ROME, Ga. — Berry College head football coach, Tony Kunczewski, announced on Friday the team's newcomers for the upcoming 2021 season. The group will join the five-time Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Champions.
 
"Recruiting this class in the middle of a global pandemic was not easy," said coach Kunczewski. "I want to thank our administration, our admissions office and certainly our coaches and players for making this class happen. Everyone played a role in helping us secure another top class both academically and athletically. We feel this class will continue to grow our program to one of the best in the Southern Athletic Conference and helping us to climb the ladder on a national scale."

Gavin Anderson
(DL, Tiger, Ga., Rabun Gap High School, 6-3, 240 pounds)
Anderson joins the Vikings as an All-State and All-Conference honoree, claiming state runner-up at Rabun Gap in 2019 and 2020. 
Gavin is the son of Stan and Tricia Anderson and he plans to major in exercise science.
Danny Baird
(DB, Sharpsburg, Ga., Trinity Christian, 6-0, 205 pounds)
A four-year athlete in both football and lacrosse at Trinity Christian, Baird is an All-State, All-County and All-Region honoree in both sports. Baird was part of two regional championship teams as well as playing for the 2020 Single A Private State Championship.
Danny is the son of Rick and Miyuki Baird and he plans to major in pre-med.
Ryan Barber
(DL, Sharpsburg, Ga., East Coweta High School, 6-1, 240 pounds)
Competing in football, baseball and wrestling at East Coweta, Barber comes to Berry with All-County and All-Region accolades. Barber helped lead East Coweta to their first region championship in 18 years.
Ryan is the son of Jimmy and Karen Barber.
Nick Best
(QB, Lawrenceville, Ga., Peachtree Ridge High School, 5-11, 175 pounds)
Playing football and baseball at Peachtree Ridge, Best was a three-year varsity football team member. During his senior season, Best was named team captain and helped his team to the state playoffs. He was also named the Peachtree Ridge High School's Outstanding Senior Athlete for 2021. 
Nick is the son of Art and Tesha Best and plans to major in business administration.
Wyatt Bixler
(OL, Temple, Ga., Temple High School, 6-2, 265 pounds)
A three-sport athlete from Temple High School, Bixler claimed All-State, All-Region, All-Area, All-Gradick Sports Team, Top OL Choice Award.
Wyatt is the son of Ronnie Bixler and Micheale Ray.
Connor Bradley
(DL, Oxford, Miss., Oxford High School, 6-2, 245 pounds)
A three-sport athlete competing in football, powerlifting and track and field in high school, Bradley was named an All-District Defensive Lineman, has won the region powerlifting championship in the 242-weight class as well as placing third at region in the weight class. In 2019, Bradley and his football team won the Mississippi High School state championship.
The son of Patrick and Susan Bradley, Connor plans to major in business.
Shaquan Brooks
(DL, Richmond Hill, Ga., Richmond Hill High School, 5-8, 260 pounds)
Brooks comes to Berry as a four-year varsity football team member at Richmond Hill.  He was named the first team All-State and the Region 2-6A Defensive MVP during his senior year. Shaquan owns the bench press, squat and dead lift record. In 2020, Brooks and Richmond Hill were the region champions. During his senior season, he recorded 71 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble and one touchdown.
The son of Raphael and Melanie Brooks, Shaquan plans to major in physical therapy and minor in business.
Curtis Brown
(DB, Long Island, NY, Rockdale County High School, 5-9, 177 pounds)
Brown tallied 123 carries for 719 yards and nine touchdowns during his three seasons on the football team at Rockdale County High School and in 2018 they won the Suffolk County Championship. Brown enrolled at Berry in the spring 2021 semester.
The son of Curtis Brown Jr. and Erica Pritchard, Curtis plans to major in business management and minor in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Logan Brown
(WR, Lawrenceville, Ga., Collins Hill High School, 6-4, 190 pounds)
Brown helped lead his team to their first state championship appearance in school history at Collins High School. An All-County honoree, as a junior. He missed his senior season due to injury.
