Story and photo courtesy of Indiana (Pa.) Athletics
INDIANA, Pa. - IUP head football coach Curt Cignetti announced on Thursday 15 members of his 2012 recruiting class who have signed national letters of intent.
Included in the class are 11 incoming freshmen, all but one hailing from the state of Pennsylvania. Four transfers are also included on the list, with three being from Division I schools while another is a junior college veteran.
Local wide receiver Tyrayl Veney from Indiana High School highlights the list, grabbing 60 passes for 1,591 yards and 21 touchdowns over the past two seasons. The 6-3, 190 pound offensive threat added seven more scores by kickoff return, punt return, rush and interception return.
Khaliq Coleman (6-3, 190) of Milton Hershey High School and Benttion Hendricks (6-1, 170) of Gettysburg High School are other receivers on the list, combining for over 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns receiving in 2011.
Manny Simpson from Penn Traford is the only running back in the class, listed at 6-0, 210. Gaining over 1,600 yards on the ground last year, Simpson scored 17 touchdowns.
Matt Reams (Wyoming Valley West High School) and Tony Morgante (Crestwood High School) are the two offensive linemen in the class, with Reams listed at 6-2, 295 and Morgante going 6-4, 300.
On the defensive side, linebackers Allen Holman (Bishop McDevitt High School), Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin) and Kavon Johnson (Cardinal O'Hara) top the list. Holman tallied 111 tackles and 3.5 sacks, measuring 6-1, 210, while Clarke is 6-0, 205 and Johnson is a 6-2, 200-pound hybrid defensive end.
Also on the defensive end are defensive backs James Griffin (Strath Haven High School) and Arthur Bradley (Friendship Academy, Washington D.C.). Griffin picked off four passes last year as a 5-9, 180 corner, doubling as a quarterback and running back during his career, while the multi-dimensional Bradley measures in at 5-9, 180.
Of the transfers, Mike Cruz (Johnstown/Bishop McCourt) is a 6-5, 270-pound tight end from Pittsburgh who played scholastically at Bishop McCort, labled as the 21st best prospect in Pennsylvania by Rivals and 29th by Scout as a senior. Shane Meisner (Greensburg/Hempfield Area) is a defensive end coming to IUP from Rutgers, listed at 6-3, 250 from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Anthony Meriwether (Cleveland, OH/Midpark) is a 6-2, 190-pound wide receiver who played at Akron, originally attending Midpark High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Lastly, Matt Knotts (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) brings size to the defensive line, with the 6-1, 330-pounder from Niagara Falls, New York played at Erie Community College.
"We're very please and excited about these young men who have chosen to join our football program at IUP," said Cignetti.
"Recruiting is a team effort and I'd like to thank the IUP community, it's faculty and staff, our coaches and players who have contributed greatly to this process."