After Robert Morris started the Northeast Conference slate 0-2, Andy Toole lamented how many of his players were negatively impact the team. He specifically cited the woeful plus/minus rate of his bench, as everyone except Lucky Jones was in the red in that specific stat.

How do the numbers look now? Well, it's no surprise they mirror Robert Morris' turnaround.

First, for those who need refresher on the stat, a definition. Its purpose is to figure out the overall impact of a player on his team's successes and failures. It calculates the point spread for when he's on the court. If his team scores more points than the opposition, he'll have a positive plus/minus. If his team falls behind, he'll have a negative plus/minus. You add up his positive stretches and negatives throughout the game to calculate the total for a game. You can then add those individual game numbers together and divide by the number of games he's competed in to get an accurate reflection over the course of a whole season.

First developed for the NHL, it's now become commonplace in the NBA and is creeping into college basketball. By no means is it a perfect stat, but it offers a glimpse into
evaluating a player for more than just points, assists, turnovers, etc.
With the aid of sites like StatSheet.com and Kenpom.com, ColonialsCorner
has compiled each Robert Morris player's plus/minus average. This takes
the total plus/minus number and divides it by the number of games each
player has played, allowing it to account for injuries.


Math is not our strong suit here at ColonialsCorner, but we double and triple-checked our calculations. Here's what we came up with for the final regular season plus-minus numbers. Also included are where each player stood the last time we did this, back when RMU was 0-2.

Velton Jones - plus-6.5 (previously was plus-3.4)
Coron Williams - plus-5.8 (previously was plus-1.3)
Russell Johnson - plus-5.5 (previously was plus-0.9)
Lucky Jones - plus-5.5 (previously was plus-2.1)
Karvel Anderson - plus-4.3 (previously was plus-2.6)
Mike McFadden - plus-3.7 (previously was plus-3.1)
Stephan Hawkins - plus-2.4 (previously was minus-1.7)
Anthony Myers-Pate - plus-1.5 (previously was minus-2.2)
Keith Armstrong - plus-1.0 (no ranking previously due to injury)
David Appolon - plus-0.8 (previously was minus-2.2)

Removed from list: Vaughn Morgan, who was at minus-5.2 but is no longer part of the team.

What It Means: Velton Jones was the leader the last time around, and it's no surprise that he's continued to have a major impact. Jones is an extension of Toole on the court, demanding defensive effort and smart plays on offense. Though he's been hurt, RMU is clearly at its best when he's on the court.

Just as important has been Russell Johnson and Lucky Jones turning things around. Jones was benched for a game after that 0-2 stretch, while Johnson suddenly tuned it on. It's no surprise then to see them have two of the largest jumps among the entire team. But a little surprising is seeing how high Coron Williams' numbers are despite some inconsistencies on offense. It's a sign that perhaps Williams has been better defensively than any numbers or reputation would suggest. When he's on the court, his group isn't being burned defensively.

But equally important is the bench. Every single player is now a positive influence, even though Armstrong and at times Appolon have minimal numbers and impact. The best signs are Hawkins and Myers-Pate, two crucial bench players RMU has needed to lean on for depth and significant minutes.

It's just one stat, but it showcases how complete Robert Morris' turnaround has been and how miserable the Colonials were in mid-January.

Paul Jones - QB (Jr.)

6-4 | 250


Notes > Top rated QB out of McKees Rock HS. Left PSU and looks to become starter in 2013. While be competing with Abbott.

2013 Prediction - Starting QB

Luke Brumbaugh - QB (Fr.)
6-2 | 180

Notes > Good Accuracy & Arm Strength. Needs work on drops, can be lazy at times. But athletic in the pocket.


2013 Prediction - 3rd string QB


Joe Carroll - QB (Fr.)
6-2 | 180

Notes > Slow drops and doesn't always set within the pocket from drops. A little raw and will need work.

2013 Prediction - Redshirt
------------------------------
Erich Maine - RB (Fr.)
6-1 | 225

Notes > Big backwho can move. Looked at those he played against weak competition in the highlights.
If he learns the offense, Erich could see time as the shirt yardage RB.


2013 Prediction - Short Yardage RB
------------------------------


Alex Caratelli - WR (Fr.)
6-2 | 190

Notes > He catches everything with his hands. Good speed and could develop into a great position WR.
Depth and how Walton shuffles WR could hurt his chances.


2013 Prediction - Redshirt


Chaq Nettles - WR (Fr.)
6-1 | 175

Notes > Reminds me of a young Jeter when he was moved to WR. Can run by people but it takes more than that at this level. He will need time to develop and the thing hurting the incoming WRs is the possible change from Walton's offense in 2014.

2013 Prediction - Redshirt


Billy Occean - Ath (Fr.)
5-9 | 170

Notes > already on campus and the fastest guy on the team. It will help him greatly being on campus for Spring Practices.


2013 Prediction - Will see action in the return game; might replace Taylor as PR.

------------------------------

Blake Chambliss - OL (Fr.)
6-5 | 265

Notes > OG in high school but there is talk in trying him out as OT. Needs work on his pass sets; drops that outside foot and opens the gate to the QB. He needs to work on staying more squared. Good drive on run blocks but tends to chest block against LBs.


2013 Prediction - backup OG


Riley Feenan - OL (Fr.)
6-7 | 290
Notes > very large human when I saw in person. Very raw on his film. Will need time but has the size and the drive to be a great tackle down the road.



2013 Prediction - Redshirt


Drew Garbenis - OL (Fr.)
6-5 | 315
Notes > Can play either side and does finish his blocks. Does tend to catch when pass blocking and even run blocking. Needs work with his down blocks as he gives up the inside too easily.



2013 Prediction - backup RT
Chris O'Connor - OL (Fr.)
6-6 | 280


Notes > Has a mean streak. Great hands for a OL but needs to work on his pass sets. Could be a better OG than OT
but there is a bigger need for OT.


