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Ron Turner, Illinois Football Present 25 Student-Athletes In Class Of 2003
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Head coach Ron Turner
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University of Illinois head football coach Ron Turner announced 25 student-athletes as members of the newest Fighting Illini recruiting class Wednesday afternoon. The group will join the Illinois football team in the fall of 2003 in their quest for a Big Ten title.
The class of 2003 is a balanced one with 13 players from the offensive side of the ball and 12 on the defensive. The Illinois coaching staff built this edition with a base of 10 linemen, four linebackers, three running backs, three wide receivers, two defensive backs, two quarterbacks and one tight end. Turner went to the junior college well only once in this class with 24 of his 25 coming from the high school ranks.
"We are very pleased with this class overall. We continue to recruit better each year," Turner said. "There is an excellent balance of offense and defense with five outstanding offensive linemen and five very athletic defensive linemen. We have signed two of the top quarterbacks in the Midwest and we really helped our athleticism and team speed with this class.
"Once again our coaching staff did a great job of identifying and evaluating to find productive football players that can excel in our system. Recruiting locally and in the state is always very important to us and I think 14 players from Illinois and 11 from the Chicago area shows that we accomplished our goals in that department."
Among this year's signees are three Top-100 athletes, two additional All-Americans and 10 other all-region selections, according to various recruiting publications. Illinois signed consensus Top-100 selection in offensive lineman Martin O'Donnell (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), running back Pierre Thomas (Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) by the Chicago Sun-Times and junior college wide receiver Kelvin Hayden (Chicago, Ill./Joliet JC) by Rivals.com and SuperPrep. Detroit-area wide receiver Lonnie Hurst (Detroit, Mich./Univ. of Detroit Jesuit) earned All-America honors by SuperPrep and quarterback Brad Bower (Burr Ridge, Ill./Hinsdale Central) garnered accolades from Prep Star.
For the first time in school history, Illinois will be signing local products from Champaign Central and Centennial in the same year - Central's J Leman and Centennial's Jay Ramshaw. Ramshaw is the first Centennial signee since quarterback Dustin Ward in 1999, but Leman is Central's first signee at Illinois since Greg Boysaw in 1985.
The 2003 class features 14 athletes from the state of Illinois, including 11 from the Chicago area. The Illini broke into Michigan, signing five from the Detroit-area, for the biggest impact since nabbing two in 1997. The Illini also added players from Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey and Indiana.
Two members of the class are currently on the Illinois campus and will compete in spring practice: wide receiver/defensive back Cornelius Dillard (Fr., Detroit, Mich./St. Martin De Porres) and defensive lineman Ramshaw. A common thread among 13 of the 25 in this year's class is they had the opportunity to get to know Turner and the coaching staff through their involvement in Illinois summer camps during their high school careers.
2003 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS RECRUITING CLASS
| NAME | HT. | WT. | POS. | HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/JC |
| Ben Amundsen | 6-6 | 298 | OL | Moline, Ill./Moline |
| Alan Ball | 6-1 | 175 | S | Detroit, Mich./St. Martin De Porres |
| Brad Bower | 6-2 | 210 | QB | Burr Ridge, Ill./Hinsdale Central |
| Arthur Boyd III | 6-3 | 260 | DL | Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights |
| Kambium Buckner | 6-4 | 260 | DL | Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park |
| Cornelius Dillard | 5-9 | 165 | WR/DB | Detroit, Mich./St. Martin De Porres |
| Kevin Gage | 6-6 | 285 | OL | Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South |
| Brian Grzelakowski | 5-11 | 205 | FB | Clarendon Hills, Ill./Hinsdale Central |
| Kelvin Hayden | 6-0 | 198 | WR | Chicago, Ill./Hubbard/Joliet JC |
| Lonnie Hurst | 6-3 | 192 | WR | Detroit, Mich./Univ. of Detroit Jesuit |
| Jim LaBonte | 6-7 | 305 | OL | Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic |
| J Leman | 6-3 | 220 | LB | Champaign, Ill./Central |
| Marcus Mason | 5-9 | 200 | RB | Potomac, Md./Georgetown Prep |
| Joe Mele III | 6-2 | 225 | LB | Sea Girt, N.J./Manasquan |
| Kevin Mitchell | 6-0 | 190 | S | Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead |
| Charles Myles | 6-6 | 290 | DL | Chicago, Ill./Harper |
| Chris Norwell | 6-7 | 250 | TE | Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson |
| Martin O'Donnell | 6-5 | 290 | OL | Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South |
| Jay Ramshaw | 6-4 | 235 | DE | Champaign, Ill./Centennial |
| James Ryan | 6-6 | 300 | OL | Batavia, Ill./Batavia |
| James Stevenson | 6-3 | 230 | LB | Franklinville, N.J./Delsea Regional |
| Pierre Thomas | 5-11 | 190 | RB | Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional South |
| Anthony Thornhill | 6-1 | 215 | LB | Detroit, Mich./Detroit Central |
| DaJuan Warren | 6-3 | 195 | QB | Southfield, Mich./Southfield |
| Adam Wilk | 6-5 | 250 | DL | Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich |
 Amundsen  |
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6-6, 298, OL
Moline, Ill./Moline
Coach: Joel Ryser
High School: Consensus All-State selection at offensive tackle as a senior ... First team Illinois Class 8A pick as a senior ... First team All-Area, All-Conference and All-Metro pick as a senior ... Earned All-Conference and All-Area accolades as a junior ... Averaged seven pancake blocks per game as a junior ... First team academic All-Big Six Conference pick as a senior ... Started 29 consecutive games at offensive tackle for Moline High ... Also a standout in track, qualifying for the Illinois Class AA State Championships in the discus ... Earned eight letters as a prep - three in football, three in track and two in wrestling, where he helped Moline to a conference championship as a junior.
