THE HILL | Alabama A&M University head coach 
Sam Shade announced 32 student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to continue their athletic careers at AAMU, including 17 mid-year signees.
 
Shade landed 18 players on the defensive side, including seven defensive backs, six linebackers and five defensive lineman. On the offensive side of the football, the Bulldogs signed five offensive lineman, three wide receivers, two quarterbacks, two running backs and one tight end. In addition, AAMU also signed one player who plays multiple positions.
 
Among the 17 mid-year players signed was the addition of eight who spent last season under Shade and his leadership at Miles College. Those eight bring championship experience after the Golden Bears captured the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) title last season. 
 
Alabama A&M will begin spring practice in March and will conclude with the annual Maroon and White Spring game on Saturday, April 12 at Louis Crews Stadium.
 
	
		
			| 2025 NATIONAL SIGNING DAY SIGNEES | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Name | 
			POS. | 
			HT. | 
			WT | 
			HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL | 
			HIGHLIGHTS | 
		
		
			| Tristan Butler | 
			DL | 
			6-2 | 
			215 | 
			Round Rock, Texas / Stony Point HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Blake Clark | 
			OL | 
			6-4 | 
			305 | 
			Pine Bluff, Ark. / Pine Bluff HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Kapone Cooper | 
			DL | 
			6-4 | 
			305 | 
			Tallahassee, Fla. / St. John Paul II Catholic HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Jarvis Davis Jr. | 
			WR | 
			5-11 | 
			170 | 
			Bossier City, La. / Airline HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Dorribion Fleetwood | 
			DL | 
			6-4 | 
			230 | 
			Powder Springs, Ga. / McEachern HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Kadiphius Iverson | 
			RB | 
			6-0 | 
			210 | 
			Macon, Ga. / Westside HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| EJ King Jr. | 
			RB | 
			5-11 | 
			205 | 
			Mobile, Ala. / Spanish Fort HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Mekhi Maddox | 
			WR | 
			6-0 | 
			165 | 
			Tallahassee, Fla. / Lincoln HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Marquel Patterson | 
			LB | 
			5-10 | 
			205 | 
			Birmingham, Ala. / Ramsey HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Antonio Powell  | 
			OL | 
			6-3 | 
			315 | 
			Pinson, Ala. / Clay Chalkville HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Julian Thompson | 
			LB | 
			6-2 | 
			200 | 
			Tallahassee, Fla. / St. John Paul II Catholic HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Brian Ward  | 
			LB | 
			6-0 | 
			205 | 
			Theodore, Ala. / Theodore HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Cayden Williams | 
			DB | 
			6-2 | 
			210 | 
			Daphne, Ala. / Daphne HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| Diwonne Williams | 
			LB | 
			6-0     | 
			207 | 
			Troy, Ala. / Charles Henderson HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| James Williams | 
			OL | 
			6-2 | 
			300 | 
			Riverdale, Ga. / Langston Hughes HS | 
			CLICK HERE | 
		
		
			| MID-YEAR SIGNEES | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Name | 
			POS. | 
			HT. | 
			WT | 
			HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Travaunta Abner | 
			TE | 
			6-3 | 
			220 | 
			Lanett, Ala. / Miles | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Michael Boyd Jr. | 
			DL | 
			6-3 | 
			285 | 
			Sylvania, Ga. / Youngstown State | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Jayden Chambers | 
			DB | 
			6-1 | 
			185 | 
			Huntsville, Ala. / Miles | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Preston Clendenin | 
			DB | 
			6-1 | 
			195 | 
			Evergreen, Ala. / Hinds CC | 
			 | 
		