2013 Prediction - backup LT


------------------------------
Max Onyenwe - DT (Fr.)
6-1 | 305


Notes > Big man that can move. Very athletic for a NG. Depth will hurt his chances but could be called on if injuries happen.
2013 Prediction - Redshirt

Zack Zamiska - DT (Fr.)
6-5 | 273

Notes > Strong and has good drive off the ball. No real pass rush; just a bull rusher.

2013 Prediction - Redshirt

------------------------------

Ryan Lewis - DE (Fr.)
6-5 | 240


Notes > old high school film to go from. Lewis will benefit from Spring to see how he can help the D this year.


2013 Prediction - will see limited action at the start of the season but his time will increase.
Ryan Budny - DE (Fr.)
6-5 | 225


Notes > Good frame but did not dominate in the films. Smart player but plays very high.
2013 Prediction - Redshirt

Michael Woltz - DE (Fr.)
6-1 | 210

Notes > Athletic player who will need time to adjust to playing DE for the Colonials.

2013 Prediction - Redshirt

------------------------------


Jimmy Masson - LB (Fr.)
6-0 | 190
Notes > Very fast LB off the edge and can play inside as well. He will hit you.



2013 Prediction -Special Teams starter
Nic Lamica - LB (Fr.)
6-4 | 210


Notes > Very good athlete. Solid tackler who can cover but not too physical. Might see time on special teams.
2013 Prediction - Special Teams or Redshirt

Todd-Jamal Waters - LB (Fr.)
6-4 | 240


Notes > Tank is a monster. He reads very well inside and he is a sure tackler. He also plays off blocks very well. Coaches might hope to redshirt him but they might need him on the field more.
2013 Prediction - Special Teams unless they can afford to Redshirt Tank.

------------------------------


Phil Peckich - DB (Jr.)
5-10 | 185

Notes > No film to review.

2013 Prediction - maybe special teams
Logan Kelleher - DB (Fr.)
5-11 | 185

Notes > Very good ball skills. Good tackler from the secondary. Depth chart listed as a possible safety.



2013 Prediction - Special Teams


Andy Smigiera - DB (Fr.)
6-0 | 190

Notes > highlight film didn't show much on D from what I saw. But this is a type of player Albany would tend to land. Someone who can play a lot of positions.
2013 Prediction - Redshirt

------------------------------


Dalton Raab - LS (So.)
6-2 | 190
2013 Prediction - Redshirt
Zach Sampson - P/K (Fr.)
6-0 | 210
2013 Prediction - Redshirt







This post was edited on 2/17 2:12 PM by Original_RMC

This post was edited on 2/17 2:17 PM by Original_RMC

This post was edited on 2/17 2:19 PM by Original_RMC

When I spoke with Scott Farison a week ago, he mentioned holding out a roster spot for a couple players. One of them is still expected to be Downingtown East DE/LB Nelson Lee Lucas-Murphy, and one still might go to a running back.

But at least one spot has been taken by a familiar name. Defensive back Zach Cooper signed papers to play football at Robert Morris today. The Hurricane, West Virginia native is the younger brother of current RMU linebacker Kyle Cooper.

Zach won't be following in Kyle's footsteps at linebacker, even though he played there this year. Zach's listed at 5-foot-10, 173 pounds and has experience as a defensive back, as well. West Virginia media reported that Cooper was deciding between RMU and VMI before choosing RMU.

It's been a month since we last checked in on Robert Morris' four hoops recruits for the Class of 2013. In the weeks that have gone by, Andy Toole has begun to speak publicly about these four, including some brief comments on his weekly radio show. Naturally, though, Toole's focus is with the guys currently on the squad.

So it's up to us to keep tabs on how the four signed prospects are handling their senior seasons. February means a push for the playoffs, and they all have potential league and state titles in their sights.

F Jeremiah Worthem (6-foot-7, 210 - Math, Civics, & Sciences Charter/Philadelphia, Pa.)

- MCS Charter finally lost a game, but Worthem's team is still undefeated in a sense. MCS is 23-1 after their Philadelphia Public League playoff win Tuesday night, with the only loss coming to a New Jersey school on February 2. Pennsylvania hasn't been able to touch the Mighty Elephants, thanks in large part to Worthem. The bouncy wing is averaging 15.6 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game for MCS.

Worthem had 20 points again Tuesday night in the playoff win, which sent MCS into the city semifinals against Vaux, which features four-star guard Rysheed Jordan. Beyond the city playoffs will be the District 12 playoffs, followed by the state playoffs. MCS could go deep in each, which could give Worthem a chance to shine even more.

G Britton Lee (5-foot-11, 170 - Math, Civics, & Sciences Charter/Philadelphia, Pa.)
- Lee remains a steady complement to Worthem and 3-star junior guard Malik Starkes. Lee's 9.8 points per game is third on the team behind those two, and he's settled into his role as the all-around guy. Lee is averaging 2.8 assists per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, and a team-high 2.5 steals per game.

He's incredibly efficient, too, as he doesn't take a high number of shots for a high school guard yet still sinks 59 percent of his 2-pointers. He's still only 29 percent from 3-point range though, and a low 53 percent from the free throw line. But remember, Velton Jones wasn't that good at his free throws in high school, either.

The one thing Lee will have to watch is his fouls. It's one thing for a big guy like Worthem to pick them up at times, but Lee has had four fouls or more in seven games, roughly a third of his team's games. They'll need him down the stretch, so though he likes hounding opponents, he'll have to be smart.

G Kavon Stewart (5-foot-11, 150 - Hudson Catholic/Jersey City, N.J.)

