BREAKING: Jax State Hauls in 23 New Signees in 2025 Recruiting Class!
JACKSONVILLE, AL— Jacksonville State football is stacking up talent! Head Coach Charles Kelly has officially announced the addition of 23 new Gamecocks as part of the 2025 recruiting class. The group includes 10 high school standouts, two early enrollees, and 11 players from the transfer portal.
“I give a lot of credit to everyone in our organization, not only our on-field coaches that do a tremendous job evaluating these prospects,” said Kelly. “We had to speed the evaluation process up because that’s the key to recruiting and making sure you’re recruiting the right people. I give our staff a ton of credit for being able to do it on a time crunch.”
Alabama Dominates as Top Talent Pipeline
The Gamecocks, fresh off defending their Conference USA Championship and making their second straight bowl game appearance at the FBS level, have pulled talent from across the Southeast. Twelve signees hail from Alabama, with seven from Georgia and six from Florida.
Among the incoming freshmen, five are defensive standouts, four will boost the offense, and Jameson Scissum is listed as an athlete with versatility.
February 2025 Signees: High School Recruits to Watch
Defensive Playmakers Join the Gamecocks
- Khari Bendolph (LB | Naples, FL) – A tackling machine with 112 total tackles, 10 TFLs, and four sacks. Also forced four fumbles and blocked two field goals. Earned First-Team Naples Daily News All-Area honors.
- JQ Brooks (CB | Hueytown, AL) – A three-star recruit and top-50 player in Alabama (247Sports). Selected for the North/South All-Star Game after leading Hueytown to a 9-4 season.
- Quay Hood (DL | Decatur, GA) – One of Georgia’s most dominant pass rushers last season, racking up 14 sacks and 28 TFLs in just 11 games. Also had three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
- Ian Mitchell (LB | Pleasant Grove, AL) – A sack specialist with 14 sacks and 19 tackles for loss last season. Earned 4A Second-Team All-State honors.
Offensive Weapons Incoming
- Gabe Glover (WR | Dothan, AL) – Led Alabama in receiving yards with 1,636 yards on 69 catches and 25 TDs. Delivered a dominant performance in the 3A state finals, posting 180 yards and two scores.
- Luke Gilbert (TE | Pisgah, AL) – Named Gadsden Times Small Class All-Area Player of the Year. Totaled 1,564 passing yards, 1,444 rushing yards, and 21 TDs.
- Jack Moran (QB | Hillsborough, NJ) – The 2024 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year. A three-star prospect with a state-record 4,513 passing yards and 47 TDs. Had five games over 500 passing yards!
- Wes Ryan (TE | St. Petersburg, FL) – A two-way star with 659 receiving yards and 16 TFLs as a defensive end.
Athlete with Multi-Sport Potential
- Jameson Scissum (ATH | Attalla, AL) – A dual-threat QB with 2,991 total yards, 21 passing TDs, and 935 rushing yards. Plans to play baseball for the Gamecocks as well.
Early Enrollees: Ready to Make an Impact
- Temarion Foster (DB | Riviera Beach, FL) – A three-star prospect who posted 11 pass breakups and forced two fumbles in just eight games.
- RJ Rainer (DB | Cornelius, NC) – A top performer at the 2024 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Ranked as a three-star CB by 247Sports.
Transfer Portal Additions: Experience & Firepower
Key Transfers Bring Immediate Depth
- Cam Cook (RB | TCU) – Led the Horned Frogs in rushing last season with 460 yards and 9 TDs. A former four-star recruit and top-25 RB in the country.
- Jacob Cruz (DL | Georgia Tech) – A former Region 6-2A Defensive Player of the Year. Played in 19 games over two seasons at Georgia Tech.
- Gavin Wimsatt (QB | Kentucky) – A dual-threat QB who started 19 games at Rutgers before transferring to Kentucky. Racked up 1,735 passing yards and 497 rushing yards in his best season.
- Khurtiss Perry (DL | Virginia Tech) – A consensus four-star who started his career at Alabama before heading to Virginia Tech. Had 22 sacks in high school and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
December 2024 Signees: More Talent on the Way
- Lucas Farrington (RB | Atlanta, GA) – A three-star RB who put up 1,100+ all-purpose yards and 20 TDs in his senior year.
- Mac Sanders (LB | McDonough, GA) – A defensive menace with 164 tackles, 20 TFLs, and 3 INTs.
- DJ Vinson (ATH/S | Montgomery, AL) – A two-way star with 1,300 offensive yards and 6 INTs on defense.
The Future Looks Bright for Jax State
The Gamecocks are loading up for another championship run, bringing in elite high school talent, experienced transfers, and early enrollees ready to contribute. With Coach Charles Kelly at the helm and a roster stacked with playmakers, Jacksonville State looks poised to dominate Conference USA once again!
