February 6, 2002

FURMAN FOOTBALL SIGNS 16 TO NATIONAL LETTERS-OF-INTENT

GREENVILLE -- Furman first year head football coach Bobby Lamb announced today the signing of 16 recruits to national letters of intent.

"We're very pleased with our recruiting effort and think we have addressed our needs with some outstanding young men who in time should be key contributors for us," said Lamb Tuesday afternoon.

In position terms, half of the Paladins' 16 recruits were linemen, with four offensive linemen and four defensive linemen among the group. In addition, Furman signed three defensive backs as well as a tight end, linebacker, quarterback, wide receiver, and placekicker.

Furman's recruiting class features four Palmetto products, including three Shrine Bowl participants in linebacker Roy Ravenell (Goose Creek/Stratford H.S.) and twin brothers Josh and Justin Stepp (Pelion/Pelion H.S.). The Paladins also signed safety Jeremy Blocker (Hodges/Greenwood H.S.).

Furman registered its biggest yield in Georgia, where it landed eight recruits. They include 5A all-state defensive end Tony Palazzo (Grayson/South Gwinnett H.S.), Georgia-Florida All-Star Game starting center Corey Stewart (Lilburn/Brookwood H.S.), and defensive lineman Ty Sellers (Dalton/Dalton H.S.). In addition, the Paladins signed a pair of Oconee County High School standouts in tight end Brad Bell and cornerback Tristian Owusu-Yaw; cornerback Alonzo Johnson (Lithonia/Stephenson H.S.); defensive lineman Wesley Bray (Cave Spring/Coosa H.S.); offensive lineman Adi Filipovic (Martinez/Lakeside H.S.).

Three of the Paladins' 16 recruits are from North Carolina, including offensive linemen Patrick Covington (Charlotte/Myers Park H.S.) and Jonathan Kivett (High Point, N.C./Glenn H.S.), and safety Shelton Riley (Charlotte/South Mecklenburg H.S.).

Placekicker Walker Simmons (Memphis, Tenn./Evangelical Christian School) rounded out the Paladins' 16-man recruiting class.

Furman, which opens spring practice on March 5, returns 13 starters off its 2001 squad, which posted a 13-2 record and claimed a share of the Southern Conference championship on the way to an NCAA I-AA national runner-up finish.

2002 FURMAN FOOTBALL RECRUITS

Brad Bell, TE, 6-2, 215, Fr., Watkinsville, Ga./Oconee County H.S.
Jeremy Blocker, S, 6-0, 175, Fr., Hodges, S.C./Greenwood H.S.
Wesley Bray, DL, 6-3, 247, Fr., Cave Spring, Ga./Coosa H.S.
Patrick Covington, OL, 6-3, 270, Fr., Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park H.S.
Adi Filipovic, OL, 6-3, 250, Fr., Martinez, Ga./Lakeside H.S.
Alonzo Johnson, CB, 5-9, 165, Fr., Lithonia, Ga./Stephenson H.S.
Jonathan Kivett, OL/TE, 6-3, 235, Fr., High Point, N.C./Robert B. Glenn H.S.
Tristian Owusu-Yaw, CB, 6-0, 171, Fr., Watkinsville, Ga./Oconee County H.S.
Tony Palazzo, DL, 6-5, 242, Fr., Grayson, Ga./South Gwinnett H.S.
Shelton Riley, S, 6-2, 185, Fr., Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg H.S.
Roy Ravenell, LB, 6-2, 225, Fr., Goose Creek, S.C./Startford H.S.
Ty Sellers, DL, 6-3, 253, Fr., Dalton, Ga./Dalton H.S.
Walker Simmons, PK/WR, 6-1, 188, Fr., Memphis, Tenn./Evangelical Christian School
Josh Stepp, QB, 6-0, 175, Fr., Pelion, S.C./Pelion H.S.
Justin Stepp, WR, 6-0, 182, Fr., Pelion, S.C./Pelion H.S.
Corey Stewart, C, 6-2, 280, Fr., Lilburn, Ga./Brookwood H.S.

