Shepherd 2026

[Ram040506]

Seems like Shepherd is hitting the Lineman portion of the recruiting area pretty well. Here are some commitments I've seen in the last week or so.

Pat Bangura DT/OL Archbishop Carroll Washington, DC 6'1" 285lbs
Seth Hardy DT Mechanicsville HS Mechanicsville, VA 6'0" 278lbs
JayC McDowell WR/DB Dinwiddie HS Dinwiddie, VA 6'2" 175lbs
Danny Fleischood ATH Wyomissing Area Wyomissing, PA 6'3" 200lbs
Nyion Mason WR Dinwiddie HS Dinwiddie, VA 6'3" 185lbs
Isaac Barkers OL Northwest HS Germantown, MD 6'5" 305lbs
Landon Allen WR/OLB Linganore HS Frederick, MD 6'1" 200lbs
Dylan Shown OL Linganore HS Frederick, MD 6'2" 295lbs
Jayden Byard DB Perryville HS Perryville, MD 6'2" 180lbs
Marcus Herndon DT MT Zion Prep Lanham, MD 6'3" 290lbs

Also, in case some missed it. Coach Jeff Casteel announced his retirement this past week. Coach Casteel was a pretty integral part of the Coach Cater led foundation for Shepherd University. He was the defensive coordinator that helped lead Shepherd to the big upset of IUP in the late 90's playoffs. Eventually went on to bigger things in D1, specifically at West Virginia University with Rich Rodriguez. He was partly responsible for getting Coach Bob Haley down from Cal U on his staff at Shepherd, who then went on to be the next DC at Shepherd through the early 2010's.

[shipfbfan1]

Shepherd just landed a commitment from one of the best IDL in Delaware probably 2nd best 6-2 290lb run stopper and solid pash rusher Justin McGill (Salesianum School). A 3 year starter and 3 time all-state selection.

[Ram040506]

Christopher Gonzales OL Washington-Liberty HS Arlington, VA 6'4" 320lbs

Who knows if any of them will be there for longer than a semester, but loving the emphasis in the trenches thus far.

[Ram040506]

Jeremiah Davis DE Loudon County HS Leesburg, VA 6'3" 227lbs
Nicholas Webb DE Brandywine HS Wilmington, DE 6'2" 225lbs
Isiah Melton LB Odessa HS Middletown, DE 6'1" 225lbs

[Ram040506]

Official Signings for Rams 2026 class thus far:

Reilly Bechtel RB 5'9" 195lbs Fork Union Military Academy Emmaus, PA
Colvin Jones DE 6'3" 215lbs Mervo HS Baltimore, MD
Levi Faircloth OL 6'4" 315lbs Hedgesville HS Hedgesville, WV
Jayc McDowell DB 6'2" 175lbs Dinwiddie HS Dinwiddie, VA
Justin McGill DT 6'0" 290lbs Salesianum School Middletown, DE

[Ram040506]

Karmelo Smallwood DB 6'1" 170lbs Oakdale HS Frederick, MD
Brayden Kirk OL 6'1" 280lbs Spring Mills HS Martinsburg, WV
Zacchaeus Laing DB 5'10" 170lbs Stone Bridge HS Laurel, MD
Aidan Washington RB/FB 6'0" 210lbs Fork Union Military Academy Warrenton, VA
Xavier Lott DE 6'1" 220lbs Randallstown HS Baltimore, MD

[Ram040506]

Seems like Shepherd is hitting the Lineman portion of the recruiting area pretty well. Here are some commitments I've seen in the last week or so.

Pat Bangura DT/OL Archbishop Carroll Washington, DC 6'1" 285lbs
Seth Hardy DT Mechanicsville HS Mechanicsville, VA 6'0" 278lbs
JayC McDowell WR/DB Dinwiddie HS Dinwiddie, VA 6'2" 175lbs
Danny Fleischood ATH Wyomissing Area Wyomissing, PA 6'3" 200lbs
Nyion Mason WR Dinwiddie HS Dinwiddie, VA 6'3" 185lbs
Isaac Barkers OL Northwest HS Germantown, MD 6'5" 305lbs
Landon Allen WR/OLB Linganore HS Frederick, MD 6'1" 200lbs
Dylan Shown OL Linganore HS Frederick, MD 6'2" 295lbs
Jayden Byard DB Perryville HS Perryville, MD 6'2" 180lbs
Marcus Herndon DT MT Zion Prep Lanham, MD 6'3" 290lbs

Also, in case some missed it. Coach Jeff Casteel announced his retirement this past week. Coach Casteel was a pretty integral part of the Coach Cater led foundation for Shepherd University. He was the defensive coordinator that helped lead Shepherd to the big upset of IUP in the late 90's playoffs. Eventually went on to bigger things in D1, specifically at West Virginia University with Rich Rodriguez. He was partly responsible for getting Coach Bob Haley down from Cal U on his staff at Shepherd, who then went on to be the next DC at Shepherd through the early 2010's.

Landon Allen ends up getting a late D1 offer from Wagner and he has committed to Wagner now. Had a twin brother that also got an offer at Wagner so they are going together.

[Tdobson]

Ok, I see kids from hedges ville and Speing Mills, but none from Martinsburg why not?

