TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University football team has signed eight new players on National Signing Day in preparation for the 2024 fall season.
 
All players signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) on Wednesday, Feb. 7, the beginning of the national signing day period.  Incoming freshmen and transfers can sign starting today.
 
Towson also added 16 players on Early Signing Day on Dec. 20, 2023 to total 24 players signed for the 2024 class.  The 24 total players include 17 freshmen and seven transfers.
 
"We are very excited to add eight new players to our team, two of which will join us for the spring semester," said head coach Pete Shinnick. "Our staff has done a fantastic job of filling the needs we have on this team. Signing 17 freshmen, including our early signees in December, for this signing class is huge!  We are very excited about the future of Towson Football." 
 
Feb. 7 National Signing Day Signees (in order of last name)
 
Isaiah "Ike" Daniels – Running Back – Redshirt Freshman – 5-11, 190 – Stafford, Va./Syracuse University
Daniels will continue his career much closer to his hometown of Stafford, Virginia after spending the 2023 season at Syracuse, averaging 5.7 yards a carry for 103 yards in four games.  Coming to Towson with four years eligibility, the 2023 three-star recruit by 247Sports was a top-10 player from the state of Virginia, earning first team all-region and all-district recognition after having two seasons with at least 1,500 total offensive yards.
 
Emiril Gant – Defensive Back – Freshman – 6-0, 170 – Apopka, Fla./Lake Mary H.S.
Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Gant comes to Towson after being a football, basketball and track athlete at Lake Mary.  In 2023, Gant was a standout in a Lake Mary secondary that helped the Rams win 10 games and earn a victory in the opening round of the Florida playoffs, with Gant himself finishing with 33 tackles.  In track, Gant earned podium finishes in the triple jump and 4x400 relay.
 
John Gioia – Linebacker – Graduate Student – 6-1, 230 – Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Wagner College
Gioia comes to Towson after four years at Wagner, earning First Team All-NEC at linebacker in 2023.  He played 28 games in the past four seasons, starting the last two and racking up 170 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions.  He finished third in the Northeast Conference in 2023 with 85 tackles.  Before Wagner, Gioia was a 2017 Poughkeepsie Journal Defensive All-Star while at Arlington High.
 
Terrance "TJ" Sands – Defensive Back – Freshman – 6-2, 190 – Orlando, Fla./Jones H.S.
Sands heads north from the Sunshine State to add to the Towson secondary.  A defensive back and wide receiver in high school, Sands helped Jones High win 10 games, including three playoff victories, in 2023.  In his senior year, he finished with 56 total tackles, including 27 solo.
 
Jordan Stallworth – Tight End – Freshman – 6-4, 210 – Andalusia, Ala./Andalusia H.S.
Stallworth comes to Towson, being the second Towson player from Alabama along with receiver Sam Reynolds.  Stallworth is a two-sport standout at Andalusia High, playing tight end in football and in the front court in basketball.  On the gridiron as a senior, he averaged 18.9 yards per catch, helping the Bulldogs to a 10-win season and a trip to the state playoff second round.
 
JR Stegall – Defensive Line – Freshman – 6-3, 295 – Fort Worth, Texas/SW Christian School
Stegall will join fellow Texans Cee Chosen and Caden Williams on the Towson roster.  A football and basketball standout at Southwest Christian School in Fort Worth, Stegall finished with 42 tackles, including 26 solo and five for loss, as a senior on the defensive line.  He earned TAPPS DII All-District I honors in his junior year.
 
Alfred Thomas – Linebacker – Freshman - 6-1, 220 – Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips H.S.
Thomas joins the Tigers after leading Dr. Phillips High to the FHSAA Class 4M state regional semifinal in 2023.  Thomas was twice named to the All-Metro Conference Team, including earning a total of 185 tackles in his final two seasons, averaging over 10 tackles per game.
 
Cody Williams – Defensive Back – Freshman - 6-0, 175 – District Heights, Md./DeMatha Catholic H.S.
From just outside D.C. comes Williams from DeMatha, playing in the secondary and at wide receiver.  In 2023, he earned Washington Post All-Metro Second Team and All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference First Team at defensive back, leading the Stags to back-to-back WCAC championship game appearances and 19 victories in the past two years. 
 
 
Early Signing Day Signees (Dec. 20, 2023)
 
Tkhi Alexander – Offensive Line – Freshman - 6-5, 330 – Richmond, Va. – Highland Springs H.S.
From the Richmond area comes Alexander, who played offensive tackle for Highland Springs High.  He led the Springers to the 2022 VHSL Class 5 football championship with an undefeated year, earning VHSL All-Class 5 state football team and all-region honors.
 
Bernard "Tre" Birch – Defensive Line – Freshman - 6-2, 315 – Wichita, Kan. – Wichita Northwest H.S.
Birch will be the first-ever native of the state of Kansas to suit up for Towson football.  A three-star recruit by 247Sports, Birch was a two-sport standout at Wichita Northwest High in football and wrestling.  In 2023, he earned KSHSAA Covered All-Class 6A First Team Defense and Greater Wichita Athletic League First Team defensive line recognition. 
 
Zakaa Brown – Defensive Back – Freshman – 6-1, 165 – Irvington, N.J. – Irvington H.S.
Brown head south to Towson after being a defensive back and wide receiver at Irvington High in New Jersey.  He earned 2023 All-Essex County First Team and Super Football Conference Freedom White All-Division First Team as a special teams returner, also earning recognition as a safety in 2022.  He joins Towson along with classmate Jasin Shiggs.
 
