2016 Signing Day Central

EASTON, Pa. -- Lafayette football has received the commitments of 25 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent as part of National Signing Day on Wednesday.

The Leopards' coaching staff recruited 12 offensive players, 12 defensive players and one long snapper for the Class of 2020, the fourth scholarship class in the Patriot League era.

Offensively, there are five linemen, three wide receivers, one tight end, one h-back, one tailback and one quarterback. Defensively, the Leopards recruited six defensive backs, three linebackers, two defensive ends and a defensive tackle. The defensive linemen average 6-2, 250 while the offensive linemen step in at 6-4, 286.

The members of the Class of 2020 come to College Hill from 11 states, including nine from Pennsylvania (2-Lehigh Valley, 4-Philadelphia region, 2-Western Pa. 1-capital region), four from New Jersey, two from Florida, Georgia and Ohio and one each from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Tennessee and West Virginia. Four members of the class took post-graduate years at prep schools.

"It's an exciting time of year, welcoming new members to the Lafayette football family," said Lafayette head coach Frank Tavani. "Our coaching staff has worked hard to bring in this group and we're really looking forward to getting on the field with this talented, diverse class."

Lafayette opens the 2016 regular season on Sept. 3 at Central Connecticut State. The Leopards open at home a week later when Delaware comes to College Hill. The regular season concludes Nov. 19 vs. Lehigh in the 152nd meeting of college's football's most-played and longest continuous rivalry.

2016 Lafayette Football National Letter-of-Intent Signees

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/PREP SCHOOL	Highlights
Ryan Barnett	DE	6-3	250	Chatham, N.J. / Chatham	Watch
Colin Bradley	OL	6-5	280	Bryn Mawr, Pa. / Radnor	Watch
Demetrius Breedlove	DT	6-2	275	Rochester, N.Y. / McQuaid Jesuit	Watch
Mike Dunn	TB	6-0	200	Yarmouthport, Mass. / Dennis-Yarmouth Regional / Cheshire Academy	Watch
Keith Earle	DE	6-2	225	North Wales, Pa. / North Penn	Watch
Philip Elliott	OL	6-3	280	Atlanta, Ga. / Pace Academy	Watch
Stewart Hackleman	LS/DL	6-3	240	Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Pine Crest	Watch
Kevin Hutchinson	LB	6-0	185	St. Mary's. Ga. / Camden County	Watch
Tre Jordan	CB	6-0	195	Easton, Pa. / Notre Dame	Watch
Jack Lamb	LB	6-0	220	Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks East	Watch
Jake Liedtka	WR	6-2	180	Hamilton, N.J. / Notre Dame	Watch
Jake Marotti	OL	6-6	295	Baden, Pa. / Ambridge	Watch
Austin McCrum	QB	6-4	220	Saco, Maine / Thornton Academy	Watch
Eric Mitchell	CB	5-10	185	Martinsburg, W. Va. / Martinsburg / Salisbury School	Watch
Ryan Monteyne	HB/TE	6-2	220	Wayne, N.J. / Wayne Valley	Watch
Dylan Murphy	OL	6-5	295	Hilliard, Ohio / Bishop Watterson	Watch
David Nelson	TE	6-7	280	Memphis, Tenn. / Memphis University School	Watch
Nick Pearson	DB	5-9	165	Mason, Ohio / Mason	Watch
Dmitry Smith	S	6-0	195	Bradenton, Fla. / Southeast / Wyoming Seminary	Watch
Julian Spigner	WR	6-3	195	Easton, Pa. / Bethlehem Catholic	Watch
Tommy Strasburger	S	6-2	185	Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks East	Watch
Yasir Thomas	WR	5-11	180	Paterson, N.J. / Passaic Tech	Watch
Colin Thorne	S	6-0	185	Cheshire, Conn. / Cheshire / Suffield Academy	Watch
Joe Varischetti	OL	6-2	280	Brockway, Pa. / Dubois Central Catholic	Watch
Cole Whalen	LB	6-0	215	Camp Hill, Pa. / Cedar Cliff	Watch