GMC JC signed 30 players Wednesday and could add a couple more according to head coach Bert Williams. At the junior college level, coaches have to replace half their squad each and every season due to their two-year system — so there are many critical needs on the board each and every year.

The Bulldogs lost two of their most precious commodities on offense and defense from last season, shifty running back Tobias Palmer, who is moving on to N.C. State, and dynamic, hard-hitting safety Jakar “The Hitman” Hamilton, who will wear the silver britches in Athens in 2010.

After going throught the hustle and bustle of signing day Wednesday, Williams had the opportunity Thursday afternoon to reflect and discuss his class in more detail — and there will be a tremendous number of special athletes heading to Milledgeville soon.

One of GMC JC’s biggest needs was at wide receiver after the team lost their consistent playmaker Chris Thomas, who signed with Alabama State Wednesday.

“Wide receiver was a very high- need area, and we signed several guys that we felt really tight about. We got a local guy, DJ Foston, and we’re looking forward to getting him in here and seeing what he can do for us. He’s got a good sized body and is a tough kid. We also got Jamal Cooper from Madison County, which is close by,” said Williams. “Then we got a few other guys with significant regional affirmation like Jarrett Neely, who was a Shrine Bowl player from Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, S.C., and he’s already on the ground here on campus. Lonnie Outlaw, from Wilcox County, is a huge target with very good speed and size. Shavarez Smith was a guy we weren’t sure we were going to get, but he’s a very tough guy and going to be fun to work with.”

Outlaw was one of junior All-Star quarterback Nick Marshall’s primary targets and really performed well in leading Wilcox to a state championship this past season at the Georgia Dome. Outlaw’s exploits on the playing field also caught the eye of UGA head football coach Mark Richt, who signed Outlaw to a scholarship that will go into effect in 2012.

The Bulldogs really stocked up on wide receivers this year and will add even more to the above list that will give headaches to the likes of Navarro and Snow College in the future.

The list also includes Corey Washington from North Charleston, who Williams described as a another huge target at 6”4, 200 pounds and somebody who can “do some things.”

“We got a lot of height and a lot of size, with speed to go with it,” said Williams. “We also signed one tight end, and we wanted a good one, and we got Brandon McKinney out of Riverside Military. Brandon is a good blocker and runner and is 6”5. Jarrett Neely is another receiver, from Rock Hill, S.C., that we’re excited about.”

Williams stated that McKinney will go well with sophomore tight end Tyler Knight, who is 6”5, 240-pounds, and sophomore Terrell Mitchell, who is 6”6, 240-pounds.

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises was the acquisition of powerful running back A.G. Middlebrooks from Lincoln County, a player Williams has admired since witnessing him during his junior season for the Red Devils.

“A.G. Middlebrooks is Garrison Hearst’s [former UGA Doak Walker Award Winner] cousin. He was looking to be a heavily recruited guy until he broke his leg last season. I saw him as a junior, and we are excited to have him on board. R.J. Robinson is another outstanding tailback. He’s big and powerful and can really do some things,” said Williams as he kicked back in his office chair during the discussion.

Perhaps the sleeper of the running back group is a home grown hero and a fellow who tore up the field at Baldwin High during his storied high school career.

“JaVontae Edwards was a guy that we got on a little bit late, but he has some speed and some power. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do,” said Williams.

Another big Shrine Bowl player that GMC JC acquired was a stifling young cornerback from Myrtle Beach, S.C., that was being looked at by several high profile universities.

“Khiry Watts is a very highly acclaimed corner who played in the Shrine Game. We’ve also got two of his teammates from the year before. We’ve got some great guys from there [South Carolina], and we think Khiry is another one,” said Williams.

The Bulldogs have talented quarterback Tony Guidugli coming back this season but signed another one that could add an exciting dimension.

“Dylan Shaddix looked good on the field and looked good on film, but he has some areas we’ll need to polish. He is also a double threat and is an excellent punter. Tony will be back and we’ll be tweaking the offense to cater to his strengths. We got a two-for-one deal with Dylan because he’s also a good punter.”

