DURHAM, N.C. – Duke University head football coach David Cutcliffe and his staff announced on Wednesday that 19 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to join the Blue Devil gridiron program.

The class includes two quarterbacks, eight backs and nine linemen.  A total of eight states are represented in the group as Duke signed a class-high nine student-athletes from North Carolina.  The group includes four student-athletes from Georgia and one apiece from California, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

The nine in-state prospects include back Issac Blakeney (Monroe), quarterback Anthony Boone (Monroe), back Brandon Braxton (Charlotte), back Kelby Brown (Matthews), lineman Takoby Cofield (Tarboro), back Braxton Deaver (Charlotte), lineman Nick Sink (Kernersville), back Josh Snead (Smithfield) and back Quan Stevenson (High Point).

Blakeney helped Monroe to 20 wins over his final two seasons and is the two-time reigning state champion in the triple jump while Boone compiled over 9,000 yards of total offense and accounted for 81 total touchdowns in his career at Weddington High School.  Teammates at Providence High School, Braxton (50 receptions, 792 yards, 9 TDs) and Deaver (72 receptions, 1,002 yards, 13 TDs) led the Panthers to eight wins and a state playoff berth in 2009.

Brown, who played in three state championship games – winning the title in 2008 – for Charlotte Christian, is rated as the 36th-best outside linebacker in the country by Rivals.com while Cofield helped Tarboro High School to a 15-1 ledger and the state crown as a senior.  Sink had 60 tackles and six sacks for Forsyth Country Day in 2009 while Snead rushed for 1,932 yards and 27 touchdowns at Smithfield-Selma High School.  After posting 70 tackles as a senior at Andrews High School, Stevenson joined Cofield and Snead on the North Carolina squad that defeated South Carolina, 24-14, in the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Georgia is represented by Woodward Academy teammates Will Bryant (Atlanta) and Juwan Thompson (Fairburn) along with lineman Jamal Bruce (LaGrange) and back C.J. France (Columbus).  A lineman, Bryant had 60 tackles during his senior season while Thompson, a back, rushed for 1,622 yards and 22 touchdowns last fall and is listed as the 38th-best running back in the nation by Rivals.com.  A two-time all-region pick, Bruce helped Callaway High School to consecutive 10-win seasons in 2008 and 2009 while France, who was chosen for the Georgia Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game, guided Carver High School to 37 victories over three seasons including the 2007 state crown.

Quarterback Brandon Connette, a native of Corona, Calif., joins the Blue Devils after throwing for 1,961 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior at Santiago High School.

Five linemen round out the class including Steven Ingram (Southaven, Miss.), Dezmond Johnson (Nashville, Tenn.), Jordan Ondijo (Prairie View, Texas), Laken Tomlinson (Chicago, Ill.) and Jamal Wallace (Virginia Beach, Va.).  Ingram carded 90 tackles as Southaven High School won nine games in 2009 while Johnson had 18 sacks in his final season and was named to the Dream Team by The Tennessean.  Ondijo secured all-district honors after helping Waller High School to a state playoff berth this past fall.

Tomlinson, a SuperPrep All-America selection and the 23rd-top offensive guard in the nation by Scout.com, was a four-time all-conference choice at Lane Technical High School.  Wallace helped Green Run High School to back-to-back 10-win seasons and is charted as the 41st-best strongside defensive end in the country by Rivals.com.

Connette and Snead both enrolled at Duke last month.

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2010 Duke Football Signing Class

Issac Blakeney

Back • 6-6, 215

Monroe, N.C.

Monroe High School

• Lettered two seasons at Monroe under coach Johnny Sowell

• Helped squad to two-year overall record of 20-5 with two state playoff appearances

• As a senior, had 51 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries while catching 15 passes for 346 yards and nine TDs

• Also averaged 40.8 yards per punt as a senior

• In 2009, helped Monroe to the school’s first 11-0 record in the regular season before finishing 12-1 overall

• Earned all-conference and all-county honors following senior season

• In junior campaign, had 21 receptions for 295 yards and seven TDs

• Also lettered in basketball and track and field

• Ranked 46th in the final 2009 United States High School Outdoor Track & Field rankings in the triple jump (48-4.5)

• Placed second in the triple jump (46-11.75) at the 2009 USATF Junior Olympic State Championships

• Captured state 2A titles in the triple jump in both 2008 (45-6.5) and 2009 (48-4.5)

• At the 2009 state championship meet, also placed eighth in the long jump (21-1)

• Posted two other top-15 finishes at the 2008 state championship meet, placing seventh in the long jump (20-5.5) and 14th in the high jump (5-8)

• Born November 18, 1992

• Son of Yolanda Blakeney and Michael Wright

• Father lettered four seasons (1989-90-91-92) in basketball at Guilford College

Anthony Boone

QB • 6-1, 225

Monroe, N.C.

