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"I'm so excited about this recruiting class," says Hazell. "There is a lot of talent, great character and guys that have done an outstanding job in the classroom. We fully anticipate that these players are going to do exceptional things for Kent State in the near future."
 
Hazell's inaugural class was split fairly evenly on both sides of the ball, with 11 players on offense and seven on defense. The offensive signees include three quarterbacks, three running backs, a pair of wide receivers, one offensive linemen, a tight end and an athlete. The defensive commitments were comprised of three linebackers, two defensive ends, a cornerback and a strong safety.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of my staff," says Hazell. "In a very short period of time, they've done a phenomenal job of evaluating talent and going out and cultivating relationships with high school coaches, players and parents. We started three weeks ago by taking a good hard look at the current players on the team and put together a plan from there. Today is the culmination of a lot of hard work."
 
In addition to the 13 Ohio signees, the class also includes one player each from Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia and Virginia.
 
Kent State wrapped up the 2010 campaign with a 5-7 overall mark and a 4-4 record in the MAC. The Golden Flashes, who will have to replace two starters on offense and six from defense, are scheduled to open the 2011 campaign Sept. 3 at Alabama.
 
 Name  Pos.  Ht.  Wt.  Hometown/Previous School

•  Terrell Bates RB  5-9  205  Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward
•  Jason Bitsko OL  6-4  260  Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne
•  Tristin Boykin RB  6-0  188  Centerville, Ohio/Centerville
•  Josh Boyle ATH  5-10  165  Venice, Fla./Venice
•  Trayion Durham RB  6-2  240  Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain
•  Chris Humphrey WR  6-1  175  Solon, Ohio/Solon
•  Joe Kenn LB  5-10  205  Gilbert, Ariz./Perry
•  C.J. Malauulu LB  6-1  235  Oceanside, Calif./Palomar C.C.
•  Jeremy McCoy WR  6-2  189  Columbus, Ohio/Marion-Franklin
•  Chevin Meadows CB  5-11  185  Akron, Ohio/Buchtel
•  Andre Parker LB  6-1  215  Ruckersville, Va./Fork Union
•  Kyle Payton TE  6-3  245  Dublin, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson
•  Anthony Pruitt DE  6-3  270  Columbus, Ohio/Groveport Madison
•  Evan Shimensky* QB  5-11  182  Kent, Ohio/Roosevelt
•  Luke Smurthwaite QB  6-2  190  Grove City, Ohio/Grove City
•  Devante' Strickland SS  6-2  215  Columbus, Ohio/Marion-Franklin
•  Jordan Tarve  QB  5-11  195  Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson
•  Nate Terhune DE  6-4  230  Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Orange

* Already enrolled at Kent State at the beginning of the Spring 2011 Semester
 
 
Terrell Bates
RB • 5-9 • 205 • Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward
Prior to Kent State
Gained 1,369 yards and scored 19 touchdowns to help lead St. Edward High School to a perfect 15-0 season and a state title in 2010…was a second team all-district selection as a senior…had 633 yards and four touchdowns en route to being named a Sun News All-Star as a junior…coached by Rick Finotti.
Personal
Born Oct. 7, 1991…son of Cathy Bates…has two siblings, Temeka Hayes and Bernard Munel…plans to major in sports management. 
 
Jason Bitsko
OL • 6-4 • 260 • Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne
Prior to Kent State
Second team all-conference…recipient of the conference Academic/Athlete Award…member of the 2010 state runner-up team at Wayne High School…coached by Jay Minton…also lettered in basketball.
Personal
Born May 6, 1993…son of Randy and Pam Bitsko…has two siblings, Ryan and Caitlin.
 
Tristin Boykin
RB • 6-0 • 188 • Centerville, Ohio/Centerville
Prior to Kent State
First team all-conference as a senior after recording 1,004 all-purpose yards (833 rushing, 171 receiving) and 11 touchdowns…was a second team all-conference selection as a junior at Centerville High School…played for Ron Ullery.
Personal
Born June 22, 1992…son of Trista Douglas and Matt Boykin…plans to major in marketing.
 
Josh Boyle
ATH • 5-10 • 165 • Venice, Fla./Venice
Prior to Kent State
First team all-area as a wide receiver his senior and junior seasons…was the team offensive MVP in 2009 after totaling 1,117 all-purpose yards (646 receiving, 471 rushing) and nine touchdowns…646 yards was a school record for receiving…lettered four years at Venice High School…coached by John Peacock…also lettered four years in baseball.
Personal
Born Oct. 9, 1992…son of Jeanett Bowdell…has an older brother, Steaven, and an older sister, Ashley…volunteered with Challenger baseball for handicapped children…plans to major in physical education.
 
