RMU’s National Signing Day (Updated 2/5)
They’re the ones that end up at schools like Robert Morris, even if those tags are only mistakenly applied (see Myles Russ).
They’re the ones we’re worried about. However, since the focus is usually on the stars and the big money schools, information about signings for the small schools won’t come until later.
Update: Day one is over and the first signings have made their way across our desk. After hunting, prowling, and scouring for information, I have seven names to offer up from Day One. Those names are after the jump, with more to come in the coming days.
Update #2: Added three more recruits to the list.
Transfers: WR – Jordan Batts (5′11, 170) – Transfer from Northeastern
As already reported here on the site, Batts transfered to Robert Morris following the disbanding of the Northeastern program in December. He’s already enrolled and taking classes, and he will have three years of eligibility and will be eligible to play immediately after leading NU in receptions as a freshman.
WR – Bradley Hilovsky (5′11, 178) – Transfer from Hofstra
Hilovsky is another casualty from a disbanding program. Hofstra also cuts its program and the Delaware native ended up at RMU. After heading to Hofstra as a QB and redshirting his freshman year, he moved to WR and appeared in a couple games the last two years without accumulating any stats. He’ll have at least two years of eligibility.
Big lineman signed out of a high school near Canton, Ohio.
DB – Khalil Priddie – Riverwood International Charter School, Atlanta GeorgiaPriddie told a local paper that location was a major factor in his decision. “I’m from Brooklyn, so I have a lot of family close by and that means a lot, but I also liked the coaches a lot,” he said. “They were pretty young and I got along with them and the players well.”
TE/DE – Chris Thompkins – Webster Schroeder, Webster NY
Athletic player also plays basketball. No word on whether he’ll play on offense or on defense, although old reports on his size (around 6′1, 200) suggest he might be a WR or TE at RMU.
ATH – Kyle Johnson (5′10, 170) – Tennyson High Oakland, California
First-year QB completed 53.2 percent of his passes for 1,093 yards but will no doubt be used at a different position at RMU. Should be first California recruit since WR Michael Rogers several years ago.
WR/DB – Bart Lindsey (6′5, 175), Newton High, Conyers, Georgia
Came out of a large 5-A school in Georgia. Second player in this class to be recruited out of the Peach State.
DB/KR – Evan Taylor (6′2, 190), Shasta High, Shasta Lake, California
A very good high school running back, Taylor was recruited as a kick returner and defensive back.
WR/DB – Tallen Birmingham (5′8, 185), Girard High School, Girard, Ohio
Birmingham comes out of the football rich Mahoning Valley in Ohio.
DE – Jon Hill (6′4, 240), Lake Orion High, Lake Orion, Michigan
All conference pick was recruited by a host of MAC schools at the D-I FBS level.
More as they come in over the next couple days.
Andrew,
Why do NEC schools like Albany, CCSU and Bryant publish signings today and others do not? I think Bryant has 25. Is there any reason why RMU and others hold back? Do you think they might have a bunch of guys waiting for things at higher level things to shake out a litte?
Also, have you heard anything about the spring transfers? One from Hofstra, one from Northeastern and a JUCO guy?
Thanks
As far as the signings go, I think it comes down to personal preference of the coaching staff. Robert Morris tends to keep the door open for some late decisions (Shadrae King was one of them two years ago). They do tend to have some guys waiting to see how other situations might shake out, along with their standard guys that have already committed and had RMU as their top choice. Dreams die hard for athletes, and many don’t want to give up on the idea that a school like RMU or Monmouth is where they’re destined to go. They need that wake-up call on signing day.
Great start for the Colonials so far. I think the staff will continue recruiting more and I could be wrong but didn’t at least 2 articles came out on rmucolonials.com about the last year’s incoming players?
The biggest name here is Jordan Batts. He will be able to compete right away and probably be listed as the #1 WR by the end of Spring Ball. And he could also compete to be the KR or PR man next season as well.
A second recruit from California,
Shasta High School’s Evan Taylor is headed east to Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program Robert Morris University near Pittsburgh.
Taylor signed his letter in the Shasta’s principal’s office on Wednesday.
The Northern Section’s No. 4 all-time rushing leader with 4,595 career yards, Taylor was recruited as a defensive back and kick/punt returner by Robert Morris who is coached by former New York Jets coach Joe Walton.
Taylor chose the best financial package, turning down other offers from Humboldt State, Sioux Falls and Albany University to head to Pittsburgh.
A three-year varsity starter, Taylor for 1,216 yards and a sophomore then was the R-S.V.P. winner after his junior season when he ran for 1,961 yards and 21 touchdowns. He ran for 1,418 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns as a senior in 2009.
