Former Gamecock Shaq Roland Signs with West Georgia

Carrollton, GA (WGU) – The West Georgia Wolves are reloading for 2017, and that reloading began Wednesday with head coach Will Hall‘s announcement of 13 transfer athletes who will join the Wolves this spring in preparations for the 2017 season.

“We are excited about this group of signees,” said Hall. “Our staff did a phenomenal job assembling this group. They worked tirelessly with this class to make sure that we get back to our standard of excellence.”

The full contingent of December signees are expected to be enrolled at West Georgia in the spring and will take part in spring practice beginning in February. The Wolves finished with a 7-4 record in November and failed to make the playoffs for the first time in three years with Hall as the head coach.

“This group will bring great competition to our program for the spring,” Hall said. “It will be a very competitive spring as we get back to the principles that built this program.  Go Wolves!”

Xavier Grindle
CB – 6-1 – 185
Columbia, MS
East Marion HS/Pearl River CC

Overview: Three-star athlete according to 247Sports.com out of Pearl River CC in the outstanding Mississippi Junior College league … listed as a two-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com … started his collegiate career as a running back at Mississippi State, but transferred out and converted to a cornerback … played in nine games as a freshman with 21 tackles at Pearl River … also an accomplished punt and kickoff return man … Second-Team All-MACJC selection as a sophomore … He had a team-high five interceptions and 36 tackles … Ranked as No. 16 best cornerback in junior college by 247Sports.com … He was rated No. 14 in the Mississippi among all prospects coming out of high school … Team captain at Pearl River as a sophomore … Born Xavier Grindle on Sept. 26, 1992 in Columbia, Miss… Son of Sandra Grindle.

High School: Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Scout.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports . . . The 24th-best running back prospect in the country according to 247Sports . . . Ranked the No. 10 best player in Mississippi by Rivals . . . Rushed for 2,103 yards and 18 scores his senior season on 240 carries . . . Had seven catches for 176 yards and one touchdown . . . Also threw a 10-yard touchdown pass . . . As a kick/punt returner, had four kickoff returns for 240 yards and two touchdowns and two punt returns for touchdowns . . . On defense, had 22 tackles and seven interceptions… Was named a 2011 Dandy Dozen by the Clarion Ledger… Selected Mississippi State over LSU, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and others.  

Ramon Patton
S – 6-1 – 210
Pascagoula, MS
Pascagoula HS/Jones County JC

Overview: A three-star Junior College safety according to Scout.com, 247Sports.com … rated by 247sports.com as the No. 6 safety nationally and the No. 106 player overall in the 2017 junior college class … played as a linebacker in his sophomore season, seeing action in nine games with 39 tackles and 4.5 sacks … led a defense that was 16th in the nation in total defense, allowing 274 yards per game … Letter J award winner at Jones County as a sophomore … had 48 tackles, including 39 solo stops as a freshman for Jones County … a two-way player in high school, Patton rushed for 1,183 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior at Pascagoula High School in Pascagoula, MS.

Quandreko Statham
S – 6-0 – 190
Athens, GA
Clarke Central/Dodge City CC

Overview: Georgia high school prospect returning to the state after playing junior college ball at Dodge City Community College in Kansas … rated as a three-star safety by 247sports.com and the 10th-best junior college safety in the nation this season … played in 10 games as a sophomore, collecting 55 tackles, including 39 for a loss … had three interceptions, which was good for 43rd nationally … prepped at Clarke Central High School in Athens, GA, earning All-Region honors as a senior.

Tramal Ivy
DE – 6-4 – 238
Muskogee, OK
Muskogee/Butler CC

Overview
Rated a four-star DB by ESPN and ranked 33^rd nationally at his position … rated a  three-star defensive end by 247 Sports, Rivals, and Scout … played 11 games at defensive end for Butler Community College … had 54 total tackles with 24 of them being solo stops … racked up 5.5 sacks, pushing opponents back a total of 31 sack yards … had  a team-high 18 total tackles in the backfield … hard hitter who forced five fumbles …

High School
Played at Muskogee High School (Okla.)…logged 145 career tackles (107 solo), including 44 tackles for loss and 32 sacks while causing five fumbles and grabbing one interception…also had 546 yards receiving and six touchdowns on his career…earned second-team all-state honors from the Tulsa World at defensive end in his senior season…posted 76 tackles (58 solo), 19 sacks and 20 tackles for loss during his senior campaign (2013).