The son of Cam Brown and Brigette Fontenot, Logan plans to major in physics.
Grady Bryant
(ILB, Grayson, Ga., Grayson High School, 5-10, 195 pounds)
A two-sport athlete at Grayson, Bryant joins the Vikings as a two-time All-Region, two-time All-County and two-time All-State honoree. Winning the region championship four times, Bryant and his team won the state championship in 2020. In 2019, he broke the school tackle record with 136 tackles.
Grady is the son of Scott and Amanda Bryant.
Jack Butler
(OLB, Bogart, Ga., North Oconee High School, 6-0, 180 pounds)
Butler comes to Berry as a three-time All-Region selection, two-time All-Area selection and 2020 Defensive Player of the Year from North Oconee High School. A two-sport athlete participating in both football and wrestling, Butler was a two-time state qualifier in wrestling and made it to the Sweet 16 three years in a row in football. During his senior season, he tallied 87 tackles with one forced fumble, one interception and a touchdown.
Jack is the son of Randy and Debbie Butler and plans to major in kinesiology.
Brandon Cade
(RB, Duluth, Ga., Peachtree Ridge High School, 5-11, 185 pounds)
A football All-County and All-Region recipient, Cade participated in both football and wrestling at Peachtree Ridge High School. During his senior season, his football team made it to the state playoffs and he recorded 715 rushing yards in eight games.
The son of Alvin and Sherry Cade, Brandon plans to major in exercise science.
Hayden Cagle
(OL, Cartersville, Ga., Cartersville High School, 6-1, 250 pounds)
Cagle, a highly decorated offensive lineman, was an All-State and All Region selection as a senior. He was part of three region championships and played in two state championship games.
Hayden is the son of Jody and Tamela Cagle.
Luke Carlton
(DL, Belle Chasse, La., Jesuit High School, 6-1, 240 pounds)
A three-year varsity football member at Jesuit High School, Carlton is a three-time Louisiana State Division I quarterfinalist.
The son of John and Laurie Carlton, Luke plans to major in pre-dentistry.
Jackson Clouatre
(RB, Cornelia, Ga., Habersham Central High School, 5-10, 175 pounds)
A member of both the football and track teams at Habersham High School, Clouatre comes to Berry as a three-time All-region honoree, two-time WCON Player of the Year and All-Region Offensive Player of the Year. He currently holds the single game rush record at Habersham with 305 yards. Overall, Clouatre tallied 431 carries for 2,693 yards and 20 touchdowns. 
The son of Mitchell and Ashley Clouatre, Jackson plans on majoring in secondary education.
Ethan Corley
(DB, Gainesville, Ga., Chestatee High School, 6-0, 170 pounds)
An All-Region recipient in 2018 and 2020, Corley comes to Berry as a three-sport athlete at Chestatee. In 2020, he was named a football team captain.
Ethan is the son of Ben and Leigh Corley and plans to major in accounting.
Clay Crawford
(OL, Rome, Ga., Pepperell High School, 6-3, 265 pounds)
A member of the football, basketball and track teams at Pepperell High School, Crawford joins the Vikings as an All-State, All-Area and All-Region honoree. In 2019, he played in the Georgia Elite Classic All-Star Game and was named a team captain for the 2020 football season.
Clay is the son of Kevin and Amy Crawford and plans to major in creative technologies.
Nick Dillon
(K/P, Savannah, Ga., Benedictine Military School, 6-1, 175 pounds)
A four-sport athlete, participating in football, soccer, basketball and swim, Dillon joins the Vikings with a strong athletic background and experience on the big stage, as he played in the soccer state championship in 2018.
Nick is the son of James and Raegan Dillon.
CJ Easley
(OL, Dacula, Ga., Mill Creek High School, 5-11, 285 pounds)
Easley joins the Vikings as an All-County and All-Region honoree. In 2020 he was named team captain. He helped lead Mill Creek to the state 7A playoffs in 2020 as well as an Elite Eight appearance in 2019.
CJ is the son of Calvin Easley and Camell Branch-Selby.
