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[topher99]

KHALIL BAKER | DB | 6-0 | 190 | Winston-Salem, N.C. | East Forsyth | North Carolina Central
Prior To Elon: Played from 2019-23 at North Carolina Central … 2022 AFCA All-American, Associated Press First Team All-American … First player from NC Central to earn those distinctions at the FCS level … 2022 Aeneas Williams Award winner, given to the nation's best defensive back in HBCU Division I college football … 2022 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year … 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP after posting 10 tackles in an overtime victory over Jackson State … 111 career tackles, 3.5 for loss, and 14 passes defended … Five career interceptions, including a return for a touchdown in 2022 against New Hampshire … 37 career games played at NC Central.

High School: Two-time all-conference and all-county selection at East Forsyth High School … Two-time sportsmanship award recipient … Posted 61 tackles and three interceptions as a senior … Team captain on 2018 state championship team.


RUSHAWN BAKER | RB | 6-0 | 228 | Victory, N.Y. | Victory | Bucknell
Prior To Elon: Played in 30 games over three seasons at Bucknell … Ran for 1,359 yards and 15 touchdowns … Also has 26 career receptions for 176 yards and two more scores … Rushed for 478 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 after posting 646 rushing yards and seven TDs in 2022 … Had 235 rushing yards as a freshman in 2021 … Has four career 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 120 yards against Marist to close the 2022 season.

High School: 2021 Spring All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year … Named first team all-state, honorable mention all-state, first team All-Greater Rochester and first team all-league … Rushed for 1,173 yards and 19 touchdowns on 123 carries as a senior, leading Victor to a 6-1 record … Ran for 814 yards on 107 carries, leading the team in touchdowns, as a sophomore … Two-year team captain … Also lettered in track & field.

[epx]

Baker looks really good on paper. Pretty good sized fella at 6' 230# as well. The offense is shaping up! I also saw that Chuck Nnaeto hasn't had any sniffs either. I thought he played well, just not often due to injury. Maybe he'll be back as well.

[elon_phan]

Thanks, Topher, for providing this info.

[topher99]

A few updates to the list as some guys have committed to schools.

[eu96]

Looks like we a got a DL from Western Carolina. The D front line is all about rotation, so the more warm (big) bodies the better.
Is Hampton gone or not??? He is not listed on the Texas Tech commit list. Honestly, I was surprised he got an FBS offer, if he indeed did. Most of us on here know his past, and while it shouldn’t matter, in reality it most certainly does. He is the only one from that entanglement playing D1 football, although all certainly have the talent to do so. Would like to see him come back to Elon, but if he can move up, than I wish him the best!

[epx]

Jan 7, 2024 19:34:34 GMT -5 eu96 said:

Looks like we a got a DL from Western Carolina. The D front line is all about rotation, so the more warm (big) bodies the better.
Is Hampton gone or not??? He is not listed on the Texas Tech commit list. Honestly, I was surprised he got an FBS offer, if he indeed did. Most of us on here know his past, and while it shouldn’t matter, in reality it most certainly does. He is the only one from that entanglement playing D1 football, although all certainly have the talent to do so. Would like to see him come back to Elon, but if he can move up, than I wish him the best!

All I know of his past is he was at VT. what else is there to know? someone PM me if you don't want to state it openly. But that's a good question: is he signing with Texas Tech or no?

[eu96]

It’s all public info. He was involved in a murder investigation during his freshman year. 4 VT players went to an off campus apartment to confront someone posing online as someone he wasn’t. Hampton stayed in the car, while the other players went up to the apartment. There was an altercation, and the subject was killed. One of the players was charged with murder, while the others were either charged with lesser crimes or were not charged, honestly I don’t know. All the players were kicked off the team, including Hampton. The player charged with murder was eventually found not guilty because of self-defense, however the verdict caused more questions than answers from what I can tell. All the players involved were essentially black balled from college football, all except Hampton, perhaps because he actually stayed in the car. ESPN did a long, excellent story back in the summer about the aftermath of this crime, and how it affected the victims family, as well as derailing the lives of the players. I’m sure you can Google it and it will pop right up. It’s a sad story.

[topher99]

Ryan Wilkins to UCLA and a few other targets committed elsewhere.

[topher99]

Picked up a few more transfer commits.

[epx]

Hey Topher, great info. I really appreciate your investigative work and posts!

[eu96]

Salopek is an interesting dude. Off and on starter at Western, including two games last year (looks like 7 in 2022). Had a pretty good game (at least stat wise) in 2022 against Michigan State. Made no bones about why he left Kalamazoo; had a falling out with the coaching staff. Has two years remaining. Is he cocky enough to think he can beat out Downing? That will be interesting to watch..he didn’t come to Elon to ride the bench, even for a year. That’s for sure.
It appears we have given up (as many schools have) of developing HS QB’s. It’s not a bad strategy; why develop a good QB just to see him bolt after one good season. I would rather be on the receiving end than the giving end of that equation.

[epx]

Still curious what's happening with Krings, Nnaeto and Hampton. No offers for the first two and Hampton hasn't accepted his Texas Tech offer.

[topher99]

Hampton is staying for the spring to graduate. Sometimes schools wait on those guys to see what needs are after spring ball.

[topher99]

Punter Jeff Yurk returns and added Pitt LS Brock Wilkins

[whoanellie]

Feb 7, 2024 12:45:49 GMT -5 topher99 said:

Punter Jeff Yurk returns and added Pitt LS Brock Wilkins

Brock is the brother of Ryan Wilkins our former long snapper and Pitt was Yurk's destination last year. Too ironic only will Yurk be the holder on place kicks?
BTW I counted 23 additions to our roster NOT counting PWO's which we do not publically announce.