Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Mercer Adds Five Signees to #MUvment19 Class
2/6/2019 1:48:00 PM | Football
Bears round out their 2019 signing class with 22 total signees
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University football team announced the signing of five more future student-athletes on Wednesday, rounding out a 22-man group that will make up the #MUvment19 signing class.
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The Bears' five additions include defensive lineman Richard Benton Jr. (Atlanta, Ga.), kicker Devin Folser (McDonough, Ga.), defensive lineman Chris Hill (Statesboro, Ga.), wide receiver Yahsyn McKee (Stockbridge, Ga.) and defensive lineman Solomon Zubairu (Lawrenceville, Ga.).
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The 22 #MUvment19 signees span five states – 15 from Georgia, four from Florida and one apiece from Alabama, Ohio and Tennessee. Included in the class are four defensive linemen, four defensive backs, three offensive linemen, three linebackers, two running backs, two tight end, one quarterback, one wide receiver, one long snapper and one kicker.
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"I can't say enough about our coaching staff's efforts to land the impressive 22 young men that make up our #MUvment19 signing class," said head coach Bobby Lamb. "A 22-man signing class is very large for the FCS level and we believe that we have the right mix of players offensively, defensively and on special teams. We filled in some gaps position-wise and we believe this class has what it takes to be something special in the upcoming years."
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Signing Class Breakdown
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Mercer Football 2019 Signing Class
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*Italics – players who signed on Feb. 6, 2019
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Richard Benton Jr. (DL, 6-2, 243, Atlanta, Ga.)
High School
High School
High School
High School
High School
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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The Bears' five additions include defensive lineman Richard Benton Jr. (Atlanta, Ga.), kicker Devin Folser (McDonough, Ga.), defensive lineman Chris Hill (Statesboro, Ga.), wide receiver Yahsyn McKee (Stockbridge, Ga.) and defensive lineman Solomon Zubairu (Lawrenceville, Ga.).
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The 22 #MUvment19 signees span five states – 15 from Georgia, four from Florida and one apiece from Alabama, Ohio and Tennessee. Included in the class are four defensive linemen, four defensive backs, three offensive linemen, three linebackers, two running backs, two tight end, one quarterback, one wide receiver, one long snapper and one kicker.
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"I can't say enough about our coaching staff's efforts to land the impressive 22 young men that make up our #MUvment19 signing class," said head coach Bobby Lamb. "A 22-man signing class is very large for the FCS level and we believe that we have the right mix of players offensively, defensively and on special teams. We filled in some gaps position-wise and we believe this class has what it takes to be something special in the upcoming years."
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Signing Class Breakdown
| Position | Signees | State | Signees | |
| DL | 4 | Georgia | 15 | |
| DB | 4 | Florida | 4 | |
| LB | 3 | Alabama | 1 | |
| OL | 3 | Ohio | 1 | |
| RB | 2 | Tennessee | 1 | |
| TE | 2 | |||
| QB | 1 | |||
| WR | 1 | |||
| LS | 1 | |||
| K | 1 |
Mercer Football 2019 Signing Class
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Hometown (Previous School) |
| Richard Benton Jr. | DL | 6-2 | 243 | Fr. | Atlanta, Ga. (B.E.S.T. Academy) |
| Kendall Bohler | DB | 5-10 | 163 | Fr. | Ocoee, Fla. (Ocoee HS) |
| Justin Bray | TE | 6-3 | 227 | Fr. | Collierville, Tenn. (St. George's Independent) |
| Richie Coffey | DB | 5-10 | 167 | Fr. | Jacksonville, Fla. (Baldwin HS) |
| Fred Davis | RB | 5-10 | 196 | Fr. | Fortson, Ga. (Northside HS) |
| Colton Dingmore | OL | 6-3 | 252 | Fr. | Forsyth, Ga. (Mary Persons HS) |
| Devin Folser | K | 6-2 | 170 | Fr. | McDonough, Ga. (Ola HS) |
| Dylan Fromm | QB | 5-11 | 204 | Fr. | Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins HS) |
| Joel Girtman, Jr. | DB | 5-9 | 191 | Fr. | College Park, Ga. (Westlake HS) |
| Chris Hill | DL | 6-2 | 260 | Fr. | Statesboro, Ga. (Statesboro HS) |
| Aidan Higgins | OL | 5-11 | 256 | Fr. | Duluth, Ga. (Mountain View HS) |
| Zach Hopkins | LB | 6-0 | 212 | Fr. | Madison, Ala. (James Clemens HS) |
| Gavin Hughes | LB | 6-2 | 210 | Fr. | Rome, Ga. (Coosa HS) |
| Zach Lassiter | LS | 6-0 | 194 | Fr. | Cochran, Ga. (Bleckley County HS) |
| Brandon Marshall | RB | 5-7 | 175 | Fr. | Jacksonville, Fla. (Raines HS) |
| Yahsyn McKee | WR | 5-10 | 172 | Fr. | Stockbridge, Ga. (Stockbridge HS) |
| Pedro Rodriguez | TE | 6-2 | 235 | Fr. | Lake Mary, Fla. (Lake Mary HS) |
| Pat Rogers | DL | 6-0 | 261 | Fr. | Screven, Ga. (Wayne County HS) |
| Luke Szabados | LB | 6-2 | 230 | Fr. | Liberty Township, Ohio (Moeller HS) |
| John Thomas | OL | 6-3 | 291 | Fr. | Marietta, Ga. (Hillgrove HS) |
| Lance Wise | DB | 5-8 | 179 | Fr. | Marietta, Ga. (Hillgrove HS) |
| Solomon Zubairu | DL | 6-1 | 240 | Fr. | Lawrenceville, Ga. (Archer HS) |
*Italics – players who signed on Feb. 6, 2019
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Richard Benton Jr. (DL, 6-2, 243, Atlanta, Ga.)
