Midlothian's Howard leads UR's incoming class

The University of Richmond signed a Midlothian High School senior with growth potential, on and off the field.

Linebacker Omar Howard, who’s 6-foot-1, won’t turn 18 until May 17. His father, former Oregon State defensive lineman Tyrone Howard, is 6-7. The younger Howard said his doctor projected that he’ll top out at about 6-3.

“I’m still hopeful to get that by some time in college,” said Howard, who also played tight end at Midlothian.

He operated at 205 as a Midlothian senior, but is now at 195 as one of the area’s finest wrestlers. His goal is to report to the Spiders’ summer camp at 220.

Howard, who also considered Elon and Ohio University, is expected to play outside linebacker at UR “because of how well he moves,” said Midlothian High coach Kevin Thomas. “He had to lose some weight for wrestling, but the way he works, he’ll be able to put that weight back on in no time.

“The things he has done in the weight room and the things he has done in the offseason have paid off tremendously for him. I think we’ve only scratched the surface on what we’re going to see from him in terms of getting bigger and getting faster.”

UR's football signees:

David Broadus

Suwanee, Ga./Lambert

Quarterback • 6-3/212

Head Coach: Sid Maxwell

High School: Four-year letterman at Lambert, leading team to playoffs in each of its first two seasons as a new high school … Totaled 1,971 passing yards, 1,225 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns … A three-year starter, earned team MVP honors during his senior year … Selected to play in the Atlanta area All-Star game as a senior … Earned a two-star rating from both Rivals and Scout … Also played baseball at Lambert, earning All-County and All-region honors … Team captain as a senior …

Personal: Son of Chuck and Kim Broadus … Mother, Kim, was a track and field athlete at the University of Nebraska … National Honor Society … National AP Scholar, earning honor roll distinction all four years … Finished in the top-10 percent … Also a member of the Mathematics and Spanish National Honor Societies.

Reggie Diggs

Dendron, Va./Surry County

Wide Receiver • 6-4/185

Head Coach: Ervin Jones

High School: Second-Team All-Region selection as a wide receiver … First-Team All-District as both a wide receiver and a defensive back … Also lettered in basketball and track and field … Earned All-District and All-Region honors in basketball and was named the regional tournament player of the year … Won the district title in the long jump …

Personal: Son of Reginald Diggs Sr. and Diane Hargrave.

Thomas Evans

Franklin, N.C./Franklin

Offensive Line • 6-3/280

Head Coach: Josh Brooks

High School: Four-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines … Helped lead Franklin to an undefeated, 11-0 record and a WNCAC conference championship in 2011 … Named WNCAC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … 2011 NC Preps All-State honoree … Named 2011 All-Western North Carolina … Two-time WNCAC All-Conference selection … Preseason All-State selection by NC Preps prior to 2011 … Earned an invitation to North Carolina East-West All-Star game … Team captain as a senior … Also lettered in track and field, winning the conference and regional championship in the shot put in 2010 …

Personal: Son of Kelle Evans … Grandfather, Frank Lasky, played football at the University of Florida and two seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants.

Alex Gee

Burlington, N.C./Walter M. Williams

Offensive Line • 6-3/275

Head Coach: David Green

High School: Three-year letterman and starter at Walter M. Williams … Helped lead team to state playoffs three times, including a trip to the third round in 2011 … Two-time First-Team All-Mid State conference … First-Team All-Region in 2011 … 2010 Second-Team All-Region …

Personal: Son of Mike and Karen Gee … Father, Mike, played football at N.C. State University … National Honor Society … Active in the community, participating in leadership and mentoring programs.

Jacobi Green

Jacksonville, Fla./Ed White

Running Back • 5-9/178

Head Coach: Terry Gilliam

High School: Four-year letterman at Ed White, earning All-State, All-Area, and First-Team All-Conference honors during his senior season … Helped lead his team to a district championship in 2011 … Named the U.S. Army Iron Man of Florida … Team MVP during his senior season … Also lettered in track and field for three seasons …

Personal: Son of James Green and Sherri Kelly … Active in the community, volunteering frequently.

David Herlocker

Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic

Wide Receiver • 6-2/195

Head Coach: Jim Oddo

High School: Three-year letterman and starter at Charlotte Catholic, playing both wide receiver anddefensive back … Helped lead team to a pair of Mid-Western Region state championships, three 3A state semifinal appearances, and three conference championships … Team posted a 26-2 record during his junior and senior seasons … MEGA 7 3A/4A Offensive Player of the Year … South Charlotte Player of the Year … First-Team All-South Charlotte … Two-time all-conference selection … Second-Team All-Mecklenburg … Offensively during his senior season, totaled 1,100 rushing yards, 600 receiving yards, 800 return yards, and 21 touchdowns … Defensively, had 35 tackles with 2 interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery … Also lettered in track and field and basketball in high school … Two-time all-conference selection in the long jump …

Personal: Son of Tom and Beth Herlocker … Brother, Ben, played football at East Carolina … Mother, Beth, played JV basketball at N.C. State … Honor Roll all four years in high school.

