By PAT EATON-ROBB, Associated Press
STORRS, Conn. (AP) _ Bob Diaco signed 21 players to letters of intent on Wednesday, filling his first full recruiting class at UConn with size.
The 41-year-old former Notre Dame defensive coordinator took over the program in December 2013, and had a little more than a month on the job before introducing last year’s recruiting class of just 14 players.
Coming off a 2-10 record in his first season as a head coach, Diaco focused his recruiting efforts on getting a certain type of player. Just one recruit, 5-foot-11 defensive back Aaron Garland from Oak Park, Illinois, is under 6-feet tall.
The class also has just one player from Connecticut, 6-foot-7, 260-pound offensive lineman Bryan Cespedes from New London High school.
A 22nd member of the class, quarterback Tyler Davis, from North Bellmore, N.Y., is already enrolled at UConn for the spring semester.
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UCONN
Top 25 Class: No
Best in class: Kevin Murphy, DT, West Chester, Pa.
Best of the rest: Nazir Williams, LB, Bridgeton, N.J
Late addition: David Ryslik , DE, Freehold, N.J.
One that got away: Nolan Ulizio, OL, West Chester, Ohio.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
STORRS, Conn. (AP) _ List of football players in UConn’s 2015 recruiting class, with name, position, height, weight, school and hometown:
Frank Battle, wr, 6-5, 190, Belen Jesuit Prep, Miama, Fla.
Tyraiq Beals , wr, 6-0, 180, East Orange (N.J.) HS,
Felton Blackwell, dl, 6-2, 323, Cedar Creek HS, Egg Harbor City, N.J.
Ian Campbell, te, 6-5, 225, Pequannock HS, Pompton Plains, N.J.
Bryan Cespedes, ol, 6-7, 260, New London (Conn.) HS
Tyler Davis, qb, 6-3, 214, Mepham HS, North Bellmore, N.Y.
Connor Freeborn, lb, 6-6, 225, Salesianum School, Wilmington, Del.
Aaron Garland , db, 5-11, 190, Fenwick HS, Oak Park, Ill.
Zordan Holman, te, 6-6, 235, Cheverus HS, Portland, Maine.
Chris Lee, te, 6-7, 255, Severna Park (Md.) HS.
Hergy Mayala, wr, 6-1, 200, Trinity Pawling (N.Y.), Montreal, Quebec.
Aaron McLean, wr, 6-6, 210, St. Mark’s HS, Southborough, Mass.
Kevin Murphy, dl, 6-2, 270, West Chester East HS, West Chester, Pa.
Philippe Okounam, 6-5, 265, St. Paul’s School (N.H,), Chateauguay, Quebec.
Dallas Parker, lb, 6-5, 235, Ponte Vedra (Fla.) HS.
Matthew Peart, ol, 6-8, 265, Governor’s Academy (Mass.), New York, N.Y.
William Richardson, lb, 6-3, 220, Frank w. Ballou Senior HS, Washington, D.C.
John Robinson, db, 6-2, 185, Dwight Morrow HS, Englewood, N.J.
David Ryslik, de, 6-3, 292, Peddie School, Freehold, N.J.
Michael Tarbutt, k, 6-0, 180, Canisius HS, Buffalo, N.Y.
Marshe Terry, db, 6-4, 190, North Burlington HS, Columbus, N.J.
Nazir Williams, lb, 6-3, 225, Bridgeton (N.J.), HS.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Here are the bios on the new Huskies, provided by UConn:
Frank Battle | Miami, Fla. | Belen Jesuit Prep | WR | 6’5 | 190
Played wide receiver and free safety at Belen Jesuit Prep…named a Top 50 2015 prospect in Miami-Dade county by the Miami Herald…helped Belen Jesuit reach the Florida 8A regional semifinals as a senior…also played basketball in high school…chose UConn over Air Force and Syracuse…son of Lawrence and Giana Chambers.
Tyraiq Beals | East Orange, N.J. | East Orange | WR | 6’0 | 180
Played wide receiver at East Orange High…ranked the No. 30 prospect in the Rivals.com New Jersey Postseason Top 35…finished his senior season with 71 receptions for 1,198 yards and 16 touchdowns…second-leading receiver by yardage and receptions in New Jersey in 2014…named Third Team All-State by NJ.com…also a sprinter for East Orange, part of the New Jersey’s top 4×200 meter relay team, a team that recorded the 11th-fastest high school time in the nation in 2014.
Felton Blackwell | Egg Harbor City, N.J. | Cedar Creek | DL | 6’2 | 323
A defensive tackle at Cedar Creek High School…ranked a top-50 prospect in New Jersey by ESPN…named a First Team Cape-Atlantic League-National Conference All-Star after his senior season…Cedar Creek went 7-3 during his senior season…son of Samirah Bullock-Blackwell.
