Sports

Albany State recruiting efforts get a ‘12’

• The Rams sign 11 new players Wednesday to play football at Albany State next season — all of whom are from in state.

Scott Chancey

ALBANY — So far, Albany State football coach Mike White likes what he sees.

His Rams, according to a school press release, signed 12 players on Wednesday’s National Signing Day. By April 1, when this signing period ends, White said he expects to have anywhere between 20 and 30 new players.

All 10 of the signees announced by the school are from inside the state.

“We feel it was very successful,” said White, whose 8-3 team finished second in the SIAC last season after winning at least a share of the previous four titles. “We wanted to hit Georgia hard and fill some needed positions.”

The Rams signed at least two more from inside the state, but school sports information director Edythe Bradley said the school had not received their faxed letters of intent as of Wednesday night.

But that didn’t stop festivities from happening on National Signing Day as the most notable commitment came from Worth County’s Ryan Span, a RB/DB listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds who led Worth with 28 tackles, three interceptions, six pass breakups, 11 special teams tackles and 1,424 all purpose yards, while posting 13 TDs on offense.

“We plan to use him in the second and the return game,” White said. “He plays at a high level of football.”

Another Southwest Georgia product who is on the list of 10 signees is Monroe’s DeMarcus Potts.

“He’s a tough athlete with a lot of range,” White said. “We feel he will fit right into our defense from Day 1. He’s a good linebacker.”

And Bainbridge’s Nic Sheppard also joined the Rams, although Albany State had not yet received his paperwork.

“He’s a good receiver and can play defensive back,” White said. “He’s just an all-around good athlete and good student. He can definitely come in and help us out during the next four or five years.”

Albany State is focusing, however, on both the offensive and defensive line during the signing period. The Rams’ offensive line, thanks to recent junior college transfers, is for the most part intact and only needs depth.

The defensive line, however, needs some work after losing seniors Derrick Battle and Jason Marshall, Cedric Boone and Donald Hanna. For now, Albany State has new linemen Mark O’Neal (Spencer High School, 6-foot-3, 240 pounds), Justin Blash (Bacon County, 6-5, 305) and Arkeen Riley (Jenkins, 6-4, 300).

“We’re looking for the type of linemen that are hard to find,” White said. “We want to sign some long and lean, not too heavy and can run and rush the passer.”

Blash is a player White feels can do just that.

“We think he is going to be a great pass rusher,” said White, whose team missed that pressure on the quarterback after the likes of past SIAC Defensive Players of the year, Walter Curry and Alton Pettway, played out their senior seasons.

The Rams are comfortable at the quarterback and running back positions after strong seasons were had by quarterback Kisan Flakes and running backs LiRonnie Davis, Brian Porter, Demetrice Johnson and Gary Neavins.

For now, White said he and his staff would look for athletes who were not able to get into the schools of their choosing and then recruit them. And of any athletes don’t qualify, that could also play into the Rams’ favor.

“As coaches, you have to keep pushing right along,” White said.

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