Personal: Full given name is Benjamin Jacob Amundsen ... Son of Craig and Julie Amundsen ... Born Aug. 14, 1984 ... Has one sister ... Was the Moline High School Latin Club president ... Also involved with the high school newspaper and yearbook.
Turner on Amundsen: "Ben is a big physical offensive lineman with a great work ethic, who plays with a lot of toughness. He really excelled at our summer camp and at Moline High School."
 Ball |
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6-1, 175, S
Detroit, Mich./St. Martin De Porres
Coach: Greg Carter
High School: Intercepted 15 passes in two years at St. Martin De Porres, including six in the postseason of his senior year ... Prep Star and SuperPrep All-Region selection ... Named to the Lansing State Journal "Catch 22" list ... Helped lead his team to the 2001 state championship ... Named a Top-50 defensive back recruit nationally by Rivals.com ... Won the 110-meter hurdles as a junior ... Garnered all-state honors ... Earned two varsity letters in football and three in track ... High school coach is Greg Carter.
Personal: Full given name is Alan Sheffield Ball ... Born March 29, 1985 in Detroit, Mich. ... The son of Lorenzo and Cheryl Ball ... Sister, Tracy, ran track at SMU and holds the state high school record in the 200 and 400 meters ... A four-year honor roll student ... Lists favorite athlete as Michael Jordan ... Biggest thrill in sports was winning a state title in the 110-meter hurdles.
Turner on Ball: "Alan is a big physical safety with great speed, legitimate track speed. He has good instincts and is a very intelligent player. He has outstanding range and can cover a lot of ground in the secondary."
 Bower |
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6-2, 210, QB
Burr Ridge, Ill./Hinsdale Central
Coach: Ken Schreiner
High School: Consensus All-State performer at quarterback ... Named the Illinois Player of the Year by Chris Poole Recruiting ... Made the Sun Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... Set 10 high school records at Hinsdale Central for both single-season and career passing ... Racked up 2,886 total yards and accounted for 48 touchdowns as a senior ... Completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,942 yards and 23 TDs ... Rushed for 944 yards and 25 more scores ... Averaged better than 10 yards per carry and 17.9 yards per completion his senior season ... Led Hinsdale Central to a 28-6 record as a three-year starter ... His 5,308 yards of total offense and 43 touchdown passes top the Hinsdale Central career charts ... Completed 56 percent of his passes for his career (237-for-419) for 3,674 yards, also school records ... Scored 242 points in his career ... Named the West Suburban Conference and Suburban Life Player of the Year ... Led Hinsdale Central to back-to-back West Suburban Conference titles and a pair of appearances in the state playoffs .. Led Hinsdale Central to the semifinals as a senior.
Personal: Full given name is Bradley James Bower ... Born Aug. 25, 1984 in Hinsdale, Ill. ... The son of William and Colleen Bower ... Has two brothers ... Brother Robert played football at Iowa ... Brother William played tennis at Valparaiso ... Enjoys golf, fishing and video games ... Was a volunteer coach for a local Pop Warner football team ... Favorite athlete is Joe Montana because he took the quarterback position to a new level of excellence ... Led his Pop Warner team to a second place national finish.
Turner on Bower: "Brad is a versatile quarterback with an outstanding arm. He is also a great athlete who has done some productive things running with the ball. He will give us a dimension that we are looking for there. Brad is a tremendous leader and a winner, he has won at every level."
