UAlbany Coach Bob Ford Announces Seven Football Student-Athletes Have Signed for 2011-12

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Thursday, Feb. 3 the signing of seven student-athletes to national letters of intent to play for the program in the 2011-12 academic year. The Great Danes are coming off a 6-5 campaign, a record-setting fifth consecutive winning season.

The 2011 signing class features two players from New Jersey, New York and North Carolina, plus one from Iowa. The breakdown by position includes four offensive linemen, one defensive end, one defensive back and one linebacker.

"It's a small class because we did not graduate many seniors," said UAlbany's Bob Ford, who leads all active NCAA Division I FCS coaches with 247 career victories. "We did a fairly decent job of meeting our needs on the offensive line and at cornerback and inside linebacker. Joe Hoback is strong with great feet and leads a group of road graders. Adam Pasnik, like Hoback, has a fighting chance to compete right away. Nick Beach was an intercepting machine and has a great vertical jump."

In an effort to strengthen the offensive line, UAlbany signed Hoback, a 6-foot-2, 295-pound center from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa. Ellsworth won the Western Region title and finished No. 14 in the final NJCAA national poll. Brad Bowen (6-2, 270) and Adam Pasnik (6-3, 260) were all-conference performers in New York, while Danny Book (6-6, 240) earned all-league recognition in North Carolina.

UAlbany picked up two All-Bergen County defensive selections from the state of the New Jersey. Defensive end Cory Connell captained his Ramsey High squad to the North I, Group 2 state championship game. Mat LaDucer, an inside linebacker, and Connell were members of the Newark Star-Ledger all-county unit. Beach was an all-conference cornerback on one of North Carolina's top scholastic teams.

2011 University at Albany Football Signings
Name, Pos., Ht., Wt., Hometown (High School / Previous School)
Nick Beach, CB, 5-11, 175, Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)
Danny Book, OT, 6-6, 240, Harrisburg, N.C. (Hickory Ridge)
Brad Bowen, OG, 6-2, 270, Elma, N.Y. (Iroquois)
Cory Connell, DE, 6-2, 235, Ramsey, N.J. (Ramsey)
Joe Hoback, C, 6-2, 290, Washington, Iowa (Washington / Ellsworth C.C.)
Mat LaDucer, ILB, 6-1, 210, Wyckoff, N.J. (Ramapo)
Adam Pasnik, OG, 6-3, 260, Orchard Park, N.Y. (St. Francis Athol Springs)

UAlbany Football Signing Profiles

Nick Beach
CB, 5-11, 175, Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)
Chosen first team All-I-Meck Conference ... totaled 43 tackles, three interceptions and 17 pass break-ups as a senior ... team was ranked No. 2 in North Carolina before losing the in semifinal round of state championship ... competes in 400-meter dash as member of track and field team.

Danny Book
OT, 6-6, 240, Harrisburg, N.C. (Hickory Ridge)
Selected All-South Piedmont 3A Conference on two occasions ... four-year starter as an offensive lineman and defensive end ... team finished second in conference standings in his junior season ... started four seasons as a member of basketball team ... part of school's first graduating class.

Brad Bowen
OG, 6-2, 270, Elma, N.Y. (Iroquois)
Twice named to the Class A South all-league squad ... honorable mention honors as a senior despite being injured part of the season ...earned second-team recognition as a junior.

Cory Connell
DE, 6-2, 235, Ramsey, N.J. (Ramsey)
All-Bergen County second team ... Newark Star-Ledger second-team all-county ... Big North American Division first team ... also a tight end and a long snapper on punt and PAT units ... 68 tackles and five sacks as a senior ... captain on a team that finished 9-3 and reached North 1, Group 2 state final ... second-team all-league as a junior when he had 65 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two blocked punts ... team won state championship ... career stats: 150 tackles, 12 sacks.

Joe Hoback
C, 6-2, 290, Washington, Iowa (Ellsworth Community College / Washington)
Named All-Region twice ... All-Iowa Western Community College as a sophomore ... led team to Western Region championship and a combined 16-6 record over last two seasons ... the Panthers finished 8-3 and were ranked No. 14 in 2010 NJCAA national poll ... blocked for nation's top offense and No. 1 quarterback two years in a row ... rushing attack averaged 5.2 yards per carry over last two seasons ... Des Moines Register Class 3A second-team all-state as a senior at Washington High ... Iowa Newspaper Association third-team all-state... member of Class 3A, District 6 team.

Mat LaDucer
ILB, 6-1, 210, Wyckoff, N.J. (Ramapo)
All-Bergen County second team ... Newark Star-Ledger second-team all-county ... Big North Independence Division first team ... 65 tackles and five sacks as a linebacker ... 11 receptions and one touchdown as a tight end ... had 42 tackles as a junior when his team won the North 1, Group 3 state title ... career stats: 107 tackles, 7 sacks, 3 caused fumbles ... second-team All-North Jersey lacrosse defenseman ... named to All-North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League and All-Suburban lacrosse squads.

Adam Pasnik
OG, 6-3, 260, Orchard Park, N.Y. (St. Francis Athol Springs)
All-Upstate Football Weekly third team ... All-Monsignor Martin League AA first team ... positioned at offensive guard and defensive tackle for Red Raiders ... Captain's Award ... competes in shot put as member of track and field program.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information