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ERIE, Pa. – Mercyhurst College head football coach
Marty Schaetzle has announced the addition of 24 student-athletes to the Lakers program during the NCAA signing period that began Feb. 3. All 24 have agreed to continue their academic and athletic careers at Mercyhurst in the fall of 2010.
The deep recruiting class features a near even split of offensive and defensive players from five different states, including Florida, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The newcomers will bolster a squad that boasts 17 seniors but graduated just one starter on defense and four on offense.
By position, the class features six offensive linemen, three defensive backs, linebackers and tight ends, two running backs, two quarterbacks and one wide receiver .
The complete list of the signees can be found below.
Mercyhurst finished 2009 with a 4-7 overall mark, 3-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. The Lakers posted a 20-16 upset of then-ranked No. 21 IUP after being edged by then-ranked No. 5 Bloomsburg, 17-7.
Mercyhurst is tentatively scheduled to open the 2010 season with three road games, beginning Thursday, Aug. 28 at Notre Dame College (Ohio) followed by Sept. 11 at Kutztown and C.W. Post on Sept. 18 before the Lakers return home against Lock Haven on Sept. 25 in the PSAC West opener. Mercyhurst will close out the 2010 schedule with four straight home contests, beginning Oct. 23.
2010 Mercyhurst Football Signees
(alphabetically)
Tyler Aiken
(Defensive Back, 6-2, 190, Greensburg Central Catholic (Pa.))
Luke Alberts
(Free Safety, 5-10, 175, Mt. Lebanon (Pa.))
Pat Behm
(Linebacker, 6-3, 190, Kenston (Ohio))
Tyler Bills
(Quarterback, 6-0, 180, Shaler (Pa.))
Ross Deglau
(Linebacker, 6-3, 200, Greensburg Central Catholic (Pa.)
Justin Dickens
(Wide Receiver, 6-3, 175, North Gwinnett (Ga.))
Tony Ferraro
(Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 225, Shaler (Pa.))
Dusty Galich
(Defensive Lineman, 6-1, 248, McDowell (Pa.))
Terry Gettings
(Linebacker, 6-3, 195, Rochester (Pa.))
Jeff Groene
(Tight End, 6-2, 240, Turpin (Ohio))
Ben Gysin
(Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 235, East Palestine (Ohio))
Curtis Hansford
(Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 220, Tinora (Ohio))
Matt Hyland
(Tight End, 6-4, 210, Penn Trafford (Pa.))
Pete Jackson
(Running Back, 6-0, 210, Fairview (Pa.))
Mitch Knapp
(Tight End, 6-3, 215, Aurora (Ohio))
Nick Kurpakus
(Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 255, Shaler (Pa.))
Ricky Matthews
(Running Back, 6-0, 210, Shenango (Pa.))
Marllon Pires
(Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 245, Felix Varela (Fla.))
Vladimir Rock
(Defensive Back, 5-9, 170, North Broward Prep (Fla.))
Alex Schneider
(Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 270, Riverside (Ohio))
Alec Swartz
(Quarterback, 6-1, 210, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (Ohio))
Donald Williams
(Defensive Lineman, 6-2, 255, Solon (Ohio))
Ben Woolston
(Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 285, Aquinas (N.Y.))
Ethan Zucal
(Offensive Lineman, 6-2, 255, New Philly (Ohio))