It was a big day during early signing period as the Alabama A&M University football program inked 15 new players on Wednesday that will help bolster the roster for the upcoming 2024 season.
The Bulldogs signed seven players on offense and eight on defense, notably adding two players with Power 5 experience and a quarterback transfer from Miami of Ohio.
"Bulldog Nation I am extremely pleased to welcome 11 brand new Bulldogs to our home field. I am extremely pleased with the way our coaching staff hit the roads to help push to get these new additions," Alabama A&M head football coach Connell Maynor said. "They did a tremendous job, and we got a lot of great student-athletes. We were able to get guys that help fill our position needs.
"We signed one quarterback, one wide receiver, four offensive linemen, one tight end, one cornerback, four defensive ends and one linebacker. I am very excited and can't wait to get these guys on campus to start working with these guys. The good news is we're not finished yet. We're waiting on a couple more guys to sign in the next couple of days and then we will sign some more guys in February during National Signing Day."
| NAME | POS. | HT. | WT. | HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Keyonte Arrington | OL | 6-7 | 365 | Norfolk, Va. / Lake Taylor HS |
| Elias Cloy | OL | 6-3 | 278 | Alpharetta, Ga. / Georgia Tech |
| Evan Graham | LB | 6-1 | 225 | St. Petersburg, Fla. / Georgia State |
| Ravon Johnson | DE | 6-4 | 235 | Loganville, Ga. / San Jose CC |
| Tyrelll Lawrence | OL | 6-7 | 355 | Milton, Ontario, Canada / Minnesota |
| Joel Logan | DE | 6-3 | 220 | Helena, Ala. / Southeast Missouri |
| Duke Miller | WR | 6-0 | 184 | Raleigh, Miss. / Jackson State |
| Dion Nelson Jr. | TE | 6-5 | 230 | York, Ala. / UT-Martin |
| Myles Parker | DL | 5-11 | 344 | Snellville, Ga. / Tennessee Tech |
| Peyton Scott | DE/LB | 6-4 | 215 | Myrtle Beach, S.C. / Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy |
| Aveon Smith | QB | 6-1 | 200 | Lexington, S.C. / Miami (Ohio) |
| Elijah Stevens | OL | 6-5 | 328 | Daphne, Ala. / Daphne HS |
| Bernard Stewart III | DB | 6-0 | 160 | Jacksonville, Fla. / Trinity Christian |
| Jasiah Ward | DB | 6-0 | 180 | Alabaster, Ala . / Thompson HS |
| Brandon White | DE | 6-4 | 230 | Madison, Ala. / Bob Jones HS |
Keyonte Arrington [Norfolk, Va. / Lake Taylor HS]
Offensive Line | 6-7 | 365
Arrington is perhaps a big steal for Alabama A&M and will make an immediate impact on the offensive line. He comes to AAMU from Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Va., and is a two-star athlete. Helped guide Lake Taylor High School to an 11-2 overall record and 6-1 mark in the region during junior season. Transferred to Maury High School during senior season and guided team to a perfect 15-0 (7-0 region) record and a No. 2 ranking in the State of Virginia. He chose Alabama A&M over Appalachian State, Arkansas, Charlotte, East Carolina, Elon, James Madison, Liberty, Marshall, Maryland, Missouri, Old Dominion, Temple, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia.
Elias Cloy [Alpharetta, Ga. / Georgia Tech]
Offensive Line | 6-3 | 278
Cloy was a three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN as an offensive lineman. He ranked No. 80 as an offensive guard by ESPN. Cloy attended St. Francis High School in Alpharetta for two years before transferring to Alpharetta H.S. as a junior. He was an All-state performer and earned multiple honors, including a four-time all-region selection, first-team as a junior and senior at Alpharetta and lettered all four years of his prep career.
Evan Graham [St. Petersburg, Fla. / Georgia State]
Linebacker | 6-1 | 225
Graham transfers to Alabama A&M from Georgia State and signed with the program during the 2020-21 class. He played in one game during the 2022 season and did not see action last season. Graham had a standout career at Boca Ciega High School, where he totaled 205 tackles, eight sacks, five interceptions and five forced fumbles for his career. He was named to the All-Pinellas County team by the Tampa Bay Times as a junior, when he collected 90 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, five passes defended, three sacks and one interception.
Ravon Johnson [Loganville, Ga. / San Jose CC]
Linebacker | 6-4 | 235
Johnson comes to Alabama A&M from San Jose Community College. He played his prep ball at Meadowcreek and Grayson High Schools in Georgia. Last season at San Jose, Johnson recorded 14 total tackles, including eight solo stops and three sacks.
