Kennesaw State Football Recruiting Class: A New Era Begins

Kennesaw State University marked a significant milestone in its athletic program by announcing its second football signing class on February 4. Head coach Brian Bohannon introduced the 16 new recruits who would be joining the Owls, ushering in a new era for the university's football program. This diverse group included high school players, junior college athletes, and four-year transfers, all eager to contribute to the team's inaugural season.

Building a Foundation: The 2015 Recruiting Class

The 2015 Kennesaw State football recruiting class was carefully assembled to provide a blend of youth and experience. The coaching staff's efforts resulted in the acquisition of one junior college All-American, eight all-state players, and three region players of the year from Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. The class comprised of three defensive linemen, three offensive linemen, three running backs, three defensive backs, two linebackers, one tight end, and one athlete.

Coaching Perspective

"It's another historical day for Kennesaw State football," Bohannon said. "It's our second signing class and it's amazing how fast the time has gone by. I think this is a special one because we're getting ready to start the first football season in the history of the school so it's even more special."

Bohannon emphasized the importance of adding experienced players to the roster. "Our number one overall goal was roughly 22 (signees). We set out for 14 transfers and the big part of that was to get some age in our program, to get some juniors and sophomores who have played some college football," Bohannon said. "Right now we have six mid-year guys, we have four junior college and two four-year transfers that are on campus today and are working out and are a part of our culture. We have three other young men who signed today that will give us nine transfers in this class."

Junior College Signees

The Owls bolstered their roster with talent from the junior college ranks, adding players with proven experience at the collegiate level. The list of junior college signees includes:

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Chaston Bennett (RB): A standout running back from Tyler Junior College in Texas, Bennett was named an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American and first-team Region XIV All-Conference selection. He rushed for 1,438 yards and 24 touchdowns during his sophomore season.
Leigh Comfort (OL): An offensive lineman from North Eastern Oklahoma A&M, Comfort earned second-team All-Southwest Junior College Conference honors.
Derrick Farrow (DB): A defensive back from East Central Community College in Mississippi, Farrow was named to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College All-Star Game.
Malik Letatau (OL): An offensive lineman from the College of San Mateo.
Chance McNulty (DB): A defensive back from Itawamba CC.
Kyron Minter (LB): A linebacker from Navarro College.

Four-Year Transfers

Kennesaw State also added players from four-year programs, bringing in athletes with experience at the Division I level. These transfers included:

Kingsley Ejike (DL): A defensive lineman from UAB, Ejike recorded 87 tackles and 15 sacks during his senior year of high school.
Matthew Foster (DL): A defensive lineman from Middle Tennessee State.
Dustyn Moore (LB): A linebacker from Kent State.

High School Signees

The Owls also focused on building for the future by signing talented high school players. These young athletes represented the foundation of the program and had the potential to develop into key contributors.

Kyle Arrasmith (TE): A tight end from Navarre High School in Florida, Arrasmith was a two-way player who excelled on both offense and defense.
Auston Banks (RB): A running back from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Banks rushed for 1,950 yards and 30 touchdowns during his senior season.
Raekwon Chatman (DB): A defensive back from Ware County High School in Waycross, Georgia, Chatman was an all-region selection who contributed on both sides of the ball.

Individual Player Profiles

Kyle Arrasmith (TE, Navarre High School)

Kyle Arrasmith, a versatile player from Navarre High School in Navarre, Florida, brought a combination of size and athleticism to the tight end position. As a four-year letter winner, Arrasmith contributed on both offense and defense, showcasing his skills as a tight end and defensive end. In his senior year, he recorded 50 total tackles, including 8 sacks, and added 16 quarterback hurries. Arrasmith's performance earned him First Team All-Northwest Florida Daily News honors and the Eastbay Competitive Edge MVP award at the Football University Camp.

Auston Banks (RB, Notre Dame High School)

Auston Banks, a dynamic running back from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, possessed exceptional speed and agility. During his senior year, Banks rushed for 1,950 yards and scored 30 touchdowns, earning him Tennessee Sports Writers Association Class 3A First-Team All-State honors. He was also named the District 7AA Offensive Most Valuable Player. Banks's success on the field was complemented by his academic achievements, as he ranked No. 1 in his honors English class.

Chaston Bennett (RB, Tyler Junior College)

Chaston Bennett, a highly touted running back from Tyler Junior College, brought a wealth of experience and accolades to Kennesaw State. In his sophomore season, Bennett earned NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American and first-team Region XIV All-Conference honors. He ranked second in the conference with 130.7 yards per game and led the league with 24 rushing touchdowns. Bennett's explosive running style and knack for finding the end zone made him a valuable addition to the Owls' offense.

Raekwon Chatman (DB, Ware County High School)

Raekwon Chatman, a versatile athlete from Ware County High School in Waycross, Georgia, demonstrated his abilities on both sides of the ball and on special teams. As a senior, Chatman earned First Team All-Region honors while helping the Gators to an 11-1 record. He contributed 463 rushing yards, 255 receiving yards, and 151 kickoff return yards. On defense, Chatman recorded 26 tackles and three passes defensed.

Leigh Comfort (OL, North Eastern Oklahoma A&M)

Leigh Comfort, an experienced offensive lineman from North Eastern Oklahoma A&M, brought size and strength to the Kennesaw State front. Comfort earned second-team All-Southwest Junior College Conference honors in 2014 after receiving honorable mention recognition in 2013. His experience and leadership were expected to bolster the Owls' offensive line.

Kingsley Ejike (DL, UAB)

Kingsley Ejike, atransfer from UAB, brought a combination of size and athleticism to the defensive line. During his high school career at Newton High School, Ejike recorded 87 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks in his senior year. He earned First Team Region 2-AAAAA honors for his performance.

Derrick Farrow (DB, East Central Community College)

Derrick Farrow, a highly regarded safety from East Central Community College, was expected to make an immediate impact on the Kennesaw State defense. Ranked as the No. 3 junior college safety in the country, Farrow was named to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-Star Game. He recorded 49 tackles and one fumble recovery during his sophomore campaign.

Matt Foster (DL, Middle Tennessee State)

Matt Foster, a defensive end transfer from Middle Tennessee State, was expected to contribute to the Owls' pass rush. Foster earned first-team All-State honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution during his high school career at Cook County High School.

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Building a Winning Culture

With the addition of these talented recruits, Coach Bohannon and his staff aimed to establish a winning culture at Kennesaw State. The blend of experienced transfers and promising high school players provided a solid foundation for the program's inaugural season and beyond.

"From a standpoint of what we were shooting for and what we accomplished we feel really good about where we are today and the young men we signed," Bohannon said. "I think if you look at our class, it's a bunch of guys that can run and a bunch of guys that can hit, and those are important factors."

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