Football Announces Seven Signees For Early Class
12.16.20 | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford football program has signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the early signing period for the 2021 class, head coach Chris Hatcher announced Wednesday.
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The class includes three offensive players and four defensive players. Four players in the class hail from Alabama. There were two players in the class from Georgia, and one player came from the state of Florida.
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Below is a short bio on each signee.
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Patrick Nuss (6-7, 315, OL, Vestavia Hills, Ala./UAB)
Patrick Nuss comes to Samford as a graduate transfer after three seasons at UAB . . . he redshirted in 2017, before playing the next two seasons for the Blazers . . . he appeared in all 14 games in each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons for UAB . . . he started four games in 2019, and was part of an offensive line unit that helped the Blazers rush for over 2,000 yards and score 16 touchdowns on the ground . . . he played his high school football at nearby Vestavia Hills . . . he was named First Team All-Birmingham and Second Team All-State . . . he helped the Rebels rush for 273 yards against Tuscaloosa in a 41-0 shutout victory.
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Seth Simmer (6-4, 300, DT, Powder Springs, Ga./Dartmouth)
Seth Simmer is a graduate transfer from Dartmouth . . . in 2019, he was named the team's Lester R. Godwin Award winner as the player who, through extraordinary perseverance, has risen above personal disadvantage to contribute measurably to the team . . . that season he played in every game on the defensive line, recording 26 tackles, 2.5 for loss with one sack . . . in 2018, he was named a Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year for playing after having a brain tumor removed the year before . . . he prepped at Harrison High School in Powder Springs, Georgia . . . he was selected 4-AAAAAA first-team both on defense and offense . . . he was a two-time second-team All-State selection .... he was named first-team All-County as a senior ... he was named Cobb County Defensive Lineman of the Year in his final season ... named All-County first-team defense his final season.Â
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J.R. Tran Reno (6-1, 214, ATH, Birmingham, Ala./Vanderbilt)
J.R. Tran Reno comes to Samford as a sophomore after spending the 2019 season at Vanderbilt . . . the Birmingham native prepped at nearby Briarwood Christian . . . Â he was a three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports . . . he accumulated 2,453 rushing yards, 1,142 receiving yards, 459 passing yards and 54 touchdowns in his prep career . . . he had 20 touchdowns as a senior, and 26 touchdowns as a junior . . . he led his team to a 9-4 record in 2018 . . . Tran-Reno led his team to a 14-1 record and 5A state title game appearance in 2017 . . . he was a 2017 Alabama 5A Mr. Football finalist, and was named the 2017 5A Back of the Year . . . in 2017, he was also named first team All-State, All-Region and All-Conference.
Michael Maginnis (6-1, 182, QB, Newnan, Ga./Newnan HS)
HIGHLIGHTS
Michael Maginnis was a two-time Region 2-AAAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year for Newnan High School in Georgia . . . he also earned 2018 Region 2-AAAAAAA first team All-Region honors . . . for his high school career, he completed 381-of-669 passes for 5,879 yards and 50 touchdowns.
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Midnight Steward (6-1, 180, S, Daphne, Ala./Daphne HS)
HIGHLIGHTS
Midnight Steward was a 2020 first team All-County honoree . . . he was also named to the 2020 All-Coastal team . . . , Steward earned 2019 All-County Honorable Mention accolades . . . he tallied 108 total tackles as a senior, including 35 solo stops . . . he also intercepted seven passes, scoring four touchdowns . . . he had three caused fumbles and 15 pass deflections.
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Kobe Stewart (6-3, 220, DE, Alabaster, Ala./Thompson HS)
HIGHLIGHTS
Kobe Stewart helped lead his team to back-to-back 7A state championships . . . he finished his senior season with 80 total tackles, including 51 solo stops . . . he tallied 12 tackles for loss . . . he also had two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble . . . for his last two seasons, Stewart had a combined 98 total tackles, including 59 solo tackles.
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Jamall Thompson (6-3, 240, DE, Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota HS)
HIGHLIGHTS
Jamall Thompson prepped at Sarasota High School in Florida . . . he earned Most Valuable Player honors for his team . . . he led his team in tackles, sacks and forced fumbles . . . he played multiple positions, including defensive line, linebacker, wide receiver and tight end.
