THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997            TAG: 9702060633
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   28 lines

NORFOLK STATE ANNOUNCES THE SIGNING OF 5 PLAYERS FULLBACK FROM MARYLAND COULD MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT, MOORE SAYS.

The Norfolk State Spartans received letters of intent from five football players Wednesday on the first official day of the national signing period.

Of the five, head coach Darnell Moore said the one who could have the most immediate impact could be Matthew Armstrong, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound fullback out of Oxon Hill, Md.

``Armstrong is a physical guy,'' said Moore, who expects to more than double the school's number of signed recruits today. ``He wants to punish the tackler. Everybody loves the 6-2, 230-pound fullback, but this guy is smart and physical. And since he also played linebacker in high school, he can play special teams immediately.''

The Spartans also landed two wide receivers in Tallwood's Ronnie Clark (6-2, 190) and Charles Burnette (6-3, 180) of William Fleming High School in Roanoke.

In addition, NSU signed Dominique Smith, a 6-5, 265-pound defensive end out of Columbia, S.C., and Lashaun Mack, a 6-4, 265-pound offensive lineman from Moncks Corner, S.C.

``We're not looking for the freshman linemen to start,'' Moore said. ``In fact, we may redshirt some of the ones we sign this year.''