Football | 2/4/2026 11:23:00 PM
GREENSBORO, NC — A major roster reconstruction is officially underway for North Carolina A&T football.
They welcomed National Signing Day by signing 38 new Aggies, including 21 from the high school ranks and another 17 from the transfer portal. Head coach Shawn Gibbs executed an aggressive, intentional recruiting strategy that prioritized the Southeastern region of the country, bringing in 16 athletes from North Carolina, eight from South Carolina, and seven from Georgia.
"We wanted to focus recruiting efforts within the state and bordering states," said Gibbs, who grew up in Black Mountain, NC, and stayed in-state for his college career at North Carolina Central University. "We feel good about the homegrown talent we've been able to find."
The staff also focused on schools in the Northeast and Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia area, commonly known as the DMV. They secured three players from each area.
"It was important to us to recruit in the Northeast because a lot of CAA (Coastal Athletic Association) schools are up there," Gibbs added.
Exactly half of the 14 CAA teams are located in the Northeast region, four of which are on next season's schedule: Rhode Island, Bryant, New Hampshire, and Albany. Since joining the conference in 2023, the Aggies have matched their competition in speed but lacked size.
The program's defense, which ranked last in both scoring and total defense in the conference last season, will receive 22 incoming players who will help close the gap. Where last season only two A&T defenders stood at 6-foot-4 while the majority were 6-2 or below, the team will now have three 6-5 athletes, and two will stand at 6-4.
This includes a promising interior defensive lineman in Ben Boulware, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 305 pounds. Boulware is a three-star recruit coming out of Oak Grove High School in Winston-Salem, NC. He had offers from Power Four programs such as Florida State, Florida and Michigan.
On the offensive side of the ball, the plethora of A&T quarterback options will see receivers ranging from 5-11 to 6-3. The same could be said for the offensive line, which will add eight new protectors to the roster, including notable prospects Andre Oben and Desmond Jackson.
Oben is a 6-5, 290-pound redshirt junior transfer from Monmouth. He started his career at Purdue, where he entered as a three-star recruit ranked as the No. 15 prospect in New Jersey by Rivals. He comes from a football family. His brother RJ is a defensive end at Duke, and his father, Roman, had a 12-year NFL career, including a 2002 Super Bowl championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jackson is a 6-4, 305-pound Coastal Carolina transfer. The redshirt sophomore hails from Winston-Salem, NC, where he ranked as the nation's 49th-best interior offensive linemen and the No. 49 player statewide by ESPN. It's no secret that A&T will have big shoes to fill after losing star kicker and program record holder Andrew "Money" Brown. On deck for that responsibility is Asher Holland, an incoming freshman kicker from Durham, NC.
Holland ranked No. 12 statewide and first in North Carolina's Class 8A in kickoff yards (4,048), showcasing reliable leg strength. He also finished seventh in the division in field goals made (6), adding consistency in scoring situations.
The incoming Aggies have been eager to get started here in Greensboro. Twenty-two of the 38 signed athletes are already on campus for the spring semester. Coach Gibbs is happy with the size and speed of this group and feels he is bringing in good players to the program.
However, even with the large numbers introduced on Wednesday, the recruiting job isn't complete. The Aggies open the season on August 29 at home against Morgan State University.
"We're still not done, we're still not there," he said. "[We're] going to beat the bushes and try to find us a couple more edge rushers, a long snapper, and possibly a running back."
Offensive Line
Ethan Cash
Position: OL
Height/Weight: 6-6/308
Hometown: Florence, SC
Previous School: South Florence
High School: Same
Cash is another excellent signing for the Aggies coaching staff … Helped South Florence reach the South Carolina Class 4A championship game a year after South Florence won the state title … As a senior, earned All-Region, All-State and ABC 15 All-Zone … Selected to the North-South All-Star Game.
Desmond Jackson
Position: OL
Height/Weight: 6-4/305
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Previous School: Coastal Carolina
High School: West Forsyth
Came out of West Forsyth as a 3-star offensive lineman and the 49th-ranked player in North Carolina and the 49th-best interior lineman in the nation according to ESPN … Earned two-state all-state, two all-area and two all-conference honors.
Ahmarion McCleod
Position: OL
Height/Weight: 6-3/309
Hometown: Fort Mill, SC
Previous School: Elon
High School: Indian Land
Started for nine games last season at Elon … Elon had the third-best rushing offense in the CAA last season … Began his prep career at Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School and completed his final two years at Indian Land High School … Earned two first-team all-region honors and was named team captain.
