Citadel class came together early

By the time Christmas came around, Citadel football coach Kevin Higgins had a good feeling about this recruiting class.

The Citadel had 11 verbal commitments by Dec. 25, a big number for the Bulldogs, and wound up signing 29 players to national letters of intent Wednesday. Twenty-two of those are scholarship players, with seven walk-ons.

"I cannot remember a year when players and families alike fit so well into what we are trying to get done," said Higgins, whose seventh Citadel team was 4-7 last season. "We had so many early commitments, and we've never had more than three before Christmas. We got them on campus early, got them back for games, and through social media you know so much more about the players, and they know more about your school."

Citadel coaches hit Georgia hard, signing 11 players from the state that traditionally provides the bulk of Southern Conference talent. Three of those players are from Walton High School in Marietta, Ga. -- offensive lineman Harrison Davis, defensive lineman Koty Allen and defensive back Cody Richardson.

"The majority of players signed last year in the Southern Conference came from Georgia, by far," said Higgins, who said assistants Bill Mottola, Denny Doornbos and Gerald Dixon split up the Peach State. "They did an excellent job getting those guys here in the summer, and several of them made early commitments."

Bloodlines play a big role in this class. Three recruits -- offensive lineman Emmet Howle, kicker Eric Goins and linebacker Tayler Jurney -- have fathers who played at The Citadel. Lineman Sam Frye had older brothers play at The Citadel and Appalachian State. And two recruits, Davis and defensive lineman Joe Phillips, are the sons of former NFL players.

The class also includes nine linebackers (the Bulldogs lose five seniors at that spot) and two quarterbacks in Trey White of Atlanta and Julian Walker of Pearland, Texas.