Weddington High School

• Lettered four seasons at Weddington under coach Ed Susi (2006), coach Phil Williams (2007-08) and coach Justin Hardin (2009)

• Helped team to state playoff appearances in 2006 and 2009

• Listed as the 37th-top quarterback in the nation by ESPN.com

• Charted as the 49th-best quarterback in the country and the 25th-top overall prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com

• As a senior, passed for 1,530 yards and 13 TDs while rushing for 780 yards and 11 TDs

• In junior campaign, threw for 1,400 yards and 12 TDs while rushing for 1,000 yards and 11 TDs

• Passed for 1,649 yards and 12 TDs while rushing for 860 yards and 11 TDs as a sophomore

• Had 789 yards passing with four TDs and 1,002 yards rushing with seven TDs during freshman season

• Finished prep career with 9,010 yards of total offense, rushing for 3,642 yards and passing for 5,368 yards

• Accounted for 81 total touchdowns (41 passing & 40 rushing) in high school career

• Four-time all-conference and all-county selection

• Also lettered in baseball

• Earned all-conference and all-county honors on the diamond in both 2008 and 2009

• Born October 29, 1991

• Son of Anthony and Jenice Boone

Brandon Braxton

Back • 6-2, 195

Charlotte, N.C.

Providence High School

• Lettered one season (2007) at St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) under coach Chuck Kyle and two seasons (2008-09) at Providence under coach Randy Long

• Charted as the 94th-top wide receiver in the country and the 16th-best overall prospect in North Carolina by Scout.com

• Listed as the 109th-top wide receiver in the nation by ESPN.com

• Helped St. Ignatius to an 8-3 record and state playoff berth in 2007

• Helped Providence to a two-year ledger of 15-11 with two state playoff appearances

• As a senior, had 50 pass receptions for 792 yards and nine TDs

• Two-time all-conference selection

• Also lettered in track and field

• Born December 28, 1991

• Son of David and Shannon Braxton

• Father lettered three seasons (1986-87-88) as a defensive end at Wake Forest, was selected in the second round (52nd overall pick) of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings and played in 71 career games over six seasons with the Vikings (1989-90), Phoenix Cardinals (1990-93) and Cincinnati Bengals (1994)

Kelby Brown

Back • 6-2, 215

Matthews, N.C.

Charlotte Christian High School

• Lettered three seasons at Charlotte Christian under coach Jason Estep

• Charted as the 36th-top outside linebacker in the nation and the 17th-best overall prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com

• All-Mid Atlantic Region choice by SuperPrep

• Helped squad to three-year record of 29-9 including one state championship (2008) and two state runner-up finishes (2007 & 2009)

• Logged 105 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions as a senior

• 2009 NCISAA first team all-state pick

• Had 86 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three caused fumbles, two sacks and two interceptions as a junior

• Registered 239 career tackles

• Two-time all-conference selection

• Two-year team captain

• Selected to the North Carolina squad for the fifth annual Oasis Shrine Bowl on November 27, 2009 in Charlotte, N.C.

• Born July 10, 1991

• Son of Connie and Kelby Brown

• Mother lettered three seasons (1981-82-84) in basketball at Northwestern

• Father lettered three seasons (1979-80-81) in football at Northwestern

Jamal Bruce

Line • 6-2, 265

LaGrange, Ga.

Callaway High School

• Lettered four seasons at Callaway under coach Pete Wiggins

• Listed as the 99th-best defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com

• Helped team to four-year record of 33-14 with four state playoff berths

• Guided squad to 10-win campaigns in both 2008 and 2009

• As a senior, posted 50 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks

• Had 55 tackles, nine tackles for loss and eight sacks during junior season

• Two-time first team all-region and all-county selection

• Born September 3, 1991

• Son of Gloria Bruce

Will Bryant

Line • 6-3, 295

Atlanta, Ga.

