WEST CHESTER, Pa. – West Chester University football head coach Bill Zwaan announced his 2010 recruiting class this week as the Golden Rams continue to build upon the school’s strong tradition on the gridiron. This year’s recruiting class consists of 21 players, including 10 offensive players, 10 defensive players, and one kicker.
West Chester is coming off a 7-4 season where 10 players were named to the All-PSAC East squad. Eight players were named to the first team, while two players were second team honorees. West Chester’s 2010 recruiting class contains many players who received first team selections for all-county, all-city or all-area.
West Chester is bringing in four wide receivers, who had solid careers in high school. Pete Hurley (Wayne, Pa./ St. Joseph’s Prep) was named first team all-catholic, first team all-city and all-state honorable mention. In his senior season, he recorded 28 receptions for 460 yards and seven touchdowns. Conner Hoffman (Abington, Pa./Lasalle) was named first team all-catholic, second team all-city and third team all-state. In his senior season, Hoffman hauled in 38 receptions for 648 yards and seven touchdowns. Eric Brundage (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast) was an honorable mention all-city wide receiver as well. Brundage was also a PIAA state medalist in track & field in 2009. He was named third team all-city in track & field in 2009. Finishing out the list of wideouts is Laronn Lee (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor), who was selected first team all-league for both offense and defense. Lee posted 753 yards rushing, 530 yards receiving and scored 14 touchdowns.
West Chester also welcomes four linebackers, who are all very talented recruits and should fit in nicely to the Golden Rams’ system. Emmanuel Barake (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) was named team MVP at Perkiomen Valley, first team all-conference and all-area as a linebacker. Barake also wrestled and threw the shot put on track team. Mike Culbreath (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) was named first team all-league, first team All-Southeastern Pa. as well as being selected to the Montgomery County East-West all-star game. Martin Haynes (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington) was selected first team all-league. Haynes was the captain and defensive MVP at George Washington. In his senior season, he recorded nine sacks. Haynes can play both defensive end and linebacker. Ronnell Williams (Chester, Pa./Chester) was selected first team all-league, first team All-Delco and first team All-Southeastern Pa. Williams has appeared on the school’s honor roll every quarter for four years of high school.
Rondell White (West Chester, Pa./West Chester Rustin) was a standout running back in high school. He was named to the first team all-state the past two years. The running back was also selected to the all-league and all-area teams for the past three years. White totaled over 4,000 yards, 65 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in his high school career. He is touted as an excellent return specialist. He was also the leading scorer on the basketball team at Rustin.
Two-way player Phil Mariani (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga/Milford Academy) is coming to West Chester as a tight end. He was selected to the first team All-Central League on defense at linebacker and offense at tight end. He posted 24 receptions for 295 yards and registered 96 tackles on defense. Mariani was selected as his team’s MVP. He also made the All-Southeastern Pa. team at linebacker.
Talented recruit, Aaron Wilmer (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington), is a highly regarded quarterback in the recruiting class. He was selected to the first team all-league, named league MVP, first team all-city and honorable mention all-state. Wilmer was also named to Philadelphia Daily News first team All-Decade squad. Wilmer threw for a school record 2,457 yards, a league record 43 touchdowns while rushing for 14 touchdowns. Wilmer also played baseball where he was named first team all-city and Carpenter Cup all-star selection.
A trio of offensive lineman should ensure that West Chester stays stocked for the future. The trio includes Antoine Bland (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz), James Colivas (Drexel Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) and Anthony Verrecchia (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North).
Bland was selected first team all-city and third team All-Southeastern Pa. as an offensive lineman. Bland also played basketball and led his squad in scoring and rebounds at Simon Gratz. Colivas was named first team All-Delco, second team All-Southeastern Pa. and second team all-state. James was also team co-MVP and made the honor roll all four years of high school. Verrecchia was selected as All-Golden Top defensive lineman in Southeastern Pa. in his junior and senior seasons. Verrecchia is projected as a guard for the Rams.
The trio of defensive backs should keep the Golden Rams’ secondary deep in talent. The trio of defensive backs include Eric Wertz (Monhton, Pa./Governor Mifflin), Al-Haji Shabazz (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram) and Kevin Reagan (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic).
Wertz was selected first team all-conference, first team all-county and gave up one reception all year as a defensive back. Wertz was also an all-county baseball player. Shabazz was the team captain at Bartram. He allowed two receptions all year and scored 11 touchdowns – two returns, four receiving and five rushing.
Reagan was named first team all-catholic and second team all-city as a defensive back, but may move to linebacker at West Chester. Reagan led his team in tackles and also threw for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns at quarterback on offense. Reagan was also a basketball player where he led Roman Catholic in rebounding and assists. He also played in the city football and basketball all-star games. Even though Reagan will play linebacker, West Chester has the option of moving him back to the secondary.
The Golden Rams are bring into two highly touted defensive ends from rival high schools in Josh Coulter (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) and Chris Scavicchio (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East). Coulter was selected first team all-league, first team all-area, first team All-Southeastern Pa. and honorable mention all-state at defensive end. During his high school career, Coulter racked up 75 sacks. Scavicchio was selected first team All-Ches-Mont 2008-09 at defensive end. In his senior season, he recorded 12 sacks and scored one touchdown. Scavicchio was also selected to the Chester County all-star game. The two defensive ends were rivals in high school, but they will learn to play together at West Chester.
Joining the defensive line is Joe Whinnery (Drexel Hill, Pa./Cardinal O’hara), who started at guard on offense in high school, but will move to the defensive side of the ball and play nose guard at West Chester.
Finishing up the 2010 recruiting class is Rich Bruno (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South), a place-kicker and punter. He received all-league honorable mention in both his junior and senior seasons. He holds school records for longest field (45 yards) and longest punt (68 yards).
West Chester opens its season Thursday, Sept. 2 at Delaware. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Delaware Stadium.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hometown/Highschool |
| Emmanuel Barake |
LB |
Schwenksville, Pa./Perk Valley |
| Antoine Bland |
OL |
Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz |
| Eric Brudidge |
WR |
Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast |
| Rich Bruno |
P/K |
Holland, Pa./Council Rock South |
| James Colivas |
OL |
Drexel Hill, Pa./Msgr. Bonner |
| Josh Coulter |
DE |
Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West |
| Mike Culbreath |
LB |
Hatfield, Pa./North Penn |
| Martin Haynes |
LB |
Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington |
| Conner Hoffman |
WR |
Abington, Pa./LaSalle |
| Pete Hurley |
WR |
Wayne, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep |
| Laronn Lee |
WR |
Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor |
| Phil Mariani |
TE |
Wayne, Pa./ Conestoga |
| Kevin Reagan |
DB |
Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic |
| Chris Scavicchio |
DE |
Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East |
| Al-Haji Shabazz |
DB |
Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram |
| Anthony Verrecchia |
OL |
Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North |
| Rondell White |
RB |
West Chester, Pa./West Chester Rustin |
| Ronnell Williams |
LB |
Chester, Pa./Chester |
| Aaron Wilmer |
QB |
Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington |
| Eric Wertz |
DB |
Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin |
| Joe Whinnery |
DL |
Drexel Hill, Pa. Cardinal O'hara |
