Taggart Announces 2021 December Class

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart announced eight individuals will join five greyshirts in Florida Atlantic University's 2021 December recruiting class.

"I feel really good about the guys we are bringing in," said Taggart on Wednesday morning. "After evaluating our football team and where we need to go, I felt like we added some needed players that can come in and help us instantly, which we need experience. Being a young football team, it is really critical in this recruiting cycle that we get some experience that will help mix in with the younger guys that we have on the football team."

FAU concentrated its efforts on immediate needs, at positions both vacated by player graduation and needs based on last year's play. In an effort to assemble the best possible class of student-athletes, the FAU coaching staff did not anticipate completing the signing class yet, with the knowledge that more players will enter the portal between now and the national championship as well as the Owls' need to balance the roster.

"Recruiting has changed tremendously," added Taggart. "It has always been an everyday thing, but now with so much movement, you don't know. Every day is different, but you have to understand your roster and recruit your roster, making sure you know that first. You have a lot of different periods now recruiting with the transfer portal … It is a new age. You have to try and adjust and stay ahead of the game."

Meet the Players

NAME	POS	HT	WT	YR	HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
Carter Boatwright	TE	6-4	240	R-SO	Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County (Florida State)
Justin Goodwin *	DL	6-3	280	FR	Birmingham, Ala. / Huffman
Jymetre Hester *	WR	5-10	160	SO	Belle Glade, Fla. / Glades Central (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Jahbari Hill *	CB	6-1	187	FR	Boynton Beach, Fla. / Atlantic Community
Morven Joseph	OLB	6-2	220	SO	Lakeland, Fla. / Lake Gibson (Tennessee)
Okino King *	OL	6-2	298	FR	Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Northwestern HS
Jaleel McRae	ILB	6-2	230	R-JR	New Smyrna Beach, Fla. / IMG Academy (Florida State)
Xavier Peters	OLB	6-4	255	R-JR	West Chester, Ohio / Lakota West (Garden City CC)
Jamie Pettway	ILB	6-2	235	R-JR	Albany, Ga. / Westover (Missouri)
Brandon Schabert *	WR	6-2	205	FR	West Palm Beach, Fla. / American Heritage – Delray
Marvin Scott III	RB	5-9	205	SO	Daytona Beach, Fla. / Spruce Creek (Nebraska)
Wyatt Sullivan	WR	6-4	198	FR	Quincy, Fla. / Robert F. Munroe Day School
Jaylen Wester	OLB	6-0	200	FR	Palmetto, Fla. / Palmetto

* - Greyshirts

And here are the bios of the eight newest Owls:

Carter Boatwright
Redshirt Sophomore | 6-4 | 240 | TE
Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County High School (Florida State)

At Florida State (2020-21)

Played in one game each season with the Seminoles

High School

His senior season, 2019, helped Colquitt County to 9-3 record
Caught 10 passes for 95 yards and a score
Was a GACA All-Star as a sophomore

Personal

Out of high school, rated as the No. 42 tight end in the nation, and as a three-star prospect, according to the 247Sports composite
ESPN also had him at three stars, as the No. 22 tight end, and No. 95 recruit from Georgia
Chose FSU over UCF, Pitt, Coastal Carolina, Navy, Appalachian State, Akron, Troy, UAB, Southern Miss and Marshall, among others

===

Morven Joseph
Sophomore | 6-2 | 220 | OLB
Lakeland, Fla. / Lake Gibson High School (Tennessee)

At Tennessee (2020-21)

In two seasons, saw 12 game appearances for the Volunteers
Posted his first career sack this past year, Sept. 18, against Tennessee Tech
During the 2020 campaign, played in 10 games
Recorded two tackles his first year, with a half-tackle for loss, plus a quarterback hurry

High School

His senior year, collected 115 tackles, 28 for loss, with 13 sacks
Led his Lake Gibson squad to an 11-1 mark and Class 6A District 9 title
For his efforts, was chosen FHSAA Class 6A All-State First Team
The year prior, had 62 tackles (18 1/2 for loss) and 8 1/2 sacks
Also forced four fumbles
Was named FHSAA Class 6A Honorable Mention, and was an All-County First Team defensive choice by The Ledger

Personal

Four-star recruit that was ranked as the No. 12 weakside defensive end nationally by 247Sports
Was also the No. 38 prospect from the state of Florida by them
Per ESPN, was No. 33 at his position and No. 63 in the Sunshine State
Was courted by most top schools; chose Tennessee over Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Kentucky, Texas A&M, UCF and USF

===

Jaleel McRae
Redshirt Junior | 6-2 | 230 | ILB
New Smyrna Beach, Fla. / IMG Academy (Florida State)

At Florida State (2019-21)

Played three seasons for the Seminoles, seeing action in 25 games
This past season, played in four games
His second year, had six tackles in eight outings (with one start)
Tied his career high in the 2020 season opener with three, against Georgia Tech
Saw the field in all 13 games his freshman campaign
Recorded 15 tackles (2.5 for loss) with a sack
Was named to the ACC Honor Roll

High School

Played his senior season at IMG Academy, helping the squad to a 7-1 record, for a defense that allowed just 7.9 points per game
Selected to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game, and was named to the Dick Butkus Award watch list (as the top high school LB)
Previously played at New Smyrna Beach High School
As a junior, had 73 tackles (6.5 for loss), and was named Second Team All-Area
Had 72 tackles as a sophomore, 12 for loss, with five sacks
Was chosen as a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American