Woodward Academy

• Lettered three seasons at Woodward Academy under coach Mark Miller

• Helped team to three-year record of 23-11 with state playoff appearances in 2008 and 2009

• As a senior, registered 60 tackles, four tackles for loss, six QB pressures, two pass breakups and one quarterback sack

• Earned all-region accolades in 2009

• Prep teammate of fellow Duke signee Juwan Thompson

• Also lettered in lacrosse, track and field and wrestling

• Born May 3, 1992

• Son of Sacy and Charles Bryant

Takoby Cofield

Line • 6-6, 300

Tarboro, N.C.

Tarboro High School

• Three-year letterman at Tarboro under coach Jeff Craddock

• Tabbed the 40th-top offensive tackle in the nation and the 15th-best overall prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com

• Listed as the third-best offensive lineman in North Carolina and the 17th-top overall prospect in the state by the Charlotte Observer

• All-Mid Atlantic Region choice by SuperPrep

• Started 42 career games while helping Tarboro to a three-year record of 36-8 with three state playoff berths, one runner-up finish (2008) and one championship (2009)

• In 2009, helped Tarboro to 15-1 overall record and the 2-A state championship with a 28-3 win over Burnsville Mountain Heritage in the title game

• Carded over 100 pancake blocks on offense while registering 40 tackles and 20 tackles for loss on defense as a senior

• 2009 Honorable mention All-Southern selection by the Orlando Sentinel

• 2009 First team 2-A all-state pick by NCPreps.com

• Helped Tarboro to 14-2 ledger and state runner-up finish in 2008

• Two-time first team all-conference and all-area selection

• Helped North Carolina to a 24-14 win over South Carolina in the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas on December 19, 2009 in Spartanburg, S.C.

• Also lettered in track and field

• Born January 22, 1992

• Son of Ava and Toney Cofield

Brandon Connette

QB • 6-2, 210

Corona, Calif.

Santiago High School

• Enrolled at Duke in January, 2010

• Lettered four seasons at Santiago under coach Steve Mitchell (2006-07-08) and coach Jeff Steinberg (2009)

• Listed as the 62nd-best quarterback in the nation by both ESPN.com and Scout.com

• All-Far West Region choice by SuperPrep

• Helped team to three straight state playoff appearances

• As a senior, completed 145-of-249 (.582) passes for 1,961 yards with 18 TDs and 11 INTs while rushing for 462 yards and 12 TDs

• In a 44-24 win over Corona on November 6, 2009, accounted for 388 (277 pass & 111 rush) yards and six total TDs (2 pass & 4 rush)

• Threw four TD passes against both King (October 16, 2009) and Norco (October 23, 2009) in consecutive weeks

• In junior season, completed 104-of-208 (.500) passes for 1,406 yards with 14 TDs and 11 INTs while rushing for 881 yards and 10 TDs

• Rushed for career-high 238 yards and three TDs in a 28-13 win over Roosevelt on October 17, 2008

• In final two seasons, compiled 4,710 total yards (3,367 pass & 1,343 rush) with 54 total touchdowns (32 pass & 22 rush)

• Born July 21, 1991

• Son of Allen and Nancy Connette

Braxton Deaver

Back • 6-5, 210

Charlotte, N.C.

Providence High School

• Lettered three seasons at Providence under coach Randy Long

• Charted as the 121st-best wide receiver in the nation by Scout.com

• All-Mid Atlantic Region choice by SuperPrep

• Helped team to three-year record of 23-18 with three state playoff appearances

• As a senior, earned first team all-state honors from both the Associated Press and NCPreps.com after catching 72 passes for 1,002 yards and 13 TDs

• Also received all-conference and all-county accolades in 2009

• Had 46 receptions for 752 yards and 10 TDs as a junior and 58 catches for 800 yards and 12 TDs during sophomore campaign

• Finished career with 176 receptions for 2,554 yards and 35 TDs

• Also lettered as a midfielder on the lacrosse team, helping squad to two conference championships as well as the 2009 state title

• Born May 8, 1992

• Son of Jay and Jayne Deaver

• Father lettered four seasons (1985-86-87-88) as an offensive guard at Wake Forest, helping the Demon Deacons to a 22-21-1 record

C.J. France

Back • 6-1, 210

Columbus, Ga.

Carver High School

• Lettered three seasons at Carver under coach Dell McGhee

• Listed as the 89th-best outside linebacker in the nation by ESPN.com

• Charted as the 80th-top middle linebacker in the country by Scout.com

• Helped team to three-year record of 37-5 with three state playoff appearances and the 2007 state title

• As a senior, recorded 113 tackles

• Selected to play in the annual Georgia Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game

• Also lettered in tennis

• Born April 9, 1992

• Son of Clarence and Lisa France

Steven Ingram

Line • 6-2, 340

Southaven, Miss.