- Much like his future teammates in Philadelphia, Stewart's current squad has just one loss on the season. Hudson Catholic is 23-1 and is the second-seeded team in its playoff group in the New Jersey state tournament. The only team in front of Hudson Catholic is St. Anthony, which recently saw its three year win streak snapped at 83 games. Bob Hurley's group is pretty much the perennial favorite, but Stewart and teammate Reggie Cameron have Hudson Catholic flying high.

Stewart's averaging almost a double-double, and not the conventional way. He's second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game, and he's dishing out 8.2 assists per game, most of them probably to Cameron (23 points per game). He's also averaging 4.6 rebounds per game and 3.2 steals per game. In fact, in one game on January 29, Stewart had 12 points, 11 assists, and 7 steals.

New Jersey basketball is good but bloated, and the playoffs will be a great chance to see how he does against the best in the state.

F Emmanuel Omogbo (6-foot-7, 195 - Princeton Day Academy/Lanham, MD)

- Princeton Day plays a few more games than its fellow regional high schools, and with just a couple games left in the regular season, Omogbo's school is an impressive 27-9. Though Princeton Day has a ton of offensive threats, Omogbo is still making his mark. Headlined by Aquille Carr, eight different players average 10 or more points per game for Princeton Day.

Omogbo is right in the middle of the group, fourth on the team at 14.3 points per game. The end of January was very kind to the big man, as he had a six game stretch where he scored 18, 20, 20, 20, 19, and 19 points. That included one game with 20 points and 17 rebounds, and one game after the stretch where he had 15 and 10. Perhaps just as important is this: Though Omogbo hits 70 percent of his free throws, during that stretch he was 39-for-44 (88.6 percent).

A big who can hit free throws at high rate would be a strong get.

Welcome to the ColonialsCorner National Signing Day headquarters.

Much like last year, we'll put all official commitments here in this thread. Many Robert Morris commitments have already made their choice public, but tomorrow they'll make it official. Several have also been quiet so far, and will reveal their choices tomorrow in events at their high schools. As word of those announcements emerges, we'll post here.

When the day is done, we expect Robert Morris to make the entire class official. That will give us the first comments from the coaching staff, as well as an initial first glance at where certain players are expected to slot in. Last year, for example, the school announced Kimani Smith exclusively at linebacker. There was some thought prior that he could end up at wide receiver, where he had made some acrobatic catches for Cathedral Prep. Instead, RMU wisely slotted him at linebacker, and as we saw, he earned playing time as a true freshman.

Here's the current list of verbal commitments:
QB Luke Brumbaugh - signed
QB Joe Carroll - signed (see details below)
WR Alex Caratelli - signed
WR Chaq Nettles - signed
OL Blake Chambliss - signed
OL Riley Feenan - signed
OL Drew Garbenis - signed
OL Chris O'Connor - signed
DE Ryan Budny - signed (see below)
DL Zack Zamiska - signed
LB Mike Woltz - signed
LB/TE Nicholas Lamica - signed
LB/DE Nelson Lee Lucas-Murphy
LB Erich Maine - signed
DB Andy Smigiera - signed (see below)
FS Logan Kelleher - signed

And here's the believed list of transfers already enrolled:
QB Paul Jones (Junior eligibility - Penn State)
DL Ryan Lewis (Freshman eligibility - Montour HS/Milford Academy)

Enjoy and check back often on Wednesday.

Edit late Wednesday night - That's all for now. I count 18 commits. There may be about 20-21, and at least two are unannounced. We'll see when the official release comes out.

This post was edited on 2/7 12:40 AM by Andrew_Chiappazzi

This post was edited on 2/7 2:17 PM by Andrew_Chiappazzi

Robert Morris wasn't going to spend a ton of time hunting down wide receivers this year, but they were looking for one or two with size and playmaking abilities.

They found one right near Joe Walton's old stomping grounds. Blackhawk (Pa.) wide receiver Alex Caratelli announced via his Twitter page that he has committed to Robert Morris.

Caratelli was part of a Blackhawk team that featured running back Cole Chiappialle (a Penn State walk-on) and 2014 QB Chandler Kincade, who is already committed to Pitt. Blackhawk isn't far from Beaver Falls and it competes in the very competitive Parkway Conference in the WPIAL.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Caratelli caught 70 passes for 1,220 yards. His receiving totals led the WPIAL, and he also caught seven touchdowns. Caratelli also played corner for Blackhawk.

Highlights are available here.

Original_RMC might lose his mind. Robert Morris snagged another big lineman, this time grabbing a commitment from one of the nastiest offensive lines in Pennsylvania.

Archbishop Wood (Pa.) offensive lineman Chris O'Connor committed to Robert Morris today according to head coach Steve Devlin on Twitter. Wood has been in the state title game the last two years and has become a football factory. Over a half dozen Archbishop Wood players went D-I last year as the team won the state title.

This year, it's a smaller class, but no less impressive. And the line has been the hallmark of the team, as it's featured a group that would actually dwarf some college lines.

O'Connor is 6-foot-6, 285 pounds and played guard for Wood. You can view his highlights here. He's played tackle but prefers playing inside as a run blocker. His nickname is alternately "Bigfoot/Sasquatch" because of his size-16 shoes.

O'Connor chose Robert Morris over reported scholarship offers from Lafayette and Lehigh, as well as interest from William & Mary, Coastal Carolina, Monmouth, and Villanova. He is the fourth lineman to commit in this class, and odds are he'll be the last as RMU addresses other areas of need. All of them are at least 6-foot-5 or taller.

Robert Morris received a commitment this weekend from Florida athlete Erich Maine. The 6-foot-1, 221 pound Maine played running back and linebacker for Village Academy HS in Delray Beach, Florida. It was first reported by the Palm Beach Post.

He made his official visit this weekend and committed at the end of the visit.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Maine had 84 tackles, four sacks, and four interceptions at linebacker this year. He also ran for 999 touchdowns and eight touchdowns as a running back. Based off his size, it seems like that the Colonials will look at Maine on defense first.

