Meet the Furman football recruiting class of 2022

Jim Rice, Greenville News

December 16, 2021 at 7:01 AM·4 min read

The Furman football team won its final two games of the 2021 season -- including an upset of nationally ranked VMI -- to rally to a winning record (6-5).

The Paladins take that momentum into the 2022 season, and on Wednesday added to it a signing class of 11 high school prospects.

The class includes six defensive players -- two linemen, one linebacker and three defensive backs. The five offensive class has a quarterback, a running back and three offensive linemen.

Here's a snapshot look at each of those 11 signees:

Eli Brasher, offensive tackle

Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 280 pounds

Hometown: Black Mountain, N.C.

High School: Christ School

Furman's competition: Richmond, Elon, Jacksonville (Ala.) State, Bucknell

Committed to Furman: July 27

Quick facts: Was a two-time NCISAA all-state selection. ... Competed in track & field. ... Has a cousin who played at Jacksonville State

Dylan Chiedo, linebacker

Height: 6-2 Weight: 225

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.

High School: Bartram Trail

Furman's competition: Iowa State, Maryland, East Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Liberty, UConn, Florida Atlantic, Dartmouth, Penn, Stetson

Committed to Furman: Nov. 23

Quick facts: Averaged 102 tackles the past two seasons. ... Member of four Class 8A district championship teams. ... Also competed in basketball.

Maddox Epperson, center

Height: 6-1 Weight: 275

Hometown: Dallas

High School: Aledo

Furman's competition: Eastern Kentucky, Missouri State, Morehead State

Committed to Furman: July 19

Quick facts: Plans to enroll in January and to participate in spring practice. ... Turns 18 today (Dec. 16). ... Father, Bart, was an all-SWC offensive lineman at TCU (1990-94).

Malachi Harrison, defensive lineman

Height: 6-1 Weight: 275

Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.

High school: Christian Academy Of Knoxville

Furman's competition: Army West Point

Committed to Furman: Oct. 4

Quick facts: 2020 Tennessee Sportswriters Association all-state selection in 2020. ... Member of state championship wrestling team. His father, Edward, played football at Tennessee.

Charles Ingram (33), the defensive MVP of Tennessee's East-West All-Star game, has signed to play in the defensive backfield at Furman.

Charles Ingram V, cornerback

Height: 5-11 Weight: 180

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

HIgh School: Ensworth

Furman's competition: Kansas, Syracuse, Army West Point, Richmond, Dartmouth, Harvard, Eastern Kentucky

Committed to Furman: July 30

Quick facts: Selected Tennessee East-West All-Star Game West Defensive MVP. ... Also played running back, gaining 1,060 yards with 12 touchdowns during career. ... First names of his father, mother and three brothers also begin with the letter C.

Quarterback Carson Jones (5) of Maryville (Tenn.) High has signed to play college football at Furman.

Carson Jones, quarterback

Height: 6-2 Weight: 205

Hometown: Maryville, Tenn.

High School: Maryville

Furman's competition: Gardner-Webb, Mercer

Committed to Furman: July 20

Quick facts: Completed 76.7% of his passes as a senior for 2,175 yards with 28 TDs and 1 interception. ... Selected Region 2-6A Player of the Year. ... Member of four region and one state championship teams. ... Also lettered in baseball and basketball. ... Father, Mike, was an all-Ohio Valley Conference quarterback at Tennessee Tech.

Caleb Lyons, guard

Height: 6-3 Weight: 310

Hometown: Piqua, Ohio

High School: Piqua

Furman's competition: Air Force, Army West Point, Fordham

Committed to Furman: July 31

Quick facts: All-State and all-district in 2021, and a two-time All-Miami Valley League selection. ... Also competed in baseball and track. ... His father, Anthony, played football at Dayton.

Tre' McLeod, defensive back

Height: 6-2 Weight: 180

Hometown: Darlington

High School: Trinity Collegiate

Furman's competition: Navy, Air Force, Army West Point, Fordham.

Committed to Furman: July 16

Quick facts: Also played running back and was Region 2-AAA offensive player of the year. ... Credited with 82 tackles and 6 interceptions. ... Two-time all-region selection. ... Member of 2019 state championship team and 2021 state-runner-up. ... A cousin, Mike Hamlin, played at Clemson and in the NFL.

Thomas Pilon, defensive lineman

Height: 6-3 Weight: 260

Hometown: Montreal, Quebec

High School: McCallie (Tenn.) School

Furman's competition: Wofford

Committed to Furman: Nov. 10

Quick facts: Played his first two years of high school in Quebec, earning first-team All-Canadian honors. ... Ranked the No. 29 prospect in Canada by Canada Football Chat. ... Played end, tackle and nose guard while in high school. ... Was on two Division II-AAA state championships at McCallie.

Jayquan Smith, tailback

Height: 6-0 Weight: 190

Hometown: Braselton, Ga.

High School: Cherokee Bluff High School

Furman's competition: Georgia State, Miami (Ohio), Air Force, Arkansas State, Charlotte, Richmond, Austin Peay, Yale, Tennessee Tech, Southern Illinois, Gardner-Webb

Committed to Furman: Dec. 1

Quick facts: Smith played for former Furman football player Tommy Jones at Cherokee Bluff. ... He rushed for 1,750 yards with 22 touchdowns in 2021, including a 305-yard game in the state playoffs, and was selected Region 7-3A Offensive Player of the Year.

Caleb Williams, defensive back

Height: 5-11 Weight: 180

Hometown: Tampa, Fla.

High School: Tampa Jesuit

Furman's competition: Gardner-Webb, Bryant

Quick facts: Captain of 14-0 team that will play Saturday (Dec. 18) for state championship. ... Has 92 tackles and six interceptions this season. ... All-State selection as a junior with 125 tackles and five interceptions. ... Also competed in track & field.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Meet the six defensive and five offensive players in Furman 2022 class

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