BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh head coach Andy Coen has announced the addition of 20 student-athletes who will join the Mountain Hawks’ football program as the Class of 2017. Members of the incoming class hail from ten different states and encompass almost every position group. This is also the first class in which scholar-athlete aid was made available following a decision by the Patriot League’s Council of Presidents last year.
"It was a different type of recruiting year in terms of the process more so than what we were trying to accomplish," said Coen, who is entering his eighth season. "We were still trying to recruit the best student-athletes, who were a good fit for Lehigh and were good character kids. We want student-athletes who love the game of football and understand that football is the ultimate team game. That’s the philosophy of our recruiting and ultimately of our program. I think we were very successful with this group of student-athletes we were bringing in."
The class of 2017 features nine offensive players, ten on the defensive side of the ball plus one placekicker. On offense, Lehigh has brought in four linemen, two wide receivers, a quarterback, a fullback and a tight end. Defensively, the Mountain Hawks have added three defensive linemen, four linebackers and three defensive backs.
"Because our classes aren’t going to be as large as in previous years it becomes really important to identify needs each year and recruit those," Coen said. "Not just the class that just left but what’s going to be leaving next year. You have to try and stay ahead of the curve.
Coen continued, "This year we brought in three defensive linemen. That was an area we wanted to address. Linebacker was another area we felt was really important and with four guys in this class we felt we needed to continue to bring in players who will be critical not just to the defense but on special teams as well. The secondary wasn’t as big of a need since we brought in a good class of five last year. We didn’t recruit a tailback because we have a good group in our program. We have two rising seniors so next year it will be an area to address. It’s a process driven on need, so it’s really important that our evaluations each year are solid.
Ten different states are represented among the incoming class, including five players from Pennsylvania. Four of the five Pennsylvanians hail from within 50 miles of campus, including two student-athletes from the Lehigh Valley in quarterback Nick Shafnisky from Whitehall and linebacker Evan Kauffman from Freedom High School in Bethlehem. In addition, fullback Mackenzie Crawford comes from Pennridge High School in Bucks County, while offensive lineman Zach Duffy hails from Muhlenberg High School in Berks County.
Coen offered his thoughts on the lone quarterback in the incoming class," We are really excited to get Nick Shafnisky in at quarterback. That’s one position we were very active with early in the process. We wanted a high caliber quarterback and evaluate quite a few. Nick was right at the top for us. We identified him early on and his commitment has been solid to us since the summer. He had a great season at Whitehall as the Player of the Year in one of the top leagues in Pennsylvania."
Lehigh once again tapped into the football-rich state of Florida with four members of the incoming class hailing from the Sunshine State, a group that includes linebacker Colton Caslow (Altamonte Springs), kicker Ryan Pandy (Clearwater), defensive lineman Brad Smith (Tampa) and Evan Harvey, a linebacker from Palm Beach Gardens, who originally hails from Doylestown in Bucks County. The Mountain Hawks have also signed three student-athletes from Ohio and two from New Jersey.
"We have had good success in the southeast and we were able to continue that this year," Coen explained. "We did branch out some, including a kid from Illinois and two from the Carolinas. Our assistant coaches did a great job cultivating their areas and our younger coaches did a great job digging up prospects from out of region areas."
Lehigh posted its third consecutive ten-win season in 2012 as the Mountain Hawks won their first nine games en route to a 10-1 final record. The Mountain Hawks capped their season with a 38-21 road win against arch rival Lafayette, their fifth straight victory over the Leopards. While Lehigh was denied an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs, the Mountain Hawks did join national champion North Dakota State as the only two one-loss teams in the FCS. Lehigh won Patriot League titles and its first FCS playoff game in both 2010 and 2011 and boasts a 31-6 (.838 win pct.) record over the last three seasons.
In the classroom, Lehigh had 24 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selections, two student-athletes named to the Academic All-Patriot League team, two student-athletes named to CoSIDA Academic All-District teams, one second team Academic All-America and one member of the FCS ADA Academic All-Star team.
The Mountain Hawks will begin their spring practice segment on March 22, with the annual Brown and White Spring Game set for Saturday, April 20.
"The returning group has experienced nothing but success here," Coen said. "They’re anxious and excited to have a great offseason and great spring to lead to another outstanding season. This incoming group is one that I’m very excited about. These kids did their homework and they understand what Lehigh is about. You can make a great argument that the best combination of academics and championship football at the FCS level is Lehigh.