Ladarius Townsend
DT – 6-2 – 260
Forest, MS
Forest / Northeast Mississippi CC

Overview
Played 19 games for Northeast Mississippi Community College … big man in the trenches that had 32 total tackles … Racked up three sacks on the year … had a total of 5.5 tackles for loss on the season … was part of a 6-3 NEMCC Tigers team in 2016

High School
Prepped at Forest High School … racked up 71 total tackles as a senior … lived in the opponents backfield with 19 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks … recovered three fumbles as a HS senior … led team to 8-8 finish and a run to the State Quarterfinals

Ty Clemons
QB/WR – 5-11 – 175
Powder Springs, GA
McEachern HS/Middle Tennessee State

2015 (Middle Tennessee State)
Played in six games … Was in on 55 total snaps … His lone reception came against North Texas.

2014 (Middle Tennessee State)
Took a redshirt year.

High School
Lettered in football and basketball at McEachern High School … 2013 Georgia Sportswriters Association Class AAAAAA all-state first team … Attended the 2013 Rivals Series Camp by Under Armour … Was two-time all-county, two-time Cobb County Player of the Week and a Atlanta Touchdown Club Back of the Week winner … Voted to the South Team for the 2013 GACA North/South All-Star game … Played quarterback for McEachern High School and completed 82 of 141 passes for 1,186 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior … Also rushed 79 times for 1,171 yards (14.8 yds/carry) and 16 scores while totaling six 100-yard games … Averaged 9.3 yards a rush in 2012 with 847 yards on 91 attempts … Played for coach Kyle Hockman.

Desmond Harrison
OL – 6-8 – 313
Houston, Texas
Oak Ridge/U of Texas

2014 (TEXAS)
Did not see game action.

2013 (TEXAS)
Played in seven games, mostly as a reserve offensive tackle … helped the offense rank 36th nationally in rushing (196.2 yards per game) and aided the offensive line in surrendering just 16 sacks (1.3 pg) which ranked tied for 17th fewest in the FBS … helped the Longhorns set a school record with 715 total yards, including 359 on the ground and 356 in the air against New Mexico State … Horns did not allow a sack and averaged 8.5 yards per rush vs. the Aggie defense … played on special teams vs. Kansas State and Iowa State … missed the Oklahoma game due to an ankle injury … returned to play as a reserve vs. TCU … also saw action as a reserve against Texas Tech.

BEFORE TEXAS
Rated the No. 5 JUCO player overall and the No. 1 JUCO offensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports.com … ranked as the No. 34 overall JUCO player and No. 4 JUCO offensive lineman in the nation by Rivals.com … rated the No. 86 JUCO player overall and No. 9 offensive tackle by ESPN.com … played two seasons at Contra Costa Community College (CCCC) in San Pablo, Calif. … named the All-America Community College First Team in 2012 … selected to the 2012 All-California Community College Region III First Team … tabbed the top offensive lineman on the All-Bay Valley Conference team … helped CCCC to an 8-3 record, including a 5-0 mark in the Bay Valley Conference and a win in the Living Breath Foundation Bowl in 2012 … helped CCCC lead the conference in rushing with 221.7 ypg and rank second in scoring at 30.1 ppg … helped CCCC produce 406 rushing yards against Shasta, one of four games with 300 or more that season … a native of Houston, attended Fort Bend Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas, as a freshman prior to attending Page High School in Greensboro, N.C., as a sophomore and junior … did not play football at Page … attended Oak Ridge Military Academy in Oak Ridge, N.C., as a senior … also played basketball in high school.

PERSONAL
A native of Houston, Texas  … majoring in physical culture and sport … majoring in physical culture and sports.

