HBU Football Signing Day Special
HOUSTON – HBU football has signed seven more to National Letters of Intent, bringing its 2021 signing class total to 21, head coach
Vic Shealy announced Wednesday.
Joining the 14 signees from December's early period, are wide receivers Navell Chopin and Adrian Green, offensive linemen Dion Daniels and Rob Walter, cornerback Jeremiah Anukem, linebacker Zavion Evans and defensive lineman Zaelyn Smith.
In this class, there are five defensive backs, four defensive linemen, three offensive linemen, three wide receivers, two linebackers, a quarterback, a running back, a tight end and a punter. There are three transfers, one from the FBS level and two from the NAIA level. Thirteen hail from Texas, including seven from the greater Houston area, while there are three from California, two from Louisiana and one each from Georgia, Michigan and Ohio.
Early signees offensive lineman Andrew Alvarado, punter Brady Buell, running back Xzavier Ford, defensive lineman Joe Marino, quarterback Orion Olivas and safety Isaiah Williams are already enrolled at HBU for the spring semester and will participate in spring practice. The Huskies will hold spring practice from April 5 to April 30 and open the 2021 season on the road against FBS foe New Mexico in Albuquerque.
Below are the individual capsules for each of the Huskies' newest additions:
*Early Signee; **Already Enrolled at HBU
**Andrew Alvarado – OL – 6-5 – 280 – Edinburg, Texas/Vela
Alvarado was a two-year starter at Robert Vela High School in Edinburg for coach John Campbell. He earned Academic All-State Second Team honors and made the A&B Honor Roll his sophomore through senior years. Majoring in biology. Enrolled at HBU early in January 2021 and will be available for spring practice.
Jeremiah Anukem – CB – 5-11 – 171 – Mesquite, Texas/Poteet
Anukem was a two-year starter at Mesquite Poteet High School for coach Rodney McClain. As a senior, made 25 tackles and an interception.
**Brady Buell – P – 6-0 – 206 – Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis/Central Michigan
Buell appeared in 14 games for Central Michigan as a sophomore. He had 55 punts for 41.9-yard average, which ranked sixth in the Mid-American Conference. Recorded the sixth-best single-season punting average in program history. Booted a season-long 59-yard punt against Eastern Michigan (10/5/19). Landed 12 punts inside the 20 and posted 11 punts of 50 yards or longer. Was named MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 45.2 yards on nine punts against Wisconsin (9/7/19). Had a 55-yard punt in the MAC Championship Game against Miami (Ohio) and punted eight times against San Diego State in the New Mexico Bowl. He was the 10
th-ranked punter in the class of 2017 by Kornblue Kicking coming out of high school. Was an Associated Press Division 7-8 First Team All-State selection and was a two-time all-conference selection. Helped St. Francis to back-to-back conference and district championships, scoring more than 150 career points and sending 90 percent of his kickoffs for touchbacks. He also lettered twice in basketball and carried a 3.30 GPA.
Navell Chopin – WR – 6-3 – 192 – Baton Rouge, La./East Ascension
Chopin was a three-year letterwinner at East Ascension High School in Gonzales, Louisiana, for coach Darnel Lee. As a senior, earned first-team all-district honors, scoring four touchdowns in eight games. Scored five times as a junior and three as a sophomore. Also lettered in basketball and track. Was a member of the Academic Club three of the four years.
Dion Daniels – OL – 6-4 – 265 – Tyler, Texas/Legacy
Daniels was a three-year starter at Legacy High School for coach How Willis. He was a two-time first-team all-district selection and was second-team all-district as a sophomore.
*Rodney Dansby – LB – 6-0 – 225 – Houston, Texas/Bellaire
Dansby was a three-year starter at Bellaire High School for coach Herbert Kunz. Ranked among the Houston Chronicle's Top 100 Houston Area Recruits and was named to the Houston Touchdown Club Preseason All-Greater Houston Team. As a senior, made 60 solo tackles in seven games. As a junior, recorded 161 solo tackles to earn District 18-6A Defensive MVP and third-team All-Greater Houston honors. Made 113 tackles as a sophomore. Plans to major in education.
Zavion Evans – LB – 6-3 – 217 – Columbus, Ga./Carver
Evans played at Carver High School for coach Corey Joyner. As a senior, he recorded 65 tackles, 12 for loss, including five sacks, and forced a fumble in eight games.
**Xzavier Ford – RB – 6-0 – 210 – Glendora, Calif./Glendora/Azusa Pacific
Ford transferred to HBU after Azusa Pacific dropped its football program after the fall semester. He was a three-year letterwinner at Glendora High School, where he rushed for 3,668 yards on 470 carries with 43 touchdowns for his career. As a senior, he rushed 217 times for 1,566 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior. As a junior, Ford rushed 213 times for 1,920 yards and 23 touchdowns and added a receiving touchdown. As a sophomore, he had 40 carries for 182 yards and a touchdown.
Adrian Green – WR – 6-0 – 175 – Shreveport, La./Mansfield
Green was a four-year letterwinner at Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Louisiana, where his head coach was his father, Mike. As a senior, made 37 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns, after making 44 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. As a sophomore, had 18 receptions for 274 yards and six touchdowns and had 17 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman. Named the 2020-21 Student of the Year, selected to the all-academic team, was a member of the National Honor Society and made the Superintendent's List every year. Father, Mike, played football at Southern from 1989-93.
