INDIANA, Pa. - IUP head coach Paul Tortorella announced that 18 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football for the 12th-ranked Crimson Hawks beginning in the fall of 2017.
 
Here are some signing day notes: 

• This is the first class for Tortorella as head coach, who took over on January 3
• IUP signed 15 future Crimson Hawks who hail from the state of Pennsylvania
• Three states are represented in this class, with two signees coming from New Jersey and another coming from Maryland
• The class includes three offensive linemen, three wide receivers, three defensive linemen, two quarterbacks, two defensive backs, and one wide receiver/defensive back, linebacker, defensive end/linebacker, "athlete" and kicker/punter
• Four additional student-athletes not included in the 18-member signing class have also been added to the roster as mid-year transfers; All four are currently on campus

The Crimson Hawks return 15 starters – seven offense and eight defense – from its 2016 team that finished 10-2 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
 
Coach Tortorella Statement
First and foremost I would like to thank our Athletic Office, University Faculty, and especially our Football Staff of Jim Smith, Mike Campolo, Marty Higgins, Anthony Leonard, Luke Barker, Johnny Franco, Ty Holler, John Pettina, James Ferguson, Kamali O'Brien and Erik Templeton.
 
All parties have done a great job in putting together OUR 2017 recruiting class. Not only did we sign very good football players, but most importantly, great students with high character.
 
We also believe that all of our recruiting needs were met and we look forward to adding these student-athletes and their families to the tradition and excellence of OUR IUP football program!
 
We can now officially say "ALL IN" to the players and families of this class!

Tortorella's Interview with Jack Benedict

UPDATE: This week, Tortorella added another with the signing of Nate Bayer from Mount Lebanon, bringing the 2017 class total to 19. His information has been added to the list below.
 
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For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.  
2017 IUP Recruiting Class
 
Nate Bayer | DB | 6-3, 185 | Pittsburgh, Pa. / Mount Lebanon
Only played six games as a senior due to injury ... Still posted 45 total tackles with four interceptions ... Also played receiver. Highlights

Duane Brown | ATH | 5-11, 185 | Spring Church, Pa. / Apollo-Ridge
Two-time Valley News Dispatch Offensive Player of the Year … All-State wide receiver as a senior … Totaled 1,500 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns despite playing in just seven games due to injury in 2016 … Set WPIAL record with 480 rushing yards and eight touchdowns as a junior against Deer Lakes … Finished 2015 with 1,590 rushing yards 30 touchdowns …Plans to major in sport administration. Highlights
 
Devin Castro | DB | 6-0, 175 | Whitehall, Pa. / Whitehall
Honorable mention EPC as a defensive back ... Honorable mention All-Area ... Led Whitehall in interceptions and pass breakups ... Helped lead Whitehall to District 11 championship ... First team East Coast Camp as an athlete and defensive back ... Honor student with 3.6 grade point average ... Plans to major in sport administration. Highlights
 
Josh Dauberman | OL | 6-5, 295 | Hughesville, Pa. / Hughesville
All-State as a senior … Helped Hughesville to three straight district titles … First team PA Heartland Athletic Conference and District IV All-Star as a junior … Plans to major in athletic training. Highlights
 
Darrell Davis | OL | 6-3, 297 | Union, N.J. / Union
First team All-Watchung Division as a senior … Plans to major in sport administration and business. Highlights
 
McLean Djouha | OL | 6-7, 295 | Damascus, Md. / Damascus
Didn't start playing football until junior year at Damascus … Plans to major in sport administration. Highlights
               
Justice Evans | WR | 5-7, 170 | Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic
Led Central Catholic with 38 receptions for 1,092 yards and 16 touchdowns … Averaged 28.7 yards per reception … Added three punt return touchdowns and two rushing scores … Helped Vikings to WPIAL Class 6A championship … Central Catholic was also the PIAA runner-up … Plans to major in exercise science. Highlights
 
Isaiah Hankins | QB | 5-10, 180 | Williamsport, Pa. / Williamsport
Times Leader and Sun Gazette Player of the Year … First team All-State … Threw for 2,560 yards, 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions as a senior … 69.0 completion percentage … Also rushed for 919 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, in 2016 … Led Williamsport to WVC Division 6A-5A title, the District 2/4 Class 6A championship, the PIAA 6A quarterfinals, and a 12-2 record … 64 career touchdown passes broke Ron Powlus' Wyoming Valley Conference record … 6,302 career passing yards are third most in WVC history … Three-year starter … Plans to major in sport management. Highlights
 
