Red Raider Football Announces 2008 National Letter of Intent Signees
Feb. 6, 2008
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University football team will be releasing its 2008 National Letter of Intent Signees on Wednesday as part of National Football Signing Day.
The players who have agreed to attend Shippensburg and who intend to play football starting this fall will be made available on the university's football web site at raiders.ship.edu. The list of names will be posted as soon as the signings become official and the players have sent in their National Letter of Intent (NLI).
The signing period for high school seniors to commit to a college or university continues until Tuesday, March 11.
Following the conclusion of the first day on Wednesday, Shippensburg head coach Rocky Rees said that he is excited about the quality players who have already decided to join the Red Raiders.
"With the addition of the kids we have signed today and the ones that we expect to come in over the next few days, we think we have a good class, especially at the skill positions," said Rees. "We expect an immediate impact from many of our signees."
As more players commit to Shippensburg over the coming days, be sure to check back here for the latest updates and the bios of those who have signed.
Confirmed NLIs
| Name | Pos. |
Yr. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/High School |
| Jacob Baskerville | WR |
Fr. |
6-1 |
171 |
Pottstown/Pottsville |
| Colin Bender | OL |
Fr. |
6-2 |
265 |
Drums/Marion Catholic |
| Tyrik Clary | LB |
Fr. |
6-1 |
195 |
Philadelphia/Northeast |
| Zack Collins | DL |
Fr. |
5-11 |
250 |
Bensalem/Glen Mills |
| Cody Fleming | LB |
Fr. |
6-0 |
200 |
Pennsbury/Upper Perkiomen |
| John Garnier | OL |
Fr. |
5-11 |
260 |
Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West |
| Taimur Harris | WR |
Fr. |
5-10 |
165 |
Darby/Penn Wood |
| Kevin Herod | FB |
Fr. |
6-0 |
220 |
Allentown/Parkland |
| Corey Hunt | DB |
Fr. |
6-0 |
180 |
Frederick/Thomas Johnson |
| Anthony Jackson | HB |
Fr. |
6-0 |
215 |
Harrisburg/Central Dauphin East |
| Dalton Kirkman | DL |
Fr. |
6-0 |
250 |
Doylestown/Central Bucks East |
| Kurtis Medeiros | LB |
Fr. |
6-2 |
195 |
Clarks Summitt/Abington Heights |
| Pete O'Connor | QB |
Fr. |
6-3 |
180 |
Exton/Downingtown East |
| Gabe Oliver | HB |
Fr. |
5-9 |
175 |
Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township |
| Vinnie Ranauto | LB |
Fr. |
6-0 |
195 |
Bear, Del./Caravel Academy |
| Nikolas Rosenberry | DL |
Fr. |
6-4 |
235 |
Altoona/Altoona |
| Keith Scruggs | WR |
Fr. |
6-2 |
170 |
Philadelphia/Northeast |
| Mark Khalil Smith | DL |
Fr. |
6-1 |
275 |
Wynnewood/Lower Marion |
| Joe Steininger | OL |
Fr. |
6-2 |
275 |
Hanover Township/Hanover |
| Justin Taylor | HB |
Fr. |
6-1 |
175 |
Lancaster/Lampeter-Strasburg |
| Earl Timothy | DB |
Fr. |
5-8 |
165 |
Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township |
| Jeff Tomasetti | QB |
Fr. |
6-2 |
200 |
Claymont, Del./Brandywine |
Updated as of March 4, 11:49 a.m.
Jacob Baskerville
Wide Receiver
Fr., 6-2, 171
Pottstown, Pa. (Pottsville)
At Pottsville High School: Named to the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association South All-Star Team as an Honorable Mention selection at wide receiver … was also a second team selection as a defensive back ... played for head coach Kevin Keating ... totaled seven receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown, including a season-long of 34 yards … averaged 11.3 yards per catch ... finished his two-year career as a defensive back with 125 tackles, eight pass breakups and four interceptions ...recorded one punt return touchdown of 58 yards against Exeter … totaled 105 punt return yards and one touchdown as a senior … on defense, totaled 38 tackles (14 solo, 24 assisted) … totaled two pass breakups and one sack for five yards … also recorded a team-high two interceptions and two fumble recoveries ... had 11 tackles in a 12-7 victory at Blue Mountain on September 14 ... totaled 87 tackles as a junior, including 27 solo ... also had six pass breakups, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble ... had one reception for six yards ... team finished 13-3 overall in 2006 while winning its third-straight District XI AAA championship and second consecutive PIAA AAA Eastern championship ... Crimson Tide advanced to the PIAA state championship game.
Tyrik Clary
Linebacker
Fr., 6-1, 195
Philadelphia, Pa. (Northeast)
At Northeast High School: Named All-Public League First Team
and All-City Third Team as a senior ... played for head coach Mel Hinton ...
was a defensive leader for the Vikings, totaling 86 tackles, including 30 tackles
for loss as a senior ... also totaled three interceptions ... had eight receptions
for 190 yards and three touchdowns as a wide receiver ... attended the same high
school as former Red Raider standout and current Atlanta Falcon Brent Grimes.
