After the best football season in school history, Winston-Salem State's focus in recruiting was building depth.
The Rams lost seven starters from the team that finished 13-1 and reached the NCAA Division II semifinals and didn't have many holes to fill. Coach Connell Maynor and his staff signed seven players.
"It's just like last year in that we didn't lose a lot, and we had about 12 or 13 seniors, so we just tried to get guys who we know can help us," Maynor said Thursday. "We know we can't get the cream of the crop because they are going to Division I or Division I-AA. I do know that with the guys we didn't get, they all signed with Division I schools, so that's how you build championship teams."
The skills players in the class include wide receivers R.J. Quick (5-foot-9, 170) from Chapel Hill High and Jarvis Morgan (6-3, 190) from West Rowan, and tight end Demeeko Jones (6-3, 245) from Fayetteville Byrd.
Maynor also signed cornerback Chaunsee Bess (6-0, 180) from Columbia, S.C.; defensive back Takhare Donalson (5-11, 180) from Charlotte Mallard Creek; defensive lineman Keith Tanksley (6-4, 304) from Ragsdale; and offensive lineman Isaiah Towns (6-2, 285) from Greensboro Page.
Quick had 58 catches for 1,382 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior and, according to published reports, also had an offer from Liberty and was being recruited by East Carolina.
Jones could step in to replace Michael Byrd, last season's starting tight end, and Tanksley could help replace defensive end Akeem Ward. Byrd and Ward expended their eligibility.
Donalson had four interceptions last season and returned two for touchdowns.
The Rams lost just one starter on the offensive line, and Towns will add depth. "The offensive line is what makes you or breaks you," Maynor said.
John Eder, WSSU's assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator, is a 30-year coaching veteran, and he said it's a little more difficult to recruit after a good season.
"When I was with Bill (Hayes) at A&T, and we had a good season, the kids would come and see that but realize they might not play right away," Eder said. "So in some respects, it's harder to recruit when you have such a good season."
But Eder also said that WSSU can be an easy sell, because of the facilities, coaching staff and reputations of current players.
"If we get kids on campus for visits, they see what great kids we already have, and I think that helps us," Eder said.
Maynor, who had 10 scholarships to work with, could add recruits this week or next.
"We've got a few more we are still in the mix for," he said. "I really like this class of recruits, and we think they can really help us in the future."
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