Logan Estes
(LB, Newnan, Ga., Northgate High School, 6-0, 208 pounds)
A two-time All-County recipient as well as All-Region and All-State honoree, Estes recorded 95 tackles during his senior outing. Named team captain for his senior year, he helped lead his team to a state playoff appearance. He also competed in the Georgia Elite Classic All-Star game. 
Logan is the son of Christopher and Shaquita Estes and plans to major in sport management.
Jarae Foster
(DB, Woodstock, Ga., Woodstock High School, 5-10, 160 pounds)
A native of Woodstock, Ga., Foster comes to Berry as a three-year varsity football member at Woodstock High School. He was named to the All-region team this past season.
Jarae is the son of Jermaine and Melody Foster and plans to major in either computer science or engineering.
Jaden Melville
(DL, Duluth, Ga., Duluth High School, 6-3, 220 pounds)
Melville competed in football, basketball and track while at Duluth High School and will come to Berry as a two-year varsity football athlete.
Jaden is the son of Eric and Chanda Melville and plans to major in biology.
Chad Norwood
(OLB, Jefferson, Ga., Bethlehem Christian, 6-0, 195 pounds)
Norwood has participated in the All-American Bowl in Gatlinburg, Tennessee where he and his team won. With three seasons of participating in football and one season of track at Bethlehem Christian, Norwood was named a football team captain his senior year.
The son of Chad and Lauren Norwood, Chad plans to major in animal science.
Noah Olsen
(TE, Lenoir City, Tenn., Christian Academy of Knoxville, 6-6, 220 pounds)
A native of Lenoir City, Tennessee, Olsen comes to Berry as a two-year starter in football and one-year track athlete at Christian Academy. Olsen was a two-time All-Region selection as well as earning 2020 Knox News All-PrepXtra second team.
The son of Paul and Lisa Olsen, Noah plans on majoring in exercise science.
Nick Palmer
(ATH, Columbus, Ga., Columbus High School, 6-0, 189 pounds)
Competing in both football and track at Columbus High School, Palmer was named team captain during his senior season. Palmer had 16 receptions for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also recording 7 tackles in the secondary. His brothers, Tedric (C17) and Brandon (C20), are both Berry graduates and played football here.
Nick is son of Ted and Regina Palmer.
Braesen Parker
(ILB, Ball Ground, Ga., Cherokee High School, 5-11, 205 pounds)
Parker holds the single season tackle record at Cherokee with 168 tackles and the second all-time career tackle record in school history with 341. An All-County, All-Region and All-State honoree, Parker appeared in back-to-back state playoffs and advanced to the Sweet 16 his junior season. He was also named the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year in Region 5-7A.
Braesen is the son of Rance and Staci Parker.
Timothy Presley
(DL, Monroe, Ga., Winder-Barrow High School, 6-3, 210 pounds)
Presley joins the Vikings as an All-State and All-Region recipient in football, participating in football, basketball and track while at Winder-Barrow.
The son of Tommy and Latonya Presley, Timothy plans to major in kinesiology/exercise science.
Joseph Rampey
(OL, Fayetteville, Ga., Starr's Mill High School, 6-4, 274 pounds)
A two-sport athlete competing in both football and track in high school, Rampey joins the Vikings after earning All-Region, All-State and All-County honors at Starr's Mill. Winning the region championship all four years, Rampey's high school team also made it to the final four his senior season.
The son of Philip and Melanie Rampey, Joseph plans to major in sport management.
Cole Simmer
(OL, Powder Springs, Ga., Harrison High School, 6-2, 260 pounds)
An All-Region and All-Country honoree, Simmer was a two-sport athlete in high school, competing in both football and lacrosse. In 2019, Simmer and his football team won the state championship, while advancing to the second round of the playoffs his sophomore year and senior year.
The son of Todd and Angela Simmer, Cole plans to major in business. 
Holland Stallings 
(QB, Charlotte, N.C., Providence High School, 6-1, 200 pounds)
Stallings comes to Berry as an All-Conference recipient and the 2018-19 Providence High School Rising Star Award winner. For the first time since 2003, he helped lead his team to a perfect 6-0 start and a conference championship and the second round of the playoffs during his senior outing. A two-year team captain, he went 109-162 with 24 touchdowns and 1,013 total yards his last season. 
