WEST CHESTER, PA ---?West Chester University football head coach Bill Zwaan released his recruiting class for 2021 adding 15 new players to the Golden Rams roster. With National Signing Day behind them, the football team looks to begin preparations on the 2021 season.
"It was a different recruiting year for us," Zwaan commented. "But, under the COVID circumstances, we pulled off a really good class. We bolstered the offensive and defensive lines and the tight end position. We recruited some really good speed at the skill positions as well."
Zwaan's 2021 class includes four offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, a pair of tight ends, defensive backs and wide receivers each, along with a linebacker and running back. Half of the class addresses the depth in the trenches on both sides of the ball while the other half consists of skill position athletes.
"We did not have many holes to fill because our seniors are all staying for their extra year," informed Zwaan. "But, we feel like we filled our needs."
Due to the cancellation of the 2020 fall campaign, the NCAA has granted one more year of eligibility to those student-athletes, who would have been seniors, thus giving them back their final year of eligibility.
The new recruits accumulated a combined 11 first team all-conference, or all-league, plaudits with four of those tacking on first team all-region, or all-area, and three more first team all-state recognition. Three were named most valuable player in their leagues while one was recognized as a Mini-Maxwell Award winner. Not to be outshined by their accomplishments on the field, three of Zwaan's recruits were distinguished honor roll members and another a member of the National Honor Society.
Capsules on the recruiting class, along with a roster format of the incoming class, are below. Click on the individual's name to see their Hudl highlight film.
Caleb Baker (Jenkintown, Pa./Abington) – 6-4, 220 lbs. Tight End/Wide Receiver ... Caught 100 passes for 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. In his senior year, he received first team All-Suburban One accolades at wide receiver and second team all-state honors.
David Blay (Levittown, Pa./Truman) – 6-2, 280 lbs. Defensive Line … Two-way player, starting on the offensive line as well in high school ... his senior year was postponed until Spring 2021, but as a junior and sophomore, he received first team All-Suburban One at defensive tackle. He received player of the game awards three times as a sophomore and five times as a junior. In his junior year, he recorded 185 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and one blocked punt.
Nathan Desmond (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley) – 6-4, 240 lbs. Linebacker ... He was named first team All-Central League at linebacker and first team on the offensive line. He was also named second team All-Eastern PA Offensive Lineman in his first year playing the position. Desmond was named a Mini-Maxwell Award recipient. In a shortened senior season, he posted 60 total tackles, six tackles for loss, forced one fumble and had one fumble recovery. Desmond was named a two-time football captain as well as a two-time captain for the lacrosse team. Throughout his high school career, he was an honor roll student.
John Ebert (Springfield, Pa./Marple Newtown) – 6-3, 240 lbs. Defensive End ... He was named Defensive MVP for his team. He was also a two-time first team All-Central League defensive end. In a shortened senior season, he had 6.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and 23 solo tackles. Recruiting websites ranked him as the 13th defensive end in the state.
Daniel Hicks (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) – 6-5, 250 lbs. Offensive Line … Started both ways for the Knights on the offensive and defensive lines and was a two-year letterman. Hicks was heavily recruited on both sides of the ball due to his athleticism, but will most likely play on the offensive line for the Golden Rams. At the "Under the Radar" camp he won the fastest lineman award.
Caelan Krasley (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) – 6-3, 300 lbs. Offensive Line ... He started for the varsity squad for three years on the offensive and defensive line and was named captain in his senior year. He is a two-time first team All-Ches Mont and two-time first team All-Area Offensive Lineman. Krasley is also an accomplished track & field athlete and qualified for Ches-Mont Championships in both the shot put and discus as a junior.
Matt Marshall (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter) – 5-10, 170 lbs. Defensive Back ... Senior season was cut short due to Covid-19. In his junior season, Marshall was named First Team All-Inter Ac League. A star on both sides of the ball, he rushed for 972 yards, had 13 receptions for 191 yards and added an interception on defense. He was rated a three-star recruit on Rivals.com.
Patrick Methlie (Avondale, Pa./Salesianum [Del.]) – 6-3, 275 lbs. Offensive Lineman ... He attended high school at Salesianum in Delaware where he was a three-sport athlete. He was elected captain, was three-time first team all-conference, 2020 first team all-state offensive guard and was 2019 second team all-state. In 2019, he received the Salesianum baseball heart player of the year award.