Personal: Born Aug. 25, 1989 ... is the son of Darryl Amos
and Elisa Clary ... has one brother, Barry, and one sister, Sade ... undecided
on college major.
Cody Fleming
Linebacker
Fr., 6-0, 200
Pennsburg, Pa. (Upper Perkiomen)
At Upper Perkiomen High School: Finished his career with
304 tackles for an average of 8.7 over the course of his 35-game career … played
for head coach Keith Leamer ... totaled 11 sacks for 74 yards to go along
with one interception … recorded
103 tackles (56 solo, 47 assisted) in his senior year as well as five sacks
in 12 games … amassed a career-high 112 tackles (68 solo, 44 assists)
and four sacks with one interception in his junior season … as a tailback
he totaled 1,429 rushing yards on 159 carries … averaged 9.0 yards
per carry for his career and totaled 17 rushing touchdowns, including a career-long
of 78 yards … led his team with a per-carry average of 10.7 yards and
scored 15 rushing touchdowns in his senior season … ran for 234 yards
on just 16 carries with four touchdowns in the season finale against Boyertown
while wearing the jersey of fallen teammate Keith Klepac, who died in a car
accident in August.
Personal: Born
March 6, 1990 … is the son
of Bryan and
Debbie Fleming … has three brothers, Chase, Dalton and Tanner, and
one sister, Gianna … undecided on college major.
Taimur Harris
Wide Receiver
Fr., 5-10, 165
Darby, Pa. (Penn Wood)
At Penn Wood High School: Named All-Delco First Team as a senior after totaling 37 receptions for 571 yards ... played for head coach Sam Mormando ... totaled a school record 172 receiving yards in a 13-7 victory over Great Valley on September 15 in home opener ... also had 118 yards receiving at Council Rock North ... had a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown on November 2 for the Patriots' only touchdown in a 34-6 loss at Glen Mills ... selected to play in the 32nd Annual Delaware County Hero Bowl benefiting the hero scholarship fund of Delaware County, Inc. ... totaled 96 yards rushing and 60 yards receiving in a 21-0 victory over Academy Park on October 6 ... after four-straight losing seasons, Harris led the Patriots to back-to-back winning seasons in 2006 and 2007, including a mark of 6-5 as a senior ... named to News of Delaware County Second Team and Daily Times All-Delco Honorable Mention as an all-purpose selection in 2006 ... member of Penn Wood's 4x200-meter relay team that took first at 2008 Delaware County Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Personal: Is the son of Mary Hayes ... undecided on college major ... name pronounced TAY-mer.
Kevin Herod
Fullback
Fr., 6-0, 220
Allentown, Pa. (Parkland)
At Parkland High School: Led the Trojans to a berth in the PIAA Class 4A state championship game where the team finished with a 15-1 overall record and went 9-0 in the Lehigh Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference ... played for head coach Jim Morgans ... ran for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns on 171 carries as a senior ... team went 26-2 during his junior and senior seasons, including back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and an 18-0 record in the LVIAC ... team won the District IX championship his senior year ... Parkland was ranked at No. 4 in the final Pennsylvania Football News Class AAAA poll in 2007 ... team went 11-1 his junior season, including 9-0 in conference ... had 14 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown against Ridley in this year's PIAA Class 4A semifinal game ... his 56-yard touchdown run with 2:09 left capped a 7-play, 99-yard drive and sent the Trojans to the state title game with a 35-21 victory ... named All-Lehigh Valley Second Team as a senior ... also played linebacker ... totaled 10 tackles in the state championship game versus Pittsburgh Central Catholic along with 12 carries for 27 yards ... scored 17 touchdowns for the 135-pound North Parkland Buffaloes who went 11-0 and were Suburban League champions in 2003 ... had six rushing touchdowns, one interception return for a touchdown and one fumble return for a touchdown for the 110-pound North Parkland Buffaloes in 2002 who also went 11-0 and were suburban league and division champs ... also considered Temple, Richmond, Bucknell and West Chester.
Personal: Born Jan. 19, 1990 ... is the son of Linden and Sandy Herod ... has two brothers, Darryl and Jermaine ... Darryl also plays football for Parkland and will be a senior in 2008 ... name is pronounced HAIR-odd ... undecided on college major.
Kurtis Medeiros
Linebacker
Fr., 6-2, 195
Clarks Summitt, Pa. (Abington Heights)
At Abington Heights High School: Named All-Pennsylvania
Football News Class AAAA Honorable Mention as a senior ... played
for head coach Joe
Repshis ... finished his junior season ranked third on the team
in tackles with 83 for an average of 6.9 per game ... totaled 56 solo
and 27 assisted
... also had four pass breakups and three interceptions … hauled
in five catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over
Wallenpaupack … also recorded a team-high 13 tackles to
go along with one sack in a victory over Hazleton Area ... also
considered
Albany,
Pittsburgh, Temple, New Hampshire, Bucknell, Syracuse and Toledo.
