As usual, we also want to look at classes from around the rest of the NEC. Click on the school name to see the release detailing the class. We'll add our thoughts on each.
BRYANT
One of the largest classes of the year, Bryant brought in 22 players to try to get on top of the NEC. They went far and wide to bring in the players as well, hitting up 10 different states but focusing on the New England area. There are two Florida products on the list, an area that the Bulldogs have tried to hit more frequently.
Interestingly enough, Bryant brought in three fullbacks. Clearly they're trying to find a way to jumpstart the running game in the next few years and provide a little more space. They also brought in five offensive linemen. Marty Fine has tried to establish Bryant's offensive line as extremely physical, and he's no doubt looking to keep the stockpile rich.
CCSU
Easily the smallest class to start, as the Blue Devils brought just nine players in on Signing Day. The official release says that more names will be added over the next week. Of the nine players, four of them are in the secondary, perhaps an attempt to address some of the issues the Blue Devils had last year. Robert Morris picked them apart pretty easily, and the Colonials weren't the only ones.
Quarterback Tavion Pauldo is a high school teammate of new RMU linebacker David Steele (Cleveland Heights). There is also just one Connecticut native in the first group. We'll see if there are more; if CCSU is smart, there won't be, as the Nutmeg state isn't as fruitful as New York and New Jersey.
DUQUESNE
The headliners are two transfers, Wayne Capers and Jesse Armstead. Both are local products, and both continue Duquesne's habit of bringing in a BCS transfer or two each season. Capers, a wide receiver, is transferring in from Arizona. He's had some significant injury history, though, so we'll see how things go. Armstead is a linebacker transfer from Purdue who should help ease the departure of Dorian Bell.
Elsewhere in the class, it's a pretty PA heavy group. Like RMU, Duquesne is also recruiting some in Ohio. There could be a couple of interesting one-on-one battles in the future as TE Stew Allen is the brother of RMU recruit DB Drew Allen. And safety Greg Clayton is a teammate of new RMU running back Rameses Owens.
SACRED HEART
The defending NEC champs brought in 21 players in their initial release to try to fill the gaps and begin their title defense. Much like Robert Morris, Sacred Heart cast its net far and wide for players. The Pioneers pulled in players from Alabama, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, Alaska, California and Connecticut.
It's pretty heavy on linebackers, with five total coming in as part of the 21. The other point of emphasis appears to be the secondary, with five more coming in and a couple others capable of playing in the secondary. In terms of intriguing individuals, the fact that SHU brought in a recruit from famed Hoover (AL) High is pretty cool. We'll see what kind of impact DL Dylan Ackerson brings from one of the top high school programs in the nation.
ST. FRANCIS
No release yet. It's possible that some of the coaching changes impacted the class a little bit.
WAGNER
A very small class for a very young team. Just 13 players in the 2014 class for Wagner, and two of them were already on campus as early-enrollees. Wagner went heavy on linebackers, bringing in four to go along with three offensive linemen. In all, there aren't many skill players in the class. QB Vin Aranda looks like another dual-threat signal-caller, the type that the Seahawks have started to lean on quite a bit.
Also of note is the fact that just two players came outside of the Seahawk's tri-state area. Eleven players came from Eastern Pennsylvania, New York or New Jersey. It might be the most localized recruiting class in the NEC.
BRYANT
One of the largest classes of the year, Bryant brought in 22 players to try to get on top of the NEC. They went far and wide to bring in the players as well, hitting up 10 different states but focusing on the New England area. There are two Florida products on the list, an area that the Bulldogs have tried to hit more frequently.
Interestingly enough, Bryant brought in three fullbacks. Clearly they're trying to find a way to jumpstart the running game in the next few years and provide a little more space. They also brought in five offensive linemen. Marty Fine has tried to establish Bryant's offensive line as extremely physical, and he's no doubt looking to keep the stockpile rich.
CCSU
Easily the smallest class to start, as the Blue Devils brought just nine players in on Signing Day. The official release says that more names will be added over the next week. Of the nine players, four of them are in the secondary, perhaps an attempt to address some of the issues the Blue Devils had last year. Robert Morris picked them apart pretty easily, and the Colonials weren't the only ones.
Quarterback Tavion Pauldo is a high school teammate of new RMU linebacker David Steele (Cleveland Heights). There is also just one Connecticut native in the first group. We'll see if there are more; if CCSU is smart, there won't be, as the Nutmeg state isn't as fruitful as New York and New Jersey.
DUQUESNE
The headliners are two transfers, Wayne Capers and Jesse Armstead. Both are local products, and both continue Duquesne's habit of bringing in a BCS transfer or two each season. Capers, a wide receiver, is transferring in from Arizona. He's had some significant injury history, though, so we'll see how things go. Armstead is a linebacker transfer from Purdue who should help ease the departure of Dorian Bell.
Elsewhere in the class, it's a pretty PA heavy group. Like RMU, Duquesne is also recruiting some in Ohio. There could be a couple of interesting one-on-one battles in the future as TE Stew Allen is the brother of RMU recruit DB Drew Allen. And safety Greg Clayton is a teammate of new RMU running back Rameses Owens.
SACRED HEART
The defending NEC champs brought in 21 players in their initial release to try to fill the gaps and begin their title defense. Much like Robert Morris, Sacred Heart cast its net far and wide for players. The Pioneers pulled in players from Alabama, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, Alaska, California and Connecticut.
It's pretty heavy on linebackers, with five total coming in as part of the 21. The other point of emphasis appears to be the secondary, with five more coming in and a couple others capable of playing in the secondary. In terms of intriguing individuals, the fact that SHU brought in a recruit from famed Hoover (AL) High is pretty cool. We'll see what kind of impact DL Dylan Ackerson brings from one of the top high school programs in the nation.
ST. FRANCIS
No release yet. It's possible that some of the coaching changes impacted the class a little bit.
WAGNER
A very small class for a very young team. Just 13 players in the 2014 class for Wagner, and two of them were already on campus as early-enrollees. Wagner went heavy on linebackers, bringing in four to go along with three offensive linemen. In all, there aren't many skill players in the class. QB Vin Aranda looks like another dual-threat signal-caller, the type that the Seahawks have started to lean on quite a bit.
Also of note is the fact that just two players came outside of the Seahawk's tri-state area. Eleven players came from Eastern Pennsylvania, New York or New Jersey. It might be the most localized recruiting class in the NEC.