Thatcher Miller (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) – 6-4, 225 lbs. Tight End ... In his senior year, Warwick went 8-0 and were Lancaster-Lebanon League Sectional Champions. They made it to the District 3 Class 5A Title playoffs until their season was cut short due to COVID-19. Thatcher's senior year statistics were 25 receptions for 414 yards and four touchdowns resulting in a first team all-state honor at tight end. He was awarded four game balls by his team for his performances in those games. He also was a distinguished honor throughout his high school career.
Mike Rhodes (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) – 6-6, 235 lbs. Offensive/Defensive Lineman ... He was a three-year starter on the defensive line and three-year starter on the offensive line. Rhodes was first team all-conference defensive end as a senior and was second team all-conference offensive line as a junior. Also was a three-year starter on the basketball team and threw the shot put and discus for his high school's track & field team. In the classroom, Rhodes was a distinguished honor roll student all four years.
Daquan Robinson (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast) – 5-10, 195 lbs. Athlete ... He lined up all over the field, playing running back, wide receiver, quarterback and defensive back. He rushed for 338 yards, had 15 receptions for 236 yards, threw for six touchdowns. Robinson also registered one interception on defense. Robinson played his junior season at Roman Catholic High School, before transferring to Northeast for his senior season, which unfortunately, was postponed due to COVID-19. As a junior, he was first team All-Catholic and Offensive MVP.
D'Shaun Seals (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) – 5-7, 155 lbs. Wide Receiver ... Unfortunately, his senior season was postponed until this spring. In his junior year, he had over 40 receptions for over 700 yards. He is also an amazing return man and accumulated over 900 return yards for a total of over 1,800 all-purpose yards. Seals' performance earned him Philadelphia Public League MVP honors.
Luke Vereb (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) - 6-3, 260 lbs. Offensive line/Long Snapper ... Three-time letter winner. Expected to compete right away for the vacant long snapper position and is rated a four-star long snapper by Rubio Long Snapping. His team awarded him the Bob Mears Award for best offensive lineman his senior year. Vereb is also a three-year letter winner in track & field in the shot put and discus. Vereb is an honor roll student and a member of National Honor Society.
Jayden Williams (Bethlehem, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) – 6-1, 215 lbs. Running Back ... He was first team All-Area RB in 2020. In two years as the starter, Williams rushed for 2,255 yards and 20 touchdowns. Williams was named all-state Class 4A running back.
Jimmy Wright (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) – 5-10, 185 lbs. Defensive Back ... He was first team All-Central League on offense and defense, first team All-Main Line and second team All-Eastern PA. As a running back, he rushed for 800 yards and 11 touchdowns in just six games. That ranked him first in touchdowns and second in yards in all of Delaware County.
2021 West Chester University Football Recruiting Class
| NAME |
POS |
HT |
WT |
HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL |
| Caleb Baker |
TE/WR |
6-4 |
220 |
Jenkintown, PA / Abington |
| David Blay |
DL |
6-2 |
280 |
Levittown, PA / Truman |
| Nathan Desmond |
LB |
6-4 |
240 |
Ridley, PA / Ridley |
| John Ebert |
DL |
6-3 |
240 |
Springfield, PA / Marple Newtown |
| Daniel Hicks |
OL |
6-5 |
250 |
Lansdale, PA / North Penn |
| Caelen Krasley |
OL |
6-3 |
300 |
Chester Springs, PA / Downingtown East |
| Matt Marshall |
DB |
5-10 |
170 |
Philadelphia, PA / Penn Charter |
| Patrick Methlie |
OL |
6-3 |
275 |
Avondale, PA / Salesianum [DE] |
| Thatcher Miller |
TE |
6-4 |
225 |
Lititz, PA / Warwick |
| Mike Rhodes |
OL/DL |
6-6 |
235 |
Ocean City, NJ / Ocean City |
| Daquan Robinson |
ATH |
5-10 |
195 |
Philadelphia, PA / Northeast |
| D'Shaun Seals |
WR |
5-7 |
155 |
Philadelphia, PA / Imhotep Charter |
| Luke Vereb |
OL/LS |
6-3 |
260 |
Yardley, PA / Pennsbury |
| Jayden Williams |
RB |
6-1 |
215 |
Bethlehem, PA / Allentown Central Catholic |
| Jimmy Wright |
DB |
5-10 |
185 |
Havertown, PA / Haverford |