Cleveland Charlton – Wide Receiver – Freshman - 6-5, 175 – New York, N.Y. – Cardinal Hayes H.S.
In 2023, Charlton helped Cardinal Hayes High become the first school in New York City to win the Catholic League State Championship, scoring 12 touchdowns during the season.  Charlton also competes in track, being one of the schools' top 200m and 400m sprinters as well as running on the short distance relay teams.
 
Aaron Clark – Defensive Line – Freshman – 6-0, 310 – Hurricane, W.Va. – Hurricane H.S.
Clark is the first player from the state of West Virginia to sign with Towson since 2017.  Clark earned West Virginia Class AAA First Team All-State Defense this past year, leading Hurricane High with 9.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.  He is ranked a top-25 defensive linemen in the state of West Virginia by Coalfields and Co. WV Prep Football.
 
Carlos Davis – Quarterback – Graduate Student – 6-2, 220 – Baltimore, Md. – University of Massachusetts
Davis will finish his college career in his hometown of Baltimore after playing at UMass and Western Carolina.  He has played 18 games in his NCAA career, tallying up 3,669 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns and 328 rushing yards, being 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-Southern Conference.  He played quarterback at Mergenthaler Vo-Tech High School, just five-and-a-half miles from Towson University.
 
Ibrahim Giwa – Offensive Line – Senior – 6-4, 290 – Clarksburg, Md. – Marist College
Giwa becomes Towson's second transfer from Marist College, along with current running back Chris Watkins, coming back to his home state of Maryland.  Giwa played 29 games for the Red Foxes combined the past three seasons, earning 2023 All-Pioneer Football League (PFL) Second Team at left tackle.  He was also a two-time member of the PFL Academic Honor Roll.
 
Shamir Johnson – Defensive Back – Freshman – 6-0, 165 – Philadelphia, Pa. - St. Joseph's Prep School
Johnson joins a Towson secondary along with fellow Philadelphia native Shafeek Smith.  Johnson competed at cornerback at St. Joseph's Prep School, leading the Hawks to back-to-back PIAA Class 6A state championships the past two seasons.  He joins Towson along with classmate Kahseim "Caddy" Phillips.
 
William Middleton – Linebacker – Senior - 5-11, 215 – Montgomery, Ala. – Saint Francis University
Middleton will compete in his final collegiate season, transferring to Towson after two years at Saint Francis. The 2023 All-Northeast Conference Second Team linebacker played in 22 games over two years for the Red Flash, finishing with 105 tackles and seven tackles for loss, being second on the team with 68 tackles in 2023.  In 2021, he earned All-SWJCFC Honorable Mention after leading New Mexico Military Institute to the NJCAA DI national title.
 
Branson Peters – Linebacker – Junior - 6-1, 215 – Mason City, Iowa – Iowa Central C.C.
Fresh off leading Iowa Central C.C. to 2023 Game One Bowl victory, Peters comes to Towson after two NCJAA seasons in his home state.  As a sophomore, he earned all-region status, leading the team with 60 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss, adding four sacks.  At Mason City High, he was 2020 All-Class 3A District 2 and led the team with 93 tackles as a senior.
 
Kahseim "Caddy" Phillips – Running Back - Freshman – 5-9, 185 – Philadelphia, Pa. – St. Joseph's Prep School
Phillips was one of the team's primary running backs for a St. Joseph's Prep team which won back-to-back PIAA Class 6A state titles the last two seasons, including a 74-yard rushing touchdown in the 2023 title game.  He earned All-Catholic First Team Offense honors twice and joins Towson along with classmate Shamir Johnson.
 
Jasin Shiggs – Defensive Back – Freshman - 6-1, 170 – Irvington, N.J. – Irvington H.S.
Shiggs comes to Towson after being a two-sport competitor in football and track in high school. This past season for Irvington High in New Jersey, Shiggs was selected as All-New Jersey and Super Football Conference Freedom White All-Division First Team at defensive back, also playing wide receiver for the Blue Knights.  He joins Towson along with classmate Zakaa Brown.
 
Jason Tulloch – Offensive Line – Freshman - 6-4, 260 – Gaithersburg, Md. – The Bullis School
From the Bullis School in the D.C. area comes Tulloch, joining the Towson offensive line group.  This past season, Tullock earned 2023 All-Interstate Athletic Conference First Team as a starting tackle for the Bulldogs.  Tulloch had previously played for Sherwood High, helping the team to nine wins and a league title in 2022.
 
Nayad Walker – Wide Receiver – Freshman - 5-10, 160 – Newark, N.J. – Malcolm X Shabazz H.S.
This past season, Walker led Malcolm X Shabazz to the New Jersey Group 1 state semifinal, finishing with 844 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns to earn 2023 USA Today Network All-New Jersey Offense and Super Football Conference National Red Division First Team.  Walker also ran track, competing in the 100m and 200m dash plus the relay teams.
 
Winston Watkins – Quarterback – Freshman - 6-5, 230 – Pasadena, Md. – Mount Saint Joseph H.S.
Watkins, a three-star quarterback prospect by 247Sports out of Mount Saint Joseph, will remain in Charm City to suit up for the Tigers.  A three-year starter, Watkins amassed 5,807 passing yards, just one of five players in MIAA A history with over 5,000 career passing yards, and 51 passing touchdowns, being a two-time MIAA-A All-Conference selection. 
 
Kaden White – Defensive Back – Redshirt Junior – 6-1, 190 – New Orleans, La. – Butler C.C.
From The Big Easy comes White, who wrapped up 2023 as a Jayhawk Conference Honorable Mention All-Conference safety after leading Butler C.C. with three interceptions, adding 38 total tackles.  Previously, he played in seven games in two seasons at Mississippi Valley State after being a two-star recruit by Rivals.com out of Rummel High.