POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist football program has announced the addition of 31 newcomers for the 2017 season.
The class includes student-athletes from nine different states: New York (eight), Florida (seven), New Jersey (five), Pennsylvania (four), Maryland (two), Ohio (two), Delaware (one), Massachusetts (one), and Virginia (one).
By position, the class includes seven offensive linemen, five defensive linemen, five safeties, four running backs, three quarterbacks, two wide receivers, two linebackers, two tight ends, and one long snapper.
Here is a closer look at each individual in the incoming class:
Jacob Abill – Defensive Line – 6-3 / 285 – Clifton, NJ / Clifton
Accolades: First Team All-League & All-County, All-State Honorable Mention. … Also a wrestler (First Team All-League and won district championship twice). … Captain of football & wrestling teams.
Head Coach Jim Parady on Abill: Jacob is a big-bodied defensive tackle out of North Jersey. He is very stout at the point of attack, yet also shows quickness to move laterally from gap to gap. He will bring size up front, and is a solid addition to our young, but dynamic defensive line.
Connor Breit – Linebacker – 6-1 / 220 – Nanuet, NY / Nanuet
Accolades: Two-time All-State linebacker, four-time All-County & All-League. … High school's all-time leader in touchdowns and points scored, and first four-year varsity starter in program history. … Team captain & team MVP. … Rockland Scholar-Athlete of the Week. … Also a four-year varsity wrestling starter (placed fourth in the state as a junior, 111 career wins) and three-year varsity lacrosse player.
Coach Parady on Breit: A local product from just down the River, Connor really impressed us as a Prospect Camp participant going into his senior year. He was a force on both sides of the football, and will look to add size and athleticism to our linebacking corps. His toughness is also certainly evident, as he was a championship-caliber wrestler.
Kevin Burke – Safety – 5-10 / 190 – Purcellville, VA / Woodgrove
Accolades: All-Met, All-Region, & All-Conference Linebacker, and All-County Defensive Back. … Was named his team's defensive MVP and served as team captain for two years.
Coach Parady on Burke: Kevin joins the Red Foxes from Virginia, and will look to make his presence known in the defensive backfield. He plays either in or out of the box, and arrives at the ball carrier with tremendous force. Kevin also demonstrates strong coverage skills to challenge even the best receivers he faces.
Casey Callahan – Offensive Line – 6-4 / 235 – Royersford, PA / Spring-Ford
Accolades: Named First Team All-Division, All-Conference, & All-Area. … Named Eastern PA 6A Honorable Mention, and All-Academic Gold Team. … Was named his high school's outstanding offensive lineman in 2016.
Coach Parady on Callahan: We are excited about the length and athleticism that Casey will bring to our offensive line unit. He has excellent feet, demonstrates good leverage, and looks to finish plays aggressively. A natural offensive tackle, Casey plays well in space and is a strong addition to our offensive schemes up front.
Dom Carey – Defensive Line – 6-3 / 285 – Philadelphia, PA / Father Judge
Accolades: First Team All-Catholic & All-City (offense & defense), First Team All-Southeastern PA (Offense), Second Team All-Eastern PA (Defense). … Selected to play in the Philadelphia All-Star Game on May 20. … Three-year starter who served as team captain as a senior.
Coach Parady on Carey: Coming up from the strong Philadelphia Catholic League, Dom is a versatile defensive lineman. He is big, powerful, and aggressive, and also shows the quickness and agility we look for up front in our defensive scheme. He uses his hands well, and is extremely disruptive when he penetrates into the offensive backfield.
Noah Carroll – Offensive Line – 6-2 /260 – Medford, NJ / Lenape
Accolades: Senior: First Team All-Conference, All-County Scholar-Athlete, All-South Jersey, & All-State (Group 4), Second Team All-USA Today. … Junior: First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-County, Third Team All-State (Group 5). … Selected to play in Adam Taliaferro All-Star Game.
Coach Parady on Carroll: Noah is originally a Texas product, but finished out his high school career playing very good football in South Jersey. He is a classic workhorse offensive lineman – he wants to run the ball, and takes great pride in finishing defenders. He is balanced though, and shows good footwork in his pass protection.
D'mir Copeland – Defensive Line – 6-2 / 285 – New Castle, DE / William Penn
Accolades: Named First Team All-State & All-Conference. … Served as team captain and named his team's Defensive Lineman of the Year as a senior. … Selected to play in Blue-Gold All-Star Game.
Coach Parady on Copeland: D'mir is a very polished interior defensive lineman. He uses his hands to control his gap, powers his way into the backfield, and looks to make the play on the ball carrier. He has a quick first step and good instincts to react to what the offense is doing.
