HICKORY, NC - Head Coach
Doug Socha and his coaching staff continue to make waves, as they have announced their 2025 signing day class. This year's class includes 41 total recruits, with 13 coming from the state of North Carolina.
"It was a great day adding new Bears from all over the region," said Coach Socha. "We have added 30+ high school players and have 14 mid-year transfers here already competing for for positions. The emphasis on character and talent was the focus on this class."
This year's class will look to help the Bears continue a tradition of success between the bricks. This past season Lenoir-Rhyne finished with a record of 10-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs. Since 2018, the Bears have a record of 67-15 and qualified for the NCAA Playoffs in five out of a possible six seasons. This includes a 36-7 record at Moretz Stadium, where the Bears went 6-2 this past season.
2025 Recruiting Class Fast Facts:
- 42 total recruits
- 27 High School
- 11 Mid-Year Transfers
- 2 Spring Transfers
- Two Countries, Nine States Represented
- 13 - North Carolina
- 8 - Georgia
- 7 - Florida
- 4 - South Carolina
- 10 Position Groups
- 10 - Offensive Line
- 10 - Defensive Backs
- 7 - Linebackers
- 5 - Defensive Line
- 3 - Quarterbacks
MID-YEAR TRANSFERS
| NAME |
POSITION |
HEIGHT |
WEIGHT |
HOMETOWN |
STATE |
SCHOOL |
| Paris Smith Jr. |
Offensive Line |
6-9 |
310 |
Oceanside |
California |
Saddleback College (CA) |
| Justin Blue |
Offensive Line |
6-4 |
340 |
Charlotte |
North Carolina |
Johnson C. Smith |
| Colt Sinor |
Offensive Line |
6-3 |
305 |
Chattanooga |
Tennessee |
Carson-Newman |
| Noah Horton |
Offensive Line |
6-6 |
350 |
Roanoke |
Virginia |
Chowan |
| Max Blanc |
Quarterback |
6-5 |
210 |
Bethel Park |
Pennsylvania |
Youngstown State |
| Elijah Tillery |
Wide Receiver |
6-6 |
190 |
Valdese |
North Carolina |
North Carolina State |
| Nick Roebas-Bass |
Tight End |
6-5 |
210 |
Stuart |
Florida |
Florida State |
| Nigel Manns |
Linebacker |
6-2 |
230 |
Bryon |
Georgia |
Georgia Southern |
| Desmond Greene |
Defensive Back |
6-0 |
180 |
Crawfordville |
Florida |
Southwestern Oklahoma State |
| Javian Gipson-Holmes |
Defensive Back |
5-9 |
190 |
Oxford |
Mississippi |
Midwestern State |
| Austin White |
Defensive Back |
5-11 |
200 |
Harrisonburg |
Virginia |
Kennesaw State |
SPRING TRANSFERS
| NAME |
POSITION |
HEIGHT |
WEIGHT |
HOMETOWN |
STATE |
SCHOOL |
| Toby Wang |
Offensive Line |
6-5 |
320 |
San Jose |
California |
San Jose City College |
| Shamar Baker |
Defensive Back |
5-11 |
195 |
Charlotte |
North Carolina |
Johnson C. Smith |
INCOMING FRESHMAN
| NAME |
POSITION |
HEIGHT |
WEIGHT |
HOMETOWN |
STATE |
HIGH SCHOOL |
HUDL |
| Wells Bettenhausen |
Quarterback |
6-5 |
225 |
De Funiak Springs |
Florida |
Walton HS |
Hudl |
| Chase Cromartie |
Quarterback |
6-2 |
165 |
Peachtree City |
Georgia |
McIntosh HS |
Hudl |
| Shermon Davis |
Running Back |
6-0 |
190 |
Jacksonville |
Florida |
Riverside HS |
Hudl |
| Austin Tanyika |
Tight End |
6-3 |
285 |
Galivants Ferry |
South Carolina |
Aynor HS |
Hudl |
| Marshun Horton |
Wide Receiver |
6-3 |
185 |
Carrollton |
Georgia |
Central HS |
Hudl |
| Caleb Stahl |
Long Snapper |
6-1 |
250 |
Ayden |
North Carolina |
John Paul II Catholic HS |
Hudl |
| Jaheem White |
Offensive Line |
6-3 |
305 |
Atlanta |
Georgia |
Mays HS |
Hudl |
| Marquis Wilson |
Offensive Line |
6-3 |
270 |
Charleston |
South Carolina |
Fort Dochester HS |
Hudl |
| Joe Desantis |
Offensive Line |
6-3 |
295 |
Jupiter |
Florida |
Jupiter HS |
Hudl |
| Nathan Gilley |
Offensive Line |
6-2 |
270 |
Chapin |
South Carolina |
Chapin HS |
Hudl |
| Cass Phillips |
Offensive Line |
6-6 |
295 |
Gastonia |
North Carolina |
Forestview HS |
Hudl |
| Jeremiah Pagan |
Defensive Line |
6-2 |
280 |
Gastonia |
North Carolina |
Ashbrook HS |
Hudl |
| Justin Wilson |
Defensive Line |
6-1 |
275 |
Charlotte |
North Carolina |
West Charlotte HS |
Hudl |
| Bradley Haddock |
Defensive Line |
6-2 |
300 |
Conover |
North Carolina |
Bunker Hill HS |
Hudl |
| David Runner |
Defensive Line |
6-0 |
220 |
Jupiter |
Florida |
Jupiter HS |
Hudl |
| Breyon Gibbs |
Defensive Line |
5-11 |
265 |
Hickory |
North Carolina |
Hickory HS |
Hudl |
| Justin Nunn |
Linebacker |
6-1 |
220 |
Decatur |
Georgia |
Southwest DeKalb HS |
Hudl |
| Jacob Taylor |
Linebacker |
6-1 |
210 |
Oldsmar |
Florida |
East Lake HS |
Hudl |
| Isaac Ubaka |
Linebacker |
6-0 |
225 |
London |
United Kingdom |
NFL Academy |
N/A |
| DJ Gause |
Outside Linebacker |
6-1 |
225 |
Conway |
South Carolina |
North Myrtle Beach HS |
Hudl |
| Lawson Collins |
Outside Linebacker |
6-0 |
200 |
Charlotte |
North Carolina |
Mallard Creek HS |
Hudl |
| Quenshea Abernathy |
Outside Linebacker |
6-1 |
200 |
Hickory |
North Carolina |
Hickory HS |
Hudl |
| Tiquan Cromartie |
Defensive Back |
6-0 |
170 |
Durham |
North Carolina |
Chambers HS |
Hudl |
| Zackery Carter |
Defensive Back |
6-3 |
195 |
Atlanta |
Georgia |
Creekside HS |
Hudl |
| Latavius Moore |
Defensive Back |
6-2 |
190 |
Ayden |
North Carolina |
John Paul II Catholic HS |
Hudl |
| J'Corey Cox |
Defensive Back |
5-11 |
165 |
Lithonia |
Georgia |
MLK Jr. HS |
Hudl |
| Karmel Quick |
Defensive Back |
5-8 |
165 |
Charlotte |
North Carolina |
Hough HS |
Hudl |
| Donovan Grenion |
Defensive Back |
6-1 |
185 |
Marietta |
Georgia |
Osborne HS |
Hudl |
