University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Announce 2016 Recruiting Class
02/01/2016 | Football, General
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – In the past 10 years, the University of Richmond football team ranks in the top-10 in the country in total wins, FCS playoff appearances, FCS playoff wins and alums reaching the NFL.
On Wednesday, Head Coach Danny Rocco announced a class of 15 student-athletes that aim to continue that trend for the Spiders. The class includes eight defensive players and seven offensive players. Seven of the players are in-state signees with four hailing from Florida and one each from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia and New York.
At 5:15 this evening, Spider Athletics will host the Signing Day event sponsored by Owen and Owens at Jepson Alumni Center on campus. Coach Rocco and his staff will highlight each one of this year's signees.
A video recap of the event will be available on RichmondSpiders.com tomorrow.
|
Name
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/Last School
|
Highlights
|
NLI Received
|
| Gabe Thomas | DB | 6-1 |
170
|
Orlando, Fla./Trinity Prep | Video | 7:00 AM |
| Joseph Mancusco | QB | 6-4 | 205 | Blairsville, Ga./Union County | Video | 7:00 AM |
| Adam Samee | OL | 6-8 | 275 | Clearwater, Fla./ Clearwater Central Catholic |
Video | 7:01 AM |
| Colby Ritten | DL | 6-3 | 280 | Orlando, Fla./Boone H.S. | Video | 7:07 AM |
| A.J. Hines | RB | 6-0 | 215 | Wilson, N.C./Fike H.S. | Video | 7:09 AM |
| T.J. Dunn | LB | 6-1 | 205 | Glen Allen, Va./Benedictine | Video | 7:15 AM |
| Taz Sumpter | OL | 6-3 | 270 | Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's | Video | 7:15 AM |
| Michael Iamunno | LB | 6-3 | 200 | Boca Raton, Fla./ St. Thomas Aquinas |
Video | 7:15 AM |
| Daniel Jones | DB | 5-11 | 195 | Williamsburg, Va./Bruton H.S. | Video | 7:10 AM |
| Darius Reynolds | DE | 6-1 | 240 | Yorktown, Va./York | Video | 7:22 AM |
| Maurice Jackson | LB/RB | 6-1 | 205 | Levittown, Pa./Truman H.S. | Video | 7:29 AM |
| Seyoum Settepani | OL | 6-2 | 280 | Harlem, N.Y./ Cheshire Academy |
Video | 7:30 AM |
| Logan Blake | OL | 6-4 | 290 | Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian | Video | 8:10 AM |
| Xavier Goodall | RB | 5-9 | 185 | Richmond, Va./Henrico | Video | 8:11 AM |
| Trent Williams | DB | 5-11 | 180 | Chester, Va./Thomas Dale | Video | 8:15 AM |
Gabe Thomas
Orlando, Fla./Trinity Prep
Defensive Back
6-1, 170
Head Coach: Mike Kruczek
High School: Four-year varsity starter, team captain … Honorable Mention All-State selection… First-team All-District honoree… Also led the team in receiving his senior year with 65 catches… Steve Phillips Leadership for Award Winner… Senior Bowl All-Star… Three-year starter for the baseball team, team captain… Served as manager for girl's basketball team
Personal: Son of Tracey and Marcus … One sibling, Zak (15) … Habitat for Humanity volunteer.
Joseph Mancuso
Blairsville, Ga./Union County High School
Quarterback
6-4, 205
Head Coach: Brian Allison
High School: First Team All-State at Quarterback in 2014 and '15 … Team captain during his senior year … Amassed 10,485 career all-purpose yards with 8,187 career passing yards.
Personal: Son of Mark and Kathy Mancuso … One sibling, John (14) … Volunteer at SPCA and at St. William Catholic Church.
Colby Ritten
Orlando, Fla./Boone High School
Defensive Line
6-3, 280
Head Coach: Andy Johnson
High School: Three year varsity starter and captain… Two-way player on offensive and defensive lines … Selected to Florida 8A All-State Team as First-Team offensive lineman … Played in Central Florida All-Star game…. Earned Super Sophomore honors from the Orlando Sentinel in 2013.. Two-time All-Metro honoree… Named to the Orlando Sentinel Super 60 in 2015
Personal: Son of Paul and Shelley Ritten … Two siblings, Carson (21) and Sydney (16) … Father Paul, played football a Florida.
Daniel Jones
Williamsburg, Va./Bruton High School
Defensive Back
5-11, 195
Head Coach: Reggie Jones
High School: Four year varsity starter playing wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner … Group 2A All-State selection in 2014.
