Thunder defensive tackle Rayshaad Roddy signs his scholarship offer to attend UNC-Charlotte while Thunder Head Coach Robert Smith observes the signing.
Two more members of the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Thunder Football team today signed national letters of intent to continue playing college football at higher levels, highlighted by defensive tackle Rayshaad Roddy accepting an offer from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte 49ers, a successful NCAA Division I FBS football program playing in Conference USA.
Thunder offensive lineman Emani Douglas also accepted an offer to attend and play football at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, an NAIA institution playing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Today’s two national signings increases the total number of players on the 2019 Thunder Football team accepting offers to nine.
Rayshaad Roddy, a second-year defensive tackle from Mt. Healthy High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, led the Minnesota College Athletic Conference and the nation with 23.5 tackles for loss in nine games played during the 2019 season. Roddy recorded 12.5 sacks that put him second overall in the MCAC and third overall among all NJCAA players. Roddy made 63 tackles during the 2019 season to lead all defensive linemen in the MCAC. Roddy earned NJCAA All-Region 13 Team Honors and was named to the Minnesota College Athletic Conference All-Eastern Division Team for the 2019 season. Roddy will graduate with an associate of arts degree from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College after Spring Semester 2020.
“It’s not too often that you get an FBS-caliber player at our level,” said Thunder Football Head Coach Robert Smith. “Rayshaad came a long way in his two years with the Thunder, working on physical conditioning, watching film, studying, and being prepared. One of our goals is to help our Thunder players achieve their goals, and if the goal is to advance to play at the next level, we’ll work hard with our student athletes to reach those goals.”
Emani Douglas, a second-year offensive lineman for the Thunder, graduated from Maynard Evans High School in Orlando, Florida. Douglas will graduate with an associate of arts degree from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College after Spring Semester 2020 and will join the Friends University Falcons in Wichita. Douglas led the Thunder lineman and at 6’3” tall and weighing 340 pounds, his size and skillset is in demand among college football programs and coaches.
Thunder offensive lineman Emani Douglas is all smiles as he signs his offer to attend Friends University. Thunder Head Coach Robert Smith is with Emani for the signing.
“Playing for the Thunder was life changing for me,” said Douglas after he signed his letter of intent. “You have to focus, work hard, and know that there are always going to be opportunities to become better and advance.”
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The football conference includes 11 teams which are divided geographically into Eastern and Western Divisions.
Adidas, the United States Marine Corps, and Nicklasson Athletic Company sponsor the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. More information about the conference is available from the league’s website located at www.mcacsports.org.
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system, as well as select member colleges in North Dakota and Wisconsin. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.