		
			| JD Davis II | 
			QB | 
			6-2 | 
			210 | 
			Loganville, Ga. / Western Michigan | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Jonathan Goins | 
			LB | 
			6-2 | 
			205 | 
			Pine Bluff, Ark. / Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Keith Green | 
			DB | 
			6-1 | 
			250 | 
			Hueytown, Ala. / Miles | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Eric Handley | 
			QB | 
			6-2 | 
			195 | 
			Pleasant Grove, Ala. / Wofford | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Jeremiah Hudson-Davis | 
			DB | 
			5-10 | 
			185 | 
			Fairfield, Ala. / Miles | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Kenneth Kelly | 
			ATH | 
			6-2 | 
			195 | 
			Tallahassee, Fla. / Campbell | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Therman-Deon Moore | 
			DB | 
			6-0 | 
			180 | 
			Birmingham, Ala. / Center Point HS | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Malachi Oglen | 
			DB | 
			6-0 | 
			170 | 
			Northport, Ala. / Miles | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Kaleob Onyeahialam | 
			OL | 
			6-6 | 
			325 | 
			Harvest, Ala. / Tennessee State | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Franck Pierre | 
			WR | 
			6-2 | 
			177 | 
			Immokalee, Fla. / Miles | 
			 | 
		
		
			| John Robinson | 
			LB | 
			5-11 | 
			200 | 
			Semmes, Ala. / Miles | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Ja'Marion Scott | 
			DL | 
			6-2 | 
			270 | 
			Tupelo, Miss. / Itawamba CC | 
			 | 
		
		
			| Keith Williams | 
			OL | 
			6-2 | 
			275 | 
			Union Springs, Ala. / Miles | 
			 | 
		
	
 
 
2025 Alabama A&M Football newcomer Bios
 
Tristan Butler [Round Rock, Texas / Stony Point HS]
Defensive Lineman | 6-2 | 215
Played at Stony Point High School where he posted 136 total tackles, including 55 solo stops, with 26 tackles for loss during senior season. In addition, he averaged 13.6 tackles per game and recorded 19 sacks. Butler earned multiple honors, including Stony Point MVP, Defensive Lineman of the Year, First Team All-District and Austin Athlete of the Week (10/18/24).
 
Blake Clark [Pine Bluff, Ark. / Pine Bluff HS]
Offensive Lineman | 6-4 | 305
Attended Pine Bluff High School where he was a two-time All-Conference selection. He helped the Zebras to the 2023 5A Conference Championship.
 
Kapone Cooper [Tallahassee, Fla. / St. John Paul II Catholic HS]
Defensive Lineman | 6-4 | 305
Cooper comes to The Hill from St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Tallahassee, Fla. Played tackle, guard and defensive tackle. Chose Alabama A&M over Alabama State and Florida A&M.
 
Jarvis Davis Jr. [Bossier City, La. / Airline HS]
Wide Receiver | 5-11 | 170
Attended Huntington High School and Airline High School. He was selected to the Shreveport Bossier Advocate All-Prep Team, All-State District Team and LFCA All-State Team after his senior campaign. Davis chose Alabama A&M over Arkansas State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling State and Navy.
 
Dorribion Fleetwood [Powder Springs, Ga. / McEachern HS]
Defensive Lineman | 6-4 | 230
Attended McEachern High School where he earned Second Team All-Region. He plans to major in Business Administration.
 
Kadiphius Iverson [Macon, Ga. / Westside HS]
Running Back | 6-0 | 210
Attended Westside High School where he rushed for 2,000 yards and 32 touchdowns, setting a school record, during his senior campaign. He was selected the Region Player of the Year.
 
EJ King Jr. [Mobile, Ala. / Spanish Fort HS]
Running Back | 5-11 | 205
Attended Spanish Fort High School where he ran for more than 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns during senior season. Selected to Icon Sports SE Super 77, AHSAA 6A Player of the Week, First Team All-Country, First Team All-Area, Second Team All-Coastal and Second Team All-State.
 
Mekhi Maddox [Tallahassee, Fla. / Lincoln HS]
Wide Receiver | 6-0 | 165
Attended Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Fla. where he earned FACA First Team All-District, All-Big Bend Second Team, WCTV Player of the Week and Lincoln High School Offensive Skill MVP during senior season. He chose Alabama A&M over Albany State, Alcorn State, Allen and Florida A&M.
 
