Catawba football team gets commitments from 10 players

BY STAFF REPORT
SALISBURY POST

First-year Catawba College football coach Chip Hester has announced the commitments of 10 players for the 2002 season.

The newcomers are: Will Andrews of Smithfield, Carlos Channelle of Jacksonville, Fla., Mario Crowe of Charlotte, Kolby Fisher of New Bern, Marcus Huntley of Wadesboro, Daryl Medlin of Charlotte, Willie Olds of Kinston, Lester Sconyers of New Bern, Cedric Taylor of Jacksonville, Fla., and Rufus Tolbert of Jacksonville, Fla.

Andrews is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound quarterback/defensive back from Smithfield-Selma High School. He earned all-conference honors and was the team MVP.

Channelle is a 6-3, 220-pound linebacker from Raines High School, and was a three-year starter, making more than 250 tackles with 37 sacks in his career. Last season, he was named all-conference and all-district after recording 80 tackles, with 14 sacks, 23 tackles for losses and caused five fumbles.

He also returned his only interception for a touchdown. Channelle was selected to the Florida Shrine Bowl, was a Prep Star all- regional selection and was a Florida/Georgia Super 24.

Crowe is a 5-9, 190-pound running back from Independence High School who helped the Patriots to back-to-back 4A State Championships. As a senior, he ran for more than 1,700 yards and 37 touchdowns. He was a two-time all-conference and county selection.

Fisher is a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker from New Bern High School. He was a four-year starter and team defensive MVP as a senior. He was New Bern’s leading rusher as a sophomore and junior. Fisher was a two-time conference performer and also earned all-area honors. He was also an all-conference performer in basketball and track.

Huntley is a 6-3, 260-pound defensive lineman from Anson County High School. He was named to the East-West Shrine Game and was all-conference as a senior in 2001.

Medlin is a 6-0, 195-pound linebacker from Independence High School. He was a member of the two-time 4A State Champions and was a two-time all-conference performer.

Olds is a 6-0, 225-pound linebacker from Kinston High School. He was a four-year starter and a two-time all-conference and all-area performer. The team defensive MVP also ran for 400 yards as a fullback.

Sconyers is a 5-11, 195-linebacker linebacker from New Bern High School. The team co-captain was named all-area as a junior and all-conference as a senior. He was an academic all-conference performer in football, basketball and track.

Taylor is a 5-9, 250-pound running back from Mandarin High School and was a Jacksonville Super 11. He averaged 8.5 yards per carry for the district champions and was named All-First Coast. He as also a Florida Super 75.

Tolbert is a 6-5, 300-pound offensive lineman from 1st Coast High School. He helped 1st Coast to the playoffs and was a Florida Shrine Bowl selection. Also named All-First Coast, Tolbert was the 22nd ranked prospect in Northern Florida.