University of Delaware announces 2009 football recruits
In addition to the recruits, Keeler also announced that Pat Devlin, the top backup quarterback at Penn State the last two seasons and a former high school All-American out of Downingtown (Pa.) East High School, has transferred to Delaware and will begin classes next week. He will take part in spring drills and have two years of eligibility beginning this fall.
The list of 20 recruits includes four defensive linemen, four offensive linemen, three defensive backs, three linebackers, two running backs, two wide receivers, one quarterback, and one tight end.
The recruits hail from seven states, including five from Pennsylvania, four each from New Jersey and Florida, three from Maryland, two from Virginia, and one each from Delaware and New York. This year’s class matched the all-time high total of 20 signed by Keeler in 2006.
The class includes defensive linemen Thomas Huff of Olney, Md. (Sherwood HS), Bobby Kennedy of Newark, Del. (Caravel Academy), Lance Miller of Somers Point, N.J. (Mainland Regional HS), and Irvin Titre of Riviera Beach, Fla. (Dwyer HS); offensive linemen Nick Cattolico of Delran, N.J. (Delran HS)., Adam Citko of Southampton, Pa. (Archbishop Wood HS), Brandon Heath of West Chester, Pa. (Henderson HS), and Erle Ladson of Bronx, N.Y (Cardinal Hayes HS); defensive backs Tim Breaker (Glassboro HS) and Ricky Tunstall of Glassboro, N.J. (Glassboro HS), and Kasseim Everett of Philadelphia, Pa. (Roman Catholic HS); linebackers Michael Hirt of Pittsburgh, Pa. (North Hills HS), Cazavious Ray of Sarasota, Fla. (Booker HS), and Carl Smith of Richmond, Va. (Highland Springs HS); running backs Walter Davis of Virginia Beach, Va. (Ocean Lakes HS) and Leon Jackson of Jacksonville, Fla. (Edward White HS); wide receivers Mike Milburn of Bowie, Md. (DeMatha HS) and Rob Jones of Thonotosassa, Fla. (Armwood HS); quarterback Trevor Sasek of Limerick, Pa. (Spring-Ford HS); and tight end Cody Magill of Darnestown, Md. (Quince Orchard HS).
“This is an exciting day for us at Delaware as it is for everyone around the country,” said Keeler, who will enter his eighth season at the helm of the Blue Hens this fall. “This class is one our biggest but also one of our most efficient. We had 24 student-athletes visit campus and we ended up signing 20 of them. We had the chance to get a lot of players on campus and they liked what they saw. We got the players that we truly wanted and I give our coaching staff a lot of credit for managing such a large class, identifying the athletes we needed and getting them signed. I think we’ve put together a great class, one that will help us not only this coming season but in the future.
“When we were looking at our offense, we really started with the offensive line and went from there,” continued Keeler. “We were fortunate to sign four outstanding offensive linemen and two or three of them could provide depth for us next season. We were also able to sign a quarterback with great potential in Trevor Sasek, two outstanding backs in Walter Davis and Leon Jackson, and two receivers. Defensively, I love what we did at defensive back where we got three outstanding, dynamic players who fill a lot of our needs. At linebacker, we signed three tough, athletic kids who will add depth to a position where we had a lot of injuries, and up front, we have several players who could add depth to that unit this fall.”
Devlin, an honor student as a finance major at Penn State, appeared in 10 games as a backup to starter Daryll Clark during the 2008 season, helping lead the Nittany Lions to a record of 11-2, a No. 3 national ranking, and a berth in the Rose Bowl.
He left the team following the regular season and did not accompany the team to the Rose Bowl.
During the 2008 season, the 6-4, 220-lb. Downingtown, Pa. native completed 25 of 47 passes for 459 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions and also ran for two touchdowns on the season. He played a pivotal role in a midseason 13-6 win over Ohio State when he took over for an injured Clark and led the Lions to two scores.
