Winning season helps Citadel put together ‘one of our best classes ever,’ says coach Kevin Higgins

Citadel prospect Jorian Jordan was driving around Charlotte on Tuesday night, trying to decide where to play college football. His dad spotted a billboard extolling The Citadel’s ranking as “the No. 1 public university in the South” by U.S. News & World Report.

“That sign’s there for a reason,” the father said. Jordan, a wide receiver, ignored a late push from Western Carolina to sign with The Citadel on Wednesday.

It’s hard to predict what makes a difference in recruiting, but one thing’s for sure — winning helps. Citadel coach Kevin Higgins said recruiting after last year’s 7-4 mark — just his second winning season in eight years with the Bulldogs — made a big difference in this year’s class of 23 players.

“You see it most when the recruits visit with our players,” he said. “There’s a buzz among our players after beating Georgia Southern and App State, they are excited about the future. When recruits are on campus with our players, they get a good feel for what the future at The Citadel will be like.”

Higgins called this year’s class, heavy on running backs, receivers and defensive backs, “one of our best recruiting classes ever.”

Ten in-state players include wide receiver Rudder Brown of Wando High School, and there are two Shrine Bowl players in Byrnes offensive lineman Isaiah Pinson and defensive back Malik Diggs of Laurinburg, N.C.

Four of the in-state players were in the North-South All-Star Game, and 20 of the 23 were team captains.

The Citadel went head to head with Air Force for several recruits, losing a couple but hanging on to quarterbacks Cam Jackson of Mobile, Ala., and Jantzen Jeffrey of Cumming, Ga. Lineman Ryan Bednar of Glassport, Pa., turned down a late offer from Navy, and defensive end Jake Smith of Greenville spurned late advances from Furman.

“We’ve never had this much overlap with Air Force before,” Higgins said. “Anytime you are going against good people, even if you lose some, you end up with a better class.”

The Citadel came up with a couple of late commitments after their original plans fell through. Running back Devan Robbins of Belmont, N.C., signed Wednesday after being recruited for two years by Georgia Tech. Cornerback James Julius of Orlando, Fla., a one-time Pitt commitment, was not announced Wednesday because his letter of intent is not yet official.