 Boyd |
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6-3, 260, DL
Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights
Coach: David Sedmak
High School: Listed among the Top-50 preps in Ohio by Rivals.com as a fullback ... Ranked the No. 1 fullback in Ohio by Future Stars magazine ... Was an outstanding defensive lineman that registered 33 tackles and three sacks ... Named an All-Conference, All-Area and All-District selection as a senior ... Named the Shaker Heights High School Most Outstanding defensive lineman ... Participated in the National High School All-Star Combine ... Was a three-year letterman in football, while spending two seasons as a starter ... Also an outstanding track athlete competing in the shot put, discus and sprinting events ... Competed at the district meet in both the shot put and discus as a sophomore and junior ... Also competed in the 200 meters ... High School coach was Dave Sedmak.
Personal: Full given name is Arthur B. Boyd III ... Born Feb. 24, 1985 in Shaker Heights, Ohio ... Son of Arthur and Delphine Boyd ... Has one sister ... Father was a defensive end at Florida A&M ... Cousin Brian Johnson was a cornerback at Alabama A&M ... Lists Simeon Rice as his Fighting Illini hero ... Hopes to attend medical school following his football career.
Turner on Boyd: "Arthur is a very athletic defensive lineman that also played some fullback in high school. He has great speed and quickness. He uses his hands well to get off blocks and pursue to the football."
 Buckner |
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6-4, 260, DL
Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park
Coach: Lexie Spurlock
High School: Ranked one of the top defensive end prospects in the country by Rivals.com and PrepStar Magazine ... Made the Sun Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... Was All-Area, All-Region and All-Conference ... Ranked one of the top 30 football players regardless of position in the state of Illinois by Rivals.com ... Named to the CBS All-Region team as a senior ... Recorded 256 tackles and 26 sacks during his junior and senior seasons ... Added 37 tackles for loss as a senior ... Also recovered two fumbles after forcing eight as a senior ... Three-year letterman in track ... Led Morgan Park to the City Championship each of his final three years of high school ... High school coach was Lexie Spurlock.
Personal: Full given name is Kambium Elijah Buckner ... Son of Raymond and Yvonne Wynn-Buckner ... Has four sisters ... Cousin is former Pittsburgh Steeler L.C. Greenwood ... Hopes to attend law school and work in politics following graduation ... Hobbies include poetry and music ... Lists Muhammad Ali as his favorite athlete for his unbelievable talent and unstoppable drive ... Past summer jobs include working as an usher at Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, Comiskey Park and the United Center.
Turner on Buckner: "Kam is an athletic defensive lineman that we have had in camp for several years. He plays hard and has a great motor. He is also a very confident young man who told me as a freshman that I would offer him a scholarship one day."
 Dillard |
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5-9, 165, WR/DB
Detroit, Mich./St. Martin De Porres
Coach: Greg Carter
High School: Named a first-team All-Michigan selection at cornerback as a senior ... Second team All-State pick as a wide receiver that same season ... Named an All-City selection at three positions during his junior campaign, as a defensive back, wide receiver and punt returner ... Picked off 15 career interceptions ... Seven interceptions came during his senior season ... Also forced and recovered three fumbles ... Added 10 passes broken up ... Picked off seven passes as a junior, while breaking up eight balls ... Had one pick as a sophomore ... As a receiver, scored six times during his senior campaign and twice as a junior ... Led St. Martin De Porres to a state title as a senior ... High school teammate of current Illini, Sharriff Gillon.
Personal: Full given name is Cornelius R. Dillard ... Son of Norman Dillard ... Born Feb. 28, 1984 ... Hopes to own his own business following graduation ... Enjoys reading and playing video games ... Lists Charles Woodson as his favorite athlete.
Turner on Dillard: "Cornelius is a very versatile athlete who could play wide receiver, defensive back and return kickoffs, both punts and kickoffs. He has great speed and quickness and just has a great knack for making plays."
 Gage |
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6-6, 285, OL
Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South
Coach: John Belskis
High School: Named All-State along the offensive front by a number of publications as a senior ... Made the Sun Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... Ranked among the top 40 offensive tackles in the country by Rivals.com ... Earned first team All-Area and All-Conference honors his junior and senior campaigns ... An All-Region pick by Super Prep ... First team All-State selection by the Champaign News-Gazette ... High school coach was John Belskis.
Personal: Full given name is Kevin Dale Gage ... Son of Jeff and Jeanette Gage ... Born March 19, 1985 ... Has one sister ... Cousin, Doug Cosbie, was a fullback for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1980s ... Hopes to become a history teacher and football coach following graduation.
Turner on Gage: "Kevin is another big physical, athletic offensive lineman who will be an outstanding tackle for us. He plays hard with great intensity. He really stood out at our lineman camp two years in a row."
