GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College head football coach Chris Rusiewicz announced the official commitment of five more student-athletes to attend Guilford and play football for the Quakers Tuesday. They have paid their deposits to Guilford and will enroll for classes beginning in August. Rusiewicz’s sixth recruiting class now consists of 15 committed students.
Zyquez Combs (Griffin, Ga.) lettered four years for coach Jarrett Laws at Griffin High School. The 5-11, 170-pound safety was an AAAAA Region 3 honorable mention selection and helped Griffin to a state championship victory in 2013. Combs has also earned multiple letters in track & field as a sprinter and long jumper. Combs plans to study exercise and sport sciences at Guilford.
Jerome McGarry (Summerfield, N.C.) lettered four times for coach Johnny Roscoe ’71 at nearby Northern Guilford High School. The 5-11, 215-pound linebacker earned All-Mid-State 3A Conference recognition and all-area honors as a senior. He helped Northern Guilford to state championships in 2012 and 2014 and graduates as the Nighthawks’ all-time leading tackler. McGarry earned three-time academic all-conference laurels and volunteers with a variety of organizations including the Tim Tebow Foundation, Church Under the Bridge and Project Hope for Liberia. He plans to study business administration when he arrives at Guilford.
Bobby Smith (Maysville, N.C.) lettered three times for coach Eric Leary at White Oak High School. The 5-8, 175-pound running back was an All-Coastal 3A Conference selection and twice earned first-team all-area recognition. He was selected first-team all-state as a senior. MaxPreps ranked Smith among North Carolina’s top-50 running backs in 2015. He led White Oak in rushing yards (1,477), receiving yards (364), and touchdowns (16) last fall. Smith was selected to play on the North Carolina team for the Down Under Bowl game in Australia in July 2016, designed to showcase American football in New Zealand and Australia. He also lettered four times and earned all-conference recognition in basketball and placed third state-wide as a member of White Oak’s 4×100 track team in 2014. Smith plans to major in business administration at Guilford.
Tyreke Thurman (Jackson, Ga.) lettered four years for coach Dary Myricks at Jackson High School. The 5-11, 215-pound linebacker earned AAA Region 2 honorable mention honors. He helped Jackson to a regional championship in 2015 and an appearance in the third round of the state playoffs. Thurman earned area Defensive Player of the Week honors on one occasion in 2013 and 2015.
Reginald Williams (North Dinwiddie, Va.) earned four letters playing for coach Billy Mills at Dinwiddie High School. A 5-7, 175-pound defensive back, Williams was a two-time All-Conference 20 4A selection and earned all-region and all-metro honors as a senior. He was selected to play in the Big River Rivalry All-Star Game and named his team’s top defensive back. Williams set Dinwiddie’s single-game record for most pass deflections and helped the program to a state championship. He is a four-time winner of his school’s Scholar Athlete Award, a three-time honors student, and a member of Dinwiddie’s Future Business Leaders of America and Fellow of Christian Athletes chapters. William plans to study exercise and sport sciences.
The five join a Guilford squad expecting 17 starters among 79 returning letterwinners from the 2015 team that went 9-1, the best football season in school history. The Quakers open the 2016 campaign September 3 against visiting Greensboro College in the 20th annual Gate City Soup Bowl.