019 ACC Championship game against Clemson…Totaled 30 tackles, 20 solo and three tackles for loss in his Cavaliers' career… Labeled a four-star recruit by ESPN.com and a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, 247Sports and Scout.com

Transfer from Notre Dame College.. Appeared in 13 games as a sophomore... Posted 37 tackles (23 solo), of which 15 were for a loss... Recorded five sacks... Forced one fumble... Broke up one pass... Recorded season-high game against Frostburg State (11/2/19) in which he posted six tackles and 1.5 sacks…Named to Conference Honor Roll…Sports Management and Business major

Williams was named second-team all-state as a senior following a breakout junior season that included 10 sacks and 56 tackles. Added 50 more tackles including 5 more for loss in the shortened 2020 season.

Friday night's scrimmage at Dix Stadium starts at 7 p.m. and is free of charge and open to the public.

Same Place, New Face: 2021 Defensive Additions

Players Mentioned

Alex Branch

Antoine Cook

Jalen Davis

Damir Faison

Chase Fortkamp

Asher Frow

Aeden Holler

Luke Miller

Brian Mitchell

Marvin Pierre

Jordan Revels

Alexander Sims

Shane Slattery

Heskin Smith

Saivon Taylor-Davis

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Kent State University Athletics

Same Place, New Face: 2021 Defensive Additions

Players Mentioned

Alex Branch

Antoine Cook

Jalen Davis

Damir Faison

Chase Fortkamp

Asher Frow

Aeden Holler

Luke Miller

Brian Mitchell

Marvin Pierre

Jordan Revels

Alexander Sims

Shane Slattery

Heskin Smith

Saivon Taylor-Davis

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