ERIE, Pa. - Mercyhurst University head football coach Marty Schaetzle has announced the signing of 17 student-athletes who have committed to continue their playing careers at Mercyhurst in the fall of 2013. Wednesday marked the first official day that high school student-athletes are allowed to commit to college football programs per NCAA rules.

The initial group of 17 student-athletes will help offset the loss of 14 seniors who played their final game against East Stroudsburg back on November 10. The football program said goodbye to WR Paris Bruner, P Chad Tibbitts, DB Todd Wingate, DB L.J. Stevens, LB Josh Harold, DB Linnell Robinson, LB Nick Jackson, FB Leon Gallop, OL Kevin Poropat, OL Tymothy Takacs, OL Tyler Dawson, OL Joe Coyne, DL Brad Weisenseel, and TE Ryan Bartizal.

Academically, the first group of signees have a cumulative GPA of over 3.1, with four of the recruits being a member of the National Honor Society in high school. The coaching staff was able to address specific needs on the field, while getting high-quality students as well.

All told, the group features 11 from the state of Pennsylvania, including two local products, as well as three from New York, three from Ohio, and one from New Jersey. From a positional standpoint, seven were recruited as defensive players, eight as offensive players, and two are listed at both offense and defense.

The Lakers finished the 2012 season with a 9-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the PSAC West. The Lakers were predicted to finish fifth in the PSAC West, but after a 40-7 rout of California (Pa.) on November 3, Mercyhurst claimed a share of the PSAC West crown with Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Lakers and the Crimson Hawks had identical 6-1 conference marks but, since IUP won the head-to-head matchup, Mercyhurst was denied its chance at a second conference title in three seasons.

After a 59-42 loss in the season opener at Notre Dame College, Mercyhurst rattled off six straight victories before the loss at IUP. After that contest, the Lakers won three straight to close the season, including a 52-45 win in the season finale Saturday against East Stroudsburg. With the 52 points scored against East Stroudsburg, the 2012 squad established a new school record with 369 points scored, breaking the record of 354 set in 2010. The Lakers also averaged 33.5 points per game this season - another new record. The 2007 team held the record at 32.1 per game.

The nine victories tied the school record for most regular season wins and marked the second-highest total in program history, one shy of the ten the team won in 2010 when it captured the PSAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Over the last three seasons, the Lakers have gone 23-12, including a 4-7 record in 2011.

Mercyhurst won the ECAC Division II Team of the Year last month, marking the second time in the last three years that the Lakers have won the honor.

Mercyhurst is tentatively scheduled to open the season with a non-conference game against Bentley University. The PSAC slate opens on September 14 with Mercyhurst scheduled to host Millersville at Tullio Field. The conference schedule opens the following week with the Lakers traveling to Clarion.

Stay tuned to hurstathletics.com for additional signings in the coming weeks and for complete bios on the incoming players.

2013 Mercyhurst University Football Recruiting Class (As Of 2/8/13)

Benji Abercrombie (DL / 6-5 / 220 / Warminster, Pa. / Archbishop Wood)
Posted 68 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, and eight quarterback sacks in 2012 ... also broke up five passes and forced two fumbles ... was a two-year starter and helped Archbishop Wood to two State Finals appearances in 2011 and 2012, winning the State Championship in 2011 ... also did plenty of volunteer work for "The Miracle League of Northhampton" and "Athletes Helping Athletes"

Kyle Ashburn (WR / 6-1 / 190 / Jefferson, Ohio / Jefferson Area)
Was a three-year letterwinner in football ... posted 31 catches for 503 yards and 11 total touchdowns in 2012 ... averaged 34.3 yards per kickoff return, including a kickoff return for a touchdown ... also had 69 total tackles, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries on defense ... was a First Team All-Ashtabula County, First Team All-American Conference, and a First Team All-Region selection ... also played baseball and holds school record for most triples in a season

Darrell Benjamin (DL / 5-11 / 320 / Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville)
Was a member of the All-Ohio All-Academic Team and was a Harvard Book Prize honoree ... was a Senate League All-Star and was a member of the All-District Team ... was a team captain in his senior season

Ryan Carroll (DL / 6-0 / 280 / Pittsburgh, Pa. / Keystone Oaks)
Was a three-year letterwinner in football and was a member of the Academic Honor Roll ... was named to the Pittsburgh Tribune All-WPIAL Team and was an All-Century Conference First Team member ... earned the Keystone Oaks' Defensive Lineman of the Year award ... earned the "War Daddy Award" three times