Austin Day – Quarterback – 6-2 / 180 – Clearwater, FL / Clearwater
Accolades: Named Second Team All-State. … Team won back-to-back District 6A championships. … Named Team MVP & served as captain.
Coach Parady on Day: The next in a long line of Red Foxes coming up from Florida, Austin displays a strong mix of pocket presence and mobility at the quarterback position. He has vision and accuracy to find the open man downfield, along with footwork and elusiveness to extend plays. He is a certainly a tough matchup to scheme against for opposing defenses.
Ryan Fitzgerald – Offensive Line – 6-6 / 280 – Annapolis, MD / Broadneck
Accolades: First Team All-County (as selected by coaches & Capital Gazette) tackle, Baltimore All-Metro & Touchdown Club All-Star, Second Team All-State tackle, played in Baltimore Touchdown Club All-Star game, selected for Big 33 Under Armour Elite 100 tryout.
Coach Parady on Fitzgerald: Ryan is a big, athletic body who is light on his toes. He demonstrates good footwork and flexibility to go with his tremendous length, making him a solid prospect at offensive tackle. When he gets going on his track, he has the ability to really generate some movement up front.
Kyle Fleitman – Safety – 6-0 / 170 – Islip Terrace, NY / East Islip
Coach Parady on Fleitman: A prolific offensive weapon as a mobile quarterback, Kyle comes to us as an intriguing free safety prospect. He is a rangy player in the defensive backfield, and tracks the football very well. In addition, Kyle shows the ability to fill the alley with a good angle and make a secure tackle on the ball carrier.
Sean Gaffney – Tight End – 6-5 / 220 – Somerville, NJ / Immaculata
Accolades: First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Area, Pierce Frauenheim Award winner, three-year varsity player.
Coach Parady on Gaffney: Sean is a very versatile tight end who poses serious matchup problems for opposing defenses. He has the size and blocking ability to line up with his hand on the ground, but is also an excellent receiver who can play in the slot. When he catches the ball on the run, Sean is a long strider who can cover a lot of ground.
Javier Garcia – Offensive Line – 6-2 / 265 – Plantation, FL / American Heritage
Accolades: Named First Team All-County, registered 85 pancake blocks as a senior, won state championship and had an undefeated season playing for head coach (and former Miami Dolphin) Patrick Surtain.
Coach Parady on Garcia: Javier is a scrappy interior offensive line product. He demonstrates very good technique as a run blocker, but also has balance and solid feet in pass protection. One of his best qualities is that he always looks to stay busy during the play, finishing the job is very important to him.
Jeremiah Gholston – Safety – 5-9 / 175 – Orlando, FL / East River
Accolades: Was named Team MVP & inducted into National Honor Society.
Coach Parady on Gholston: A very active addition to our defensive backfield, Jeremiah really does a lot at the safety position. He transitions in and out of his break very fluidly, and has a true nose for the football. His cover skills are impressive, as is his ability to be a disruptive force in the box.
Joe Giordano – Long Snapper – 5-11 / 220 – Goshen, NY / Goshen
Accolades: Three-year varsity starter at long snapper, two-time All-League section, All-Section Nine selection as a senior.
Coach Parady on Giordano: Another local product who turned heads at our Prospect Camp last summer, Joe will join his brother, Thomas, as an incoming Red Fox this fall. A very accurate snapper with good mechanics, he will be a vital addition to our special teams unit. He will look to add depth and develop with one of our most experienced position groups on the field.
Mark Gordon – Defensive Line – 6-3 / 241 – Mentor, OH / Mentor
Accolades: Named All-Conference as a senior & Defensive MVP as a junior. … Totaled 60 tackles, 8.5 sacks, & served as team captain as a senior. … Three-year varsity letterman.
Coach Parady on Gordon: Yet another Red Fox to join us from the Buckeye State, Mark is an active defensive lineman with good size and quickness. He plays multiple positions, and shows the ability to bend and make plays in the backfield. He has strength and uses his hands to control his gap against the run, and is a tireless pass rusher.
Mike Husni – Quarterback – 5-10 / 160 – Toms River, NJ / Toms River North
Accolades: Most career touchdowns (106) & total yards (over 9,000) in school history, only player in Shore Conference history to record over 2,000 yards passing and 1,500 yards rushing in a single season and over 1,000 yards both passing and rushing in three straight seasons. … Selected for Phil Simms North Jersey vs. South Jersey All-Star Game. … Had high school number retired. … Named First Team by the following as a senior: Shore Sports Network All-Shore Team (Offensive Player of the Year), Asbury Park Press All-Shore Team (Offensive Player of the Year), All-Shore Sports Zone Team, All-State, All-Group 5.
