Lehigh Football Signs Eight On National Signing Day
2/2/2022 4:34:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore has announced the addition of eight student-athletes who will join the Mountain Hawks' football program this summer. The newest members of the class of 2026 join a group of nine that signed on during the early signing period last December, currently placing Lehigh's incoming football class at 17.
"We were able to address our exact needs that remained after the early signing period and we did so with high-quality guys," Gilmore said. "We're really excited that we were able to bring in the talent that we did this time around. There were a lot of talented guys who chose to wait until this February signing day. We also had some guys that went deep into their state playoffs and even the state championship in some cases and couldn't visit until January. Everyone was on a different timetable, but it all worked out really well for us."
The February signees focus heavily on the trenches, with four offensive linemen and two defensive linemen in the mix. Lehigh has also added a quarterback and a cornerback. Seven states are represented among the newest members of the class of 2026, with Georgia and Ohio both producing two signees and Arizona, Florida, Maryland and Texas also represented. Lehigh announced seven signees on Wednesday, while the eighth, defensive lineman Quentin Joyner, was formally announced on Friday.
"The thing that jumps out is getting the four big offensive linemen," Gilmore said. "It was a big area of need and we didn't get any commitments at that position during the early period, so getting the o-line slots filled covers an enormous need. There's always a lot of attention on the quarterback position, for good reason, and we felt like a very good quality player there as well. "
Lehigh finished the 2021 season with three consecutive victories and will begin its spring practice segment in late March.
A complete list of February signees follows:
Cj Abell – OL; 6-5/305; Douglasville, Ga./Alexander
Honorable mention All-Region… Most Improved Player award… also lettered in basketball… participated in Kappa League.
He's not only willing...he is more than Abell!! Got a big dawg in the trenches from the 🍑 state! Welcome home @CjAbell74 #2FLY2GETHER #NSD22 pic.twitter.com/FBLMmPnmCE
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) February 2, 2022
Langston Jones – OL; 6-3/295; Lawrenceville, Ga./Brookwood
Second team all-region… also competed in basketball, wrestling, baseball and track and field… sixth in the state of Georgia in the discus… recipient of Hope scholarship award in Georgia.
Another monster on the interior coming to wreck shop on the mounatin top! Welcome home @LangstonJones18! #2FLY2GETHER #NSD22 pic.twitter.com/XKMRQB99IL
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) February 2, 2022
Mike Jordan – DB; 5-11/175; Katy, Texas/Paetow
All-District selection 10-5A… Academic All-District… member of 2021 Texas 5A state championship team… also participated in track and field as a long jumper.
Jump man, Jump man, Jump man them boys up to something!! All WR fasten your #Seatbelt cause you're getting strapped! Welcome home @mikejordann_! #2FLY2GETHER #NSD22 pic.twitter.com/PP9KitZm7s
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) February 2, 2022
Quentin Joyner – DL; 6-3/260; Orlando, Fla./Sebring
All-Conference performer… FACA All-Defensive Team… member of district and regional championship teams in football… also participated in basketball, weightlifting and track and field.
Another 1⃣ joining the hawks from the sunshine state! Trench mob looking scary!! Welcome to the family @Quentin_joyner! #2FLY2GETHER #NSD22 pic.twitter.com/GQe89ZXtcE
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) February 4, 2022
Aidan Palmer – OL; 6-4/280; Copley, Ohio/Revere
First team all-suburban and all-district… second team all-state honoree… honored by Akron Touchdown Club… three-year scholar-athlete award… letter winner and starter in basketball.
The OL is looking scary now! The best from the midwest! Highly revered and highly feared! Welcome home @AidanPalmer18 #2FLY2GETHER #NSD22 pic.twitter.com/zQ246gW7LO
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) February 2, 2022
Christian Richter – OL; 6-7/295; Baltimore, Md./St. Paul's School for Boys
BTC All-22 nominee… Maryland Big 33 Crab Bowl nominee… also lettered in basketball and track and field… ranked top three in the shot put in indoor and outdoor track and field.
Straight DAWG from the DMV! Another monster up front is joining Mountain Hawks! Welcome home @crichterLXXV #2FLY2GETHER #NSD22 pic.twitter.com/Boq40b69JL
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) February 2, 2022
Brayten Silbor – QB; 6-3/205; Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral
All-state quarterback… two-time all-region… two-time regional Player of the Year… led Arizona in passing yards two years in a row… won state championship… holds nearly every passing record at Chaparral High School… lettered in basketball and baseball.
From the desert pines throwing striaght dimes!! Can't wait to see Mr. Silbor light up the scoreboard! Welcome home @BraytenSilbor! #2FLY2GETHER #NSD22 pic.twitter.com/WDyO3Ix5Tp
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) February 2, 2022
Matt Spatny – DL; 6-2/245; Medina, Ohio/Medina
First team All-Ohio… first team all-conference and all-district… conference Defensive Player of the Year… also lettered in basketball… four-year honor roll student.
An absolute animal off the edge is joining the Mountain Hawks! Can't wait to see this guy rack up the sacks! Welcome home @matt_spatny #2FLY2GETHER #NSD22 pic.twitter.com/gj0d4w5wAw
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) February 2, 2022
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