BRAD BELL, TE
6-2, 215, Freshman Watkinsville, Georgia
Oconee County High School

Started at tight end and also saw action as a defensive end on a pair of region 8-AAAA championship teams his junior and senior seasons...caught 26 passes for 356 yards and earned All-Northeast Georgia honors in 2001 after helping pace Oconee County to an 11-1 record and third round state playoff appearance....registered 10 receptions for 250 yards on 9-4, state playoff squad his junior year...lettered as a sophomore on Oconee County¹ state championship team (15-0)...program went 35-5 in three seasons of play...high school teammate of Paladin freshman cornerback signee Tristian Owusu-Yaw...football coach was Jeff Arnette...also competes in track & field.
Personal: Full name is Robert Bradford Bell...son of Steve and Leesa Bell...born September 6, 1983, in Hartwell, Georgia.

JEREMY BLOCKER, S
6-0, 175, Freshman
Hodges, South Carolina
Greenwood High School

Member of two AAAA state championship teams during his prep career...started for two seasons at defensive back, where he played both cornerback and safety...earned all-state honors after recording 28 tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections, three blocked punts, and a blocked field goal in 2001 while helping Greenwood to a 9-3 record and first round appearance in state playoffs...fashioned an outstanding junior season on state championship squad (14-0), totaling 45 tackles, four interceptions, and seven pass deflections...saw action on special teams on state title team (13-2) in 1999...helped Greenwood to 36-6 record in three seasons of play...football coach was Shell Dula...also competes in wrestling and track & field.
Personal: Full name is Jeremy Demetrius Blocker...son of John and Janet Blocker...born August 13, 1984, in Greenwood, South Carolina.

WESLEY BRAY, DL
6-3, 247, Freshman
Cave Spring, Georgia
Coosa High School

Earned second team area honors and team defensive player-of-the-year honors in 2001 after totaling 73 tackles and eight sacks...registered 50 tackles and seven sacks as a junior...in 1999 helped Coosa post its first winning season since 1994 with a 6-4 record...football coach was Preston Cash.
Personal: Full name is Wesley Demetrius Bray...son of Demetrius and Sharon Bray...born July 19, 1984.

PATRICK COVINGTON, OL
6-3, 270, Freshman
Charlotte, North Carolina
Myers Park High School

Played on both offensive and defensive lines during his prep tenure...three-year starter...served as team captain and garnered team most outstanding lineman award, All-Mecklenburg County, and All-Southwestern AAAA Conference honors as a senior...in all was a three-time all-conference selection at Myers Park, including his sophomore season when he helped lead his team to a 9-3 record and into the state playoffs...football coach was Tommy Strahan...also plays baseball and competes in track & field.
Personal: Full name is Patrick Alexander Covington...son of Margaret and Dwight Covington...born January 1, 1984, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

ADI FILIPOVIC, OL
6-3, 250, Freshman
Martinez, Georgia
Lakeside High School

Three-year starter who saw action primarily at offensive tackle during his time at Lakeside...served as a team captain and earned all-county, all-region, and All-Metro Augusta accolades after yielding only one sack in 2001...played center and defensive tackle his junior season, helping Lakeside to a 7-4 record and appearance in AAAA state playoffs...football coach was Edward Koester.
Personal: Full named is Adnan Filipovic...son of Damir and Sevleta Filipovic...born August 20, 1983, in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina...family emigrated to the United States in 1995.

ALONZO JOHNSON, CB
5-9, 165, Freshman
Lithonia, Georgia
Stephenson High School

Two-year starter as a defensive back...tallied 55 tackles, two interceptions, and eight pass deflections on the way to earning all-county honors in 2001...helped pace Stephenson to a 10-3 record, region 7-AAAAA championship, and state quarterfinal playoff appearance...had 42 tackles, two pickoffs, and six pass deflections on a 9-2 team his junior year...football coach was Ron Gartrell...also competes in track.
Personal: Full name is Alonzo M. Johnson...son of Ronald and Jackie Johnson...born December 30, 1983, in Columbus, Georgia.

JONATHAN KIVETT, OL/TE
6-3, 235, Freshman
High Point, North Carolina
Robert B. Glenn High School

Registered action at six positions during his prep career but will get a look at both offensive line and tight end at Furman...two-time all-conference performer...served as team captain for three seasons...was named team MVP in 2001 after helping lead his squad to a 7-4 record...averaged five ³decleating² blocks per game as an offensive tackle...caught 18 passes as a tight end and recorded 91 tackles as an outside linebacker in 2000, his junior year...football coach was Dickie Cline...also plays basketball and baseball.
Personal: Full name is Jonathan Thomas Kivett...son of Mike and Carol Kivett...born November 27, 1983, in High Point, North Carolina...brother Michael plays football at Wingate.