Coach Parady on Husni: Mike is a feisty dual-threat quarterback who helped his team to a state championship as a junior, and second place finish as a senior. He has a lively arm to drive the ball downfield, particularly on the run. As a ball carrier, he has tremendous feet and vision that allow him to break some very long runs.
Maxx Imsho – Safety – 5-11 / 185 – Middletown, NJ / Middletown South
Accolades: All-State, All-Metro (senior); All-Shore, All-Conference, All-Division (junior & senior); selected to play in the Phil Simms North-South Jersey All-Star Game & Shore Conference All-Star Game; served as team captain.
Coach Parady on Imsho: Maxx displays an impressive combination of physicality and range at the safety position. He plays in and out of the box, and is always around the football. Whether stepping down versus the run, or tracking the football in the passing game, Maxx shows a knack for playmaking ability.
Mekhai Johnson – Running Back – 5-11 / 200 – Dorchester, MA / Canterbury School
Accolades: First Team NESPAC Class B All-New England, Middlesex League All-Star. … Named Team Offensive MVP twice, and League Offensive MVP once. … Two-year team captain. … Seven-time Boston Herald and three-time Boston Globe Player of the Week.
Coach Parady on Johnson: Mekhai showed tremendous athleticism at last summer's Prospect Camp, and even more during his post graduate season. He is a true move-the-chains running back, possessing great vision and patience to make the right cut. When he sticks his foot in the ground, he is a powerful North-South runner who can really gash a defense.
Colten Katcher – Defensive Line – 6-3 / 230 – Miami, FL / Miami Country Day School
Accolades: First Team All-Conference, team MVP, & team captain as a senior. … Played in Private vs. Public All-Star Game. … Received letter from FHSAA complimenting him on sportsmanship on and off the field
Coach Parady on Katcher: Coming up from the talent-rich Miami area, Colten is a quick and disruptive defensive lineman. He works hard to penetrate upfield, and locate the football. His motor is always running, and made some impressive plays chasing the ball carrier down in pursuit.
Wyatt McMahon – Tight End – 6-3 / 240 – Hewlett, NY / George W. Hewlett
Accolades: 2016 Nassau County All-Star Game selection, two-time All-Conference and two-time captain, All-County selection, four-year varsity starter.
Coach Parady on McMahon: Wyatt is a big-bodied tight end prospect, who shows skill both in the run and pass games. He played everything from wildcat quarterback to slot, and has both power and quickness as an athlete. He works hard as a blocker, but also has the ability to make plays with the football in his hands.
Dazhon Miller – Running Back – 5-11 / 190 – Sharon Hill, PA / Academy Park
Accolades: First Team All-League, All-District, & All-Southeastern PA. … Playing in Delaware County's Hero Bowl. … Served as team captain.
Coach Parady on Miller: A versatile running back, Dazhon possesses home run ability every time he touches the football. He does an excellent job squaring his shoulders to the line of scrimmage, and makes decisive cuts to burst through to the second level. When he clears the box, he has another gear to separate from the pack.
Corey Mullaly – Wide Receiver – 6-3 / 185 – Poughkeepsie, NY / Our Lady of Lourdes
Accolades: All-Section, All-State Honorable Mention, Hudson Valley Dream Team selection, played in Section One All-Star Game as a senior. … Two-year All-League & All-Conference selection, and Poughkeepsie Journal All-Star. … Three-sport athlete (also plays basketball & lacrosse, and has served as captain of all three teams).
Coach Parady on Mullaly: Corey is an exciting addition to this year's incoming class as a very skilled and fluid wide receiver. We have watched him grow into a long and dynamic athlete at several Prospect Camps over the years; his ball skills are truly impressive. More importantly, he will be sharing in his father's legacy, who was a tough fullback for the Foxes in the early 1990s.
Jerquan Newton – Linebacker – 6-1 / 210 – Clearwater, FL / Clearwater Central Catholic
Accolades: Played on the winning team in the Pinellas County All-Star, and received All-State Honorable Mention.
Coach Parady on Newton: Jerquan is a dynamic edge-rushing linebacker prospect who can play either on or off the line of scrimmage. He plays with great leverage, uses his hands extremely well to shed the block, and hunts down the ball carrier. No matter what the play or where the ball is going, he is relentless in pursuit.
Jervon Newton – Running Back – 5-11 / 190 – Clearwater, FL / Clearwater Central Catholic
Accolades: Named First Team 3A Defense and Second Team 3A Offense, selected to play in the Pinellas County All-Star Game, served as team captain.
