(Posted June 15, 2009)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College head football coach Carmen Felus has announced that the following 28 high school student-athletes have committed to attend Juniata College and compete for the Eagle football team beginning with the 2009 season.

"We have recruited a class of individuals who exemplify all the characteristics of a Juniata football player," said Felus. "The student-athletes we have signed all have outstanding character and are committed to achieving success on the classroom and on the field.

"In our first recruiting class we feel like we addressed our numbers issue," said Felus. "We have, to date, brought in 28 student-athletes, and that will let us head into training camp with 82 players on our roster. That helps us depth-wise at every position. Offensively, we had a lot of areas of concern due to graduation. Defensively, we've got an older, more veteran group. So in our first recruiting class we tried to address some needs on the offensive side of the ball."

"We are excited about our first recruiting class as a new staff," said Felus. "We look forward to seeing what each freshman player can offer and how their contributions will fit into our overall schemes â?" offensively, and defensively, and special teams."

The following is a list (in alphabetical order) of incoming freshmen student-athletes for 2009; additional commitments may be announced at a later date.

Scott Andrews
P/PK, 6-1, 180, Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona Area HS

A two-year starter at Altoona Area HS for coach Phil Riccio... selected to play in the 2009 Lezzer Lumber All-Star Game... Altoona Mirror Blair County All-Star in 2007 and 2008... helped the Mountain Lions capture the 2007 Mid-Penn Conference championship... will also play tennis at Juniata; he was a semifinalist in the 2009 District VI doubles championship, and helped Altoona reach the team finals in each of the past three seasons... National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society member... recipient of Hancock Group Scholarship for Pre-Law and Business... member of Mock Trial Team, and named Best Advocate in each of the past three years... son of David and Jan Andrews.

Nathan Bicher
OL, 6-0, 260, Myerstown, Pa./Eastern Lebanon County HS

A two-year starter at ELCO for coach Mark Evans... earned All-County honors in 2008, and was a 2009 Tri-County All-Star... helped the Raiders qualify for District III AAA playoffs... National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society member... member of Future Business Leaders of America and the marching band... son of Gary and Renee Bicher.

Ross Black
WR, 5-11, 160, Altoona, Pa./Tyrone Area HS

A senior starter at Tyrone Area HS for coach John Franco... also played basketball and competed in track and field for four years for the Golden Eagles... son of John and Traci Black.

Josh Branch
TE, 5-11, 235, Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest HS

A two-year starter at tight end for the Falcons... Second team All-County and Second team All-Lancaster-Lebanon League selection last season... led Cedar Crest in receiving yards during his senior season... Honor Roll student at Cedar Crest, and editor-in-chief of school newspaper... Eagle Scout... son of Joseph Branch and Aurora Cruz.

Storm Bumbarger
OL, 6-1, 250, West Decatur, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola HS

Three-year starter on the Mounties' offensive line for coach Jeff Vroman... selected to play in 2009 Lezzer Lumber All-Star Game... Honorable Mention All-State... Clearfield Progress Second team All-Star... twice played for Philipsburg-Osceola squads that reached the District VI quarterfinals... son of Martin and Heather Bumbarger.

Quadir Christian
RB, 5-6, 145, Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS

Two-year starter and three-year letterwinner at Greater Johnstown for coaches Robert Arcurio and Kevin Marabito... earned First team All-Conference honors... selected for 2009 Ken Lantzy All-Star Football Classic... part of a Trojans backfield that helped lead Greater Johnstown to the District VI AAA championship game... son of John Christian and Charlene Rozier.

Justin Clapper
LB, 6-2, 190, Buffalo Mills, Pa./Bedford HS

Two-year starter at defensive end and linebacker for coach Daniel Smith... an outstanding all-around athlete who also played basketball and competed in track and field for the Bisons... will also compete in the discus and pole vault as a member of the Juniata track and field team... finished in second place in both the discus and pole vault at the District V championships, and helped lead Bedford to the District title in 2007 and 2009... son of Mark and Judy Clapper.

Matt Conner
TE/WR, 6-2, 180, Mechanicsburg, Pa./Randolph-Macon Academy (Va.)

Two-year starter at Randolph-Macon for coach Frank Sullivan... also played quarterback, linebacker, and defensive lineman during his career with the Yellow Jackets... son of Stephen (deceased) and Patty Conner.