*Travis Greenawalt – CB – 6-0 – 167 – La Porte, Texas/La Porte
Greenawalt was a two-year starter at La Porte High School for coach Anthony Renfro. As a senior, made 40 tackles and two interceptions and had four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Earned first-team all-district and VYPE Magazine Houston Preseason Defensive Back of the Year honors. Made three interceptions as a junior. Plans to major in business.
*Jimmy Guy – DE – 6-2 – 240 – Missouri City, Texas/Ridge Point
Guy was a two-year starter at Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas, for coach Rick LaFavers. As a senior, recorded 53 tackles, five sacks and forced a fumble. As a junior, made 32 stops, two sacks and forced a fumble.
*Alpha Khan – CB – 6-2 – 165 – Houston, Texas/Mayde Creek
Khan was a two-year starter at Mayde Creek High School in Houston for coach Brian Randle. As a senior, made 25 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups, while also totaling 646 all-purpose yards, 13 receptions for 323 yards, six touchdowns and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Earned first-team all-district honors. Plans to major in marketing.
*Charles King – WR – 6-0 – 200 – Houston, Texas/North Shore
King was a three-year starter at North Shore High School in Houston for coach Jon Kay. Ranked 63
rd on the Houston Chronicle's list of Top 100 Houston Area Recruits and is the fifth-ranked wide receiver in Texas according to MaxPreps. As a senior, had made 30 catches for 653 yards and nine touchdowns through eight games. Has helped the Mustangs to back-to-back Class 6A state titles, making 29 catches for 504 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior and 15 catches for 335 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore. Plans to major in business.
*Paul "Tre" Lawson III – TE – 6-4 – 240 – Gainesville, Texas/Gainesville
Lawson was a four-year starter at Gainesville High School for coach James Polk. Versatile player, who completed six-of-11 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown, had 10 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown and made one catch for 26 yards and a touchdown in the same game against Alvarado. Threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two more in a win over Burkburnett. As a sophomore, made 20 catches for 425 yards and six touchdowns to earn first-team all-district honors. Also a standout in basketball, averaging 20 points per game.
*Desmond Malone – S – 6-2 – 190 – Madison, Ohio/Perry
Malone was a two-year starter at Perry High School in Perry, Ohio, for coach Matt Rosati. As a senior, led Perry to a 5-0 conference record to clinch the CVC Chagrin Division title, extending a 33-game division winning streak. As a junior, set the school record with four interceptions, returning one 76 yards for a touchdown -- all in the first half -- of a 71-20 victory over Orange.
**Joe Marino – DT – 6-6 – 275 – Escondido, Calif./Classical Academy/Azusa Pacific
Marino played two seasons at Azusa Pacific, which ended its football program after the fall semester. In 2019, he played in all 10 games, making 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. He made a career-high six tackles against Simon Fraser. In 2018, Marino appeared in nine games, making nine tackles, recording a sack and two quarterback hurries. In 2017, he played in six games. Marino was a two-sport letterwinner at Classical Academy, four in basketball and three in football.
**Orion Olivas – QB – 6-2 – 206 – El Paso, Texas/Eastlake
Olivas was a two-year starter at Eastlake High School in El Paso for coach Ruben Rodriguez, completing 60.4 percent of his passes for 5,429 yards and 54 touchdowns, while rushing for 662 yards and seven touchdowns in 19 career games. This season, completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,365 yards and 17 touchdowns in five games. Was named the Fox Sports Southwest Built Ford Tough Player of the Week, throwing for 400 yards and four touchdowns in 53-14 victory over Coronado. As a junior, threw for 3,865 yards and 35 touchdowns, while rushing for 425 with seven touchdowns. Was also the district MVP in basketball, earning city offensive MVP, district offensive MVP and first-team all-city honors. Has a 4.0 GPA, is a member of the Principal Advisory Committee and Superintendent Advisory Committee. Enrolled at HBU early in January 2021 and will be available for spring practice. Majoring in biology.
Zae Smith – DT – 6-1 – 270 – La Marque, Texas/Clear Springs
Smith was a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter at Clear Springs High School for coach Craig Dailey. Was a two-time All-Galveston County First Team selection. As a junior, earned first-team all-district honors and as a senior was named team Defensive MVP. Was a three-time academic all-district honoree and also threw more than 50 feet in the shot put.
*Rufus Toe – DE – 6-2 – 195 – San Antonio, Texas/Holmes
Toe was a two-year starter at Holmes High School in San Antonio for coach Adrian Trevino. As a senior, made 97 total tackles, 54 solo, with 11 sacks, two other tackles for loss, forced eight fumbles and recovered two. Was a two-time academic all-district selection, was a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. Was born in Fish Town, Liberia, and plans to major in computer science.
Rob Walter – OL – 6-6 – 275 – Sugar Land, Texas/Ft. Bend Christian
Walter played at Fort Bend Christian Academy for coach Jordan Black, a former NFL offensive lineman. Was a two-time all-district selection.
**Isaiah Williams – S – 6-0 – 180 – Los Angeles, Calif./Culver City
Williams was a two-year starter at Culver City High School for coach Jamal Wright. For his career, he racked up 259 total tackles (142 solo), 23 for loss, 10 sacks, seven fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. As a senior, he recorded 155 tackles, 16 for loss, seven sacks and four fumble recoveries. Posted a career-high 18 tackles in a single game. Made 87 stops as a junior and 17 as a sophomore. Nominated for All-CIF honors. His father, Terrence, was a member of the 1999 NCAA 4x400-meter relay championship team at UCLA and competed professionally for two years.