Tyrell Lawrence [Helena, Ala. / Southeast Missouri]
Offensive Lineman | 6-7 | 355
Lawrence transfers to Alabama A&M from Big Ten member Minnesota under head coach PJ Fleck. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2021 and 2022. He played at Clearwater Academy International in Clearwater, Fla., during his prep career where he recorded 16 tackles and two sacks in six games. In 2018, Lawrence was named the Canada Football Chat All-Canadian Offence First Team honor and was a consensus three-star recruit, ranking as the No. 85 guard by 247Sports.
Joel Logan [Helena, Ala. / Southeast Missouri]
Defensive Lineman | 6-3 | 220
Logan transfers in to AAMU from Southeast Missouri. While at SEMO, Logan was redshirted and last played as a senior at Helena High School in 2021. While at Helena, Logan garnered Second-Team All-Shelby County Accolades and played in the North-South All-Star Classic.
Duke Miller [Raleigh, Miss. / Jackson State]
Wide Receiver | 6-0 | 184
Miller makes the transition from one SWAC East Division School to another after spending last season at Jackson State. For the Tigers, he played in nine games, registering 27 catches for 271 yards. Miller came to JSU from New Mexico and from East Mississippi Community College. While at EMCC, Miller was named Second Team All-MACCC at wide receiver and ranked second in the junior college ranks in receptions with 57. He finished his junior college career with 72 catches for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Dion Nelson Jr. [York, Ala. / UT-Martin]
Tight End | 6-5 | 230
Nelson, who also goes by DJ, played in 10 games last season for the Skyhawks, registered 12 catches for 135 yards, along with four touchdowns, which was second on the team. In 2022, Nelson was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team, Freshman All-American honors from HERO Sports and Phil Steele (Second Team). He played in all 11 games, while starting nine in helping the Skyhawks to the OVC Championship. Nelson tallied 21 receptions for 267 yards and six touchdowns, while leading all OVC tight ends in both receiving yards and touchdowns.
Myles Parker [Snellville, Ga. / Tennessee Tech]
Defensive Linemen | 5-11 | 344
Parker transfers to AAMU from Tennessee Tech, where he played nine games and tailed 19 tackles, with one sack last season. He played prep football at Brookwood High School where he collected 63 total tackles and five for loss, while adding four sacks for 33 yards, along with a pair of hurries. Parker also forced two fumbles and deflected a pass. He was named first-team defense by the Touchdown Club of Gwinnett, as well as a Region 4-7A First Team defense.
Peyton Scott [Myrtle Beach, S.C. / Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy]
Defensive Lineman / Outside Linebacker | 6-4 | 215
Scott is a defensive end / outside linebacker who comes to Alabama A&M from Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy. A two-year lettermen who amassed 67 total tackles, including 22 solo stops during his senior season. In addition he added six sacks and 17 quarterback hurries, along with recording one interception and one fumble recovery. Scott chose Alabama A&M over offers from North Carolina Central, Old Dominion, Kent State and Charlotte.
Aveon Smith [Lexington, S.C. / Miami (Ohio)]
Quarterback | 6-1 | 200
Smith had a glorious career at Miami (Ohio) and during his senior season, he went 48 of 96 passing for 638 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. On the ground, Smith carried the ball 75 times for 280 yards, with one score. As a junior in 2022, Smith was an All-MAC Academic selection and 5-4 as a starter for the RedHawks. He finished with 1,299 yards passing and 11 touchdowns, while adding 553 yards and six scores on the ground. In addition, he became the first player in program history to lead the team in rushing and passing in the same season.
Elijah Stevens [Daphne, Ala. / Daphne HS]
Offensive Lineman | 6-5 | 328
Stevens is a dynamic offensive lineman who will remain in the state of Alabama after signing with the Bulldogs. He played at Daphne High School and will fight for a starting spot to help bolster the offensive line.
Bernard Stewart [Jacksonville, Fla. / Trinity Christian Academy]
Defensive Back | 6-0 | 160
Stewart, who also goes by Tre, comes to Alabama A&M from Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla. In his prep career, Stewart registered 119 total tackles, including 50 solo stops, with two interceptions. He is a two-time state champion.
Jasiah Ward [Alabaster, Ala. / Thompson HS]
Defensive Back | 6-0 | 180
Ward comes to Alabama A&M from Thompson High School. As a senior, tallied 40 total tackles, including 28 solo stops, averaging 2.9 tackles per game. In addition, registered one sack and six passes defended. Chose Alabama A&M over Harding.
Brandon White [Madison, Ala. / Bob Jones HS]
Defensive Lineman | 6-4 | 230
White signed on Wednesday and is a talented defensive end from Bob Jones High School. He registered 50 total tackles as a senior, including 28 solo stops and one sack. In his prep career, White played in 20 varsity games where he registered 90 total tackles, including 48 solo stops and three sacks.