Southaven High School

• Lettered three seasons at Southaven under coach Ed Rich

• Helped squad to a three-year record of 22-13 with state playoff berths in both 2008 and 2009

• As a senior, posted 90 tackles, nine sacks and two fumble recoveries defensively while grading out at 85 percent on the offensive line as team compiled a 9-3 overall record

• Earned all-conference and all-region honors in 2009

• In junior season, had 80 tackles and six sacks

• Logged 40 tackles and four sacks in sophomore campaign

• Finished career with 210 tackles and 19 sacks

• Also lettered in powerlifting and track and field

• Born July 2, 1992

• Son of Carol and Steven Ingram

Dezmond Johnson

Line • 6-5, 220

Nashville, Tenn.

Overton Comprehensive High School

• Lettered two seasons at Overton under coach Terry Anderson

• Tabbed as the 15th-top overall prospect in Tennessee by Rivals.com

• All-Dixie Region choice by SuperPrep

• Helped team to an 8-4 record and state playoff berth in 2009

• As a senior, posted 71 tackles, 18 quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries

• Earned Defensive MVP honor from the Metro Coaches Association

• Tabbed District 12-AAA Most Valuable Defensive Lineman following senior season

• Named to the 2009 Dream Team by The Tennessean

• Carded 64 tackles with 10 sacks in junior campaign

• Received all-region honors as a junior

• Also lettered in basketball

• Named all-district on the hardwood

• Participated in the second annual Toyota Tennessee All-Star Classic on December 12, 2009 in Jefferson City, Tenn., helping the West squad to a 16-13 win

• Born March 11, 1992

• Son of Carol and Joe Johnson

Jordan Ondijo

Line • 6-5, 215

Prairie View, Texas

Waller High School

• Lettered two seasons at Waller under coach Jason Morley

• Helped team to state playoff appearance in 2009

• Earned first team All-District 18-4A honors as a senior after recording eight sacks

• Also lettered in basketball

• Born May 19, 1992

• Son of Corliss Ondijo and Willie Dewalt

Nick Sink

Line • 6-5, 250

Kernersville, N.C.

Forsyth Country Day School

• Four-year letterman at Forsyth Country Day under coach Rusty LaRue (2006-07) and coach Mark Moroz (2008-09)

• Helped team to four-year record of 24-19 with state playoff berths in 2007 and 09

• As a senior, recorded 60 tackles and six sacks along with 37 pass receptions for 578 yards and seven TDs in eight-win campaign

• Earned all-conference, all-county and all-state accolades in 2009

• Served as team captain as a senior

• Had 17 tackles and one fumble recovery as a junior despite missing six games due to injury

• Finished high school career with 80 pass receptions for 1,207 yards and 10 TDs

• Played in the fifth annual Oasis Shrine Bowl on November 27, 2009 in Charlotte, N.C., as North Carolina dropped a 20-17 overtime decision to South Carolina

• Also lettered in basketball and track and field

• NCISAA all-state selection in basketball in 2009

• In 2009, captured conference championships in both the discus and shot put while placing fourth in the discus at the NCISAA 3A state championship meet

• Born April 29, 1991

• Son of Angie and Tim Sink

Josh Snead

Back • 5-9, 180

Smithfield, N.C.

Smithfield-Selma High School

• Enrolled at Duke in January, 2010

• Lettered two seasons (2006-07) at South Johnston High School under coach Joe Salas and two seasons at Smithfield-Selma (2008-09) under coach Anthony Barbour

• Helped South Johnston to a two-year record of 17-6 with two state playoff berths

• Helped Smithfield-Selma to a two-year ledger of 12-11 with a state playoff appearance in 2008

• Listed as the 65th-best athlete in the nation and the 23rd-top overall prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com

• Charted as the 95th-top running back in the country and the 22nd-best overall prospect in North Carolina by Scout.com

• Tabbed as the 24th-best overall prospect in the state by the Charlotte Observer

• All-Mid Atlantic Region choice by SuperPrep

• As a senior, rushed for 1,932 yards and 27 TDs while returning three kickoffs for TDs

• Earned all-conference and all-area honors in 2009

• Rushed for 965 yards and 15 TDs while recording 83 tackles and two interceptions during junior season

• Two-time team MVP at Smithfield-Selma

• As a sophomore, rushed for 786 yards and 13 TDs while catching 10 passes for 329 yards and three TDs

• Rushed nine times for 33 yards to help North Carolina to a 24-14 win over South Carolina in the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas on December 19, 2009 in Spartanburg, S.C.