TRISTIAN OWUSU-YAW, CB
6-0, 171, Freshman
Watkinsville, Georgia
Oconee County High School

Started at cornerback on a pair of region 8-AAAA championship teams his junior and senior seasons...helped pace Oconee County to 11-1 record and into the state playoffs in 2001 with 39 tackles, three interceptions, and 15 pass deflections...returned one interception for a touchdown...named All-Northeast Georgia for second straight year...notched 36 tackles, two interceptions, and 17 pass delections in 2000 after helping Oconee County to a 9-4 record and state playoff appearance...high school teammate of Paladin freshman tight end signee Brad Bell...football coach was Jeff Arnette...also competes in track & field.
Personal: Full name is Tristian Geirin Owusu-Yaw...son of Joe and Inza Owusu-Yaw...born December 12, 1983, in Gainesville, Florida.

TONY PALAZZO, DL
6-5, 242, Freshman
Grayson, Georgia
South Gwinnett High School

Three-year starter at defensive end...tallied 13 sacks and 32 tackles-for-loss as a senior in helping South Gwinnett to a 7-4 record and appearance in state playoff...two-time all-county and 2001 AAAAA all-state selection...registered 15 sacks as a junior, giving him 28 sacks in his final two seasons at South Gwinnett....football coach was T. McFerrin...averaged 15 points and county best 10 rebounds per game in basketball as a junior...currently leads county in rebounding.
Personal: Full name is Anthony Francis Palazzo...son of Mark and Sheila Palazzo...born March 14, 1984, in Phoenix, Arizona.

SHELTON RILEY, S
6-2, 185, Freshman
Charlotte, North Carolina
South Mecklenburg High School

Saw action as a defensive back and wide receiver as a prep...spent sophomore and junior years at Ridge View (S.C.) High School in Columbia prior to moving to Charlotte for senior season...served as team captain and earned all-conference and team MVP honors in 2001...had 20 and 15 tackle performances, respectively, in wins over Butler and Providence Day...recorded 85 tackles as a junior at Ridge View, where he played under former Furman wide receiver standout Kirk Burnett...football coach at South Mecklenburg was Larry Cooper.
Personal: Full name is Shelton Trevell Riley...son of Thelma Walker...born December 16, 1983, in Lexington, South Carolina.

ROY RAVENELL, LB
6-2, 225, Freshman
Goose Creek, South Carolina
Stratford High School

Four-year starter at linebacker, where he helped lead a highly successful Stratford proram to a 48-6 record that included four region 7-AAAA titles and 1999 state championship (15-0)...2001 Shrine Bowl participant...garnered all-region, all-low country, and all-state honors as a senior after totaling 139 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss, and a pair of interceptions on an 11-2 squad...named Stratford¹s 2001 Defensive MVP...had 107 tackles and 10 tackles-for-loss as a junior on the way to earning all-region and all-low country accolades...football coach was Ray Stackley...also plays basketball and participates in track and field, competing in the discus, shotput, long jump, and triple jump.
Personal: Full name is Wilbur Roy Ravenell, Jr...son of Roy Ravenell and Pamela Banks...born December 22, 1983, in Charleston, South Carolina.

TY SELLERS, DL
6-3, 253, Freshman
Dalton, Georgia
Dalton High School

Three-year starter who played five positions during his prep career...slated to begin Furman tenure on the defensive line...returned from knee surgery in the spring of 2001 to play a pivotal role in helping Dalton to 13-2 season and state AAAA runner-up finish this past fall...earned all-area honors after totaling 87 tackles, eight sacks, and five forced fumbles...had 13 tackles in 21-14 second round playoff win over Sequoyah and 13 stops in 28-24 third round overtime playoff win over Thomson...registered eight tackles and two forced fumbles in 23-3 victory over Paulding County in semi-finals...garnered all-area and All-North Georgia honors as a junior after notching 79 tackles, including 21 for-loss, nine sacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble coveries...football coach was Ronnie McClurg.
Personal: Full name is Sidney Levingtons Sellers V...son of Chip and Denise Sellers...born August 17, 1983, in Dalton, Georgia...uncle Scott Sellers was a three-year letterwinner as an offensive guard at Furman in the late 1970s...grandfather Don Ellis played football at Georgia Tech from 1953-56...cousin Jay Westmoreland is in his fourth year as a starting guard in basketball at Tennessee Tech.

