Five Football Newcomers Begin Classes
January 07, 2019 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Five football newcomers have enrolled at Mississippi State and will participate in spring football practice as the spring semester began on Monday in Starkville.
The group of early enrollees includes: offensive lineman Charles Cross (Laurel, Miss. / Laurel HS), defensive end Ani Izuchukwu (Hendersonville, Tenn. / Davidson Academy) safety Fred Peters (Columbia, Miss. / Jones County JC), offensive lineman LaQuinston Sharp (Columbus, Miss. / East Mississippi CC) and quarterback Garrett Shrader (Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Christian School).
Cross, Mississippi's top offensive line prospect for the 2019 signing class, comes to Starkville after a standout performance in the All-American Bowl last Saturday in San Antonio, Texas, that helped lead Team East to a victory.
Charles Cross | OL | 6-5, 270 | Laurel, Miss. / Laurel HS
Tough, physical offensive lineman known for his reactive quickness both as a run blocker and in pass protection … A consensus four-star offensive tackle according to 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Listed as the third- and fourth-best recruit in the state of Mississippi by Rivals and 247Sports, respectively … Tabbed as a top-100 prospect nationally by 247Sports (No. 79) and Rivals (No. 81) … Ranked 194th in the country in the ESPN300 … A top-15 offensive tackle in the class per 247Sports (No. 11) and Rivals (No. 12) … Coached by Todd Breland at Laurel … Boasts a versatile skillset and ability to play multiple spots on the offensive line … Received an invite to the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas … Competed in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game … 2018 Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen selection … Named First Team Offensive Line on the 5A All-State Team by the Mississippi Association of Coaches and earned a spot on the 5A All-Region 3 Team by the Region 3 coaches … Helped Laurel to a 10-4 overall record, which included a 7-0 mark in district play … Anchored an offensive line that helped the offense eclipsed the 40-point mark six times during the season … Committed to MSU on Dec. 9, 2018 … Twitter handle is @CharlesCross67.
Ani Izuchukwu | DE | 6-4, 225 | Hendersonville, Tenn. / Davidson Academy
A three-star defensive end prospect according to 247Sports and Rivals … Listed a four-star recruit by ESPN … Tabbed as the fifth-best recruit from the state of Tennessee by ESPN … 2017 Tennessean All-Midstate Third Team … Prepped at Davidson Academy under head coach Jonathan Quinn … Totaled 80 tackles over his career, including 19.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks … As a sophomore, grabbed 16 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and broke up two passes … Collected 23 tackles as junior with nine going for loss … Added four sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in just six games played … Helped Davidson to the 2018 Class 2A State Championship … Closed season with 36 total tackles, including 21 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and 20 quarterback hurries … Committed to MSU on April 11, 2018 … Nickname is "King" … Twitter handle is @izuchukwuani12.
Fred Peters | S | 5-10, 200 | Columbia, Miss. / Jones County JC
One of the elite safeties on the junior college level and a four-star prospect, according to Rivals … Could contribute immediately next season … Listed as the fifth-best junior college recruit from the state of Mississippi by 247Sports … Tabbed as the No. 4 JUCO safety in the country by 247Sports … Listed as one of the top junior college recruits among all positions, ranking No. 31 and No. 47 nationally by 247Sports and Rivals, respectively … Spent the last two seasons at Jones County Community College …. Turned in a solid freshman season, recording 64 tackles, two interceptions and two tackles for loss … Helped the Bobcats to a 10-2 overall record as Jones County advanced to the MACJC Championship Game … Closed the season by leading the Bobcats to a 27-7 victory over Eastern Arizona in the Mississippi Bowl … Ended sophomore campaign with 51 total tackles with 42 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception … Named 2018 MACJC South Division Most Valuable Defensive Back … Added All-Region 23 and First Team All-MACJC South Division honors this past season … Prepped at Columbia High School in Columbia, Miss. … Committed to MSU on Oct. 17, 2018 … Twitter handle is @_ASAPxDON.
LaQuinston Sharp | OL | 6-3, 310 | Columbus, Miss. / East Mississippi CC
Powerful offensive lineman that was a part of East Mississippi Community College's 2017 and 2018 NJCAA National Championship runs … A consensus three-star prospect … Ranked the No. 2 junior college offensive guard by both 247Sports and ESPN … Listed as the No. 23 and No. 24 JUCO prospect in the country by 247Sports and Rivals, respectively … Tabbed the third-best junior college player from the state of Mississippi by 247Sports … Over his two seasons at EMCC, earned the starting job at right tackle … As a freshman, opened lanes for EMCC to rush for 2,335 yards, averaging 194.6 yards per game … EMCC closed the 2017 season averaging 494.1 yards of total offense and 48.3 points per game … Missed most of the 2018 season due to injury, seeing action in just four games … Prepped at nearby Columbus High School in Columbus, Miss. … Originally committed to MSU on Sept. 23, 2018 … Twitter handle is @laquinstonsant1.