As a redshirt freshman in 2007, he appeared in four games and attempted just one pass as Penn State went 9-4 and defeated Texas A&M. He sat out the 2006 campaign as true freshman.
While at Downingtown East High School, Devlin was named the 2005
Pennsylvania Class AAA Player of the Year and the Gatorade Pennsylvania
Player of the Year and earned a No. 4 ranking among prep quarterbacks
nationally by Scout.com under head coach Michael Matta. He also was a
named a Parade Magazine All-American and played in the prestigious Big
33 All-Star Game.
A three-year starter, he threw for 3,300 yards and 35 touchdowns as a
senior in 2005 when he led his team to the state playoffs and for 2,100
yards and 21 touchdown as a junior in 2004. He finished his career as
the state’s all-time leading passer with 8,162 yards.
“Pat is probably the most proven quarterback we’ve brought into our
program,” said Keeler, who has used primarily transfers at the position
during his tenure at Delaware, including current NFL starter Joe Flacco
with the Baltimore Ravens and former Philadelphia Eagles draft pick Andy
Hall. “He has such great pedigree, coming from an outstanding high
school program and playing in key situations in the Big 10 while at Penn
State. I know our receivers are walking around with big smiles on their
faces. With Pat we are getting a leader, a guy who wants to be
challenged, and someone who was almost born to do this. If you spend
time with him, you see his drive. I’m confident he will do a great job
for us at Delaware. We’ve challenged him to be a leader and he is very
excited. We are fortunate to have him. Some people told me that last
year they thought we were poor quarterback play away from being a
playoff team. We certainly had some shortcomings there last year and we
are looking for big improvements. Pat is such a huge plus for us and I’m
glad we didn’t let him get away. I think he and his family were
attracted to Delaware by our great tradition, fan support, and our
business school. Pat is a high academic kid and I think he was impressed
by what he saw here.”
Delaware, the 2003 NCAA I-AA national champions and 2007 NCAA Division I
Football Championship Subdivision national runners-up, will be trying to
bounce back from a disappointing 4-8 record a year ago when the Hens
lost eight games for the first time in school history and suffered only
their fourth sub .500 season since 1984. A total of 25 players with
starting experience will return, including 14 from a defense that ranked
among the better units in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Delaware will open spring practice March 20 with the annual Blue-White
Spring Game set for Apr. 24 at 6 p.m. at Delaware Stadium. The Hens will
open the 2009 season Sept. 5 at home vs. West Chester and will open CAA
play the following week at home vs. defending NCAA Division I FCS
national champion Richmond at Delaware Stadium.
Below are biographies of the 20 incoming recruits:
TIM BREAKER - DB - 6-0 - 185 - Glassboro, N.J. (Glassboro HS)
Two-year standout in football at Glassboro High School for head coach
Herb Neilio...played cornerback and quarterback...played his sophomore
season at Schalick High School...led Glassboro to a two-year record of
24-0 and consecutive state titles in 2007 and 2008...teams won three
straight conference titles...as a senior, was named All-State
all-county, All-Group I, and All-South Jersey at defensive back and
first team all-conference at defensive back and
quarterback....three-time all-county and all-conference pick and
two-time All-Group I pick...passed for 1,257 yards and 16 touchdowns as
a senior...also had six rushing touchdowns and one punt return
touchdown...on defense, had 65 tackles, three interceptions and four
forced fumbles, one of which he recovered and returned for another
score...as a junior, made 56 tackles and intercepted five passes and
also had nine touchdowns on offense...had 181 tackles and 11
interceptions in career...teammate of fellow UD recruit Ricky
Tunstall...four-year standout in basketball and a 1,000-career point
scorer...all-county, all-conference, and All-Group I selection in
basketball.
