Courtesy of NC A&T Athletics
EAST GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T football team announced its 2023 Signing Day Class on Wednesday. It includes seven players plus the five the Aggies announced during the early signing period.
“I am thrilled with the 2023 class,” said North Carolina A&T coach Vincent Brown. “We added some tremendously talented student-athletes that are smart, talented, tough playmakers that we believe will be great additions to our university, the community and our program.”
Player: Giovanni Divers
Position: Defensive End/Edge Rusher
Hometown: McDonough, Ga.
Previous School(s): Eagles Landing High School
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 249
Accolades: Divers earned Region 2 Class 5A second-team honors as a defensive lineman. As a senior, he recorded 10 sacks and 61 tackles, including 24 for loss. Divers also forced three fumbles.
Breakdown: He is described as athletically brilliant with ideal size, allowing him to explode into the backfield and thrive in rush defense. ‘
Twitter: @Giovanni_Divers
Player: Josh Iseah
Position: Defensive End/Outside Linebacker
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Previous School(s): Independence High School
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 240
Accolades: Iseah comes to A&T after earning third-team All-State honors. In 2022, he secured all-conference honors from the Class 4A Southwestern Conference as a defensive lineman. The Queen City Senior Bowl selected him to play in the 2022 game. Last season, he posted 125 tackles, including 17 for loss. He also posted 3 ½ sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and he blocked a punt.
Breakdown: He should cause havoc in offensive backfields. He can make his presence felt.
Twitter: @joshiseah
Player: Kade Moledar
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Dawsonville, Ga.
Previous School(s): Dawson County High School
Height/Weight: 6-foot, 225
Accolades: Moledar, the 2022 Dawson County regional defensive player of the year, recorded 90 tackles and five sacks as a senior in 2022. He is a two-time (2021, 22) first-team All-Region selection, finishing his career with 354 tackles, 30 for loss, 12 sacks, three interceptions and three forced fumbles in 45 games.
Breakdown: Moledar has chase-down athleticism from the back side. Coaches describe him as a hammer because of his striking ability during his impressive senior campaign.
Twitter: @Kademoledar
Player: Barry “B.J.” Turner
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.
Previous School(s): Charlotte/Page High School
Height/Weight: 6-foot1, 225
Accolades: Turner’s father, Barry Turner, is a North Carolina A&T Sports Hall of Famer after leading the Aggies to two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships in 1991 and 1992. Turner’s father left A&T as the program’s second-leading rusher. Turner played in 44 games for the Charlotte 49ers, recording 74 tackles, including 35 unassisted, and five tackles for loss.
Breakdown: Turner is an excellent in-chase mode because he can get outside the hashes and run down ball carriers. He is instinctive in the box as a run defender and quick to read and react.
Twitter: @_b_turner2
Player: Terien George
Position: Safety/Outside Linebacker
Hometown: Douglasville, Ga.
Previous School(s): Douglas County High School
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 205
Accolades: George made 90 tackles and forced three fumbles as a senior in 2022.
Breakdown: He brings versatility and physicality to a defense that already has a tradition of being stingy. He combines his long frame with a quick first step to destroy offensive game plans.
Twitter: @PapiTerien
Player: Jayvonne Dillard
Position: Wide Receiver
Hometown: Lithonia, Ga.
Previous School(s): Miller Grove High School
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 203
Accolades: Dillard made 41 catches for 683 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 16.7 yards per catch and earned All-Region 6 4A first-team honors.
Breakdown: Dillard’s size makes him a threat on the outside. Defenders are rarely able to match up to his long strides and large catch radius. He is a physical wide receiver with great speed, elite footwork and excellent ball skills.
Twitter: @8JDillard
Player: Mitchell Etheridge III
Position: Defensive End
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Previous School(s): Jacksonville State/Shades Valley High School
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 225
Accolades: Etheridge enrolled at A&T in January of 2023. He appeared in six games for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks as a redshirt freshman in 2022, recording five tackles and one sack. He played two sports at Shades Valley and led the Mounties to the second round of the AHSAA Class 6A playoffs as a senior in 2020. Etheridge earned first-team All-Region honors at Shades Valley, choosing JSU over Akron, Chattanooga, Southeast Louisiana and Tennessee State.
Breakdown: Etheridge adds to an impressive group of defensive ends the Aggies have signed over the last two signing periods. He brings another aggressive pass rusher who also can stop the run.
Twitter: @MitchE90
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