BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo, The State University of New York football head coach Lance Leipold announced the initial signees for the 2016 recruiting class on the first day of the National Signing Period on Wednesday. The 15-member class is evenly balanced with seven offensive players, seven defensive players and one punter.
The class is comprised of four linebackers, three wide receivers, two defensive backs, an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman, a tight end, a quarterback, a running back and a punter.
The newest class comes to UB from 11 different states and Canada, including New York (2), Florida (2), Virginia (2), Minnesota, New Jersey, Indiana, Maryland, Georgia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Canada.
"We were able to address . . .
The class is comprised of four linebackers, three wide receivers, two defensive backs, an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman, a tight end, a quarterback, a running back and a punter.
The newest class comes to UB from 11 different states and Canada, including New York (2), Florida (2), Virginia (2), Minnesota, New Jersey, Indiana, Maryland, Georgia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Canada.
"We were able to address . . .
. . . a lot of needs that we had with graduation and create depth," Leipold said. "We've got an outstanding group that I think is going to add to the speed and athleticism of our program."
Joining the 15-member class, were seven players that joined the program and enrolled at UB in January. Quarterback Grant Rohach; offensive linemen Tomas Jack-Kurdyla, Connor Morehart and Alec Curts; linebacker Khalil Hodge and safeties Tim Roberts and O.J. O'Neal will be eligible to participate in spring drills.
"This is one of the larger mid-year enrollees that this program has ever had," Leipold said. "It will add instant depth and competition."
The initial members of the 2016 signing class:
Kayode Awosika
Fr. • OL • 6-5 • 285
Plymouth, MN/Maple Grove
Played for head coach Matt Lombardi at Maple Grove High School... anchored an offensive line for a Crimson team that went 9-3 overall and 6-2 in conference play his senior season... named USA Today first-team All-Minnesota as a senior... also named first-team All-Metro his senior season.
Roy Baker
Fr. • CB • 6-2 • 175
Hialeah, FL/American
Played his high school ball at American High School in Hialeah, FL... helped lead the Patriots to 6-5 overall record and a 5-0 district record... named All-Dade County Honorable Mention... rated one of the top 50 players in Dade County as a senior.
Jake Fuzak
Fr. • DL • 6-5 • 275
Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South
Local defensive line prospect who was a four-year starter for head coach Kraig Kurzanski at Williamsville South High School... had 68 tackles and 8.5 sacks his senior season.. a two-time All-Western New York Selection, including a first-team pick in 2015... earned the 2015 Trench Trophy, given to the Western New York Lineman of the Year.
Tyrone Hill
Fr. • DB • 6-2 • 192
Passaic, NJ/Don Bosco Prep
Player Smart, physical defender who was often locked up against the opposition's top receiver... a two-year starter for head coach Greg Toal at Don Bosco Prep... named All-Metro as a senior... had 36 tackles, three interceptions and a sack his senior season.
Kamathi Holsey
Jr • WR • 6-4 • 215
Philadelphia, PA/Oscar Smith HS (VA)/Independence CC
Tall wide receiver who is a transfer from Independence Community College after playing two seasons for the Pirates... had 39 catches for 602 yards as a sophomore... had 63 receptions for 601 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.
Dominic Johnson
Fr. • QB • 6-6 • 205
Windsor, Ontario/Catholic Central
Tall quarterback prospect who hails from Windsor, Ontario... played at Catholic Central High School... named a first-team Newman Conference All-Star as a senior.
Zac Levebvre
Fr. • TE • 6-5 • 248
Victor, NY/Victor
Big tight end target who played for Geoff Mandile at Victor High School... helped lead the Blue Devils to a Monroe County Division II championship in 2015... caught 22 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns as a senior... also played defensive end and long snapper for Victor... named All-Greater Rochester as a senior... named a Monroe County All-Star as a senior.
Justin Mulbah
Fr. • LB • 6-0 • 205
Laurel, MD/Saint Vincent Pallotti
Played for head coach Ian Thomas at Saint Vincent Pallotti High School... named a DMVelite All-State Honorable Mention selection as a senior... named All-Conference as a junior.
