ROME, Ga. – Shorter University head coach Zach Morrison and the football program had another successful National Signing Day, securing a promising group of signees to bolster their roster for the upcoming seasons. The signees bring a diverse set of skills and talents, representing various positions on the field.  The 2024 class stands as the seventh with Morrison at the helm of the program and the Hawks were able to add 49 high school seniors to the roster with a majority coming from the state of Georgia with others coming from Alabama and Florida. Shorter University also signed seven mid-year transfers, all of which previously attended a four-year institution, who joined the program in the spring.  The average GPA of the signing class is 3.25, as Coach Morrison always states, "Graduation is the expectation."  Morrison stated of the class, "God has truly blessed this staff and program and we give God all the glory.  When taking a close look at this recruiting class you can truly tell the effect of the transfer portal because many of these student-athletes would have signed with FCS level schools, but with many schools on that level taking transfers we were able to focus on the high school student-athletes.  After having multiple official visits throughout the month of January we were able to have talent from all over the Southeast come visit the beautiful campus and commit to attending Shorter University."

Morrison and the staff are even more excited about the talent-level of the athletes they bare bringing onto "The Hill" in order to enhance the past class. "We have a lot of key guys returning on both sides of the ball, so we were very specific on our needs for the upcoming season, and we are so excited about the young men we have coming in. We followed up last year's class with another strong class. We have some real high quality young men signing with us."  The additions of these talented players provide Shorter University with depth and skill across various positions, ensuring a competitive edge in the upcoming seasons. The coaching staff looks forward to integrating these new signees into the team and working towards a successful future on the football field.

The Hawks are in their transition year as they depart from the Gulf South Conference in 2024.  There has been some success in the past few years of the GSC with the hawks having All-Americans the past 3 seasons and this season alone garnering 5 All-Conference players and 3 Academic All-Conference players.  Shorter will play this season as an independent D2 contender before they embark on the Conference Carolinas. Morrison said of the schedule, "I am excited about this season as we will play both GSC opponents as well as some new Conference Carolina teams, and lastly a few teams that will be first in the program's history.  This is going to be an outstanding year and I believe there are numerous incoming student-athletes from the 2024 class that will contribute to the success both this season and the seasons to come.  Morrison ended, "Each season is a new chance to improve your program with a "Brick by Brick" mentality and furthermore having a successful signing day is the key to making this happen and the coaching staff believes that they are one step closer to making this happen with the current signing class.

The Hawks will have their annual spring game this April 6th at Ben Brady Field.  The team has been preparing over the past few weeks and they will be ready to show the parents and fans what the 2024 Shorter Hawks are all about.  Please see the below information about the 2024 signing class.
 

