Spider Football Announces 2013 Recruiting Class
02/06/2013 | Football
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - University of Richmond head football coach Danny Rocco announced the signing of 13 student-athletes on Wednesday. The student-athletes submitted National Letters of Intent to play for the Spiders beginning in the 2013 season. The 13-member signing class includes seven offensive and six defensive recruits.
"We are all very excited about our signing class of 2013," Rocco remarked. "We set out to upgrade our overall team speed with a focus on our skilled positions, as well as targeting an overall group that is taller, longer and more athletic. The versatility of this class is most evidenced in the fact that 11 of the 13 signees offer legitimate position flexibility. The vast majority of this year's class was able to make an early decision to attend the University of Richmond."
The 2013 recruiting class will join a highly-talented Spider Football team that returns 17 starters from a 2012 squad that went 8-3 and earned a share of the CAA Football conference title. The Spiders had numerous quality wins in 2012, defeating Villanova in Philadelphia, while also taking down then No. 2-ranked James Madison. Richmond also defeated perennial CAA power Delaware at Robins Stadium and long-time rival William & Mary to claim the Capital Cup.
Head coach Danny Rocco will discuss the 2013 Richmond Football recruiting class at the Richmond Marriott West from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Coach Rocco will be joined by members of his staff and video highlights of the 2013 recruiting class will be shown. The event, which includes light refreshments, is free and open to the public and media. No RSVP is required.
Below fans can see a chart of all of the Spiders signees, with a full biography of each player underneath the chart.
| Name | Position | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | High School | Highlights | NLI Received |
| Tafon Mainsah | Defensive Back | 5-9 | 185 | Charlotte, N.C. | Charlotte Catholic | View | 7:03 AM |
| Nick Holloway | Tight End | 6-6 | 235 | Apex, N.C. | Cardinal Gibbons | View | 7:30 AM |
| Kyle Lauletta | Quarterback | 6-3 | 200 | Exton, Pa. | Downingtown East | View | 7:35 AM |
| Hardy Lester | Tight End | 6-5 | 220 | Wytheville, Va. | George Wythe | View | 7:38 AM |
| Jeremiah Hamlin | Running Back | 6-0 | 221 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Univeristy Christian | View | 7:55 AM |
| Charles Mack | Defensive Back | 6-2 | 190 | Lithonia, Ga. | Wesleyan School | View | 8:15 AM |
| Brandon Waller | Linebacker | 6-3 | 234 | Ardmore, Pa. | Haverford | View | 8:47 AM |
| Winston Craig | Defensive Line | 6-3 | 260 | Greensboro, N.C. | Lucy Ragsdale | View | 8:50 AM |
| Brendan Coniker | Defensive Back | 6-1 | 185 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | North Allegheny | View | 8:55 AM |
| Kieran Gregory | Defensive Line | 6-3 | 210 | Germantown, Md. | Quince Orchard | View | 8:57 AM |
| Patrick Kliebert | Offensive Line | 6-8 | 320 | New Orleans, La. | Archbishop Rummel | View | 9:01 AM |
| Brian Brown | Wide Receiver | 6-2 | 185 | Richmond, Va. | Hermitage | View | 9:04 AM |
| Porter Abell | Quarterback/Wide Receiver | 6-0 | 185 | Lexington, Va. | Rockbridge County | View | 9:08 AM |
Porter Abell
Lexington,
Va./Rockbridge County
Quarterback/Wide
Receiver
6-0 • 185
Head Coach: Jason
White
High School: Four-year
letterman and three-year starter ... 2012 All-State honoree ... Two-time All-Region
and All-District ... Two-time Rockbridge County Offensive Player of the Year ...
Finalist for 2012 Virginia State AA, WSLS and WSET Player of the Year Awards ...
2012 Region III Offensive Player of the Year ... 2012 Blue Ridge District
Offensive Player of the Year ... Roanoke
Times and Time Land 2012
Offensive Player of the Year ... 2012 Rockbridge County Pete Brewbaker Award
winner ... Multiple-time WSET, WSLS and WDBJ Player of the Week in 2012 ... 2011
Virginia Preps All-State Underclassmen Team ... 2010 All-Southern Valley and Roanoke Times Sizzling Sophomore Team as
a kick returner ... Started two years at quarterback, helping team to 18-6 record
while totaling 5,044 yards of offense ... Holds Rockbridge County records for
single-season rushing yards (1,813), single-season rushing touchdowns (26),
single-season points scored (156), career yards per carry (7.2) and career
rushing yards by a quarterback (3,193) ... Also a two-year letterman and starter
on the baseball team ...
