Houston Completes 2018 Recruiting Class with Addition of Three on National Signing Day

Houston Completes 2018 Recruiting Class with Addition of Three on National Signing Day

2/7/2018 9:45:00 AM | Football

@JMUFootball Signing Day Portal Buy Season Tickets Press Conference

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Head Coach Mike Houston announced Wednesday the addition of three incoming James Madison football players to National Letters of Intent to complete the 2018 recruiting class.

In all, JMU signed 16 future Dukes after 13 signed during the new early signing period in December.

The newest signees include the trio of wide receiver Rakeem Davis, safety Que Reid and defensive lineman Tony Thurston.

The completed signing class features five defensive backs, three offensive linemen, three wide receivers, two linebackers, a tight end, a defensive lineman and a kicker. The group hails from seven different states, including nine from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The geographic makeup of the 2018 early signing class is:

Virginia – 9
North Carolina – 2
Florida – 1
Maryland – 1
New Jersey – 1
Pennsylvania – 1
South Carolina – 1

"We're excited about the quality of the class," Houston said. "We feel we got really top-end players and top-end people. We try to always field a team that is one of the best in our conference and these players will allow us to stay there. It's very important for us to recruit our home state and the Commonwealth of Virginia is our priority. We put our actions where are words are by signing nine of 16 from Virginia."

The 2017-18 JMU Football signing period is presented by Old Dominion Realty.

Bio Snapshots on JMU's Three National Signing Day Signees
Rakeem Davis I Wide Receiver I 5-8 I 160 I Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville

First Team All-Central Virginia kick returner as a senior
First Team All-Jefferson District kick returner and Second Team All-Purpose as a senior
Averaged 18.0 yards per return, with two kickoffs for a touchdown as a senior
Scored six rushing and two receiving touchdowns as a senior
Helped Charlottesville to three 4A playoff appearances
Younger brother of former All-American Rashard Davis, who won the 2016 national championship with JMU and Super Bowl LII with the Eagles

HOUSTON: "He comes from a great blood line and a family that is very important to James Madison University and our program. Rakeem is an explosive athlete and dynamic player both on offense and special teams. We're excited to have another Davis in the program."

Que Reid I Safety I 6-0 I 190 I Concord, N.C./Jay M. Robinson

2017 South Piedmont Conference and Independent Tribune Defensive Player of the Year
Named All-Conference as a senior
Helped Robinson to 12-3 record as a senior and 3A state semifinal appearance
Piedmont Conference champions as a senior
Recorded 108 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two recoveries, seven interceptions and nine breakups as a senior

HOUSTON: "Que is a special athlete, a player we feel will push for playing time early. He's a smart football player, very instinctive. He had multiple FBS offers."

Tony Thurston I Defensive Line I 6-5 I 270 I Louisa, Va./Louisa

First Team All-USA Virginia defense as a senior
VHSL 4A State and Region Defensive Player of the Year as a senior
4A First Team All-State offense and defense as a senior
Jefferson District Defensive Player of the Year as a senior
Helped Louisa to 14-1 record and berth in state championship game in 2017

HOUSTON: "Tony has a big, strong, physical presence. He's a hard-nosed football player. He comes from a great family and is a strong-character kid. I'm really excited about everything he'll bring to the program and excited to get one of the top players in Virginia."

2018 Signing Class

Reggie Brown	Fr.	WR	6-1	175	Lakeland, Fla./Kathleen
Chris Chukwuneke	Fr.	S	5-11	185	Edison, N.J./St. John Vianney (The Peddie School)
Jamari Currence	Fr.	CB	5-10	165	Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe
Rakeem Davis	Fr.	WR	5-8	160	Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville
Willie Drew	Fr.	DB	6-0	187	Smithfield, Va./Smithfield
Mateo Jackson	Fr.	LB	6-1	220	Richmond, Va./Hermitage
Nick Kidwell	Fr.	OL	6-5	300	Knoxville, Md./Boonsboro
Hayden Mann	Fr.	S	6-4	190	Mebane, N.C./Eastern Alamance
Amelio Moran	Fr.	OL	6-6	300	Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne
Drew Painter	Fr.	TE	6-4	250	Hershey, Pa./Hershey
Devin Ravenel	Fr.	WR	6-0	155	Stafford, Va./North Stafford
Que Reid	Fr.	S	6-0	190	Concord, N.C./Jay M. Robinson
Henry Schroeder	Fr.	OL	6-4	260	Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's School
Matt Terrell	Jr.	LB/DL	6-4	245	Lynchburg, Va./Lynchburg Christian (Garden City CC)
Tony Thurston	Fr.	DL	6-5	270	Louisa, Va./Louisa
Camden Wise	Fr.	K	6-0	160	Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg

JMU will begin spring football activities next month, with the Spring Game, sponsored by United Bank, occurring on Saturday, April 14 at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

The 2018 season, presented by CarMax, begins Saturday, Sept. 1 at NC State. Season tickets are on sale now at www.jmutickets.com.