Football Adds 11th Student-Athlete to Recruiting Class
Head football coach Pete Rossomando has received his 11th commitment to the 2014 recruiting class.
Head Coach Pete Rossomando has unveiled the first 11 student-athletes of the 2014 Central Connecticut football recruiting class. Information and highlights of the nine student-athletes is available below.
Further additions to the recruiting class will be announced as they are finalized over the next week.
Fans looking for more insight into signing day can look forward to head coach Pete Rossomando's in-depth look at the class with Bruce Biel at halftime of the men's basketball game on Thursday night. Rossomando sat down with Biel on Thursday afternoon and the interview will run during halftime on Fox Sports Radio 1410 AM, ESPN Radio 1300 AM, iHeartRadio and on NECFrontRow.com.
2014 SIGNEES
Updated Feb. 6, 2014
Justin Douglas (DT, 6-3/310, New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle/Trinity Pawling)
Played high school football at New Rochelle for head coach Lou Dirienzo…Attends Trinity Pawling for prep school where he played for head coach Nick Lafontaine…Was a member of New Rochelle's 2012 Class AA State Championship Team…Individually, earned All-State honors in 2012…Was also a three-time All-Section selection…Named league rookie of the year in 2010.
Douglas on CCSU…"I picked CCSU because I want to be a part of a program that is looking to rebuild and to become successful."
Rossomando on Douglas…"Justin is a big physical nose guard from New Rochelle High School, which Coach Dirienzo keeps among the premier programs in the state of New York every year. We are happy to have Justin as part of our Blue Devil family."
KJ Smith (TE, 6-3/225, Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern)
Played high school football at Bristol Eastern for head coach Michael Archangelo…Earned an All-State selection in 2013…Was an All-Conference selection following the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Smith on CCSU…"CCSU is a great school with a great football program."
Rossomando on Smith…"KJ is a dynamic tight end that can contribute in both running and passing situations. He comes from a great high school program and we are excited to have him on campus next year."
Feb. 5, 2014
Randall LaGuerre (LB, Fr., 6-2, 215, Union High School/Union, NJ)
Played high school football at Union for head coach Lou Grasso…Was selected First Team All-County on defense…Was a two-time All-Conference selection on defense…Earned his team's Defensive Player of the Year Award…Was a two-year Varsity Letterman.
LaGuerre on CCSU…"CCSU is an excellent school…A place with a great coaching staff and football."
Rossomando on LaGuerre…"He is a linebacker with speed that will grow into an excellent player in the Northeast Conference. We are excited for him to join Blue Devil football."
Derrick Stone Jr. (CB, 6-0/180, Roxybury, MA/Loomis Chaffee)
Played high school football at Loomis Chaffee school for head coach Chuck Reid…Was a Catholic Conference All-Star and NUC Top Performer in 2012…Is also a standout student-athlete in track and field…Was named indoor track captain in 2012, indoor track MVP for the 2011-2012 season and was a New-England Regional Junior Olympian in 2010.
Stone on CCSU…"I chose CCSU after being on campus and realizing that the guys on the team wanted the same goals I did, to not only be successful but to do everything at 110%. I'm ready for this journey, and I knew upon leaving campus that CCSU is the place for me."
Rossomando on Stone…"Derrick played for an excellent Loomis Chaffe team right here in our backyard. We are excited that he will be playing in the CCSU secondary in 2014."
Kyle Jordan (RB, 6-0/220, Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon/Hyde School)
Played high school football for Brien McMahon and head coach A.J. Albano…Is currently in prep school at the Hyde School where he played for head coach Sean Saucier…Earned CLASS LL All-State honors, was a two-time All-Area selection and a two-time All-FCIAC selection…Name team MVP at BRIEN MCMAHON following the 2012 season...Was a NEPSAC All-Conference selection following the 2014 season.
Jordan on CCSU…"The reason why I chose CCSU is because there is a brand new coaching staff that is ready to move this program in a new direction. I am so honored that I am able to be a part of this new era in CCSU football. In addition to that, CCSU has a wonderful campus and is relatively close to home which is a plus for me."
