BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University baseball program has signed eight new student-athletes for the 2024-25 early signing class, head coach Tony David announced recently.
 
"Another incredible group of players we are adding in this class," David said. "It all starts with recruiting a great class and then developing them daily into better players the moment they arrive on campus. I am proud of the work my staff has done to continually find great players that fit what we want to do as a program."
 
Will Andre (RHP, 6-6, 215, Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS), Cason Hill (OF, 6-0, 180, College Grove, Tenn./Middle Tennessee Christian), Grant Largen (RHP, 6-5, 215, Marietta, Ga./Harrison HS), Eddie Marshall (C, 6-1, 210, Lighthouse Point, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons), Edward McCleod (INF, 6-3, 230, Mobile, Ala./St. Paul's Episcopal), Easton Nelms (INF, 6-2, 195, Hartselle, Ala./Hartselle HS), Braden Rosenthal (RHP, 6-4, 210, West Palm Beach, Fla./Calvary Christian Academy) and Madden Williams (INF, 5-10, 205, Nashville, Tenn./David Lipscomb Academy) are all new addition to the program.
 
The latest incoming class for Samford continues their process of adding outstanding high school players.
 
"We will continue to find outstanding high school players that are ready to contribute at a high level here in year one," David said. "I feel like our process of development is second to none. Our guys get better, love our environment and love their time here on our campus. They only get four years at this life, and I want to make sure they enjoy as much of it as humanly possible. These guys are a great fit for our Samford community as well."
 
Andre was named the Hoover High School MVP Pitcher in both 2023 and 2024. He was also named All-South Metro honorable mention in 2023 and 2024. Academically, he was named to the National Junior Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and he won the Academic Excellence Award (4.0 GPA).
 
"Will comes in as a guy that has a great chance to help right away, but with an infinite ceiling for how good I think he can become on that frame of his," David said. "He continues our Hoover pipeline of outstanding players and was born to be a Samford guy on a personal level."
 
Hill was named to the TBCA Division 2-A All-State team out of Middle Tennessee Christian. He also played football, basketball and golf in high school. He is a nationally ranked outfielder with Perfect Game and the third ranked outfielder in Tennessee.
 
"Cason is an incredible athlete and hitter," David said. "He is an impact hitter that can run and has real arm strength with day one impact ability when he gets here for sure."
 
Largen was a second team All-Region player at Harrison High School. He also had his team's highest GPA the last two seasons. He played on the two-time division championship team at the Georgia Dugout Club Tournament.
 
"Grant is another guy with that tall frame we love that has a live arm running into the 90's and is an outstanding student," David said.
 
Marshall is a three-time All-County team member at Cardinal Gibbons. He has hit above .300 in each of his three seasons, and he has belted 16 home runs. He is also a three-time MVP and team captain. He was named the County Hitter of the Year, and he helped lead his team to the 2024 state championship.
 
"Eddie has a chance to be a really special player for us," David said. "He continues a long line of outstanding players for us from the south Florida area. We expect him to see real playing time immediately."
 
McCleod was a first-team All-State honoree in 2023 at St. Paul's Episcopal and a second-team honoree in 2024, He is a two-time Mobile County Player of the Year and he was named the 2023 Alabama Newcomer of the Year. As a junior, he hit .460 with nine home runs.
 
"Real power is the best way to describe Edward," David said. "We have to hit the ball out of the park to win in this league and he can definitely do that. From an outstanding program at St. Paul's playing for Coach Robbins and my former college teammate Coach Boulo. The Mobile area has been great to us over the years."
 
Nelms was named his team's Offensive MVP in both 2022 and 2023. He was his team's Stolen Base King and Defensive King. He was selected to play in the Futures Game and ALABCA All-Star game in both 2023 and 2024.
 
"Big tall rangy infielder with really good hands and power at the plate," David said. "Had a chance to see him play a number of times and has the ability to make all the plays at the position and has great bat speed at plate."
 
Rosenthal is a three-time All-District player at Calvary Christian Academy. He is also a two-time All-County selection, and he was named the District Player of the Year. Rosenthal was also named his team's MVP and captain as a junior. As a hitter, he is eighth in school history in hits, fifth in doubles, fourth in RBI and third in walks. As a pitcher, he Is seventh in school history in strikeouts and 10^th in ERA. His father, Wayne, played in the big leagues and served as a long-time pitching coach in the professional ranks including the Marlins organization for more than two decades.
 
"Another prototypical guy we like on the mound with his frame," David said. "Really live arm on the mound that will make an impact right away."
 
Williams has been named hits team's captain for the upcoming season at David Lipscomb Academy. He had a career-high .340 batting average with three home runs as a sophomore. As a junior in 2024, he hit .299 and belted one home run.
 
"Madden can really swing the bat," David said. "We feel like when we get him on campus he is going to hit for power as well with an opportunity to get on the field early."
 
"These guys have done a lot of winning in their high school and summer programs," David said. "They understand the level of expectation in our program. We want to win championships and be in the NCAA tournament every year. This is a group that will keep this program moving forward. There is no place like Samford!"
 
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