By: By Bill Morgal, Sports Information Director
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football program has announced its initial list of recruits that have signed to play for the Red Raiders beginning in the 2013 season. A group of 22 players have signed national letters of intent (NLIs) or institutional letters expressing their desire to play football at Shippensburg under head coach Mark 'Mac' Maciejewski '92/'96M.
“We are very excited about the student-athletes that have made the decision to join our football family here at Shippensburg University,” Maciejewski said. “These quality young men will be a tremendous asset to our program and to our university.”
The list of players who have agreed to attend the university and intend to play football is continually being updated on the university's football website at shipraiders.com. The Red Raider coaching staff continues to recruit as it has since the end of the regular season.
“Our coaching staff has worked tirelessly to help recruit new members to the Red Raider family,” Maciejewski said. “They have really done a fine job and I credit them for the hard work they put in.”
CONFIRMED 2013 RECRUITS
(updated 3/26 • 11:45 AM)
Dywan Blanding
DB • 5-9 • 170
Steelton/Steelton-Highspire
Steelton-Highspire High School: Thrived as a wide receiver and defensive back for the Rollers…selected to the Pennsylvania Sportswriters Class 'A' All-State squad and 2012 PA Football News Class 'A' All-State squad…recorded over 100 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior…squad reached the District 3-A final in senior season…four-year varsity player.
Christian Brown
LB • 6-1 • 216
Harrisburg/Central Dauphin East
Central Dauphin East High School: Imposing defensive player for the Panthers…tallied 84 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, as a senior…finished with 72 tackles, including 6.5 sacks, as well as two forced fumbles as a junior…also played basketball.
Zakary Dakes
DB • 6-0 • 185
Allentown/William Allen
William Allen High School: Played for the Canaries and coach George Clay…picked by his coaches as the team's Defensive Player of the Year and earned a Noland H. Osmun Memorial Scholarship at his high school awards ceremony.
Tarron Dunbar
WR • 5-10 • 185
Folcroft/Cardinal O'Hara
Cardinal O'Hara High School: Played running back and strong safety for the Lions under coach Danny Algeo…named First Team All-Catholic as a senior and was also named to the Second Team Daily News All-Catholic Team and an honorable mention pick on the All-Delco team…carried the ball 46 times for 202 yards as a senior while adding 506 yards on 22 catches…scored eight touchdowns (six receiving, one rushing, one on an interception return) in his final season, including three two-touchdown games…as a junior, scored two touchdowns, including one on a 99-yard interception return…grabbed two interceptions, carried the ball 13 times for 106 yards and caught four passes as a junior.
Trey Dunkelberger
TE • 6-4 • 225
Shillington/Governor Mifflin
Governor Mifflin High School: Played tight end and slot wide receiver for the Mustangs under Coach Mick Vecchio…caught six passes for 144 receiving yards and three touchdowns as a senior…named to the All-Berks Section 1 Second Team as a senior…also played lacrosse.
Marquis Edwards
DB • 5-8 • 180
Philadelphia/George Washington
George Washington High School: Selected to play defensive back in the Big 33 game as a senior…also played running back for the Eagles and Coach Ron Cohen…picked off two passes and ran for 469 yards as a two-way player in his final season…also caught 11 passes for 59 yards…had five rushing touchdowns and one receiving score…earned All-Public League honors from the 'AAAA' Gold Division per the Philly Tribune.
Andrew Englebert
OL • 6-3 • 255
Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic
Allentown Central Catholic High School: Valuable varsity starter for the Vikings under coaches Harold Fairclough and John Cupples…started on the offensive line for a Central Catholic team that won the District 11 'AAA' title before reaching the PIAA 'AAA' semifinals for a third straight year…helped create creases for Morning Call player of the year
Colin McDermott, who ran for 3,293 yards and 41 touchdowns…nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles tight end John Spagnola.
Chris Fegley
LS • 5-8 • 185
Harrisburg/Central Dauphin East
Central Dauphin East High School: Played center and linebacker as well as long-snapped for the Panthers.
Rashon Fentress
TE • 6-2 • 205
Prospect Park/Interboro
Interboro High School: All-Southeastern Pennsylvania First Team pick at tight end for the Buccaneers and Coach Steve Lennox…All-Delco selection…named to the Coaches' All-Delaware Valley League squadas both a tight end and a linebacker…finished third in Delaware County with 724 receiving yards this past year…had 39 receptions and seven touchdowns as a senior…team won its first-ever District Championship in 2012…served as a team captain.
Aaron Genevese
OL • 6-3 • 290
Whitehall/Whitehall
Whitehall High School: Played offensive tackle and defensive tackle for the Zephyrs under coaches Tony Trisciani and Brian Gilbert…named a First Team Lehigh Valley Conference All-League offensive tackle, receiving the most votes at the position…finished fifth in conference MVP voting…selected a second team offensive lineman on the Morning Call All-Area Team…was the highest-rated offensive lineman at the Nike Football SPARQ Combine in New York where he was named to the All-Combine Team…holds multiple school weightlifting records.
Oscar Ghasab
OL • 6-3 • 275
Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic
Allentown Central Catholic High School: Valuable varsity starter for the Vikings under coaches Harold Fairclough and John Cupples… started at left tackle for a Central Catholic team that won the District 11 'AAA' title before reaching the PIAA 'AAA' semifinals for a third straight year…helped create creases for Morning Call player of the year
Colin McDermott, who ran for 3,293 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Dom Giovanniello
DL • 6-1 • 235
Hershey/Hershey
Hershey High School: Two-way lineman for the Trojans under coach Mark Painter…totaled 38 tackles, three sacks and three others for loss as a senior…selected to the Midstate 125 squad by the Patriot-News for his work as a defensive lineman.