Marquel Patterson [Birmingham, Ala. / Ramsey HS]
Linebacker | 5-10 | 205
Attended Ramsey High School where he recorded 140 total tackles, including 20 for loss, along with five fumble recoveries, four sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble as a senior. He was selected First Team All-Region. He helped guide the program to a State Championship in 2022 and State Runners-up in 2023.
 
Antonio Powell [Pinson, Ala. / Clay Chalkville HS]
Offensive Lineman | 6-5 | 315
Attended Clay Chalkville High School where he was a member of the 2023 6A State Championship team. 
 
Julian Thompson [Tallahassee, Fla. / St. John Paul II Catholic HS]
Linebacker | 6-2 | 200
Attended St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Tallahassee, Fla. He recorded 130 tackles, 52 for loss and forced three fumbles. His accolades include, Mickey Andrew's Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Region, First Team All-Big Bend, first in the State of Florida and second in the nation in sacks.
 
Brian Ward [Theodore, Ala. / Theodore HS]
Linebacker | 6-0 | 205
Attended Theodore High School where he was named to the All-Coastal team as a senior.
 
Cayden Williams [Daphne, Ala. / Daphne HS]
Defensive Back | 6-2 | 210
Attended Daphne High School where he was named 7A All-County Honorable Mention as a junior. As a senior, earned All-County and Second Team All-State.
Diwonne Williams [Troy, Ala. / Henderson HS]
Linebacker | 6-0 | 207
Attended Charles Henderson High School and also played at Pike Liberal Arts High School and Pike County High School. He was a defensive end, middle linebacker and running back at CHHS.
 
James Williams [Riverdale, Ga. / Langston Hughes HS]
Offensive Lineman | 6-2 | 300
Attended Langston Hughes High School where he helped the Panthers to a perfect 15-0 record and a No. 2 ranking in the state as a sophomore. Also, Williams helped the Panthers to a No. 7 ranking in the state.
 
MID-YEAR SIGNEES
Travaunta Abner [Lanett, Ala. / Miles]
Tight End | 6-3 | 220
Abner comes to The Hill after spending one season at Miles College. He recorded 19 catches for the Golden Bears in helping the program win the 2024 SIAC Championship. Before coming to Miles, Abner spent two years at Carson-Newman. He attended and graduated from Lanett High School where helped the program win two state championships.
 
Michael Boyd Jr. [Sylvania, Ga. / Youngstown State]
Defensive Lineman | 6-3 | 285 
Boyd transfers to AAMU from spending the past three years at Youngstown State. While at Screven County High School, Boyd was a Class 1A Public All-Region 3 selection and had more than 100 career tackles.
 
Jayden Chambers [Huntsville, Ala. / Miles]
Defensive Back | 6-1 | 185
Chambers comes to Alabama A&M after spending one season at Miles, where he helped the Golden Bears win the SIAC Championship. He appeared in five games, recording seven total tackles, including five solo stops. In addition, he added three pass breakups and quarterback sack.
 
Preston Clendenin [Evergreen, Ala. / Hinds CC]
Defensive Back | 6-1 | 195
Clendenin comes to The Hill from Hinds Community College where he recorded 30 total tackles, including 20 solo stops and one tackle for loss, along with one pass breakup in 2024. He posted a season-high eight tackles, including five solo stops against East Central (9/25/24). He attended and graduated from Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala. where he finished with 60-plus tackles during his senior campaign. In addition, he chose Alabama A&M over Western Kentucky.
 
JD Davis II [Loganville, Ga. / Western Michigan]
Quarterback | 6-2 | 210 
Davis comes to The Hill after spending last season at Western Michigan. He attended and graduated Grayson High School where he completed 209 of 298 pass attempts for a school-record 3,088 yards, and a school-record 35 touchdowns, while tossing just one interception during his senior season. He was named the Georgia Region 4-AAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Jonathan Goins [Pine Bluff, Ark. / Arkansas-Pine Bluff]
Linebacker | 6-2 | 205 
Goins comes to AAMU from fellow SWAC institution Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Last season for UAPB, Goins was redshirted and did not see action. He attended and graduated from Pine Bluff High School where he was a five-time defensive player of the week and First Team All-Conference honoree as a senior.
 
