The Towson University football team has added 16 new players on the first day of the early signing period for the upcoming 2024 season.
All players signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) on Wednesday, Dec. 20, the beginning of the three-day early signing period. Incoming freshmen and transfers can sign starting today. The regular signing period will begin on Feb. 7. All signees can play their first season for Towson in 2024.
These players are the first early period signees under head coach Pete Shinnick.
"As a coaching staff, we are really excited about this class," said Shinnick. "We feel great about getting 11 freshmen to be a part of our program along with the transfers. We feel like we filled a lot of needs and we are excited about what they will bring to Towson Football."
Dec. 20 Signees (in order of last name)
Tkhi Alexander – Offensive Line – Freshman - 6-5, 330 – Richmond, Va. – Highland Springs H.S.
From the Richmond area comes Alexander, who played offensive tackle for Highland Springs High. He led the Springers to the 2022 VHSL Class 5 football championship with an undefeated year, earning VHSL All-Class 5 state football team and all-region honors.
Bernard "Tre" Birch – Defensive Line – Freshman - 6-2, 315 – Wichita, Kan. – Wichita Northwest H.S.
Birch will be the first-ever native of the state of Kansas to suit up for Towson football. A three-star recruit by 247Sports, Birch was a two-sport standout at Wichita Northwest High in football and wrestling. In 2023, he earned KSHSAA Covered All-Class 6A First Team Defense and Greater Wichita Athletic League First Team defensive line recognition.
Zakaa Brown – Defensive Back – Freshman – 6-1, 165 – Irvington, N.J. – Irvington H.S.
Brown head south to Towson after being a defensive back and wide receiver at Irvington High in New Jersey. He earned 2023 All-Essex County First Team and Super Football Conference Freedom White All-Division First Team as a special teams returner, also earning recognition as a safety in 2022. He joins Towson along with classmate Jasin Shiggs.
Cleveland Charlton – Wide Receiver – Freshman - 6-5, 175 – New York, N.Y. – Cardinal Hayes H.S.
In 2023, Charlton helped Cardinal Hayes High become the first school in New York City to win the Catholic League State Championship, scoring 12 touchdowns during the season. Charlton also competes in track, being one of the schools' top 200m and 400m sprinters as well as running on the short distance relay teams.
Aaron Clark – Defensive Line – Freshman – 6-0, 310 – Hurricane, W.Va. – Hurricane H.S.
Clark is the first player from the state of West Virginia to sign with Towson since 2017. Clark earned West Virginia Class AAA First Team All-State Defense this past year, leading Hurricane High with 9.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. He is ranked a top-25 defensive linemen in the state of West Virginia by Coalfields and Co. WV Prep Football.
Carlos Davis – Quarterback – Graduate Student – 6-2, 220 – Baltimore, Md. – University of Massachusetts
Davis will finish his college career in his hometown of Baltimore after playing at UMass and Western Carolina. He has played 18 games in his NCAA career, tallying up 3,669 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns and 328 rushing yards, being 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-Southern Conference. He played quarterback at Mergenthaler Vo-Tech High School, just five-and-a-half miles from Towson University.
Ibrahim Giwa – Offensive Line – Senior – 6-4, 290 – Clarksburg, Md. – Marist College
Giwa becomes Towson's second transfer from Marist College, along with current running back Chris Watkins, coming back to his home state of Maryland. Giwa played 29 games for the Red Foxes combined the past three seasons, earning 2023 All-Pioneer Football League (PFL) Second Team at left tackle. He was also a two-time member of the PFL Academic Honor Roll.
Shamir Johnson – Defensive Back – Freshman – 6-0, 165 – Philadelphia, Pa. - St. Joseph's Prep School
Johnson joins a Towson secondary along with fellow Philadelphia native Shafeek Smith. Johnson competed at cornerback at St. Joseph's Prep School, leading the Hawks to back-to-back PIAA Class 6A state championships the past two seasons. He joins Towson along with classmate Kahseim "Caddy" Phillips.
William Middleton – Linebacker – Senior - 5-11, 215 – Montgomery, Ala. – Saint Francis University
Middleton will compete in his final collegiate season, transferring to Towson after two years at Saint Francis. The 2023 All-Northeast Conference Second Team linebacker played in 22 games over two years for the Red Flash, finishing with 105 tackles and seven tackles for loss, being second on the team with 68 tackles in 2023. In 2021, he earned All-SWJCFC Honorable Mention after leading New Mexico Military Institute to the NJCAA DI national title.
Branson Peters – Linebacker – Junior - 6-1, 215 – Mason City, Iowa – Iowa Central C.C.
Fresh off leading Iowa Central C.C. to 2023 Game One Bowl victory, Peters comes to Towson after two NCJAA seasons in his home state. As a sophomore, he earned all-region status, leading the team with 60 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss, adding four sacks. At Mason City High, he was 2020 All-Class 3A District 2 and led the team with 93 tackles as a senior.
Kahseim "Caddy" Phillips – Running Back - Freshman – 5-9, 185 – Philadelphia, Pa. – St. Joseph's Prep School
Phillips was one of the team's primary running backs for a St. Joseph's Prep team which won back-to-back PIAA Class 6A state titles the last two seasons, including a 74-yard rushing touchdown in the 2023 title game. He earned All-Catholic First Team Offense honors twice and joins Towson along with classmate Shamir Johnson.
Jasin Shiggs – Defensive Back – Freshman - 6-1, 170 – Irvington, N.J. – Irvington H.S.
Shiggs comes to Towson after being a two-sport competitor in football and track in high school. This past season for Irvington High in New Jersey, Shiggs was selected as All-New Jersey and Super Football Conference Freedom White All-Division First Team at defensive back, also playing wide receiver for the Blue Knights. He joins Towson along with classmate Zakaa Brown.
Jason Tulloch – Offensive Line – Freshman - 6-4, 260 – Gaithersburg, Md. – The Bullis School
From the Bullis School in the D.C. area comes Tulloch, joining the Towson offensive line group. This past season, Tullock earned 2023 All-Interstate Athletic Conference First Team as a starting tackle for the Bulldogs. Tulloch had previously played for Sherwood High, helping the team to nine wins and a league title in 2022.
Nayad Walker – Wide Receiver – Freshman - 5-10, 160 – Newark, N.J. – Malcolm X Shabazz H.S.
This past season, Walker led Malcolm X Shabazz to the New Jersey Group 1 state semifinal, finishing with 844 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns to earn 2023 USA Today Network All-New Jersey Offense and Super Football Conference National Red Division First Team. Walker also ran track, competing in the 100m and 200m dash plus the relay teams.
Winston Watkins – Quarterback – Freshman - 6-5, 230 – Pasadena, Md. – Mount Saint Joseph H.S.
Watkins, a three-star quarterback prospect by 247Sports out of Mount Saint Joseph, will remain in Charm City to suit up for the Tigers. A three-year starter, Watkins amassed 5,807 passing yards, just one of five players in MIAA A history with over 5,000 career passing yards, and 51 passing touchdowns, being a two-time MIAA-A All-Conference selection.
Kaden White – Defensive Back – Redshirt Junior – 6-1, 190 – New Orleans, La. – Butler C.C.
From The Big Easy comes White, who wrapped up 2023 as a Jayhawk Conference Honorable Mention All-Conference safety after leading Butler C.C. with three interceptions, adding 38 total tackles. Previously, he played in seven games in two seasons at Mississippi Valley State after being a two-star recruit by Rivals.com out of Rummel High.