Selton Hodge

Washington D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy

Linebacker • 6-3/215

Head Coach: Aazaar Abdul-Rahim

High School: Started for three seasons at the Friendship Collegiate Academy … Helped lead team to a 9-1 record and a No. 5 ranking in the Washington Post … Garnered All-Met honors from the Washington Post … Ranked one of the top-25 players in the D.C. area … During his senior season, recorded 110 tackles including 10 sacks … Also tallied two interceptions and forced six fumbles … Also played rugby, basketball, and wrestled during his prep career …

Personal: Son of Selton and Patricia Hodge … Volunteered at soup kitchens during high school.

Omar Howard

Midlothian, Va./Midlothian

Linebacker • 6-1/196

Head Coach: Kevin Thomas

High School: Three-year letterman at Midlothian, playing linebacker and tight end … 2011 VirginiaPreps AAA All-State Second-Team … Second-Team Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro … First-Team All-Region … Two-time all-district honoree … Had 70 tackles during his senior season, while catching 28 balls for 480 yards and five touchdowns … Team captain during his senior season … Also lettered in wrestling …

Personal: Son of Tyrone Howard and Michaele Bergan … Brother, Mark, currently wrestles for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy … Father, Tyrone, played football at Oregon State … National Honor Society … Honor Roll … Three-time academic all-district honoree.

David Jones

St. Petersburg, Fla./ St. Petersburg

Defensive Back • 6-3/175

Head Coach: Joseph Fabrizio

High School: Three-year starter at St. Petersburg Senior High School … Helped lead team to three-straight city championships and an undefeated season in 2010 … Second-Team All-State selection in 2011 … First-Team St. Petersburg Times All-Pinellas and All-Suncoast during his senior season … First-Team All-FACA in 2011 … Three-time All-PCAC honoree, including first-team honors during his senior campaign … Pinellas County All-Star game participant … Also lettered in basketball and track and field in high school … Three-time academic award winner …

Personal: Son of Michael Jones and Nycole Ellington-Jones … Will graduate Summa Cum Laude … National Honor Society … Accumulated over 300 volunteer honors working at the R’ Club of Florida.

Kieno Jones II

Atlanta, Ga./Grady

Defensive Line • 6-2/290

Head Coach: Ronnie Millen

High School: Three-year letterman and starter at Grady High School … Helped lead team to an 11-2 record and a 2010 Region championship … Honorable-Mention All-City in 2011 … Totaled 40 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, and two sacks … Also tallied six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and two pass blocks … Team captain during his senior season …

Personal: Son of Kieno Sr. and Wendolyn Jones … National Honor Society and AB Honor Roll  ... Active in the community, working with Williams Feed the Hungry.

Xander Maddox

Charlotte, N.C./Providence

Defensive Back • 5-10/175

Head Coach: Randy Long

High School: Four-year letterman and starter, playing two seasons at Charlotte Latin High School and then at Providence High School … Helped lead Charlotte Latin to a state championship during his sophomore season and a runner-up finish in his freshman year … Had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during his senior season … Invited to play in the Max Emfinger All-American game … Team captain during his senior season … Also lettered in basketball and baseball  … Standout in baseball, earning all-conference and preseason Under Armor All-American honors …

Personal: Son of Leland and Lisa Maddox … Father, Leland, was an athlete at Cal-Berkeley … National Honor Society … AB Honor Roll all four years … Also Headmaster’s and Dean’s List … Volunteered with Habitat for Society.

T.J. Moon

Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson

Running Back • 5-9/210

Head Coach: Ron Gartrell

High School: Four-year letterman and starter at Stephenson High School … Four-time all-region selection … During his senior season, totaled 926 yards on 149 carries, scoring 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards a carry … Named to Max Prep Sports/CBS Sports Top-100 Sophomores in the nation list … Selected to play in the Georgia Senior All-Star Bowl in 2012 … Nominated to play in the USA vs. the World All-Star game in 2012 … Also lettered in basketball and track and field …

Personal: Son of Terry Sr. and Michelle Moon … Active in the community, volunteered with the American Cancer Society.

Ayo Ogunniyi

Silver Spring, Md./Westlake

Defensive Back • 6-0/190

Head Coach: Dominic Zaccarelli

High School: Three-year letterman at Westlake High School … Helped lead team to a conference championship in 2010 and a 9-1 record … Earned Second-Team All-State and two All-SMAC conference honors as a defensive back … Also named all-conference as a running back in 2010 … Totaled 32 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and nine pass deflections during his senior season … Offensively, had 632 rushing yards, 138 receiving yards, and five rushing touchdowns … Team captain during his senior season …

Personal: Son of Jimmy Ogunniyi and Bridget Dimkpah.

Nicholas Vergos

Memphis, Tenn./Memphis University School

Defensive Line • 6-4/270

Head Coach: Bobby Alston

High School: Three-year letterman … Helped lead team to three playoff appearances, including a state championship in 2009 … Named Best of Preps in 2011 … Totaled 105 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks over the past two seasons … Also lettered baseball, basketball, and track and field in high school …

Personal: Son of Nick and Jenny Vergos and Mike and Kate Enright … Volunteered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.