No. 17 Football Announces Early Signing Class

MACON – The 17^th-ranked Mercer football team signed 12 football players to national letters of intent on Wednesday during the first day of the 2023-24 early signing period.

The Bears, who are fresh off an historic 2023 campaign that culminated with the program's first appearance in the NCAA postseason, found recruits at four different positions, including a quartet of quarterbacks. The signees hail from seven different states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Additional signees are expected and will be announced at a later date.

KURT AMSTRONG (6-4, 325, Offensive Line, Baker, Fla./Baker HS)
A two-time all-state selection for coach Barry Gardner at Baker (Fla.) High School … Also picked up district player of the year laurels following senior campaign … Earned all-area recognition following each of last two prep seasons … A two-way player for the Gators … Paved the way for an offense that established a new school record for rushing yards during junior campaign.

NEKO FANN (5-10, 175, Quarterback, Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt County HS)
A two-time region player of the year for coach Sean Calhoun at Colquitt County High School … Also picked up first team all-region nods following junior and senior campaigns … Threw for 3,041 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior on 186-of-304 passing with just seven interceptions … Also ran for 437 yards and an additional score … Registered a pair of 300+-yard passing games, including a 347-yard night (15-of-29 passing) against Lowndes that also included a quartet of touchdown passes.

MICHAEL HORTON (6-4, 280, Offensive Line, Macon, Ga./Westside HS)
A two-time first team all-region selection for coach Sheddrick Risper at Westside High School … Also named to Bibb County All-Star Team following each of last two prep seasons … Anchored an offensive line that paved the way for an offense that averaged more than 305 yards and 23 points per game … Seminoles offense featured a pair of 1,000-yard running backs … Named a WGXA Game Changer as a junior

TYSHAWN HURST (6-4, 300, Offensive Line, Compton, Calif./Marshall)
Played two seasons (2021-22) at Marshall … Played first two collegiate seasons (2019-20) at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah … Redshirted as a first-year player.

KHALIL MOODY (6-2, 180, Defensive Back, Sumter, S.C./Crestwood HS)
A two-way player for coach Roosevelt Nelson at Crestview High School … Logged 38 tackles (22 solo) as a senior, while also registering two tackles for loss and a sack … Also recorded eight pass break-ups and a pair of interceptions … Tallied 878 all-purpose yards, including 452 receiving yards (13 catches) and five touchdowns … Invited to play in North-South All-Star Game at conclusion of campaign.

WHITT NEWBAUER (6-6, 225, Quarterback, Raleigh, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons HS)
A two-time all-conference pick at Cardinal Gibbons High School for coach Steven Wright … Slowed by injury as a senior, but still threw for 1,186 yards and nine touchdowns on 97-of-154 passing with three interceptions in just six games … Also ran for 164 yards and an additional score … Completed 62.3 percent of his passing attempts as a junior for 1,962 yards and 16 touchdowns.

CARMELO O'NEAL (6-4, 200, Defensive Back, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake HS)
A lockdown defensive back for coach Maurico Zackery at Westlake High School … Recorded 24 tackles (18 solo) during senior season, while also adding a pair of fumble recoveries.

LONNIE RATLIFF IV (5-11, 210, Quarterback, Duluth, Ga./Holmes CC)
Earned all-conference recognition in lone season at Holmes CC … Began collegiate career at Louisiana Tech ... Threw for 1,605 yards on 123-for-186 (.661) passing with eight touchdowns and two interceptions at Holmes CC … Also carried the ball 50 times for 74 yards and four additional scores … Threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-34 passing in season opener against Pearl River.

LUKE SCHULTZ (6-7, 295, Offensive Line, Birmingham, Ala./Briarwood Christian HS)
A two-time all-conference offensive tackle for coach Matthew Forester at Briarwood Christian High School … Also picked up all-county, all-metro and all-region laurels as a senior … Helped lead Lions to an appearance in the second round of the state playoffs … Also lettered in basketball at Briarwood Christian.

PIERSON SEARS (6-1, 260, Canton, Ga./Creekview HS)
A two-time all-county selection for head coach Trevor Williams at Creekview High School … Anchored an offensive line that paved the way for an offense that averaged more than 365 yards per game, including nearly 205 rushing yards an outing … Grizzlies also featured a 1,000-yard running back.

COLE SHAW (6-2, 195, Thomasville, Ga./Thomasville HS)
An all-state and two-time all-region and all-state selection for coach Jonathan DeLay at Thomasville High School … Also picked up region offensive player of the year laurels … Named ITG Next Outstanding Athlete for Thomasville High School … Crowned Bill Raney Male Athlete of the Year … Caught 31 passes for 712 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior … Registered a quartet of 100+-yard receiving nights, including a 2-catch, 153-yard outing against Harlem.

D.J. SMITH (6-2, 200, Quarterback, Greenwood, Miss./Jones County JC)
Played two seasons (2021-22) at Jones County Junior College … Threw for 1,062 yards and seven touchdowns on 84-of-133 passing with five interceptions as a sophomore … Also ran for 331 yards (72 carries) and four touchdowns … Earned a 3-star rating by 247sports.com and Named Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year following standout senior prep campaign … Concluded his prep football career with 12,323 yards of total offense and 159 touchdowns.

No. 17 Football Announces Early Signing Class

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