Trayion Durham
RB • 6-2 • 240 • Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain
Prior to Kent State
Was an all-state, all-conference, all-southwest Ohio and all-city selection after rushing for 1,096 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior…selected to play in the 2011 Big 33 Classic…third-ranked player at his position in the nation according to ESPN.com…was an all-league selection as a junior and sophomore at Colerain High School…rushed for 1,113 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2009 and 1,294 yards and nine scores the previous season…finished as the second-leading rusher in school history with 3,503 yards…accumulated 38 career touchdowns…coached by Tom Bolden.
Personal
Born May 15, 1992…son of Arlando and Danille Durham…plans to major in computer science.
 
Chris Humphrey
WR • 6-1 • 175 • Solon, Ohio/Solon
Prior to Kent State
First team all-state and all-district senior year…first team all-conference junior and senior year…2010 NOC Conference Offensive Player of the Year…2010 Plain Dealer all-star senior year…accounted for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns senior year…two way starter for Solon High School as a quarterback and safety, in addition to handling punt and kick return duties…guided Solon to consecutive undefeated seasons and conference championships…played for Jim McQuaide…also lettered in lacrosse.
Personal
Born June 6, 1992…son of Richard and Joetta Humphrey…has an older brother, Michael…plans to major in marketing/design.
 
Joe Kenn
LB • 5-10 • 205 • Gilbert, Ariz./Perry
Prior to Kent State
Was an honorable mention all-region selection as a senior at Perry High School…previously played quarterback and safety…coached by Preston Jones his freshman and senior years at Perry…was coached by Ken Whalen as a sophomore and junior at Eastern High School.
Personal
Born Jan. 22, 1993…son of Joseph and Angela Kenn …has a younger brother, Peter…father played football at Wake Forest from 1984-88…plans to major in sports administration.
 
C.J. Malauulu
LB • 6-1 • 235 • Oceanside, Calif./El Camino/Palomar C.C.
Prior to Kent State
Defensive captain at Palomar Community College…posted 47 tackles (27 solo), two tackles for loss and a blocked kick in nine games in 2010…recorded 10 stops in the final game of the season…coached by Joe Early at Palomar…was first team all-league and defensive MVP his senior season at El Camino High School…also played basketball, volleyball and rugby.
Personal
Born Jan. 9, 1991…son of Casey Sr. and Janet Malauulu…is the oldest of seven siblings, Quincey, Kameron, Kenidy, Camille, Connor and Carter.
 
Jeremy McCoy
WR • 6-2 • 189 • Columbus, Ohio/Marion-Franklin
Prior to Kent State
Named first team all-city senior year and second team as a freshman, sophomore, and junior…four-time all-district selection…junior year recorded 45 receptions for 605 yards and nine touchdowns…senior season started at wide receiver, cornerback, kicker, and punter…averaged 17.6 yards per catch senior season…helped lead Marion-Franklin High School to an 11-1 record in 2010 and the school's fourth straight city title…played for Brian Haffele with fellow Kent State signee Devante' Strickland…also lettered in basketball and was named all-city twice.
Personal
Born July 12, 1992…son of Jerry Ward and Denise McCoy…has three brothers, Jerry, Carlos, and Jason.
 
Chevin Meadows
CB • 5-11 • 185 • Akron, Ohio/Buchtel
Prior to Kent State
Was a second team all-state selection as a senior…helped team to an 11-4 mark and a berth in the Division III state title game…garnered honorable mention all-state accolades as a junior…was a three-time all-city honoree…played running back and cornerback for Buchtel High School…coached by Ricky Powers…also lettered in basketball and track.
Personal
Born Oct. 30, 1992…son of Veronica Meadows and Leonard Shepherd…plans to major in sports management.
 
Andre Parker
LB • 6-1 • 215 • Ruckersville, Va./Fork Union
Prior to Kent State
First team all-state at linebacker and running back…named the Virginia Prep League Player of the Year and the All-Central Virginia Defensive Player of the Year by the Daily Progress…led for Fork Union Military Academy to a state title, recording 101 tackles 10 sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions…coached by Micky Sullivan…also lettered in basketball and track
Personal
Born July 31, 1992…guardian is Katherine Johnson…has two older siblings, Leanna and Leon…plans to major in criminal justice or education.
 
