University of Albany FCS Football Announces Eleven Student-Athletes Have Signed Letters of Intent - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Wednesday, Feb. 4 that 11 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2009-10 academic year. UAlbany won its second consecutive Northeast Conference championship, captured the Gridiron Classic title and finished with a 9-3 record last season.

The 2009 signing class features four players from the state of New York, plus three from New Jersey, two from Ohio, and one each from Pennsylvania and Virginia. The breakdown by position includes two offensive linemen, one wide receiver, two running backs, three defensive linemen, one linebacker and two defensive backs.

"Our pressing needs were to find good-sized offensive tackles and defensive ends that other teams would have to game plan around," said Ford, who is first among active Division I FCS coaches with 234 career victories. "The defensive ends are athletic and have great range. We were also fortunate to pick up a couple of good safeties. (Tramaine) Wilson was the best running back we saw on film this year. We may not need running backs right away, but you are always trying to recruit that next team and we are excited about both of these players."

The Great Danes, who have won or shared four NEC championships since joining the conference in 1999, have 13 of 22 starters returning off this past year's championship team. UAlbany begins spring practice the second week of March.


2009 University at Albany Football Signings

Name, Pos., Ht., Wt., Hometown (High School)

Corey Bundrage, DE, 6-3, 215, Liverpool, N.Y. (Liverpool)

Matt Custer, OL, 6-5, 290, Ashburn, Va. (Stone Bridge)

Jahi Fields, DE, 6-3, 215, Hempstead, N.Y. (Hempstead)

Alex Helmer, S, 6-1, 180, Pompton Lakes, N.J. (Pequannock Township)

Justinian Mason, S, 6-1, 180, Mason, Ohio (Cincinnati St. Xavier)

Ben Miseikis, RB, 5-10, 185, Fort Johnson, N.Y. (Amsterdam)

Zach Stocum, DE, 6-2, 240, Painesville, Ohio (Riverside)

Eddie Tretina, ILB, 6-0, 215, Cherry Hill, N.J. (Camden Catholic)

Rhakeem Wiggins, WR, 5-10, 175, Cheektowaga, N.Y. (Cleveland Hill)

Kadeem Williams, OL, 6-7, 335, Jersey City, N.J. (Hudson Catholic)

Tramaine Wilson, RB, 5-10, 180, Staten Island, N.Y. (Tottenville)


PLAYER PROFILES

Corey Bundrage

DE, 6-3, 215, Liverpool, N.Y. (Liverpool)

High School: Named third-team All-Central New York by Syracuse Post-Standard ... second-team Class AA-I All-Onondaga League ... made 41 tackles, including 30 unassisted and six for a loss ... added eight sacks, one pass break-up and one fumble recovery ... member of track & field team ... competes in 55-meter dash and 55m-hurdles (indoors) and 100m-hurdles and 200-meter dash (outdoors) ... Section III 110-hurdles champion ...

Matt Custer

OL, 6-5, 290, Ashburn, Va. (Stone Bridge)

High School: All-Liberty AAA District ... started all 14 games for an offense that average more than 49 points per game ... Stone Bridge High captured 2008 Northern Region and District championships ... finished 13-1 overall and reached AAA Division 5 state semifinals ... played at Loudon Valley High as a junior ... competes in discus and shot put and advanced to the regionals the last two years ...

Jahi Fields

DE, 6-3, 215, Hempstead, N.Y. (Hempstead)

High School: Selected to Newsday All-Long Island Team ... accounted for 77 tackles, three fumble recoveries and a school-record 10 sacks ... also had 12 receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns ... program's career sacks leader with 26 ... led team that finished 7-3 overall in Conference I ... blocked for Thorp Award winner Terrell Williams ... member of basketball squad ...

Alex Helmer

S, 6-1, 180, Pompton Plains, N.J. (Pequannock Township)

High School: Earned All-Morris County recognition by Daily Record ... second-team All-Northern Hills Conference - Suburban Division ... made 102 tackles, including 71 unassisted, with five pass break-ups and one fumble recovery ... caught 34 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns ... returned 22 kickoffs for 538 yards and one score ...

Justinian Mason

S, 6-1, 180, Mason, Ohio (Cincinnati St. Xavier)

High School: All-Greater Catholic League honorable mention selection ... made 50 tackles with three hits for a loss, two blocked punts and one blocked field goal as a senior ... voted top special teams performer ... member of 2007 Division I state championship team that finished with a perfect 15-0 record ... two-time track & field captain ... team MVP as a junior when he competed in the 55- and 400-meter events ...

Ben Miseikis

RB, 5-10, 185, Fort Johnson, N.Y. (Amsterdam)

High School: Chosen Class A third-team all-state by the New York State Sportswriters Association ... consensus first-team All-Area by Daily Gazette, Troy Record and Albany Times Union ... totaled 67 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a safety and cornerback ... rushed for 1,158 yards and 21 touchdowns ... Northwest Division All-Purpose Player of the Year ... MVP of Section II Exceptional Senior Game ...

Zach Stocum

DE, 6-2, 240, Painesville, Ohio (Riverside)

High School: Named to Division I Northeast Ohio Lakes All-District Team in the honorable mention category ... first-team All-Premier Athletic Conference for the second consecutive season ... made 49 tackles, including 15 for a loss ... totaled 11 quarterback hurries, two sacks and one fumble recovery ... first-team All-Lake County as a junior when he accounted for 53 tackles and eight sacks ... 109 career tackles with 11 sacks, six forced fumbles and three pass break-ups ... ranked No. 16 among the state's top wrestlers in the 285-pound class...

Eddie Tretina

ILB, 6-0, 215, Cherry Hill, N.J. (Camden Catholic)

High School: Recorded more than 100 tackles and had 10 sacks in leading team to the Burlco/Olympic National Conference championship ... Fighting Irish finished with a 9-2 record ... earned All-Parochial and all-conference recognition ... team defensive MVP ... totaled 89 tackles, 10 sacks and one interception as a junior ... 60 tackles as a sophomore ... Brooks Irvine Award as top scholar-athlete in South Jersey ...

Rhakeem Wiggins

WR, 5-10, 175, Cheektowaga, N.Y. (Cleveland Hill)

High School: Selected Class C first-team all-state as a defensive back by the New York State Sportswriters Association ... All-Western New York first team ... Section VI Class C North Division Offensive Co-MVP for the second consecutive year ... first-team All-Erie County Interscholastic Conference ... team reached Class C semifinals and recorded its first undefeated regular season ... rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior quarterback ... Division II sectional champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes ... tied ECIC record in 200-meters (21.7) ...

Kadeem Williams

OL, 6-7, 335, Jersey City, N.J. (Hudson Catholic)

High School: Second-team All-Hudson County by Jersey Journal ... Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA) American Conference first team ... led team to NJSIAA Group II final with a 7-4 record ... starter on basketball team ... had 11 rebounds and 10 blocks against Hoboken this winter ...

Tramaine Wilson

RB, 5-10, 280, Staten Island, N.Y. (Tottenville)

High School: New York City Coaches Association All-Borough selection ... PSAL second-team all-city ... All-Staten Island Advance ... rushed for 929 yards and 11 touchdowns ... caught 19 passes for 351 yards and two TDs ... 205 rushing yards and two scores against Chistopher Columbus ... ran for 180 yards and four touchdowns vs. Susan Wagner ...