Linebacker and defensive line are the two weak spots on the defense right now in terms of depth. Though there isn't a likely starting spot available for any freshman, there's a huge senior class at linebacker, meaning this year's crop of freshmen could redshirt but need to be ready to play right away in 2014.

One thing's clear though: RMU likes versatility in this class. Nelson Lee Lucas-Murphy was recruited at linebacker but played some defensive line in his senior year. Nic Lamica played tight end as well as linebacker. And Maine can play on both sides of the ball.

This post was edited on 1/28 3:05 PM by Andrew_Chiappazzi

The past weekend began the busiest three weekends of the offseason calendar as Robert Morris looks to secure its 2013 recruiting class in advance of National Signing Day on February 6.

This past weekend saw a host of potential recruits land on campus, and Robert Morris secured commitments out of two of them. ColonialsCorner already updated you on their status, and now it's time to turn to some additional names that have popped up. Some of these players have visited, others will visit in the future. All are on the recruiting radar.

DB Blake Chambliss, Kelleher visited this past weekend and came away with a scholarship offer. Moeller is loaded with prospects, and while many are being picked up by BCS schools, Robert Morris appears to be hoping a few fall through the cracks. Kelleher had some higher level interest, but it looks like RMU is his only offer so far. Kelleher is a cover corner, and he has excellent ball skills. He had 59 tackles and eight interceptions this year as Moeller won the state title.

Kelleher is also looking at Akron and Dayton as potential landing spots, while he's considering walking on at Bowling Green and Ohio State. You can see his highlight tape here.

LB Erich Maine (6-foot-1, 221 pounds, Village Academy/Delray Beach, FL) - Robert Morris began its renewed push into Florida last year and came out pleased with the results. Maine is just one of the latest targets. He will reportedly visit this weekend, and according to our database he already has offers from FCS schools Bethune-Cookman and Holy Cross. Maine was a part-time running back and full-time linebacker for Village Academy, a small school in the Palm Beach area that's been a hotbed for RMU.

Odds are he ends up as a physical, athletic linebacker. His highlight tape shows him dropping into coverage as well as playing up to the stop the run.

P/K Houstin Syvertson (6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Shady Spring High/Beckley, WV) - With Greg Langer gone and Tony LaMancusa entering his junior year, Robert Morris is kicking the tires on a few kickers. Considering the success they had with West Virginian Nick Schirtzinger, it's no surprise that Syvertson caught their eye. In fact, he's caught the eye of two BCS schools as well. He'll visit West Virginia this weekend and then trek to Robert Morris on February 1. He also plans on visiting Rutgers.

The key might be scholarship money. He's the top option at WVU, but they don't have a scholarship spot available for a kicker and have only offered a walk-on spot. He likely won't sign on signing day, as he plans to visit Rutgers afterward, but an offer from RMU could sway him.

RB Kenneth Butler (5-foot-10, 190 pounds, St. Edward High/Cleveland Heights, OH) - Butler's picked up mostly Division II and Division III interest, but Robert Morris is still on his list. He plans on visiting before signing day, and Heidelberg College is his only other visit. Butler's also checked out Mount Union.

He's an agile and strong back. His highlights are available here. Robert Morris doesn't need immediate help at running back, but they do need depth.

OL Drew Garbenis (6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Lakota West High/West Chester, OH) - Garbenis visited this weekend and came away with a scholarship offer as he departed. Garbenis played both left and right tackle in an offense that looked to operate a lot out of the shotgun. It wasn't quite a spread offense, as there are tight ends lined up at times, but he'll have plenty of experience as a pass blocker and run blocker.

Highlights are available here. Garbenis reportedly has also visited Grand Valley State and Saginaw Valley State.
got an offer on official visit

RB Colby Grant (5-foot-8, 170 pounds, Susquehanna Township High/Harrisburg, PA) - Grant will be visiting on January 25, part of the next wave of recruits to take their official visits before signing day. He's had a variety of schools interested, but so far none have offered. Towson is close, and he's still in contact with a couple other schools. Grant ran for 1,100 yards and scored 20 touchdowns during the season, and his highlight tape has sparked renewed interest from several schools.

Grant is a potential return specialist, as well as a slot receiver candidate for some schools.

As always, if any additional news comes down, we'll have it here for you.

This post was edited on 1/22 6:45 PM by Andrew_Chiappazzi

With school back in session and the recruiting calendar open, Robert Morris opened its doors to a host of recruits this weekend.

It paid off with two immediate commitments.

The Colonials picked up a commitment from 6-foot-4, 210 pound WR/LB Nic Lamica and then grabbed a commitment from 6-foot-5, 260 pound offensive lineman Blake Chambliss.

Chambliss also visited this weekend, one of a couple Moeller (OH) High School athletes who scoped out the football program. Moeller won the state title in Division I in Ohio and has traditionally been one of the better high school programs in the Buckeye state. Chambliss was predominantly a right guard for Moeller, which would help Robert Morris fill out the interior of the line, but his size would also suggest he can jump out to right tackle. You can find highlights of his season here. His commitment was first reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Lamica, meanwhile, will have to slot into a position. His commitment came as a potential linebacker, but the Forest Hills Central (Michigan) athlete was also a good wide receiver. He's obviously got a big frame, and his highlight tape showcases above average hands and body control. Not to mention, Robert Morris was in the market for a big receiver, and Lamica has the size that could even shift to tight end depending on what RMU coaches envision for him. His commitment was first reported by The DZone.

Defensively, Lamica played a combination of outside linebacker and safety for Forest Hills Central. Judging from his highlight tape, which you can see here, it's likely he gets his first shot on offense.

ColonialsCorner will have another recruiting update soon focusing on several other visits.

