INDIANA, Pa. - IUP head coach
Paul Tortorella announced that 18 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football for the nationally-ranked Crimson Hawks beginning in the fall of 2020.
Here are some signing day notes:
- All 18 of IUP's signees hail from the state of Pennsylvania
- Nine signees are from WPIAL schools
- The class includes two sets of teammates from Thomas Jefferson High School and Chambersburg High School
- Three including players won PA state championships, two others were on state semifinalist teams
- Seven IUP signees earned all-state honors and all 18 received all-section/county or all-conference nods
- The class includes five offensive players, eight on the defensive side, one specialist and four versatile "athletes"
- The offensive signees include: two receivers and three offensive linemen
- Defensive signees include four linemen/edge rushers, one linebacker and three defensive backs
- Additional transfer student-athletes who are already on campus are expected to be announced soon
The full class along with bios and links to highlights can be found below.
The Crimson Hawks look to return 11 starters - seven offense, four defense - from last year's 10-2 team that earned its fourth NCAA Division II playoff berth in five seasons. Since 2015, IUP has 50 overall wins and the most conference victories (30) and playoff appearances (four) than any other team in the conference.
Coach Tortorella Statement
"First, I would like to thank everyone involved in the recruiting process. Our coaches, support staff, athletic administration, faculty, and our fundraising efforts combined to do a great job in providing the information and resources to secure this class. This class represents student-athletes who are very strong academically as well as athletically. They come from very successful high school programs throughout the state of Pennsylvania. There are three state champs, and two state semifinalists. As a staff, we realize that this class understands the bar is set very high at IUP.
Again, thank you to everyone who supports our program, we appreciate the work everyone has done. This class will work diligently, and continue our winning tradition. They will make IUP nation proud.
Follow
For coverage of the IUP football program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPfootball and online at IUPAthletics.com.
Gerald Comedy | OL | 6-3, 305 | Washington, Pa./Washington | Highlights
Two-time first team all-state selection … three-time first team all-conference.
Logan Danielson | DT | 6-1, 265 | Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson | Highlights
Winner of inaugural Bill Fralic Award as the WPIAL's top lineman in 2019 … Starred as offensive guard and defensive tackle … Helped Thomas Jefferson to 16-0 season, WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A championships … All-State and all-conference selection on the defensive line … Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 22.
Daniel Deabner | WR | 6-0, 180 | Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson | Highlights
Two-time all-state receiver … two-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 22 … 2019 PG co-Player of the Year … 49 receptions for 1,103 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior … Helped Thomas Jefferson to a 2019 PIAA title … Picked off seven passes as a cornerback … Career: 177 receptions, 2,668 yards, 44 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, three punt return touchdowns.
Maurice Feazell | LB/DE | 6-2, 215 | York, Pa./William Penn | Highlights
First team all-state defensive end by the YAIAA … PA Football News second team 5A all-state … YAIAA Defensive Player of the Year … Stats included 18 sacks, 8.0 tackles-for-loss, 57 total tackles, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Tyrone Fowler Jr. | DE/DT | 6-3, 220 | Wyncote, Pa./Bishop McDevitt | Highlights
First team all-state … Reporter/Times Herald first team All-Area at defensive line … Tallied 15 sacks and 100 total tackles.
Jaheim Howard | DB | 5-10, 186 | Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep | Highlights
PFN 4A second team all-state defensive back … first team District 10 … totaled 11 touchdowns and tallied three interceptions as a senior … FOX66 Good Kid Award.
Charles Ingram III | ATH | 5-11, 196 | Drexel Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner | Highlights
Two-time All-Catholic League running back … All-Delaware County honorable mention selection at linebacker … Two-time team offensive and defensive MVP … two-time team captain … honor roll student.
Kameron Kruzelyak | ATH | 6-2, 220 | Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny | Highlights
Played quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, linebacker and defensive back … first team all-conference at outside linebacker … earned honorable mention all-conference honors at QB as a junior.
Chad Layton | OL | 6-2, 280 | Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin | Highlights
2019 all-state selection … Blue-Grey All-American Bowl participant … two-time all-conference pick … PennLive All-Star … first team All-Eastern PA … PennLive Mid-Penn All-Decade team honorable mention … Gold Star Mother's Scholarship Award.
Tyler Luther | PK/P | 5-7, 160 | Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg | Highlights
First team PennLive Mid-Penn placekicker … second team Mid-Penn at punter … Big 33 East-West All-Star Game nominee … honorable mention Eastern Pennsylvania 6A all-state … made 36-of-37 extra points and 7-of-9 field goals … long punt of 45 yards.
Richard Santiago | OL | 6-3, 260 | Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville | Highlights
Inquirer All-Southeastern Pennsylvania honorable mention selection for 2019 … DLN All-Area first team … first team All-Ches-Mont.
Montel Sims | LB | 6-0, 225 | Monaca, Pa./Central Valley | Highlights
Four-year letterman … two-time all-conference selection at linebacker … team captain … 66 total tackles in five games as a senior before injury … Homecoming King.
Isaiah Towler | DB | 5-10, 170 | Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa | Highlights
First team all-conference … had eight interceptions, five pass breakups, 23 total tackles as a senior … National Honor Society, Aliquippa Impact Mentor, Drug Free Aliquippa Coalition member.
Cavan Trout | ATH | 6-3, 210 | Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg-Salem | Highlights
Four-year letterman … two-way starter for three years at Greensburg-Salem … earned first team all-conference honors at linebacker, second team all-conference at receiver … also three-year basketball letterwinner … honors student, student mentor, Mini-THON leader.
Noah Vaughan | LB/DE | 6-3, 230 | Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls | Highlights
First team all-conference pick at linebacker … National Honors Society … youth ambassador and scholar-athlete.
Randy Washington | DB | 5-10, 185 | Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley | Highlights
First team Liberty Division at wide receiver and cornerback … All-Eastern Pennsylvania honorable mention at wide receiver … Liberty Division and Perkiomen team MVP ... senior captain … 85 total tackles, nine interceptions and 18 passes broken up … 30 receptions for 751 yards, averaging 25.0 yards per catch … 913 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns.
Alex Williams | WR | 6-2, 190 | Springfield, Pa./Springfield | Highlights
Second team All-Central receiver … honor roll student.
Terell Williams | DE/TE | 6-2, 230 | Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg | Highlights
First team PennLive Mid-Penn on offense and defense.
