Football February 04, 2009 Monmouth Sports Information

MONMOUTH FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 2009 RECRUITING CLASS

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth University Head Football Coach Kevin Callahan announced the addition of 14 student-athletes to the Hawk football program on Wednesday.

"We are very excited about this year's class," said Callahan. "They are a very talented group that satisfies our positional needs and could have a relatively early impact on our team. The class is well balanced with line and skill position players and, without a doubt, they make us a better team."

The National Letter of Intent signees include 14 total athletes, seven from the Garden State, three from Virginia, two from Massachusetts and one from Maryland and Pennsylvania. Callahan and his staff also will benefit from a number of non-NLI signees.

Monmouth begins spring football practice on Tuesday, March 31. The Annual Blue/White Spring game is tentatively slated for Saturday, April 25.

2009 MONMOUTH FOOTBALL SIGNEES

PLAYER	POS.	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
Tyler Berntsen	ATH	6' 3"	210	Long Valley, N.J.	West Morris Central
Ezra Bynam	DB	6' 0"	180	Pelham, Mass.	Wilbraham & Monson Academy
Ryan Cross	OL	6' 5"	290	Long Valley, N.J.	West Morris Central
Anthony D'Elia	OL	6' 3"	275	Brick, N.J.	Brick Memorial
Brad Harris	DL	6' 3"	235	Damascus, Md.	Damascus
Mike Hunchak	OL	6' 3"	270	East Hanover, N.J.	Hanover Park
Eddie Jewel	DB	5' 11"	180	Wilbraham, Mass.	Wilbraham & Monson Academy
John Lockwood	DL	6' 3"	235	Springfield, Va.	West Springfield
Rich Lorfing	DL	6' 2"	250	Monroe, N.J.	Monroe
Kyle McGuire	WR	5' 10"	180	Ewing, N.J.	Ewing
Josh Patterson	OL	6' 4"	275	Fairfax, Va.	Fairfax
Elijah Phillips	DB	5' 11"	185	Willingboro, N.J.	Holy Cross
Matt Plautz	WR	6' 4"	200	Cranberry Township, Pa.	Seneca Valley
Mike Upham	DL	6' 3"	230	Clinton, Va.	Centreville

Breakdown by Position/Breakdown by State

Athlete	1	New Jersey	7
Offensive Line	4	Maryland	1
Defensive Line	4	Massachusetts	2
Wide Receiver	2	Pennsylvania	1
Defensive Back	3	Virginia	3

2009 MONMOUTH SIGNEE BIOS

TYLER BERNSTEN
Athlete w 6' 3" w 210
Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central

High School: Played quarterback at West Morris Central under coach Kevin Hennelly... Helped the Wolfpack to a 9-2 record and a Iron Hills Conference Championship, eventually losing in the state semifinals... Was a First Team All-Iron Hills Conference, second team all-area, second team all-county and third team All-Group III... Set the Wolfpack record for passing touchdowns and passing yards in a game with four and 234, respectively... Owns the school record for career passing yards and passing touchdowns (17)... Earned three letters in football and four letters in lacrosse.

EZRA BYNUM
Defensive Back w 6' 0" w 180
Pelham, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson Academy

High School: Played defensive back, wide receiver, running back and returned kicks for coach Jeff Vartabedian at Wilbraham & Monson Academy Prep School... Was named All-New England and All-Colonial League... Registered over 120 tackles and 11 interceptions as a junior and senior... Returned two kicks for touchdowns as a junior... Named All-Gazette and All-Western Massachussetts while a Titan... Scored nine offensive touchdowns in his final two seasons.

RYAN CROSS
Offensive Line w 6' 5" w 290
Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central

High School: Played offensive tackle under head coach Kevin Hennelly at West Morris Central High School... Earned Second Team All-Iron Hills Conference... Helped lead the Wolfpack to a 9-2 record and the NJ State Semifinals as a senior.

ANTHONY D'ELIA
Offensive Line w 6' 3" w 275
Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial

High School: Played offensive and defensive line under head coach Walt Currie at Brick Memorial High School... Helped lead the Mustangs to the Group IV State Section Championship as a senior... Earned First Team All-Shore, All-Ocean County and All-Division as a senior... Named First Team All-Division and First Team All-Ocean County as a junior... Mustangs reached the state semifinals in 2006.

