Tribe Football Inks 12-Member Recruiting Class on Signing Day

02/06/08 5:08PM

WILLIAMSBURG - William and Mary head football coach Jimmye Laycock on Wednesday announced the signing of 12 prep players to letters of intent to play for the Tribe starting this fall.

“I am very pleased with the job the staff has done with this year’s class,” said Laycock. “I feel we have addressed some specific needs with quality young men who will hopefully become an integral part of our program for the years to come.”

The incoming freshman class hails from six different states on the East Coast, ranging from Florida to New Jersey. Three in-state players signed, including two from the Hampton Roads area. The make-up of the group consists of four linemen, one quarterback, one tight end and six athletes who will give the staff options to contribute at defensive back, linebacker, running back or wide receiver.

The Tribe will return 18 starters in 2008, with nine on offense and nine on defense. W&M will open the season on Sept. 6 at Atlantic Coast Conference opponent N.C. State.

The following is short look at each member of the 2008 Tribe football recruiting class:

• Dante Cook Cook's Video Highlights
Fredericksburg, Va.
Stafford High
Running Back/Linebacker, 5-11, 200
Head Coach: Chad Lewis

Prep: Three-year letterwinner at running back, defensive back and linebacker for Stafford High … Earned First-Team All-Commonwealth District as both a running back and kick returner as a senior … Also earned all-county honors at the same positions … Ended his senior season with 865 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 123 carries and contributed an additional 328 yards and three touchdowns on 19 receptions … Defensively, he collected 72 total tackles as a senior, including five sacks and one interception … Second-Team All-Commonwealth District selection at both running back and defensive back as a junior … Finished junior campaign with 563 rushing yards (on 98 attempts), 187 receiving yards (on 15 catches) and seven total touchdowns (five rushing, two receiving) … Added three interceptions and 63 total tackles as a junior … Three-year letter-winner in basketball at guard … Personal: Son of Michelle and David Cook … Born on May 5, 1990.

• Omar Francis Francis' Video Highlights
Pennington, N.J.
Pennington School
Running Back/Linebacker, 5-11, 205
Head Coach: Jerry Eure

Prep: Two-year letterwinner at running back and strong safety for the Pennington School … Two-time First-Team All-Jersey and All-Mercer County at strong safety after both junior and senior seasons … Ended senior season with 92 total tackles, including three quarterback sacks and four passes defended … Also rushed for 461 yards (on 76 attempts) … Selected as the team’s captain for senior year … Personal: Son of Cecile and Paul Francis … Born on August 9, 1990.

• Alex Gottlieb Gottlieb's Video Highlights
Delray Beach, Fla.
American Heritage School
Tight End, 6-3, 230
Head Coach: Willie Bueno

Prep: Three-year letterwinner at quarterback and tight end for American Heritage School … Co-captain of squad that captured the Florida 1A State Championship … Earned a bid to the prestigious Outback Bowl All-Star Game … Earned honorable mention all-area honors from the Palm Beach Post … Ended the season as team’s third-leading receiver with 250 yards and one touchdown on 13 receptions … Started scholastic playing career as a quarterback … Member of school’s Dean’s List … Also lettered as a member of the school’s lacrosse and baseball teams … Personal: Son of Gary Gottlieb and the late Deborah Gottlieb … Born on July 4, 1990.

• Jonathan Grimes Grimes' Video Highlights
Palmyra, N.J.
Paul VI
Running Back, 5-10, 206
Head Coach: John Doherty

Prep: Four-year letterman at tailback and defensive back for Paul VI … Named to all-state squad as a running back and was also honored as the All-South Jersey Running Back of the Year … First-Team All-Patriot Conference and All-Parochial League running back … Ran for 1,925 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior … Named to the All-South Jersey squad by the Philadelphia Inquirer … Brooks Irvine Scholar-Athlete … Maxwell Club Mini-Max Scholar-Athlete awardee … Three-year letterwinner as a forward in basketball … Four-year letterwinner in track as a triple-jumper and high-hurdler … Also an accomplished pianist … Personal: Son of Nancy and Gregory Grimes … Born on December 21, 1989.

• Robbie Gumbita Gumbita's Video Highlights
Mt. Pleasant, Pa.
Mount Pleasant
Offensive Line, 6-4, 285
Head Coach: Mark Lyons

Prep: Two-year letterwinner at defensive end, defensive tackle and offensive tackle … Captained squad in senior season … Selected to participate in the Pennsylvania Big 33 football game … First-team All-Keystone Conference offensive tackle as a senior … Named to second-team AAA all-state squad … Named squad’s outstanding lineman after both junior and senior seasons … Started the final 22 games of his scholastic career … Personal: Son of Dawn and Robert Gumbita, Sr. … Born on May 5, 1990.

• Chris Johnson Johnson's Video Highlights
Virginia Beach, Va.
Tallwood
Defensive End, 6-3, 230
Head Coach: Thad Harold

Prep: Three-year letterwinner at defensive end and offensive tackle … Earned First-Team All-Beach and honorable mention All-Tidewater honors as a senior … Named both team captain and team MVP for senior season that saw him record 14 sacks and an amazing 63 tackles for loss … Also recorded 12 forced fumbles and 17 quarterback hurries … Ended career with 169 total tackles … Second-Team All-Beach as a junior and a honorable mention All-Beach District performer as a sophomore … Three-year letterwinner in track and field as both a shot-putter and sprint hurdler … Voted as King of Tallwood’s Homecoming Court … Also a mentor and tutor at school … Personal: Son of Kristen Johnson and Melvin Reese … Born on July 15, 1989.