Coen concluded, "We’ve been a top 15 team for the last three years and ranked as high as fifth last year. We are very proud of the success we’re having on and off field. We had one of our best team GPAs last fall and we are accomplishing what we’re trying to do in terms of education and winning football games.
The complete list of recruits follows.
Michael Anderson - WR; 6-2; 205; Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic; Business
Member of state championship winning high school program… named to All-Academic team… honor roll student and academic letter winner.
Joe Barrett – DB; 6-1; 190; Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier; Engineering
Team captain… first team All-GCL… first team All-City… All-Southwest Ohio Honorable Mention… team won regional title as a junior and league championship as a senior… also played basketball where he was a team captain and second team All-GCL selection… earned first or second honors all four years… named to National Spanish Honor Society.
Zach Bucklin – TE, 6-2; 240; Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island; Business
First team All-Kingco league as a senior… second team All-League as a junior… invited to Washington All-State game… broke school records for receptions and touchdown receptions in a season… also lettered in basketball.
Colton Caslow – LB; 6-1; 210; Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lake Brantley; Business
All-District selection… first team All-Conference performer… named to All-Central Florida Team… third team All-State selection… East/West All-Star Game participant… North/South All-Star Game invitee… member of back-to-back district championship teams… honor roll student… received Principals Award.
Mackenzie Crawford – FB; 6-2; 230; Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge; Business
Suburban One Continental All-League performer at three different positions: middle linebacker, running back and defensive end… named to Buxmont All-Star team… high school team won league title and advanced to third round of Eastern Pennsylvania playoffs… also competed in track and field where he qualified for districts in the discus… member of Distinguished Honor Roll.
Patrick Donohoe – OL; 6-5, 290; Victor, N.Y./Victor; Engineering
Team captain… named to Daily Messenger All-Star team… second team All-Monroe III Division… second team All-Monroe County… has made the honor roll in every quarter.
Zach Duffy – OL; 6-5; 310; Reading, Pa./ Muhlenberg; Arts and Sciences
All-State offensive tackle… All-County selection and County Offensive Lineman of the Year… All-League offensive tackle and league Offensive Lineman of the Year… team was runner-up for AAA Eastern Conference Championship…member of Berks County All-Academic Team.
Brian Githens – DB; 6-1; 195; Westfield, N.J./St. Peter’s Prep; Business
Second team All-Conference selection… Great American Rivalry Student-Athlete Award… team won four consecutive Hudson County Championships… also lettered in varsity baseball.
Evan Harvey – LB; 6-1; 230; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./American Heritage; Arts and Sciences
Earned All-County, All-Conference and All-State honors as a senior… high school team rated as high as seventh in the nation… owns 3.8 grade point average… originally from Doylestown, Pa. but moved to south Florida.
Evan Kauffman – LB; 6-1; 220; Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom; Business
All-Lehigh Valley Conference and first team All-Area as a senior… All-Conference and second team All-Area as a junior… also lettered in wrestling where he is a two-time District XI runner-up, northeast region runner-up and PIAA sixth place finisher… owns a 3.89 GPA.
Brandon Leaks – DB; 5-11; 175; Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest; Engineering
Two-time All-League and All-Conference performer… high school team’s Defensive Back of the Year as a junior… two-time Special Teams Player of the Year… Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a junior… three year letter winner in track and field… was Freshman Athlete of the Year in track… ranks in top 100 of his class with 4.0 GPA.
Jimmy Mitchell – DL; 6-2; 255; La Grange Park, Ill./Lyons Township; Business
All-Conference selection in 2012… team Defensive MVP… also competed in track and field where he was All-Conference in both the discus and shot put… honor roll student… two-time Academic All-Conference.
Ryan Pandy – K; 5-11; 185; Clearwater, Fla./Countryside; Arts and Sciences
First team All-Pinellas County… first team All-PCAC (Coaches’ Poll)… third team All-Suncoast… also played varsity soccer… owns a 4.2 GPA.
Pierce Ripanti – LB; 6-0; 200; Wilmington, Del./Caravel Academy; Business
Two-time All-State selection as a fullback… first team honors as a senior, third team as a junior… high school team won Division II state title in 2012… also lettered in basketball… member of National Honor Society.
Nick Shafnisky – QB; 6-1; 200; Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall; Business
Lehigh Valley Conference MVP… First team All-LVC Quarterback… All-Area Athlete… honorable mention All-State Quarterback…team won Lehigh Valley Conference Championship… also lettered in basketball and baseball… honor roll student in all semesters.