Andre Oben
Position: OL
Height/Weight: 6-5/290
Hometown: Montclair, NJ
Previous School: Monmouth
High School: St. Peter's Prep
Comes to A&T after taking a redshirt freshman season at Purdue … Rated as a consensus 3-star offensive lineman coming out of St. Peter's Prep … Rivals ranked him the No.15 prospect in New Jersey … Named first-team All Division in the Super Football Conference as a high school senior. Helped St. Peter's Prep reach the NJSIAA Group IV state championship as a sophomore … Also participated in track and field, where he qualified for the Jersey City Championships in the 55-meter dash … Father Roman played offensive tackle for 12 years in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. … Brother RJ plays at Duke.
Que'shon Sapp
Position: OL
Height/Weight: 6-4/305
Hometown: Albany, Ga.
Previous School: Florida Atlantic
High School: Lee County
Four-star recruit coming out of Lee County High School … Rivals ranked him No. 12 offensive guard in the nation and the No. 25 prospect in Georgia … ESPN ranked him the 43rd overall offensive tackle nationally and the 43rd-best prospect in Georgia … Led the way for an offensive that averaged 39.9 points per game, won 11 games and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Georgia 6A state playoffs.
Christian Scarlett
Position: OL
Height Weight: 6-4/320
Hometown: Teachy, SC
Previous School: Wallace-Rose Hill
High School: Same
A&T was looking to add size, and Scarlett fits the bill … Helped Wallace-Rose Hill rush for 4,015 yards in 12 games, including three games where Wallace-Rose Hill rushed for more than 400 yards… Wallace-Rose Hill also had 51 rushing touchdowns.
Steven Stevenson
Position: OL
Height/Weight: 6-3/310
Hometown: Kernersville, NC
Previous School: East Forsyth
High School: Same
Earned player of the game after multiple games last season … Helped East Forsyth post a 7-4 record last season with a 4-2 mark in the conference … East Forsyth averaged 4.4 yards per carry … It should bring strength to the interior portion of the Aggies offensive line.
Christopher "Eli" Williams
Position: OL
Height/Weight: 6-6/280
Hometown: Irmo, SC
Previous School: S.C. State
High School: Irmo
Comes to A&T after transferring from S.C. State, the defending HBCU national champions … He still has three years of eligibility remaining … Rated as a 3-star player by 247Sports coming out of Irmo High School … Was also rated as the 22nd best offensive tackle in South Carolina … He did not take a snap for the Bulldogs last season.
Tight Ends
Ne'Bayne Moore
Position: TE
Height/Weight: 6-3/245
Hometown: Statesville, NC
Previous School: Charleston Southern
High School: Statesville
At Statesville, lettered four years and was a three-year starter … Had 6,100 yards passing and 65 touchdowns playing quarterback as a senior … Earned three all-state and three all-region recognitions … Named All Big South/OVC by Phil Steele … Made 24 receptions for 248 yards last season for the Buccaneers.
RJ Williams
Position: TE
Height/Weight: 6-5/250
Hometown: Cordele, Ga.
Previous School: Benedict College
High School: Crisp
Brings good physicality … Led Benedict to its deepest playoff run in school history … Will transition from an offensive lineman to a tight end. He was listed as a sophomore last season at Benedict College.
Wide Receivers
Ta'Qaire Bell
Position: WR
Height/Weight: 5-8/185
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.
Previous School: Cathedral
High School: Same
Bell comes to A&T seeking excellence on and off the field … Will bring a strong academic presence and a community outreach mindset when he arrives in the Gate City … During his senior season, he recorded 25 receptions for 571 yards … He was also a standout track athlete, earning CCL outdoor track and field MVP honors in 2025.
Daylin Haltiwagner
Position: WR
Height/Weight: 6-3/215
Hometown: Orangeburg, SC
Previous School: Orangeburg-Wilkinson
High School: Same
Described as a genuine two-way threat … Totaled 942 all-purpose yards, including 803 yards receiving, 139 yards rushing, and he scored 13 touchdowns … As a defensive player, finished with 35 tackles, seven interceptions, and three pass breakups.
Chase Hardy
Position: WR
Height/Weight: 6-0/170
Hometown: Garner, NC
Previous School: South Garner
High School: Same
The Aggies added another athletic receiver with Hardy coming to Aggieland … Caught 23 passes as a senior for 386 yards and five touchdowns … Also carried the ball 81 times for 813 yards and seven touchdowns … Had 218 yards rushing on 10 carries in a high school game on November 7.
Maceo Watkins
Position: WR
Height/Weight: 6-1/185
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Previous School: Central Catholic
High School: Same
Ranked second in Pennsylvania in receiving yards in 2025 … Ranked in the top 15 in Pennsylvania Class 6A in receiving yards … Ranked 86th statewide … Made 39 receptions for 665 yards and seven touchdowns … Was named Viking of the Week at Central Catholic on November 17, 2025 … Also considered attending Navy and Akron.
