Elon adds two Virginia prospects as recruiting class grows to eight

Elon’s 2027 class reached eight commitments with the additions of Virginia prospects Aviance Young Jr. and Mahlek Marsh, plus Providence Day linebacker Justin Abanquah, giving Tony Trisciani’s program a broader footprint across the Carolinas and into Virginia. For Alamance County readers, that matters because every added name strengthens the buzz around Rhodes Stadium, where Elon is trying to turn recruiting momentum into a louder home-game presence and a more visible place in the region.

Young, a 6-foot, 180-pound free safety and wide receiver from Brooke Point High School in Stafford, Virginia, brought a two-way résumé that fits a staff looking for speed and versatility. NC Football News listed him with eight receiving touchdowns, three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in his junior season, production that helps explain why his commitment drew notice well beyond Elon’s usual recruiting circle.

Marsh gives the Phoenix another out-of-state target with size and a competitive offer sheet. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive tackle from Virginia Beach, Virginia, had eight reported offers through 247Sports, including Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Old Dominion, UConn, Norfolk State and Hampton. Landing a lineman with that kind of list signals that Elon is still getting traction against larger programs when it wants to.

Abanquah, a 2027 linebacker listed at roughly 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, keeps the class anchored closer to home. On3 and MaxPreps list the Providence Day School product in Charlotte, and NC Football News described him as a two-time all-state and all-conference performer for the 2025 NCISAA state champions. His commitment deepens Elon’s in-state base at a time when North Carolina recruiting has accelerated across the cycle.

As of June 25, NC Football News’ Elon recruiting hub showed six known commitments, four of them from North Carolina, and split the class between two offensive players and four defensive players. The broader state count climbed to 74 known commitments from North Carolina 2027 high school prospects after Elon’s latest additions, underscoring how competitive this recruiting stretch has become.

The push arrives as Trisciani enters his eighth season after being named Elon’s 23rd head coach on Dec. 17, 2018. Elon finished 6-6 overall and 4-4 in Coastal Athletic Association play in 2025, and the program’s 2026 schedule includes 11 games, five at home, plus a road trip to Stanford. After an 8-4 regular season and FCS playoff berth in 2022, the Phoenix are trying to build a roster that keeps the program relevant on the field and harder to ignore in Alamance County.