Riley Dunbar (DL / 6-2 / 220 / Erie, Pa. / McDowell)
Was a four-year varsity starter at McDowell High School ... was a two-time All-Conference selection and was a Second Team All-District 10 selection as a senior

Logan Gotshall (OL / 6-5 / 255 / Lewisberry, Pa. / Red Land Area)
Was a team captain ... had a 4.0 GPA, earning a spot on the Distinguished Honor Roll ... was a member of the National Honor Society ... was a 2012 BIG 15 All-Star as an offensive lineman ... was a 2012 Mid-Penn Keystone Football All-Star First Team selection at both offensive line and at defensive line

Japhon Howard-Pickett (QB, ATH / 6-2 / 180 / Paterson, N.J. / Eastside)
Was a member of the Honor Roll and was a team captain during his senior season ... was an All-Ara Pacciac County selection in 2012

Ryan Michaels (OL / 6-6 / 220 / Monaca, Pa. / Central Valley)
Was an All-Conference selection at offensive tackle ... was a member of the High Honor Roll and of the National Honor Society

Robbie Nash (QB / 6-1 / 200 / Concord, Ohio / Notre Dame Cathedral Latin)
Was a First Team All-Ohio, First Team All-Geauga County, First Team All-Conference, and a First Team All-District selection as a senior ... was also named to the News Herald All-Star Team and to the Plain Dealer All-Star Team ... as a junior, earned All-Conference, All-Geauga County, and All-District honors ... holds school records for most passing yards (game, season, career), most touchdowns (game, season, career), best completion percentage (game, season, career), and most completions (game, season, career)

Jakob Plonski (LB / 6-2 / 215 / Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep)
Helped Cathedral Prep earn State Championship in 2012 ... was a First Team All-State selection at linebacker by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers ... was a First Team All-State selection at linebacker by PFN ... was a First Team All-District 10 selection at linebacker ... was a First Team Region 6 selection at linebacker and a Second Team Region 6 member at tight end

Drew Robinson (RB, DB / 5-9 / 175 / New Castle, Pa. / Union Area)
Was a three-time All-Conference selection ... named to First Team All-Conference on both offense and defense in his senior season ... was a member of the National Honor Society

Dustin Rogalla (OL / 6-7 / 330 / Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area)
Was an All-Conference selection at offensive line as a senior

Conall Ryan (DL / 6-2 / 250 / Floral Park, N.Y. / Kellenburg Memorial)
Was a two-year varsity starter and a four-year letterwinner in football ... posted 55 tackles, ten sacks, and 12 tackles for a loss during senior season ... also forced six fumbles, recovered five fumbles, had an interception, and blocked a punt ... led team in sacks, tackles for a loss, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries ... was a CHSFL All-Star ... also lettered in lacrosse and track and field

William Schiavitti (WR, DB / 5-11 / 155 / Youngstown, N.Y. / Lewiston-Porter)
Broke 12 school records during his time at Lewiston-Porter ... was a three-time All-League selection ... All-New York State member at linebacker ... All-Western New York at linebacker ... was a First Team All-League selection as a senior and was the Class B West Defensive MVP at linebacker

Alex Smith (DB / 6-0 / 175 / Mars, Pa. / Mars Area)
Was the 2012 team Most Valuable Player, helping Mars win the Greater Valley Conference Championship ... was a First Team All-Conference selection at defensive back ... was a Second Team All-Conference selection at running back ... was a Second Team All-Conference selection as an all-purpose player ... recorded more than 1,100 all-purpose yards ... was a three-year varsity letterwinner and was an honor roll student ... also played baseball, recording the school record for stolen bases and earning the 2012 Coaches' Award

Dorian Stevens (WR / 6-2 / 180 / Harrison City, Pa. / Penn-Trafford)
Was a three-year letterman in both football and basketball ... was also team captain for both teams ... was a First Team All-Conference selection in football during senior year ... had more than 1,600 all-purpose yards as a senior ... was a member of the Tribune Review Terrific 25 ... was a High Honor Roll student with a 3.8 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society

Collin Woss (OL / 6-3 / 285 / Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon)
Was a three-year letterwinner in football and was a two-time letterwinner in track and field ... was a co-captain of the football team and was an Academic Honor Roll member