Antonio Nunn
Fr. • WR • 6-0 • 188
Tampa, FL/Jefferson High School
Wide receiver who played for head coach Jeremy Earle at Jefferson High School... had 27 catches for 526 yards and three touchdowns his senior season... played in the 2015 Hillsborough County East-West Shrine Game.
Matt Otwinowski
Fr. • LB • 6-3 • 225
LaPorte, IN/LaPorte
Played for head coach Dave Sharpe at LaPorte High School... had 87 tackles (59 solo) and four tackles for loss in seven games his senior season... is LaPorte High School's all-time leading tackler... named Duneland Athletic Conference MVP as senior... named Post-Tribune All-Area First Team as a senior... played in the 2016 Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Tampa, FL.
Jordan Overton
Fr. • WR • 5-10 • 180
Lyndhurst, OH/Brush
A versatile athlete who played at Brush High School in Lyndhurst, OH... named second-team All-Ohio as a senior... named All-Northeast Lakes District Second Team as a senior... special mention All-Northeast Lakes District as a junior.
Kameron Pickett
Fr. • RB • 5-11 • 215
Suwanee, GA/North Gwinnett
Speedy running back with size who played for head coach Bob Sphire at North Gwinnett High School... rushed for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons, averaging 5.0 yards per carry... a two-time All-Gwinnett County selection... named second-team All-Region as a junior.
Taylor Sheets
Fr. • P • 6-3 • 205
Tega Cay, SC/Fort Mill
Strong-legged punter who played for head coach Ed Susi at Fort Mill High School... had 30 punts for a 38.5 average as senior... 48 of his 56 kickoffs went for touchbacks his senior season... named All-State as a senior... played in the 2016 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl... named to the 2016 USA Football U19 National Select team... boomed an 80-yard punt, the fourth longest in state history in 2015.
Caleb Wilson
Jr. • LB • 6-2 • 235
Norfolk, VA/Granby/West Hills College
Transfer from West Hills College where he helped lead the Falcons to the 2015 NCFC American Division Championship Bowl... led the team in tackles with 72, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2015... also had two interceptions and a fumble recovery... named the 2015 Golden Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Kadofi Wright
Fr. • LB • 6-3 • 190
Richmond, VA/Henrico
Played for head coach Gerald Glasco at Henrico High School... had 100 tackles, five interceptions, including two pick sixes and blocked six punts his senior season... first-team All-State as a senior... a two-time first-team All-Metro selection... named second-team All-Region as a senior.
Joining the 15-member class, were seven players that joined the program and enrolled at UB in January. Quarterback Grant Rohach; offensive linemen Tomas Jack-Kurdyla, Connor Morehart and Alec Curts; linebacker Khalil Hodge and safeties Tim Roberts and O.J. O'Neal will be eligible to participate in spring drills.
"This is one of the larger mid-year enrollees that this program has ever had," Leipold said. "It will add instant depth and competition."
The initial members of the 2016 signing class:
Kayode Awosika
Fr. • OL • 6-5 • 285
Plymouth, MN/Maple Grove
Played for head coach Matt Lombardi at Maple Grove High School... anchored an offensive line for a Crimson team that went 9-3 overall and 6-2 in conference play his senior season... named USA Today first-team All-Minnesota as a senior... also named first-team All-Metro his senior season.
Roy Baker
Fr. • CB • 6-2 • 175
Hialeah, FL/American
Played his high school ball at American High School in Hialeah, FL... helped lead the Patriots to 6-5 overall record and a 5-0 district record... named All-Dade County Honorable Mention... rated one of the top 50 players in Dade County as a senior.
Jake Fuzak
Fr. • DL • 6-5 • 275
Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South
Local defensive line prospect who was a four-year starter for head coach Kraig Kurzanski at Williamsville South High School... had 68 tackles and 8.5 sacks his senior season.. a two-time All-Western New York Selection, including a first-team pick in 2015... earned the 2015 Trench Trophy, given to the Western New York Lineman of the Year.
