Blue Devils Complete Recruiting Class, Announce 2012 Schedule

It's Wednesday, February 1st, and CCSUBlueDevils.com is your place to be for all things CCSU Football and National Signing Day. 

Head Coach Jeff McInerney announced today that nine players have enrolled for the spring, and 10 more signed National Letter's of Intent's to enroll at CCSU in the fall.  All 19 student-athletes are featured below.

In addition, the 2012 CCSU Football Schedule was released today, which includes a home game vs. Lehigh on Sept. 8, and road trips to Stony Brook and New Hampshire.

McINERNEY'S SPECIAL EDITION OF OPEN MAC DISCUSSES THE ENTIRE RECRUITING CLASS, AS WELL AS THE 2012 SCHEDULE: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

SPRING ENROLLEES
Here is a list and some information on the nine new members of the CCSU football team who enrolled for the spring semester, are currently taking classes, and will participate in spring practice later this spring.

• DILLON ABELL - 6-0/195 - Linebacker - Torrance, CA/Torrance - Freshman
  Two-time All-Pioneer League selection, First Team honoree as a senior...Second Team All-Area and Team MVP as a senior...Also a league finalist in the 100 and 200m in track..."I came to CCSU to be a part of a winning program."
  ABELL'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
  
  

• DARNELL BENJAMIN - 6-3/270 - Defensive Line - Massapequa, NY/Nassau CC - Junior
  All-Long Island selection...Two-time All-County...Two-time All-Division...Team Captain...Defensive Line MVP.
  BENJAMIN'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
  
  

• JONATHAN CONNORS - 6-4/280 - Offensive Line - West Seneca, NY/Erie CC - Junior
  First Team All-League on defensive line in high school at West Seneca East...Nominated for the WNY Trench Trophy...2011 Eric Community College Team captain..."I chose CCSU because of the family atmosphere and the coaching staff."
  CONNORS'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
  
  

• JOSEPH DOWLING - 6-3/290 - Offensive Line - Sag Harbor, NY/Dean College - Sophomore
  All-Country selection at East Hampton High School...Also All-League in basketball...Second-Team All-Conference selection at Dean...Team won the Conference Championship in 2011..."I chose CCSU to start a new chapter in my life."
  DOWLING'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
  
  

• AUSTEN FALES - 6-0/210 - Quarterback - Salinas, CA/Hartnell College - Junior
  Second-Team All-Conference selection at Palma High School...Two-time First Team All-Conference selection at Hartnell...First Team All-State Region III...Living Breath Foundation Bowl MVP...Team Most Valuable Offensive Player.
  FALES'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
  
  

• BRANDON HOLLOMON - 5-10/165 - Defensive Back - Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic - Freshman
  Two-time All-State selection...First Team All-Catholic and All-City...Played in the Big 33 Game...Third leading rusher in school history...Led his team to their first-ever State Title..."I chose CCSU because it seemed like a great place to further my abilities in the classroom and on the field.  It felt like the right place."
  HOLLOMON'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
  
  

• ROBERT HOLLOMON - 5-8/170 - Running Back - Philadelphia, PA/Kent State - Sophomore
  Ran for over 1,900 yards as a senior at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia...Named First Team All-State, CN8 Player of the Year and First Team All-Catholic...Set school record for touchdowns and rushing touchdowns...Had his jersey retired at West Catholic...Team won three straight league titles...Attended Cushing Academy and rushed for over 2,000 yards...Named Team MVP...Played in the Big 33 Classic in 2008...Played last season at Kent State rushing for 94 yards on 14 carries in 12 games.
  HOLLOMON'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
  
  

• ANTHONY MAGGIO - 6-5/265 - Offensive Line - Lafayette, NJ/Pope John XXIII - Freshman
  Two-time All-County on defense as a junior and senior...First Team All-Conference selection at Pope John XXIII Regional High School..."I chose CCSU because it feels more like home than any other college.  The environment feels more comfortable and secure."
  
  

• DOMINICK ZOOK - 6-5/290 - Offensive Line - Chesterfield, NJ/Milford Academy - Freshman
  First Team All-State at Blair Academy as a junior and senior in high school...Played at Milford Academy, helping his team post the first undefeated season under 11-year head coach Bill Chaplick...Team was ranked as the #1 prep team in the country..."I chose CCSU because I felt it was the best opportunity for me academically and to play football.  The coaches played a big part in my decision too.  I felt more comfortable here than at any other school."
  ZOOK'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
  
  

2012 SIGNEES
Here is the list of signees who will join the Blue Devils beginning in the fall of 2012.  Check back later today as Coach Mac sits down for a special edition of OPEN MAC to discuss this recruiting class for the Blue Devils.

