BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Head coach Kris McCullough has announced the addition of 41 student-athletes to the 2026 Gardner-Webb recruiting class.

McCullough, in his first year at the helm of the Runnin' Bulldogs, arrives in Boiling Springs after a successful stint as the head coach at UT Permian Basin. McCullough led the Falcons to the Division II playoff in 2023 and 2025 as well as a berth in the Heritage Bowl in 2024.

All 39 members of the signing class are listed below, including eight members from the prep ranks and 31 athletes in the transfer portal.

Lan Farmer – Shelby HS – QB – 6-4 – 230 HUDL LINK

"Lan is Mr. Cleveland County! He is an elite QB with a skillset that fits what our Air Option attack offense is! I am excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY"

 

Lorenzo Roseboro – Shelby HS – WR – 6-2 – 180 – HUDL LINK

"Lorenzo is a hooper on the field! His elite ball skills and raw talent makes me excited for his future. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY"

 

Michael Edwards – Crest HS – WR – 5-11 – 170 – HUDL LINK

Mike Mike, Mr. MVP, call him what you want. He is an incredible talent that will be explosive in this attacking offense! Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Noah Gartner – Shelby HS – DL – 6-3 – 210 – HUDL LINK

"Noah gets after the QB! His length and motor will give him the ability to be a really good player! Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Jackson Settle – Christian Academy of Louisville – LB – 6-1 – 220 – HUDL LINK

"Jackson is a 3-star true mike linebacker. He fits this defense perfectly and he will have a heck of a career in the Red and Black! Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Noah Terry – Cardinal Gibbons – RB – 5-9 – 210 – HUDL LINK

"Noah is a 3-star running back from a Powerhouse high school. He is a force to bring down and will be in the endzone many times in the near future. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Xavier Wade – Baylor School – OL – 6-5 – 280 – HUDL LINK

"Xavier is a 3-star OL from a state champion Tennessee High School. He is an athletic mauler up front with a TON pf potential. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Kaiden Dewey – Baylor School – WR – 6-0 – 175 – HUDL LINK

"Kaiden is a 3-star WR from a big time Tennessee high school. He is a walking touchdown with the ability to take every bubble and screen to the house. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Joey Gaston – Peddie School – QB – 5-10 – 180 HUDL LINK

"Joey is a very athletic quarterback. He has capabilities to be an incredible dual threat at this level. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Shawn Battle – UT Permian Basin – DB – 5-11 – 180

"Shawn is one of the most gifted freshman corners I have seen in my career. He has unreal athleticism and a great work ethic that makes the sky the limit. Excited to still have him with me and part of the #FAMILLY"

 

Trenton Bell – Central Missouri – DB – 5-11 – 180

"Trenton can play multiple spots in the backend and has a crazy motor! He will thrive in this defense. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Tye Holsey – Delta State – DB – 6-2 – 205

"Tye can make every play in the backend. He's an elite tackler that will have huge role for us. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Chavaris Dumas – Murray State – DB – 6-1 – 180

"Chavaris is a corner that has all the tools to be an elite lockdown DUDE. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Jamarion Ravenell – UT Permian Basin – DB – 5-10 – 175

"J.R. is probably one of the smartest football players I've ever had the chance to coach. He will know where the QB is going before the QB! Excited to still have him with me and part of the #FAMILLY"

 

Tyshawn Sanders – App State – DB – 6-0 – 180

"Tyshawn is a DB that has started games at the FBS level. He's a great athlete with ball skills that will be able to be elite at corner or in the slot. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Ruben Tshilombo – Tyler CC – DL – 6-4 – 245

"Ruben is an edge rusher that can create havoc in the backfield. His frame gives him the ability to develop into a FORCE. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Anthony "AJ" Mebane – App State – DL – 6-3 – 240

"AJ is a special player that is only scratching the surface of his potential. He has the weapons to be one of the best edges in the OVC-Big South. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Preston Hamilton – East Texas A&M – DL – 6-0 – 300

"Preston is no stranger to me as we tried to recruit him at my previous school. He is a special player that can plug the interior and make offenses have to bounce to the perimeter. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Terrill Hopkins – Anderson – DL – 6-3 – 235