This post was edited on 1/21 5:27 PM by Andrew_Chiappazzi

RMU loses out a DL that they have been recruiting all season.

http://triblive.com/sports/hssports/highschoolrecruiting/3300968-74/bednar-citadel-football#axzz2I90iDB1G

It's been a couple weeks since ColonialsCorner last checked in with the four verbal commitments who are part of Robert Morris' 2013 recruiting class. Many played in holiday tournaments, giving them additional games to strut their stuff in their senior seasons.

In those couple of weeks, the scholarship situation at Robert Morris has changed, meaning all of these players are in line to join Robert Morris in the fall provided they make it through the NCAA Clearinghouse.

F Jeremiah Worthem (6-foot-7, 210 - Math, Civics, & Sciences Charter/Philadelphia, Pa.)
- Worthem's kept up his hot start to the season, as he leads MCS with 16.8 points per game through 12 games. MCS is off to a 12-0 start and is quickly looking like a potential district champion and even state title contender in Class A. Worthem's high was 31 points back on December 20. Since then, he's simply been efficient, as just once has he shot below 50 percent from the field. That includes back-to-back 7-of-10 performances this past week.

Worthem's had five double-doubles this year, as he pulls down an average of 8.5 rebounds per game. He also averages a steal per game and just under a block per game.

G Britton Lee (5-foot-11, 170 - Math, Civics, & Sciences Charter/Philadelphia, Pa.)
- Lee isn't the only ball-handler in MCS' lineup, so his assist numbers aren't outstanding. But he's a pickpocket and a reliable scorer. Lee is second on the team in points per game behind Worthem, scoring 10.5 points per game. Believe it or not, for a small guard, Lee does most of his work inside the 3-point line. He's just 8-of-28 from beyond the arc for 29 percent.

Lee's built up a decent all-around stat line. He averages 2.8 assists per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, and a team-high 2.3 steals per game. If the steals are a sign of his defensive prowess, Robert Morris will be happy and let him develop his offensive game later.

G Kavon Stewart (5-foot-11, 150 - Hudson Catholic/Jersey City, N.J.)
- One state over from the duo in Philadelphia, Stewart has his Hudson Catholic squad in a similar position. Hudson Catholic is 13-1 and is considered to be one of the top teams in New Jersey. Stewart is third on his team in scoring at 10.4 points per game, but his game lies elsewhere.

Stewart averages 7.9 assists per game and recently recorded his 500th career assist. He's already over 100 assists for the season through just 14 games, and his record-breaking day came in a game where he had 14 assists. Stewart also averages 4.4 rebounds per game and 2.6 steals per game.

F Emmanuel Omogbo (6-foot-7, 195 - Princeton Day Academy/Lanham, MD)
- Princeton Day puts up a lot of points thanks to some quality players - including Seton Hall commit Aquille Carr - and Omogbo is fourth on the team in scoring. But with lots of shots to go around, Omogo is still averaging 13.6 points per game.

The rest of his exploits are a little murkier. No Maryland-area or D.C. area publication appears to keep track of the ancillary stats consistently. But Omogbo is very active on the boards, and based off of game stories, he has to be averaging close to 10 rebounds per game (if not more). He's had multiple double-double games, including one contest with 20 boards just last week.

This post was edited on 1/13 11:38 PM by Andrew_Chiappazzi

Time for the coaches to pick up the phone see if any local PA recruits want to reconsider
Blaine Woodson - http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Blaine-Woodson-144715;_ylt=Ar916WeQxSNhv1kiDs0MDEtDPZB4

Diante Cherry - http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Diante-Cherry-109491;_ylt=Ak7j3co2zC3Vgh_TTm7oMjxDPZB4

Kyle Yocum - http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Kyle-Yocum-128935;_ylt=AsfR8UaepCKkwatUm2QqE5hDPZB4

With the dawn of a new year and a new month, recruiting will pick back up shortly. Robert Morris typically starts to get the bulk of their commits in the middle and end of January, as guys make final decisions leading up to signing day in early February.

With that in mind, ColonialsCorner has compiled a list of a handful of names to keep an eye on as the recruiting period gets active again. None of these players are commitments and only a couple have actual offers, but they're all on Robert Morris' radar to some degree.

DE Da'Sean Downey (6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Hartsdale, NY) - A late emerging prospect, Downey has quickly picked up interest from the likes of UMass, Stony Brook, Monmouth, and RMU. Even Boston College is sniffing around. He doesn't have an offer yet, and he recently told Rivals he's keeping his options open.

"I'm looking for a nice environment," he told Rivals. "I want somewhere I'll feel comfortable and I'm looking for a program that is a winning program. I want somewhere I can better my skills as a person and player. I'll play anywhere I'm given the opportunity."

Downey had 70 tackles and 14 sacks in his senior season.

LB Jake Plonski (6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Erie, PA) - Plonski's been on the RMU radar for a while and the Colonials remain his only official offer. But he's really high on Penn State and would like to go there. He's explored even walking-on there, but the scholarship may be too tough to pass up. Plonski was named all-state at linebacker after posting 118 tackles this year for Prep.

Junior highlights - http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Rivals-Spotlight-Jake-Plonski-1104482

ATH Aris Scott (6-foot-2, 205 pounds, New Berlin, NY) - Now at Milford Academy, Scott had a variety of interest last year at Central Dauphin East. He has offers from a couple other NEC schools, and a variety of larger schools are also taking a look. He's a potential wide receiver pick-up, but a very versatile overall athlete whose size could put him at a couple positions.

OL Drew Garbenis (6-foot-5, 315 pounds, West Chester, OH) - Big offensive lineman will reportedly visit at some point this month. He played both tackle spots for Lakota West and he's a very physical player. Highlights - http://www.hudl.com/athlete/122027/highlights/18101376[/URL]

ATH Ant McGrew (6-foot, 164 pounds, Royal Palm Beach, FL) - A variety of FCS interest, including Stony Brook, Alcorn State, North Carolina Central, and Alabama State to go along with Robert Morris. McGrew played quarterback, corner, and wide receiver. He ran for 391 yards and threw for 997 yards.

WR Joseph "JoJo" Williams (6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Royal Palm Beach, FL) - Williams picked up an offer in early December and he reportedly will visit RMU sometime this month. Williams caught 31 passes for 341 yards as a senior.

DB De'Andre Simmons (5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Royal Palm Beach, FL) - The Colonials are interested in Simmons as well, a two-star speedster who also has an offer from Middle Tennessee State. Perhaps their hoping for a DeLand effect, where they pull in multiple players from the same high school in a single class. Hey, it worked before.

This post was edited on 1/2 1:20 AM by Andrew_Chiappazzi

Hey Andrew,

I read that Akron pulled their scholarship from McKeesport's QB Eddie Stockett. Any insight into why and could RMU sneak in and snag another local QB?
Gateway QB Woodson just gave Akron a verbal so wondering if perhaps grades could be an issue with Stockett?

That would be a great add to the class landing a 6'4 215lb local QB plus I'm sure the success of Dre helps as well if the staff was contacting Stockett.

Thanks

With high school basketball season underway, ColonialsCorner figured it'd be a good time to see what kind of start Robert Morris' four basketball recruits are getting off to. How they all fit into the scholarship picture for Robert Morris still remains to be seen (there are four commits for three expected scholarship spots). We've heard Emmanuel Omogbo is bound for prep school but that apparently isn't a guarantee.

In the meantime, they're all playing their senior year of basketball. Here's how they're doing.

F Jeremiah Worthem (6-foot-7, 210 - Math, Civics, & Sciences Charter/Philadelphia, Pa.) - Worthem is off to an explosive start. The rangy forward leads MCS with 15.2 points per game, and the school is off to a 5-0 start. That includes a win over rival Imhotep Charter (David Appolon's alma mater), which MCS hadn't been able to pull off in its short history. Worthem's shown off his range a little bit, knocking down 4-of-11 3-pointers, and he's also been good at the free throw line for a big man, hitting 71 percent of his shots.

Away from his offense, Worthem's been just as good. He averages 9.2 rebounds per game, with most coming on the defensive glass. It's a promising start, one Robert Morris coaches have to be thrilled with.

G Britton Lee (5-foot-11, 170 - Math, Civics, & Sciences Charter/Philadelphia, Pa.) - Lee transferred from Roman Catholic and joined Worthem at MCS prior to the school year, and Lee's settled in nicely. He hasn't had to be the primary scorer, obviously, but he's still chipping in 11 points per game. Lee hasn't had to shoot many from distance (just 3-of-10), but he's used other aspects of his game to help.

Lee is averaging 3.4 assists per game, one of three distributors MCS uses, but his biggest impact is on defense. Lee is picking up three steals per game. It's early, but Lee's another one who seems to be showing positive flashes of what he can bring to the table next year.

G Kavon Stewart (5-foot-11, 150 - Hudson Catholic/Jersey City, N.J.) - Hudson Catholic's played just three games, a couple fewer than some other states, but Stewart is off to a solid start like his Pennsylvania counterparts. Stewart is third on his team in scoring at 12.7 points per game, and he had a dunk earlier this week that had Twitter buzzing.

Stewart's been more apt to get others involved. He's dishing out 8.3 assists per game and even pulling down 5.3 rebounds per game. ColonialsCorner always got the impression that Lee was viewed as more of a scoring guard and Stewart more of a distributor, and so far their seasons seem to be playing that out.

F Emmanuel Omogbo (6-foot-7, 195 - Princeton Day Academy/Lanham, MD) - Unlike the other three, Omogbo's played 13 games already for Princeton Day. Also unlike the other three, his exploits have gone relatively unrecorded. ColonialsCorner has stats for just a handful of those 13 games, but in them, Omogbo's done well. He averaged 19.3 points per game in that stretch, including one day with 28, while pulling down 13 rebounds per game. On a team with a handful of other stars, including four-star Seton Hall commit Aquille Carr, Omogbo is still shining enough.

Robert Morris has begun hosting some players on official visits as they put together the 2013 football recruiting class. Robert Morris will try to host a handful of players on each of their official visit weekends, with some players coming in this week. Others will come in next week, and still more will come in throughout the last couple weekends of January.

ColonialsCorner will try to get information on every visit. This weekend featured a few familiar faces, and the theme of the weekend seemed to be size.

THE VISITORS

Paul Jones (Quarterback, 6-foot-3, 258 pounds, RSo.) - The Penn State transfer already announced his intentions to enroll at RMU in January, and he was a regular at RMU games down the stretch. But he made his official visit this weekend, and by all accounts, it went well. Jones tweeted earlier on Sunday that he had a great weekend alongside fellow WPIAL/City League graduates D.J. Pearson, D.J. Myers, and Donte Jeter. He'll be a redshirt junior when camp begins in August, but he'll obviously be around for spring ball to learn the system.

Riley Feenan (Offensive lineman, 6-foot-7, 290 pounds, Delta, British Columbia - H.S.) - The British Columbian giant made his trip in, one of a couple big dudes who officially checked out the Robert Morris campus. Feenan is another early commit, as he chose the Colonials over an offer from Northern Colorado. If Feenan officially clocks in at 6-foot-7, by the way, he would be the tallest Robert Morris player since 6-foot-8 Ohio offensive tackle Bryant Ausperk, who only lasted one season with the team. Senior highlights - Available via Hudl.