AARON BERARDINO – 5-11/175 – Wide Receiver – Windsor, CT/Windsor
All-State selection as a junior and senior…Three-time All-Conference selection…Named the Hartford Courant Offensive Player of the Year…Ranked third in the state with 1,259 receiving yards…Had 58 catches and 17 touchdowns…Excelled at returning kickoffs and punts…"I came to CCSU because I always wanted to play football in my backyard.  Now that I have the chance I'm going to take it and run with it."
READ ABOUT AARON'S SIGNING HERE      
VIDEO FROM THE SIGNING

TRAVIS BUZZO – 6-1/260 – Offensive Line – Culpepper, VA/Liberty
Two-time All-District selection on the offensive line at Liberty High School…Named First Team All-Region…First Team All-State selection…Also named All-District on the defensive line…Three-time varsity letter winner…"I chose CCSU because it was the school that made me feel most at home when I visited."
BUZZO'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
READ ABOUT HIS SIGNING HERE

BRANDON CUSMANO – 6-0/195 – Wide Receiver – Monroe, CT/Masuk
Honorable Mention All-State selection by the New Haven Register…Named Second Team All-Conference…Team won the State Title in 2010, and the Conference Title in 2010 and 2011…Caught 59 passes for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns in his last two seasons…Honors Student-Athlete…"CCSU is the absolute best fit for me for both academics and football.  The coaches are great and the facilities are excellent."
CUSMANO'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

JOE DEMICHELE – 6-1/285 – Defensive Line – Madison, CT/Hand
All-Area selection as a senior in 2011 at defensive tackle…Named All-State by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association…2011 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team…All-State champion wrestler who is ranked in the top-15 in the country as a heavy weight…won the Class L and state open heavy weight titles in 2011…2011 New England heavy weight champion…"I chose CCSU because of great football and its criminal justice program."
DEMICHELE'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS


TYLER HURD– 6-4/290 – Offensive Line – Saratoga Springs, NY/Vermont Academy
First Team All-New England selection…First Team Empire Division…Senior All-Star…"I chose CCSU because of the great football program and the excellent academics."
HURD'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS


MICHAEL MONEY – 6-5/270 – Offensive Line – Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Warde
Two-time team captain at Fairfield Warde…Named First Team All-Conference twice, and honorable mention once in his career…Named Heart Newspapers All-Star on the offensive line…2011 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team…Ranked third in the state in wrestling as a heavy weight…Honorable Mention All-Conference in wrestling as a junior and sophomore…"CCSU is a great school, and a great fit for what I was looking for in a college."
MONEY'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

CRE'SHON "CJ" MORRISON – 5-11/200 – Full Back – East Hartford, CT/Capital Prep
Rushed for 1,780 yards and 28 touchdowns in leading Capital-Prep to an unbeaten regular season and the state playoffs...Second Team All-State selection...Named All-Conference and All-Hartford Courant..."I chose CCSU because of the excellent education program. Also, the coaching staff was amazing and made me feel welcome and like family. It reminds me of what I have at Capital Prep. The coaching staff assured me that they will keep me on track and focused to graduate college and that is my ultimate goal."…READ ABOUT CJ HERE.
MORRISON'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

DARIUS PARSON – 6-2/240 – Linebacker – Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge
Three-time All-District selection in football…Named All-Region as a sophomore, junior and senior…All-State selection on defense…As a senior was named All-District on both sides of the ball……Twice named team defensive MVP…named team offensive MVP as a senior…Also an All-District selection in basketball… "CCSU was the perfect fit for me.  It supported my desire to achieve success both academically and on the football field.  The coaches were supportive and encouraging, and the campus is beautiful.  The atmosphere is fantastic."
PARSON'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

CHUCK WATSON – 5-11/210 – Linebacker – Middletown, CT/Dean College (will be a junior)
Named team defensive MVP as a junior at Middletown High School…At Dean he led the conference in tackles…Named First Team All-Conference…Won the team's Unsung Hero Award…"I chose CCSU because it was a good fit and it was close to home."
WATSON'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

AUSTIN WEZENSKI – 6-3/275 – Defensive Line – Killingworth, CT/Xavier
Two-time All-Conference selection…Named All-State by the New Haven Register and by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association…2011 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team…Team won the Class LL State Title in 2010 and 2011…Twice named to the Hartford Courant All-Star Team..."I chose CCSU to compete at a high level of football while getting a quality education."
WEZENSKI'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS