The 2024 season that Jim Fleming and the Rams had will be remembered as one of the best in the history of Rhode Island athletics.

Unfortunately, it’s already well in the past. If you need proof, the size of Fleming’s class on National Signing Day Wednesday should be a startling reminder of the regular turnover programs deal with in college athletics.

Rhody announced the addition of 24 players, 15 true freshman and nine transfers that will (hopefully) have an immediate impact.

“We are encouraged by both the size and depth of this class as we prepare to reload on the heels of what was certainly a historic season for Rhode Island Football,” head coach Jim Fleming said in a statement. “Winning a CAA Football Championship has only left our guys hungry for more and we are thrilled at the prospect of adding this class, made up of players that we certainly feel will help us reach that next level.

“Their achievements on the gridiron and in the classroom, as well as how they conduct themselves as young men, indicate to me that they already understand what our brand of football is about and I am excited to see them compete for roles.”

Here’s a bit more on every new face with the help of the Rhode Island PR department…

Stephen Antonucci, Jr.
Offensive Line
Cranston, R.I. | Bishop Hendricken
6-3 | 285

A state champion and First Team All-State offensive lineman for the same Bishop Hendricken Hawks that gave the Rams Associate Head Coach Mike Flanagan. Antonucci Jr. had offers from BC, FAU, Uconn, UMass and Rhody.

Artin Balidemaj
Defensive Line
West Harrison, N.Y. | Harrison
6-2 | 250

Balidemaj was a highly decorated high school defensive lineman. First Team All-State honoree and won the league’s Defensive Lineman of the Year twice.  Earned All-County and All-Section honors. Recorded 75 tackles, seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 30 quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as a senior.

Aaris Bethea
Defensive Line
Brooklyn, N.Y. | Rutgers
6-2 | 258

A top-five prospect out of New York according to ESPN.com, Bethea redshirted in his true freshman season at Rutgers. Bethea helped Erasmus Hall win four straight PSAL AAA City Championships. 39 tackles and 18 tackles for loss as a senior. Bethea was a top-100 defensive tackle in the country according to 247Sports.

John Boyles
Outside Linebacker
Traverse City, Mich. | Wofford
6-3 | 240

Boyles should be an immediate impact player for the Rams, but most importantly he’s got tons of expereince. In five years at Wofford, he played in 34 games The Michigan native started every games in 2024, making 35 tackles with five tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble with four pass breakups and a QB hurry. Also plays basketball and lacrosse at Episcopal High School.

Jermel Bynum
Defensive Back
Norwalk, Conn. | McMahon
5-10 | 175

Bynum runs a 4.4 40 and brings immediate speed to the Rhody secondary. Out of McMahon High School, Bynum had 100 tackles in his high school career while racking up 4.5 sacks and four interceptions. His four total picks were returned for 116 yard en route to being an All-CIAC honoree after serving as as a team captain senior year.

Ethan Charnley
Offensive Line
Warwick, R.I. | Bishop Hendricken
6-3 | 275

Another Hawk from Bishop Hendricken who earned the team’s Golden Dozen Award for his achievements in the classroom. A talented multi-sport athlete. Also a member of the Hendricken lacrosse program and was the 2022 Rhode Island Freshman State Champion in the hammer throw.

Will Dixon
Tight End
Hillsborough, N.J. | West Virginia
6-5 | 231

Dixon is already enrolled at URI for the spring semester and is another guy bringing some extremely valuable experience to the locker room after helping lead the West Virginia Mountaineers to a 2024 Frisco Bowl appearance. He’s got plenty of eligibility left as well after appearing in seven games over two seasons. As a senior at Hillsborough High in Jersey, he was a big part of a 13-0 record and a New Jersey South Group V state title.

Connor Finer
Tight End
New Port Richey, Fla. | Kennesaw State
6-2 | 215

The Florida native has appeared in 31 games, but Finer has just eight career catches for 114 yards, three tackles and a pair of kick returns as well. He played on both sides of the ball at River Ridge High School. Finer is already getting assimilated to life on campus with the Rams.

Griffin Kleinknecht
Offensive Line
Middletown, R.I. | Middletown
6-3 | 285

Kleinknecht’s staying home after being a four-year starter on the offensive line for the Middletown Islanders. Three-time First Team All-Division honoree and two-time First Team All-State selection. Kleinknecht was the Rhode Island Lineman of the Year twice and also earned All-Academic accolades all four years.

Kamden Laudenslager
Linebacker
Harrisburg, Pa. | McDonogh School
6-3 | 215

Laudenslager was a three-time MIAA All-Conference player, earning accolades as both a linebacker and defensive end. Last year as a team captain, he had 101 tackles, three sacks and an interception. A three-star recruit according to 247Sports, Laudenslager had offers from schools like Boston College, Duke, Maryland, Minnesota and North Carolina, but ended up choosing the Rams.

Antwain Littleton II
Running Back
Greenbelt, Md. | Temple/Maryland
6-1 | 240

A four-star recruit and the former top-ranked running back out of Washington, D.C., Littleton II is now in charge of keeping the Rams’ running game rolling, considering how big of a part it played in the team’s success a year ago. More experience is on the way having spent 2021-23 at Maryland before playing at Temple in 2024. Littleton II has 1,057 career rushing yards to go along with 11 total touchdowns and is another guy who is already on campus.

