Georgia college football roundup: Kennesaw State recruits first class, Berry names field

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ATLANTA, Feb. 15, 2014 — Kennesaw State inked 29 recruits during National Signing Day earlier this month, the first players in the program’s history.

The Owls play their inaugural season in 2015 in Division I’s Football Championship Subdivision.

The school’s first class includes a pair of wide receivers, eight defensive linemen, two linebackers, six defensive backs and a trio of quarterbacks. Among the recruits is former Griffin High School quarterback Jaquez Parks, the Georgia All-Classification Player of the Year who helped lead the Bears to the AAAA state championship.

“This is a monumental day for Kennesaw State University,” KSUowls.com quoted Head Coach Brian Bohannon as saying. “This is another huge step in the process of building the football program and brings us one step closer to getting out onto the field and preparing for that first game in 2015.

“We are extremely excited about the group of players who have signed and made the commitment to become the foundation of the program and make history,” Bohannon added. “We accomplished a lot with this class and are looking forward to getting them on campus and start working with them.”

Mercer, Reinhardt to kick off 2014 season

For the second straight year, Mercer and Reinhardt will face off in Macon during week one.

Mercer edged out Reinhardt by a 40-37 margin last year thanks to a last-second 31-yard field goal from senior Josh Shutter. Mercer, which played in the Pioneer Football League in 2013, is transitioning to the Southern Conference for 2014.

“This is an outstanding schedule for our program and our fans,” Mercer Head Coach Bobby Lamb said in a release. “Making the move to the Southern Conference is a huge leap, but we look forward to facing the challenge. Our fans and game day atmosphere is one of the best in the country and we expect them to show up this fall and be the difference.”

Berry to name field for long time supporter

A Berry alumnus and his wife are giving $500,000 to help build the new Berry College football stadium on the school’s Rome campus.

The field at the planned Valhalla stadium will be named “Williams Field” in honor of Bob Williams and his wife, Kay, longtime supporters of the school’s intercollegiate athletics program. The field will host football, lacrosse and track and field in addition to intramural sports and special events.

More than half of the $6.5 million needed to build the stadium has been secured, according to Berry officials. A date for the opening of the stadium has not been announced.

The Williamses hope their gift encourages others to step forward and donate to the Valhalla cause. Williams, a 1962 Berry high school graduate, provides color commentary for radio broadcasts of the school’s basketball games.

Williams was initially opposed to the addition of football at Berry. Until he met Berry Coach Tony Kunczewski said.

“Tony’s just Berry people,” Williams said. “Not only is he teaching them the football side of it, which is great, but what he teaches them to do in football is going to carry over on through their work life.”

Berry finished the 2013 season, its first season of play, with a 1-9 record.