Personal: Son of
Scott and Crissie Abell ... Father, Scott, played baseball at Longwood from
1988-92 ... Has a sister, Emily ... National Honor Society ... FCA.
Brian Brown
Richmond,
Va./Hermitage
Wide Receiver
6-2 • 185
Head Coach: Patrick
Kane
High School: Three-star
recruit by ESPN.com ... Two-star recruit by Rivals.com ... Rated the 40th-best
player in Virginia by ESPN ... Standout at both wide receiver and defensive back
... Started three seasons at wide receiver and free safety ... First-Team All-State
as a senior ... Second-Team All-State as a junior ... District Player of the Year
as a defensive back in 2012 ... Four-time All-Region ... Four-time All-District ...
Two-Time All-Metro ... Helped Hermitage to Central Region championships in 2010
and 2011 and a state runner-up finish in 2010 ...
Personal: Son of
Tammy Smith and Rodney Brown.
Brendan Coniker
Pittsburgh, Pa./North
Allegheny
Defensive Back
6-1 • 185
Head Coach: Art
Walker
High School: Three-year
letterman and starter ... Helped North Allegheny to state championships in 2010
and 2012, four-straight WPIAL championships and a 49-2 record the last three
seasons ... Team was ranked fourth in the nation in Fox Sports Poll and 13th by USA Today ... Two-time All-State ... Two-time All-Conference
... Two-time Post Gazette Fab 22
selection ... Chosen to play in 2012 East/West All-Star Pennsylvania All-Star
Game ... All-Big School Team ... 2011 First-Team
WesternPaFootball.net ... Also lettered in track for two years ...
Personal: Son of
Joseph and Aleli Coniker ... Has two sisters, Marianna and Daniella, and two
brothers, Brian and Ben.
Winston Craig
Greensboro, N.C./Lucy
Ragsdale
Defensive Line
6-3 • 260
Head Coach: Thomas
Norwood
High School: Three-year
letterman and starter on the defensive line and at tight end ... Named
All-Conference and All-Area honors during his senior season, earning a spot on
the All-State ballot ... Team captain ... Also lettered in track and wrestling,
earning All-Conference honors in both ... Qualified for the state finals in both
shot put and discus two times, placing third in the state in the discus in 2011
... Scholar Athlete ...
Personal: Son of
Darren and Laura Craig ... Has a brother, Bryce ... Volunteer at the Boys and Girls
Club.
Kieran Gregory
Germantown,
Md./Quince Orchard
Defensive Line
6-3 • 210
Head Coach: Dave
Mencarini
High School: Three-year
letterman and starter at defensive end and tight end ... Earned All-County and
All-Gazette First-Team honors his senior season ... Honorable Mention All-Met ...
Team captain ... Helped Quince Orchard win three division titles, two regional
titles and two state finals ... Also lettered in track ...
Personal: Son of
Percell and Miriam Gregory ... Has a brother, Kyle, and a sister, Kori ...
Volunteered at his church's Bible school ... Honor Roll.
Jeremiah Hamlin
Jacksonville,
Fla./University Christian
Running Back
6-0 • 221
Head Coach: David
Penland
High School: Two-star
recruit by Rivals.com ... Four-year letterman and starter ... Helped University
Christian to 14-1 record and state championship during his senior season,
earning MVP honors in state title game ... Second-Team All-State ... First-Team
All-Region ... AA Elite Team ... Helped team reach playoffs for first time in six
years during junior season ... Three-year letterman and starter in basketball ...
Also lettered in track ...
Personal: Son of
Felicia Williams ... Honor Roll.
Nick Holloway
Apex, N.C./Cardinal
Gibbons
Tight End
6-6 • 235
Head Coach: Steven
Wright
High School: Two-star
recruit by Rivals.com ... Two-year letterman and starter ... Began playing during
junior year of high school ... Second-Team All-Conference in 2012 ... Team captain
... Helped lead Cardinal Gibbons to 20-0 conference record and to back-to-back
eighth place finishes in the North Carolina 3A playoffs ... Four-year letterman
and three-year starter in basketball ... Team captain ... Earned all-conference
honors in 2011 ...
Personal: Son of
Brett and Holly Holloway ... Father, Brett, played football at Eastern Kentucky
from 1988-92 ... Has a sister, Emily ... Academic All-Conference ... Volunteered at
Habitat for Humanity.
