Charlotte 49ers head coach Will Healy announced seven transfers that have enrolled this semester and are a part of the 2020-21 signee class. The seven transfers join 17 signees from December to give the 49ers a 24-player recruiting class.
Sixteen of those 24 players, including all seven transfers, are enrolled this spring and will take part in the 2021 spring practice season.
FEBRUARY 2021 SIGNEES (TRANSFERS):
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Exp. Hometown/H.S./Previous School
*Jon Alexander S 6-3 210 Gr. TR Fort Worth, Texas / Trimble Tech / Kansas State
*Joshua Bailey DT 6-2 300 R-Sr. TR Jacksonville, Fla. / William Raines / Iowa State
*Shadrick Byrd RB 5-10 210 R-So. TR Alabaster, Ala. / Thompson / Iowa
*James Foster QB 6-2 210 R-So. TR Montgomery, Ala. / Sidney Lanier / Texas A&M
*Davondre Robinson S 6-0 200 Gr. TR Holly Hill, S.C. / Lake Marion / East Carolina
*Kofi Wardlow DE 6-3 250 Gr. TR Washington, D.C. / St. John's / Notre Dame
*Justin Whisenhunt LB 6-1 225 Gr. TR Birmingham, Ala. / Ramsay / Troy
DECEMBER 2020 SIGNEES (HIGH SCHOOL):
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown Previous School(s)
Knox Boyd OL 6-4 290 Fr. Denton, Texas Guyer
D.J. Brown LB 6-0 235 Fr. Memphis, Tenn. Memphis Univ. School
*Cam Burden LB 6-3 215 Fr. Sevierville, Tenn. Alcoa
*Tyson Clawson DE 6-1 230 Fr. Charlotte, N.C. Independence
*Miguel Jackson DE 6-2 270 Fr. Gibsonia, Pa. Pine-Richland
Jairus Mack WR 5-10 170 Fr. Athens, Ga. Clarke Central
Douglas Newsome CB 6-0 175 Fr. Orange, Va. Orange County
Steven Parker S 6-2 170 Fr. Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay Tech
*Miles Posey DE 6-3 240 Fr. Yorktown, Va. Life Christian Academy
Isaiah Potts DT 6-2 300 Fr. Fayetteville, N.C. Pine Forest
*B.J. Ragland OL/DL 6-3 305 Fr. Chattanooga, Tenn. Red Bank
*Bailey Rice P 6-1 205 Fr. Melbourne, Australia Hallam Senior College / St. Kilda
*Chavion Smith RB 5-9 205 Fr. Statesville, N.C. Statesville
Elijah Spencer WR 6-2 190 Fr. Irmo, S.C. Dutch Fork
*Trevor Timmons OL 6-2 275 Fr. Brunswick, Ga. Blythewood (S.C.)
Colin Weber TE 6-4 220 Fr. Hopkins, Mich. Hopkins
*Xavier Williams QB 6-2 205 Fr. Moultrie, Ga. Colquitt County
* - enrolled in January, 2021 and will participate in spring practice
FEBRUARY RECRUITING CLASS ADDITIONS (TRANSFERS)
Jon Alexander
6-3; 210; Gr.; S
Fort Worth Texas / Trimble Tech / Kansas State
At Kansas State: 2020: Did not play in 2020. 2019: Saw action in all 12 regular-season games, carding 25 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a sack, two pass breakups, a fumble and a fumble recovery... Also blocked a punt against TCU, which led to K-State's first touchdown of the game... Striped a ball carrier and returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Nicholls... It was the Wildcats' first score via a fumble recovery in 23 games... Set a season high with four tackles at Texas, a game that featured a sack... Both of his pass breakups came in the regular-season finale against Iowa State.
At Community College: Played the 2018 season at Kilgore (Texas) College under head coach J.J. Eckert... Rated the 14th-best community college safety in the Class of 2019 by 247Sports... Earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore after totaling 49 tackles, one tackle for loss, nine pass breakups and an interception... Helped the Rangers produce a 10-2 season with a conference championship, while Kilgore capped the season with a victory in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Dallas Bowl and a No. 4 national ranking... Spent the 2017 season at Garden City Community College, playing in 10 games and recording one tackle and a pass breakup.
At Trimble Tech: Named the 99th-best safety nationally in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports... Earned first team all-district honors at safety as a senior after totaling 54 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and five interceptions... Also returned eight kickoffs for a 17.9-yard average, three punts for a 22.7-yard average and caught 12 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown... Earned first team all-district accolades in basketball and was named the district rebounding MVP.
