Kent State Football Announces Class of 2026 Early Signing Day Additions
12/3/2025 10:25:00 AM | Football
KENT, Ohio – Kent State head football coach Mark Carney and his staff announced the addition of 19 student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent during the Early National Signing Period for the Class of 2026.
The class features a strong contingency of in-state talent from Ohio, with 14 signees hailing from the Buckeye State. The Golden Flashes also added impact players from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Missouri, and Indiana, showcasing the program's expanding regional footprint.
OFFENSIVE ADDITIONS
Kent State bolstered its offensive backfield with two dynamic running backs. Jackson Farley from Mentor High School earned Northeast Lakes Division I Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors after rushing for 1,589 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior. The 5-9, 195-pound back set a school record with 364 rushing yards in a single game and averaged nearly 159 yards per contest.
Brandon White from St. Edward High School brings a versatile skill set, accumulating 2,348 all-purpose yards during his senior campaign, including 1,822 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns.
At wide receiver, Pennsylvania standout Brendyn Smith from Central York High School hauled in 76 receptions for 1,202 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior. The explosive playmaker also contributed 328 punt return yards and 260 kick return yards. Zymir Reed from Middletown, Ohio, adds size at 6-2, 210 pounds after recording 569 receiving yards and six scores.
The offensive line class features five signees. Colin Prichard (6-5, 260) from Mentor, who earned First-Team All-Northeast Lakes Division I honors and is ranked as Ohio's 110th-best prospect. Gavin Kanar (6-6, 265) from Nordonia and Liam Dalton (6-5, 280) from Hilliard Davidson, who was named Lineman of the Year in his conference, provide size and versatility. Indiana's Will Johnson (6-4, 270) earned unanimous First-Team All-Conference recognition in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference.
The Kent native Gavin Peeps signed with the Flashes as an athlete. Peeps was a quarterback at Roosevelt High School where he threw for 2,068 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 537 yards and eight touchdowns his senior season.
DARK SIDE DEFENSE GETS STRONGER
The Golden Flashes addressed the trenches with four defensive linemen. Maryland's Carlos Shird (6-3, 265) recorded impressive numbers as a senior with 83 tackles, nine sacks, 34 quarterback hurries, and 14 QB hits. Kale Webb from Xenia, Ohio, and Eckley Bridges from Hamilton round out a formidable interior presence.
Pennsylvania's Daiveon Taylor (6-2, 210) brings edge-rushing ability after posting 86 tackles, 10 sacks, and three forced fumbles during his senior season at Moon Area High School.
Kendall McNutt, a 6-0, 205-pound linebacker from St. Louis, Missouri, anchors the linebacking corps after recording 85 tackles, six tackles for loss, and an interception as a senior.
The secondary additions include TeJuan Barbour (6-3, 170) from Columbus Northland, who tallied 62 tackles and seven pass breakups, and Lennox Lemon (6-1, 175) from Massillon Washington, ranked as Ohio's 81st-best prospect.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Chase Mantooth from Pickerington Central provides stability as a long snapper.
COACH CARNEY SIGNING DAY PRESS CONFERENCE
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Players Mentioned
