ROME, Ga. – With all but a handful of players returning, Shorter head coach Phil Jones and the his coaching staff made it a point to identify a talented group of recruits that would help the Hawks move forward as an NCAA Division II team that plays in the nationally-regarded Gulf South Conference.

This year, their work paid off as Shorter landed nine standouts during this year's National Signing Day.

Signing letter of intents to play for the Hawks included three players from Rome, Coosa High's Bryson Lamboy and Kaleb Ogles and Model High's Dax Bishop, Maurice Sutton of White County High in Cleveland, Ga., Alex McGhee from Ramsey High in Birmingham, Ala., Proctor Johnston from Lee County High in Leesburg, Ga., Kevin Ramirez from LaGrange (Ga.) and Hoover (Ala.) High's Alex Elam.

Rounding out the Hawks' Class of 2015 is former Rutland High standout Randall Blash Jr., of Macon, Ga., who attended North Georgia Sports Academy last fall and is currently enrolled at Shorter.

"I feel really, really good about the players we signed," Jones said about the Hawks' small but talented Class of 2015. "They all filled out the first and most important need we had – to help us become a better football team.

"All of them were our top choices," he added, "and our coaches made it come to fruition."

With the Hawks returning every defensive player, Shorter focused on filling the offensive needs as five of the signees will arrive hoping to help the team on the offensive side of the ball.

Ogles and Johnston will arrive at Shorter as offensive linemen, Sutton and McGhee will suit up as running backs, and Lamboy is expected to give the Hawks a potent tight end.
Bishop and Blash will wear Shorter Blue on defense as a linebacker and defensive lineman, respectively.

"We excited," Jones said, adding that the team may get more letters of intent during the seven-day period allotted. "They want to be here and at the same time we filled the places we needed to fill to move on and get better."

Jones pointed out that while the Hawks were blessed with the group of players who made Shorter their choice, there is still work to be done, pointing out that the recruiting process will continue.

"We hope there will be others who want to come to Shorter and be with us," he said.

Here's a look at Shorter's Class of 2015:

Dax Bishop
LB
5-11, 225
Model High School
Rome, Ga.
Overview: Three-time All-State selection; two-time Rome News-Tribune All-Area; 2015 Rome News-Tribune Small School Co-Defensive Player of the Year' 435 career tackles; 15 career forced fumbles; five career fumble recoveries; nine career sacks; three career interceptions.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1436524/dax-bishop

Randall Blash Jr.
DL
6-1, 295
North Georgia Sports Academy / Rutland High School
Macon, Ga.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/818265/randall-blash-jr

Alex Elam
Wide Receiver
5-11, 175
Hoover High School
Birmingham, Ala.
Overview: Three-year starter; Three-time Birmingham News All-Hoover South selection; Named to the All-Metro First Team; had team-leading 27 receptions for 482 yards in 2014.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1916444/alex-elam

Proctor Johnston
OL
6-1, 270
Lee County High School
Leesburg, Ga.
Overview: Had 50 career pancake blocks; First Team All-Albany Herald
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3958016/proctor-johnston

Bryson Lamboy
TE
6-3, 250
Coosa High School
Rome, Ga.
Overview: In 2014 had 24 Catches for 432 yards and three touchdowns and graded out at 82 percent with nine pancake blocks; as defensive end had 92 Tackles, 62 Assists, 23 Tackles for loss, nine Sacks, eight Batted Passes, 12 Rushed Passes and three Fumble Recoveries; GACA All-State Team; Georgia Sportswriters Association Class AA All-State; Region 7-AA Defensive Player of the Year; two-time Rome News-Tribune All-Area; Rome News-Tribune Co-Defensive Player of the Year; selected to play in the North Georgia All-Star Game.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1105281/bryson-lamboy

Alex McGhee
RB
5-11, 190
Ramsey High School
Birmingham, Ala.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1378612/alexander-mcghee

Kaleb Ogles
OL
6-1, 300
Coosa High School
Rome, Ga.
Overview: Graded out at 82 percent this season with 22 pancakes; did not allow a sack; Georgia Sportswriters Association Class AA All-State; All-Region 7-AA; two-time Rome News-Tribune All-Area; selected to play in the North Georgia All-Star Game.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1105277/kaleb-ogles

Kevin Ramirez
OL
6-4, 275
LaGrange High School
LaGrange, Ga.
Overview: Was a multi-year starter; recorded 54 pancake blocks last fall and graded out at 84 percent; helped South Carolina signee Mon Denson run for more than 1,000 yards last season; played in Georgia-Florida all-star game in December
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1139034/kevin-ramirez

Maurice Sutton
RB
6-0, 190
White County High School
Cleveland, Ga.
Overview: Rushed for more 688 yards and scored 14 touchdowns last fall; on defense recorded 88 tackles and four interceptions; named to the Gainesville Times First Team All-Area.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1150230/maurice-sutton