Garrett Shrader | QB | 6-4, 210 | Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Christian School
One of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation for the Class of 2019 … Displays great decision in the pocket with the ability to make moves with his legs … Listed as a four-star prospect by 247Sports Composite, ESPN and Rivals … Ranked the fourth-best recruit from the state of North Carolina by ESPN and No. 11 in the state by 247Sports … Tabbed the No. 6 and No. 8 player in the country at his position by ESPN and Rivals, respectively … Prepped at Charlotte Christian under head coach Jason Estep … Led the Saints to back-to-back NCISAA Division I Championships in 2017 and 2018 …. Selected as the 2017 and 2018 CISAA Player of the Year … Collected First Team All-State honors … Racked up 9,023 total offensive yards and 107 touchdowns over his prep career … Racked up 6,818 career passing yards and completed 489 of his 743 passing attempts (.658) … Threw for 75 touchdowns in 34 career games played … Tallied 2,205 career rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground as a Knight … Threw for 2,594 yards and 29 touchdowns as a sophomore … Added 615 on the ground with five rushing scores … As a junior, passed for 2,302 yards and 24 touchdowns … Rushed for 791 yards and 10 touchdowns that same season … Closed his senior season with 2,564 yards through the air with 29 touchdowns … Picked up 799 yards on the ground for 17 scores in 2018 … Committed to MSU on April 3, 2018 … Lettered in basketball … Twitter handle is @GarrettShrader6.
STARKVILLE – Five football newcomers have enrolled at Mississippi State and will participate in spring football practice as the spring semester began on Monday in Starkville.
The group of early enrollees includes: offensive lineman Charles Cross (Laurel, Miss. / Laurel HS), defensive end Ani Izuchukwu (Hendersonville, Tenn. / Davidson Academy) safety Fred Peters (Columbia, Miss. / Jones County JC), offensive lineman LaQuinston Sharp (Columbus, Miss. / East Mississippi CC) and quarterback Garrett Shrader (Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Christian School).
Cross, Mississippi's top offensive line prospect for the 2019 signing class, comes to Starkville after a standout performance in the All-American Bowl last Saturday in San Antonio, Texas, that helped lead Team East to a victory.
Charles Cross | OL | 6-5, 270 | Laurel, Miss. / Laurel HS
Tough, physical offensive lineman known for his reactive quickness both as a run blocker and in pass protection … A consensus four-star offensive tackle according to 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Listed as the third- and fourth-best recruit in the state of Mississippi by Rivals and 247Sports, respectively … Tabbed as a top-100 prospect nationally by 247Sports (No. 79) and Rivals (No. 81) … Ranked 194th in the country in the ESPN300 … A top-15 offensive tackle in the class per 247Sports (No. 11) and Rivals (No. 12) … Coached by Todd Breland at Laurel … Boasts a versatile skillset and ability to play multiple spots on the offensive line … Received an invite to the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas … Competed in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game … 2018 Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen selection … Named First Team Offensive Line on the 5A All-State Team by the Mississippi Association of Coaches and earned a spot on the 5A All-Region 3 Team by the Region 3 coaches … Helped Laurel to a 10-4 overall record, which included a 7-0 mark in district play … Anchored an offensive line that helped the offense eclipsed the 40-point mark six times during the season … Committed to MSU on Dec. 9, 2018 … Twitter handle is @CharlesCross67.
Charles is long, lean and athletic. He has solid foot speed and quickness. He bends really well and has a bright future at Mississippi State.
- Marcus Johnson, offensive line coach
Ani Izuchukwu | DE | 6-4, 225 | Hendersonville, Tenn. / Davidson Academy
A three-star defensive end prospect according to 247Sports and Rivals … Listed a four-star recruit by ESPN … Tabbed as the fifth-best recruit from the state of Tennessee by ESPN … 2017 Tennessean All-Midstate Third Team … Prepped at Davidson Academy under head coach Jonathan Quinn … Totaled 80 tackles over his career, including 19.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks … As a sophomore, grabbed 16 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and broke up two passes … Collected 23 tackles as junior with nine going for loss … Added four sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in just six games played … Helped Davidson to the 2018 Class 2A State Championship … Closed season with 36 total tackles, including 21 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and 20 quarterback hurries … Committed to MSU on April 11, 2018 … Nickname is "King" … Twitter handle is @izuchukwuani12.