 Grzelakowski |
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5-11, 205, FB
Clarendon Hills. Ill./Hinsdale Central
Coach: Ken Schreiner
High School: Consensus All-State pick after rushing for 2,355 yards and scoring 27 TDs ... Those totals were both school records ... Made the Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... Rushed for 3,775 yards and scored 38 TDs in his career ... Set Illinois Class 8A single-game playoff records with a 98-yard run and 326 yards rushing ... West Suburban Silver Conference Offensive MVP ... Won letters in football and baseball ... Also an All-State pick on the diamond ... Led the Hinsdale Central baseball team to state semifinals while being named a first team All-State tournament pick ... High School coach was Ken Schreiner.
Personal: Full given name is Brian James Grzelakowski ... Born Nov. 14, 1984 in Hinsdale, Ill. ... Son of Edward and Maureen Grzelakowski ... Has one brother ... Dad was an All-American baseball player at Northwestern ... Mother played softball for the Wildcats ... Hobbies include basketball, music and skiing ... Plans to attend graduate school following graduation ... Played in the Pop Warner World Championship in 1998 ... Was a member of the Hinsdale Central National Honor Society and Athletes Committed to Excellence Program ... Was a Wendy's High School Heisman finalist.
Turner on Grzelakowski: "Brian is a talented runner and a very good athlete. He is a tremendous leader and winner. He rushed for a lot of yards and has good hands out of the backfield. He is the type of fullback we look for in our system."
 Hayden |
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6-0, 198, WR
Chicago, Ill./Hubbard/Joliet JC
Coach: Bob MacDougal
High School: Phenomenal all-around athlete that originally signed with Illinois out of Hubbard High School ... Was a four-year starter on the gridiron ... All-State selection as a wide receiver as a senior ... Named to the first team All-Power Bar team as a senior ... Led the team and finished second in the state with 10 interceptions as a freshman ... Threw 21 touchdown passes, while rushing for seven more TDs as a sophomore ... Racked up 2,315 rushing yards and 33 scores as a junior ... Caught for 792 yards despite missing seven games as a senior ... Four-time All-Conference pick and three-time All-Area selection as a prep ... Two-time City League Track Champion in the 55 and 200-meter dashes indoors and the 100 and 200-meter dashes outdoors.
Junior College: NJCAA National Offensive Player of the Year ... Racked up 1,297 yards and 13 TD's as a sophomore ... Caught 114 passes for 1,839 yards and 17 scores, an average of 16.2 yards per catch during his junior college career ... Named Top-100 recruit by Rivals.com ... Earned first team All-America accolades in his second season... Two time All-Conference and All-Region pick ... Named conference Player of the Year ... Named MVP of the 2002 Junior College National Championship Game ... After losing his first junior college game, led Joliet Junior College to 21 consecutive victories and the 2002 NJCAA National Championship ... Was the first wide receiver to ever win NJCAA Player of the Year honors.
Personal: Full given name is Kelvin Darnell Hayden Jr. ... Son of Kelvin and Lynette Hayden ... Born July 23, 1983 ... Has one sister ... Plans to major in Speech Communication ... Lists former Chicago Public League standout Rocky Harvey as his Fighting Illini hero and Marvin Harrison as his favorite athlete.
Turner on Hayden: "Kelvin is an athlete we signed out of high school and have been following ever since. He has had two great years in junior college. He has phenomenal speed and is a big-play threat as evidenced by the fact that he was the national junior college offensive player of the year, the first time a receiver has ever won that award. "
 Hurst |
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6-3, 192, WR
Detroit, Mich./Univ. of Detroit Jesuit
Coach: Scott Merchant
High School: Listed among the top two wide receiver recruits in the Midwest by Prep Star Magazine and the 20th best receiver in the country by Rivals.com ... Named to the Prep Star and SuperPrep All-America teams ... Named a three-time All-City, All-Conference and All-Region pick ... Was an All-State selection as a junior ... Caught 39 passes for 890 yards and 10 scores as a junior ... Added 25 grabs for 390 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore ... Also a standout in basketball and track ... Won three letters on the hardwood and four in track ... Led Detroit Jesuit to conference and regional titles in track ... Is an outstanding student who won the Spirit of Detroit Award.
Personal: Full given name is Lonnie Edward Hurst ... Born Aug. 8, 1985 in Detroit, Mich. ... Son of Michael and Geneva Barnett ... Has one brother, who got him started in football by secretly signing him up ... Won his school spelling bee in 1999 ... Hopes to become a stockbroker.
Turner on Hurst: "Lonnie is a big, physical receiver with outstanding speed and productivity. He is a three-time All-State player in Michigan. He goes up and gets the ball extremely well and has a knack for making big plays."
