The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
» Kennesaw State adds 15, 9 of whom are from Georgia, C3
Kennesaw State welcomed 15 football players to its 2020 recruiting class Wednesday during the start of the early signing period.
Nine of the recruits hail from Georgia, including three-star defensive lineman Carlos Allen. The Douglass High School standout is one of the Owls’ top recruits, according to 247Sports.
“It’s a great group of kids,” Owls coach Brian Bohannon said at an afternoon news conference.
The Owls restocked the defense with seven recruits. Two-star Cameron Donald and Allen headline a quartet of defensive line signees. Allen finished his senior season with 50 tackles, 13 sacks and eight tackles for loss. Donald earned first-team All-State honors.
“(Allen) is athletic and can play on both sides of the ball,” Bohannon said. “He has a burst and is a bigger body . ... He’s a really explosive football player on tape.”
In the secondary, the Owls added Sharmari Reed and Elijah Kirby. Reed starred at Trinity Christian High School and recorded 10 interceptions. He also posted a 39-inch vertical at The Opening Regional. Kirby added 47 tackles and a pass breakup at Riverwood High School this season.
“Elijah is a phenomenal defensive back,” safeties coach Danny Verpaele said in a video released by Kennesaw State as part of its signing-day announcements. “He brings a lot of versatility to the defensive backfield.”
The Owls added three recruits along the offensive line. Accumulating depth was important, as the Owls dealt with injuries throughout the season. “We don’t have a lot of depth (on the offensive line),” Bohannon said. “Last year, we were trying to piece everything together.”
The Owls also brought in dual-threat quarterbacks DeAngelo Hardy (from Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Ladarius Clardy (Pensacola, Fla.). Hardy reaffirmed his status Wednesday after decommitting earlier this year. He produced 2,800 total yards and 36 touchdowns en route to Division II-AAA East Player of the Year honors from The Tennessean. Hardy’s “leadership qualities are off the charts,” Bohannon said.
Clardy brings a similar skill set. In his senior season, he had 2,047 passing yards, 605 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns. He also broke the school record for most passing yards. Owls quarterback coach Cody Worley said Clardy “does everything that you want in a quarterback from a leadership standpoint.”
The Owls rounded out their recruiting class by signing another running back and adding a new kicker. Gary Osby joins the Owls after a successful senior season at Lowndes High School. The standout running back averaged 5.3 yards per carry and scored 16 touchdowns. His playing style is similar to former Owls running back Bronson Rechsteiner. “He is a heck of a player,” Bohannon said. “There is no question that he can play on both sides of the ball.”
Kennesaw State, which finished 11-3 and reached the second round of the FCS playoffs, will need to replace 13 seniors next season.