Ryan Hoff | WR | 6-2, 190 | Indiana, Pa. / Indiana
Honorable mention 4A All-State as a senior … Caught 51 passes for 925 yards … Scored 16 touchdowns … Two year starter at receiver and defensive back … Also returned kicks … Plans to major in finance. Highlights
 
Darrell Holloway | WR/DB | 6-0, 175 | Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hills
Tallied 45 tackles, three interceptions and three pass breakups in 2016 ... Plans to major in sport administration. Highlights
 
Nazir James | DB | 6-1, 175 | Piscataway, N.J. / Piscataway
Great Middlesex Conference All-Star as a junior … Plans to major in sport administration and business. Highlights
 
Brandon Kelly | LB/DE | 6-0, 230 | Bethlehem, Pa. / Bethlehem Catholic
Plans to major in exercise science. Highlights
 
Raunya Mitchell | DT | 6-4, 315 | Harrisburg, Pa. / Susquehanna Twp.
Mid-Penn Keystone first team selection by conference coaches … Also Mid-Penn All-Star as a junior … Plans to major in criminology. Highlights
 
Quran Powe | WR | 5-9, 180 | Pittsburgh, Pa. / Keystone Oaks
In just six games, had 30 receptions for 660 yards and eight touchdowns ... Averaged 22.0 yards per reception ... Picked off four passes on defense ... Plans to major in business. Highlights
 
John Robinson | DL | 6-2, 250 | Pittsburgh, Pa. / Woodland Hills
Helped Woodland Hills to a 10-3 record and a trip to the WPIAL 5A semifinals … Plans to major in sports medicine. Highlights
 
Kam'ron Walker | DL | 6-3, 300 | State College, Pa. / State College
Tallied 36 tackles and five sacks as a senior … Also had 10 tackles-for-loss … Plans to major in business. Highlights
 
Jordan Washington | P/K | 5-9, 170 | Pittsburgh, Pa. / Gateway
2016 Ray Guy prospect … 49-yard field goal as a junior was the longest in Pennsylvania in 2015 season … Led state with eight regular season field goals as a junior … Greater Allegheny first team pick in 2015 … Plans to major in criminal justice. Highlights
 
Jacob Watts | QB | 6-3, 230 | Scranton, Pa. / Scranton
Lackawanna Conference Player of the Year … Earned All-Region and All-Conference honors at quarterback … Honor roll … Plans to major in business. Highlights
 
Bryon Williams | LB | 6-2, 205 | Erie, Pa. / McDowell
Led McDowell with 116 tackles … Added eight sacks and two interceptions … Plans to major in business. Highlights
 

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Mid-year transfers already enrolled this semester
 
Kolbe Hughes (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North) | WR | 6-3, 195 | Williamsville, N.Y. / Williamsville North (Edinboro)
Played in 11 games as a freshman at Edinboro in 2014 … Finished second on the team with 38 receptions for 535 yards and four touchdowns … Two 100-yard games, season-high 112 yards and eight receptions against Clarion … Was second team All-State as a senior, catching 45 passes for 792 yards and eight touchdowns … Set school receiving record.
 
John McDonald-Horner (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) | DB | 6-3, 185 | Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway (Indiana State)
Transfer from Division I Indiana State … Three years of eligibility remaining … Played in seven games in 2016 … Finished with 13 total tackles, including seven solo … Had one tackle-for-loss … Key player on special teams, blocking a punt against No. 13 Western Illinois … Lettered in football, basketball, and baseball at Gateway High School … Also saw time on offense.
 
Ken Roman (Hawley, Pa./Wallenpaupack) | DL | 6-4, 290 | Hawley, Pa. / Wallenpaupack (Rutgers)
Did not see game action with Rutgers in 2016 … Redshirted as a true freshman in 2015 … Graduated from Wallenpaupack High School before playing a prep season at Milford Academy in 2014 … Second team All-League at both offensive and defensive tackle … Had 51 pancake blocks, 27 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and two blocked punts … League, sectional, and district champion as a wrestler … Father, Kenneth, played tight end for the Cleveland Browns.
 
Montrail Strozer | DB | 6-0, 190 | Rochester, Pa. / Rochester (Robert Morris)
Did not play in 2016.