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The class includes three offensive players and four defensive players. Four players in the class hail from Alabama. There were two players in the class from Georgia, and one player came from the state of Florida.
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Below is a short bio on each signee.
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Patrick Nuss (6-7, 315, OL, Vestavia Hills, Ala./UAB)
Patrick Nuss comes to Samford as a graduate transfer after three seasons at UAB . . . he redshirted in 2017, before playing the next two seasons for the Blazers . . . he appeared in all 14 games in each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons for UAB . . . he started four games in 2019, and was part of an offensive line unit that helped the Blazers rush for over 2,000 yards and score 16 touchdowns on the ground . . . he played his high school football at nearby Vestavia Hills . . . he was named First Team All-Birmingham and Second Team All-State . . . he helped the Rebels rush for 273 yards against Tuscaloosa in a 41-0 shutout victory.
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Seth Simmer (6-4, 300, DT, Powder Springs, Ga./Dartmouth)
Seth Simmer is a graduate transfer from Dartmouth . . . in 2019, he was named the team's Lester R. Godwin Award winner as the player who, through extraordinary perseverance, has risen above personal disadvantage to contribute measurably to the team . . . that season he played in every game on the defensive line, recording 26 tackles, 2.5 for loss with one sack . . . in 2018, he was named a Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year for playing after having a brain tumor removed the year before . . . he prepped at Harrison High School in Powder Springs, Georgia . . . he was selected 4-AAAAAA first-team both on defense and offense . . . he was a two-time second-team All-State selection .... he was named first-team All-County as a senior ... he was named Cobb County Defensive Lineman of the Year in his final season ... named All-County first-team defense his final season.Â
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J.R. Tran Reno (6-1, 214, ATH, Birmingham, Ala./Vanderbilt)
J.R. Tran Reno comes to Samford as a sophomore after spending the 2019 season at Vanderbilt . . . the Birmingham native prepped at nearby Briarwood Christian . . . Â he was a three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports . . . he accumulated 2,453 rushing yards, 1,142 receiving yards, 459 passing yards and 54 touchdowns in his prep career . . . he had 20 touchdowns as a senior, and 26 touchdowns as a junior . . . he led his team to a 9-4 record in 2018 . . . Tran-Reno led his team to a 14-1 record and 5A state title game appearance in 2017 . . . he was a 2017 Alabama 5A Mr. Football finalist, and was named the 2017 5A Back of the Year . . . in 2017, he was also named first team All-State, All-Region and All-Conference.
Michael Maginnis (6-1, 182, QB, Newnan, Ga./Newnan HS)
HIGHLIGHTS
Michael Maginnis was a two-time Region 2-AAAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year for Newnan High School in Georgia . . . he also earned 2018 Region 2-AAAAAAA first team All-Region honors . . . for his high school career, he completed 381-of-669 passes for 5,879 yards and 50 touchdowns.
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Midnight Steward (6-1, 180, S, Daphne, Ala./Daphne HS)
HIGHLIGHTS
Midnight Steward was a 2020 first team All-County honoree . . . he was also named to the 2020 All-Coastal team . . . , Steward earned 2019 All-County Honorable Mention accolades . . . he tallied 108 total tackles as a senior, including 35 solo stops . . . he also intercepted seven passes, scoring four touchdowns . . . he had three caused fumbles and 15 pass deflections.
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Kobe Stewart (6-3, 220, DE, Alabaster, Ala./Thompson HS)
HIGHLIGHTS
Kobe Stewart helped lead his team to back-to-back 7A state championships . . . he finished his senior season with 80 total tackles, including 51 solo stops . . . he tallied 12 tackles for loss . . . he also had two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble . . . for his last two seasons, Stewart had a combined 98 total tackles, including 59 solo tackles.
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Jamall Thompson (6-3, 240, DE, Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota HS)
HIGHLIGHTS
Jamall Thompson prepped at Sarasota High School in Florida . . . he earned Most Valuable Player honors for his team . . . he led his team in tackles, sacks and forced fumbles . . . he played multiple positions, including defensive line, linebacker, wide receiver and tight end.
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