Kyle Payton
TE • 6-3 • 245 • Dublin, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson
Prior to Kent State
Second team all-conference honorable mention junior and senior season…2010 all-metro and all-district special mention…junior year helped lead Hilliard Davidson High School to 14-1 record and a 2009 state championship…senior year team finished 13-1 en route to finishing as state runner-up…also lettered in track and field…played for Brian White.
Personal
Born Dec. 12, 1992…son of Brian and Samantha Payton…has an older sister, Staci…plans to major in applied engineering.
 
Anthony Pruitt III
DE • 6-3 • 270 • Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison
Prior to Kent State
Second team all-state selection senior season…first team all-conference his senior year and was a second team pick as a junior…all-district junior and senior seasons…2010 Spielman Classic MVP…second team all-city sophomore season…2010 Big 33 nominee…as a senior recorded 19 tackles and 3 sacks…also lettered in track and field and basketball…played for Tim Brown.
Personal
Born Feb. 9, 1993…son of Alisa Timothy…has two sisters, Asheli and Amber…plans to major in sports medicine.
 
Evan Shimensky
QB • 5-11 • 182 • Kent, Ohio/Kent Roosevelt
Prior to Kent State
Was first team all-state, district player of the year and conference MVP as a senior after compiling 3,002 yards of total offense (2,202 passing and 800 rushing)…had 28 passing touchdowns and seven on the ground…threw for 1,800 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior, while rushing for 650 yards and six scores en route to earning honorable mention all-state honors…was also first team all-conference and all-district…second team all-league as a sophomore when he tallied 2,000 total yards (1,500 passing, 500 rushing) and 26 total touchdowns…led Roosevelt High School to a 24-6 mark in three seasons, finishing his career with 5,502 yards and 67 touchdowns passing and 1,950 yards and 20 scores on the ground…coached by John Nemec.
Personal
Born June 18, 1992…son of Steve and Terri Shimensky…has one sibling, Cory…plans to major in education.
 
Luke Smurthwaite
QB • 6-2 • 190 • Grove City, Ohio/Grove City
Prior to Kent State
Was an all-conference and all-district selection as a senior, while also being named to the Columbus Super 25 Team…was 168-288 for 2,369 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2010…added 477 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground…selected to play in both the North-South All-Star Game and the Central Ohio All-Star Game…was an all-district safety as a junior for Grove City High School…coached by Matt Jordan…also lettered in baseball.
Personal
Born March 7, 1992…son of Gregg and Michelle Smurthwaite…has two brothers, Elijah and Christian…plans to major in justice studies.
 
Devante' Strickland
SS • 6-2 • 215 • Columbus, Ohio/Marion-Franklin
Prior to Kent State
First team all-state, all-district, all-metro and all-city selection…named district defensive player of the year…tallied 80 tackles, six interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles…was a first team all-city pick after posting 70 stops and eight forced fumbles as a junior…also had 50 tackles and five forced fumbles as a sophomore…helped lead Marion-Franklin High School to an 11-1 record in 2010 and the school's fourth straight city title…played for Brian Haffele with fellow Kent State signee Jeremy McCoy.
Personal
Born March 24, 1993…son of Amanda Strickland…has a sister, Dajanae'…plans to major in education.
 
Jordan Tarver
QB • 5-11 • 195 • Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson
Prior to Kent State
Team's offensive player of the year and MVP…threw 17 touchdowns as a senior…posted 1,000 yards passing and rushing and 26 touchdowns through the air as a junior…led Stephenson High School to a 20-3 record in two years as the starting quarterback…coached by Ron Gartrell…was also a four-year letterwinner in baseball…posted a .375 batting average with 14 home runs as a junior to go along with 56 strikeouts on the mound.
Personal
Born Dec. 14, 1992…son of Lacretia and Jeffrey Tarver…has an older brother, Jeffrey Jr.…uncle is actor Chris Tucker.
 
Nate Terhune
DE • 6-4 • 230 • Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Orange
Prior to Kent State
2010 first team all-state…first team conference and all-region senior year and was conference and region defensive MVP…all-conference honorable mention as a junior…holds Orange High School team record for sacks in a season (16)…finished senior season with 118 tackles, 16 sacks, and 31 tackles for loss…finished high school career with179 tackles, 23.5 sacks, and 41 tackles for loss…played for Adam Bechlem…also lettered in track and field.
Personal
Born Sept. 29, 1992…son of Scott and Sindy Terhune…has an older brother, Dan, who plays football at the College of Wooster.

Courtesy of Kent State Athletics