(North Carolina’s press release on its 2012 recruiting class.)
Kanler Coker
Quarterback, 6-4, 205
Flowery Branch, Ga. (Flowery Branch)
Has already graduated from high school • Considered the No. 72 quarterback prospect in the country by Scout.com • Played football, basketball and baseball in high school • Became the starting quarterback at Gainesville (Ga.) North Hall High School as a junior • Transferred to Flowery Branch for his senior season and completed 173 of 290 pass attempts for 2,809 yards and 31 touchdowns • Also rushed 119 times for 837 yards and 15 touchdowns • Amassed more than 3,800 yards of total offense • Averaged double figures in basketball • Attended North Carolina’s basketball camp as a youngster • His father played middle linebacker for Georgia Southern • Played in the Georgia North-South All-Star game in December • Finished in the top 10 for Georgia’s High School player of the year voting • Won the team’s academic award for football and basketball • Named the Atlanta Touchdown Club Back of the Week award • Played in the North-South All-Star game • Born April 30, 1993.
Kedrick Davis
Wide Receiver, 5-10, 165
Charlotte, N.C. (Berry Academy)
Pronounced KEE-drick • Rated the No. 48 multi-purpose athlete in the country by Rivals.com and the No. 24 player in North Carolina • Considered the No. 32 player in North Carolina by SuperPrep • Ranked among the top 50 athletes by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming • Won the NCHSAA 2-A state championship in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.47 seconds • Has also been timed at 21.64 in the 200-meter dash • Averaged 25.7 yards per reception as a senior and caught 20 touchdown passes over the last two seasons • Had 38 receptions for 780 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior • Coached by Andrew Howard • Son of Brenda Davis • Born Dec. 10, 1993.
Quinshad Davis
Wide Receiver, 6-4, 185
Gaffney, S.C. (Gaffney)
Parade All-America • Also named to Rivals, MaxPreps, US Air Force and Sports Illustrated high school All-America teams • Named South Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year • Member of South Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Ranked the No. 2 player in South Carolina by SuperPrep • Caught 108 passes for 2,009 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior • Named a finalist for South Carolina’s Mr. Football • Considered the No. 2 player in South Carolina and the No. 34 wide receiver in the country by Rivals.com • Member of the Rivals250 team • Helped lead Gaffney to a 13-1 record and an appearance in the state championship game as a senior • Listed by ESPN.com as the No. 51 wide receiver in the nation • Caught 94 passes for 1,481 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior • Coached by Dan Jones • Son of Quinzetta Posey and James Davis • Born May 24, 1994.
John Ferranto
Offensive Lineman, 6-5, 270
Burlington, N.J. (Township)
Pronounced Fuhr-ANN-toe • Considered one of the top eight offensive linemen in New Jersey by NJVarsity.com • Played both offensive line and defensive line at Burlington Township High School • Competed the first two years on defensive line, but moved to left tackle as a senior • Selected first-team All-South Jersey by Philadelphia Inquirer and first-team All-Area by Camden Courier Post • Named to the All-Group 3 team • Key part of an offensive line that paved the way for 1,900 yards rushing and a 7-3 record • Also is expected to compete as a deep snapper in college • Was named the MVP of the New Jersey Ultimate 100 as a defensive lineman • Put on 50 pounds after his freshman year of high school • Also competed in track and field • Two-time second-team all-conference • Academic all-county • Coached by Tom Maderia • Son of Julie and John Ferranto • Born Nov. 16, 1993.
Junior Gnonkonde
Bandit, 6-4, 220
Lakeland, Ga. (Lanier County)
Pronounced non-KHAN-day • Ranked the No. 39 weakside defensive end in the country by Rivals.com and the No. 51 player in Georgia by Rivals.com • Posted 119 tackles as a senior, including nine sacks, and had two fumble recoveries • Also had 10 receptions for 169 yards and carried three times for 159 yards • Made 89 tackles, had nine sacks and recovered two fumbles as a junior • Recorded 68 tackles, six sacks and six fumble recoveries as a sophomore • Coached by John White who is also his legal guardian • Moved to the United States from Africa four years ago • Speaks four languages • Also competed in the shot put in track and field and played basketball • Was a track region champion in the shot put three consecutive seasons and was the anchor of the 4x400 meter relay team • Four-year starter on basketball team who averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds • Three-time all-region player and named the region’s defensive player of the year • Born Aug. 4, 1993.
