Football | 2/5/2020 5:52:00 PM

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Head football coach Shawn Quinn has made good on his promise to change recruiting at Savannah State and to focus on the greater Savannah area.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 5, during National Signing Day, Quinn and his coaching staff announced that 31 new recruits had signed with the Tigers. The local-heavy list includes several Savannah-area standouts.

Beach High School standout Jaylen Wells penned with the Tigers on Wednesday. Wells finished with 1,300 passing yards, 750 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns, setting the school record.

Savannah Christian's Marquell Brown signed on Wednesday as well. Brown finished with 1,304 rushing yards on 146 carries, averaging 8.9 yards a carry with 12 touchdowns. He grabbed 39 receptions for 407 yards, finishing with 1,923 all-purpose yards. The All-State, All-ESPN receiver told the Savannah Morning News that he was excited to sign with the Tigers.

"Savannah State has always been a great school and they're giving me the opportunity to show off my skills and I really appreciate that," Brown said in an interview.

From Bradwell Institute in Hinesville, Ga., Savannah State grabbed three top players. Wide receiver Quintarious Chapman finished his high school era with 685 yards on 45 receptions and was named First Team All-Region.

Offensive lineman and First Team All-Region De'Leon Madria will add some weight to the Tigers' offense and was a key pickup for the Tigers.

Kenneth Lockhart from Bradwell also signed with the Tigers. The punter/kicker will help replace All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) kicker Giovanni Lugo, who graduated last year. Lockhart hit 9-of-12 field goal attempts, and averaged 40.4 yards a punt.

Savannah State signed two kids from the Effingham County school system. South Effingham High School long snapper Trevor Pfiester penned with the Tigers as well as slot back receiver Randy Scott out of Effingham County High School. Scott grabbed 29 receptions for 521 yards and was named to the First Team All-Region.

From outside Savannah, notables include running back Sha'Marcus Poole from Washington County High School in Sandersville, Ga. Poole finished with 138 rushes for 1,522 yards. He was named First Team All-State and First Team All-Region. Of the 31 signees, 23 were named All-Region or All-State during their high-school years.

Other notables to SSU's roster are wide receiver Anthony Thomas out of New Hampstead High School in Savannah, defensive back LaTrelvin "Trel" Blackamore out of Cedar Grove High School in Atlanta, and linebacker Brenden Jackson from Statesboro High School.

Savannah State football will release the 2020 schedule in the coming weeks just before they head into spring practice on February 17.