Rossomando on Jordan…"Kyle is a big physical running back that did a postgrad year at Hyde School where he got even bigger and stronger. We are so happy he is going to be in our backfield in 2014."
Khendell Puryear (DB, 5-9/165, Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln)
Played high school football at Abraham Lincoln for head coach Shawn O'Connor…Was a member of a pair of New York City Championship teams in 2011 and 2013…Individually, earned All-Conference, All-Brooklyn, All-City and All-State honors…Was also selected to the MSG Varsity All-Metro Team.
Puryear on CCSU…"I met college coaches and went to camps all over, but when I met Coach Ross I had an instant connection. Great school, close to home... couldn't ask for more."
Rossomando on Puryear…"Khendell is a lightning fast play maker in the defensive backfield. He played for one of the best teams in New York State and we are excited he is joining our Blue Devil family."
William Hodge III (DB, 6-2/165, Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas)
Played high school football for Walter Panas and head coach Dan Patronik…Was an All-Conference and All-League selection for Walter Panas…Was named Student-Athlete of the Month in September of 2013.
Hodge on CCSU…"I believe CCSU is the right fit for me both academically and athletically."
Rossomando on Hodge…"Trey is an athletic corner with great size and ability. We hope he will contribute quickly to our program."
Joey Fields Jr. (WR, 5-8/170, Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan)
Played high school football at Monsignor Donovan for head coach Dan Duddy…Was selected First team B-South on offense…Was also a Second Team All-Shore, All-shore All-Star game invitee…Also earned Shores Best Camp MVP honors and Shore Sports Network Most Valuable Player.
Fields on CCSU…"I chose CCSU because it is the right fit for me. I have a good bond with all of the coaches on the staff and I am already close with the players on the team right now.
CCSU has a bright future ahead and i want to be a part of the success it has coming up."
Rossomando on Fields…"Joey is a dynamic play maker on the perimeter and in the return game. He has game changing speed, which we look forward to seeing on Arute Field."
Tavion "Tazz" Pauldo (QB, 6-2/185, Cleveland Heights, OH/Cleveland Heights)
Played high school football for Cleveland Heights and head coach Jeff Rotsky…Led his team to a 10-2 record and the second round of the Ohio Division I Playoffs.
Pauldo on CCSU…"I chose CCSU because it's home for me. There's only one place that can make me feel that way and that's Central Connecticut State University."
Rossomando on Pauldo…"Tazz is a duel threat quarterback out of one of the best high school programs in the state of Ohio. He possesses all of the skills we look for in a signal caller."
Johnathan Stackhouse (DB, 5-11/178, Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy)
Played high school football for Christian Brothers Academy and head coach Joe Casamento…Stackhouse was an All-CNY Honorable Mention selection…He also earned the Jason P. Magnarelli Award which goes to the student-athlete who shows compassion for his peers, devotion for his team, and loyalty to the CBA community.
Stackhouse on CCSU…"I chose CCSU because of the beautiful campus and it offers the major I want to study. The campus is not too big or too small, and fits just exactly what I'm looking for. Also, the up and coming football program, which plays at the Division I level.
Rossomando on Stackhouse…"Johnathan comes from an excellent high school program in CBA. He played multiple positions in their secondary, which attracted us to his skill set."
Landon Reecher (DT, 6-2/280, Arnold, MD/Broadneck Senior High)
Played high school football at Broadneck Senior for head coach Rob Harris…Was a First Team All-County, First Team All-Metro and Second Team All-State selection…Was his team's Defensive MVP for the 2013 season…Selected to a trio of all-star games including the Crab Bowl, Chesapeake Bowl, Super 22 All-Star Game…Also an All-State wrestler for the 2012-13 season at the 285 pound weight class.
Reecher on CCSU…"I went on my official visit thinking I wouldn't be interested in CCSU, I thought I already knew where I wanted to go to college. I was wrong and immediately fell in love with CCSU - the campus atmosphere - the athletic training facility - the new football coaches - all my new teammates who I had a chance to meet. I just know it is a great fit for me and CCSU and I can't wait until July."
Rossomando on Reecher…"Landon is a big physical defensive lineman that played in the same scheme that we plan to use at CCSU. We are happy he chose to join us at CCSU because of his size and skill set."