HAMPTON, Va. (Dec. 17, 2025) … Hampton University's football recruiting class increased to seven with the announcement that Joshua Hawley has committed to play for the Pirates. A Virginia Beach native, Hawley was a quarterback at Kempsville High. A two-year captain for Coach Daryl Cherry, he served as team captain. Hawley passed for 1,012 yards as a senior completing 70-of-143 passes with 10 touchdowns. The 6-2, 185-pound Hawley was named to the National Honor Society in 2025 and is a member of the Kempsville High Honor Roll. Hawley was a participant in the Governor's Entrepreneurship and Business Academy.
 
Earlier, six players signed grant-in-aid to attend Hampton to play football:
Gavin Bennett            OL       6-3       270       Fr.        Washington, D.C. (Gonzaga College High)
A solid offensive lineman who drew much attention from college recruiters … Gonzaga College High finished with a 7-5 record in 2024 and finished as runner up in the WCAC … advanced to the playoffs defeating Our Lady of Good Counsel in the semifinals before falling to DeMatha in the championship game …  committed to Hampton on Aug. 25 ,2025 … posted a 3.5 grade point average in high school … had football scholarship offers from Brown, Cornell, Maine, Morgan State, Howard and Sacramento State
 
Xavier Brookins         QB       6-3       180       Fr.        Owings Mills, Md. (Pallotti High)
Was a two-year team captain at Pallotti High for Coach Tony Ashley … named first-team All-MIAA while passing for 1,533 yards as a senior with 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions … committed to Hampton on July 12, 2025 … the Cardinals finished with a 9-3 record in 2024 with a 6-1 record in conference play and advanced to the championship finals. 
 
Brysen Conner           CB       5-10     170       Fr.        Fort Mill, S.C. (Indian Land High)
Named all-region in 2023-24 … played wide receiver on offense and free safety on defense for the Warriors … led team with three forced fumbles and had two pass interceptions for Coach Adam Hastings … Indian Land High finished 11-2 with a 5-1 record in AAAAA Region 3 play … had football scholarship offers from Charlotte, Delaware State, Middle Tennessee State and UAB.
 
Malik Porter               LB/WR6-0       170       Fr.        Richmond, Va. (Huguenot High)
Played both defensive back and wide receiver for Coach Charles Scott at Richmond's Huguenot High … helped lead the Falcons to an 11-2 mark advancing to the state playoffs … earned all-region honors as a defensive back, wide receiver and punt returner … had seven interceptions at 28 tackles as a senior … invited to play in the Big River Rivalry All-Star Game … received football scholarship offers from Duke, Howard, Marshall and East Carolina.
 
Amari Pryear              RB       5-6       185       Fr.        Hampton, Va. (Bethel High)
Played at nearby Bethel High … three-year starter for Coach David Porter … rushed for 1,580 yards with 24 touchdowns … had 338 yards and five scores against Menchville High … also rushed for 315 yards and seven touchdowns against Gloucester High … earned a multitude of awards during his prep career including 2024 Peninsula District Offensive Player of the Year, first-team all-district, first-team all-region, second-team all-state … boasts a 3.6 grade point average.
 
Antonio Turner          DB       5-10     150       Fr.        Midlothian, Va. (Manchester High)
Nicknamed "Dubb" … a standout defensive back at Manchester High … registered 30 tackles with two interceptions as a senior … didn't allow any touchdowns and only one catch as a senior … had 400 all-purpose yards with five touchdowns … named all-region in 2022 … had a multitude of football scholarship offers from Wake Forest, James Madison, Charlotte, Appalachian State, Lafayette as well as from CAA members North Carolina A&T, Bryant, Campbell, and Stony Brook.