NAME	POSITION	SCHOOL	AWARDS	SENIOR STATISTICS
Carlos Mann	RB	Geraldine (AL)	2x All State County Athlete of the year County Offensive player of the year 3x All region	2,500 + all purpose yards (42 Td's)
Sky Niblett	TE	Gainesville	2 time first team region, 2023 GACA First team All-State	34 Rec, 505 Yards, 10 TDs
Solomon Lyle	LB	Austin (AL)	3x 1st team All-Region, 3x most productive player, Team Captain, most skilled player on the team	60 tackles, 11TFLs, 2 INT, 2 FF, 6 Sacks, 10 QB hurries
Darnell Rogers	RB	Trinity Christian (FL)	All State / 2x State Champion / Team MVP / 1,000-yard rusher for 3 consecutive years. Florida times union all first coast-third team(2023),all news4jax-honorable mention(2023),Florida's football.com Florida class 1M all state honorable mention(2023),FloridaHSFootball.com Florida class 2A all state-first team (2022)	189 carries,1161 yards, 6.1 yds per carry, 9 touchdowns
Michael Matos	DE	Bartram Trail (FL)	FACA All-District 6 team/ week 1 max prep player of the week/ 2nd team honors all St. Johns County	17 sacks/ 22 TFL's/ 67 tackles/ 4 PD/ 2FGB
Bonshavior Bean Jr	WR	Manatee (FL)	Offensive MVP	62 catches, 1,083 yards, 9 touchdowns
Decorrion Thomas	WR	Hillcrest (AL)	23-24 Offensive MVP, 23-24 Team captain , 1st team All region 2 back to back undefeated seasons , back to back region champs	1,000+ yards 10 touchdowns
Quindon Wright	TE	Terrell Academy	All-Region, All-State	29 Carries 451 Yards, 4 TD's / 35 Catches, 677 Yards, 8 TD's
Devin Forrester	OL	Buford	3x All-Region
McClain Fineran	Kicker/Punter	Brunswick	6A all state 6A all region 3x #5 kicker and punter in the nation	51/52 PAT 42.5 punt avg. 2/2 FG
Dayshaun Copeland	DE	Greene County	4x All-Region / 3x All-State	35 TFL 20 tackles 4sacks
Justin Barnes	DE	Lakeside	3x First team All-Region	122 tackles, 47 TFL, 7 sacks, 3 defensive scores, 5 FR, 3FF
Godgift "GG" Dudley	OL	Carrollton High School	Team Leadership, 7A Region Champs
Jordan Davis	LB	Calvary Day	2x All-Region / 2x All-State	47 Tackles, 3.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 1 fr
Landyn Scurlock	OL	West Blocton (AL)	2x Tuscaloosa All Area Player, 2x All Region	60 Pancakes
De'Mar Riley	ATH	Valwood	State Champion, 1st Team All State 1st Team All Region	1365 Rushing, 486 Receiving, 335 KR, 20TDs
Ty'Javian Dumas	WR	Mary person	1st team All-Region	16 rec 447 yards 4 touchdowns
Ladarius Smith	WR	Crisp County	2nd team All-Region	28 receptions, 268 yards,7 tds
Tyler Pruitt	DL	Hillsborough (FL)	Defensive lineman of the year, defensive player of the week 5x 2nd team All-Conference	40 tackles 2 sacks 3ff and 2fr
Jeremy Richardson	DB	Burke County	Scholar athlete award, 2x All region, participated in Border bowl	Defense: 34 tackles, 1 TFL, 4 PD. Offense: 693 yards. 8td
Jacorey Wright	OL	Sumter County	30+ Starts
Bryant Foster	OL	Sumpter County	30+ Starts
Donovan McCoy	RB	Jonesboro		1300 All Purpose Yards/ 500+ KR yards
Jonathan Gough	QB	Adairsville	Region POY, back to back region champs, coaches awards, 3 year team captain (voted by peers)	1,347 pass yards, 13 pass TDs, 592 rush yards, 10 TDs
Coron Davis	WR	Fletcher (FL)	Team MVP	22 Receptions for 330 yards , 4 Receiving TDs , 1 Rushing TD , 1 Passing TD
Dallas Hatfield	LB	Valwood	All-Region, All-State, Team Captain	81 tackles, 10 TFL's, 1 int
Montana Cody	DB	McIntosh	Team Captain	16 PBU's, 31 tackles, 1 ff
Brandon Watson	Defensive Tackle	John Milledge Academy	All Region 2x All State 2x Defensive lineman of the year 1x Player of the week 3x Honor Roll 2x	Total Tackles 83 TFL 12 Sacks 4 Forced Fumble 1 Fumble Recovery 1 QB Hurries 7
David Hill	RB	Robert Toombs Christian Academy	GIAA-A Player of the Year GIAA-A First Team All-State RB Region 2-Player of the Year First Team All-Region RB	1267 Rushing Yards, 18 TDs, 104 tackles
DJ Reese II	SWR	South Paulding	2nd All-Region / 1st Team All County/ Top 3 yards in 6a regular season	710 Yards 6 TDs 1000+ All purpose
Landen Sauls	LB	Robert Toombs Christian Academy	2x All-Region/ 1st Team All-State	136 TOT 3FF 1 INT 4 SACKS 1 PBU
Tripp Durden	WR	Robert Toombs Christian Acadamy	2x All-Region & All-State
Boppy Hilliard	OL	Wilcox	2 x All Region OL 2 x Honorable Mention All State	91 grade average 18 pancakes
Brock Bailey	DE	Bulloch academy	2x All-Region and All-State	47 tackles/18 tfl's/ 7 sacks
Micah Rogers	Defensive end/tackle	Landmark Christian School	2022 GHSA 2A all-region honorable mention offensive lineman. 2023 GHSA 2A all-region 2nd team defensive lineman.	18 Total tackles. 7 Solo Tackles. 11 Assisted Tackles. 4.5 Tackles for loss. Averaged 2.3 Tackles per game. 1 blocked field Goal.
Chip Scarbrough	OL	Mount Pisgah Christian	First team All-Region, All-State honorable mention, Team captain, Lineman of the year
Evan Cauble	DE	Central Christian	2x All-Region and All-State	105 tackles, 51 solo tackles, 28 tfl, 10 sacks 3 forced fumbles, 1 pick six
Knox Walls	Wide Receiver	Central Fellowship Christian Academy	All State and All Region	All purpose yards: 1527 / Total Touchdowns: 13 / Total Tackles: 76 / Caused Turnovers: 10
Riley Packard	DE	West Hall	Defensive POY x2 1st team All-Region x2 Scholar athlete x2	62 tackles 12 TFl 5 sacks 2 forced fumbles
Muntravic "Tron" Bankston	OL	Clarke Central	1st team All-Region, Team lineman of the year	Started 31 games throughout career.
Wyatt Joyner	OL	Piedmont Academy	2023 captain, 1st team All region, Starter for GIAA Allstar game	0 sacks allowed, 37 pancake blocks
Nate Ames	RB	Greenbrier	Captains Award / All Region RB / All region DB	49 Carries 200yds 1 td. 12 receptions 177 yards 2 tds 26 tackles in 9 games
Andrew Montello	LB	Notre Dame Academy	2x All-Region, 2023 Defensive player of the year, 2023 All Star nominee, 2023 Team Captain, 2023 Co-MVP	11 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, 41 solo tackles, 3 forced fumbles
Jay Nero	OL	West Hall	23-24 Spartan council member 23-24 Team captain Lettered junior and senior year	Grade-90% , 7 pancakes.
Clyde "Buddy" Self	DL	Ga Force	2x All-American. NHFA national champion. 4x conference champ.	34 total tackles 12.5 sacks 1FF 2FR
Brandon Brown	LB	Fitzgerald	First team All-State/ 1st team All-Region / Defensive player of the year
Tyler Cruver	Punter	Brookwood		43 punts, 33.3 avg, 1478 yards, Long 69
Benjamin Sherman	OL	Grayson	Scholar Athlete Award
Luke Altizer	OL	Adairsville	1st Team All-Region / Beta Club,  Voted leadership award by peers	Didn't grade below a 90,

