GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The future of Davenport Football is here with the 2021 Signing Day class. For up-to-date graphics as the student-athletes sign, please visit our Twitter page (@duathletics). 
This year's class features 19 incoming high school student-athletes coming to DU from three different states.

Speaking about his 2021 class, Panther Football Coach Sparky McEwen said, "The past year has been difficult for everyone involved in the recruiting process. I give a lot of credit to the coaches and student-athletes who have fought hard to compete and complete their seasons while facing the challenges of the pandemic. I am extremely excited for the high school and transfer student-athletes who have chosen Davenport University to continue their playing careers while pursuing a degree in one of our outstanding fields of study. Our 2021 recruiting class is filled with talent and each position area has improved! I appreciate the tremendous job done by my coaching staff and their diligence in helping to build a championship-caliber program. They have done an outstanding job of scouring the country and locating student-athletes with strong academic backgrounds who will fit well into our DU football family."



Introducing the 2021 Panther Football Signing Class:

Darryl Cooper
Defensive Back
6-1 | 190
Ecorse, Mich. | Ecorse H.S.
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Darryl was a two-year varsity starter for the Red Raiders. He served as team captain and was the team's defensive player of the year as a senior. He was named All-Conference and in the classroom he was awarded Honor Roll status and was a member of the National Honor Society. Cooper had 20 tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one interception in 2020.

Cal Doyle
Quarterback
6-3 | 220
Ada, Mich. | Forest Hills Eastern H.S.
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Cal was the signal caller for the Hawks during his senior season and helped lead the team to a 6-4 record. He manufactured three playoff wins in the Division 4 State Playoffs. Doyle was 10-of-15 passing for 176 yards in the playoff win over Whitehall.

Nick Devereaux
Wide Receiver
6-2 | 172
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Brother Rice H.S.
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Nick was a starter during his senior season for the Warriors who went 7-2 overall and finished second in the Catholic High School League-Central. The Warriors defeated Dearborn Divine Child (29-7) and Orchard Lake St. Mary's (31-13) in the MHSAA playoffs before falling to Chelsea. 

Donavan Franklin
Defensive Back
5-10 | 175
Clio, Mich. | Powers Catholic H.S.
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Donavan is a product of Powers Catholic in Flint and was a member of the 10-3 team in 2019 that made a deep run in the state playoffs with three wins. Franklin was named Honorable Mention All-State by the AP in 2020 in Division 3-4. He was also named First Team All-State as a junior. 

Khalil Hunter
Defensive Tackle
6-3 | 310
Oviedo, Fla. | Seminole H.S.
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Khalil is a big, strong anchor on the defensive line and succeed in the talent rich state of Florida for Seminole High School. He had 78 tackles, eight sacks and one safety recorded while helping lead his team to the Florida 8A State Championship with a 12-0 record. During the season, Seminole outscored their opponents by a margin of 391-155. They defeated Osceola in the championship game 38-10. He was named All-Conference and First Team All-County while playing in the Cure Bowl All-Star Game.

Norman Johnson
Defensive Back
6-0 | 175
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Bloomfield Hills H.S.
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Norman was a standout in the defensive backfield for Bloomfield Hills during his prep career. During his senior season, he recorded 33 tackles, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

Gunner Lakins
Linebacker
6-3 | 230
Franklin, Ohio | Franklin H.S.
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Gunner is the lone representative from the Buckeye State for the Panthers this season. He helped guide his team to a 6-4 record in 2020. Lakins was a three-year starter on varsity and was named Second Team All-League as a sophomore and junior. He excelled during his senior campaign and was selected Second Team All-State along with First Team All-District, All-City and All-League.

Tyler Lange-Baillie
Linebacker
6-2 | 215
Kissimmee, Fla. | Poinciana H.S.
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Tyler will look to make an impact at linebacker for the Panthers. During his senior season, he played in seven games and finished with 45 tackles and five sacks. He was named All-District and was awarded the President's Select Academic Award with a 4.3 GPA. 

Brock Mays
Offensive Line
6-5 | 290
Eustis, Fla. | Eustis H.S.
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Brock has been a solid offensive lineman for Eustis which is northwest of Orlando. He was a three-year starter for the Panthers and was named All-Region and All-District. Mays also received the Steve Schmidt Award for Leadership and Integrity.