Tyrone Hill
Fr. • DB • 6-2 • 192
Passaic, NJ/Don Bosco Prep
Player Smart, physical defender who was often locked up against the opposition's top receiver... a two-year starter for head coach Greg Toal at Don Bosco Prep... named All-Metro as a senior... had 36 tackles, three interceptions and a sack his senior season.
Kamathi Holsey
Jr • WR • 6-4 • 215
Philadelphia, PA/Oscar Smith HS (VA)/Independence CC
Tall wide receiver who is a transfer from Independence Community College after playing two seasons for the Pirates... had 39 catches for 602 yards as a sophomore... had 63 receptions for 601 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.
Dominic Johnson
Fr. • QB • 6-6 • 205
Windsor, Ontario/Catholic Central
Tall quarterback prospect who hails from Windsor, Ontario... played at Catholic Central High School... named a first-team Newman Conference All-Star as a senior.
Zac Levebvre
Fr. • TE • 6-5 • 248
Victor, NY/Victor
Big tight end target who played for Geoff Mandile at Victor High School... helped lead the Blue Devils to a Monroe County Division II championship in 2015... caught 22 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns as a senior... also played defensive end and long snapper for Victor... named All-Greater Rochester as a senior... named a Monroe County All-Star as a senior.
Justin Mulbah
Fr. • LB • 6-0 • 205
Laurel, MD/Saint Vincent Pallotti
Played for head coach Ian Thomas at Saint Vincent Pallotti High School... named a DMVelite All-State Honorable Mention selection as a senior... named All-Conference as a junior.
Antonio Nunn
Fr. • WR • 6-0 • 188
Tampa, FL/Jefferson High School
Wide receiver who played for head coach Jeremy Earle at Jefferson High School... had 27 catches for 526 yards and three touchdowns his senior season... played in the 2015 Hillsborough County East-West Shrine Game.
Matt Otwinowski
Fr. • LB • 6-3 • 225
LaPorte, IN/LaPorte
Played for head coach Dave Sharpe at LaPorte High School... had 87 tackles (59 solo) and four tackles for loss in seven games his senior season... is LaPorte High School's all-time leading tackler... named Duneland Athletic Conference MVP as senior... named Post-Tribune All-Area First Team as a senior... played in the 2016 Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Tampa, FL.
Jordan Overton
Fr. • WR • 5-10 • 180
Lyndhurst, OH/Brush
A versatile athlete who played at Brush High School in Lyndhurst, OH... named second-team All-Ohio as a senior... named All-Northeast Lakes District Second Team as a senior... special mention All-Northeast Lakes District as a junior.
Kameron Pickett
Fr. • RB • 5-11 • 215
Suwanee, GA/North Gwinnett
Speedy running back with size who played for head coach Bob Sphire at North Gwinnett High School... rushed for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons, averaging 5.0 yards per carry... a two-time All-Gwinnett County selection... named second-team All-Region as a junior.
Taylor Sheets
Fr. • P • 6-3 • 205
Tega Cay, SC/Fort Mill
Strong-legged punter who played for head coach Ed Susi at Fort Mill High School... had 30 punts for a 38.5 average as senior... 48 of his 56 kickoffs went for touchbacks his senior season... named All-State as a senior... played in the 2016 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl... named to the 2016 USA Football U19 National Select team... boomed an 80-yard punt, the fourth longest in state history in 2015.
Caleb Wilson
Jr. • LB • 6-2 • 235
Norfolk, VA/Granby/West Hills College
Transfer from West Hills College where he helped lead the Falcons to the 2015 NCFC American Division Championship Bowl... led the team in tackles with 72, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2015... also had two interceptions and a fumble recovery... named the 2015 Golden Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Kadofi Wright
Fr. • LB • 6-3 • 190
Richmond, VA/Henrico
Played for head coach Gerald Glasco at Henrico High School... had 100 tackles, five interceptions, including two pick sixes and blocked six punts his senior season... first-team All-State as a senior... a two-time first-team All-Metro selection... named second-team All-Region as a senior.
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