Clint Heaven
Safety, 6-0, 190
Palmetto, Fla. (Manatee)
Ranked the No. 30 safety prospect in the nation by Rivals.com and considered one of the top 100 players in Florida • Considered the No. 59 safety nationally by ESPN.com • Rated the No. 72 safety prospect in the country by Scout.com • Helped lead his team to the Florida 7-A state championship, its first since 1992 • Recorded 80 tackles, including 50 solo stops, and five passes defended as a senior • Had a sack in the regional final • Was a three-year starter and played in two state championship games at Manatee • Had a season-high 14 tackles against Palm Beach in the state semifinal and had 10 against nationally-ranked Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.) in the season opener • Coached by Joe Kinnan • Also competed in track and field • Son of Clinton and Tundra Heaven • Born Jan. 5, 1994.
Jon Heck
Offensive Lineman, 6-6, 290
Jacksonville, Fla. (The Bolles School)
Ranked among the top 100 prospects in Florida by Scout.com • Member of the Jacksonville Times-Union Super 11 and Super 24 • Helped lead Bolles to a 13-1 record and a state championship come-from-behind victory over Booker T. Washington as a senior • Listed by ESPN.com as one of the top 100 tackles in the country • Named second-team all-state • Missed his junior season with a foot fracture • Has a large frame and long arms • Coached by Corky Rogers at The Bolles School • Also competed in basketball and throws the discus in track and field • Originally from Charlottesville, Va. • His father, Andy, was a first-team All-America offensive tackle for Notre Dame and played on the 1988 national championship team in South Bend • Andy coached three seasons as an assistant coach at Virginia and recently concluded his ninth season with the Jacksonville Jaguars • Son of Andy and Jennifer Heck • Born Feb. 5, 1994.
Joe Jackson
Safety, 6-2, 210
Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast)
Member of the Florida Times-Union Super 11, Super 24 and was an All-Coast and All- Gateway selection • Posted 105 tackles, including 18 for losses and seven sacks, as First Coast advanced to the 7-A state championship game • Also had two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries • Listed as the No. 41 outside linebacker in the nation by ESPN.com • Considered the No. 82 outside linebacker prospect in the country by Scout.com • Ranked one of the top 110 players in Florida by SuperPrep • Coached by Marty Lee • Son of Barbara and Joseph Jackson • Born Jan. 6, 1994.
T.J. Jiles
Cornerback, 5-11, 165
Cape Coral, Fla. (Cape Coral)
SuperPrep All-America • Ranked the No. 20 player overall in the state of Florida by SuperPrep • Member of the Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100 • Won MVP honors for the South at the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star game • Considered the No. 26 cornerback prospect in the country by Scout.com • Rated the No. 50 cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com • Listed by ESPN.com as one of the top 100 cornerbacks nationally • Named third-team all-state by The Associated Press • Played quarterback as a sophomore and played on both sides of the ball as a junior and senior • Had more than 1,000 yards receiving as a senior • Coached by Brad Metheny • Son of Marqui Church • Full name is Tyreece Isia-Berna Jiles • Born May 3, 1994.
Terrance Knox
Tight End, 6-2, 240
Concord, N.C. (Concord)
Enrolled at North Carolina in January, 2012 • PrepStar All-Atlantic Region • Listed by ESPN.com as the No. 21 tight end prospect in the country • Ranked the No. 31 prospect in North Carolina by SuperPrep • Considered the No. 33 tight end prospect in the country by Scout.com • Posted 32 receptions for 426 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior • Two-time all-county • Coached by Glen Padgett • Son of Charles and Priscilla Knox • Born Feb. 20, 1994.
