Mercer Football Announces 2016 Signing Class
2/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
CLICK HERE FOR AN INTERACTIVE LOOK AT MERCER'S 2016 SIGNEES
MACON, Ga. – Mercer football head coach Bobby Lamb announced the program's 2016 signing class today, as 13 student-athletes signed a National Letter of Intent to continue their playing career with the Bears.
"With a class as small as 13 you are very selective and really only looking at one person per position outside of the offensive line," said head coach Bobby Lamb. "Our coaching staff did a great job of identifying our program's needs and going out and signing the best players at each position. We signed an outstanding group of quality student-athletes and we are excited to get them on campus."
Mercer's 2016 class features 12 incoming freshman and one transfer, including three early enrollees. The Bears' third National Signing Day class is a balanced group that consists of seven offensive players and five defensive players along with one potential two-year athlete. The signees hail from three different states with five players from Georgia and Tennessee as well as three players from Florida.
The 2016 class joins a Mercer program that returns 21 starters from the 2014 season. Mercer will waste no time beginning its preparation for the 2016 season, as spring practice is slated to begin next week.
SIGNING DAY SOCIAL CANCELLED
Mercer's 2016 Signing Day Social scheduled for tonight at Wild Wing Cafe has been cancelled.
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (Previous School) | Video |
| Julian Burris | DB | 5-11 | 185 | Marietta, Ga. (Butler CC) | 
Highlights |
| Charlie Davidson | RB | 5-11 | 225 | Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Blackman H.S.) |
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| Kaelan Riley | QB | 6-4 | 215 | Calhoun, Ga. (Calhoun H.S.) |
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| Kelby Brock | WR | 6-1 | 190 | Maryville, Tenn. (Maryville H.S.) |
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| Sidney Otiwu | LB | 6-0 | 215 | Buford, Ga. (Mill Creek H.S.) |
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| Jake Flath | OL | 6-4 | 285 | Lakeland, Fla. (Lakeland H.S.) |
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| Chris Ellington | TE | 6-4 | 230 | Jacksonville, Fla. (Fletcher H.S.) |
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| Alex Comer | OL | 6-4 | 290 | Lebanon, Tenn. (Wilson Central H.S.) |
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| Ahmad Arnold | LB | 6-4 | 220 | Brentwood, Tenn. (Brentwood H.S.) |
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| Behr Cooper | DL | 6-0 | 290 | Conyers, Ga. (Salem H.S.) |
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| Malique Fleming | DB | 6-0 | 190 | Nashville, Tenn. (Hillsboro H.S.) |
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| Rob Lake | WR | 5-11 | 175 | Ocala, Fla. (Vanguard H.S.) |
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| Harrison Poole | DB | 5-10 | 180 | St. Marys, Ga. (Camden County H.S.) |
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AHMAD ARNOLD
LB | 6-4 | 220 | Brentwood, Tenn. (Brentwood H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Multi-sport athlete at Brentwood High School … Earned four varsity letters for head football coach Ron Crawford … Helped the Bruins advance to the second round of the TSSAA State Playoffs … Selected as the TSSAA 5A Defensive Lineman of the Year … Named the 2015 Region 7-5A Defensive Player of the Year … Earned all-region honors … Tallied 60 tackles, 12 sacks and one interception in 2015 … Also ran for 497 yards and six touchdowns as a senior … Starred on the Bruins' basketball team.
KELBY BROCK
WR | 6-1 | 190 | Maryville, Tenn. (Maryville H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-sport athlete at Maryville High School … Earned three varsity letters for head football coach George Quarles … Led the Rebels to a 58-2 record and three-straight TSSAA 6A state championship game appearances including back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014 … Owns the program records for career receptions, yards and touchdowns, single-season marks for receiving yards (1,443) and single-game tallies for yards (187) and touchdowns (4) … Two-time TSSAA First Team All-State selection … 2015 Blount County Player of the Year … Earned All-Blount County, all-district and all-region honors in 2014 and 2015 … Selected to the Toyota East-West All-Star Game … Helped lead the Senators' to the 2014 state tournament … Helped the school's 4x200 relay team to a sixth-place finish at the 2015 state championships.
ATH | 5-11 | 185 | Marietta, Ga. (Butler CC)
2014-15 at BUTLER CC: Helped the Grizzlies to a 9-2 record and a No. 5 ranking in the final NJCAA poll in 2015 … Named to the Jayhawk Conference Second Team as a sophomore … Hauled in 28 receptions for 416 yards and a pair of scores in 2015 … Averaged 22.3 yards on nine kick returns and 11.6 yards on 12 punt returns as a sophomore … Grabbed 19 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman … Averaged 18.5 yards per kick-off return including a long of 32 yards in 2014.
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete at Kell High School … Earned three varsity letters as a two-way player on the gridiron for head coach Derek Cook … Led the Longhorns to back-to-back GHSA 5A Regional titles including a Final Four berth in 2013 … Helped Kell to a school record 13 wins as a senior … Earned GHSA 5A First Team All-Region and First Team All-State honors in 2013 … Tabbed as a first team all-county honoree … Selected as a team captain during senior campaign … Also starred on Kell's track and field team.
