How important was it for you to land a big class of offensive linemen and what are the highlights of the group?

“I guess with having eight offensive lineman, it’s a group that can go either way. We recruited them mainly as O-linemen, but some could also help out on the D-line also. Being able to get a kid like [Memphis offensive tackle Robert] Hayes, whose great uncle played for Morgan back in the 20s with Charles Drew [was huge]. The other kid, [Eden Prairie, Minn., offensive tackle] Nicholas Harris, his dad played at Morgan back in the 70s. Being able to get kids with rich tradition in the program with Hayes and Nicholas Harris -- that’s a big plus. Jourdan Brooks’ father played at Morgan. These are athletic guys you normally wouldn’t get at [the Football Championship Subdivision] level. All those kids had [Football Bowl Subdivision] offers. We felt real good about that.”

Talk a little bit about how the family connection paid off with Hayes.

“When Memphis and those guys came after him, Morgan was where he wanted to be. His mother talked about how her uncle took care of her, so that’s what it was. He took his mother in and raised her. When we started recruiting him, there was no question he was coming to Morgan State.”

How did you land Jourdan Brooks, the running back from Germantown, when he decided to transfer?

“Jourdan went to Rutgers and wanted to get more opportunities and get more reps. He called and once he got his release, he decided this is where he wanted to be. Getting a back of that caliber and putting him in the one-back offense that we have -- we’re definitely looking for some big things from him.”

Will Brooks be counted on to contribute immediately?

“Oh definitely. Having that one-time transfer rule, you can transfer down [a level] and play right away. That’s really going to help us after losing Devan James. Having a guy come right in and help us solidify that running game [is important]. Having one or two guys -- like an Allen Singletary -- come back and another guy that can come in and not miss a beat in the running game, that really helps us.”

Do you see Suitland’s Devonte Lindsey factoring in to the quarterback battle to replace Carlton Jackson?

“The thing about it is, we had two young men -- Donovan Dickerson and also we had Delonte Williams -- both guys who were in the program last year. We didn’t have a dire need to get a quarterback [in this class] like we were in the past. So to be able to get Lindsey, it gives us someone that will add depth that we need at the position, rather than rush him on the field or get a two-year guy from a junior college. We have guys who can stay at the position for three or four years. But you’re talking about a local kid, 6-4, 220 pounds, that has a lot of upside to him.”

How did you feel you fared in-state for this class?

“The thing about it with in-state is we would like to have seen more representation from in-state. But it’s the same reason why we’re getting guys from out of state. You sell the kid about playing in front of friends and family and having community support. The kids that we try to recruit that are Division I athletically and are qualified in the classroom, we found that the majority of those kids want to get away from home. We are able to get other kids to come here for the same reason -- they want to get away from their problems.”

Are you happy with the in-state guys you did land?

“Oh yeah. We’re definitely happy with those guys that take advantage of the opportunity to play right here and be able to come in and support their hometown team with their talents.”

What are your thoughts on Jerel Coles, the wide receiver from Gwynn Park?

“He’s another plus. Northeastern closed their program down. The program ended, so he was able to come and play right away as well. To get him back home to play was definitely a plus. He’s an athletic guy that can play ... receiver or running back or defensive back.”

You’ve always done well in South Florida and this year was no different. What do you like most about the kids you recruited from there this year?

“The group that we got out of South Florida is a combination of talented kids from the linebacker position as well as the secondary. So we were able, with the relationships that I have in South Florida, to get some of their better players to come here. Actually, we have so many different contacts there, that it’s always rewarding getting guys with speed and size and strength to come help us out. [Darren] Pinnock, the offensive lineman [is one to watch], and the linebackers that we were able to get give us much-needed depth and [help on] special teams. They seem to be a more mature group."

Which guys do you see contributing right away?

“Mainly Brooks, Coles and Mike Bogdanovich, a linebacker out of California. Those are guys that we’re looking at as far as coming in right away and helping us. A couple offensive linemen that we had transfer in, those guys are looking to play right away. We only have a couple of spots, and that’s a good thing. Taylor Pass, a kid we have from Georgia Military Academy ... might be able to come in and help us right away.”

How much does it help with recruiting having Morgan alums like Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and Colts running back Chad Simpson playing such high-profile roles in the NFL?

“When you have Shiancoe, who plays as well as he did this year, and then you have Chad Simpson, who played so well, every time that name gets mentioned, Morgan State gets called behind that and it’s unbelievable with the amount of exposure it gives your program. With those guys going all the way to their championship games and then [Simpson] on to the Super Bowl, you can tell the guys in South Florida that we have hometown guys who are playing in that game. That really helped seal a lot of those guys. [They think], ‘He was able to launch his NFL career coming from that program. Maybe I can do the same.’ Whenever we have a recruiting weekend, we would just watch the game. We’d take the [recruits] to ESPN Zone and just watch the game and watch our guys play on that stage. It’s a big selling point, getting them to see those guys play.”

Baltimore Sun photo of Donald Hill-Eley by Algerina Perna / Aug. 9, 2009