NICK CATTOLICO - OL - 6-4 - 300 - Delran, N.J. (Delran HS)
Standout two-way lineman at Delran High School for head coach Pete
Miles...one of the top offensive guards in South Jersey...led team to
three straight state playoff appearances...led team to an 8-3 record and
a playoff berth as a senior in 2008...set school record for consecutive
starts for Delran with 35 and also holds several school weight lifting
records...earned first team All-State, first team All-Burlington County,
first team All-South Jersey, and first team all-league honors as a
senior in 2008...also earned first team All-State honors by the Newark
Star-Ledger as a senior...letterwinner in basketball...last name
pronounced “catta-lee-co”.
ADAM CITKO - OL - 6-5 - 320 - Southampton, Pa. (Archbishop Wood HS)
Played offensive tackle for head coach Steve Devlin at Archbishop Wood
High School...team went 12-3 this past fall, captured the Philadelphia
Catholic League title, the District 12 title, and won the state AAA
Eastern state championship...first team All-Catholic, all-area,
all-city, and All-State as a senior...selected to play in Pennsylvania
East-West All-Start Game...two-year captain...two-time All-Area and
three-time All-Catholic League pick....2008 Offensive Lineman of the
Year...also played basketball as a sophomore.
WALTER DAVIS - RB - 5-8 - 175 - Virginia Beach, Va. (Ocean Lakes HS)
Speedy running back and kick returner who starred at Ocean Lakes High
School for head coach Chris Scott...led team to 12-1 record and Beach
District title as a senior in 2008....team was runner-up for regional
title...was among the top rushers in South Hampton Roads area as a
senior in 2008 with over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns...returned a kick
98 yards for a touchdown...earned first team All-Beach District honors
as a senior...team offensive Most Valuable Player as a senior...has run
a 4.38 40-yard dash...standout sprinter in track and field...led team to
Beach District title and was an All-State pick as part of the 4 x 100
meter and 4 x 400 meter relay teams...has long jumped 22-feet...plans to
major in African-American history or sociology.
KASSEIM EVERETT - DB/RB - 5-11 - 175 - Philadelphia, Pa. (Roman Catholic HS)
Standout two-way back at Roman Catholic High School for coach Joe
McCourt...earned second team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania honors as a
defensive back by the Philadelphia Inquirer...first team All-Catholic
League selection...earned Maxwell Club Player of the Week honors and was
named to the Maxwell Club Top 50...rushed for over 2,000 yards and
scored 19 touchdowns on offense and posted 45 tackles along with two
interceptions as a defensive back as a senior in 2008....Most Valuable
Player of track and field team in 2008...plans to major psychology at
Delaware...could play either running back or cornerback for Blue Hens.
BRANDON HEATH - OL - 6-6 - 305 - West Chester, Pa. (Henderson HS)
Offensive tackle for head coach Joe Walsh at Henderson High School...led
2007 team to a 12-2 record, a second place district finish, and the
Ches-Mont League title...team amassed over 3,500 yards for the
season...three-year letterwinner who started 36 career games...selected
No. 1 offensive lineman in southeastern Pennsylvania by the Philadelphia
Inquirer in 2008...two-time All-Southeastern Pennsylvania, two-time
All-Area, and two-time All-Ches-Mont League pick...selected to play in
Big 33 state all-star game...plans to major in history at Delaware.
MICHAEL HIRT - LB - 6-1 - 215 - Pittsburgh, Pa. (North Hills HS)
Standout linebacker and full back at North Hills High School for head
coach Jack McCurry...led team to 9-2 record and Northern Six Conference
title as a senior in 2008...collected 320 career tackles, the fourth
highest mark in school history and had 126 as a senior when he also
posted three sacks and an interception...led North Hills in tackles each
of his final three seasons...had 22 in his final high school
game...three-year starter and two-year captain...three-time first team
all-conference selection...two-time Fabulous 22 North pick...team Most
Valuable Player as a senior and team’s Most Valuable Linebacker three
times...plans to major in business and economics at Delaware.
