Ruzzo Signs Eight in 2019 Recruiting Class

MACON, Ga. – Mercer head men's soccer coach Brad Ruzzo and his staff have announced the signing of eight student-athletes to the 2019 recruiting class, the program announced Monday.

The Bears will look to return to the top of the Southern Conference once again in 2019, coming into the season with four conference titles in the last five seasons. After the departure of five seniors following last season, Mercer will reload the squad with tons of talent in the eight new signees – Liam Coxhead, Addison Dattilo, Dylan Gaither, Ousman Jabang, Bryant Jackson, Kian Khalilian, Kevin Kim and Brant Zulauf.

2019 MERCER MEN'S SOCCER RECRUITING CLASS

PLAYER	POS.	HT.	HOMETOWN	PREV. SCHOOL
Liam Coxhead	MF	5'10"	Peachtree Corners, Ga.	Wesleyan School
Addison Dattilo	D	6'2"	Peachtree City, Ga.	McIntosh HS
Dylan Gaither	MF	5'9"	Lilburn, Ga.	Parkview HS
Ousman Jabang	D/MF	6'2"	McDonough, Ga.	Ola HS
Bryant Jackson	D	6'1"	Savannah, Ga.	Richmond Hill HS
Kian Khalilian	D	6'1"	Southlake, Texas	Carroll Senior HS
Kevin Kim	MF/F	5'8"	Frisco, Texas	Lone Star HS
Brant Zulauf	GK	6'4"	Alpharetta, Ga.	Alpharetta HS

LIAM COXHEAD | Peachtree Corners, Ga.
POS: MF
HT: 5'10"
PREV. SCHOOL/CLUB: Wesleyan School/Atlanta Fire United
» Set school records with 31 single-season assists and 79 career assists
» Named to the Gwinnett County Super Six in 2019 and all-county in 2018
» 2018 DiVarsity 1A Boys Student-Athlete of the Year
» Helped lead Wesleyan School to an undefeated state championship run in 2016 and a semifinal season in 2018, along with three consecutive region championships
» Played club for Atlanta Fire United and helped lead the team to a State Cup Finals appearance in 2017 and a semifinal appearance in 2018

ADDISON DATTILO | Peachtree City, Ga.
POS: D
HT: 6'2"
PREV. SCHOOL/CLUB: McIntosh HS/Concorde Fire/GSA
» 2018 GHSA 5A Region Player of the Year
» Played ODP for the Georgia '00 boys since 2013 – club advanced to the national semifinals in 2017
» Helped lead his club to a Southeast Conference Championship and an ECNL National Championship in 2018
» Led McIntosh HS to a GHSA 5A State Championship and a NSCAA National Championship game appearance
» Named all-state, all-region and to the GACA North-South All-Star Junior game

DYLAN GAITHER | Lilburn, Ga.
POS: MF
HT: 5'9"
PREV. SCHOOL/CLUB: Parkview HS/Atlanta United DA
» Played three seasons in the Atlanta United Development Academy, starting 70 matches and scoring 13 goals for the U-15/16 and U-18/19 clubs
» Helped lead to Atlanta United to the 2017 USSDA National Championship and back-to-back Southeast Division Championships in 2017 and 2018
» Played four seasons for Georgia ODP and led the squad to a third-place finish at the ODP Nationals
» Won the GHSA 6A State Championship at Parkview HS in 2016

OUSMAN JABANG | McDonough, Ga.
POS: D/MF
HT: 6'2"
PREV. SCHOOL/CLUB: Ola HS/GSA/Atlanta United DA
» Named first team all-region and midfielder of the year for Ola HS
» Scored 11 goals and assisted on 14 more his junior season
» Helped GSA club to three state championships, two regional championships and a third place finish at the national championships
» Played in the Atlanta United Development Academy and led the team to a Southeast Division championship and to the finals in the USSDA National Championship
» Played four seasons with Georgia ODP

BRYANT JACKSON | Savannah, Ga.
POS: D
HT: 6'1"
PREV. SCHOOL/CLUB: Richmond Hill HS/Atlanta United DA/Tormenta FC
» Named Region Player of the Year his sophomore season and was a two-time all-region selection
» Holds the record for most goals by an underclassman at Richmond Hill HS
» Played in five matches and started two for Atlanta United Development Academy U-16/17 team

KIAN KHALILIAN | Southlake, Texas
POS: D
HT: 6'1"
PREV. SCHOOL/CLUB: Carroll Senior HS/Solar SC
» Team captain at Carroll Senior HS, the top-ranked high school soccer team in the country
» Four-time academic all-district selection
» Named all-district honorable mention his sophomore year
» Team captain for North Texas ODP and led the club to an undefeated eight-game season

KEVIN KIM | Frisco, Texas
POS: MF/F
HT: 5'8"
PREV. SCHOOL/CLUB: Lone Star HS/FC Dallas DA
» Played seven years in the FC Dallas Development Academy and helped the U-15/16 team advance to a national championship appearance
» Played with Texas ODP in 2010

BRANT ZULAUF | Alpharetta, Ga.
POS: GK
HT: 6'4"
PREV. SCHOOL/CLUB: Alpharetta HS/Atlanta United DA/United Futbol Academy
» Played in the Atlanta United Development Academy and United Futbol Academy
» Started 11 matches at goalkeeper between both clubs in the 2018-19 season
» Named an Adidas Top 50 All-Star

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