University of Richmond Athletics
Clawson Inks Inaugural Recruiting Class
Feb. 2, 2005
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the Spider Recruiting Class
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - From the day he was hired as the University of Richmond head football coach last February, Dave Clawson promised to build his program with elite players from Richmond, the commonwealth of Virginia and the mid-Atlantic. With his first recruiting class announced today, Clawson has successfully started the process.
Clawson's inaugural group features 18 student-athletes from nine different states, including three from Virginia, two from the Richmond area. Featured in this class are two state players of the year, nine All-State honorees and one who set his state's single-season rushing record in 2004.
"I am extremely excited about the caliber of this class," Clawson said. "This group addresses some immediate needs we have in our program and adds depth to other areas. I am also excited about the talented players we signed from Virginia. William Bischoff, Collin McConaghy and Josh Vaughan are three players that we identified very early in the process.
"Our coaching staff did an excellent job of recruiting student-athletes who are a good fit for the University of Richmond," Clawson said. "This group is capable of succeeding not only on the playing field but also in the classroom."
The Spiders welcome hometown favorites Bischoff, a tight end from Douglas Freeman High School, and Vaughan, a running back from Hermitage High School. Bischoff joins former Freeman star Johnny Campbell in the program, while Vaughan will reunite with fellow Panther alum Anthony Dabney at Richmond.
Both Bischoff and Vaughan were All-Colonial District honorees, while Bischoff also earned All-State accolades. Joining Bischoff and Vaughan from the Commonwealth is linebacker Collin McConaghy from Madison Heights and Amherst High School.
Quarterbacks Levi Brown and Eric Ward will join Clawson's prolific offensive arsenal. Brown, who is already enrolled at Richmond after graduating from high school in three and one half years, completed 62 percent of his passes as a senior. Ward was ranked as one of the top-75 players in Georgia.
Running back Justin Forte was the Georgia 5A Player of the Year after establishing a new state record for single-season rushing with 2,395 yards last fall. Florida's Derek Hatcher is the other state player of the year in this class. Hatcher threw for 1,500 yards, ran for 800, returned five punts for touchdowns and made four interceptions as a senior.
Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania join Virginia with three student-athletes, while North Carolina (2) is the other state with multiple representation. Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey and Tennessee all provided one recruit to the class.
The group consists of five linemen, three defensive backs, two each of quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, while one tight end, defensive back/wide receiver, linebacker and kicker/punter complete the group.
Richmond Football 2005 Recruiting Class
William Bischoff - TE - Fr. - 6-3 - 240 - Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman
All-State honoree ... earned first team All-Metro Richmond for head coach Bob Brinkley ... first team All-Central Region ... first team All-Colonial District.
Levi Brown - QB - Fr. - 6-2 - 180 - Mt. Juliet, Tenn./Mt. Juliet
Earned first team All-Region at quarterback ... compiled a 62 percent completion rate during senior year ... threw for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in only six games for head coach David Crawford.
Justin Forte - RB - Fr. - 5-9 - 175 - Marietta, Ga./Walton
Georgia 5A Player of the Year ... Cobb County Player of the Year ... Atlanta Journal Constitution Offensive Player of the Year ... established state 5A's single-season rushing record with 2,395 yards in 2004 ... played for head coach Ed Dudley.
Derek Hatcher - DB - Fr. - 5-9 - 170 - St. Petersburg, Fla./Berkely Prep
Florida's IA Player of the Year ... three-time first team All-Conference ... Hillsborough County All-Star for head coach Frank Sullivan ... threw for 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns, ran for 800 yards and 14 touchdowns, returned five punts for a score and had four interceptions as a senior.
David Horton - DB/WR - Fr. - 6-1 - 185 - Macungie, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic
Associated Press first team All-State at wide receiver ... Lehigh Valley All-Area first team ... made 123 catches for more than 1,800 yards and 10 touchdowns in career ... played for head coach Donnie Roberts.
Chris Kondorossy - LINE - Fr. - 6-3 - 275 - Belle Meade, N.J./Montgomery
Earned first team All-Skyline Conference at offensive tackle ... second team All-State honors for head coach Zoran Milich ... will represent New Jersey in Governor's Bowl All-Star game that features the top-50 seniors.
Jared Lake - DB - Fr. - 5-9 - 170 - Southfield, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup
Honorable mention All-State ... first team All-Conference for head coach Stephon Thompson ... intercepted six passes ... recorded 1,300 total yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior.
Collin McConaghy - LB - Fr. - 6-1 - 230 - Madison Heights, Va./Amherst
Earned first team All-Seminole District and All-Region honors ... Seminole District Defensive Player of the Year ... second team All-State at linebacker for head coach Scott Abell.
Matthew McCracken - LINE - Fr. - 6-3 - 280 - Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon
Member of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Fabulous 22 team ... first team All-Conference at offensive tackle ... team MVP as a senior for head coach Chris Haering.
Parker Miles - LINE - Fr. - 6-4 - 250 - Clearwater, Fla./Countryside
Earned first team All-Pinellas County ... Pinellas County All-Star ... won the district championship in wrestling ... played for head coach John Davis.
Jordan Mitchell - WR - Fr. - 6-1 - 175 - Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin
Earned first team All-State from Pennsylvania Football News ... second team All-State from the Associated Press ... first team All-Conference at both wide receiver and defensive back for head coach Paul Plott ... member of the state champion 4x100 relay team as a junior.
Brian Radford - K/P - Fr. - 6-2 - 190 - Wilson, N.C./Hunt
Three-time Wilson Daily Times All-Area honoree ... All-Big Eight Conference punter for head coach Randy Raper ... Big Eight Specialist of the Year as a senior ... 82 percent of kickoffs were touchbacks ... member of the National Honor Society ... also earned varsity letters in baseball and soccer ... brother of current Spider Chris Radford.
Scot Riddell - WR - Fr. - 6-2 - 200 - Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard
Earned third team All-State ... first team All-Montgomery County ... had 39 catches for 650 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior ... played for head coach Dave Mencarini.
Michael Silva - LINE - Fr. - 6-5 - 250 - Altamonte Springs, Fla./Bishop Moore
Nominated to play in the Orlando East/West All-Star game ... led team to first playoff appearance in seven years ... team offensive line MVP for head coach Matt Hedrick ... three-year letterman on the basketball team where he averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Pierre Turner - DE - Fr. - 6-1 - 225 - Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill
Earned first team All-Gwinnett County ... also earned first team All-Conference ... led team with 10 sacks during senior season ... played for head coach Larry Sherrill.
Josh Vaughan - RB - Fr. - 6-1 - 215 - Richmond, Va./Hermitage
Earned first team All-Colonial District as a senior for head coach Pat Kane ... averaged 12 yards per carry ... ran for 10 touchdowns ... had 25 catches for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
Eric Ward - QB - Fr. - 6-3 - 180 - Atlanta, Ga./SW Dekalb
Earned first team All-Conference ... honorable mention All-Region selection ... ranked as one of top-75 players in Georgia ... played for head coach Buck Godfrey.
Seth Williams - DB - Fr. - 5-10 - 180 - Fayetteville, N.C./Cape Fear
A first team All-Two Rivers Conference selection at wide receiver and defensive back ... two-time Fayetteville Observer Athlete of the Week ... Conference champion in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 meter relay team as a junior ... played for head coach Mark Heil.