THOMAS HUFF - DL - 6-3 - 245 - Olney, Md. (Sherwood HS)
Played defensive end, linebacker, tight end, and offensive line at
Sherwood High School for head coach Al Thomas...2008 team went
undefeated and captured the state AAAA title...as a senior posted 129
tackles, 9.5 sacks, 20.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and
blocked a punt...earned second team All-State, second team All-Metro,
first team all-county, and first team all-league as a senior...also
plays basketball and competes in track and field...plans to major in
education at Delaware.
LEON JACKSON - RB - 6-1 - 185 - Jacksonville, Fla. (Edward H. White HS)
Played running back for head coach Terry Gilliam at Edward H. White High
School...team Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior...ran for
1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns this past season, including a 267-yard
effort and two touchdowns and a 77-yard kickoff return in one
game...named to the Florida Times-Union Super 24 team as one of the top
players in northern Florida and south Georgia.
ROB JONES - WR - 5-10 - 170 - Thonotosassa, Fla. (Armwood HS)
Played wide receiver, quarterback, and also returned kicks and punts at
Armwood High School for head coach Sean Callahan....played for a team
that had several NCAA Division I FBS signings and was ranked among the
nation’s top teams during the season...team went 12-1 and advanced to
the third round of the state playoffs...dynamic player with great speed
who could be an outstanding kick returner at Delaware...led team in
receiving as both a junior and senior...earned first team All-Western
Conference honors as a senior as both a receiver and kick returner.
BOBBY KENNEDY - DL - 6-4 - 285 - Newark, Del. (Caravel Academy)
Outstanding two-way tackle at Caravel Academy for head coach Mike
Aruanno...led team to four-year record of 42-8 which included a state
title in 2005, runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2007, and a quarterfinal
appearance in 2008...posted 168 career tackles, including 18 for loss
and four sacks....had 81 tackles, including six for loss, as a senior in
2008...earned second team All-State honors in 2008...standout in track
and field...earned first team All-State honors in indoor shot put and in
outdoor shot put and discus during 2007-08 season...four-time high
school USATF All-American and eight in nation in indoor weight
throw...son of former Delaware standout kicker and Keeler teammate
Brandt Kennedy...sister, Brianna, will attend LSU on a track scholarship
as a weight thrower...plans to major in business at Delaware.
ERLE LADSON - OL - 6-6 - 275 - Bronx, N.Y. (Cardinal Hayes HS)
Outstanding two-way lineman at Cardinal Hayes High School for head coach
C.J. O’Neil...team was “A” Division finalists in 2008...team won annual
Turkey Bowl championship for the first time in 28 years...served as team
captain as a senior...earned All-Borough, all-city, and all-league
honors as a senior....also serves as captain of the basketball
team...plans to major in computer engineering at Delaware.
CODY MAGILL - TE - 6-4 - 250 - Darnestown, Md. (Quince Orchard HS)
Played tight end for head coach Dave Mencarini at Quince Orchard High
School...led team to a two-year record of 26-2, including a perfect 14-0
mark in 2007 when he led the team to the state title as a
junior...caught 11 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown in 2008...earned
All-State, All-Metro, and all-league honors as a senior...two-time
All-Gazette all-county selection...also plays lacrosse...plans to study
law, sport management, and communications at Delaware.
MIKE MILBURN - WR - 6-4 - 200 - Bowie, Md. (DeMatha HS)
Played wide receiver for head coach Bill McGregor at DeMatha Catholic
High School...led team to a three-year record of 32-4, including three
straight WCAC conference titles...team was ranked No. 10 in the country
and No. 1 in the Maryland-DC area by USA Today in 2006...team was ranked
No. 2 in area in 2007 and No. 3 in 2008 by the Washington Post...caught
25 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns as a senior in
2008...earned third team All-WCAC honors as a senior...was team’s Unsung
Hero Award winner...also a standout in basketball...National Honor
Society student and senior class president...plans to major in business
at Delaware.
