Elon University head football coach Rich Skrosky hinted that the future of the program is arriving in the present with Elon’s 22 new signees Wednesday.

“I’ve made no secret about it, this class and last year’s class, together, that is going to be the cornerstone of the program moving forward,” Skrosky said. “Just in fact of the sheer size of the classes.”

On National Signing Day, the Phoenix signed 19 scholarship players and three recruited walk-ons, with more walk-ons to come once the players deposit their admissions money. All in all, Skrosky expects the number of freshmen to be “in the 30s” when the final walk-ons join the team.

With two large recruiting classes, Skrosky said the plan has played out exactly how he thought it would since he stepped onto campus.

“Next year’s class will be smaller, for sure,” Skrosky said. “It will probably be smaller than average, which is about 15 players.”

Skrosky said Elon didn’t have any issues with players flipping commitments.

“Every kid’s got a story, and you win some [recruiting battles] and you lose some,” Skrosky said. “But you’re holding your breath until this morning.

“But everyone we thought we were going to hear from today, we heard from.”

Elon signed five players from Georgia, which Skrosky was proud of. He said that area was a focal point to the coaching staff, and they were excited to see the recruits from the Peach State sign with Elon. Skrosky was also impressed with the team’s ability to get players from Eastern North Carolina and Virginia Beach, Virginia.

“When we get these kids and families on our campus, I know they don’t leave and say, ‘OK, we’re moving on,’” Skrosky said. “They’re going to think hard about this opportunity and everything we have to offer them.”

Two of the signees are already on campus for the spring semester — wide receiver Tre Marsh (Greensboro, Northern Guilford) and long snapper Marshall Simmons (Charlotte, Charlotte Country Day).

But Skrosky said the key signees proved to be the early signees, like offensive lineman Karl Hofmeister (Fayetteville, Jack Britt) and Alex Parker (Charlotte, Charlotte Christian).

“With today’s day and age, and how these kids communicate, the early early ones [helped],” Skrosky said. “Alex Parker was gigantic — Alex Parker should be an assistant recruiting coordinator. He was awesome.”

2016 Elon Football Signees

Offense

QB Seth Harrell — 6-1, 190 — Byfield, Mass. — Governor’s Academy

RB Breylnd Cyphers — 5-10, 190 — Virginia Beach, Va. — Green Run

RB De’Sean McNair — 5-10, 195 — Jacksonville, Fla. — Ribault

WR Jeremiah Bridges — 5-11, 180 — Powder Springs, Ga. — Hillgrove
WR Tre Marsh — 6-4, 205 — Greensboro — Northern Guilford
WR Cole Taylor — 6-3, 205 — Marietta, Ga. — Lassiter
TE Matt Foster — Williamsville, N.Y. — Williamsville South
TE Alex Parker — 6-2, 235 — Charlotte — Charlotte Christian
OL Karl Hofmeister — 6-6, 295 — Fayetteville — Jack Britt
OL Chad Nelson — 6-3, 275 — Dunwoody, Ga. — Saint Pius X
OL Pete Townsend — 6-3, 295 — Lumberton — Lumberton

Defense

DL Michael Ebaugh — 6-4, 225 — Boone — Watauga
DL Martel Waugh — 6-1, 295 — McDonough, Ga. — Eagle’s Landing
DL Marcus Willoughby — 6-3, 230 — Durham — Durham Riverside
LB Stephen Copeland — Virginia Beach, Va. — Kellam
LB T.J. Speight — 6-0, 230 — Wilson — Hunt
LB Cameron Wright — 6-2, 230 — Hudson — South Caldwell
DB Khalil Moore — 5-11, 180 — Charlotte — Davidson Day
DB Daniel Reid-Bennett — 6-1, 200 — Lexington — Lexington
DB Zavier Williams — Ellenwood, Ga. — Cedar Grove

Specialists
K/P Jack Pawloski — 6-1, 165 — Florence, S.C. — Wilson

LS Marshall Simmons — 5-10, 190 — Charlotte — Charlotte Country Day