Joshua Bailey
6-2; 300; Gr.; DT
Jacksonville, Fla. / William Raines / Iowa State
At Iowa State: 2020 Second Team Academic All-Big 12. 2020: Played in all 12 games … made first career start vs. Texas … had 15 tackles and 5.0 TFL … career-high four tackles and 2.0 TFL vs. Louisiana … tallied three tackles and 0.5 TFL vs. TCU … had three tackles, 2.0 TFL and a QB hurry vs. West Virginia. 2019: Played in five games. 2018: One game played. 2017: Two games played. 2016: Redshirt season.
At William Raines: Three-star recruit by Rivals … ranked as the No. 105 defensive tackle nationally by 247Sports …Chose Iowa State over South Florida, UCF and Cincinnati … played as an offensive and defensive lineman … helped Raines to a 12-2 record and a 4-0 mark against district foes as a senior … all-district … in final years totaled 51 tackles (17 solo), three TFL and two sacks.
Shadrick Byrd
5-10; 210; R-So.; RB
Alabaster, Ala. / Thompson / Iowa
At Iowa: 2020: Played on special teams in season opener at Purdue. 2019: redshirt season … enrolled in spring 2019 to participate in spring practice.
At Thompson: First-team all-state and all-county honors as a senior . . . Second team all-state and first-team all-county as a junior . . . second-team all-county as a sophomore … Thompson went 24-3 in his junior and senior seasons ... reached 2018 AHSAA Class 7A state championship game as a senior, rushing for 1,340 yards with 500 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns … state semifinals as a junior … totaled 1,167 rushing yards with 243 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns … team captain as a senior … also lettered in baseball.
James Foster Jr.
6-3; 215; R-So.; QB
Montgomery, Ala. / Sidney Lanier / Texas A&M
At Charlotte: Transfer from Texas A&M … three years of eligibility remaining … will be eligible to play immediately … former 4-star recruit (ESPN) … three-star by 247Sports and Rivals … rated as the No. 12 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2018 by 247Sports.
At Texas A&M: 2020: Did not play in the 2020 season. 2019: Played in four games … passed for 30 yards on 3-of-9 attempts … added five rushes for 15 yards … 2-for 5 for 25 yards and 17 rushing yards in the win over Lamar … also played against Mississippi State, LSU, and South Carolina. 2018: Redshirted
At Lanier: Four-star prospect (ESPN.com) … three-star recruit by 247 and Rivals for the Poets … consensus top-15 player in the state of Alabama ... honorable mention all-state selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2017 … reached state semifinals as a senior (11-2) … threw for over 2,000 yards while rushing for over 600 … over 3,000 yards of total offense, 30 passing touchdowns, just three interceptions … added 11 touchdowns on the ground … finalist for 2017 Mr. Football … runner-up for Advertiser Player of the Year … chose Texas A&M over Florida State and LSU.
Davondre Robinson
6-0; 200; Gr.; S
Holly Hill, S.C. / Lake Marion / East Carolina
At East Carolina: Career: 34 games … 192 tackles. 2020: 2020 Preseason third team all-AAC (Athlon Sports) … played in four of the team's first five games … DNP in last four … had 11 tackles (six solo) … high of six tackles in season opener vs. UCF. 2019: Opened all 12 games at free safety … second-leading tackler with 71 stops … had 40 solo tackles and shared team-lead with three interceptions … credited with 2.0 TFLs (Cincinnati, SMU), a fumble recovery (Connecticut) and four pass breakups (2 vs. Tulsa, 1 each vs. William & Mary and Cincinnati … season-high 11 stops vs. Temple and 10 against Tulsa … eight games with five or more tackles … INTs against William & Mary and in back-to-back AAC matchups vs. Connecticut and Tulsa … responsible for two takeaways during win over UConn (INT; FR) … led team with 56 stops during eight-game AAC (7.0/gm). 2018: Team-high 48 solo tackles and second on team with 77 overall … played in all 12 contests with 10 starts … Also tallied 1.5 TFLs, three pass breakups (two vs. North Carolina, one vs. UCF), a forced fumble (USF) and a quarterback pressure (Memphis) … career-high 12 tackles vs. Memphis & Tulane, 10 vs. NC State … nine games with 5+ tackles ... unit which ranked third nationally in TFLs (8.8 tpg), 22nd in sacks (2.8 spg) and 35th in fewest first downs allowed (243). 2017: Instant impact as a freshman … appeared in six contests with three starts … had 33 tackles (17 solo) … season-high eight tackles at UCF … four games with 5 or more tackles … collected 1.5 TFL, a fumble recovery and pass breakup.
At Lake Marion: Four-star prospect (Scout.com) … highest-ranked safety prospect out of South Carolina (21st nationally) and fourth-best overall prospect in state … three stars (247Sports.com) … sixth overall prospect in S.C., 32nd nationally at position … member of ESPN.com's Top 150 … A two-time USA Today High School's American Family Insurance ALL-USA South Carolina First-Team selection … four-year letterman played quarterback on offense, safety on defense and as a punter and return specialist at Lake Marion … 100+ tackles in 2014, 2015, 2016) … started for South Carolina in the prestigious Shrine Bowl of the Carolina All-Star Game … nominated to the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl … A MaxPreps.com Preseason Defensive Small Schools All-America prior to senior campaign … Helped lead Gators to a 9-4 mark and S.C. Class AA Division I semifinals in 2015 … An Orangeburg Times & Democrat First-Team All-Area performer in 2016 … Also selected to the T&D's Elite 11 (of top players in state) … team MVP as a junior (107 tackles; 3 INT; 446 passing yards; 915 rushing yards yards; 441 receiving yards; 9 touchdowns) … 110 tackles and three picks (91 yards) as a sophomore .. Contributed 835 passing yards (4 TDs); 970 rushing yards (4 TDs) … 32 tackles and one interception as a freshman with 452 passing yards (4 TDs); 313 rushing yards … also recruited by Clemson, Duke, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Mississippi State, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCF, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
Kofi Wardlow
6-3; 250; Gr.; DE
Washington, D.C. / St. John's College / Notre Dame
At Notre Dame: Played in three games in four seasons. 2020: Did not see game action before entering transfer portal. 2019: Saw action in two games on the season … recorded an assisted tackle against New Mexico. 2018: Played in one game, making his debut against Virginia Tech. 2017: Redshirt season … spent season on scout team and did not see the field.
At St. John's College H.S.: Three-star recruit (247Sports Composite) … led St. John's College to an 8-4 record and appearance in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title game in 2016 … only played football for two years … joined the Cadets football team during his junior year … finished 2016 with 84 tackles, 28.5 TFLs and 9.5 sacks … named 2016 American Family Insurance Second Team ALL-USA Washington D.C. … Michael Crouch Unsung Hero Award … Region 1 7A Player of the Year … No. 82 defensive end by ESPN.com and No. 87 by Scout.com ... No. 47 weak-side defensive end by Rivals.com and No. 56 by 247Sports.com … Maryland's No. 8-ranked player by Scout.com, No. 8-ranked player by 247Sports, No. 11-ranked player by ESPN and No. 7-ranked player by Rivals … chose the Irish over Boston College, Maryland, Michigan State, Missouri, Pitt, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and others.
Justin Whisenhunt
6-1; 225; Gr.; LB
Birmingham, Ala. / Ramsay / Troy
At Troy: 2020: Played in two games … four tackles, all solo … added one pass break-up … saw action vs. BYU (three tackles) and South Alabama (one tackle) … graduated from Troy with a degree in political science. 2019: Started six games and played in 10 games before an injury cost him the final two games of the season … Finished the season with 39 tackles, a pair of tackles for loss and a sack … Forced a fumble in Troy's win at Akron … Recorded 10 tackles – seven solo – in Troy's nationally televised win over rival South Alabama … Credited with a half sack against both Campbell and Missouri. 2018: Started four games at middle linebacker and finished seventh on the team with 47 tackles … Added a sack, five tackles for loss and a team-high eight quarterback hurries … Credited with 15 total pressures that resulted in eight hits on the quarterback … Recorded a sack and seven tackles against Coastal Carolina … Eight quarterback hurries came in first seven games of the season. 2017: Played in all 13 games and earned three starts at middle linebacker … Opened his collegiate career with two tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss at Boise State … Picked up four tackles and a tackle for loss in Troy's home opener against Alabama State … Recorded a season-high seven tackles against South Alabama … Credited with a tackle in 11-of-13 games and three or more stops in six different contests … Posted 34 total tackles (20 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry on the season
At Ramsay: Led Ramsay to a 13-2 record and an Alabama 6A State Championship his senior season … named Rams' Defensive Player of the Year … holds school record for tackles …. Named to the AL.com All-Birmingham Team as an honorable mention selection following his senior season ( 131 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and two interceptions) … Rams reached the playoffs in his junior year… Rated as one of the top 100 players in the state of Alabama by 247Sports … As a sophomore, recorded 50 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, two pass break ups and an interception … Ramsay posted a 32-5 record over his final three seasons with three trips to the Alabama 6A playoffs
