Northwestern State 2024  Early Signing Class Bios

Xavier Davis, RB, 5-11, 195, Jackson, Miss./Hartfield Academy (Northwest Mississippi CC)
Prior to NSU: Helped Northwest Mississippi reach consecutive MACCC playoffs, including a berth in the 2022 state title game … ran for 330 yards and added 97 more receiving yards as a sophomore, totaling six touchdowns … rushed for a season-best 105 yards and two touchdowns in an Oct. 12 win against Mississippi Delta … rushed for 288 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman, highlighted by a 117-yard performance in an Oct. 20 win against Holmes … had four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown in a state semifinal win against Jones College … had a 57-yard kick return in the MACCC title game against East Mississippi … member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll … has a 3.0 GPA.
High School: Four-year letterman for coach Craig Bowman's Hawks … ran for 1,244 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Hawks finished his senior season as the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class 6A runner-ups … added 10 catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns … returned two kicks for touchdowns … chosen for the MAIS Class 4A-5A-6A All-Star Game and the Magnolia State All-Star Game … was named the MAIS 6A Offensive Player of the Year … rushed for 1,120 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior, helping Hartfield go 8-4 … earned Class 5A All-MAIS honors … holds the Hartfield school record in both the 100 and 200 meters, long jump and several relays … was part of the Executive Council at Hartfield.
Personal: Son of Kenitra and Larry Davis … father played college football at Mississippi Valley State … has three brother – Jamall, John and LJ – and a sister, Daija … majoring in physical science … hopes to play in the NFL and live a successful life.

Bryce Johnson, FB, 6-4, 275, Picayune, Miss./Pearl River Central HS (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Prior to NSU: Helped Mississippi Gulf Coast to back-to-back MACCC South division titles and two playoff berths … helped the Bulldogs average 445.8 yards and 38.4 points per game as a sophomore … as a freshman was part of an offense that averaged 442 yards and 33 points per game … named honorable mention All-MACCC … President's List student holds a 3.88 GPA
High School: Lettered three seasons for Jacob Owen's Blue Devils … also lettered in track and field for coach Shane Pollen … was a member of the National Technical Honor Society and graduated with a  3.4 GPA.
Personal: Son of Cheryl Lowery and Edward Johnson … has five brothers – Peyton, Brylen, John, Jacob and Andy … majoring in secondary education with an emphasis on physical education … plans to become a football coach.

Ray McKneely-Harris, RB, 5-8, 170, Denham Springs, La./Denham Springs HS (Memphis)
Prior to NSU: Redshirted during the 2023 season at Memphis … earned Academic Player of the Week honors.
High School: Four-year letterman for coach Beard's Yellow Jackets … rushed for 994 yards and 15 touchdowns in 11 games as a senior, helping Denham Springs reach the state semifinals … ran for 1,226 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior while completing all three of his pass attempts for 51 yards … eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark (1,023) in just eight games as a sophomore, posting 16 touchdowns … ran for 956 yards and 17 touchdowns as a freshman … four-time all-state selection and first-team all-district honoree … also lettered in baseball … graduated with a 3.5 GPA.
Personal: Son of Tyrisha and Terrell Harris … has two sisters, Taylor and Ty'riell … majoring in computer information systems and hopes to work in that field … life's ambition is taking care of his family.

Ryan Tyler, TE/FB, 6-3, 250, Pass Christian, Miss./St. Stanislaus (Jones College)
Prior to NSU: Played two seasons at Jones College … appeared in 17 games as a tight end/fullback … caught seven passes for 49 yards in his career and added a pair of tackles … earned honorable mention all-region honors as a senior … has been a member of both the Faculty and Dean's lists … has a 3.89 GPA.
High School: Lettered four seasons for coach Nate Encrapera's Rock-a-Chaws … named the Sea Coast Echo's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and was a Super 22 and second-team all-state linebacker … recorded 103 tackles, 16 for loss, and 3.5 sacks as a senior while adding 46 yards receiving … named a team captain … recorded 78 tackles and 1.5 sacks as a junior … had 48 tackles and four sacks as a sophomore … won the Class 3A discus state championship as a senior and was the state runner-up as a junior … produced a top-five finish in the state meet as a freshman … graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Phi Theta Kappa.
Personal: Son of Angela and Ken Tyler … has one brother, Brett … majoring in business administration with a management emphasis … hopes to enter the engineering field.

Christian Williams, S, Baton Rouge, La./Parkview Baptist HS (Sam Houston)
Prior to NSU: Lettered two seasons at Sam Houston … part of the Bearkats' 2021 WAC championship team and member of Sam's first team at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
High School: Lettered four seasons for coach Stefan LeFors' Eagles … helped Parkview reach the state quarterfinals as a senior, catching 19 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown while adding 25 tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups on defense … caught 16 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns as a junior, making 21 tackles on defense … finished his career with 159 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 23 pass breakups, five interceptions, four force fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick … named the team's defensive MVP as a freshman … also lettered in basketball, track and field and baseball … was part of a 4x400 relay team that qualified for the state meet … member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … graduated with a 3.0 GPA.
Personal: Son of Kimberly and Glenn Maze …. his uncle, Jessie Daniels, was part of LSU's 2003 national championship team while his godfather, Jonathan Zenon, won a national title with the Tigers in 2007 … communication major who wants to pursue a career in sport administration … life's ambition is to positively shape the lives of young people through athletics.