Brandon Short – OL; 6-3; 270; Mentor, Ohio/Mentor; Engineering
First team All-Conference… second team All-District… first team All-News Herald… received team’s Best Lineman Award… selected to play in Ohio North/South All-Star Game… selected for News Herald Senior Bowl… team captain… team won conference, region and district championships and advanced to state final four… honor roll student… in the top 15 percent of his class… member of National Honor Society.
Brad Smith – DL; 6-4; 230; Tampa, Fla./Jesuit; Business
Two-time team Defensive MVP… team’s best defensive lineman in 2012… two-time All-Suncoast by the Tampa Bay Times (first team in 2011)… two-time second team All-Hillsborough Country according to the Tampa Tribune… All-Madden Team…Big Man DL MVP… team captain as a senior… four semester honor roll student.
Trevor Socarras – WR; 5-10; 185; Franklin Twp., N.J./Immaculata; Business
Three-year varsity letter winner… first team All-Area, All-Conference and All-County as a senior… named to third team All-Non Public School offense… second team All-Conference as a junior…. Received Coaches’ Alumni Award for excellence in athletics and academics… led team in receiving yards and touchdowns as a senior… National Society of High School Scholars…. Selected for American Legion’s Boy State… teacher’s certificate for Excellence in Marketing… Autism Awareness Ambassador for Autism New Jersey… volunteer for Special Olympics New Jersey.
Tyler (TJ) Stubbs – DL; 6-4; 230; Charlotte, N.C./ Ardrey Kell; Business
All-Southwestern 4A selection as a senior… led conference in sacks… team’s Defensive Trench Award winner… JV Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.
Micah Tennant – OL; 6-6, 300; Ligonier, Pa./Ligonier Valley; Engineering
Pennsylvania Football News second team All-State (AA)… named to Greensburg Tribune Review Terrific 25… first team All-Area by Johnstown Tribune Democrat and Indiana Gazette… All-Conference performer… team captain as a senior…. 2012 Ram Lineman of the Year… 2010 Ram Rookie of the Year… lettered in basketball and track and field… member of National Honor Society and Vice President of Spanish Honor Society.
Lehigh Football Class of 2017
|
Name
|
Pos.
|
Ht./Wt.
|
Hometown/High School
|
College
|
|
Michael Anderson
|
WR
|
6-2/205
|
Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic
|
Business
|
|
Joe Barrett
|
DB
|
6-1/190
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier
|
Engineering
|
|
Zach Bucklin
|
TE
|
6-2/230
|
Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island
|
Business
|
|
Colton Caslow
|
LB
|
6-1/210
|
Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lake Brantley
|
Business
|
|
Mackenzie Crawford
|
FB
|
6-2/230
|
Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge
|
Business
|
|
Patrick Donohoe
|
OL
|
6-5/290
|
Victory, N.Y./Victor
|
Engineering
|
|
Zach Duffy
|
OL
|
6-5/310
|
Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Brian Githens
|
DB
|
6-1/195
|
Westfield, N.J./St. Peter’s Prep
|
Business
|
|
Evan Harvey
|
LB
|
6-1/230
|
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./American Heritage
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Evan Kauffman
|
LB
|
6-1/220
|
Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom
|
Business
|
|
Brandon Leaks
|
DB
|
5-11/175
|
Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest
|
Engineering
|
|
Jimmy Mitchell
|
DL
|
6-2/255
|
La Grange Park, Ill./Lyons Township
|
Business
|
|
Ryan Pandy
|
K
|
5-11/185
|
Clearwater, Fla./Countryside
|
Arts and Sciences
|
|
Pierce Ripanti
|
LB
|
6-0/200
|
Wilmington, Del./Caravel Academy
|
Business
|
|
Nick Shafnisky
|
QB
|
6-1/200
|
Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall
|
Business
|
|
Brandon Short
|
OL
|
6-3/270
|
Mentor, Ohio/Mentor
|
Engineering
|
|
Brad Smith
|
DL
|
6-4/230
|
Tampa, Fla./Jesuit
|
Business
|
|
Trevor Socarras
|
WR
|
5-10/185
|
Franklin Twp., N.J./Immaculata
|
Business
|
|
Tyler (TJ) Stubbs
|
DL
|
6-4/230
|
Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell
|
Business
|
|
Micah Tennant
|
OL
|
6-6/300
|
Ligonier, Pa./Ligonier Valley
|
Engineering
|