FAU Owls add four local players to 2021 recruiting class on National Signing Day
The 2021 National Signing Day was a quieter one for the FAU Owls — but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Florida Atlantic added four more players to its 2021 recruiting class Wednesday after the majority of the class joined the program during the Early Signing Period in December.
“Early Signing Period, lot of teams get their guys and a majority of the recruiting class is done then,” FAU coach Willie Taggart said. “You go through January and try to finish out the way you like to. I don’t think signing day is going to be the same again like it used to be in February and everyone was jacked about it. You get that in December now.”
Ultimately, the Owls added two defensive backs, one offensive lineman and a defensive lineman to this year’s recruiting class. All four of the players who signed with FAU on Wednesday played high school football in South Florida.
Defensive end Dwight Dassaw played at Miami Palmetto. Cornerback Jahbari Hill and defensive back Jeremiah McClendon were teammates at Atlantic Community, while offensive lineman Okino King played at Northwestern (Miami).
Taggart said FAU’s recent coaching changes didn’t have too much of an impact on maintaining commitments from prospects.
“Because of the work our assistant coaches put in and the relationships we built with these kids, it didn’t make much of a difference,” he said. “A lot of these kids knew where they wanted to go and where they wanted to be.”
With 24 players locked into the 2021 recruiting class, Taggart didn’t shut the door on another possible addition. Programs are limited to signing 25 players during a recruiting cycle.
The last day a player can sign their national letter of intent with a program is Aug. 1.
“You’re never done when it comes to recruiting,” Taggart said. “With all the changes that have come about, you’ve got to prepare and be ready — if you’re not, shame on you.”
Here’s a look at FAU’s 2021 recruiting class:
Signed on National Signing Day
— Dwight Dassaw; DE; 6-1; 225; Miami Palmetto: Dassaw was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 102 strong-side defensive end in the nation;
— Jahbari Hill; CB; 6-1; 187; Atlantic: Hill was a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, who also had offers from FIU and USF;
— Okino King; OL; 6-2; 298; Northwestern: 247Sports ranked King as the No. 97 offensive guard in the nation;
— Jeremiah McClendon; DB; 6-0; 170; Atlantic: McClendon was a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, who also had offers from Indiana, Syracuse, Western Kentucky and Charlotte.
December/January signees
— Julius Barfield; LB; 6-4, 220; Eau Gallie (Melbourne);
— Andrew Boselli; OL; 6-5; 321; Florida State (graduate transfer);
— Justice Cross; LB; 6-2, 220; Deerfield Beach High;
— Anthony Earle; OL; 6-3, 309; Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale);
— Jahmal Edrine; WR; 6-3, 190; Fort Lauderdale High;
— John Ford; RB; 5-5; 172; USF (redshirt sophomore transfer);
— William Ford; TE; 6-4, 225; Saint Pauls (Saint Pauls, N.C.);
— Keyshawn Greene; LB; 6-3, 195; University of Nebraska (freshman transfer);
— Michael Johnson Jr.; QB; 6-2, 199; Penn State (redshirt freshman transfer);
— Courtney McBride; LB; 6-3, 215; Heritage (Conyers, Ga.);
— Jacob Merrifield; DE; 6-3, 265; Winder-Barrow (Winder, Ga.);
— Zuberi Mobley; RB; 5-10, 185; Northwestern (Miami);
— Jacob Pasley; TE; 6-4, 235; Sebring High;
— Jaden Sandlin; OL; 6-6, 260; Tampa Catholic High;
— Jordan Sandlin; OL; 6-6, 295; Tampa Catholic High;
— Kobe Stewart; WR; 6-3, 180; Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.);
— Amari Wansley; S; 6-0, 175; Buford (Ga.);
— Peter Warrick Jr.; CB; 5-10, 185; Marietta (Ga.);
— Jaden Wheeler; DT; 6-2, 280; Berrien (Ga.);
— Jayden Williams; CB; 5-11, 180; Bloomingdale (Valrico).