Ian Campbell | Pompton Plains, N.J. | Pequannock | TE | 6’5 | 225
Played tight end at Pequannock Township High School…named a top-five tight end in New Jersey by NJ.com… ranked a top-50 prospect in New Jersey and a top-30 tight end in the country by ESPN…helped Pequannock finish 9-2 during his senior season and reach the NJSIAA Group 2 semifinals…2013 MSG Varsity All-New Jersey…had 33 receptions for 375 yards and a TD as a junior.
Bryan Cespedes | New London, Conn. | New London | OL | 6’7 | 260
Played tackle at New London High School…helped New London to a state playoff berth as a senior in Class M Large Division…helped New London have 338 yards of total offense or more in five games..began playing football as a sophomore in high school…also a standout in basketball and baseball at New London.
Tyler Davis | North Bellmore, N.Y. | Mepham | QB | 6’3 | 214
Enrolled at UConn for the 2014 spring semester…USA TODAY 2014 All-New York Team…ranked the No. 6 2015 prospect in New York by Rivals.com…tabbed as the fifth-best prospect in New York by ESPN… ranked among the top-15 prospects in the state by Scout.com …three-year starter at quarterback for Mepham High School…led Mepham to a 7-2 league record in 2014…as a senior, threw for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 1,553 yards and 22 touchdowns…as a junior, threw for 1,023 yards and six TDs while rushing for 1,107 yards and 21 TDs…son of Steve and Cindy Davis.
Connor Freeborn | Wilmington, Del. | Salesianum School | OLB | 6’6 | 225
Played tight end, defensive end and outside linebacker at Salesianum School…Second Team All-State as a senior…team won state Division I championship in junior year with an 11-1 record…helped Salesianum to a 7-4 record in 2014 and a berth in Division I state playoffs…ranked a top-five prospect in Delaware by Rivals.com…ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the state by ESPN…also a standout lacrosse player in high school…son of Bill and Nancy Freeborn.
Aaron Garland | Oak Park, Ill. | Fenwick | DB | 5’11 | 190
Played cornerback at Fenwick High… ranked the No. 35 prospect in the Rivals.com Illinois Postseason Top 35…tabbed a top-30 prospect in Illinois and a top-75 cornerback prospect nationally by ESPN… helped Fenwick reach the Illinois Class 7A quarterfinals during his senior season…had an 87-yard kickoff return for a TD in second round playoff win…in second round game, had a 61-yard interception to set up winning score…recorded a total of four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, in 2014…also had interest from Illinois, Iowa and Northwestern….son of Mel and Tony Garland.
Zordan Holman | Portland, Maine | Cheverus | TE | 6’6 | 235
Tight end and defensive lineman at Cheverus High School…2013 and 2014 Portland Press Herald All-State…won the 2014 Frank J. Gaziano Award as the best defensive lineman in the state of Maine…2013 Maine Defensive Player of the Year…led Cheverus to the Maine Eastern Class A state title game in 2014…recorded 41 tackles and six sacks as a senior…recovered three fumbles in a state semifinal game…also played basketball at Cheverus…served as class president…won the 2013 Age 16-17 heavyweight title at the North American Grappling Association World Championships in both traditional and Brazilian jiu-jitsu rules…was born in Croatia and moved to the United States with his family in 2000.
Chris Lee | Severna Park, Md. | Severna Park | TE | 6’7 | 255
Tight end at Severna Park High School…First Team All-County as a senior…caught six touchdowns during the 2014 season…named a top-five tight end in the state by Maryland Varsity…also a basketball player at Severna Park, helping the squad to a 23-3 record in 2013-14…son of Steve and Cheryl Lee.
Hergy Mayala | Montreal, Que.| Trinity Pawling (N.Y.) | WR | 6’1 | 200
Played wide receiver and defensive back at Trinity Pawling… USA TODAY 2014 All-New York Team…posted 519 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a senior…as a junior, had 44 receptions for 782 yards and five TDs…ranked the No. 6 prospect in New York by Schulman’s National Underclassmen Combine…ranked among the top-15 prospects in the state by Scout.com and in the top-20 by MaxPreps…chose UConn over Rutgers and Old Dominion.
Aaron McLean | Southborough, Mass. | St. Mark’s | WR | 6’6 | 210
Wide receiver at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Mass. …named 2013 and 2014 All-New England Class C…ranked the No. 11 prospect in Massachusetts by ESPN…led the Independent School League in touchdown receptions in 2013 with 10…had nine touchdown receptions with over 700 yards as a sophomore…Boston Globe All-Scholastic…also plays basketball at St. Mark’s…son of Tonya Strange.
Kevin Murphy | West Chester, Pa. | West Chester East | DL | 6’2 | 270
Played offensive and defensive line at West Chester East…First Team Daily Local News All-Area…2014 Second Team All Ches-Mont… also earned all-conference honors as a junior…started at middle linebacker as a freshman and then moved to defensive end as a sophomore…had 88 tackles in his junior year with seven sacks…was team captain as a senior…ranked the No. 35 prospect in Pennsylvania in the Rivals.com Pennsylvania Final Top 35 2015…also ranked 35th in the state by ESPN and a top-100 defensive tackle prospect nationally…chose UConn over Army, Cincinnati, Navy and Syracuse…son of Gary Murphy and Kate O’Neill.
