Football
Rhode Island Football Announces 2009 Recruiting Class
Feb. 4, 2009
2009 Rhode Island Recruiting Class
KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island football head coach Darren Rizzi announced Wednesday that 16 high school standouts have signed National Letters of Intent (NLI) to play football for the Rams beginning in the fall of 2009.
The recruiting class includes four linebackers, four defensive backs, two defensive lineman, two offensive lineman, two running backs and two wide receivers.
"I am very happy with the class that we were able to bring in this season," Rizzi said. "This program is certainly headed in the right direction and I am very proud to be a part of it. Our coaching staff did a tremendous job and I look forward to working with these student-athletes."
The 16 incoming freshman will join quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne (Miami, Fla.), tight end Tom Lang (Concord, Mass.), wide receiver Robenson Alexis (Boca Raton, Fla.) and defensive back Rob Cervini (Suffern, N.Y.), who all transferred from to Rhode Island from Rutgers this past semester.
Nick Baker
Defensive End
6-3/250 Lbs.
Whitman, Mass./Dean College/Whitman Hansen
Dean College: Two-year starter at Dean College... In two seasons with the team he helped the Bulldogs to a 19-2 record and back-to-back Northeast Football Conference Championships... Teams ranked 11th (2007) 15th (2008) in the National Junior College Poll... Participated in the Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, Iowa on the campus of Northern Iowa, which was the first bowl appearance in 20 years... Played strong side defensive end both seasons and anchored the defensive line that ranked No. 1 in the conference in total defense and third nationally gave up just 190 yards per game... Voted Defensive Player of the Year by his teammates...
Dean College head coach Todd Vasey on Nick Baker: "He is a relentless player, who plays every play as if it is his last. He was one of our leaders and anchored our defensive line. Nick has tremendous character and in 26 years of coaching, he is one of the finest young men I have ever coached."
Andrew Belizaire
Offensive Line
6-3/260 Lbs.
Montvale, N.J./St. Joesph's Regional
High School: Served as a two-year starter on the offensive line... Started every game at right tackle as a junior before moving to left tackle where he started every game as a senior... Two-year letter winner... Helped St. Joesph's Regional to an 11-1 record as the school collected its 11th State Championship in the last 14 years in Group Three Non-Public... Received All-Conference honors as a senior in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League, which is comprised of the largest public and non-public schools in North Jersey... Helped pave the way for St. Joesph's running backs to rush for 2300 yards on the ground and average 36 points per game
St. Joesph's Regional head coach Tony Karcich on Andrew Belizaire: "Andrew is a great kid, he has a lot of character and he is the type of kid you would want in your program. This kid has a chance to be outstanding in college. His upside is unlimited and he has really come a long way since his freshman year. He is very athletic and has very good hands. He has a chance to develop to into a tremendous pass blocker."
Jordan Dalton
Defensive Back
6-1/190
Haddonfield, N.J./Paul VI
High School: Served as the team captain as a senior... Played two seasons at Paul VI and started on both offense and defense in both years... Voted as the team's Most Valuable Player... Earned Second Team All-Burlington Olympic Conference honors as a running back... Lead the team in rushing with 942 yards to go along with 16 touchdowns.
Paul VI head coach John Doherty on Jordan Dalton: "Jordan can play many different positions and he is the total package. He has tremendous work ethic and I think that is what separates him from the rest. He has great character and he is a team player. We are definitely going to miss him. He has been a leader on and off the field."
Brian Eatman
Defensive Back
6-1/180 Lbs.
Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic
High School: Three-year starter on both sides of the ball... Three-year letter winner in football and basketball... Selected to the All-Hudson County Intersholasic Athletic Association Team as a junior and senior... Two-year New Jersey Journal and Star Ledger All-Area recipient... Non-Public All-State honoree as a senior... Recorded seven interceptions in has two seasons in High School, including four as a junior... Helped patrol the secondary for the conference's top defensive unit.
Hudson Catholic head coach Rob Stern on Brian Eatman: "Brian is a tremendous player and I don't think it will take long for people to realize his talent. He can play many positions and I think he will have an immediate impact. He has meant a lot to our program and he is the reason why we have been in the state playoffs the last two years. Rhode Island is also getting a great person."
Ellis Foster
Running Back/Athlete
5-11/190 Lbs.
Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City
High School: Served as a four-year starter... Amassed 3,662 passing and 1,112 rushing yards and 55 total touchdowns for a 31-8 record... Led City to a 3-1 record against rival Poly in the school's annual game... Passed for 1,207 yards and rushed for another 923 yards as a senior, leading the Knights to a 6-4 record... Threw 11 touchdowns, ran for another six scores and added a 62-yard punt return for a total of 18 TDs in 2008... Selected to the All-Baltimore City Coaches team as a senior.
Baltimore City College High School head coach George Petrides on Ellis Foster: "Ellis has been a four-year starter and was an excellent player for us this past year. The University of Rhode Island will be happy to have him."
Ayo Isijola
Running Back
5-10/195 Lbs.
Brooklyn, N.Y./Sheepshead
High School: As a senior he played in eight games and carried the ball 67 times for 1,177 yards (17.5 yard per carry) to go along with nine touchdowns... Selected First Team All-City and All-Borough All-Conference Teams... His 4x100 meter relay team was the 2008 Nike Outdoor National Champion... The relay team is currently ranked second in the nation.
Sheepshead Bay head coach Fred Sneider on Ayo Isijola: "Ayo came out for football after his sophomore year. He really put his nose to the grindstone during his junior season and excelled as a senior. He is very bright, hard working and the sky is the limit for him."
D.J. Law
Wide Receiver/Athlete
5-8/175
Delrey Beach, Fla./American Heritage
High School: Helped guide the Stallions to a 9-4 record and an appearance in the 2008 Florida High School State Playoffs... Finished his senior season with 875 total yards (324 receiving and 450 rushing)... He also had one kick return and three punt returns which resulted in touchdowns... Selected First Team All-County and Second Team All-State... Participated in the 2008 Outback All-Star Game, which annually features the players in South Florida... Named to the Palm Beach Post All-Conference Team.
American Heritage head coach Willie Bueno on D.J. Law: "D.J. is a very versatile and explosive player. He is a great leader and it will be tough to replace him next season."
Josh Moody
Defensive End
6-4/ 210 Lbs.
Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville
High School: Selected Second Team to the New York City Public School League as a junior and senior... Helped the squad to the league playoffs for three-consecutive seasons... Won the John Drennan Memorial Coaches Award as a senior, an award that given each year for leadership and athletic ability... Finished his high school career with 145 total tackles and 15 sacks... Earned three varsity letters and served as a three-year starter at defensive end, linebacker and tight end... Also plays on the high school basketball team where he is currently averaging 21.0 points and 15.0 Rebounds Per Game.
Tottenville head coach Jim Munson on Josh Moody: "He's an outstanding athlete, but he is an even better person. He has not hit his peek just yet as football player."
Ali Muhammad
Linebacker
6-2/195 Lbs.
Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West
High School: Played just two seasons, but started both years... Served as a two-way starter... As a senior he had 51 receptions for over 900 yards... On defense he set the single-season record for sacks with 18.5. As a senior he set the school record for sacks in a single season with 18.5... Awarded the team leadership award as a junior and senior... Selected to the All-Wyoming Valley Conference as a junior and senior... Was selected to the East-West Pennsylvania in Altoona, Pa... Chosen as an alternate for the Big 33 game... Named to the Wyoming Valley Conference Coaches' All-Star team... Named Most Valuable Player of the East West Unico All-Star game.
Wyoming Valley West head coach George Curry on Ali Muhammad: "In my 42 years of coaching, Ali is one of the best players I have ever been around. He is a great person and a heck of an athlete. I have never seen a player improve so much in just one season. He is a three position kid and you can't go wrong with him."
Kelson Patterson
Offensive Line
6-6/303 Lbs.
Silver Spring, Md./Albert Einstein
High School: Served as the team captain as a senior... Started as a junior and senior on the offensive line... Voted Most Valuable Player of the squad by his teammates... Earned All-Montgomery County First Team honors... Selected Second Team by the Montgomery County Gazette... Helped pave the way for the team's rushing attack, which averaged over 250 yards per game.
Albert Einstein head coach Mike Bonavia on Kelson Patterson: "You could not get a better kid than Kelson. He is well respected by his peers and he has a very mature attitude toward winning. He is very quick and very strong."
Kenny Smith
Linebacker
5-11/225 Lbs.
Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's
High School: Selected Second Team All-State as a senior at St. Peter's Prep... Earned First Team All-Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA) as a junior and senior... Selected First Team All-Hudson County as a junior and senior... As a senior, he recorded 66 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries and led the team in sacks with 13.5... Helped St. Peter's to its 76th-consecutive win and ninth-straight county title... Started for two years and was a two-year letter winner.
