Stony Brook football announced the addition of 15 players to its roster on Wednesday.
Eleven recruits as well as four transfers have signed on for the 2012 season, which includes games at Army and Syracuse.
Most notable are running back Marcus Coker, a transfer from Iowa who will help ease the blow of losing senior running back Brock Jackolski, and wide receiver Adrian Coxson, a transfer from Maryland, who will fill the hole left by senior Matt Brevi. Both players were four-star recruits in high school.
The 2012 Stony Brook recruiting class:
(each player’s name is a link to his highlight video)
Dimetrius Bernard
DL • 6-4 • 260
Jamaica, N.Y./ Holy Cross H.S./Fresno City College
Before Stony Brook: A transfer from Fresno City College, Bernard played in nine games, totaling 17 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. He also recorded 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. “Dimetrius played his high school football at Holy Cross in Flushing, so that’s where we became aware of him,” Priore said. “He should give us an immediate impact after two years at the junior college level and secure our three-technique position on the defensive line.”
Marcus Coker
RB • 6-0 • 230
Beltsville, Md./ DeMatha Catholic H.S./University of Iowa
Before Stony Brook: The transfer from Iowa rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons with Hawkeyes, and was second in the Big Ten in rushing (1,384 yards – 115.3 ypg) as a sophomore behind Heisman Trophy candidate Montee Ball of Wisconsin, earning second-team all-conference.
Adrian Coxson
WR • 6-0 • 205
Baltimore, Md./ City College H.S./University of Maryland
Before Stony Brook: The transfer from Maryland totaled four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt freshman. He originally signed with Florida before transferring during preseason.
Pat D’Amato
QB/ATH • 6-2 • 200
Wethersfield, Conn/Xavier H.S.
High School: D’Amato attends Xavier High School and quarterbacked No. 1 team in state on the way to CHSCA Class LL All-State honors. He totaled more than 1,800 yards and accounted for 28 touchdowns (15 pass, 13 rush) and led Xavier to Class LL state title “Pat led Xavier to two state championships as a quarterback/athlete so we’re excited to have his leadership on our team,” Seawolves head coach Chuck Priore said.
Connor Davis
TE/DE • 6-8 • 240
Fallston, Md./Fallston H.S.
High School: Davis attends Fallston High School, where he was named a first team All-UCBAC by Chesapeake Coaches as well as a Baltimore Sun defensive player to watch. He picked up 235 yards and five touchdowns, and 117 tackles, 12 sacks and a blocked punt as a senior. “Connor brings tremendous size to either position,” Priore said. “We’re excited to have his talent level and his height at Stony Brook.”
Angelo DeShields
WR • 6-0 • 195
Baltimore, Md./Mount Saint Joseph H.S.
High School: DeShields attends Mount Saint Joseph High School and was a 2010 & 2011 All-MIAA selection. “Angelo has tremendous skills and the physicality to play wide receiver at the Division I level,” Priore said.
Abiade Granger
CB • 5-10 • 165
Riviera Beach, Fla./Suncoast H.S.
High School: Granger attends Suncoast High School, where he was first team Class 6A-5A-3A and second team All-Area. He was the Palm Beach Post’s No. 36 player in the county and a two-star recruit according to Rivals.com. Granger totaled 35 tackles, nine passes defended and two sacks and was the team’s leading punt and kick returner. He blocked five field goals, and is an all-around athlete, being named All-Palm Beach County in track as a state qualifier in the high jump, triple jump and 4×400 relay. “We’re excited to have his talent and leadership skills,” Priore said. “A.B. is an outstanding athlete who will have a great future.”
Da’Rell Hatcher
RB • 5-10 • 200
Amityville, N.Y./Amityville H.S.
High School: Hatcher attends Amityville High School, where he was second-team All-Long Island and third-team all-state. He rushed for 1,279 yards and 14 touchdowns and led the Warriors to the Division IV Championship game. He rushed for 366 yards and five touchdowns against John Glenn, ending Knights 17-game winning streak. “Da’Rell has really worked his way into becoming a top running back on Long Island,” Priore said. “His powerful running style will be welcomed in our backfield.”
Carlos Hernandez
QB • 6-3 • 200
Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde H.S.
High School: Hernandez was the Inland Valley Offensive MVP and first team selection and second team All-State. He was named the Los Angeles Times quarterback to watch as a senior, and earned Central Division co-Offensive Player of the Year and All-Riverside County honors. He passed for 1,900 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead Mustangs to 14-0 record and threw four touchdowns in state championship game. “Carlos is an established quarterback who does a lot of the things we look for to play in our system,” Priore said.
Deshawn Lindsay
S • 5-11 • 170
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation H.S.
High School: Lindsay is a South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s top 50 player and Rivals.com two-star recruit. He accounted for 73 tackles and three forced fumbles as a senior and 68 tackles and two forced fumbles as a junior. “Deshawn comes to us from one of the better high school programs in Florida,” Priore said. “He’s a physical safety who can defend the run and pass.”
Chris Makulik
FB • 6-2 • 240
Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford H.S.
High School: Makulik attends Patchogue-Medford High School where he rushed for 607 yards and six touchdowns and had a season-high 196 yards and three touchdowns against Sachem East. He was named an All-Suffolk County player. “Chris is a local product who had impressed us in various combines,” Priore said. “His ability to play fullback and our H-back position will be vital.”
Greg Melendez
S • 6-1 • 210
Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie H.S./Idaho State/Hofstra
Before Stony Brook: Melendez spent the last two seasons at Idaho State. He suffered a season-ending injury in 2010, but started all 11 games for the Bengals in 2011, when he recorded 51 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He spent 2007-09 at Hofstra, where he started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman, registering 72 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble and started all 11 games as a sophomore, totaling 72 tackles, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception.
Aaron Thompson
DL • 6-4 • 240
Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park H.S.
High School: Thompson attends Deer Park High School. He was named a second team All-Long Island, fourth team All-State, and All-Suffolk County. Thompson registered 80 tackles and seven sacks as a senior “ He has imposing size and strength and will continue to get better,” Priore said.
Nick Vitale
WR • 5-9 • 185
Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand H.S.
High School: Vitale attends Daniel Hand High School, where he caught 52 passes for 863 yards and 11 TDs as a senior and led the team to a Class L state title. He was named to the 2011 CHSCA All-State Team, 2011 Walter Camp All-State Team, and was the Post-Chronicle Offensive Player of the Year. He’s the brother of current Seawolf Rich Vitale. “Having coached his brother, Rich, we know what kind of player Nick is going to be,” Priore said. “He excelled at wide receiver as a senior, leading his team to a state title.”
Jaheem Woods
CB • 6-0 • 180
Neptune, N.J./Neptune
High School: Woods attends Neptune High School. He was the Newark Star-Ledger’s Monmouth County Player of the Year and first team all-county, as well as Shore Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Group 3 All-State,first team All-Group 3 and MSGVarsity.com second team All-New Jersey. Woods accounted for 2,473 yards and 30 touchdowns and helped the Scarlet Fliers to a state title after rushing for 257 yards, passing for 164 yards and totaling four touchdowns. He made 76 tackles and five interceptions at cornerback. “Jaheem might be the best athlete in this class,” Priore said. “He’s an accomplished athlete who’s equally good on both sides of the ball. We’re excited about having his athletic talent.”