WALKER SIMMONS, PK/WR
6-1, 188, Freshman
Memphis, Tennessee
Evangelical Christian School

Three-year starter who handled placekicking and punting duties, in addition to seeing action at wide receiver and defensive back during his career...lkicked game winning 40-yard field goal to beat Memphis Bishop 3-0 and had two interceptions and 65-yard reception in 14-3 win over Franklin BGA in 2001...played on Division II-A state championship teams his junior (12-1) and sophomore years (13-0)...named all-state as a punter in 2000...kicked 45-yard field goal in 23-20 win over Memphis Briarcrest in state championship game...earned all-state honors as a defensive back in 1999...set a school record with seven interceptions...football coach was Jim Heinz...also played baseball and ran track.
Personal: Full name is John Walker Simmons...son of John and Jane Simmons...born February 7, 1983, in Memphis, Tennessee...grandmother and great uncle both attended Furman.

JOSH STEPP, QB
6-0, 175, Freshman
Pelion, South Carolina
Pelion High School

Three-year starter at quarterback...named 2001 Shrine Bowl MVP after completing 5-of-9 passes for 86 yards in helping South Carolina to 17-0 win over North Carolina in annual classic...one completion (29 yards) went to brother Justin, who is also a member of Furman¹s 2002 recruiting class...two-time all-region, all-state, and Columbia Area Player-of-the-Year selection...career statistics include 387-of-696 completions for 6,194 yards and 65 touchdowns, as well as 1,163 rushing yards and 30 TDs...completed 111-of-216 passes for 2,076 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior in helping Pelion to a 9-3 record and state playoff appearance...also rushed 128 times for 609 yards and 13 TDs in 2001...as a junior completed 146-of-248 passes for 2,211 yards and 27 touchdowns (only four interceptions) in leading Pelion to an 11-1 record, region 5-AA championship, and state playoffs...football coach was Ben Freeman...also plays basketball and baseball.
Personal: Full name is Joshua Timothy Stepp...son of Tim and Sherell Stepp...born July 5, 1983, in Columbia, South Carolina.

JUSTIN STEPP, WR
6-0, 182, Freshman
Pelion, South Carolina
Pelion High School

Three-year starter at wide receiver and defensive back...connected with twin brother Josh (another Furman recruit) for one reception for 29 yards in 2001 Shrine Bowl, helping South Carolina to 17-0 win over North Carolina...three-time all-area and all-state selection...caught 64 passes for 1,272 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior in helping Pelion to a 9-3 record and state playoff appearance...also had 87 tackles and 10 interceptions in 2001...recorded three receptions for 94 yards, seven tackles, and three interceptions ‹ including two he returned for touchdowns ‹ in a win over Swansea...had 56 receptions for 877 yards and 15 TDs on 2000 squad that went 11-1 and claimed region 5-AA title en route to state playoffs...career statistics include 164 receptions for 2,818 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions...football coach was Ben Freeman...also competes in basketball and baseball.
Personal: Full name is Justin Spencer Stepp...son of Tim and Sherell Stepp...born July 5, 1983, in Columbia, South Carolina.

COREY STEWART, C
6-2, 280, Freshman
Lilburn, Georgia
Brookwood High School

Two-year starter at center...started in the prestigious Georgia-Florida All-Star Game in December...graded out 90 percent for the season...named All-Gwinnett County by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Gwinnett Daily Post...tabbed Gwinnett County Lineman-of-the-Year...key member of 2000 Brookwood team that went 11-2 and recorded quarterfinal finish in AAAAA state playoffs...football coach was Dave Hunter...also competes in track & field, specializing in the discus event.
Personal: Full name is Corey Wesley Stewart...born June 8, 1983, in Knoxville, Tennessee...son of Sam and Wanda Stewart.