Forrest Barnes (Running back, 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Harmony, Pennsylvania - H.S.) - Talented WPIAL running back has a host of schools interested, but he's yet to pull down an offer. Barnes ran for 1,676 yards for Seneca Valley high school and scored 30 total touchdowns. He's also a receiving threat, as he caught 23 passes for 243 yards. RMU probably isn't going to take more than one or two running backs. If they get Barnes, that might do it unless they see someone really versatile that they like. Senior highlights - available via Hudl


Ryan Bednar (Defensive tackle, 6-foot-0, 265 pounds, Glassport, Pennsylvania - H.S.) - Big defensive tackle prospect has been a fixture at Robert Morris games, and the word is he thinks highly of the Colonials and the program. He's a physical player and another local guy, but he also has a handful of other schools interested. Senior highlights - available via YouTube



Sam Marlin (Offensive lineman, 6-foot-7, 275 pounds, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania - H.S.) - Another big body, Marlin was an offensive tackle for Mechanicsburg. His high school ran a balanced offense, which bodes well for the adjustment process to the college level. He reportedly has two offers so far. Senior highlights - available via Hudl

Robert Morris will have a very different look to its quarterback depth chart in the spring. ColonialsCorner has learned that sophomore quarterback Matt Layman will transfer. Layman made the decision recently and began telling family, friends, and now former teammates within the last week.

Layman started three games in place of Jeff Sinclair over the past two seasons. A native of Hilton Head, South Carolina, Layman played in eight games in his career, completing 43-of-85 passes (50.6 percent) for 452 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions.

He was projected to compete for the starting quarterback job in the spring now that Sinclair has completed his eligibility, but the transfer of former Penn State quarterback Paul Jones to Robert Morris meant that Layman likely would be competing for a back-up spot again. Jones is expected to be a heavy, heavy favorite to win the job, though it won't be given to him.

Layman is expected to transfer a little closer to home and look for a potential school where he can compete for starting time.

The transfer leaves Robert Morris with just two quarterbacks on the roster: Jones and current freshman Derik Abbott. Barring injury and poor performance, it also clears a likely line of succession: Jones will start for two years before giving way to Abbott for two years.

The Colonials will need another quarterback, though. They have a commitment from Seton-La Salle quarterback Luke Brumbaugh, but will likely bring in another scholarship quarterback to stretch the depth chart to four. They also could hope that someone like Mikal Hall, who was the third QB during Sinclair's suspension earlier this year, returns to work out with the team in spring ball.

Received word from a former Colonial that coaches Nic that RMU just offered him

Nic Lamica Highlights 2011

A few people have mentioned the possibility of Robert Morris trying to pursue its best recruiting class ever now that the Junior Varsity program is shut down and the staff can focus on a smaller group of players.

Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. But they're certainly aiming higher.

Robert Morris has just offered 2013 WR Gairus Coleman. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound receiver plays at Harrison High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He is also the first three-star recruit that, to my knowledge, RMU has targeted this season. Coleman is ranked No. 93 in the Rivals Top 2013 Receivers, and he is No. 23 in the Rivals Preseason Michigan Top 30.

Coleman has interest from a ton of MAC schools, as well as a handful of Midwestern schools. But Robert Morris is the first school to offer him, and it appears the Colonials are targeting higher profile wide receivers. Coleman is one of three ranked prospects RMU has targeted at wide receiver, with offers out to two-star Deland, FL WR D'Antwuan O'Neal and two-star Towson, MD WR Kyle Levere.

Those two are a different style than Coleman, though. O'Neal and Levere are bigger wide receivers. Coleman is more of a slot receiver. We'll see how this turns out.

Video highlights

A ColonialsCorner exclusive update on a potential major transfer.

As reported back in October, former Penn State quarterback Paul Jones is considering transferring to Robert Morris. Jones would have two years of eligibility remaining and drop into an immediate position battle at quarterback. He'd have to get familiar with the offense, but two things might be in his favor: He's coming out of a similar offense at Penn State, and he'd likely be joining an offense that will start seeing some tweaks as the transition begins from Joe Walton to John Banaszak in 2013.

Jones is close to RMU assistant Alex DiMichele, and word is he seriously is considering staying close to home because of his network of support in the Pittsburgh area.

So how likely is Jones to end up at Robert Morris? Towards the tail end of last week, ColonialsCorner heard from three sources who all placed the likelihood above 75 percent. Jones reportedly has checked out Duquesne and St. Francis (Pa), but things look positive for Robert Morris.

It's my opinion that Jones will go to the FCS level, even though the NCAA might grant him immediate eligibility at the BCS level because of the Penn State sanctions (even though that's not why Jones is leaving). He'd join any program immediately in January, have a couple months to get settled in on campus, do offseason workouts, start classes, and then participate in spring ball.

Either way, the wait won't be long. Jones tweeted late Sunday night that he'll likely announce his decision soon.

With one quarterback in the fold, Robert Morris has added another local signal caller. Seton-La Salle quarterback Luke Brumbaugh committed to the Colonials Wednesday evening.

Brumbaugh capped an impressive career with about as efficient of a season as it gets. The 6-foot-2, 185 pound pro-style quarterback completed 111-of-204 passes (54 percent) for 1,795 yards, 19 touchdowns, and zero interceptions in 11 games. Brumbaugh, the younger brother of current William & Mary quarterback Christian Brumbaugh and the older brother of current South Fayette quarterback Brett Brumabugh, is a classic pocket passer.

He even operates out of a fairly traditional pro-set formation with deep drop-backs at Seton-La Salle. Brumbaugh can wing it, both accurately and deep.

Robert Morris didn't like running with just three quarterbacks this year, so they're stocking up. This also spreads the classifications out a little bit, as RMU will have two junior QBs in Matt Layman and Paul Jones, a sophomore (potential redshirt freshman) in Derik Abbott, and a true freshman in Brumbaugh. It's too early to gauge how the depth chart might look, but I'd guess Brumbaugh is a candidate to be redshirted and run the scout team with high hopes for his performance later in his career.