 LaBonte |
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6-7, 305, OL
Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic
Coach: Chris Andriano
High School: All-State selection by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association ... Made the Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... Was a two time All-Conference pick at tackle ... Honorable mention All-Area pick as a junior ... Two-year starter for Montini Catholic ... Earned letters in football, wrestling and track ... High school coach was Chris Andriano.
Personal: Full given name is James Lawrence LaBonte ... Son of Don and Serena LaBonte ... Born March 4, 1985 ... Has one brother and one sister ... Member of National Honor Society.
Turner on LaBonte: "Jim has great size and toughness and has very good range for an offensive tackle. He also has been in our lineman camp and excelled and impressed us during drills."
 Leman |
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6-3, 220, LB
Champaign, Ill./Central
Coach: Jeff Hasenstab
High School: All-State selection by the Champaign News-Gazette and the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association ... Named the Area Player of the Year by the Champaign News-Gazette ... Named among the Top-100 inside linebackers in the country by Rivals.com ... Also tabbed an All-Conference and All-Area pick as a junior ... Tallied 356 career tackles including 191 as a senior ... Added 26 tackles-for-loss, nine sacks, three blocked punts, five forced fumbles and an interception as a senior ... Caught 20 passes for 275 yards as a tight end ... Earned eight prep letters, three in both football and basketball, and two in track ... High School coach was Jeff Hasenstab.
Personal: Full given name is Jeremy Leman ... Born March 1, 1985 in Champaign, Ill. ... Son of Happy and Dianne Leman ... Has three brothers and one sister ... Active in the Vineyard Christian Fellowship ... Worked for a family-owned lawn service over the summer, mowing 70 lawns in the Champaign area ... Outstanding student who earned two academic letters ... Hopes to become a sports anchor following graduation ... First Champaign Central signee since Greg Boysaw ... Lists Dana Howard as his Fighting Illini hero.
Turner on Leman: "J is just a football player. He's got a great motor and is very instinctive. He is a very productive player who brings a lot of enthusiasm, energy, personality and leadership to our program."
 Mason |
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5-9, 200, RB
Potomac, Md./Georgetown Prep
Coach: Dan Paro
High School: All-time leading rusher in the state of Maryland ... Also tops on the Maryland charts in career touchdowns and points scored ... Totaled over 5,700 yards in his four year career as a varsity starter ... Despite missing three games with an injury, still racked up 1,532 yards and 29 scores as a senior ... Named Area Player of the Year by the Gazette News ... Named the Metro Offensive Player of the Year by the Washington Post ... Also named to the Golden 11 All-State team ... Named the PowerBar East Region Athlete of the Week ... Rushed for over 2,100 yards as a junior, scoring 26 TDs on the ground and three more as a receiver ... Was the metro area's leading rusher as a junior ... Named the Journal and Gazette News Offensive Player of the Year in 2001 ... Three time all-conference selection ... Rushed for 1,359 yards as a sophomore, finding the end zone 20 times, 17 of which were on the ground ... Also a standout defensive back and kick returner ... Had eight career interceptions, returning one for a score ... Had two career kick off returns for scores and averaged 33 yards per return over his career ... Also averaged 15 yards per punt return ... Led Georgetown Prep to an amazing 36-3 record in his four seasons.
Personal: Full given name is Marcus Anthony Mason ... Son of Tarlton Barnett and Patricia Mason ... Born June 23, 1984 ... Has two sisters ... Hopes to major in business finance ... Uncle, Mark Mason, played football at Maryland ... Lists Walter Payton as his favorite athlete ... Appeared in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd".
Turner on Mason: "Marcus is a very talented, strong runner. He was extremely productive in high school and has great instincts and vision in the hole. With great lower body strength, he can break a lot of tackles. He is also very quick and elusive."
 Mele |
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6-3, 215, LB
Sea Girt, N.J./Manasquan
Coach: Vic Kubu
High School: Was an all-state pick at linebacker as a senior after recording 139 tackles, 29 of which were for a loss including four sacks ... Also added three interceptions, seven passes broken up and five forced fumbles ... Named the Monmouth County Defensive Player of the Year and was a two-time All-Monmouth County selection ... Registered over 300 career tackles during his three seasons as a starter ... Led Monmouth to four consecutive state championships on the gridiron ... Also starred as a tight end catching 12 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown ... High School coach was Vic Kubo.
Personal: Full given name is Joseph P. Mele III ... Born May 2, 1985 in Summit, N.J. ... Son of Joe and Patricia Mele ... Has three brothers and one sister ... Father was a running back at Rutgers, helping the 1976 team to an undefeated season and a No. 17 national ranking ... Lists Tampa Bay safety and former Ron Turner player, John Lynch, as his favorite athlete ... Was inducted into the Manasquan High School Hall of Fame ... Hopes to attend law school following his playing career ... Was his high school newspaper editor-in-chief ... Hobbies include surfing and reading.
