TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University football team has signed 11 new players on the first day of the early signing period for the upcoming 2026 campaign.
 
All players signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) on Wednesday, Dec. 3, the first day of the three-day early signing period that runs through Friday, Dec. 5.  All of today's signees will be freshmen for the 2026 season.  The regular signing period will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
 
Towson won its final two games of the 2025 season to finish 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the CAA.  It is the sixth time in the last seven fall seasons where Towson has finished .500 or better in league play.
 
Feb. 3 Signees (in order of last name)
 
KaRon Ali – Freshman – Cornerback – Pennsakuen Township, N.J./Winslow Township H.S.
Ali comes to Towson as a three-star commit by 247Sports and On3, being the No. 30-ranked player in the state of New Jersey in 2026 by 247Sports.  A 2025 West Jersey Football League First Team Defense cornerback, Ali helped Winslow to the 2025 state title game and three consecutive Group IV sectional titles.  He also is one of Winslow's top track athletes in the 100m, 200m and 400m dash events.
 
Jorden Benjamin – Freshman – Offensive Line – Bristow, Va./Patriot H.S.
From Northern Virginia comes Benjamin, a 2025 First Team All-Cedar Run District player at each offensive and defensive line, his second year earning all-district distinction as well as being a 2024 Class 6 Region B player.  In 2025, the two-way lineman led Patriot High to eight wins and a district title.
 
Xavier Colbert – Freshman – Tight End – Hagerstown, Md./Saint James School
Colbert makes the short trek from western Maryland to Towson.  A two-way athlete at St. James as a senior, he helped the Saints win eight games, having at least 30 catches in each of the past two seasons.  He was named 2024 Herald-Mail First Team All-Washington County Offense.   Colbert also plays basketball for St. James.
 
Jacob Davis – Freshman – Quarterback – New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine
Davis finished his high school football career having led New Palestine to the 2024 and 2025 IHSAA Class 5A state title and a 28^th straight victory.   The 2025 First Team All-HHC and 2024 IFCA Junior All-State quarterback ranks second in school history with 3,829 passing yards and 45 passing touchdowns as a two-year starter, throwing 66.1% and adding 1,708 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns.
 
Kobe Ellis – Freshman – Wide Receiver – Bowie, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel
Ellis joins fellow Good Counsel player KJ Brooks on the Tigers.  He earned several awards In high school, including 2025 First Team All-WCAC as a special teams returner and 2025 Second Team All-WCAC as a wide receiver, finishing his senior year with 677 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.  Ellis also competed in track, being a top-5 record holder in the high jump and also competing in the 100m dash, 200m dash and 4x200m relay.
 
Isaiah Fox – Freshman – Offensive Line – Hanover, Md./Arundel H.S.
A stalwart on the Arundel offensive line, Fox takes the 18-mile trip north to compete for Towson.  He started five years at right tackle for the Wildcats, leading Arundel High to 12 victories and the 2024 Class 3A state title, being named a 2025 Super 22 Baltimore Touchdown Club Super 22 First Team Offense selection.
 
Aaron Igwebe – Freshman – Wide Receiver – Clarksville, Md./Archbishop Spalding H.S.
Igwebe joins fellow Archbishop Spalding player Dillon Jones as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.  The three-time All-MIAA A Conference selection and 2024 Maryland Private School D1 All-State Second Team All-Purpose player helped Archbishop Spalding to four consecutive MIAA A league titles, competing as a wide receiver, special teams returner, kicker and punter.  Igwebe also competed with Spalding's track team as a sprinter.
 
Hayden Loveless – Freshman – Defensive Line – Culpeper, Va./Eastern View H.S.
Loveless continues the Northern Virginia pipeline to Towson.  In his first year playing at Eastern View High in 2025, he was the Battlefield District Defensive Player of the Year, also being honorable mention all-conference at punter. As a junior at Battlefield High, he earned Second Team All-Virginia and first team all-region and all-district, leading the Bobcats to 11 wins and the Cedar Run district title.
 
Zack Philpott – Freshman – Defensive Line – Edgewater, Md./South River H.S.
Philpott takes the northern trek to Towson after leading South River High to 11 victories in 2025, including an Anne Arundel County championship and an appearance in the Maryland 3A quarterfinal round.  As a senior, Philpott finished with 86 tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 11 sacks after being named Capital Gazette 2024 All-County and 2025 Super 22 Baltimore Touchdown Club Super 22 First Team Defense.  He also plays lacrosse.
 
Grant Smith – Freshman – Quarterback – Spring, Texas/Grand Oaks H.S.
A three-star recruit by ESPN, 247Sports and On3, Smith comes to Towson from the Houston metropolitan area.  Smith took Grand Oaks High to its first-ever 6A state playoff appearance, finishing his high school career with nearly 5,000 yards, earning 45 passing touchdowns and 11 rushing touchdowns.  As a junior, he threw 62.4% for 2,167 yards and 24 touchdowns.
 
Chase Wilburn – Freshman – Linebacker – Aledo, Texas/Aledo H.S.
Wilburn joins a Towson defense along with fellow Texas native JR Stegall.  The leading tackler for Aledo the past two seasons, Wilburn currently has 221 career tackles, including 113 this season as the Bearcats currently sit at 13-0 with a district title and are in the 5A D1 state quarterfinals.  Wilburn has helped Aledo win 41 games over the past three years, including the 5A D1 state title.