• Also lettered in track and field

• Set Smithfield-Selma High School records in the 100-meter (10.33) and 200-meter (21.6) dashes

• At the state championship meet in 2009, placed fifth in the 100-meters and sixth in the 200-meters

• Member of South Johnston’s 3-A  state championship 4x100-meter relay team in 2008

• Three-time all-conference selection as a sprinter

• Born June 19, 1991

• Son of Rachel and Terrance Snead

Quan Stevenson

Back • 6-1, 190

High Point, N.C.

T.W. Andrews High School

• Lettered three seasons at Andrews under coaches Derek Anderson (2007) and Rodney McKay (2008-09)

• Listed as the 115th-top safety in the nation by ESPN.com

• Helped team to three-year record of 20-14 with three consecutive state playoff berths

• As a senior, earned all-area honors from the Greensboro News & Record after posting 70 tackles and two interceptions while scoring seven TDs, kicking three field goals and booting 20 PATs

• Logged 60 tackles and five interceptions as a junior, returning four picks for TDs

• Two-time all-conference selection

• Served as team captain

• Helped North Carolina to a 24-14 win over South Carolina in the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas on December 19, 2009 in Spartanburg, S.C.

• Also lettered in baseball and basketball

• Born January 31, 1992

• Son of Belma and Kevin Stevenson

Juwan Thompson

Back • 5-11, 220

Fairburn, Ga.

Woodward Academy

• Lettered four seasons at Woodward Academy under coach Mark Miller

• Listed as the 38th-top running back in the nation and the 42nd-best overall prospect in Georgia by Rivals.com

• Tabbed as the 58th-best running back in the country by Scout.com

• Named the 65th-top running back in the nation by ESPN.com

• All-Dixie Region choice by SuperPrep

• Helped team to four-year record of 29-15 with state playoff appearances in 2008 and 2009

• As a senior, rushed for 1,622 yards and 22 TDs en route to earning honorable mention all-state honors

• Rushed for 1,210 yards and 16 TDs in junior season and 650 yards and five TDs as a sophomore

• Three-time All-South Metro and all-region selection

• Prep teammate of fellow Duke signee Will Bryant

• Also lettered in basketball and track and field

• Captured region championships in both the 100-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay in 2009

• Helped Woodward Academy to two region track and field crowns

• Born May 13, 1992

• Son of Ramona Griggie and Justin Thompson

Laken Tomlinson

Line • 6-5, 295

Chicago, Ill.

Lane Technical High School

• Lettered four seasons at Lane Tech under coach Rich Rio

• All-America choice by SuperPrep

• Listed as the 23rd-best offensive guard in the nation by Scout.com

• Named the 26th-top offensive line prospect in the nation by SuperPrep

• Charted as the 29th-best offensive guard in the country and the 12th-top overall prospect in Illinois by Rivals.com

• Tabbed as the 20th-best offensive tackle in the country by USA Today’s Tom Lemming

• All-state selection as a senior by both the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association and Chicago Tribune

• Team MVP as a senior

• Two-time all-city pick

• Four-time first team all-conference selection

• Helped Lane to the 2008 Chicago Public League football championship

• Also lettered in track and field

• At the 2009 Chicago Public League track and field championship meet, placed first in the discus (140-06) and second in the shot put

• In the 2009 Illinois 3A state championship track and field meet, threw personal bests of 141-1 in the discus and 47-7 in the shot put to place 17th and 22nd, respectfully, in the preliminary heats

• Born February 9, 1992

• Son of Audrey Wilson

Jamal Wallace

Line • 6-4, 225

Virginia Beach, Va.

Green Run High School

• Four-year letterman at Green Run under coach Ray Gatlin (2006) and Shawn Wilson (2007-08-09)

• Listed as the 41st-best strongside defensive end in the nation and the 22nd-top overall prospect in Virginia by Rivals.com

• All-Mid Atlantic Region choice by SuperPrep

• Helped team to four-year ledger of 26-18 with two 10-win campaigns (2007-08) and two state playoff berths (2007-08)

• Recorded 41 tackles and two sacks as a senior

• In junior season, posted 46 tackles and four sacks

• Three-time All-Beach District honoree

• Also lettered in track and field

• Born July 27, 1991

• Son of Khaula Wallace