• Nolan Kearney Kearney's Video Highlights
Glenmoore, Pa.
Dowingtown West
Quarterback, 6-4, 225
Head Coach: Michael Milano


Prep: Three-year starter at quarterback for Downingtown West … Led his team to a 10-2 record and the third round of the state playoffs in 2007 … Compled 145 of 238 passes for 21 touchdowns with just three interceptions as a senior … Also contributed 555 yards and nine touchdowns rushing … Threw for 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior, completing 99 passes in 148 attempts and ran for an additional 447 yards ... Passed for 1,305 yards while running for 355 yards during sophomore season … Also a starter on Downingtown West’s baseball and basketball teams … Personal: Son of Robin and Thomas Kearney ... Born on December 8, 1989.

• Michael Salazar Salazar's Video Highlights
Lawrenceville, N.J.
The Hun School
Offensive Line, 6-5, 296
Head Coach: Dave Dudeck

Prep: Three-year letterwinner at offensive and defensive tackle for The Hun School … First-Team All-Mid Atlantic Prep League performer at both offensive and defensive tackle as a senior … Selected to play in both the New Jersey North/South All-Star game and the Governor’s Bowl (a game featuring top players from New York vs. New Jersey) … Helped team to 9-0 record and the New Jersey Prep State Title and the Mid-Atlantic Prep League Championship as a senior … Finished senior season with 21 total tackles, five tackles for losses, a blocked kick and one interception returned for a touchdown … Named to First-Team All-Prep honors as an offensive lineman by the Trenton Times, Star Ledger and Princeton Packet … Trenton Times also selected him to Second-Team All-Prep Honors as a defensive lineman … Also a two-year letterwinner as a member of the tennis squad … Personal: Son of Kim Dean and Dan Salazar … Born on November 28, 1990.

• C.J. Thomas Thomas' Video Highlights
Mount Airy, Md.
Linganore
Wide Receiver, 6-2, 210
Head Coach: Rick Conner

Prep: Three year letterwinner at wide receiver for Linganore … First-Team All-State selection as a senior … Named the Frederick Area’s Offensive Player of the Year after senior season saw him bring down 50 catches for 867 yards and an impressive 19 touchdowns … Ended career with 104 catches for 1,722 yards and 26 TDs … Three-time first-team all-area and all-county selection (2005-07) … Second-team All-Met squad in 2007 … Holds league records for most regular season receiving touchdowns (25) and career receptions (104) … Also holds the Maryland Scholastic State record for single-season touchdown receptions (19) … His 1,722 career receiving yards is second all-time in league history … Selected to the Baltimore TD Club’s Super 22 squad … Six-time Scholar-Athlete Awardee at school … Nominated as Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame … Also started for three years on the basketball squad (freshman through junior seasons) and is a two-year letterwinner in indoor track … Personal: Son of Peta and Calvin Thomas … Father ran track at Michigan State University … Plays the saxophone in the school’s marching and jazz bands … Born on October 17, 1990.

• Josh Thompson Thompson's Video Highlights
Charlotte, N.C.
Charlotte Christian
Defensive Line, 6-2, 295
Head Coach: Jason Estep

Prep: Three-year letterwinner at both offensive and defensive tackle for Charlotte Christian … Three-time First-Team All-Christian Independent School Athletic Association selection at defensive tackle … Ended career as all-state selection as offensive tackle … Named the team’s Defensive MVP and Offensive Lineman of the Year … Helped lead squad to a 10-3 overall record and the State Independent League Championship game as senior … Started the last 35 games of his career … Personal: Son of Brenda and Donald Thompson … Born on August 19, 1989.

• Brian Thompson Thompson's Video Highlights
Somerset, N.J.
Franklin
Defensive Back/Wide Receiver, 5-11, 185
Head Coach: Louis Solomon

Prep: Two-time First-Team Skyland Conference selection as defensive back (2006-07) … Also two-time first-team all-county selection on defense (2006-07) … Two-time second-team all-area selection as defensive back (2006-07) … First-Team All-Somerset selection as defensive back (2007) … First-Team All-Skyland Conference (East Division) Offensive (2007) … Ended senior season with 896 rushing yards (on 182 attempts) and 11 touchdowns … Had seven career interceptions, including four in senior season … Recorded a pair of interception returns for touchdowns in career … Contributed 67 total tackles as a senior, with one sack … Had 39 career receptions for 490 yards and two scores … Also returned punts and kicks for squad … Earned additional letters in track and basketball … Personal: Son of Jackie and Chuck Thompson … Born on June 17, 1990.

• William “BW” Webb Webb's Video Highlights
Newport News, Va.
Warwick
Defensive Back, 5-11, 175
Head Coach: Stan Sexton

Prep: Two-year starter at defensive back and wide receiver for Warwick … Played safety and corner during scholastic career … Also was team’s return specialist … Had seven career interceptions, two of which were returned for scores … Averaged 18.2 yards/attempt on punt returns as a senior and returned three for scores … Tabbed as team’s ‘shut-down’ corner … First-Team All-Peninsula District as a defensive back (2007) … Earned honorable mention distinction as a junior … Also a standout track athlete at Warwick with a career best time of 6.6 in the 55m dash … Excelled in triple jump and long jump as well … Letterman in basketball … Personal: Son of Avis and William Webb … Born on May 3, 1990.