Philippe Okounam | Chateauguay, Quebec | St. Paul’s School (N.H.) | DL | 6’5 | 265
Played fullback, offensive tackle and defensive end at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H. …ranked the top prospect in New Hampshire by ESPN…team captain…was born in Russia, but moved to the United States when he was nine…ranked the top prospect in the “New England Four” by Schulman’s National Underclassmen Combine …named a top-40 strong-side defensive end prospect by 247Sports…also had interest from LSU, Iowa and Boston College.
Dallas Parker | Ponte Vedra, Fla. | Ponte Vedra | OLB | 6’5 | 235
Played defensive end and tight end at Ponte Vedra High School…averaged 10.1 tackles per game as a senior and recorded 9.0 tackles for loss and two sacks…also returned a fumble for a touchdown during his senior season…St. Augustine Record First Team All-County…team captain…ranked among the top 100 prospects at his position by 247Sports…son of Wes and Katie Parker.
Matthew Peart | Bronx, N.Y. | Governor’s Academy (Mass.) | OL | 6’8 | 265
Offensive tackle and defensive tackle at Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Mass. …helped his squad win four consecutive Independent School League titles…Governor’s Academy reached the Wayne Sanborn Bowl for the NEPSAC title each of the last four years… team went 7-2 during his senior season…also a basketball team captain at Governor’s Academy…did not play football until arriving at Governor’s Academy…son of Faith Peart.
William Richardson | Washington, D.C. | Frank W. Ballou Senior | OLB | 6’3 | 220
Played defensive end, linebacker and tight end at Ballou High School… USA TODAY 2014 All-District of Columbia Team…2014 DCIAA Second Team All-League…ranked the 13th-best prospect in D.C. by Rivals.com…also slotted in at No. 13 in the district by ESPN…recorded 15 sacks and four fumble recoveries as a senior…also ran track at Ballou….son of Wanda and William Richardson.
John Robinson | Englewood, N.J. | Dwight Morrow | DB | 6’2 | 185
Cornerback, safety and wide receiver at Dwight Morrow High School…ranked a top-50 prospect in New Jersey by 247Sports and ESPN…participated in the 2014 National Underclassmen Combine Five-Star East Showcase…as a receiver, posted 24 catches for 372 yards and five touchdowns as a senior…totaled 22 tackles on the year…ranked No. 34 in New Jersey by Schulman’s National Underclassmen Combine.
David Ryslik | Freehold, N.J. | Peddie School | DE | 6’3 | 292
Defensive tackle at the Peddie School…2014 All-Mid-Atlantic Prep League All-Star…2014 All-New Jersey Prep School All-Star…recorded 53 tackles and three sacks as a senior…ranked a top-35 prospect in New Jersey and a top-75 defensive tackle prospect nationally by 247Sports….No. 42 in the NJ.com Top 50…tabbed a top-100 defensive lineman prospect by ESPN…New Jersey NFSC All-Combine Team…also threw shot put at Peddie School…chose UConn over Cincinnati, Duke, Old Dominion, Syracuse and Temple…son of Maria Ryslik.
Michael Tarbutt | Buffalo, N.Y. | Canisius | K | 6’0 | 180
Kicker and punter at Canisius High School…Second Team USA Today All-American… USA TODAY 2014 All-New York Team…team went 12-0 during his senior season…team won the inaugural New York State Catholic Championship game…Buffalo News First Team All-Western New York…connected on 11-of-17 field goals as a senior, including good kicks from 52 and 60 yards…sent 57 of 79 kickoffs for touchbacks…had a long punt of 50 yards…60-yarder came in state title game…was the second-longest kick in New York State history, behind only 13-year NFL punter Todd Sauerbrun (62)…11 field goals marked a Western New York single-season record and the fifth-best single-season mark in New York history…son of Jim and Pauline Tarbutt.
Marshe Terry | Columbus, N.J. | North Burlington | DB | 6’4 | 190
Played wide receiver and defensive back at Northern Burlington…ranked the No. 30 prospect in New Jersey by ESPN…had four touchdown receptions as a senior…also recorded four interceptions…Northern Burlington’s recipient of the 2014 New Jersey High School Football Mini Max Award for football performance, academics and service…also ran track and played basketball in high school…son of Lloyd and Charise Terry.
Nazir Williams | Bridgeton, N.J. | Bridgeton | OLB | 6’3 | 225
Wide receiver and defensive lineman at Bridgeton High…2014 South Jersey Times Football All-Star…helped Bridgeton to the South Jersey Group 3 semifinals…2014 Courier-Post All-South Jersey…recorded 45 tackles and nine sacks as a senior…also caught 35 balls for 566 yards and three touchdowns…tabbed as a top-40 prospect in New Jersey by ESPN…also played basketball and baseball at Bridgeton…chose UConn over Temple…son of Brenda Williams and Daltreda Washington.