BRAD HARRIS
Defensive Line w 6' 3" w 235
Damascus, Md./Damascus

High School: Played defensive line, linebacker and tight end at Damascus High School, most recently under coach Eric Wanich... The Hornets compiled a 42-8 while Harris was a member of the team, winning the State Championship twice and making an appearance in the regial semifinals the other two years... Earned the team's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award... Played high school football with three current Hawks (Kyle Frazier, Nick Bonturi and Dino Molina).

MIKE HUNCHAK
Defensive Line w 6' 3" w 270
East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park

High School: Played offensive and defensive line for head coach Dan Gregory at East Hanover High School... Helped the Hornets to the NJ State Semifinals two straight seasons... Also wrestled and competed in track & field.

EDDIE JEWEL
Defensive Back w 5' 11" w 180
Wilbraham, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson Academy

High School: Played defensive back and running back under coach Jeff Vartabedian at Wilbraham & Monson Academy Prep School... Was a two-year captain for the Titans... Tallied a 99 yard touchdown run... Also named All-Colonial League as a lacrosse player... Registered 60 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles as junior at Amherst High school... Also had 600 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns... Also ran track for the Titans, setting the 4x100 and 4x400 school record... Earned All-New England honors in track and football.

JOHN LOCKWOOD
Defensive Line w 6' 3" w 235
Springfield, Va./West Springfield

High School: Played offensive and defensive line under coach Bill Rennet at West Springfield High School... Helped the Spartans to a 18-7 record as a junior an senior, earning a pair of district championships along the way... Named Fist Team All-Patriot District two straight seasons... Named Second team All-State as a senior... Earned First Team All-Northern Region in 2008... Owns the school record for sacks in a season and a career with 15 and 24, respectively... Registered 164 tackles, 24 sacks and seven forced fumbles in his career.

RICH LORFING
Defensive Line w 6' 2" w 250
Monroe, N.J./Monroe Township

High School: Played tight end and defensive line under coach Chris Beagan at Monroe Township High School... Helped lead the Falcons to a Divisional Championship as a senior... Named First Team All-Area, All-Greater Middlesex Conference and All-Division in 2008... Registered 80 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior... Also had nine receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown... Named to NJFCA Super 100 All-State Team.

KYLE MCGUIRE
Wide Receiver w 5' 10" w 180
Ewing, N.J../Ewing

High School: Played wideout and safety under coach John Bamber at Ewing High School... Led the Blue Devils to back-to-back playoff appearances as a sophomore and junior... Finished senior season with seven touchdowns and 390 yards... Named to the All-Colonial Valley Conference Second team as a defender and special teams player... Made 19 catches for 450 yards and five touchdowns as a junior... Also earned four varsity letters in baseball.

JOSH PATTERSON
Offensive Line w 6' 4" w 275
Fairfax, Va./Fairfax

High School: Played offensive and defensive line under coach Chris Haddock at Fairfax High School... Named Second Team All-Concord District as a senior... Also wrestled, earning a Concord District Championship in 2007.

ELIJAH PHILLIPS
Defensive Back w 5' 11" w 180
Wilingboro, N.J./Holy Cross High School

High School: Played wide receiver and defensive back for coach Charlie Pirrillo at Holy Cross High School... Helped lead the Lancers to back to back NJ Group II State Championships as a junior and senior... Served as team captain, earning offensive MVP in 2008... Named First Team All-Conference, All-County and to the All-South Jersey Non Parochial Second Team... Recorded 55 tackles and six interceptions as a senior... Also forced five fumbles... Finished his career with 90 catches with 14 touchdowns... Named as one of the Super 100 of New Jersey... Also played varsity basketball for the Lancers.

MATT PLAUTZ
Wide Receiver w 6' 4" w 200
Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley

High School: Played wide receiver at Seneca Valley High School under coach Ron Butshle... Rated as a Two-Star recruit on Rivals.com... Finished his career with 111 receptions, 1,750 yards and 13 touchdowns... Was a two-time All-AAAA North Conference selection... Finished with 60 catches for 1,077 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior... Earned All-Butler County honors as a junior and senior... Two-time Pitt Tribune Review Fabulous 22 Team.

MIKE UPHAM
Defensive Line w 6' 3" w 230
Clifton, Va./Centreville

High School: Played offensive and defensive line under coach Gerry Pannoni at Centreville High School... Ranked as a Two-Star recruit by Rivals.com... Earned All-Concord District honors... Ranked as the 152 defensive end in the nation by ESPN Insider.

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