Frank Filkosky
OL, 6-0, 230, Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area HS

Senior starter for coach Phil Riccio at Altoona... National Honor Society member and Honor Roll student... participates in Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club... son of Frank and Linda Filkosky.

Tom Furman
LB, 5-11, 190, Easton, Pa./Easton Area HS

Two-year starter at linebacker and running back for coach Steve Shiffert at Easton Area HS... helped the Red Rovers reach the District XI playoffs as a junior and the Eastern Conference championship game during his senior season... recipient of a Juniata Presidential Scholarship... involved in Easton's Technology Student Association and Relay for Life... son of Mike and Lisa Furman.

Chad Gruver
FB, 5-8, 180, Easton, Pa./Easton Area HS

Two-year starter for coach Steve Shiffert at Easton Area HS... also played tight end and linebacker for the Red Rovers... served as team captain during this senior season... helped Easton reach the 2008 Eastern Conference championship game, while the 2007 squad qualified for the District XI playoffs... son of Linda Gruver.

Carrington Jones
LB, 5-10, 220, Frederick, Md./Tuscarora HS

Four-year starter for coaches Dean Swink and Mike O'Brien... earned All-Area, All-County, and All-Conference honors during his playing career with the Titans... logged 129 tackles as a senior, and was named to the Gazette All-Star First team Defense squad... also earned All-Area and All-County honors on the wrestling mat for Tuscarora... son of Micola Martin.

Ryan Kane
TE, 6-3, 235, Cresaptown, Md./Allegany HS

Two-year varsity starter for coach Tom Preaskorn at Allegany... Honorable Mention All-State honors at tight end, as voted by the Maryland media, and named to the Small School All-State team... named to the All-Area team as both a first team (tight end) and second team (defensive line) selection... played for the Campers' 2007 squad that went 13-1 and reached the MIAA state championship game... Honorable mention Maryland Distinguished Scholar... son of Jim and Lynn Kane.


Adam Kovac
OL, 6-2, 220, Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood-Antis HS

Three-year starter at guard and defensive end for coach John Hayes at Bellwood-Antis... MAC All-Star and two-time Inter-County Conference All-Star... Altoona Mirror Blair County All-Star... Honorable Mention All-State honors from Pennsylvania Football News, and was also named to PFN's All-Academic Team... National Honor Society member... recipient of Presidential Youth Environmental Award... Eagle Scout... member of Bellwood-Antis' student council... son of Tim and Lisa Kovac.

Jon Maurizio
K, 5-11, 200, Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS

Three-year starter for the Trojans under coach Kevin Marabito... an Honor Roll student each of his four years at Greater Johnstown... member of Greater Johnstown's squad that reached the District VI AAA championship game... son of Albert and Wendy Maurizio.

Drew McCauley
OL, 6-0, 225, Bensalem, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy

Senior starter and two-year letterwinner at Chestnut Hill for coach Rick Knox... helped the Blue Devils to a 7-4 record last season, a no. 9 ranking in the city of Philadelphia, and a second-place finish in the Inter-Academic League... member of Chestnut Hill's speech and debate team... son of Bill and Carol McCauley.

John McDermott
DL, 5-10, 200, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./The Harvey School

Senior starter and four-year letterwinner on the defensive line for coach Chris Kelly at The Harvey School... First team All-League selection... Honor Roll student... voted team's most improved player since freshman year... also played basketball and baseball for the Cavaliers... son of Thomas and Susan McDermott.

James McGuire
LB, 6-2, 185, Sussex, N.J./Pope John XXIII High School

Transfer from Monmouth University where he did not play football; he will have freshman athletic eligibility at Juniata... two-year starter for coach Victor Paternostro at Pope John XXIII... earned All-Sussex County Interscholastic League and All-Area honors during his senior season of high school football... helped lead the Lions to the 2005 and 2006 SCIL championship, and the semifinals of the state playoffs... son of Eugene and Barbara McGuire.