Jayden White
Position: WR
Height/Weight: 5-11/170
Hometown: Cornelius, NC
Previous School: Hough High School
High School: Same
A&T grabs a big-time playmaker from the high school ranks … Led Hough to a North Carolina Class 8A state championship as a senior … Posted 800-plus yards receiving and caught 12 touchdown passes.
Defensive Line/Edge
Ryheem Benton
Position: Edge
Height/Weight: 6-5/250
Hometown: Washington, DC
Previous School: Ballou
High School: Same
A&T adds a tenacious pass rusher out of the nation's capital … Signed during the early signing period.
Ben Boulware
Position: DL
Height/Weight: 6-5/305
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Previous School: Oak Grove
High School: Same
Boulware becomes one of the major signings of the class … A 3-star athlete who had offers from Power Fours such as Florida State, Florida and Michigan State … Made 50 tackles, three sacks and had an interception as a junior …. Made 58 tackles and three sacks as a senior.
Ethan Clabo
Position: Edge
Height/Weight: 6-4/235
Hometown: Mt. Airy, NC
Previous School: Mt. Airy
High School: Same
Played defensive end and tight end during his time at Mt. Airy High School … Made 29 tackles for loss, including eight sacks … Served as the team captain as a senior … Was a two-sport star during his prep career … Helped the Granite Bears win two state championships.
Amondi James
Position: DL
Height/Weight: 6-5/290
Hometown: Oxon Hill, Md.
Previous School: Saint Francis
High School: Bishop Ireton
Played 10 games with Saint Francis since 2023 … Played seven games last season, making 10 tackles, including six unassisted tackles for the Red Flash … Made 87 tackles as a senior at Bishop Ireton.
Dawson James
Position: DL
Height/Weight: 6-1/305
Hometown: Indian Trail, NC
Previous School: Porter Ridge
High School: Same
Committed to A&T after a mid-January visit to the university … He made 54 tackles, including 18 unassisted tackles as a senior … Caused and recovered one fumble … Named team captain as a senior … He played offensive and defensive line at Porter Ridge, earning all-conference accolades … Also brings a strong academic presence to the A&T football program.
DJ Joyce
Position: Edge
Height/Weight: 6-3/230
Hometown: Mt. Airy, NC
Previous School: Mt. Airy
High School: Same
The Aggies add another pass rusher in Joyce … Helped the Granite Bears win two state championships … Also doubled as a running back in high school … Rushed for more than 1,200 yards as an RB and totaled 301 career tackles in 51 varsity games played as a defender … Also posted 45 ½ sacks in his career … Broke the single-season sack record at Mt. Airy with 12 ½ … Added 77 tackles, including 37 for loss as a senior.
Chance Pickard
Position: Edge
Height/Weight: 6-3/240
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Previous School: Morgan State
High School: Ragsdale
Played in 10 games for the Bears last season and in 15 games over two seasons … Recovered two fumbles last season for the Bears … Has 16 career tackles, including one for loss … Played at nearby Ragsdale High School.
Chris Price
Position: DL
Height/Weight: 6-3/285
Hometown: Hartsville, SC
Previous School: Hartsville
High School: Same
Could serve as the traditional A&T run stopper Aggie fans grew accustomed to during the mid-2010s … Made 63 unassisted tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 5 ½ sacks as a senior, earning a spot on the North-South All-Star Game … Earned All-Region, All-Zone and All-State accolades.
Cardicus Stanley
Position: DL
Height/Weight: 6-1/325
Hometown: Macon, Ga.
Previous School: Johnson C Smith
High School: Northeast
Played three seasons at Johnson C Smith University (JCSU) … Made 49 career tackles, including 22 unassisted tackles in 26 games played … Also made eight tackles for loss, including 4 ½ sacks … Forced and recovered a fumble as a freshman in 2023 … Helped the JCSU Golden Bulls to a 10-2 record overall and an 8-1 mark in the CIAA … Also helped the Golden Bulls reach the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Linebackers
Tyrek Brown
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6-1/215
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Previous School: Campbell
High School: Mallard Creek
Played 12 games for the Camels during the 2025 season, making 34 tackles, including 19 unassisted tackles … He also recovered a fumble and had two tackles for loss … As a high school standout, was named Mallard Creek's team defensive player of the year … As a senior, compiled 103 tackles, five interceptions, 10 tackles for loss … Also scored three touchdowns as an offensive player … Was a two-time Charlotte Observer Player of the Week … Participated in the Queen City Bowl.
Michael Davis
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6-1/205
Hometown: Chester, Va.
Previous School: Thomas Dale
High School: Same
A signing class heavily reliant on defense adds an outstanding linebacker in Davis … Totaled 251 career tackles during his time at Thomas Dale … Also considered signing with former CAA football school William & Mary.
