Mercer Signs First Football Scholarship Class

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Money was a game changer for Mercer’s coaches this year as they recruited their first scholarship class.

However, Head Coach Bobby Lamb says another big factor was Mercer’s impressive record on the field. The Bears ended their season as the most successful first-year football program in NCAA Division I history, with a 10-2 record.

Next up for the Bears, they’re moving on up this year to the Southern Conference. For the coaches, Lamb says battling with schools like Samford and Furman was tough, but they scored brag-worthy recruits.

Lamb says you’ll see bigger and faster Bears on the field next year.

“Well I think you look at Lamarkus Bailey who’s a safety from Hillgrove High School up in the Marietta area, certainly a very dynamic, fast young man, closes on the ball… then you look at the offensive side, Chandler Curtis, who played defense and offense. He had 32 catches and 840 yards and 12 touchdowns. So 12 catches out of 32 catches is a really good ratio,” said Lamb.

The only middle Georgia recruit for Mercer is safety, Brandon Coney from Dublin. Coach Lamb said with his speed and ability to close on the ball, Coney will be a big help on defense.

The rest of the recruits include:

• Austin Barrett – Defensive Line, Milton, TN.
• Lee Bennett – Offensive Linebacker, Leesburg, FL
• Tanner Brumby – Quarterback, Jasper, GA
• Isaiah Buehler – Offensive Linebacker, Apopka, FL
• Travonte’ Easley – Outside Linebacker, Nashville, TN
• Jeremy James – Defensive Back – Flowery Branch, GA
• Justin Johnson – Wide Receiver, Augustine, FL
• Thomas Marchman – Offensive Line, Gainesville, GA
• Arterrious “Tee” Mitchell – Running Back, Jacksonville, FL
• Jalen Penn – Defensive Line, Powder Springs, GA
• Avery Ward – Wide Receiver, Alpharetta, GA
• Austin Wysor – Defensive Line, Trussville, AL
• Caleb Yates – Offensive Line, Murfreesboro, TN

Four players already enrolled at Mercer were also offered scholarships with this class.