Coach Parady on Newton: Joining his twin brother, Jerquan, Jervon comes to us as a very polished ball carrier. He runs with an outstanding balance of speed and power, using both to evade would-be tacklers. When he gets out in the open, he runs with purpose and strives to finish in the end zone.
Nathaniel Pierre – Offensive Line – 6-5 / 285 – Middle Village, NY / Christ The King
Accolades: Nominated for the Offense-Defense All-American Game, team won conference championship as a junior, two-year varsity starter.
Coach Parady on Pierre: Nathaniel brings us tremendous size and physicality as an offensive lineman. To go with his imposing frame, he has excellent flexibility and technique that allows him to lock onto much smaller defenders. In addition, he runs and changes direction very well, and is always looking to finish the play.
David Shannon III – Wide Receiver – 6-0 / 170 – Clermont, FL / East Ridge
Accolades: All-State Honorable Mention & 352 Pigskin All-Star as a senior. … Two-year International Bowl starter and two-year International Bowl captain. … Also a track & field athlete, was team's MVP of Jumps and an AAU national champion triple jumper. … Four-year Honor Roll student.
Coach Parady on Shannon: A very versatile offensive weapon, David joins the Red Foxes as a skilled wide receiver. He runs crisp routes, catches with his hands, and has game-breaking speed down the field. We think he has the ability to play inside or outside, as well as mix in as a returner on our special teams units.
Ben Stoy – Offensive Lineman – 6-2 / 265 – Annapolis, MD / Saint Mary's
Accolades: Named Baltimore Touchdown Club Super 22 Team Member & All-Star, All-Conference, All-County, Maryland Crab Bowl All-Star. … Named high school's Lineman of the Year and served as team captain. … Eagle Scout.
Coach Parady on Stoy: Ben made the trip up to last summer's Prospect Camp from Maryland, and demonstrated excellent work ethic and technique. He maintains very good pad level throughout the play, and his feet are always moving. He is also tough in pass protection, staying square to his defender with a good tight punch.
Luke Strnad – Quarterback – 6-0 / 210 – Broadview Heights, OH / Brecksville-Broadview Heights
Accolades: Three-year All-Conference selection. … As a senior, named Cleveland.com All-Star, team MVP, team captain, invited to East-West Cleveland All-Star Game and NFBD East Coast National All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. … Accounted for over 8,000 yards of total offense with 102 touchdowns in his career, threw for over 3,000 yards and 37 touchdowns with over 300 yards rushing and five touchdowns as a senior.
Coach Parady on Strnad: Luke is a very poised quarterback prospect for us. He is cool in the pocket with good footwork, and has a big arm to make all the throws in the offense. If things break down, he also shows great ability to escape and make plays with his feet out in the open field.
Darryl Sullivan – Offensive Line – 6-2 / 247 – Wappingers Falls, NY / Roy C. Ketcham
Coach Parady on Sullivan: A very athletic offensive lineman from just down the road, Darryl impressed us playing all three positions at last summer's Prospect Camp. He has excellent body control and brings his hips with his feet in the run game. In pass protection, he is very sound and patient, and has a good understanding of the launch point.
Delvin Wood – Running Back – 5-10 / 185 – Millbrook, NY / Millbrook
Accolades: 3,785 rushing yards, 5,465 all-purpose yards, 71 touchdowns (all-time leader) in high school career. … Three-time All-State, All-Section Nine, All-Hudson Valley, All-League, and All-Poughkeepsie Journal selection. … Two-time team captain who was selected to play in Section Nine Senior All-Star Game.
Coach Parady on Wood: “Another Hudson Valley native to round out this incoming class, Delvin is a talented running back with great speed. He has very good frame that he uses to push the pile, but also has elusiveness to make defenders miss. He is an asset on special teams as well, demonstrating skill as a kick returner.
Teddy Wright – Safety – 6-0 / 190 – Sharon Hill, PA / Academy Park
Accolades: First Team All-State (Southeastern/Eastern PA), All-County, & All-League. … All-County Player of the Year. … Playing in the East vs. West PA All-Star Game & County All-Star Game. … Team Defensive MVP.
Coach Parady on Wright: A great running back in his own right, Teddy joins us as an extremely rangy and physical safety. He tracks the ball well, and is a threat to force the turnover anytime he is in the secondary. Against the run or underneath routes, Teddy fills with purpose, as he really runs through the ball carrier.
The Marist football team will open the 2017 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 at Bucknell. It will mark the Red Foxes' ninth season as a member of the Pioneer Football League.