The GMC JC Bulldogs will start spring ball during the second half of April, so they still have a ways to go before some of this talent gets on the field.

“We’ve still got some time, but we’re really excited about it,” said Williams.

Williams also said that he and his coaches don’t get to travel as much as Division 1 coaches and do a lot of work over the phone and by reviewing the DVD highlights of close to 700 players each year that are sent in by coaches.

“We do the necessary things to get them to come here, and we obviously have a good reputation out there. We give them a picture of what it is like to be a cadet here. They have to know what type of structured environment they are going to be in. It’s a challenge for them. We want them to understand how it’s run here.”

But, in the end, it’s all about molding these boys into men, and what better place to do that than GMC JC?

“We are trying to build champions in every sense of the word, on and off the field. That’s our goal,” said Williams with pride. “I want to thank the local people who come out and support us. We have a good group of local guys. And I’m real excited about the local guys coming in — DJ and JaVontae from Baldwin, and Bernardis Hughes and Quayshon Simmons from Wilkinson County.”



Here is a list of GMC JC’s incoming class for 2010:

• James Barnes — OL: 6”1, 280, Kennan HS (Columbia, SC)

• Jermyrn Bodiford — DB: 6”0, 190, Cairo HS (Cairo)

• James Bryant — LB: 6”1, 205, Carrollton HS (Carrollton)

• Jamal Cooper — WR: 6”1, 175, Madison Co. HS (Hull)

• Marquice Dobson — CB: 5”10, 165, Jefferson Co. HS (Monticello, FL)

• JaVontae Edwards — RB: 5”9, 190, Baldwin Co. HS (Milledgeville)

• Ulysses Foston — WR: 6”1, 185, Baldwin Co. HS (Milledgeville)

• Matinez Gallman — CB: 5”11, 170, Strom Thurmond HS (Edgefield, SC)

• Bernardis Hughes — CB: 5”9, 170, Wilkinson Co. HS (Irwinton)

• Glenn Mack — OLB: 5”11, 190, Camden Co. HS (Waverly)

• Willie McCrary — LB: 6”0, 200, Colquitt Co. HS (Moultrie)

• William McCrary — OLB: 6”0, 200, Colquitt Co. HS (Moultrie)

• Brandon McKinney — TE: 6”5, 260, Riverside Military (Lawrenceville)

• A.G. Middlebrooks — RB: 5”10, 200, Lincoln Co. HS (Lincolnton)

• Jarrett Neely — WR: 6”0, 185, Northwestern HS (Rock Hill, SC)

• Lonnie Outlaw — WR: 6”7, 200, Wilcox Co HS (Rochelle)

• Chris Owens — DB: 6”2, 195, Hephzibah HS (Hephzibah)

• Elijah Peters — RB: 6”0, 225, Spanish Fort HS (Mobile, AL)

• RJ Robinson — RB: 6”1, 215, Berkeley HS (Moncks Corner, SC)

• Brant Salley — DB: 6”2, 195, Stratford Academy (Goose Creek, SC)

• Dylan Shaddix — QB/P: 6”2, 220, Henry Co HS (McDonough)

• DeAndre Shell — OL: 6”0, 300, Goose Creek HS (Goose Creek, SC)

• Quayshon Simmons — LB: 6”0, 200, Wilkinson Co HS (Gordon)

• Shavarez Smith — WR: 6”1, 205, Henry Co HS (McDonough)

• Keon Stowers — DL: 6”4, 250, Northwestern HS (Rock Hill, SC)

• Jamal Tyler — RB: 5”10, 180, Rock Hill HS (Rock Hill, SC)

• Corey Washington — WR: 6”4, 200, N. Charleston HS (N. Charleston, SC)

• David Watson — CB: 6”0, 170, Calhoun Co. HS (Cameron, SC)

• Khiry Watts — CB: 5”10, 180, Myrtle Beach HS (Myrtle Beach, SC)

• Jonathan Williams — DL, 6”4, 240, Strom Thurmond HS (Edgefield, SC)