Dan Mastromatteo
Linebacker, 6-2, 215
Absecon, N.J. (Holy Spirit)
Pronounced mass-troh-muh-TAY-oh • Listed by ESPN.com as the No. 53 outside linebacker prospect in the nation • PrepStar All-East Region • Considered the No. 72 outside linebacker prospect in the country by Scout.com • Named first-team all-state and all-non public group II by Newark Star-Ledger • Was an all-South Jersey first-team pick by the Philadelphia Inquirer • Posted 99 tackles and six sacks for the South Jersey state champions • Recorded 90 tackles, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for a touchdown as a junior • Also returned an interception for a touchdown • Coached by Charles Roman • Son of Albert and Michelle Mastromatteo • Born June 19, 1993.
J.J. Patterson
Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 330
Roanoke Rapids, N.C. (Roanoke Rapids)
Member of the PrepStar All-America team • Ranked the No. 9 player in North Carolina by NCPreps.com • Listed by ESPN.com as the No. 22 offensive guard nationally • Rated the No. 18 player in North Carolina by SuperPrep • Considered the No. 30 offensive guard prospect in the country by Scout.com • A four-year starter on the offensive line at Roanoke Rapids • Played in the Offense-Defense All-Star game in Dallas, Texas • Two-time conference lineman of the year • Started on both the offensive line and defensive line during his last three years • Posted 62 tackles and a sack as a senior defensive tackle • Coached by Russell Weinstein • Son of Jerome Patterson.
Caleb Peterson
Offensive Lineman, 6-5, 310
Auburn, Ala. (Auburn)
Considered the No. 11 offensive guard in the nation by ESPN.com and is a four-star prospect • Ranked the No. 21 senior in Alabama by SuperPrep • Considered the No. 27 offensive guard prospect in the country by Scout.com • Ranked the 14th best senior in Alabama by The Birmingham News • Selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game • Played in the Offense-Defense All-Star game • Named first-team all-region and all-state • Auburn went 8-2 his senior season and advanced to the state playoffs • Member of the Scout300 as one of the top players in the country • Two-year starter • Named all-state and all-area • His brother, Taylor, plays at Southern Miss • Coached by Tim Carter • Son of Marjorie and Steve Peterson • Born Dec. 22, 1993.
Shakeel Rashad
Linebacker, 6-2, 215
Jacksonville, Fla. (Episcopal)
Enrolled at North Carolina in January, 2012 • Member of the PrepStar All-America team • Member of the Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100 • A four-star prospect by ESPN.com, which lists him as the No. 35 outside linebacker prospect in the nation • Considered the No. 57 outside linebacker prospect in the country by Scout.com • Member of the Jacksonville Times-Union Super 11 and Super 24 teams • Posted 82 tackles and eight sacks as a junior • Also played basketball and ran track • Holds the school record in the 400 meters • Coached by David Hess • His older brother, Shareff, played football at UCF • Son of Shareff and Sharon Rashad • Born March 17, 1994.
Jessie Rogers
Defensive End, 6-4, 240
Arlington, Texas (Bowie)
Considered the No. 80 defensive end prospect in the country by Scout.com • Two-year starter on the defensive line • Helped lead team to a 9-4 record in 2011 and posted 51 tackles, 12 sacks and 6.5 tackles for losses • Also had five quarterback pressures, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one safety • Recorded 61 tackles, including 15 for losses and four sacks, as a junior • Coached by Kenny Perry • Son of Lisa and Jessie Rogers • Born July 1, 1994.
Malik Simmons
Cornerback, 5-11, 180
Lehigh Acres, Fla. (Lehigh)
Pronounced muh-LEEK • Played quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback and safety for Lehigh High School • Considered the No. 40 cornerback prospect in the country by Scout.com and the No. 57 cornerback by Rivals.com • Listed by ESPN.com as the No. 85 athlete in the nation • Scored 12 touchdowns – seven rushing and five passing – as a junior • Coached by Peter Fominaya • Also competes on the track team and plays basketball • Son of Saundra and Andre Simmons • Born Dec. 29, 1993.
Kendrick Singleton
Wide Receiver, 6-2, 200
Macclenny, Fla. (Baker)
Played a variety of positions for Baker County High School in Glen Saint Mary, Fla., including wide receiver, running back and quarterback on offense and safety, cornerback and linebacker on defense • Helped lead Baker County to a 7-3 mark his senior season • Made 60 receptions for 1,085 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior to become the school’s all- time leading receiver • Earned second-team all-state honors • Caught 24 passes for 524 yards and four touchdowns as a junior • Also ran track • Son of Kendrick Singleton and Joyce Farmer • Born Oct. 13, 1993.
