Cignetti Interview w/Jack Benedict (MP3)

INDIANA, PA - IUP head coach Curt Cignetti announced that 17 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football with the Crimson Hawks beginning in the fall of 2015. In addition to those 17, Cignetti also announced the signing of a pair of mid-year transfers into the program.

The 19 players hail from from four different states, including 13 from Pennsylvania. Four came from Maryland with one hailing from Washington, D.C. and another from Michigan.  

"I am very pleased and excited about the 2015 recruiting class, said Cignetti. "The coaches, faculty and support personnel teamed up perfectly in presenting the opprtunities available at IUP.

"This group is talented and we look forward to welcoming them on campus in August."

As listed by position, IUP adds to its roster 11 offensive and eight defensive players. 

Five offensive linemen dominate the class, while the Crimson Hawks add three quarterbacks, two wide receivers and one running back.  On the defensive side of the ball, there are four defensive linemen and four defensive backs.  

UPDATE (Feb. 28): Cignetti added two members on Friday, with the signings of Emmanuel "Pop" Lacy and Sean Bowling. The two additions bring the total to 21 new players, including 14 from Pennsylvania and five from Maryland. Further information in both Lacy and Bowling are listed below. 

UPDATE (March 19): Another member signed in Colin Roach. The total is now at 22 new players for Cignetti, with Roach being the only player from the state of New Jersey. Further information on Roach is listed below. 

2015 IUP Football Signees

Enrolled
Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) | RB | 6-2, 225 | Exton, PA/Downingtown East
Four-star recruit, rated 26th best running back in the class of 2012…Originally part of Virginia Tech's recruiting class, also recruited by Michigan, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Rutgers, among others…Completed postgrad year at Fork Union Military Academy before enrolling at ASA College in 2013…Set to play for the University of Massachusetts in 2014 before parting ways with the school in August…Rushed for 4,977 career yards at Downingtown East…First-team all-league, all-conference and all-state Class AAAA as a junior…Carried the ball 306 times for 2,010 yards and 30 touchdowns and was named first-team all-state for Class AAAA as a sophomore.
 
Jay Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) | WR | 5-11, 185 | Exton, PA/Downingtown East
Three-star recruit, rated the 119th best wide receiver in the class of 2013…Signed with Michigan State out of Downingtown East in February 2013…Was on roster at ASA College and East Coast Prep before signing with Western Michigan in 2014...Caught 48 passes for 698 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior in high school. 

NLI's Received 
Malik Allen | DE | 6-2, 225 | Dover, PA/Dover
75 tackles and 7.5 sacks.

Jeff Arnold | OL | 6-3, 270 | Pittsburgh, PA/Brashear
Four-year starter…All-City offensive lineman…Senior captain at Brashear.

Sean Bowling | PK | 5-11, 170 | Pylesville, MD/North Hartford
Selected to Team Maryland in Big 33 Classic...Honorable mention all-state and first team all-conference as a senior...First team all-state and first team Baltimore all-metro as a junior in 2013. 

Mike Brown | OL | 6-0, 275 | Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter
Two-time All-Public League at center…15 pancake blocks as a senior.

Andre Dreuitt-Parks | QB | 6-2, 180 | Philadephia, PA/Imohtep Charter
Two-star ranking and rated the top dual-threat quarterback in Pennsylvania by Rivals…City all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, completions percentage and wins…All-Public League, All-City in 2013 and 2014…Threw for 2300 yards and 33 touchdowns with just two interceptions as a senior…Career stats: 266-for-477, 5232 yards and 74 passing touchdowns.

Deandre Easterling | DE | 6-2, 230 | Washington, DC/Gonzaga
Second team all-conference…40 tackles and eight sacks as a senior…Defensive MVP award…Two defensive player of the week awards.

Dan Fisher | QB | 6-3, 210 | Media, PA/Penncrest
2728 and 22 passing touchdowns…862 yards rushing and an additional 16 touchdowns on the ground…Multiple County Player of the Week awards…Scholar-Athlete award…Two-year captain.

Quinton Jordan | DB | 6-0, 180 | Upper Marlboro, MD/Frederick Douglass
First team all-state and Prince George's County All-Gazette…Third team All-Met…Helped lead Frederick Douglass High School to state championship…65 tackles as a senior…Four interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Emmanuel "Pop" Lacy | DB | 6-0, 180 | Reading, PA/Berks Catholic
Rushed for 985 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense...Berks Catholic finished 12-1 in 2014. 

Mikale Makle | DB | 5-11, 190 | Upper Marlboro, MD/Frederick Douglass
First team all-state, all-county and all-conference on defense…Also returned kickoffs and punts…Averaged 12.2 yards per carry on offense…Helped lead Frederick Douglass High School to state championship.

Colin McAllister | OL | 6-2, 305 | Boothwyn, PA/Chichester
Three-time all-conference offensive lineman…Two-year team captain.

CJ Odegbo | DE | 6-6, 253 | Detroit, MI/Southfield
Had 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks at ASA College in 2014…Did not play senior year of high school. 

Joe Peterson | OL | 6-4, 280 | DuBois, PA/Dubois
First team all-district, all-region and all-conference.

Mike Pietropola | QB | 6-1, 205 | Wellsboro, PA/Wellsboro
All-State selection in 2013 and 2014…Pennsylvania Mr. Football finalist as a senior…PFN and Eastern PA all-state selection…68 career passing touchdowns set District 4 record…Also had 6150 career passing yards and 1240 yards, 17 touchdowns on the ground…A career 1000-point basketball scorer.

Colin Roach | DL | 6-1, 290 | Bound Brook, NJ/Bound Brook
First team All-Skyland Conference...30 tackles-for-loss and five sacks as a senior...Also had 40 tackles. 

Dyllon Scott | DL | 6-0, 278 | Reading, PA/Exeter Twp.
First team all-league as a senior at Exeter…56 total tackles and 10.5 sacks.

Boniface (JR) Stevens | DB | 6-0, 175 | Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy
First team all-league at Neshaminy…Five interceptions with two returned for touchdowns as a senior…30 tackles.

Isaiah Stokes | DB | 6-0, 172 | Ellicott City, MD/Howard
Three-year starter…Honorable mention all-state, first team All-Howard County as a senior…75 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, 11 pass deflections and one blocked kick as a senior…Selected to play in 2014 Baltimore Touchdown Club Senior All-Star Game. 

Zaire Willis | OL | 6-4, 330 | Dallastown, PA/Dallastown
Nominated for Big 33 Football Classic. 

Gabe Yuille | WR | 6-0, 205 | Baltimore, MD/Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Comes for Valley Forge Military Academy...Two-time first team all-conference at Our Lady of Mount Carmel…Conference Offensive Player of the Year as a senior…93 catches for 983 yards and 16 touchdowns.