By: Michael Goss
Signing Day Headquarters | '23 Signee Roster
KENNESAW, Ga. – After inking 19 players during the early signing period, Kennesaw State head coach
Brian Bohannon added nine players to the 2023 recruiting class.
The February class featured nine signees including seven high school athletes and two Division I transfers. After signing 19 during the early period in December, the Owls have now added 28 total players to the 2023 recruiting class. Of these 28 athletes, 12 are from the state of Georgia.
The Owls inked four offensive players and five defensive players on signing day. The February class also featured student-athletes from four different states.
The Class Breakdown by Position
- 4 Offensive Players // 2 RB // 1 OL // 1 WR
- 5 Defensive Players // 2 DB // 2 LB // 1 DL
The Class Breakdown by Location
- 4 – Georgia
- 2 – Alabama
- 2 – Florida
- 1 – South Carolina
Coach Bohannon on the '23 Class
"It is the foundation for FBS football right now like how we have talked about the foundation with the OGs when we started here. It is a big class with kids who have bought into making history, leaving a legacy, and doing something that has never been done like becoming the first class to win a conference, and first class to win a bowl game. I'm excited about their buy-in and ready to get them all on campus."
Que Billingsley // DB // 5-11 // 185 // Phenix City, Ala. // Central HS
High School
Played for head coach Patrick Nix at Central High School … as a senior, had 30.5 tackles (28 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and five interceptions … punted 25 times in 2022 for 811 yards, putting five inside the 20 ... notched 24 tackles (15 solo) with two interceptions as a junior in 2021.
Personal
Son of Tammie and Jermaine Billingsley … plans to major in athletic training at Kennesaw State.
Ramontei Dardy // DL // 6-3 // 245 // Dublin, Ga. // Dublin HS
High School
Played for head coach Roger Holmes at Dublin High School … earned all-state Defensive Line Player of the Year, Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and all-region Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2022 … as a junior, secured all-region first team honors … 2022 State Champion thrower in the discus … made the 2022 GACA All-Star Game.
Personal
Son of Yomoka Dardy … has one sister, Mikkiko and four brothers, Major, Cayden, Nasir and Jalen … plans to major in business at Kennesaw State.
Kenai Grier // RB // 5-9 // 200 // Covington, Ga. // Eastside HS
High School
Played for head coach Jay Cawthon at Eastside High School … as a senior, tallied 1,625 rushing yards with 20 touchdowns … earned 2022 Region 8-AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year honors … 2022 AAAAA All-State Honorable Mention … was named 2022 All CovNews Most Valuable Player … in his four years, notched 3,042 rushing yards and 700 receiving yards.
Personal
Son of DeAndra and Tyreath Grier … has one sister, Gentle, and one brother, King … plans to major in physical education/kinesiology at Kennesaw State.
Trey Hargrove // LB // 5-11 // 210 // Waycross, Ga. // Ware County HS
High School
Played at Ware County High School under head coach Jason Strickland ... won the 2022 Georgia AAAAA state championship and was named Defensive Player of the Year … as a junior, he was the defensive MVP, won his team's weight room award and was named to the all-region team … as a sophomore, secured the Outstanding Linebacker Award … named Freshman of the Year in 2019 … won an academic award for having a GPA of 3.0 or higher in three of his four years.
Personal
Son of Ykisso Lewis … has one brother,
Mike Mincey, who plays linebacker at KSU … plans to major in business law.
Baron Hopson // LB // 6-1 // 220 // Leesburg, Ga. // Jackson State/Lee County HS
At Jackson State
Played in all 13 games as a sophomore in 2022 … had 51.0 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and one forced fumble … played in eight games as a freshman with 10 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry.
High School
Played for head coach Dean Fabrizio at Lee County High School … had over 160 career tackles including 11 tackles for loss and five blocked kicks as a senior … started on 2017 state championship team … was named Georgia 6AAAAAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 …
Personal
Son of Granger Hopson and CaMia Jackson … has two brothers, James and John, and one sister, Zoë … plans to major in civil engineering at Kennesaw State.
TJ McElmurray // WR // 6-3 // 175 // Graniteville, S.C. // Midland Valley HS
High School
Played for head coach Earl Chaptman at Midland Valley High School … had 1,012 passing yards with six passing touchdowns as a senior … also tallied 953 rushing yards with 20 rushing touchdowns … earned back-to-back MVP and all-region honors in his final year … was named an all-state honorable mention … scored 1,000 career points in varsity basketball and was an Honor Society member.
Personal
Son of Ellaree and Tremain McElmurray … has two sisters and one brother … plans to major in nursing at Kennesaw State.
Isaac Paul // DB // 5-11 // 160 // Panama City, Fla. // Mosely HS
High School
Played for head coach Tommy Joe Whiddon at Mosely High School … had 83 tackles as a senior (49 solo) with two interceptions and three forced fumbles ... tallied seven interceptions in his high school career ... earned Defensive MVP honors … 2022-23 Principle Award Winner for Mosely HS.
Personal
Son of Nicole Yohe ... has three brothers, Kingston, Michael and Elias ... plans to major in communications at Kennesaw State.
JT Pennington // OL // 6-4 // 330 // Wilsonville, Ala. // Jacksonville State/Shelby County HS
At Jacksonville State
Played in eight games in 2022 for the Gamecocks … helped JSU accrue 2,761 yards on the ground with 37 rushing scores … member of the offensive line that allowed only 16 sacks in 11 games … redshirted his freshman season in 2021.
High School
Played for head coach Heath Childers at Shelby County High School … helped the Wildcats to their first playoff berth in 11 years in 2020 … had 105 knockdowns as a senior … earned all-state honors in baseball, and was an all-county selection in both football and baseball.
Personal
Son of Leah and Jeremy Pennington … has one brother, Cooper … plans to major in business management at Kennesaw State.
DJ Scott // RB // 5-10 // 195 // Oviedo, Fla. // Oviedo HS
High School
Played for head coach Greg Odierno at Oviedo High School … accrued over 3,000 all-purpose yards for the Lions during his four years including over 2,800 rushing yards … had 1,188 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground in 11 games as a senior … as a junior, tallied over 1,000 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
Personal
Son of Leondra Alexander … has one brother, Dalvin … current major is undecided.