King Ani is the type of explosive edge player that can be productive in the SEC. He has a lot of play-making ability with a huge upside.
- Brian Baker, defensive line coach
Fred Peters | S | 5-10, 200 | Columbia, Miss. / Jones County JC
One of the elite safeties on the junior college level and a four-star prospect, according to Rivals … Could contribute immediately next season … Listed as the fifth-best junior college recruit from the state of Mississippi by 247Sports … Tabbed as the No. 4 JUCO safety in the country by 247Sports … Listed as one of the top junior college recruits among all positions, ranking No. 31 and No. 47 nationally by 247Sports and Rivals, respectively … Spent the last two seasons at Jones County Community College …. Turned in a solid freshman season, recording 64 tackles, two interceptions and two tackles for loss … Helped the Bobcats to a 10-2 overall record as Jones County advanced to the MACJC Championship Game … Closed the season by leading the Bobcats to a 27-7 victory over Eastern Arizona in the Mississippi Bowl … Ended sophomore campaign with 51 total tackles with 42 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception … Named 2018 MACJC South Division Most Valuable Defensive Back … Added All-Region 23 and First Team All-MACJC South Division honors this past season … Prepped at Columbia High School in Columbia, Miss. … Committed to MSU on Oct. 17, 2018 … Twitter handle is @_ASAPxDON.
Fred is an outstanding football player who shined at Jones County. We expect him to come in and contribute immediately."
- Bob Shoop, defensive coordinator/safeties coach
LaQuinston Sharp | OL | 6-3, 310 | Columbus, Miss. / East Mississippi CC
Powerful offensive lineman that was a part of East Mississippi Community College's 2017 and 2018 NJCAA National Championship runs … A consensus three-star prospect … Ranked the No. 2 junior college offensive guard by both 247Sports and ESPN … Listed as the No. 23 and No. 24 JUCO prospect in the country by 247Sports and Rivals, respectively … Tabbed the third-best junior college player from the state of Mississippi by 247Sports … Over his two seasons at EMCC, earned the starting job at right tackle … As a freshman, opened lanes for EMCC to rush for 2,335 yards, averaging 194.6 yards per game … EMCC closed the 2017 season averaging 494.1 yards of total offense and 48.3 points per game … Missed most of the 2018 season due to injury, seeing action in just four games … Prepped at nearby Columbus High School in Columbus, Miss. … Originally committed to MSU on Sept. 23, 2018 … Twitter handle is @laquinstonsant1.
LaQuinston is a thick mauler that can anchor. He has the type of upside that is going to help us." - Marcus Johnson, offensive line coach
Garrett Shrader | QB | 6-4, 210 | Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Christian School
One of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation for the Class of 2019 … Displays great decision in the pocket with the ability to make moves with his legs … Listed as a four-star prospect by 247Sports Composite, ESPN and Rivals … Ranked the fourth-best recruit from the state of North Carolina by ESPN and No. 11 in the state by 247Sports … Tabbed the No. 6 and No. 8 player in the country at his position by ESPN and Rivals, respectively … Prepped at Charlotte Christian under head coach Jason Estep … Led the Saints to back-to-back NCISAA Division I Championships in 2017 and 2018 …. Selected as the 2017 and 2018 CISAA Player of the Year … Collected First Team All-State honors … Racked up 9,023 total offensive yards and 107 touchdowns over his prep career … Racked up 6,818 career passing yards and completed 489 of his 743 passing attempts (.658) … Threw for 75 touchdowns in 34 career games played … Tallied 2,205 career rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground as a Knight … Threw for 2,594 yards and 29 touchdowns as a sophomore … Added 615 on the ground with five rushing scores … As a junior, passed for 2,302 yards and 24 touchdowns … Rushed for 791 yards and 10 touchdowns that same season … Closed his senior season with 2,564 yards through the air with 29 touchdowns … Picked up 799 yards on the ground for 17 scores in 2018 … Committed to MSU on April 3, 2018 … Lettered in basketball … Twitter handle is @GarrettShrader6.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."We are very excited that Garrett is our QB in this class. First and foremost he is a winner. In his last two seasons at Charlotte Christian, he only lost one game and won back to back state championships. He's an exceptional athlete that has proven to be equally productive throwing and running the football. He comes from a great family and will make a positive impact here at Mississippi State both on and off of the field."
- Andrew Breiner, pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach
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