LANCE MILLER - DL - 5-10 - 315 - Somers Point, N.J. (Mainland Regional HS)
Played defensive tackle at Mainland Regional High School...led team to a
12-0 record and the South Jersey (Group 4) state title as a
senior...three-year starter who finished with 196 tackles, 13.5 sacks,
and one interception during his standout career...earned first team
All-State honors as a senior when he also was named first team All-South
Jersey and first team All-Group 4....also a four-year letterwinner in
track and field as a shot putter.
CAZAVIOUS RAY - LB - 6-1 - 210 - Sarasota, Fla. (Booker HS)
Standout linebacker at Booker High School for head coach Fred
Gilmore....led teams to a three-year record of 28-10, including a 13-2
mark in 2006 and an 11-2 record inn 2007...team was state AAA state
runner-up in 2006 and was district champion and regional finalist in
2007...as a senior recorded 124 tackles, eight sacks, nine tackles for
loss, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries...first team
All-State AAA selection as a senior...was named team defensive Most
Valuable Player as a senior...first team all-area pick by the Sarasota
Herald Tribune in 2008....plans to major in engineering...first name
pronounced “kuh-say-vee-us”.
TREVOR SASEK - QB - 6-6 - 205 - Limerick, Pa. (Spring-Ford HS)
Three-year starter at quarterback and punter for head coach Gary
Rhodenbaugh at Spring-Ford High School...team went 13-23 during his
career...first team all-conference punter and second team quarterback as
a senior...honorable mention all-league quarterback as a junior...threw
for 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns for his career...threw for 1,692 yards
and 10 touchdowns as a senior, 1,692 yards and 18 touchdowns with just
four interceptions as a junior, and for 1,333 yards and 11 touchdowns as
a sophomore...also played pitcher, outfield, and first base in
baseball....baseball team finished second at the state championships in
2008...plans to major in psychology at Delaware...last name pronounced
“say-sick”.
CARL SMITH - LB - 6-1 - 205 - Richmond, Va. (Highland Springs HS)
Played linebacker and tight end at Highland Springs High School for head
coach Loren Johnson...led team to a three-year record of 24-7, including
a 10-1 mark and a district title as a junior in 2007...team also
advanced to the playoffs in 2006...posted 200 tackles, 10 sacks, six
forced fumbles, and two interceptions for his career...had 65 tackles
and five sacks as a junior...two-time all-district selection at
linebacker in 2007 and 2008...named to all-academic team...also competes
as a sprinter in track and field...plans to major in business or
communications.
IRVIN TITRE - DL - 6-0 - 300 - Riviera Beach, Fla. (Dwyer HS)
Standout defensive tackle at William T. Dwyer High School...led team to
a 12-2 record in 2008 when the squad was a semifinalist in the state
AAAA playoffs...posted 61 solo tackles along with eight sacks and four
forced fumbles...earned first team All-State AAAA honors and was a first
team all-county selection...earned team’s defensive Most Valuable Player
Award...also a standout in track and field...plans to major in business
or criminal justice at Delaware...last name pronounced “tee-tree”.
RICKY TUNSTALL - DB - 5-11 - 190 - Glassboro, N.J. (Glassboro HS)
Played wide receiver, defensive back, punt returner, kicker, and punter
at Glassboro High School for head coach Herb Neilio...led Glassboro to a
two-year record of 24-0 and consecutive state titles in 2007 and
2008...teams won three straight conference titles...teammate of fellow
UD recruit Tim Breaker...caught 38 passes for 601 yards and eight
touchdowns as a senior...also had 54 tackles, five interceptions, and
three punt returns for a touchdown...for his career, caught 72 passes
for 1,168 yards and 18 touchdowns and had 83 tackles and 15
interceptions...earned All-South Jersey and All-Group honors as a wide
receiver and defensive back in 2008...named Wide Receiver of the Year as
a junior and senior.