Ian MacKinnon
Outside Linebacker
San Antonio, Texas | Brandeis
6-4 | 205

Mackinnon has already been accepted into Rhode Island’s College of Health and Science with plans to study kinesiology. As a senior at Brandeis, he recorded 43 tackles with four sacks, nine quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He also broke up four passes, two of which led to interceptions by his teammates.

Dominic Mazza
Kicker
Providence, R.I. | Classical
5-8 | 145

One of the best kickers in RI state history, Mazza keeps his talents local after setting the Rhode Island state record for kicking points in a single season with 79 in 2024. Stunningly, the Classical product only started kicking as a junior, having previously been a Second Team All-State soccer player.

Jeremy Redd
Offensive Line
Providence, R.I. | Bishop Hendricken
6-5 | 280

Another Hawk turned Ram. Redd lined up on both sides of the ball for Bishop Hendricken, seeing time on the O-line and at D-tackle. Redd can deadlift 495 lbs. and bench 315 lbs. In addition to his 6-5 frame, Redd’s wingspan stretches 6-10.

Elijah Rich
Outside Linebacker
Tampa, Fla. | Gaither
6-3 | 235

A team captain for Gaither High School, Rich is one of the faster, more athletic LB’s you’ll see with a 4.63 40 and a 405-lb. squat. Lauded for his high motor and relentless pursuit, he’ll be someone Fleming looks to as the Rams look for a new presence in the pass rushing game.

Hunter Robbins
Defensive Line
Mechanicsville, Va. | VMI
6-2 | 275

More experience and discipline entering the locker room. Robbins earned his undergraduate degree from the Virginia Military Institute before enrolling at URI for the spring semester. Robbins appeared in 25 games over three seasons, recording 35 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks.

Mekhi Rossignol
Wide Receiver
Union, N.J. | St. Joseph Regional
6-0 | 175

A two-star receiver that chose Rhode Island over numerous FBS offers. With a 4.50 40-yard, Rossignol adds more speed to an offe. A talented route runner, Rossignol caught 26 passes for 542 yards (49.3/game) and had eight total touchdowns as a senior.

Christian Smith
Offensive Line
Rumson, N.J. | Merrimack
6-2 | 270

Fleming and the Rams are familiar with Smith’s work up the road at Merrimack. He’s a versatile guy that appeared in all but three games while at Merrimack (2022-24), During his senior year, the Warriors had the 12th-best red zone offense in the nation. Smith’s experience and age will provide necessary depth for the Rams’ offensive line, which had first-year starters at all but one position in 2024. He also did some long-snapping at Merrimack.

Matt Smith
Tight End
Needham, Mass. | UMass/Duke
6-5 | 245

Smith was an all-time player for a resurgent Needham program and has gained experience at the next level. Smith spent four years at Duke (2019-22) before transferring to UMass (2023-24). Smith was an All-State selection at both tight end and wide receiver in high school and led his squad to a Bay State Conference championship. He’s part of the group that is already on campus.

Evan Spencer
Tight End
Cumberland, R.I. | Cumberland
6-0 | 205

More hometown flavor. Spencer continues the Rams’ tradition of bringing in the Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year after winning it this past season. He joins wide receiver Marquis Buchanan (’22) and linebacker Moses Meus (’23) in achieving the feat. Interestingly, despite being recruited as a tight end, Spencer was a phenomenal quarterback for the Clippers, passing for 1,117 yards with eight touchdowns while adding 1,126 yards with 14 touchdowns on the ground.

Timoy Stitchell, Jr.
Defensive Back
Providence, R.I. | LaSalle Academy
6-1 | 165

Stitchell, Jr. is another speedy guy that played wide receiver and safety locally for LaSalle Academy. 33 catches for 502 yards with five touchdowns as a senior. Named First Team All-State. Stitchell, Jr.. He’s also an impressive point guard for the well-renowned basketball program.

Sahnai Swain-Price
Defensive Line
Boston, Mass. | UMass
6-1 | 290

Swain-Price was a standout tight end for Middlesex (HS) before making the switch to defensive end. Redshirted in 2023 and he appeared in eight games for UMass in 2024, finishing with seven tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack. Swain-Price is already enrolled at Rhode Island for the spring semester.

Alex Villa
Outside Linebacker
Londonderry, N.H. | Londonderry
6-4 | 215

Villa was one of the most disruptive defensive players in the state of New Hampshire in 2024. Villa started in 26 games for Londonderry and was a finalist for the state’s Defensive Player of the Year. Named All-State, Villa helped lead his team to a state title game appearance.

Reece Williams
Wide Receiver
Hanover, Md. | St. John’s (DC)
5-8 | 155

Shifty, athletic guy who can make an impact out of the backfield as a running back or out wide as a receiver. His high school team’s leader in receiving yards (388), catches (18) and touchdowns (five) last year, Williams garnered First Team All-WCAC honors. Williams is another speedster who’s a freak athlete of sorts. Williams has a 41.2-inch vertical jump and a 4.42 40.