Keith Green [Hueytown, Ala. / Miles]
Defensive Back | 6-1 | 250 
Green comes to The Hill after spending last season at Miles, helping the Golden Bears win the SIAC Championship. He appeared in 10 games, registering 42 total tackles, including 28 solo stops. In addition, he had 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
 
Eric Handley [Pleasant Grove, Ala. / Wofford]
Quarterback | 6-2 | 195 
Handley comes to AAMU from Wofford, where he early enrolled for the 2024 season. He attended Fairfield High School and Pleasant Grove High School. As a senior, he went 197 of 268 passing for 3,355 yards and 32 touchdowns as the team posted a 10-2 record. Handley chose Alabama A&M over Wofford and Kentucky. 
 
Jeremiah Hudson-Davis [Fairfield, Ala. / Miles]
Defensive Back | 5-10 | 185
Hudson-Davis comes to Alabama A&M after spending two seasons at Miles, where he helped the program win the SIAC Championship in 2024. He accumulated 94 total tackles, including 70 stops, 10 pass breakups, five interceptions, four sacks and three forced fumbles. He attended Trotwood Madison High School and Fairfield High Preparatory School, where he graduated as a certified healthcare professional as a patient care technician.
 
Kenneth Kelly [Tallahassee, Fla. / Campbell]
Athlete | 6-2 | 195 
Kelly spent last season at Campbell before transferring to Alabama A&M. He attended and graduated from Godby High School where he recorded 1,000 rushing yards during his junior season. As a senior, he was named the Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Therman-Deon Moore [Birmingham, Ala. / Center Point HS]
Defensive Back | 6-0 | 180 
Moore attended and graduated from Center Point High School where he tallied 1,542 all-purpose yards, with 17 touchdowns, 31 total tackles during his senior season. He was selected to the All-Tribune First Team and played in the Alabama North versus South All-Star Game.
 
Malachi Oglen [Northport, Ala. / Miles]
Defensive Back | 6-0 | 170
Oglen spent the past three years at Miles, helping the Golden Bears win the 2024 SIAC Championship. Last season, Oglen registered 20 total tackles, including 16 solo stops, along with one sack. He attended and graduated from South Lamar High School, where he helped lead the team to the state playoffs. 
 
Kaleob Onyeahialam [Harvest, Ala. / Tennessee State]
Offensive Lineman | 6-6 | 325
Onyeahialam spent the past two years at Tennessee State and transfers to Alabama A&M. He attended and graduated from Sparkman High School.
 
Franck Pierre [Immokalee, Fla. / Miles]
Wide Receiver | 6-2 | 177
Pierre comes to The Hill after spending last season at Miles, helping the Golden Bears win the SIAC Championship. He appeared in 10 games, recording 27 catches for 373 yards, along with six touchdowns. He averaged 13.81 yards per catch and 37.3 yards per game. He added a season-best 61 receiving yards against Alabama State (9/6/24).
 
John Robinson [Semmes, Ala. / Miles]
Linebacker | 5-11 | 200
Robinson spent last season at Miles, where he helped the program win the SIAC Championship. He appeared in 12 games, recording 24 total tackles, including 20 stops. In addition, he had 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, one blocked kick, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He posted a season-best four total tackles, three of them solo, and one tackle at Benedict (10/26/24).
 
Ja'Marion Scott [Tupelo, Miss. / Itawamba CC]
Defensive Lineman | 6-2 | 270
Scott spent last season at Itawamba Community College where he appeared in six games, posting 21 total tackles, with 14 solo stops. He averaged 2.3 tackles per game. In addition, Scott posted a season-best five tackles, including four solo stops, in a win over Pearl River Community College (9/5/24).
 
Keith Williams [Union Springs, Ala. / Miles]
Offensive Lineman | 6-2 | 275
Williams comes to Alabama A&M after spending last season at Miles in helping the Golden Bears win the SIAC Championship. He appeared in 10 games on the offensive line.
 
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