Branden Miller
Tight End
6-5 | 215
Kentwood, Mich. | East Kentwood H.S.
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Branden comes to Davenport from a very well-respected East Kentwood program just down the road. The Falcons put together a 6-5 record during Miller's junior season and advanced to the second round of the Division 1 MHSAA playoffs with an opening-round win over Rockford. He was named to the All-Academic Team twice and was Honorable Mention All-Conference.

Devarius Mitchell
Athlete
5-11 | 175
Melbourne, Fla. | Merritt Island H.S.
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Devarius is a very talented skill position guy with speed and elusiveness. He was the playmaker for a Merritt Island offense that averaged 34 points per game en route to a 4-2 record. Mitchell was a three-year starter and was slotted at running back and wide receiver. He also played defensive back and was a kick returner for the Mustangs. He totaled 2,000 all-purpose yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He was listed as a two-star recruit by 24/7 Sports and was named All-Conference and All-District.

Cole Pape
Offensive Line
6-6 | 310
Delton, Mich. | Delton-Kellogg H.S.
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Cole brings a wealth of experience to the offensive line after a four-year career as a starter on varsity. He was named All-Barry County all four years and was also a three-time All-Conference First Team selection. Pape was a two-time All-State Honorable Mention pick and during the 2020 season was tabbed as First Team All-State.

Terance Pope
Defensive Back
6-2 | 170
Orange City, Fla. | University H.S.
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Terance was a lockdown cornerback for University High in Orange City, Fla. He was a two-year starter on varsity for the Titans and was named All-Conference. Pope during his career had 72 tackles, four forced fumbles, two interceptions and two tackles for loss.

Nick Pulley
Linebacker
5-10 | 190
East Lansing, Mich. | East Lansing H.S.
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Nick had a significant role on an East Lansing squad that posted a record of 15-4 over his final two years on the varsity as a starter. The Trojans went 8-1 in 2020 and advanced to the third round of the Division 2 MHSAA playoffs before falling 24-21 to eventual state champion Muskegon Mona Shores. Pulley made 10 tackles for the Trojans in that game. Pulley was named All-Area and All-Conference. He was credited with 55 tackles and one interception as a senior.

Tanner Smith
Linebacker
6-4 | 215
Belding, Mich. | Belding H.S.
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Tanner was the leading tackler for Belding who finished with a 6-2 record in 2020. Their season ended in the second round of the Division 5 MHSAA playoffs to Grand Rapids Catholic Central who cruised to a state title. Smith was named All-Conference, All-Area and All-County twice during his career and served as a team captain in 2020. He also was a Honorable Mention choice for Grand Rapids area Dream Team.  

Cameron Terry
Running Back
5-10 | 193
Grandville, Mich. | Grandville H.S.
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Cam had a brilliant career at Grandville where he was a three-year starter on varsity for the Bulldogs. He was named All-District three times and was twice a member of the Grand Rapids area Dream Team. He was a Second Team All-State selection in 2018 and a First Team All-State pick in 2019. For his career, Terry rushed 340 times for 3,513 yards and 38 touchdowns and had a career-best 1,284 rushing yards and 14 scores in 2020.

Grant Thwaites
Athlete
6-3 | 205
Greenville, Mich. | Greenville H.S.
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Grant was a three-year varsity starter for the Yellow Jackets out of the OK-White Conference. He was named three-time, All-Conference as well as First Team All-Area on two occasions. Thwaites also hit the books as he earned Honor Roll mention three times. Grant was a quarterback during his high school days.

Corone Williams
Defensive Line
6-5 | 225
Ocala, Fla. | Lake Weir H.S.
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Corone was a force on the defensive line for Lake Weir as evidenced by 67 tackles, 13 sacks, one fumble recovery and three forced fumbles. He was named All-Conference twice and First Team All-County. He also excelled in the classroom with a 3.9 GPA and was awarded the best lineman of the year award as a junior and senior. Williams holds the Lake Weir record for sacks in a game (4) and most in a season.
  
Lorenzo Wood
Defensive Back
6-2 | 175
Flint, Mich. | Grand Blanc H.S.
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Lorenzo was a two-year starter for the Bobcats on varsity and was named All-Conference in track and field. He was a part of a 7-2 Grand Blanc team that finished second place in the Saginaw Valley League Red behind Davison. The Bobcats advanced to the third round of the Division 1 MHSAA playoffs and lost to Davison, who would finish runner-up in Division 1.