"T Hop is a player that I expect you to hear a lot about in the fall. A do-it-all edge that always does the right thing. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Gavin Gibson – Bluefield – DL – 6-3 – 210

"Gavin is a hard-working edge that is coming back home to North Carolina! Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Cooper Malaniak – Moorhead State – DL – 6-5 – 260

"Cooper is a young player with an incredible career yet to happen. Expect to hear his name a lot in the fall. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Maika Finau – Lindenwood – DL - 6-2 – 275

"Maika is a veteran in the OVC-Big South coming from Lindenwood. I expect him to be a leader in a deep room! Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Renardo Lewis – Stetson – DL – 5-11 – 300

"Renardo is a DUDE in the weight room and on the field. He's a true nose that will be a center's worst nightmare. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Andrew Bontekoe – Barton – K – 5-11 -160

"Andrew is a do-it-all specialist. It is great to have someone with his experience in the room. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Tyler Simpson – West Georgia – K – 6-1 -210

"Tyler is a talented specialist with a BOOT. He has an incredible work ethic as well. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Johnny "Tre" Yanez – UT Permian Basin – LB – 6-1 – 215

"Tre is a hard-working LB that has been is this system for multiple years now and was All-Conference last season. Excited to still have him with me and part of the #FAMILLY."

 

Joseph Lentine – Garden City CC – OL – 6-2 – 300

"Joseph was the first commit when I got to GWU. He has a true passion for the game and will outwork anyone. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Kyle Lofye – UT Permian Basin – OL – 6-3 -305

"Kyle is a veteran in this offense and at this level having started at the FCS level before playing for me at UTPB. Excited to still have him with me and part of the #FAMILLY."

 

Jabari Edwards – West Florida – OL – 6-2 -300

"Jabari is a former all-conference OL that is an extremely detailed and hard-working player. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Liam Lyck – Fairmont State – OL – 6-5 – 300

"Liam is a last second addition to the class. He is uber talented and will immediately help us up front. He is an extremely talented tackle. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Graysen Riffe – Eastern Kentucky – OL – 6-7 -310

"Graysen was the last addition to this portal class. He is the biggest young man on our team and matches it with great passion for the game. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Aidan Bonde – Campbell – P – 5-8 – 175

"Aidan was the starting punter for the Camels a year ago. I hope we do not see him punt very much because we score a lot but glad he's on our team. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Jared Doolittle – Riverside CC – QB – 6-3 – 200

"Jared will immediately compete to be our starting quarterback. A natural leader with a Gardner-Webb heart. He can do it all. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Adrian Cormier – UT Permian Basin – RB – 5-9 – 200

"AC is a veteran in this offense and at this level having started at FCS before playing for me at UTOB. He is a very explosive runner. Excited to still have him with me and part of the #FAMILLY."

 

Randy Young – Marshall – RB – 5-10 – 180

"Randy is QUICK. He fits our scheme perfectly and will be tough to catch when he breaks into the open field. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Jalile Bost – Coffeyville CC – WR – 5-11 – 180

"Jalile was our second commit. He is someone two months ago we didn't have a chance at but the moment we got here, a DUDE we knew we needed. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Dominic Haney – Chowan – WR – 6-4 – 205

"Dominic is probably one of the most TALENTED players in this class. We have such high expectations for him. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Brian Green Jr. – Georgia Southern – WR – 6-1 – 190

"Brian is one of the best DUDES I have gotten to coach. He was passionate about coming here and his talent will shine. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Joshua George – Lincoln University – WR – 5-8 – 170

"Joshua has raw ability. A slot that can help us in the quick game world we want to be in. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Montez Green – Morehead State -WR – 6-1 – 185

"Montez is a veteran DUDE that will make an immediate impact for the Dawgs. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"

 

Tae'Shaun Johnson - Hampton – WR – 5-11 – 205

"Jet will make an immediate impact for the Dawgs with his veteran mindset and elite athleticism and has a ton of production in his career. Excited to welcome him to the #FAMILLY!"