GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College head football coach Chris Rusiewicz announced the intention of five incoming students to play football for the Quakers Monday. All five students have made their deposit to the college and will enroll for classes beginning in August. They make up part of Rusiewicz's first recruiting class at Guilford since he took over the Quakers' program in January.
Tyler Eller (Bristol, Tenn.) lettered three times under coach Brian Currin at J.F. Webb High School in Oxford, N.C. The 6-3, 215-pound defensive end/linebacker was a three-time All-Carolina 3A Conference selection and served as a defensive team captain. The academic all-conference honoree also played lacrosse and set the school's season record with 28 ground balls. Eller is a member of the National Honor Society and participated in Webb's Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Jordan Farmer (Advance, N.C.) lettered three seasons at Davie County High School for coach Doug Illing. The 5-10, 215-pound linebacker helped War Eagles reach the 2010 North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4A final for the first time in school history and collect Western Region and sectional crowns along the way. Farmer participated in the 2010 American Legion Tar Heels Boys State Program and intends to study exercise and sports science at Guilford.
Kolby Hunt (Lexington, N.C.) lettered three years under coach Mark Hoover at Central Davidson High School and twice led the Spartans in tackles. The 6-0, 195-pound linebacker was part of Central Davidson's first winning season (7-4) since 1982. Hunt also lettered three times in baseball and twice helped the team to Central Carolina Conference championships. He intends to study education at Guilford.
Ryan Lynde (Blue Hill, Maine) lettered three seasons at Mt. Desert Island High School for coach Mark Shields. The 6-4, 245-pound tight end/defensive end earned Second Team All-Pine Tree Conference honors and was also a member of the league's all-academic team. Lynde also lettered twice in basketball and track.
Chris Ross (Winston-Salem, N.C.) was an All-Davidson County and All-Central Carolina Conference cornerback for coach Allen Brown's Thomasville High School team in 2010. He had 50 tackles (30 solo), three interceptions, seven pass breakups and three blocked kicks for the Bulldogs, who went 11-2 and reached the district round of the 2A state playoffs. Ross was an all-conference defender and two-year letterwinner at Ledford High School for coach Chuck Henderson before transferring to Thomasville for his senior year. Ross was invited to participate in the North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West Senior All-Star Game in Greensboro this July. He intends to study exercise and sports science at Guilford.
The group looks to help Rusiewicz's Quakers starting Sept. 3 with the 2011 season opener against Greensboro College. Kickoff for the 15th annual Gate City Soup Bowl is 1:00 p.m. at Grimsley High School's Jamieson Stadium.