Charlotte 49ers football adds players to ‘best class’ in program history

The Charlotte 49ers bulked up their 2020 recruiting class Wednesday, signing two players to national letters of intent and adding two others as preferred walk-ons.

Elijah Turner, a three-star running back from Buford, Ga., and defensive tackle Rayshaad Roddy, a transfer from Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College in Minnesota, join second-year coach Will Healy’s first full recruiting class on the first day of the February signing period. The 49ers signed 19 players during December’s first signing period, a class Healy called the best in program history.

Turner had several offers from other Football Bowl Subdivision programs, picking the 49ers over programs like Boise State, Temple, Louisville and North Carolina. Turner recently took an unofficial visit to Southern California.

He rushed for 782 yards, 13 touchdowns and averaged 7.7 yards per carry as a senior at Buford High before a knee injury ended his season.

“He’s really dynamic, really impressive,” Healy said of Turner. “He’s going to be a huge addition to that position.”

The 49ers, who lose all-Conference USA running back Benny LeMay, also signed Northern Iowa transfer Tre Harbison in December.

Roddy, a 6-foot, 290-pound player, led the nation’s junior colleges last season with 23.5 tackles-for-loss and was third nationally in sacks (12.5).

“I think he was under-recruited and not a lot of people knew about him,” Healy said of Roddy. “He’s incredibly strong. To be third in the nation in sacks as a defensive tackle, I think, is just unheard of.”

The 49ers also announced that running back Keegan Williams of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and tight end Jake Clemons of Christiansburg, Va., are joining the program as preferred walk-ons.

Healy said he expects Williams and Clemons to eventually earn scholarships. Clemons, Healy said, turned down a scholarship offer from Football Championship Subdivision power James Madison to come to Charlotte.

“Both those guys can play and can really help us,” Healy said.

49ers notes

▪ Healy said he expects to announce the hiring of a new offensive line coach sometime this week. Alex Atkins, who was the 49ers offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, left for Florida State in January. Mark Carney was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator to replace Atkins.

▪ Healy confirmed he’s hiring Charles Bankins as special teams coordinator and Adam Braithwaite as linebackers coach. Max Thurmond, who had both those jobs last season, was let go.

Bankins, Old Dominion’s special teams coordinator and running backs coach since 2016, was Richmond’s running backs coach in 2007-08, when Healy was a Spiders player.

Braithwaite has been Richmond’s defensive coordinator since 2017. Braithwaite and Healy spent four seasons together on Chattanooga’s staff from 2012-15.

▪ Two players have left the 49ers program and transferred: running back Ishod Finger (to Bryant) and receiver Noah Henderson (Furman).

▪ Healy said he expects senior defensive end Tyriq Harris, who missed last season with a back injury, to participate fully in spring drills. Harris received a sixth-year medical waiver from the NCAA to play a final season. Also, senior safety Ben DeLuca, who redshirted after missing 10 games with a shoulder injury, will be held out of contact drills this spring.

▪ Senior receiver Tyler Ringwood broke his foot this week during a drill and will miss spring practice. Defensive end Damon Weldon will also miss the spring after having shoulder surgery.

▪ Because of the delay in hiring an offensive line coach, spring practice will begin Feb. 18. Charlotte’s Green-White spring game is scheduled for March 21.

This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 6:03 PM.