Personal

Rivals and ESPN named him as a four-star linebacker
Was tabbed as No. 122 in the ESPN300, as No. 11 at his position, and No. 20 from Florida
247Sports rated him No. 34 at OLB, and 56th overall in the state of Florida
Picked FSU with other offers coming from Georgia, Florida, Cincinnati, LSU, Texas A&M, UCF, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech

===

Xavier Peters
Redshirt Junior | 6-4 | 255 | OLB
West Chester, Ohio / Lakota West High School (Garden City CC)

Prior to FAU

Saw action in five games in 2021 for Garden City Community College, recording three tackles
Broncbusters went 8-3, including scoring a school record for points in opener, 76-24 over Fort Scott CC
In 2019, took the field for three games at Kentucky
Posted his first career tackle as a Wildcat against Vanderbilt
Played in two games – but took a redshirt – in 2018 at Florida State
Had a tackle and a pass breakup against Wake Forest

High School

At Lakota West, had 78 tackles his senior season, including six sacks
Chosen First Team All-Greater Miami Conference, and Second Team Southwest Ohio All-District
Was an Under Armour All-American as well

Personal

Out of high school, 247Sports ranked him as the No. 5 recruit from Ohio, and the No. 15 outside linebacker in the country
Rivals chose him No. 5 in Ohio, No. 6 OLB and No. 75 national prospect
ESPN had him as Ohio's No. 12 overall recruit, the No. 21 OLB, and No. 25 prospect from the Midwest region
Committed to Florida State over Kentucky and Alabama, as well many other interested schools such as Georgia, Florida, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, LSU, Oregon, USC, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Texas, UCLA, West Virginia and Tennessee

===

Jamie Pettway
Redshirt Junior | 6-2 | 235 | ILB
Albany, Ga. / Westover HS (Missouri)

At Missouri (2019-21)

After a redshirt first year, played in nine games for the Tigers in 2020
Had a TFL against Vanderbilt for a six-yard loss
Posted another tackle against Arkansas
This past season made 10 total tackles (six solo and four assists) in seven games
Had another TFL among those 10 stops

High School

Posted 76 tackles his senior year, 8.4 a game, with two sacks and two interceptions (one of which went for a 25-yard score)
Named by league coaches as All-Region 1-AAA and the region's Defensive Player of the Year
All told in his four seasons at Westover, had 182 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and three picks

Personal

Was a four-star prospect, and by 247Sports, the No. 25 inside linebacker in the nation
That outlet also ranked him as the No. 47 prospect from Georgia
Rivals slotted him as the No. 21 ILB
ESPN put him at No. 66 at his position and No. 84 among Georgians
Missouri was chosen from a final group that also included Louisville and South Carolina. Also interested were Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Pitt, Maryland and Tennessee

===

Marvin Scott III
Sophomore | 5-9 | 205 | RB
Daytona Beach, Fla. / Spruce Creek HS (Nebraska)

At Nebraska (2020-21)

In two seasons, played nine games for the Cornhuskers
This past year – his second freshman campaign – he carried the ball 17 times for 66 yards with two touchdowns
Posted his first career score against Fordham, totaling 30 yards on six carries
At No. 19 Wisconsin, tied for the team lead with nine totes, for 29 yards, including a one-yard score
As a true freshman, had a start among his five games, rushing 24 times for 71 yards

High School

Played five seasons in total in his high school career, totaling 7,482 yards and 80 total touchdowns
Unofficially – according to floridapreprecords.com – that rushing total ranked sixth in Florida high school history
As a junior and senior at Spruce Creek, had more than 2,700 yards on the ground
His final season, had 1,477 and 18 touchdowns; as a junior, recorded 1,226 and 16 scores
Played three varsity seasons at Warner Christian Academy, including 1,736 rushing yards as an eighth grader
Was also a state champion weightlifter

Personal

Consensus three-star recruit
By 247Sports, was touted as the No. 50 nationwide running back and the 94th-ranked prospect from Florida
By ESPN, was No. 53 at RB and No. 94 from Florida
Nebraska beat out Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Kentucky, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Iowa State, Wake Forest, Boston College and Tennessee for his services
Was clocked at a 4.54 40 as a senior

===

Wyatt Sullivan
Freshman | 6-4 | 198 | WR
Quincy, Fla. / Robert F. Munroe Day School

High School

In 10 games as a senior, caught 38 passes for 608 yards and seven touchdowns
Also made 38 tackles, with five sacks, and two quarterback hurries
Plays basketball and runs track & field as well for Munroe
Previously attended Buford High School (Georgia)

Personal

Three-star composite recruit by 247Sports.com
Also three stars by ESPN
Chose the Owls over such schools as Coastal Carolina, WKU, Charlotte, Akron and Troy

===

Jaylen Wester
Freshman | 6-0 | 200 | OLB
Palmetto, Fla. / Palmetto HS

High School

Led Palmetto as a senior with 124 tackles (including 71 solo), and 35 went for a loss
Also added 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, one pass defended, two forced fumbles and blocked three punts.
Recorded 126 stops as a junior, 30 for loss
Additionally that season, picked off three passes (returning two for scores and had a total of 110 INT return yards) and blocked one punt and two field goals
And as a sophomore had 17 TFL, including 2.0 sacks, among his 82 total tackles

Personal

Also was courted by SMU, USF, Toledo, and Colorado State, among others
Ranked as the No. 4 recruit in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune coverage area
His brother LaJohntay is a current Owl, a rising sophomore wideout that has played two seasons with the squad

Calendar

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Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Football versus Memphis on September 27, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football at Rice on October 4, 2025 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Football versus UAB on October 11, 2025 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Football at South Florida on October 18, 2025 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Football at Navy on October 25, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football versus Tulsa on November 8, 2025 at TBA

Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Taggart Announces 2021 December Class

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