Shaq Roland
WR – 6-1 – 176
Lexington, SC
Lexington/U of South Carolina

2013 (South Carolina)
Saw more action in his sophomore season as the year progressed… played in 10 games, making six starts… caught 25 passes for 455 yards, a team-best 18.2-yard average, with five touchdowns… earned his first career start and caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Connor Shaw on the third play from scrimmage in the season opener against North Carolina… it was the longest reception of his young career and gave the Gamecocks their fastest score to start a season since joining the SEC… caught three passes for 48 yards at Georgia… caught two passes, both for touchdowns, in the win over Mississippi State… TD catches were from 14 and 43 yards out… had four receptions for 72 yards and a score against Coastal Carolina… added three catches and a touchdown against Clemson… had his best game of the season in the Capital One Bowl win over Wisconsin when he logged 112 yards on six receptions, both career highs… shared the Most Improved wide receiver award, presented at the 2013 spring game, with Shamier Jeffery.

2012 (South Carolina)
True freshman wide receiver who was highly touted after being named “Mr. Football” in the state of South Carolina as a senior at nearby Lexington High School… became the fourth straight “Mr. Football” to commit to the home state flagship university… saw action in 11 games… caught five passes for 80 yards with a touchdown… saw his first action against East Carolina and responded with a pair of receptions for 25 yards… first career touchdown reception was a 30-yard completion from Dylan Thompson against UAB… had a pair of receptions for 25 yards against Arkansas.

HIGH SCHOOL:
Graduated from Lexington (S.C.) High School in 2012… named to the annual PARADE magazine 53-man All-America team… coached by Scott Earley… played receiver and also directed the Wildcat offense… helped his squad to an undefeated regular season and an 11-1 record overall in his final campaign… led the Wildcats with nearly 2,000 yards and 24 TDs as a senior… named “Mr. Football” in the state of South Carolina… named the Offensive MVP in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas after leading the Sandlappers in receiving yards and scoring two touchdowns… also scored in the Under Armour All-American Game… selected to the Super Southeast 120 by the Mobile (Ala.) Register… was the region Player of the Year as a junior while earning all-state and all-area honors… also played basketball… averaged nearly 20 points and seven rebounds as a junior, earning Region Player of the Year honors… was a four-star prospect, the best player in the state, the 10th-best wide receiver in the country and the 66th-best player overall by Rivals.com… rated a five-star prospect, the nation’s fourth-best wide receiver and the 40th-best player in the country by Scout.com… a four-star recruit, the best player in the state, the fifth-best wideout and the nation’s 45th-best player according to ESPN.com… considered the No. 1 prospect in Carolina, the 52nd-best player in the country, the sixth-best “athlete” and a four-star recruit by 247Sports.com… number 39 on the PrepStar Dream Team… also considered Alabama, Florida, Georgia before selecting the Gamecocks.

PERSONAL:
Shaquille “Shaq” Roland was born December 27, 1993… is an African American studies major… became the fourth-straight South Carolina “Mr. Football” to sign with the Gamecocks, following Stephon Gilmore, Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney.

Rontravius Byron
DE – 6-2 – 235
Warner Robins, GA
Houston Co. HS/Mississippi Delta CC

Overview
Defensive end who played for Mississippi Delta CC of the Mississippi JUCO League …

High School
Native of Warner Robins, GA and prepped at Houston County High School … had 52 total tackle with 32 solo stops as a senior … lived in the opponents backfield, racking up 10 sacks … had one fumble recovery … Led team to 11-2 record … named Macon Telegraph First Team All-Middle Georgia

Al’Dreecus Wilson
DB – 5-11 – 175
Opelika, AL
Opelika High School/Jones County JC

Overview
Played for Jones County JC in the always competitive Mississippi JUCO League … had 45 total tackles as a sophomore in 2015 … had 28 solo stops and 17 tackle assists … picked off two passes and returned one for a touchdown … also recovered two fumbles … also returned kicks for Jones county, returning four kicks with a total of 134 return yards, averaging 33.5 yards per return.

High School
Speedy defensive back who prepped under coach Brian Blackmon at Opelika High School in Opelika, AL … helped lead his team to a 7-4 finish as a senior, including a trip to the Alabama State playoffs … had 37 total tackles, including 29 solo stops … Intercepted five passes and deflected 13 … named Second Team Opelika-Auburn News All-Area

LJ Smith
S – 6-0 – 175
Barnesville, GA
Lamar County High School

Prepped at Lamar County High School in Barnesville, GA … versatile athlete who played quarterback and free safety in high school … Led his team to a 7-4 record in his senior year … named Second Team All-Region 4-AA in his senior year … Also named Second Team All-Middle Georgia as a senior.