SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State University head football coach Aaron Kelton has announced the newest members of the SSU football team on National Signing Day.

The Tigers have added 21 players to the roster which includes 13 high school players, two transfer and six mid-season pickups.

Kelton, who will begin this third season as head coach of the Tigers, was pleased with the entire recruiting process.

"I think signing day was a success, overall. Anytime you can add new players to your program and address needs that is a recruiting success. We are still recruiting but overall is was a successful signing day."

Savannah State was able to land players from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina and Maryland.

When recruiting, Kelton and his staff focused on finding interior linemen as well as other positions that needed upgrades.

"Our focus for recruiting was the offensive and defensive lines which we will continue to address."

The coaching staff was able to land seven offensive linemen, five defensive linemen, four wide receivers, two tight ends and one each at the linebacker, defensive back and quarterback positions.

Joining the team from the high school ranks were offensive linemen Cameron Thompson (Dutchtown HS/Hampton, GA), Justyn James (Monsignor Pace HS/Miami, FL), Jayden Hilson (Minor HS/Adamsville, AL) and Arnez Jones (Foley HS/Foley, AL); defensive linemen William Lampley (Goshen HS/Troy, AL), Adonis Brazil (Upson Lee HS/Thomaston, GA), Malachi Fils-Aime (Golden Gate HS/Naples, FL), Robert Horsley (Peach County HS/Fort Valley, GA) and Emlison Emiclar (Hiram HS/Hiram, GA); wide receiver Jahziah Alvilez (Warner Robins HS/Warner Robins, GA); tight end Ivan Kynes (McEachern HS/Powder Springs, GA); defensive back Carlos Moore (Minor HS/Adamsville, AL); and quarterback Levi Watson (Harris County HS/Hamilton, GA).

Thompson earned second team honors in Region 2-AAAAA and had offers from Morehouse and Central Michigan among others. while James, who stands at 6-foot-3 and 345-pounds, had over 20 pancake blocks in his senior season. Jones graded out at 81 percent, had 34 knockdowns and 18 pancakes while only giving up one sack this past season.

Lampley had 54 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks and Brazil was in on 74 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Kynes earned Region 3-AAAAAA second team honors, Moore caught 23 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns and Watson completed 107 of 153 passes for 1,543 yards and 12 touchdowns.


Transfers Tracy Todd and Chesten Lytch will bring experience to the team and Kelton will be counting on it with them.

"Every player brings their own thing to our team but Cheston Lytch and Tracy Todd, both transfer offensive lineman, will help immediately on the offensive line. I think all of the guys will have a bit of a learning curve but we will make sure they are ready to travel September 7 at Southern University.

Todd comes to Savannah State from Oklahoma Panhandle State University while Lytch is transferring in from Livingstone College.

The mid-year transfers include wide receivers Nick Deve (Lakee Erie College), John Dickerson IV (Shorter College) and Ronnie Faison (Mercer University); linebacker Ronald Graves (North Carolina A&T State University); tight end Braylon Fowler (UNC Pembroke) and offensive lineman Jaxson Philipenko (Wiregrass Ranch HS/Land O' Lakes, FL).

Dickerson is a Savannah native who played at Islands High School and is set to join former high school teammates Jadon Adams and Nathaniel Chisholm on the SSU roster.


Savannah State will open the 2024season on the road at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 7.