St. Peter's head coach Rich Hansen on Kenny Smith: "Kenny brings a lot of intensity to the field. He is a great athlete, who plays with a lot of fire. He does not take plays off and he is a hard worker both on and off the field. The thing that is great about him is that he raises the intensity of other players around him."
Trevor Turner
Wide Receiver
6-1/185 Lbs.
Hanover, Md./Meade
High School: Helped Meade High School to its most wins since the 2001 season... Started on both sides of ball as a senior... In 2008 he caught 40 passes for 885 yards and 11 touchdowns... As a team the squad averaged 29 points per game... On defense, he totaled three interceptions... Selected to the Baltimore Sun All-Metro Team as a senior... Played in the Baltimore Touchdown Club All-Star game following his senior season... Helped the squad to its most wins since the 2001 season.
Meade head coach Lance Clelland on Trevor Turner: "Rhode Island is getting a great person both on and off the field. He comes from a great family and is great to be around. I was very lucky to be around him this past season. I truly believe that his best football is still to come."
Shomari Watts
Linebacker
6-0/215 Lbs.
Haverford, Pa./Haverford
High School: Served as a four-year starter for the Fords, switching to Linebacker as a senior ... Voted defensive Most Valuable Player as a senior by his teammates... Earned Second Team All-City and First Team All-Delaware County... Selected to the First Team All-Inter-Academic League as a junior and senior... Led the team in tackles as a senior.
Haverford School head coach Michael Murphy on Shomari Watts: "Shomari will certainly be missed. He is a very selfless player. He is a very talented player and he has a great motor. His best days of football are still ahead of him. Coach Rizzi and his staff are getting a great player."
Mannee Williams
Defensive Back
6-1/200 Lbs.
New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle
High School: Two-year varsity starter at wide receiver, safety and running back... Two-year letter winner... As a junior he was the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the Section I-AA Championship game... The following year Williams was the Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Section 1-AA Championship game... Earned Offensive Player of the Game in the New York State semifinals... Served as a senior captain... Earned Section I-AA South All-League honors as a senior and Voted to the All-Section team... Selected to the Journal News All-County team... Selected to the All-New York State honors as a defensive back during his senior season.
New Rochelle head coach Lou DiRienzo on Mannee Williams: "He comes out to work every single day and he is one of the best captains I have ever had. He is extremely versatile and he is a true team player."
Colton Woodall
Defensive Back
6-3/190 Lbs.
Coconut Creek, Fla./North Broward Prep
High School: Played just one season at North Broward Prep School where he started at free safety... Coached by 16-year NFL Offensive Lineman Jeff Dellenbach... As a senior, Woodall helped the squad to a 10-1 record, which included a perfect regular season mark... Helped anchor a defense that ranked fifth in the conference in points allowed... Tied for the team lead in total tackles with 93... Also recorded five interceptions and eight pass breakups... Following the season he was selected to the Florida All-State and the All-Broward County teams.
North Broward Prep head coach Jeff Dellenbach on Colton Woodall: "Colton is a very hard worker. He is a true student of the game. He is a physical safety that can absolutely jump out of the gym. He's a great kid and is very excited about coming to the University of Rhode Island."
David Zocco
Linebacker
6-1/210 Lbs.
Nashua, N.H./Nashua South
High School: Three-year starter and four-year varsity player... Four-year letter winner... Captain as a senior... Led the Purple Panthers to the 2008 New Hampshire Division I State Championship... Three-time All-State honoree... Earned New Hampshire's Gatorade Player of the Year... Nashua Telegraph Player of the Year... Selected as Mr. Football New Hampshire... Union Leader Player of the Year... Scored five touchdowns as a running back in the state championship title game... Rushed for over 1,600 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior... Recorded 136 tackles and five interceptions as free safety during senior campaign... As a junior led the team to the State championship title game... Rushed for 1,300 yards as a junior and scored 20 touchdowns... Received all-state and all-conference honors as a sophomore, junior and senior.
Nashua head coach Scottie Knight on David Zocco: "David is an intense player and he plays hard from whistle to whistle. He has good football speed and he is very aggressive. David can play many different positions and he is a very smart football player. He has a great sense of humor and he is fun to be around, but he knows when to be serious."