Isiah Morgan
RB, 5-10, 195, Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield Area HS

Three-year starter for coach Tim Janocko at Clearfield Area HS... was the leading rusher in District IX last season, carrying 215 times for 1,596 yards, on his way to earning All-District honors... named to Mountain Athletic Conference All-Star team, and the Clearfield Progress All-Star squad... helped pace the Bisons to the MAC and District IX titles, and the first round of the PIAA AAA state playoffs... High Honor Roll student at Clearfield... son of Michael and Toni Rowles.

De'Sean Popley
RB, 6-0, 200, Philadelphia, Pa. / Academy of the New Church


Two-year letterwinner for coach Andrew Davis at Academy of the New Church... helped lead the Lions to the Friends League championship... also played basketball for the Lions, where he earned team MVP honors... played on the Lions' 2008 state championship basketball team, and 2008 and 2009 Friends League championship squads... son of Lamont Popley and Dina Pullen.

George Schwaderer
LB, 6-0, 195, Cresson, Pa./Penn Cambria HS

Two-year starter for coach Ernie Fetzer at Penn Cambria, where he played both linebacker and fullback for the Panthers... earned All-Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference honors as a senior... recipient of Western Pa. Scholar Athlete Award... members of Panthers' team that reached the District VI AA playoffs... National Honor Society member... three-time recipient of Penn Cambria Academic Achievement Award... also played baseball at Penn Cambria... son of George and Susan Schwaderer.


Nicholas Stuck
LB, 5-11, 205, Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley HS

Two-year starter at linebacker for the Warriors, playing for coaches Gawen Stoker and Tom Shearer... selected for 2009 Lezzer Lumber All-Star Game... member of Indian Valley's 2007 squad that captured the District VI championship, and advanced to the state quarterfinals... son of Mike and Mindy Stuck.

Bradley Swindell
QB, 5-11, 180, Everett, Pa./Everett Area HS

Three-year starter at quarterback and safety for coach Thomas Waltman... First team All-Inter-County Conference selection at quarterback... set a school single season record this past season with 1,330 yards passing... member of Bedford Gazette Terrific 33 team, and named the Gazette's Offensive MVP... selected for Ken Lantzy 40 All-Star Game... 2008 Southern Alleghenies Football Coaches Association Offensive MVP... National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society member... member of Everett's student council and band... son of Boyde and Robin Swindell.

Julian Valdiserri
WR, 6-3, 195, Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon HS

Two-year starter and four-year letterwinner at Mt. Lebanon for coach Chris Haering... earned Second team All-Conference honors as a wideout... recipient of Mt. Lebanon's Robert M. Conn Athletic Achievement Award, presented to a student who makes the most use of his talent to further the team... will also compete for the Juniata track and field squad... finished sixth in the high hurdles at the 2009 WPIAL championship meet, and was 11th in the 300 hurdles... Honor Roll student... recorded over 205 hours of community service work during his high school career... son of Michael and Jeannine Valdiserri.

Noah Walstrom
LB, 5-11, 230, Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area HS

Two-year starter at linebacker for coach Phil Riccio... selected for Ken Lantzy 40 All-Star Game... Altoona Mirror Blair County All-Star team, and the Mirror's Regional All-Star squad... 2008 Altoona First Savings Bank Defensive Player of the Year... team captain as a senior... Mid-Penn Conference All-Star team selection... National Honor Society and Honor Roll student... recipient of Presidential Award for Educational Excellence... son of James and Ann Walstrom.

Cory Waltman
WR, 6-3, 180, Everett, Pa./Everett Area HS

Three-year starter at Everett for coach Tom Waltman, where he also played halfback and safety... selected for Ken Lantzy All-Star game... two-time First team All-Inter-County Conference... First team selection to the Bedford County All-Star squad... Southern Alleghenies Football Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year... member of Everett's student council and Future Business Leaders of America... son of Thomas and Sharon Waltman.

Billy Whitehurst
RB, 5-6, 170, Baltimore, Md./Towson HS

Three-year starter for coach Harry McNeir... earned First team All-League and Second team All-County honors... son of Bill and Jennifer Whitehurst.

Will Young
DL, 6-0, 295, Benton, Pa./Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech

Three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines for Columbia-Montour, playing for coach Mark Varner... earned Second team All-Conference honors... team captain as a senior... earned team's Most Improved Player award... member of the National Honor Society, and ranked sixth in his graduating class... son of Joseph and Patricia Young.

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