Turner on Mele: "Joe is a guy who just makes plays. He is a football player who has outstanding instincts and a feel for the game. He is a great student and tremendous leader. He has the kind of energy and motor you are always looking for."
 Mitchell |
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6-0, 190, S
Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead
Coach: Drew Wood
High School: Was an All-State pick by the Indiana Football Coaches Association and Bloomington Herald at defensive back after totaling 12 career interceptions as a senior ... Was the IFCA Region 3 Most Valuable Player ... Earned first-team All-North East Hoosier Conference honors two years in a row ... Two-time All-State selection ... Named to the "Tremendous 26" list among football players in the state of Indiana ... Totaled 1,950 career rushing yards, while scoring 34 touchdowns ... Was a two-time All-Conference and All-Area selection as a defensive back ... Was the team's MVP ... High school coach was Drew Wood.
Personal: Full given name is Kevin T. Mitchell ... Son of Stephen and DeVita Mitchell ... Born April 6, 1985 ... Has two brothers and one sister ... Brother Phil Hayes played football at Arkansas ... Father played football at Indiana ... Uncle Jon Hayes played football at Purdue ... Lists NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott as his favorite athlete.
Turner on Mitchell: "Kevin is a very physical safety, something we have been looking for in our system. He is a great run-support safety. He was a very productive running back in high school. He is a guy we think can come in and be an impact player in our secondary right away."
Charles Myles
6-6, 290, DL
Chicago, Ill./Harper
Coach: Terry Lewis
High School: All-State selection at defensive tackle ... Named a first-team All-Public League pick by the Chicago Sun-Times ... Made the Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... Also earned All-Land of Lincoln Conference honors as a senior ... Totaled over 35 sacks during his prep career in addition to 125 total tackles ... Also knocked down two passes ... Earned eight letters in high school, four in football and four in basketball ... High School coach was Terry Lewis.
Personal: Full given name is Charles Ellis Myles ... Son of Charles Robinson and the late Ernstine Myles ... Born Nov. 24, 1984 ... Has two brothers and one sister ... Brother Anthony Miles plays basketball at Xavier ... Hobbies include bowling and fishing ... Lists Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp as his favorite athlete and Buccaneer defensive end Simeon Rice as his favorite Illini ... Hopes to go into law enforcement following graduation ... Is a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Turner on Myles: "Charles is a big physical defensive lineman with great athleticism. He has outstanding size with a lot of upside. He is going to continue to develop and get better. With his great energy, he will be an outstanding lineman for us."
 Norwell |
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6-7, 250, TE
Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson
Coach: Vince Suriano
High School: Excellent athlete that received recruiting interest in basketball as well as football ... Ranked No. 61 among offensive tackles in the country by Rivals.com ... Ranked as one of the top offensive linemen in the state of Ohio as a senior ... All-Region selection by SuperPrep ... Twice named second team all-Southwest Ohio ... Earned the honor as a tight end during his senior season and as an offensive tackle as a junior ... Led all Cincinnati preps in tackles for loss as a senior with 33, while registering 80 tackles ... As a tight end he caught 10 passes for 137 yards ... Selected to play in the Ohio East-West Shrine Game ... Excelled in hoops and is Anderson High School's all-time leading scorer and rebounder ... Led his conference in scoring and rebounding as a junior ... Earned seven letters at Anderson High - four in basketball and three in football ... High school coach was Vince Suriano.
Personal: Full given name is Christopher Reinhard Norwell ... Son of Ivar and Julia Norwell ... Born Feb. 12, 1985 ... One of seven children ... Has four sisters and two brothers ... Brother, Adam, played basketball at Northern Kentucky.
Turner on Norwell: "Chris is a very versatile athlete. He has played offensive line, tight end, defensive line and will be an outstanding blocker for us at tight end. His great hands and a good feel for the game that will enable him to be a good receiver for us."
 O'Donnell |
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6-5, 290, OL
Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South
Coach: John Belskis
High School: Earned Parade All-American honors and was named top offensive lineman in country ... Top-100 recruit according to Chicago Sun-Times ... Prep Star Dream Team member and All-American ... Named Top-100 recruit and second-best offensive lineman nationally by Rivals.com ... Recorded 55 pancake blocks as a senior ... A two-time all-state and all-conference selection ... Made the Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... Named a first-team Riddell All-American ... Earned West Suburban Gold Conference Player of the Year honors ... Also garnered conference lineman of the year accolades ... SuperPrep All-Region selection ... Earned three varsity letters for football and three for the track team ... High school coach was John Belskis.