High School
- Four-year letterwinner at B.E.S.T. Academy in Atlanta, Ga.
- Starred at outside linebacker under head coach Joshua Moore
- Totaled 27 sacks (14 as a junior) in prep career (per MaxPreps)
- Recorded 190 career tackles, including career-best 78 as a senior (per MaxPreps)
- Four-time AA Region 6 All-State selection
- Listed as SoCon's top recruit in 2019 signing class by HERO Sports FCS
- Received 30-plus scholarship offers, including 17 from FBS schools
- Earned Chick-fil-AÂ Peach Bowl award
- Expected to finish in the top 10 of his graduating class
- Also ran track & swam at B.E.S.T. Academy; was a two-time state qualifier in track
- Full name is Richard Lee Benton, Jr.
- Born on July 19, 2001 & is the son of Joyce Bradley & Richard Benton Sr.
- Has two siblings, Omarion Benton & Ijah Bradley
High School
- Two-year letterwinner at Ola High School in McDonough, Ga.
- Was Mustangs' kicker under head coach Jared Zito
- Owns Ola HS record for longest field goal (51 yards)
- Named GHSA Region 4-AAAAA Specialist of the Year & earned First Team All-Region honors as a senior
- Was also a standout soccer player for Ola HS, leading Mustangs in goals scored over three seasons
- Member of Olympic Developmental Academy for soccer in 2016-17
- Member of Ola HS' National Honor Society, Beta Club, Quill & Scroll NHS
- Full name is Devin Russell Folser
- Born on Dec. 18, 2000
- Son of Jennifer & Robert Folser
- Has one sibling, Chase
High School
- Four-year letterwinner at Statesboro High School (Statesboro, Ga.)
- Played linebacker, defensive end & tight end under head coach Jeff Kaiser
- Two-time All-Region 2 AAAAA honoree
- Earned Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) All-State honors
- Member of school's DECA club & Special Olympics committee
- Also played basketball & ran track at Statesboro HS
- Full name is Christopher Hill
- Born on June 1, 2001
- Son of Tawana & Christopher Hill
- Has two siblings, Tayana & Chandler
High School
- Two-year letterwinner at Stockbridge High School in Stockbridge, Ga.
- Played multiple positions as an athlete under head coach Kevin Whitley
- Helped Tigers go 12-2 overall & 6-1 in GHSA Region 4 AAAAA
- Totaled 1,266 all-purpose yards & 11 TDs as a senior, including 298 rushing & 523 receiving yards (per MaxPreps)
- Earned GHSA All-State honors as a senior
- Honor roll student & early graduate
- Also played basketball & ran track for the Tigers
- Full name is Yahsyn Shamir McKee
- Born on Oct. 20, 2000 in Atlantic City, N.J.
- Son of Shamia McKee & Reginald Sease
- Has six siblings: Yamirah, Saniya, Kareemah, Maniyah, Yazmin & Yamiina
High School
- Four-year letterwinner at Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Ga.
- Played defensive end & linebacker for the Tigers under head coach Andy Dyer
- Was a team captain for the Tigers
- Named to All-Region First Team & All-County Second Team as a senior
- Totaled 46 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss & six sacks, as a senior (per MaxPreps)
- Helped Archer HS reach GHSA AAAAAAA Final Four in 2018
- Earned eight weekly Gwinnett County honors
- Full name is Solomon Zubairu
- Born on Nov. 16, 2000
- Son of Rahila Manu & Amos Zubairu
- Has one sibling, Justina
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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Players Mentioned
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