Personal: Son of Reggie and Shannon Jones … One sibling, Kayla (19) … Father Reggie is the Bruton head football coach and played football for Hampton University (1988-93)… Mother Shannon was an athlete at VCU 1990-94 … Volunteer work at his church to help feed the needy
Maurice Jackson
Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman High School
Linebacker/Running Back
6-1, 205
Head Coach: Jon Craig
High School: Two-year varsity starter … Finalist for the PA Maxwell Award… Second Team All-State selection … Team captain … 130 career tackles, three sacks, four interceptions as a senior.
Personal: Son of LaShanda and Maurice Jackson … Two siblings, Kani (19) and Makai (10) … Special Olympics volunteer.
A.J. Hines
Wilson, N.C./Fike High School
Running Back
6-0, 215
Head Coach: Tom Nelson
High School: First team All-State… Big East (NC) First-team… Three-time All-conference honoree… Piled up 2,138 yards rushing in his final two seasons … Scored 33 touchdowns over that same span … Only played in eight games during his senior season.
Personal: Son of David and Sophia Fate.
Seyoum Settepani
Harlem, N.Y./Cheshire Academy
Offensive Line
6-2, 280
Head Coach: David Dykeman
High School: Four-year starter, two-way starter on offensive and defensive line, captain senior year … Over 80 knockdown blocks, only one sack allowed … Also was a two-year captain for the wrestling team and a four-year letterwinner for the lacrosse team.
Personal: Son of Leah Abraham and Nino Settepani … One sibling, Bilen (20).
Darius Reynolds
Yorktown, Va./York High School
Defensive End
6-1, 240
Head Coach: Doug Pereira
High School: First Team All-State 2015… Daily Press Defensive Player of the Year… 3A All-Region and Defensive Player of the Year … Four-year varsity starter … 12 sacks during his senior season… Team captain
Personal: Son of Karen and Malcomb Reynolds … Three siblings, Malcolm (20), Mariah (13), Aaron (12) … Brother Malcolm played football at Pace University for two seasons.
Adam Samee
Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater Central Catholic High School
Offensive Line
6-8, 275
Head Coach: John Davis
High School: Two-time First team All-County honoree (2014, 2015)… All-Conference and All-State selection … Three-year varsity starter, two-way player on offensive and defensive lines.
Personal: Son of Shelley and Ahmed … Three siblings, Nadine (28), Bakri (26) and Amber (22).
T.J. Dunn
Glen Allen, Va./Benedictine College Prep
Linebacker
6-1, 205
Head Coach: Greg Lilly
High School: Two-time All-State selection (2014, 2015)… Two-time state champion (2014, 2015)… Had nearly 150 tackles in his final two seasons, 25 of which were for a loss, also had five sacks, five forced fumbles, three interceptions and a blocked punt.
Personal: Son of Edie and Scott Dunn … One sibling, Christian (14).
Taz Sumpter
Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's High School
Offensive Line
6-3, 270
Head Coach: Lance Clelland
High School: Three-year varsity letter winner … All-Metro Honorable Mention, All-Prep, All-State … Eight tackles for loss during his senior season… All-State performer in discus and shot-put.
Personal: Son of Vassar and Erica Sumpter … Two siblings, James (20) and Emmy (9).
Michael Iamunno
Boca Raton, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Linebacker
6-3, 200
Head Coach: Roger Harriott
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas football program ranked 21st nationally and third in the state of Florida
Personal: Son of Shirley and Rich … Three siblings, Richie (28), Paige (20), Nick (13) … Father Rich, played football at Drake University.
Logan Blake
Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian Academy
Offensive Lineman
6-4, 290
Head Coach: Frank Rocco
High School: Three-year varsity starter … Second Team Virginia Prep All-State selection as a junior … VISAA State Champions in 2013… Finalist for the Titan Trophy… Holds LCA Weight Room record for bench press and squad
Personal: Son of Mindy and Richard Blake … One sibling, Carrie Lloyd (27) … Member of the National Honor Society … Coached by Frank Rocco, the brother of Richmond Head Coach Danny Rocco.
Xavier Goodall
Richmond, Va./Henrico High School
Running Back
5-9, 185
Head Coach: Gerald Glasco
High School: Three-year varsity letter winner … Two-time All-Conference and All-Region selection … First Team All-State selection... All-State track standout.
Personal: Son of Alicia Sanders and Shaun Goodall … Two siblings, Zaria (15) and Yasmin (9)
Trent Williams
Chester, Va./Thomas Dale High School
Defensive Back
5-11, 178
Head Coach: Kevin Tucker
High School: Three-year varsity starter … Two-time All-Region DB, two-time All-Conference DB, two-time all-conference kick returner…. Had five interceptions and 62 tackles in his final two seasons.. Averaged over 20 yards per kick return with two TDs… As an RB, ran for over 900 yards and over six yards per carry during his final two seasons, piling up 12 TDs along the way.
Personal: Son of Edward and Audrey … One sibling, Aaron (22)