Personal: Full given name is Martin Edward O'Donnell ... Son of Michael and Pamela O'Donnell ... Born Dec. 9, 1984 ... Biggest thrill in sports was winning the 2001 8A state championship at Memorial Stadium ... Lists favorite athlete as Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis ... Has been an honor roll student every year with a 4.0-plus GPA ... Plans to be a high school coach and history teacher upon graduation ... Was a member of ACE (Athletes Committed to Excellence).
Turner on O'Donnell: "Martin is very intense, intelligent, athletic lineman. His versatility will allow him to play anywhere on the offensive line - from center to tackle. He is a tremendous leader and also a standout at our camp as a junior."
 Ramshaw |
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6-4, 235, DL
Champaign, Ill./Centennial
Coach: Mike McDonnell
High School: All-State pick by the Champaign News-Gazette and the Chicago Sun-Times ... Honorable mention All-State pick as a junior ... Ranked the No. 26 defensive end prospect by Rivals.com ... Two time All-Area pick ... Earned All-Conference accolades as a junior and senior on both sides of the ball ... Named an All-Region selection by Prep Star as a senior ... Twice led Champaign Centennial in tackles ... Registered 80 tackles and 14 tackles for loss as a junior ... Added 147 more tackles as a senior ... Named team MVP as a senior after earning defensive MVP honors as a junior ... Moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore and remained a starter the final 28 games of his career ... High school coach was Mike McDonnell.
Personal: Full given name is Jerald Avery Ramshaw ... Son of Jerry and Christie Ramshaw ... Born Aug. 2, 1984 ... Father played for Illinois in the late '70s, earning letters in 1977-78 ... Lists Howie Long as his favorite athlete and Simeon Rice has his Fighting Illini hero.
Turner on Ramshaw: "Jay has a great motor, speed and quickness. He could play several positions. He was a linebacker, offensive lineman and tight end in high school. We will play him as a defensive end, where we feel he can be a dominating pass rusher in this league."
 Ryan |
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6-6, 300, OL
Batavia, Ill./Batavia
Coach: Mike Gaspari
High School: Preseason All-America selection on the offensive line as a senior ... Four-year varsity letterwinner ... Ranked among the top-25 offensive linemen in the country and the No. 22 guard in the country by Rivals.com ... Four-year starter at Batavia High School ... Made the Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... A two-time captain and the only junior to be elected captain in the last 25 years ... Three-time All-Conference and All-Area pick ... Two-way starter as a prep ... Recorded more than 136 tackles, 32 tackles-for-loss and five forced fumbles as a defensive lineman ... Also an outstanding wrestler ... Was an All-State selection at 275 pounds finishing eighth as a junior ... Earned 12 letters in high school.
Personal: Full given name is James Christopher Ryan ... Son of Jim and Robin Ryan ... Born March 19, 1985 ... Has one brother ... Grandfather, Donald Ryan, played football at Notre Dame ... Cousin, Katie Ryan, played volleyball at DePaul ... Lists Bruce Smith as his favorite athlete.
Turner on Ryan: "James is a big physical intense lineman who was dominant in our summer camps. He was a two-time captain of his team and is just a very intelligent, intense football player."
James Stevenson III
6-3, 230, LB
Franklinville, N.J./Delsea Regional
Coach: Sal Marchese
High School: Ranked the No. 63 outside linebacker in the country by Rivals.com ... Ranked among the Top-25 prospects in New Jersey by SuperPrep ... Earned All-Area and All-Tri-County Royal Conference honors from his defensive end position as a junior and senior ... Registered over 80 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a senior ... Added 80 tackles, 20 tackles-for-loss and six sacks as a junior ... Also a standout tight end catching 10 touchdowns his final two seasons ... Caught seven passes as a junior, six of which he took to the end zone ... Averaged 15 yards per catch as a senior while scoring three times ... District champion in wrestling, finishing with a 29-7 record as a junior ... Compiled over 235 career wins during his youth wrestling career ... High School coach was Sal Marchese.
Personal: Full given name is James Woodrow Stevenson III ... Son of James and Vivian Stevenson ... Born July 31, 1984 ... Has one brother, Shane, who played football at Princeton ... Hopes to major in criminal justice ... Lists Hugh Douglas as his favorite athlete.
Turner on Stevenson: "James is a big-play player. He is an outside linebacker who can really run. He really uses his hands well to defeat would-be blockers. He has great range and speed to run ball-carriers down. He can play from sideline to sideline."
