UNH announces early signing class

By rbrown
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Updated: December 21, 2022

DURHAM – University of New Hampshire coach Rick Santos announced Wednesday that 10 future Wildcats signed a National Letter of Intent to commit to join the UNH football program in Fall 2023.

The Early Signing Period goes from Dec. 21-23, 2022, and National Signing Day is Feb. 1, 2023.

“Our staff did a great job recruiting so far this year, and we were able to yield very talented young men in the early signing period,” Santos said. “We worked extremely hard at not only finding talented players, but signing young men of character, integrity and elite work ethic. We certainly built off the momentum from our championship run this season, and these student-athletes will propel our program to future success. We added some impact players up front and are bringing in dynamic playmakers on the perimeter as well. This class will lay the foundation for the next generation of Wildcats looking to continue our tradition of winning and excellence on the gridiron and in the classroom.”

Here is a list of Wednesday’s NLI signees, and a synopsis of each member of the Wildcats’ signing class:

Player	Position	Height	Weight	Hometown	Last School
Jackson Downey	S	6-2	200	Marblehead, Mass.	Proctor Academy
Dylan Evans	WR	6-3	180	Orchard Park, N.Y.	Orchard Park HS
Joshua Farquharson	ATH	5-11	195	Brampton, Ontario	Saint James School
Kenyata Forbes Jr	DT	6-1	285	Chicago, Ill.	Kenwood Academy
Jordan Mcallister	OLB/DE	6-3	225	South Orange, N.J.	Seton Hall Prep
Elliot Meine	RB	5-10	200	Burke, Va.	Lake Braddock HS
Wakeem Page	WR	5-10	165	Erie, Pa.	Cathedral Prep
Luke Swaine	OL	6-4	297	Sebring, Fla.	Sebring HS
Logan Tomlinson	WR	6-3	205	Manchester, Conn.	Wesleyan University
Tavian Williams	CB	6-2	180	Wake Forest, N.C.	Wake Forest HS

Jackson Downey is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety from Proctor Academy in Andover, N.H. Downey, a second-generation Wildcat, was a leader for the Hornets as a wide receiver and safety. He was a physical presence on both sides of the ball with 143 tackles, six interceptions, five forced fumbles and 16 pass breakups. On offense, he scored five touchdowns and accumulated 510 all-purpose yards. Downey led Proctor to the 2022 NEPSAC Bowl Championship. Personal accolades included NEPSAC All-League as a senior and All-Evergreen as a junior and senior. Downey, who previously attended Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass., earned the Wayne F. Sanborn Award as that school’s top student-athlete in his class (sophomore).

What Coach Santos Says

“Jackson has been a part of the Wildcat family his entire life, as his father Pat was a former All-Conference player for UNH. Jackson made plays all over the field this year and has the ability to impact a game on offense and defense. We will utilize his skillset by playing him at the safety position. He is athletic enough to cover people in space and make plays on the ball in the air, while also being a willing tackler who loves to be physical in the run game. We’re so excited he will continue his family’s legacy in Durham.”

Dylan Evans is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound wide receiver from Orchard Park High School in Orchard Park, N.Y. Evans was the most prolific scoring receiver in Western New York football history, setting the career record with 37 TDs. He also set the Orchard Park High record for career receptions (142) receiving yards (2,137) and single-season receiving TDs (17). Evans was once named All-State in New York and twice named All-Western New York. He was twice selected as a captain for the Quakers, currently serves as a captain on the basketball team and plays lacrosse in the spring.

What Coach Santos Says

“Dylan is a big, rangy athlete who has incredible body control and has elite catching ability. When the ball is in the air, he can high-point it well and is extremely tough at the reception point. When the game is on the line, Dylan was the guy that always stepped up for his team. He is one of the most productive wide receivers to ever come out of New York and is a perfect fit for our scheme. We’re beyond excited to have this young man be a part of our family.”

Joshua “Tonka” Farquharson is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound athlete from Brampton, Ontario, who attended Saint James School in Hagerstown, Md. While at Saint James, Joshua was a staple for his team playing running back, defensive back and kick/punt returner. Farquharson compiled 2,400 all-purpose yards, 24 TDs, 24 Receptions, 210 receiving yards, three interceptions, 80 Tackles, three fumble recoveries and one sack. He was named 2022 Washington County MVP (WCAA), 2022 Washington County Running Back of the Year (WCAA) and was twice named to the All-MAC First Team and All-Washington County Team.

What Coach Santos Says
“Josh is a dynamic athlete that can play a multitude of positions. He can impact a game with the ball in his hands at running back and play a few spots in the defensive backfield as well. On offense, he runs with great power and vision, and he is extremely physical when he tackles on defense. We’re very excited about his ability and will find creative ways to utilize his skillset. It’s extremely exciting to welcome him into the Wildcat family.”

Kenyata Forbes, Jr. is a 6-foot-1, 285-pound defensive tackle from Kenwood Academy in Chicago, Ill. Forbes capped off a great career by dominating the line of scrimmage this year in the Chicago Public League. He totaled 54 tackles (21 solo), 20 TFLs, three sacks, four forced fumbles and one touchdown. As a highly recognized name in the state, Forbes earned a top-10 spot in the 247Sports State of Illinois Defensive Tackle rankings.

What Coach Santos Says

“Kenyata is a force in the trenches and imposes his will on his opponents with his style of play. He has a great first step and is very strong at the point of attack. He has the strength to beat you with a bull rush and is also agile enough to work a variety of finesse moves as well. He is a ready-made player that will look to make an immediate impact for our D-line in the fall. We’re very excited to add him to the family.”

