Feb. 21, 2003

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette College announced Ohio All-State quarterback Brad Maurer (Loveland, Ohio/Kings) as an addition to the Leopard football program's Class of 2007. Maurer joins 29 other recruits headed to Lafayette in the fall, but is the only quarterback included in the class.

A three-year starter at quarterback and safety, Maurer led his high school team to a 12-1 record and a Division II regional runner-up finish this season. He threw for 2,620 yards and 29 touchdowns and added 1,001 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. Maurer set the school record for single-game passing yards with 345.

Maurer was awarded the National Football Foundation's 36th annual "That's My Boy" award as Ohio's top football scholar-athlete. He earned first-team and Offensive Player of the Year honors at every level in 2002 - including the Fort Ancient Valley Conference, Warren County, Southwest Ohio District and the state. Maurer was also named a finalist for the Cincinnati Enquirer's football player of the year.

"We are certainly ecstatic to add such a talented student-athlete to our program," said Lafayette head coach Frank Tavani. "Brad shows pin-point accuracy on his throws, but can also pull the ball down and be a threat with the run."

Along with his accomplishments on the field, Maurer is ranked first in his class with a 4.1 grade-point average and was a National Merit Scholar finalist. He was also honored as the Kings High School 2002 Fall Scholar-Athlete.

Maurer is a member of the National Honor Society and participates in various community service projects including the 2003 National Student Leadership Group, the Kings Kids Club and the Kings Reading Program.

Lafayette recorded the second-best turnaround among NCAA Division I-AA programs this past season. After finishing with a 2-8 overall record in 2001 and being picked seventh in the Patriot League's preseason poll, the Leopards improved by five victories to go 7-5 overall and 5-2 in the Patriot League for a third-place finish. Lafayette's only two league losses were to co-champions Colgate and Fordham, each by a margin of just one touchdown.

For the third straight year, Lafayette led the Patriot League in Verizon District II Academic All-Americans with five honorees. That raises the program's total to 31 Academic All-Americans in the past seven seasons and 16 in three seasons under Tavani.

The Leopards begin spring practices on Saturday, March 29.