 Thomas |
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5-11, 190, RB
Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional South
Coach: Tom Padjen
High School: Named a national Top-100 recruit by the Chicago Sun-Times ... Champaign News-Gazette Player of the Year ... Named to the USA Today Old Spice Red Zone Top-50 National Team ... Earned Offensive Player of the Year honors from the Daily Southtown ... Made the Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... Named to SuperPrep All-American team ... Two-time All-State selection at running back by the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune ... Totaled over 5,522 rushing yards for his career and found the end zone 88 times ... Gained over 3,200 yards as a sophomore and junior, before racking up 2,365 yards and 38 scores last season ... Had a career-high 304 rushing yards in a single game last season ... Had 27 100-yard rushing games, including 11 with over 200 yards ... Scored five touchdowns in back-to-back contests as a junior ... Rated the No. 1 player in the SICA Orange Conference in 2002 ... Earned All-Area and All-Conference honors as a sophomore, junior and senior ... Also earned Player of the Year honors from Thornton Fractional South High School.
Personal: Full given name is Charles Pierre Thomas Jr. ... Born Dec. 18, 1984 in Chicago, Ill. ... The son of Charles and Greta Jo Thomas ... Has one sister ... Enjoys playing video games and collecting sports cards ... Favorite athlete is Barry Sanders.
Turner on Thomas: "Pierre has outstanding running skills and quickness. He has great instincts and vision. He is a very difficult back to tackle as evidenced by the stats that he has put up over his career. He will have a chance to come in a compete right away."
Anthony Thornhill
6-1, 215, LB
Detroit, Mich./Detroit Central
Coach: Michael Thornhill
High School: Earned all-state honors as a senior ... Three-time all-Detroit pick at linebacker ... Four-year starter for Detroit Central ... Led Central in tackles each of his last three seasons ... All-region pick by Prep Star ... Totaled 105 tackles and eight sacks as a junior ... Also an outstanding pass catcher, registering 23 catches for 359 yards, 15.6 yards per catch ... Also a standout in basketball, helping Detroit Central to district and regional titles in 2001 ... Won 11 high school letters, four in football, four in track and three in basketball ... Was an all-city track selection as a junior.
Personal: Full given name is Anthony W. Thornhill ... Son of Michael and Gloria Thornhill ... Born Feb. 27, 1985 ... Has one brother and two sisters ... Cousin Josh Thornhill played for Michigan State and is on the Detroit Lions roster ... Cousin Tadell Sands played for Green Bay.
Turner on Thornhill: "Anthony is an athletic linebacker who can really run. He is a versatile player and all-around athlete. He also played some wide receiver and tight end on offense. He is just a great athlete who can make plays."
 Warren |
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6-3, 195, QB
Southfield, Mich./Southfield
Coach: David Reese
High School: Three-year starter at quarterback for Southfield High School ... Threw for 4,400 yards and scored 42 TDs in his prep career ... Threw for 1,400 yards and scored 10 TDs as a senior ... Six of those scores came on the ground ... Also made 30 tackles on defense ... Racked up 1,500 yards passing and 16 touchdowns during both his sophomore and junior campaigns ... Listed among the Top-30 dual-threat quarterbacks in the country by Rivals.com ... Was an all-conference, all-area, all-region and all-state quarterback as a senior ... Outstanding athlete who won letters in basketball and track as well as football ... Averaged 16 points, six assists and five boards for Southfield as a junior ... Also registered a 10.8 100-meter-dash time on the track ... High School coach was David Reese.
Personal: Full given name is DaJuan Avery Warren ... Born March 9, 1984 ... The son of David and Mary Warren ... Has one brother ... Is a member of the Positive Peer Influence Program ... Enjoys cooking and shopping ... Lists Terrell Owens as his favorite athlete because of his rise to stardom despite going unnoticed during the early part of his career.
Turner on Warren: "DaJuan is a quarterback we first saw in camp. He has a great arm, but the thing that first caught my eye was his leadership abilities. He is very poised and in control at all times. His speed and athleticism make his an outstanding prospect."
 Wilk |
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6-5, 250, DL
Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich
Coach: Mike DiMatteo
High School: Led Lake Zurich to the semifinals of the state playoffs as a senior ... Was an all-state selection by the Chicago Tribune from his defensive line position ... Made the Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list ... All-area pick by the Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald and the Northwest Herald ... Named to the Great Northwest All-Defense team by the Pioneer Press ... Was a two-year letterman in football ... Holds the Lake Zurich High School record with a hang clean of 325 pounds ... High School Coach is Mike DiMatteo.
Personal: Full given name is Adam Anthony Wilk ... Born March 11, 1985 ... The son of Mitchell and Barbara Wilk ... Has one brother and one sister ... Enjoys working on cars and is currently restoring a 1979 Ford Bronco ... Past summer jobs included working as a caddy at the Twin Orchard Country Club.
Turner on Wilk: "Adam is another young man we had in camp and were impressed by his intensity. He has a great motor and desire to make plays. He is a football player who has a lot of passion for the game."
