Fall Camp Roster

INDIANA, PA – In advance of the start of fall camp on Wednesday, IUP head football coach Curt Cignetti has released his official 89-member roster this morning.
 
The roster includes 16 seniors or graduate students, 11 juniors, 21 sophomores and 41 freshmen.
 
The Crimson Hawks return a total of 43 players from last year's 9-2 team, including 10 starters. Linemen Matthew Sasson (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Fox Chapel) and Jorge Vicioso (Passaic, N.J./Passaic) return on offense, while defensive linemen Shane Meisner (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield ) and Ali Muhammad (Kingston, Pa. /Wyoming Valley West), linebacker Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills), and defensive backs Jerell McFadden (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) and Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School) return on the other side of the ball.
 
Also making his return on defense is linebacker Alexander Berdahl (Ashburn, Va./Bishop O'Connell), who made 13 tackles in the 2013 season-opener before losing his year due to injury. He was IUP's leading tackler and an all-region performer in 2012.
 
Both specialists in kicker Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) and punter Matt Spegal (Bethel Park, Pa. /Bethel Park) also return for the Crimson Hawks.
 
A total of 37 newcomers join the team this fall, a group that features six transfers, including tight end Brock Decicco (Wisconsin); defensive end Waylon Fink (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Salem) (Buffalo); defensive lineman Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury) (Delaware); nose guard Bryce Gilbert (Brookfield, Wis./Central) (Wisconsin); running back Donte Harrell (Downingtown, Pa. /Francis Howell (MO)) (Tennessee-Martin); and quarterback Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton) (Illinois).
 
The newcomers are also made up of the 25-member signing class from this past February, which included 12 offensive players, 10 defensive players, and three athletes. Six more true freshmen walk-ons join that group this fall.
 
Also included are six walk-ons from spring practice, two players who have rejoined the team, and Dan Charmo (Hamilton, Va./Loundon Valley), who was originally a member of IUP's 2013 recruiting class but did not enroll until the spring of 2014. 
 
IUP players report on Wednesday morning with the first practice set for Thursday morning.
 
The fall roster is also released in advance of Monday afternoon's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Football Media Day. The Western Division is meeting at Slippery Rock while the Eastern Division is gathering in Kutztown. The highlight of media day will be the release of the preseason coaches' polls this afternoon.