Jeff Gulyas
DE • 6-4 • 235
Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic
Allentown Central Catholic High School: Valuable varsity starter as a defensive end and tight end for the Vikings under coaches Harold Fairclough and John Cupples…selected to the PIAA 'AAA' All-State squad and the Morning Call All-Area Defensive squad…team won the District 11 'AAA' title before reaching the PIAA 'AAA' semifinals for a third straight year…valuable pass rusher with over 10 sacks as a senior.
Schuyler Harting
OL • 6-5 • 240
Myerstown/Eastern Lebanon County
Eastern Lebanon County High School: Two-way tackle for the Raiders under Coach Robert Miller…totaled 53 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery as a senior…was a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 First Team All-Star at offensive tackle and a Second Team All-Star at defensive tackle…after his junior season was named one of the Pennsylvania High School Football Coaches/Big 33 top prospects for the Class of 2013…had 28 tackles and a forced fumble as a junior.
Khalid Hendricks
DB • 5-10 • 170
Burlington, N.J./Holy Cross
Holy Cross High School: Played running back and cornerback for the Lancers under coach Frank Holmes…West Jersey League Second Team selection at defensive back as a junior and senior.
Devin Lawhead
LB • 6-2 • 200
Gallitzin/Penn Cambria
Penn Cambria High School: Played football and basketball for the Panthers and coach Bernie Fetzer and Tony Tomaselli...led his team in rushing and tackling during his senior season.
Ryan Lawler
RB • 6-1 • 188
Willow Street/Lampeter-Strasburg
Lampeter-Strasburg High School: Served as the team's primary running back for the Pioneers as a senior.
Jake Lokey
QB • 6-2 • 185
Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County
Loudoun County High School: Three-year starter for the Raiders and coach Todd Hill…led his Region II, Division 4 Finals…set school records for single-game, single-season and career passing yards in addition to single-game touchdowns thrown…earned Washington Post All-Met honors and All-Dulles District Second Team accolades as a senior.
Colin McDermott
RB • 5-10 • 190
Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic
Allentown Central Catholic High School: Selected to the PA Sportswriters 'AAA' All-State squad…Morning Call Player of the Year…ran for 3,293 yards and 41 touchdowns as a senior for a Viking squad under John Cupples that won its fourth straight District 11 Class 3A title and reached the PIAA 'AAA' semifinals for a third consecutive season...coached previously by Harold Fairclough…had seven games with at least 200 rushing yards and set the Lehigh Valley Conference single-game record with 422 yards against Bethlehem Catholic…was a three-year starter who totaled 6,473 rushing yards and 85 touchdowns per The Morning Call.
Damon Neil
K • 6-0 • 170
Highland Mills, N.Y./Cornwall Central
Cornwall Central High School: All-conference kicker and punter for the Dragons under Coach Marcus Hughes who went 11-1 in his senior season…converted over 100 extra points…played on the varsity level for the better part of three seasons…earned Section IX All League Honorable Mention as a junior as well as a spot on the 2011 Varsity845 Football Offensive and Defensive Second Team All Star squads.
Tayler Pressel
TE • 6-3 • 200
New Enterprise/Northern Bedford
Northern Bedford High School: Multi-sport star for the Panthers…played tight end and middle linebacker…two-year varsity starter…had 564 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a receiver per MaxPreps…two-time honorable mention All-State selection…three-year varsity starter in basketball, averaging 13 points and nine rebounds in senior season…also a state qualifier in the triple jump...has a twin brother who plans to attend Penn Tech.
Adam Shoemaker
LB • 6-1 • 210
Myerstown/Eastern Lebanon County
Eastern Lebanon County High School: Played running back, tight end and linebacker for the Raiders...as a senior, ran for 694 yards and 12 touchdowns on 93 carries while hauling in 23 catches for 540 yards and six touchdowns...also had 14 catches for 221 yards and four touchdowns as a junior.
Kevin Taylor II
WR • 5-7 • 170
East Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep
Seton Hall Prep: Worked as a speedy running back and defensive back for the Pirates under Coach John Finnegan…also competed in track & field.
Anthony Williams
RB • 5-11 • 182
Telford/Souderton
Souderton High School: Named to the All-Suburban One League Continental Conference Second Team squad...played running back and safety for the Indians under Coach Ed Gallagher…scored over 15 touchdowns on the ground as a senior…also had four interceptions, 40 tackles and two blocked kicks as a junior.
Darius Wills
RB/DB • 6-0 • 180
Norristown/Norristown
Norristown High School: Played running back and defensive back for the Eagles and Coach E.J. Smith…selected to the 2012 SOL American Conference Football All-League Second Team Offense squad as a running back…twice earned SOL American Conference Football All-League First Team Defense honors as a linebacker.
Ryan Zapoticky
QB • 6-1 • 185
Dallas/Dallas
Dallas High School: Two-time Big School Player of the Year as selected by the coaches of the Wyoming Valley Conference for the Mountaineers under Coach Bob Zaruta…was a two-time all-WVC selection…completed 83 passes for 1,368 yards and 18 touchdowns with only three interceptions during the regular season as a senior while rushing for 466 yards and five touchdowns…threw a touchdown pass in all but one regular-season game…thrived with the zone read…had 23 passing touchdowns as a junior, when his team went 10-0 in the 2011 regular season in under Coach Ted Jackson.