Personal: Born June 15, 1989 … is the son of Dave and Robin Medeiros … has
one brother, Dave, and two sisters, Nicole and Tiffany ... undecided
on college major.
Pete
O’Connor
Quarterback
Fr., 6-3, 180
Exton, Pa. (Downingtown East)
At Downingtown East: Named All-Pennsylvania Football News Class AAAA Honorable Mention as a senior after throwing for 1,988 yards and 25 touchdowns ... played for head coach Mike Matta ... led the Cougars to an 8-3 record as a senior ... selected to 2007 Pennsylvania Preseason All-State Football Team by SPORTSfever Magazine ... threw for 266 yards in week two versus William Tennent ... threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns in a 14-13 upset of Souderton on November 8 in the District One Class AAAA playoffs ... trailing 13-0, both of his touchdowns came in fourth-quarter, including the game-winner with 11 seconds left, capping a 75-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Derek McKinley ... threw for over 2,700 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior ... threw for 324 yards versus Coatesville in 2006 ... rushed for a career-high 92 yards and one score in 36-20 victory over Spring-Ford on Oct. 7, 2006 ... also had 239 yards and two touchdowns passing ... threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-26 victory over Avon Grove on September 29 ... added a 25-yard touchdown run ... also considered Stony Brook, Hofstra and Albany.
Personal: Born Nov. 16, 1989 ... is the son of Joseph and Jean O'Connor ... is one of seven children ... has four brothers, Mike, Chris, Dave and Pat, and two sisters, Fran and Liz ... Pat is a 2005 graduate of Downingtown East and currently a junior at Dickinson where he is the placekicker on the football team.
Vinnie Ranauto
Linebacker
Fr., 6-0, 195
Bear, Del. (Caravel Academy)
At Caravel Academy: Led the Buccaneers to four-straight
Division II state championship games ... played for head coach
Mike Aruanno ... named
first team All-State at fullback and linebacker as a senior ...
finished his
career with over 450 tackles ... credited with 98 tackles,
including 60 solo as a senior ... had nine tackles for loss, three interceptions,
two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery ... also selected
first
team All-State at linebacker as a junior … chosen to play in the 2008
Blue-Gold Delaware All-Star Game … led the state in scoring
with 166 points as a senior, totaling 26 touchdowns, 18 rushing
and eight
receiving, while adding five two-point conversions ... compiled
1,037 yards rushing and 16 receptions for 359 yards ... received
the George
Schollenberger Memorial Award as the state's scoring champion
at the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association
banquet
... an
outstanding blocker, helped teammates Travis Perez and Deveon
Smith combine for nearly
900 yards rushing and five touchdowns ... also an outstanding
wrestler, he will be looking for his fourth consecutive state
title in 2008
... ranked at No. 7 in the nation at 171 pounds as a sophomore
... became
the state's all-time leader in victories with 173 on Jan. 26,
2008 ... received Academic All-State honors in football and
wrestling
... also
considered Delaware, West Chester, Clarion, George Mason and
N.C. State.
Personal: Born
Nov. 8, 1989 ... is the son of Rich and Sherry Ranauto … has
one brother, Anthony, and three sisters, Jenna, Jessica and Marissa
... plans to major in business administration.
Mark
Kahlil Smith
Defensive Line
Fr., 6-1, 275
Wynnewood, Pa. (Lower Merion)
At Lower Merion High School: Played defensive end for head coach Ed Cubbage
... did not play his senior season after suffering a leg injury prior to
the Aces' first game ... attended the same high school as NBA star Kobe Bryant
who is a 1996 graduate.
Personal: Is the son of Mark and Tameka Jones-Smith ...
undecided on college major.
Jeff Tomasetti
Quarterback
Fr., 6-2, 200
Claymont, Del. (Brandywine)
At Brandywine High School: Named Delaware State Broadcasters
Association (DSBA) All-State First Team as a senior ... played for head coach
Steve Dent
... threw for 3,130 yards and 33 touchdowns in his career while
throwing just 14 interceptions ... also totaled five rushing touchdowns ...
completed
86-of-179 passes for 1,409 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior
... selected Blue Hen All-Conference First Team as a junior and senior ...
selected to
play in Blue-Gold Delaware All-Star Game ... threw for 1,721
yards and 18 touchdowns on 104-of-202 passing as a junior ... earned Delaware
Interscholastic
Football Coaches Association (DIFCA) All-State Second Team honors
... also received All-conference honors in 2005 as a defensive back ... also
considered Delaware, Hofstra, Massachusetts and Virginia Union.
Personal: Born on Jan. 14, 1990 ... is the son of Richard
and Tracy Tomasetti ... has one sister, Amanda ... undecided on college
major.
- Red Raider Football -