 
2024 SPRING TRANSFERS

Name	Position	Previous School	Awards	HS Senior Statistics
Ethan Christian	WR	GA Southern	3x 1st team All-Region 2022 All-State by Recruit Georgia and GA Athletic Coaches Association 2022 Wide Receiver of the year for Prince Avenue State Champions 2022 All-State Honorable Mention by Atlanta Journal Constitution Holds school record for 259 receiving yards in a single game	Prince Ave. HS (GA) 77 Receptions for 1,123 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions as a senior.
Cobie Bates	WR	Mississippi Valley State	Florida: 2019 6A POY, 2020 1st-Team All-Conference	Oakleaf HS (FL) 42 receptions 644 yards, 9 touchdown in 7 games
Elijah Agnew	SS/ ATH	Jacksonville State	2x 1st Team All-Region	Adairsville HS (GA) Offense: 161carries for 984 yards,16 TD's / All-purpose (1354)   Defense: 25 Solo Tackles, 8 assisted tackles, 1 sack, 1 int, 3
Mason Boswell	RB	North Alabama	Bartow county athlete of the year, All-Region 1st team x2, 1st team all region nwga,	Adairsville HS (GA) 2,500 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards 28 totals td's
Adam Fullen	TE	Tusculum	3x 7A state playoff appearances, 2020 sweet 16 7A state playoff appearance, academic honor roll 2020 2021 2022, 3 year letterman	Cherokee Co (GA) 18 receptions for 163 yards
Kyan Simmons	SS / OLB	Univ Tenn at Chattanooga	All County DPOY, 2x 1st Team All Region, All State HM	109 Tackles, 13 Sacks, 11 TFLs, 2 PBUs, 1 INT
Abe Stowe	QB	GA Military School	2x Region player of the year, 2x all state (Recruit Ga, AJC,& GACA), Georgia offensive player of the year (GACA), 2x team captain and MVP voted by teammates	2,581 passing yards, 32 passing td, 432 rushing yards, 7 rushing Td, (39 total td)