The son of GUs and Stephanie Stallings, Holland plans to major in finance. 
James Stewart
(OL, Dacula, Ga., Mill Creek High School, 6-3, 280 pounds)
A three-year varsity member of the Mill Creek football team, Stewart was a strong member of the offensive line for the Hawks that helped propel them to the 7A state playoffs this past season and an Elite Eight finish in 2019.
James is the son of Alan and Stephanie Stewart and plans to major in religious studies.
Jaiden Stowers
(WR, Auburn, Ga., Hebron Christian Academy, 5-9, 175 pounds)
Competing in both baseball and football in high school, Stowers comes to Berry as an All-Region and All-State recipient in multiple categories over his four-year high school career. A team captain for his football team his senior season, Stowers tallied 25 catches for 478 yards with seven touchdowns and 27 tackles his final year.
Jaiden is the son of Christopher and Johana Stowers and plans to major in exercise science.
Mekhi Tchassama
(DB, Atlanta, Ga., Booker T. Washington High School, 5-10, 165 pounds)
A member of the football and track teams at Booker T. Washington, Tchassama is an All-State and All-Region honoree. During his senior season alone, he recorded four interceptions, 22 tackles and one fumble recovery and was named the team captain.
The son of Dequilla Avery, Mekhi plans to major in exercise science.
Bradley Turner
(OLB, Douglasville, Ga., Chapel Hill High School, 5-11, 215 pounds)
A three-sport athlete, participating in football, baseball and swimming in high school, Turner joins the Vikings as an All-Region and two-time Academic All-State honoree. During his senior season, Turner was named the team captain and recorded 109 tackles with one interception and one forced fumble.
The son of Matthew and Amy Turner, Bradley plans to major in business. 
Noah Underwood
(TE, Blairsville, Ga., Union County High School, 6-3, 210 pounds)
A two-time All-Region recipient, Underwood and his football team have played in the state playoffs three seasons. He currently holds the shot-put record in track and field at Union County and recorded 323 yards on 25 catches during his senior season.
The son of Chad and Amy Underwood, Noah plans to major in business and strength and conditioning science.
Jared Weitkamp
(DL, Woodstock, Ga., Etowah High School, 6-3, 245 pounds)
A highly decorated athlete at Etowah High School, claiming the Lineman of the Year Award, All-State, All-Region and All-County honoree, two-time defensive player of the week, an All-American and Lifter of the Year, Weitkamp will bring a lot of talent to the Berry defensive line. His brother, Jake, is a starting outside linebacker and All-Conference performer for the Vikings. 
Jared is the son of Roger and Cheri Weitkamp.
Luke Welsh
(TE, Spring Garden, Ala., Spring Garden High School, 6-2, 225 pounds)
A three-sport athlete at Spring Garden High School, Welsh, comes to Berry with a highly decorated football career and has earned All-Region, All-County, All-State honors. He was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Defensive MVP in 2020. Welsh competed in the North-South All-Star game in 2020 and was a three-time region champ. He currently owns the longest rushing touchdown from scrimmage at Spring Garden with a 99-yard touchdown.
Luke is the son of Mark and Ann Welsh and plans to major in biology.
Jake Whitten
(DB, Loganville, Ga., George Walton Academy, 6-1, 175 pounds)
An All-State, All-County and All-Region recipient, Whitten holds the record for the longest kickoff return at George Washington Academy with 93 yards. During his senior season, he was named team captain and his team advanced to the Elite Eight.
The son of Jake and Jenifer Whitten, Jake plans to major in business.
Walker Williams
(OL, Grayson, Ga., Grayson High School, 6-4, 230 pounds)
Williams played both football and baseball at Grayson, winning the state football championship in 2020. He was named to the All-Region team and the Recruit Georgia All-State team.
The son of Robert and Anne Williams, Walker plans to major in business and minor in engineering.