You can see highlights in the link below.

[new recruit targets
will be noted in Bold/Italic]



2013 Verbals - Defense


LB - Nelson Lee
Lucas-Murphy


6'2" 220lbs


Exton, PA


Downingtown East









2013 Verbals - Offense


QB -
Paul Jones

6'3" 255lbs

McKees Rock, PA

Sto-Rox (Penn State)



QB - Luke Brumbaugh

6'2" 185lbs

Pittsburgh, PA

Seton La Salle



OL - Riley Feenan

6'7" 295lbs

Vancouver, British Columbia

Notre Dame Secondary








Targeted Recruits
[rivals.com]


Defensive Recruits


DE - Dom Toney


6'3" 250lbs


Philadelphia, PA


West Catholic




DE - Miles McCollum


[Offers = Bowling Green,
Buffalo, RMU, Toledo]


6'3" 235lbs


Dublin, OH


Coffman









DT - Ryan Bednar


6' 0" 265lbs


McKeesport, PA


South Allegheny




LB - Brian McDonough


5'11" 214lbs


Harrison, City, PA


Penn Trafford




LB - Robert Suarez


5'11" 220lbs


Powell, OH


Olentangy Liberty




LB - Jake Chestnut


6'1" 220lbs


West Chest, OH


Lakota East



LB - Jake
Plonski

6'2" 215lbs

Erie, PA

Cathedral Prep




LB - Nic Lamica


[Offers = RMU]


6’4” 210lbs


Forest Hills Central, MI


Forest Hills Central





DB - Trey Garrett [JUCO]


6'0" 195lbs


Huntington Beach, CA


Golden West C.C.









Targeted Recruits
[rivals.com]


Offensive Recruits


WR - James Staten


6'4" 190lbs


Towson, MD


Loch Raven Sr









WR - Dantwaun O'Neal


[Offers =
Bethune-Cookman, Florida Intl., Georgia St., Georgia Tech, UMass, Memphis,
Miami (OH), Middle Tenn. St. , RMU, South Alabama]


6'3" 193lbs


Deland, FL


Deland




WR - Kyle Levere


[Offers = Buffalo, RMU]


6'2" 180lbs


Towson, MD


Calvery Hall





WR -
Gairus Coleman


[Offers
= RMU]


5’9”
180lbs


Farmington
Hills, MI


Harrison




QB - Francis Kanneh


[Offers = Valpo, VMI]


6'2" 203lbs


Robbinsdale, MN


Robbinsdale Copper Sr.









QB - Aaron Cantu [JUCO]


[Offers = McNeese St.,
RMU, UTEP]


6'3" 210lbs


Monterey Park, CA


East Los Angeles College




QB - Garrett Pougnet


[Offers = RMU]


6’3” 190lbs


Flint, MI


Powers Catholic





OL - Grant Siegel


[Offers = Colgate,
Florida Intl., RMU, WKU]


6'4" 270lbs


Miami, FL


Gulliver Prep









ATH - Jordyn Bennett


5'10" 163lbs


Glen Mills, PA


Garnet Valley









Unofficial Recruits


These athletes were
either at RMU Games for a visit or listed on other recruiting sites.


RB - Isiah Neely


5'8" 175lbs


Coraopolis, PA


OLSH




WR - Shawn Wilkins


6'3" 181lbs


Uxbridge, MA


Blackstone Valley
Regional Tech High




QB - Travis Tarnowski


6'1" 190lbs


North Royalton, OH


North Royalton High
School









OL - Eric Modie


6'5" 265lbs


North Royalton, OH


North Royalton High
School









LB - Charles Williams


5'11" 220lbs


Franklin, MA


Dean College




OL - Dominic Williams


[Offers = RMU, ODU, BC,
Buffalo, JMU]


6'3" 323lbs


Columbia, MD


Long Reach High School




OL - Devin Reffitt


6'5" 320lbs


Wexford, PA


North Allegheny High
School




QB - Trent Ferguson


6'3" 195lbs


Williamsville, NY


Williamsville South High
School




OL - Brandon Short


6'3" 255lbs


Mentor, OH


Mentor









ATH - Zach Moyer


6'0" 180lbs


Manchester, PA


Northeastern High School




ATH - Charlie Manack


6'0" 200lbs


Perryopolis, PA


Frazier High School




RB/DB - Zach Mastowski


5'11" 196lbs


Perryopolis, PA


Frazier High School









Targeted
Recruits Lost


RB - Dorian Brown
[verbal Ohio]


5'11" 196lbs


Pittsburgh, PA


Baldwin




LB - Nathaniel Locke [verbal Bowling Green]


6'0" 220lbs


Massilion, OH


Jackson High School


WR - Diante
Cherry [verbal Delaware]


5'10" 174lbs


Lancaster, PA


J.P. McCaskey



This post was edited on 12/7 1:18 PM by Original_RMC

A high profile BCS transfer is visiting Robert Morris today. We're not far from kickoff as Robert Morris hosts Central Connecticut State, and on the sideline is former Penn State quarterback Paul Jones.

Jones is exploring his next option while finishing up this semester at Penn State. He announced his decision to transfer several weeks ago, and if he drops down to the FCS level, he'd have two years of eligibility remaining.

Jones is close to former RMU linebacker Alex DiMichele, who is helping out the defensive staff this year. He's also close with a number of other current players, including Nolan Nearhoof.

The former Sto-Rox High School QB is reportedly interested in RMU because of the proximity to home and desire to play ASAP. He'd walk into a situation with an open QB job following Jeff Sinclair's graduation. Right now, the in-house candidates are sophomore Matt Layman, who has three career starts, and freshman Derik Abbott.

ColonialsCorner learned Jones has a couple of FCS options, but may explore his other options with BCS level schools as well.

As always, stick around ColonialsCorner for more as this develops.