Jordan Mcallister is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound outside linebacker/defensive end from Seton Hall Preparatory in West Orange, N.J. Mcallister finished his high school career with a deep playoff run to the semifinals of the NJSIAA Non-Public Group A State Tournament. He registered 63 total tackles, one forced fumble and three QB sacks; he was subsequently named to the All-Conference First Team, All-Essex County First Team and Non-Public Football All-State Second Team.

What Coach Santos Says

“Jordan is a playmaker that has a ton of upside and can play multiple positions. He excelled at the outside LB spot in high school, and we believe he will be a dynamic edge pass rusher. He has elite change-of-direction ability and has the ideal length we’re looking for. He can rush the passer, drop in coverage and be a physical presence in the run game. We’re thrilled to have him in Durham as a part of the UNH family.”

Elliot Meine is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound running back from Lake Braddock High School in Burke, Va. He was a dynamic part of his team’s offense this season as the featured back accounting for 1,941 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. He averaged a staggering 13 yards/carry. On top of his touches at the RB position, he also starred as the team’s kick and punt returner. Meine finished as one of the top RBs in the state of Virginia; he earned All-District First Team (RB, KR) and All-District Second Team (PR).

What Coach Santos Says

“Elliot is a physically imposing young man who runs with great power and agility. He is a home run threat with the ball in his hands and can score a touchdown from anywhere on the field. He can run through arm tackles and has the ability to make people miss in space. He will make an impact on offense and in the return game. We’re thrilled to add him to our running back room and add depth to a very talented group.”

Wakeem Page is a 5-foot-10, 165-pound wide receiver from Cathedral Prep in Erie, Pa. Page was a scoring threat every time he touched the ball, finishing with over 20 career TDs. He made 35 catches for 511 yards and two touchdowns this past season after snaring 21 receptions for 456 yards and 11 TDs as a junior. He totaled 280 kick-return yards as a senior and 403 KR yards as a junior to finish with more than 1,800 all-purpose yards in two seasons. He earned numerous postseason awards, including All-Region Team (3x) and All-District First Team (2x).

What Coach Santos Says

“Wakeem has game-changing speed and is a playmaker that can make people miss in space. He has elite run-after-the-catch ability and shows a variety of different routes he can execute. We will utilize his talent in the slot and will find many creative ways to get him the ball. He is a great addition to an already talented group of wide receivers in the program. The Wildcat family got a great one in Wakeem, and we’re thrilled to have him in Durham.”

Luke Swaine is a 6-foot-4, 297-pound offensive lineman from Sebring High School in Sebring, Fla. Swaine was a 3.5-year varsity starter who compiled 78 pancake blocks while only surrendering one quarterback sack and three TFLs. He was a two-year varsity wrestler and two-time state championship qualifier with a record of 12-5. He is a varsity weightlifter in bench and clean/jerk and will join former Sebring teammate Beau Riley (Sebring, Fla.) on the Wildcat OL.

What Coach Santos Says

“Luke is a big, tough, rugged offensive lineman who is very strong and loves to mix it up in the trenches. He is extremely powerful at the point of attack and does a great job understanding and using leverage when he blocks. He is an elite powerlifter and uses that strength to his advantage on the playing field. He is a great addition to the O-Line room and will look to play early based on his size and strength. We’re so excited to welcome him to the UNH family.”

Logan Tomlinson is a transfer wide receiver from Wesleyan University. In two seasons with the Cardinals, Tomlinson collected 131 receptions, 1,826 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. He was a two-time All-NESCAC First-Team member. With a double major (economics, psychology), Tomlinson was involved in Wesleyan’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council as well as the Student-Athlete of Color Leadership Council. Prior to Wesleyan, Tomlinson was a standout quarterback at Manchester High School in Manchester, Conn. As a two-year captain on both the football and basketball teams, he earned All-State honors for basketball and All-Area honors for football in his senior year along with being named the school’s Student-Athlete of the Year.

What Coach Santos Says

“Logan is a dynamic playmaker who will look to have an immediate impact for our offense next fall. He is a very cerebral player that understands defensive structure and can get open versus any coverage. He can high-point the football and make contested catches in traffic. Logan can take the top off the coverage and catch the deep ball as well as work the middle of the field in the intermediate passing game. He will be a great addition to our wide receiver room, and we’re very excited to welcome him to our family.”

Tavian Williams is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound shutdown cornerback from Wake Forest High School in Wake Forest, N.C. Williams dominated his senior year as a receiver, defensive back and return specialist. He hauled in six interceptions accompanied by 14 PBUs and 41 tackles. On the offensive side of the ball, he racked up 233 all-purpose yards with two TD receptions. His playmaking ability led to All-State and All-Conference honors.

What Coach Santos Says

“Tavian is a lockdown corner that has the ideal size and length we’re looking for. He excels in man-to-man coverage because of his ability to use his hands and is elite at press technique. He has a ball-hawking mentality that allows him to be dominant at the reception point and turn a batted ball into an interception. He is a great young man and will be an awesome addition to the cornerback room.”

About UNH Football

The UNH football team won a share of the CAA championship with a 7-1 conference record and went 9-4 overall, which included a victory over Fordham in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship. This season marked the most wins and first playoff appearance since 2017, as well as the first CAA title and most regular-season wins since 2014.

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