4-13-16
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College head football coach Chris Rusiewicz announced the official commitment of five student-athletes to play football for the Quakers Monday. These students have paid their deposits to Guilford and will enroll for classes beginning in August. They are the first members of Rusiewicz’s sixth recruiting class.
Malik Griffin (Columbia, S.C.) is a 5-10, 165-pound wide receiver who lettered for coach Rodney Summers at Westwood High School. Griffin ranked second for Westwood with 34 catches for 415 yards and one touchdown his senior year. He was also a three-time member of the soccer team and competed one season in track and field. Griffin serves as his school’s BETA Club President, is a member of the National Honor Society and received Westwood’s 2015 Scholar-Athlete Award. He intends to study sport management at Guilford.
Brennan Ivey (Tabor City, N.C.) lettered three times for coach Kyle Hutchinson at South Columbus High School. The 6-2, 220-pound defensive end was a two-time All-Three Rivers Conference selection and All-Columbus County honoree. He helped lead South Columbus to Three Rivers Conference championships in 2015 and 2013. Ivey also lettered two years in basketball and two years in track & field. He is active in his school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes and plans to study criminal justice at Guilford.
Emory Lyndon (Bailey, N.C.) lettered three times for coach Stevie Hinnant at James B. Hunt High School. The 6-3, 290-pound offensive lineman earned All-Big East Conference honors in 2015, as well as all-area recognition. He earned All-Big East Honorable Mention laurels as a sophomore in 2013. Lyndon helped Hunt to the third round of the 2013 3AA state playoffs. He plans to major in the education field upon his arrival at Guilford.
Chris McGee (Suwanee, Ga.) is a 5-10, 175-pound athlete who was a four-year letterman for coach Kevin Shaffer at Hebron Christian Academy. He tallied 33 touchdowns at quarterback between his junior and senior seasons en-route to all-region recognition and an honorable mention All-Gwinnett Country nod. McGee also received the Gwinnett County Player of the Month Award in the fall of 2015. McGee will come to Guilford with intentions of moving to wide receiver and plans to study sport management.
Austin Sykes (Hurdle Mills, N.C.) lettered three times for coach Pat Moser at Orange High School. The 6-2, 265-pound lineman was an All-Big 8 Conference selection in 2014 and 2015 and was his school’s Offensive Lineman of the Year four straight seasons. He helped Orange to the 2015 Big 8 Conference championship. Sykes twice lettered in baseball as a first baseman and pitcher and is a member of the National Technical Honors Society. He intends to study business administration.
Guilford expects 17 starters among 79 returning letter winners 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.