Coastal Carolina University has announced its 2026 football signing class, the first under new head coach Ryan Beard. The program is bringing in 56 newcomers for the upcoming season, including 38 transfers from the portal, 13 high school recruits, and five junior college players. The recruitment covers athletes from 16 states and three countries outside the United States.
“There’s a lot to be excited about with this historic 2026 recruiting class,” said Beard. “We’ve targeted young men that have elite talent and the character to maintain a championship culture. It’s a solid culmination of players from the high school ranks, the junior college level, and the transfer portal, while also retaining players we believe in and that fit with the new era of Coastal Carolina football.”
The February signings include quarterbacks Tre Guerra, Trever Jackson, and Deuce Bailey; running backs Daelen Alexander and Jalen Allen-Hendrix; tight ends Cyrus Ellison and Jackson Kohl; wide receivers Tristian Gardner, Clayton Coppock, Goldie Lawrence, Krosse Johnson, and Kadarus Hainsworth; as well as offensive linemen Mason Barton, Daughtry Richardson, Cristian Loaiza, and Apisa Poumele. Defensive additions feature tackles Xzavier Booker, Cameron Williams, Reggie Jean, Ahmad Poole, Dezmond Barnes; defensive ends Donovan Grayson, Chandavian Bradley, Mitchell Toney, Aiden Parker; linebackers Marcellius Pulliam, Jordan Thompson, Braxton Starnes; outside linebackers Azarel Juste, Jesse Powell, Donald Quist; safeties Jalen Lee, Tyler Woodard, Jax Pope; cornerbacks Gabe White, Ryan Grayson, Travis Roman, Damill Bostic Jr., King White and Garrett Smith-Dean. Specialists Daniel Porto and Nico Cavanillas Alti (kickers), Roland Podesta and Andrew Ginsburg (punters), along with long snapper Mitch Weisenborn round out the group.
These signings build on those made during December’s early signing period when Coastal Carolina added quarterback Osiris Lopez; wide receivers Joshua Parker and Jayden Johnson; offensive linemen Nasir Jones, Gabe Jones and Stephan Aristil; defensive end Jordan Stevens; linebackers Romello Patterson and Garrett Orgas; safety Zeke Marshall; and cornerback Michael Knight.
“The alignment we have with our administration and across our entire staff has been huge in putting this roster together in a short amount of time,” Beard said. “Everyone in our organization shares the same vision and commitment to excellence which has allowed us to hit the ground running as we prepare to attack our first spring ball together in the coming weeks. It’s a great time to be a Chanticleer.”
The overall class consists of four quarterbacks among its position breakdown: two running backs each at tight end as well as seven wide receivers plus seven offensive linemen. On defense there are five defensive tackles along with five defensive ends plus five linebackers three outside linebackers four safeties seven cornerbacks—and five specialists.
Geographically Texas leads all states represented by eight signees followed by Florida Georgia South Carolina Missouri Alabama North Carolina Maryland Kentucky Virginia Louisiana Arkansas Tennessee Oklahoma Massachusetts Mississippi—and internationally Australia American Samoa Spain.