OL | 6-4 | 290 | Lebanon, Tenn. (Wilson Central H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner for head coach Brad Dedman at Wilson Central High School … Led the Wildcats to the TSSAA State Playoff quarterfinals … Earned an invitation to the Toyota East-West All-Star Game … Earned TSSAA All-Region 3-6A honors … Voted a team captain for senior season … Also earned three varsity letters on Wilson Central's baseball team.
BEHR COOPER
DL | 6-0 | 290 | Conyers, Ga. (Salem H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner for head coach John Starr at Salem High School … Four-time GHSA Region 8-5A all-region selection … Helped lead Salem to a GHSA Playoff berth … Led the Seminoles to the 2015 Conyers Cup … All-City selection in 2014 … Selected as a defensive captain in each of his final three seasons … Named to the GHSA Region 8-5A All-Academic team … Member of school's Academic Honor Roll … Also starred on the Salem baseball team.
RB | 5-11 | 225 | Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Blackman H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-sport athlete at Blackman High School … Earned four varsity letters as a two-way player for head coaches Phillip Shadowens … Led Blackman to back-to-back state semifinal appearances … All-State selection in 2014 … Finished second in program history with 2,815 career rushing yards … Added 36 touchdowns over the course of his career … District 7-AAA Offensive Player of the Year … Ran for 1,651 yards as a senior … Three-time all-conference pick … Participated in the Toyota East-West All-Star Game … Winner of the MLK Diversity Award … Also starred for the Blaze's basketball and track and field programs.
CHRIS ELLINGTON
TE | 6-4 | 230 | Jacksonville, Fla. (Fletcher H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport star at Fletcher High School … Earned three varsity letters on the gridiron for head coach Ricky Medlock … Led the Senators to the second round of the FHSAA Playoffs in 2014 … Earned Second Team All-City accolades as a senior … Named First Team All-Gateway Conference … Compiled 350 yards receiving and three touchdowns as a senior … Voted as a team captain in 2015 … Also starred on the school's basketball team.
JAKE FLATH
OL | 6-4 | 285 | Lakeland, Fla. (Lakeland H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Starred for the football and track and field programs at Lakeland High School … Earned a pair of varsity letters for head football coach Bill Castle … Led the Dreadnaughts to back-to-back district titles … Earned FHSAA 7A Second Team All-State recognition … Garnered First Team All-Polk County honors in 2015 … Voted a team captain as a senior … Earned the school's Academic Excellence Award.
MALIQUE FLEMING
DB | 6-0 | 190 | Nashville, Ga. (Hillsboro H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Starred as a two-sport athlete at Hillsboro High School … Earned four varsity letters on the gridiron for head coach Craig Clayton … Led the Burros to a 28-5 record over his final three seasons … Helped Hillsboro advance to the third round of the TSSAA State Playoffs and a No. 9 ranking in 2015 … Tabbed as a first team all-state pick … Selected as the TSSAA Region 6-5A Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 … Two-time conference Defensive MVP … Named to the All-Metro team in 2014 and 2015 … Totaled 223 tackles including 33 for loss to go along with 22 pass break-ups, 13 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions in his high school career … Also hauled in 860 yards receiving and nine touchdowns … Selected as a team captain in 2015.
ROB LAKE
WR | 5-11 | 175 | Ocala, Fla. (Vanguard H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Starred in three sports at Vanguard High School … Garnered three varsity letters for head coach Ed Farmer … 2015 FHSAA Second Team All-State selection … Earned First Team All-District honors as a senior … Totaled 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in his high school career … Also returned two kick-offs for scores … Voted as a team captain in 2015 … 3D (Dedication, Desire and Discipline) Award winner … 2015 All-Academic Team honoree … Also earned multiple varsity letters for the Knights' basketball and track and field programs.
HARRISON POOLE
DB | 5-10 | 180 | St. Marys, Ga. (Camden County H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete at Camden County High School … Played for head football coach Welton Coffey … Earned GHSA 1-6A Second Team All-Region honors as a senior … Elected to the 2016 GACA North vs. South All-Star Game … Selected as the team's Offensive Player of the Year … Totaled 1,546 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground during his high school career … Compiled 51 tackles and three interceptions … Program's Super Cat Competition record holder … Also starred on the Wildcats' track and field program.
KAELAN RILEY
QB | 6-4 | 215 | Calhoun, Ga. (Calhoun H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-sport athlete at Calhoun High School … Earned four varsity letters on the gridiron for head coach Hal Lamb … Finished his high school career with a 54-4 record including one state championship … Selected as the GHSA AAA State Player of the Year … GHSA AAA First Team All-State selection … Named the District Player of the Year … Earned GHSA Region 7-AAA Offensive Player of the Year honors … Finished career with 4,950 passing yards, 48 passing touchdowns … Compiled 1,560 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground … Elected as a team captain in 2015 … Also starred for the Yellow Jackets' basketball and tennis programs … Member of school's Academic Honor Roll.
