EAST GREENSBORO – Four former Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) players highlight the North Carolina A&T football team's 2020 Signing Day class.
 
N.C. A&T's Signing Day class includes three defensive linemen, two defensive backs, two offensive linemen, two linebackers, two tight ends, one running back, one kicker and one quarterback.
 
"We are super excited about this class," said Sam Washington who will enter his third season as N.C. A&T's head coach and his 10th season overall with the program in 2020. "It is a very talented group and if they come in and buy into the system, we could have something special on our hands. It is a class that we think by 2022 will be able to contribute."
 
Washington said the point of emphasis for the Aggies was defense. He said they have a few more additions to make before the class is complete, but he is pleased with where the Aggies are for now.
 
"The defensive line was one area that needed immediate attention," said Washington. "I thought we also replenished our defensive backfield."  
 
The Aggies will hold a Signing Day Party 6 p.m., Feb. 5, Wednesday at Deese Ballroom in the new student center on N.C. A&T's campus.
   
Javon Armstrong (6-foot-2, 260, defensive lineman, Bayboro, N.C., Pamlico County HS) – The Aggies have had the No. 1 rush defense in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) eight out of the last nine years. Armstrong should keep the strong tradition of a solid defense going. He made 281 career tackles at Pamlico County with 278 of those tackles unassisted in 39 games played.
 
Isaiah Brooks (6-foot-4, 305, offensive lineman, Clemmons, N.C., West Forsyth HS) – He is a three-star recruit by 247 sports. He is a two-time all-conference player. Journalnow.com named him to their All-Northwest team twice. His parents attended and graduated from N.C. A&T. His father Steve played football for N.C. A&T.
 
Andrew Brown (5-10, 165, kicker, Lexington, N.C., West Davidson HS) – The Aggies need someone to replace record-breaking kicker Noel Ruiz after next season. Brown made 32 of 43 field goals at West Davidson. He also made 78 extra points and recorded 77 touchbacks during kickoffs. He averaged 48.8 yards per kickoff during his career. As a senior, he was 15-for-15 in extra points and 6-for-9 in field goals.
 
Matthew Cairns (6-5, 285, offensive lineman, Cary, N.C., Cary HS) – The Aggies have starters returning along the offensive line so Cairns will be able to develop under offensive line coach Ron Mattes. Cairns played tackle in high school where he was an all-conference performer.
 
Dwayne (DJ) Crossen (6-2, 180, defensive back, Greensboro, N.C., Virginia Tech, Dudley HS) – Crossen is a transfer out of Virginia Tech. He will immediately compete for a starting position as a defensive back. He was rated as a 4-star recruit by ESPN and a three-star recruit by both 247 Sports and Rivals. He was ranked among the top-15 players in the state during his time at Dudley HS. He played two games for the Hokies in 2018.
 
Nicholas (Nick) Dobson (6-3, 215, tight end, Teachey, N.C., Wallace-Rose Hill) – Dobson played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas as an outside linebacker. As a receiver, he had 535 yards receiving and nine touchdowns.
 
Michael (MJ) Frazier (6-5, 245, tight end, Cherry Hill, N.J., Cherry Hill East HS, Hudson Valley CC) – He could step in and play right away at tight end for the Aggies. He spent last season at Hudson Valley Community College where he played in four games. He has tremendous speed for his size.
 
Tyquan King (6-2, 215, linebacker, Dillon, Dillon, S.C.) – He also played running back in high school where he rushed for 602 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 8.1 yards per carry as a senior. He was honored by News 13 in South Carolina as a middle linebacker at the Blitz Banquet. He was named a three-star athlete by 247 Sports. 247 Sports also ranked him as the 65th best player in the state of South Carolina.
 
Courtney McKinney (6-1, 215, running back, Biscoe, N.C., East Montgomery HS, Wake Forest Univ.) – The idea of having a duo of Jah-Maine Martin and Courtney McKinney in the backfield excites N.C. A&T coaches. McKinney was a three-star prospect out of East Montgomery. He was ranked as the 64th best running back in the nation by 247 Sports. As a senior in high school, he rushed for 2,463 yards and 27 touchdowns. The previous year he rushed for 2,730 yards and 39 touchdowns.
 
Octavious Pringle (6-0, 295, defensive lineman, Cayce, S.C., Brookland Cayce HS, Coastal Carolina) – The Aggies last transfer out of Coastal Carolina – Jah-Maine Martin – turned out pretty well. He played as a freshman at Coastal in 2018. As a prep standout, he was named Defensive Line MVP of the All-State Combine in South Carolina in 2017. He played in the 2016 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
 
Robert Porcher (6-1, 272, defensive lineman, Orlando, Fla., Dr. Phillips HS, Virginia Tech) – He is another talent coming to Aggieland out of Blacksburg, Va. He redshirted with the Hokies in 2017 before playing 11 games in 2018. As a senior prep standout, he totaled 104 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and a single-season school record 17 sacks. Porcher also recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass. He was named the Orlando Sentinel's Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 after making 92 tackles and recording 11 sacks. He holds Dr. Phillips school record for career sacks with 28. His sister plays volleyball for N.C. A&T and his father played 12 seasons and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection for the NFL's Detroit Lions.
 
Mychale Salahuddin (6-0, 205, defensive back/athlete, Washington, D.C., H.D. Woodson HS, University of Pittsburgh) – He is a transfer out of the University of Pittsburgh who will likely play defense, but could also play a role on special teams as a returner. He played three games for the Panthers as a true freshman in 2018 to preserve his redshirt. He played running back and was a returner during those games. As a prep standout, he was considered the top prospect out of Washington, D.C. He rushed for 1,274 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 10.0 yards per carry as a senior. Made the Washington Post All-Met team his senior season. He was named the nation's No. 5 all-purpose back by Rivals and 247 Sports. ESPN ranked him as the No. 33 running back.
 
Nicholas Wilds-Lawing (6-3, 180, quarterback, Concord, N.C., Northwest Cabarrus HS) – He led North West Cabarrus to a 12-2 record as a senior. He threw for 2,622 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 63.2 percent of his passes (160-for-253). For his career, he threw for 5,374 yards, 62 touchdowns and 21 interceptions while completing 60.4 percent of his passes (336-for-556). He also rushed for 1,594 yards and 30 touchdowns in his career including 878 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. He posted 6,968 total yards in his career.