2009 SIGNING DAY - Blue Devil Football Class Announced, Open Mac Included

Central Connecticut head football coach Jeff McInerney announced his list of signees on Wednesday afternoon. McInerney and his staff will welcome a group of 12 players to the 2009 Blue Devils, 10 of whom signed National Letters of Intent to attend Central Connecticut starting in the fall. The remaining two players have enrolled at CCSU for the spring semester and will participate in spring practice. Central Connecticut finished 7-4 overall last season and 4-3 in Northeast Conference play.

"Today is an exciting day for Central Connecticut football," McInerney said. "We are thrilled to welcome these 12 student-athletes to our program. They fill immediate needs and will ultimately help our team reach new levels."

The Blue Devils will continue to add to their class of incoming players as the spring and summer progress. Spring practice starts on Friday, April 3. The Annual Blue-White Spring Game will be held on Friday, May 1 at 2 p.m. on Arute Field.

2009 NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNEES
Rashod Albert • 5-11 • 280 • Lutcher, LA/Lutcher • DL
All-State selection as senior at Lutcher High...Also earned all-district and all-metro honors...All-district as a junior...Member of 2006 and 2008 3A State Champion teams...Academic All-State selection...Two-time state qualifier in shot put and discus for outdoor track and field...State qualifier in shot put for indoor track and field.

Lawton Arnold • 6-2 • 220 • Simsbury, CT/Simsbury • LB
All-State running back as a senior...Three-time all-conference selection...Totaled 2,441 yards and 30 touchdowns on 344 career carries...Made 110 tackles, including 30 for loss and 10 sacks at linebacker...Top-ranked wrestler in state.

Jake Brown • 6-0 • 275 • South Windsor, CT/South Windsor • OL/DL
Two-time all-conference selection...Team captain as a senior...Junior nominee for 2008 Governors Cup...Four-year letterwinner.

Joe Fitzpatrick • 6-4 • 225 • Pompano Beach, FL/Cardinal Gibbons • TE
Four-year letterwinner...Team captain...Selected as a starter for the Broward County All-Star game...Selected for Dade vs. Broward All-Star team...Named all-county by the Miami Herald and Sun Sentinel...Also lettered in track and field.

Brian Fowler • 6-2 • 217 • Geneva, NY/Geneva (Erie CC) • RB
Transfer from Erie Community College...NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American...Finished career at ECC as school's second all-time leading rusher (1,589 yards)...Had 967 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games last season...2008 ECC Scholar-Athlete of the Year...2006 New York State Class B Player of the Year out of Geneva High...First team All-State as a senior, helping lead Geneva to State Championship...Two-time All-Greater Rochester and all-league selection...Totaled 3,500 yards and 67 touchdowns during high school career.

Anthony Julbes • 6-4 • 230 • Stamford, CT/Stamford • TE
Three-year letterwinner...Second team all-conference as a senior...Totaled 39 catches for 589 yards and four touchdowns.

Kris Patterson • 6-2 • 310 • Durham, CT/Xavier • DL
All-State performer as a senior...Also earned all-conference and all-area recognition...Received Senior Leadership Award...Also lettered in track and field.

Dave Sabilia • 6-6 • 238 • Quaker Hill, CT/Waterford • OL
Three-time all-conference selection...All-area as a senior...Twice named Waterford Lineman of the Year...Also lettered in basketball.

Jake White • 6-3 • 210 • Milford, CT/Foran • QB
All-State as junior and senior...Two-time all-conference selection...Three-year starter...Helped lead Foran to division title as a senior...State record 38 completions versus North Haven...Also a three-year letterwinner in basketball.

Chris Williams • 6-2 • 220 • Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic • DL
Two-time all-league honoree...All-city as a senior...Had 70 tackles, including 15 for loss and three sacks.

SPRING ENROLLEES
Gene Johnson • 6-4 • 282 • Yonkers, NY/Lincoln (Iona) • DL
Transfer from Iona...Appeared in eight games...Totaled 21 tackles, including nine solo and one sack...All-section performer as a senior at Lincoln High...Had 63 tackles, including eight sacks...Started in Section I North vs. South All Star game...All-league honoree as sophomore, junior and senior...Also four-time all-league shot putter in track and field.

Rich Royster • 6-3 • 275 • Ossining, NY/Ossining (Iona) • DL
Transfer from Iona...Played in 10 games...Posted 14 tackles, including five solo and one for loss...Four-year starter at Ossining High...All-league selection as a junior and senior...All-section performer as a senior...USMC Distinguished Athlete Award recipient...Ossining won league, sectional and regional championships during senior season.

NOTE: Head coach Jeff McInerney will appear at halftime of tomorrow's men's basketball television broadcast on Cox.