Donavan Fredrick
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6-2/260
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Previous School: Campbell
High School: 71st
Fredrick joins his high school and college teammate DeAndre Nance in coming to A&T … Played only four games at Campbell, making three unassisted tackles … Will come to A&T as a redshirt freshman … Helped 71st reach the North Carolina Class 3A state championship game in 2024 before losing to West Charlotte … Lost only four games during his prep career … Averaged 10.0 tackles per game during his career at 71st … Also wrestled in high school.
Terry Radford
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6-1/230
Hometown: Chester, SC
Previous School: Chester
High School: Same
Radford comes to A&T after making 99 tackles as a senior at Chester High School … Had an outstanding junior season, racking up 116 tackles and 16 sacks.
Defensive Backs
Kyle Carpenter
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6-2/200
Hometown: Buford, Ga.
Previous School: Colorado
High School: Buford
He did not play a snap as a true freshman at the University of Colorado … Played receiver before switching to defensive back … Led Buford High School to a 12-2 record and a trip to the Georgia Class 6A semifinals … His Buford team finished the season ranked 12th nationally … Also played basketball in high school.
Fionn Day
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6-4/185
Hometown: Nocatee, Fla.
Previous School: Ponte Verde High School
High School: Same
He is considered a ballhawk as a member of the secondary … Recorded 79 tackles, six interceptions, and forced a fumble … His eight career INTs are a school record, and the six interceptions are a single-season school mark.
Dray Duncan
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6-1/185
Hometown: Columbus, Ga.
Previous School: Fort Valley State
High School: Spencer
The Aggies benefitted from Fort Valley State transfers from a year ago, and Duncan could also contribute in 2026 … He did play under coach Gibbs at FVSU … In his first two seasons at FVSU, he combined for 42 tackles, including 26 unassisted tackles … Also had 10 pass defenses, including two interceptions during his career at FVSU … In high school, named to the first-team All-Bi-City team.
Tycorien Gist
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6-1/185
Hometown: Duncan, SC
Previous School: Louisburg Junior College
High School: Byrnes
Gist is the only junior college transfer during the Signing Day announcement … Earned junior college Division III All-American Honors … Totaled 33 tackles, including 16 unassisted, in 10 games last season … During the 2024 season, he played nine games, recording nine tackles and two INTs.
Bryson Hughley
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6-2/180
Hometown: Fort Valley, Ga.
Previous School: Peach County
High School: Same
The Aggies had a strong need for playmakers on defense and players who create turnovers … Hughley has such a reputation … Recorded 46 tackles, eight pass breakups, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and blocked a punt for a touchdown to earn All-State honorable mention honors … Also secured first-team All-Region 1 -AAA accolades.
DeAndre Nance
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6-3/210
Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
Previous School: Campbell
High School: 71st
Nance only played three games for the Camels last season, so he comes to A&T as a redshirt freshman … Helped 71st reach the North Carolina Class 3A state championship game in 2024 before losing to West Charlotte … Lost only four games during his high school career … Played quarterback and free safety as a high school standout … He threw for 1,536 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 1,479 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior… Also played basketball in high school.
Keshen "KJ" Spence
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6-2/210
Hometown: Cairo, Ga.
Previous School: Fort Valley State
High School: Cairo
A&T gets another standout from Fort Valley State … Brings good size to the Aggies secondary … Played 19 games for the Wildcats before transferring to Aggieland … Made 27 tackles as a freshman, including 19 unassisted tackles … Made 39 tackles last season, including 28 unassisted … Also posted five career tackles for loss at FVSU … In two seasons, made eight pass breakups and had one INT … Also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble during his time at FVSU.
Kartrell Townsend
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6-2/180
Hometown: Latta, SC
Previous School: Arkansas Monticello
High School: Latta
Started his collegiate career at Iowa Western Community College before moving to Arkansas Monticello … Can play the safety position and should have three years of eligibility remaining…Also brings a strong academic background to A&T.
Caden Vann
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6-0/180
Hometown: Durham, NC
Previous School: Southern Durham High School
High School: Same
Coach Gibbs signed more athleticism with the addition of Vann … Had 617 yards receiving and seven touchdowns on 19 receptions … Defensively, he had three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns … Can also serve as a punter.
Special Teams
Asher Holland
Position: K
Height/Weight: 6-1/180
Hometown: Durham, NC
Previous School: Jordan
High School: Same
Was the No. 1 kicker in North Carolina Class A and in Quad City Seven 8A … Ranked third in the state in kickoff yards (2,167) in 2025 … Made 163 extra points during his high school career … Also scored 202 points during his time at Jordan High School.