[Ram040506]

More official signings from yesterday:

Seth Hardy DL 5'11" 285lbs Mechanicsville HS Mechanicsville, VA
Kristin Rogers DB 6'2" 185lbs Oakland Mills HS Baltimore, MD
Robert Pettaway LB 6'2" 210lbs Dinwiddie HS Dinwiddie, VA
Nyion Mason WR 6'3" 185lbs Dinwiddie HS Dinwiddie, VA
Jeremiah Davis DE 6'3" 230lbs Loudoun County HS Leesburg, VA
JD Devane LB 6'0" 225lbs Caravel Academy Bear, DE
Kellen Patterson TE 6'6" 250lbs Independence HS Ashburn, VA
Xzayviia Bundy LB 6'0" 220lbs Essex HS Tappahannock, VA
Jalen Hackney DT 6'2" 275lbs Randallstown HS Laurel, MD
Danny Fleischood ATH 6'3" 200lbs Wyomissing Area HS Reading, PA
Dylan Shown OL 6'2" 300lbs Linganore HS MT Airy, MD
Calvin Ruch OL 6'2" 330lbs Linganore HS New Market, MD
Jordan Williams DL 6'1" 260lbs Charles Herbert Flowers HS Walker Mill, MD
Christopher Gonzales OL 6'4" 320lbs Washington Liberty HS Arlington, VA
Ashton Early DB 5'11" 160lbs Henry A Wise HS Upper Marlboro, MD
Kellen Nash DL 6'1" 240lbs Stone Bridge HS Ashburn, VA
David Gerting OL 6'5" 300lbs Westminster HS Westminster, MD

27 signings thus far. 5 states.
6 offensive lineman
8 Defensive lineman

[Ram040506]

Ok, I see kids from hedges ville and Speing Mills, but none from Martinsburg why not?

It's interesting, I don't know for sure but Dave Walker (Martinsburg HS head coach) for some reason I don't think is very fond of Shepherd. Handful of guys that are going D2 from Martinsburg HS. When he left for Concord, Shepherd ended up with quite a few contributors from Martinsburg, but he's been back for several years now and the pipeline dried up quickly.

Jordan Kovacs DL committed to Wheeling (MEC)
Frankie Urias DE committed to Glenville (MEC)
Mason Walley DB no commitment, only offer I see per X is to West Liberty (MEC)
Kane Whipp OL committed to WVSU (MEC)

[Fightingscot82]

It's interesting, I don't know for sure but Dave Walker (Martinsburg HS head coach) for some reason I don't think is very fond of Shepherd. Handful of guys that are going D2 from Martinsburg HS. When he left for Concord, Shepherd ended up with quite a few contributors from Martinsburg, but he's been back for several years now and the pipeline dried up quickly.

Jordan Kovacs DL committed to Wheeling (MEC)
Frankie Urias DE committed to Glenville (MEC)
Mason Walley DB no commitment, only offer I see per X is to West Liberty (MEC)
Kane Whipp OL committed to WVSU (MEC)

Also possible some of those Martinsburg kids just want to get out of the area for a few years. Maybe some come back. Its nice to be wanted, even if it takes us beyond our comfort zone.

[Ram040506]

A few more trickling in:

Dilan Serrano OL 6'4" 270lbs Magruder HS Gaithersburg, MD
Corey Lawrence LB/S 6'0" 180lbs North Stafford Stafford, VA
Patrick Bangura DL 6'2" 290lbs Archbishop Carroll HS Washington, DC
Austin Dinsmore OL 6'2" 310lbs Boonsboro HS Rohrersville, MD
Justin Snell DB 6'0" 200lbs Archbishop Spalding Columbia, MD
Jayden Byard DB 6'2" 180lbs Perryville HS Perryville, MD
Evan Jones DB 5'11" 170lbs Patuxent HS Lusby, MD

[Ram040506]

Grant Little OL 6'1" 270lbs Archbishop Spalding Elkridge, MD
Joe Thomason ATH 6'0" 200lbs Perryville HS Rising Sun, MD
Jonathan Coleman DB 5'11" 175lbs Arundel HS Annapolis, MD
Colton Pollard DE 6'2" 235lbs Stone Bridge HS Ashburn, VA
Noah Mitchell RB 6'1" 205lbs Glen Burnie HS Pasadena, MD
Javon Wade DB 6'1" 185lbs Briar Woods HS Ashburn, VA
Jermaine Webster DB 5'11" 185lbs Westfield HS Clifton, VA
Sima Saavedra DT 6'2" 280lbs La Plata HS La Plata, MD
James Valn-Haile OL 6'7" 300lbs Highland Springs HS Highland Springs, VA

[IUPFan69]

How did Shepherd do with the winter transfer portal window?

[Ram040506]

How did Shepherd do with the winter transfer portal window?

It's been hard to tell by what they've released on who is a transfer and who isn't. The breakdown is 41 HS recruits and 7 transfers per their X graphic (@suramsfootball).

Zacchaeus Laing DB 5'10" 170lbs Stone Bridge HS Laurel, MD From Virginia State
Brayden Kirk OL 6'1" 280lbs Spring Mills HS Martinsburg, WV From Shippensburg
Xavier Lott DE 6'1" 220lbs Randallstown HS Baltimore, MD From Widener
Colvin Jones DE 6'3" 215lbs Mervo HS Baltimore, MD From Sussex CC
Levi Faircloth OL 6'4" 315lbs Hedgesville HS Hedgesville, WV From Marshall (committed to Marshall out of HS, but having trouble finding anything in regard to him actually enrolling)

I can't figure out who the other 2 might be, but it's a big class. No quarterbacks, which means they feel good about Jackson Sigler being the guy headed into spring ball.