Patrick Kliebert
New Orleans,
La./Archbishop Rummel
Offensive Line
6-8 • 320
Head Coach: Jay
Roth
High School: Two-star
recruit by Rivals.com ... Two-year letterman and starter ... Helped Archbishop
Rummel win the 5A state championship his senior season, posting a 14-0 record ...
During his junior season, team went 12-2 on the season, making the state
quarterfinals ...
Personal: Son of
Vernon and Beth Kliebert ... Has a brother, Christopher ... LHSAA Football Academic
All-State ... Honor Roll ... Vice President of his class both junior and senior
year ... Also involved with his church.
Kyle Lauletta
Exton,
Pa./Downingtown East
Quarterback
6-3 • 200
Head Coach: Michael
Matta
High School: Two-year
letterman and starter ... Two-time All-Chesmont League and All-Southeastern PA
League ... 2012 Maxwell Award winner ... League MVP in 2012 ... Team captain helped
lead team to pair of Chesmont League titles and 19-2 record ... Starting at
quarterback, totaled 5,243 total yards and 64 total touchdowns in two seasons ...
Personal: Son of
Joe and Kim Lauletta ... Has two brothers, Trey and Bryce, and one sister, Brooke
... Father, Joe, played football at the Naval Academy from 1983-86 ... Uncle, Lex
Lauletta, also played football at the Naval Academy from 1977-80 ... Uncle, Lance
Lauletta, played lacrosse at Bucknell from 1976-79 ... Grandfather, Joe Lauletta,
played football and basketball at Delaware from 1953-56 ... National Honor
Society ... Honor Roll ... Special Olympics volunteer ... Co-founder of Pass It On
Program which donated new and gently used sports equipment to the Boys and
Girls Club of Philadelphia.
Hardy Lester
Wytheville,
Va./George Wythe
Tight End
6-5 • 220
Head Coach: H.S.
Ingo
High School: Lettered
and started all four years ... 2011 All-State selection ... Group A Div. I
Defensive Player of the Year ... Three-time First-Team All-Region honoree ...
Three-time First-Team All-District selection ... Three-year captain ... Helped lead
George Wythe to state championship in 2012 and four district titles ... Also
lettered in basketball, earning all-district and all-region honors ...
Personal: Son of
Steve and Lisa Lester ... Father, Steve, played football for the University of
Richmond from 1981-84 ... Has a brother, Drew ... National Honor Society ... Honor
Roll all four years ... Volunteers with Relay for Life.
Charles Mack
Lithonia,
Ga./Wesleyan School
Defensive Back
6-2 • 190
Head Coach: Franklin
Pridgen
High School: Three-star
recruit by ESPN.com ... Two-star recruit by Rivals.com ... Three-year letterman ...
All-County honoree ... Totaled 81 tackles, two interceptions, three forced
fumbles and six pass breakups during senior season ... Team captain ... Helped lead
Wesleyan School to state semifinals in 2010 and quarterfinals in 2011 ... Also
lettered in basketball and track ...
Personal: Son of
Charles and Audria Mack ... Father, Charles, played football at Georgia Tech from
1983-87 ... Cousin, Jimmy Coleman, played football at Tulane ... Has one brother,
Jordan ... Merit List.
Tafon Mainsah
Charlotte,
N.C./Charlotte Catholic
Defensive Back
5-9 • 185
Head Coach: Jim
Oddo
High School: Two-year
letterman and starter ... 2012 All-Mega 7 Conference selection ... Also named
Second-Team All-Meck ... Totaled 35 tackles, 5 TFL and four interceptions during
his senior season ... Also returned 3 punt returns for touchdowns ... Helped lead
Charlotte Catholic to back-to-back Mega 7 Conference titles, reaching the state
championship game in 2012 ...
Personal: Son of
Steve Mainsah and Lillian Ngong ... Has a sister, Kristal ... Honor Roll.
Brandon Waller
Ardmore,
Pa./Haverford
Linebacker
6-3 • 234
Head Coach: Joseph
Gallagher
High School: Three-year
letterman and starter ... Named Top Defensive Prospect in 2012 by the Philadelphia Inquirer ... Also lettered in
track, earning medalist honors at state in the javelin as well as
All-Conference honors ...
Personal: Son of
Scott and Karin Waller ... Has a sister, Briana ... Helped run the children's
program at Hope Chapel ... Honor Roll.
