Interview with Cignetti (MP3)

INDIANA, Pa. - IUP head coach Curt Cignetti announced that seven student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football with the 19th-ranked Crimson Hawks beginning in the fall of 2016. 

The seven players hail from from four different states, including three from Maryland, two from Pennsylvania, and one each from Ohio and Virginia. The small, but promising class features three linebackers, a cornerback, defensive end, running back and wide receiver.

"We are extremely excited about the quality in this class," said Cignetti. "We didn't lose many seniors, and while the class is small in numbers, it is large in talent and character.
 
"I really like the toughness that all of these guys play with," Cignetti continued. "They will add to the competition right away in fall camp and will represent IUP with class."

Cignetti will join the voice of the Crimson Hawks, Jack Benedict, live on Thursday morning at 7:35 a.m. on 1450 WDAD to talk about the class.

For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.
 

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2016 IUP Football Signees

>> Cignetti on the entire class (from his live interview with Jack Benedict)
These guys were just a cut above. I was very pleased that we were able to get the guys we got. It would be nice to get half of them, but we got them all. All of these guys have great character, work habits, and love the game of football. They're not developmental-type players in my mind. I was looking for guys who come in as freshmen and be thrown right into the mix and compete with the guys we have coming back on a proven football team.

Nick Amendola | LB | 6-1, 215 | North Huntingdon, Pa. / Norwin
Tallied a team-high 108 tackles in 2015...Had season-high 22 tackles against Connellsville…Fab 22 and Terrific 25 pick as a linebacker as a junior and senior…Also a first team all-conference selection in 2014 and 2015…Two-year starting quarterback for Norwin, throwing for 919 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 745 yards and 12 scores as a senior. Highlights

>> Coach Cignetti on Amendola
Nick had over 100 tackles on defense and accounted for 1700 yards of offense, so he was involved in a lot of plays on both sides of the ball at Norwin. He's a real mature guy, who's real intelligent and loves to play. For him to be able to focus in on one side, it'll be interesting to see how he develops next season. He probably has the versatility to play either linebacker spot, which is a real plus for us. He has great ball skills, can run and has good speed and quickness. 

Malik Anderson | RB | 5-6, 160 | Ellicott City, Md. / Howard
Set school record for career all-purpose yards with 4,940…Rushed for 2,005 yards as a senior…Added 324 receiving yards and 384 return yards and scored 29 total touchdowns in 2015…Named first team All-Met by Washington Post and Baltimore Sun…Consensus all-state and all-county...Named to USA Today's All-Maryland team and was a DMV Elite second team All-Maryland selection...Played for Maryland state finalist Howard team that finished the year with a 13-1 record…Brother Mike was a first team All-Mountain East Conference running back for West Virginia Wesleyan in 2015. Highlights

>> Coach Cignetti on Anderson
Malik is a very special guy and very special player. He's a different type of running back than what we have. He might be a little more of a Michael Mann-type of running back. Malik can lose you in a phone booth. He was the workhorse for a team that went to the state championship game. He's got a skill set that we don't have and he's going to give us a different change of pace. He's a guy who loves to play and he can really change direction and run and I think people will really be excited to see him.

Damon Lloyd | LB | 6-0, 235 | Bel Air, Md. / John Carroll
Gerry Gray Award winner as the Mr. Football in the state of Maryland…Led state in tackles two straight years, tallying 152 as a junior and 175 as a senior…Also had three forced fumbles and four interceptions in 2015…Two-year defensive captain…Helped John Carroll to 12-0 season and MIAA championship in 2015…All-Maryland, All-Metro, all-conference and all-area selection…Super 22 and Big 33 invitee…Crab Bowl and Maryland Touchdown Club selection. Highlights

>> Coach Cignetti on Lloyd
This was the critical need. Damon was at the top of the heap from the get-go and was the number one target at that position. He played on a 12-0 football team that won the state championship. He's a bigger guy who can move. He has great instincts, great character and work ethic. Damon is a mature guy who is going to come in to fall camp and stir things up. 

Branden Myers | LB | 6-0, 212 | Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West
Finished 2015 with 95 total tackles…Also had three sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception…Team captain for Downingtown West team that finished 9-2 and advanced to the District 1 AAAA playoffs…Received the Edward Campbell Award for dedication. Highlights

>> Cignetti on Myers
Branden is a true contact player. I mean, he loves contact. He can run and hit. He was a little bit of a late bloomer for Downingtown West, another playoff team. His workout when he came in was extremely impressive.

Nate Richmond | WR | 6-3, 180 | Centerville, Ohio / Centerville
Finished 2015 with 53 receptions for 796 yards and 11 touchdowns…Catch and touchdown totals ranked first in the Greater Western Ohio Conference…Named first team All-GWOC…Had season-high 10 receptions against Division I regional finalist Cincinnati Elder and caught three touchdowns against Springfield…Caught 38 passes for 460 yards and six touchdowns as a junior. Highlights

>> Coach Cignetti on Richmond
Nate was the number one receiver and the gap between number one and number two was quite significant. When it all started out I thought that we'd be lucky to get an on-campus. He came here, he loved his visit, and we were able to sew him up. He's a big, tall guy who's got real good balance and body control. He has great ball skills, speed and quickness. He caught 53 passes in 10 games and I think that he has a terrific opportunity to come in and contribute and add to the receiving corp. I was looking for another bigger guy who could be a downfield threat, but still be effective in short areas. I just think he has a lot of potential. 

Andrew Robertson | CB | 5-10, 175 | Hyattsville, Md. / DeMatha
Intercepted five passes for Maryland powerhouse that won its third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship in 2015…Named second team All-WCAC…Forced eight fumbles on the season and scored four touchdowns…Also blocked three kicks. Highlights

>> Coach Cignetti on Robertson
Andrew played at DeMatha which is one of the top football teams in the country, they play in one of the top leagues in the country. He consistently beat out other corners who had other Division I opportunities. When you watch his tape, he's a blur. He blocked three or four kicks, had five or six interceptions, forced five or six fumbles. He's all over the place and he's a very mature guy. He's lined up against Division I guys who have gone to Alabama and Tennessee his whole career. 

Dondrea Tillman | DE | 6-4, 260 | Sterling, Va. / Potomac Falls
2015 Conference 14 Defensive Player of the Year…First team All-Virginia selection…Also plays basketball and is averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior…Averaged 17 points and nine rebounds as a junior. Highlights

>> Coach Cignetti on Tillman
Excellent defensive end. I didn't think he would be around for us. As a junior he was 6-2 and 225 pounds and played receiver. As a senior, he was listed at 6-3 and 255 but he came in with a height and weight at 6-4, 260 and he's still growing. He was a player of the year in the conference on defense. He has excellent quickness and burst and plays really hard. He plays on the basketball team too, and averages 17 points a game and nine rebounds. He's a big athletic guy who has a great upside.