Nathan Staub
Linebacker, 6-2, 210
Buford, Ga. (Buford)
Pronounced STOB • Listed by ESPN.com as the No. 43 inside linebacker prospect in the nation • Considered the No. 8 fullback prospect in the country by Scout.com • As a senior, Buford went 14-1 and advanced to the state finals before falling to Calhoun • Buford had won four consecutive state championships • Son of Kayanne and Eddie Staub • Coached by Jess Simpson • Born May 21, 1993.
James Summers
Quarterback, 6-2, 200
Greensboro, N.C. (Page)
Rivals.com lists him as the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the country • Considered the ninth-best prospect overall in North Carolina by Rivals.com • PrepStar All-Atlantic Region • Ranked the No. 23 player in North Carolina by SuperPrep • Described by SuperPrep as “undeniably the best senior quarterback in the state” and “is the ideal player to run a spread attack” • Completed 93 of 188 pass attempts for 1,506 yards and 20 touchdowns to lead Page to a perfect 15-0 season and the state 4-AA championship • Also ran for 1,631 yards on 185 rushing attempts and scored 22 times • Had 247 total yards of offense in the state finals • Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Amassed 2,890 total yards of offense and accounted for 37 touchdowns as a junior • Completed 102 of 207 attempts for 1,623 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 1,267 yards and 16 touchdowns • Son of Tonia Davis and George Carter (stepdad) • Born June 12, 1994.
Monte Taylor
Defensive End, 6-3, 235
Springdale, Md. (Flowers)
Played defensive end and tight end at C.H. Flowers High School • Posted 109 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior and helped lead his team to the state playoffs • Also had 15 catches for 372 yards and six touchdowns • Played in the Crab Bowl state all-star game • Considered the No. 32 player in Maryland by MDHigh.com • Earned all-county honors and was a second-team all-metro performer • Selected second-team all-state • Coached by Mike Mayo • Son of Mo Taylor and Tina Tillman • Born March 24, 1993.
Justin Thomason
Defensive End, 6-4, 240
McDonough, Ga. (Eagle’s Landing Christian)
Named Class A first-team all-state after posting 109 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior • Also played tight end on offense and had 10 catches, including one for touchdown • Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy went 12-2 in his senior season, and advanced to the semifinals of the Class A playoffs • Played every position in the front seven • Named the region’s defensive player of the year • Rated one of the top 100 players in Georgia by SuperPrep • Also played basketball • Coached by Jonathan Gess • Son of Dennis and Linda Thomason • Born May 19, 1994.
Damien Washington
Wide Receiver, 6-1, 180
Kannapolis, N.C. (A.L. Brown)
Ranked the No. 35 prospect in North Carolina by SuperPrep • ESPN.com ranks him as the No. 100 athlete in the nation • Played running back in Brown’s spread offense • Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Played quarterback, wide receiver and safety • Returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown to start his senior season • Rushed for 992 yards on 85 carries despite missing four games with a knee injury • Also had 17 receptions for 291 yards and completed two passes for touchdowns • Coached by Mike Newsome • Son of Bryant and Judy Foster • Born Damien Shamar Washington on Jan. 6, 1994.
Phillip Williamson
Linebacker, 6-3, 210
Durham, N.C. (Jordan)
Considered the No. 50 safety prospect in the country by Scout.com • Among the top 100 outside linebacker prospects in the nation by ESPN.com • PrepStar All-Atlantic Region • Registered 162 tackles as a senior, which ranks near the top of the national charts • Also forced 10 fumbles • Ranked the No 27 player in North Carolina by SuperPrep • Began his career as a defensive back, but moved to linebacker as a senior • Earned all-conference as a defensive back and was named all-area by the Durham Herald-Sun • Was an all-districk wide receiver as a sophomore • Coached by Mike Briggs • Also participated in basketball and track • Son of Linda and Tim Williamson • Born Phillip Jamal Williamson on Oct. 21, 1993.