Once the complete list of recruits comes out, I think it will be clear that the coaches put in a lot of hard work recruiting quality players by casting their nets nation wide.
Go Colonials!
In Brad Hilovsky, the transfer from Hofstra, it seems RMU picked up an outstanding student/athlete. Brad was on the CAA All-Conferecne Academic Team. He is also an excellent writer, as evidenced by the article he wrote in the most recent issue of The Sentry.
Welcome Brad!!!
Andrew – Thanks.. anything on the JUCO guy?
ORMC – I was really shocked to see the GA and CA boys listed. That is great. I think the only argument against it is possible retention. I know they had a lineman from CA a few years ago from CA who did not last with the team. I think his name was Pasternak (probably spelled wrong). I wonder why they changed the approach this year? The slow start might have had something to do with it. Also, on a different topic, i posted on your NEC picks on AGS, you should check out the championshipsubdivision site. There are some Albany and CCSU guys on there.
Does anyone know the exact number of full ride equivalents that RMU gives for football?
Pasternack left for other reasons than football and being far from home I believe. At least that was the word around campus.
Thanks RMUinline3. I heard he was a really nice kid.
Hey BobbyMo – AGS is current down again so I slowly started to make my way to championshipsubdivision.com/forums. I have actually posted on the threads about Wagner’s recruits (unreal big OL they recruited from FL) and Albany.
It’s great to see the coaches work on developing new pipelines for future Colonials. I just hope that these student athletes skip around for 4 years because I believe this is the year where RMU takes that next step to the NEC Title.
Not to sound provincial, but what level of effort does the coaching staff take to try and sign local players? I know that Coach Walton always went out of the area in the early days of the program to get it up and running quickly, but it doesn’t seem that the staff makes a major effort to sign WPIAL/City League players I know that we’ve had Robb Butler and off course, Tim Levcik, but on the Pennsylvania Sportsboard which I help moderate, I’ve had numerous coaches post that they have never seen a Robert Morris coach scouting any of their players. Does RMU cede the local talent to Duquesne and other small college programs in order to go for a more nationwide search?
Hey Pierre – I was going to agree with you but I think the coaches do make a big effort to recruit local WPIAL players. Yes in the early days it was easier to land kids from NY-OH-NJ-MD. But I think if you look at last year’s incoming class you will notice that they did land quite a few of WPIAL including some big names:
I counted 18 incoming WPIAL players within last year’s class.
While most major FCS programs are done with their recruiting the RMU coaches will continue to plug away. I’m sure there are some local guys who had hope to secure a full to partial scholarship at the D-I level that will be considering smaller programs like RMU. I’m sure once the coaches are done with recruiting, you will see some WPIAL players listed.
Couple things before hoops kicks off for the night…
- No published information exists on the number of scholarships for RMU or any other NEC team. There’s a ceiling, at the moment, but even that has been argued about. It’s up to each team, really, based on their funds.
- WPIAL players tend to sign with RMU later for some reason. Many tend to wait until they get a better picture on their financial aid package.
Branvold said the NEC just raised their limit to 40 when they petitioned to be apart of the FCS Championship and I also took from that class that RMU is going to slowly but surely get up to that limit. Adding like 1-3 scholarships a year? I can’t be sure if that is what he meant but thats what I got out of it.
I wonder if RMU will have to pull a Duquesne in order to make more funding available to add scholarships. Hopefully, if they have to resort to that, they’ll handle the situation better than they did.
Local recruit – According to the Trib (Jan. 30, 2010), Andrew Smith a TE from Seneca Valley made a verbal commitment to RMU. I do not know if he has signed.
Andrew Smith #11
Listed as 6′3″ 221lbs
Position = TE/DL
http://michiganpreps.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2010&School=290&Sport=1
I guess we can add Adam Foster
http://rivals.yahoo.com/michiganpreps/football/recruiting/player-Adam-Forster-82555
Great Job by by the folks at collegesportingnews.com
http://www.collegesportingnews.com/content.php?166-2010-N
No official reports/release from RMU or the Dukes but at least you can see what other teams in the NEC did.
Any word on the RB from Clairton. Can’t remember his name right now
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/highschool/s_663903.html
Clairton running back Deontae Howard is close to deciding where to go to college, and Robert Morris looks like the favorite. Clairton coach Tom Nola said Howard will visit Robert Morris this weekend and that it “looks pretty good” that the Colonials will get Howard’s pledge
That would be a big great for the Colonials.
Another possible newcomer for RMU is Ethan Riley from Valley View HS in NorthEast PA. Other schools hes talking to supposively are Albany, and Valpraiso(Ind.) as well as RMU. Looks like he will be a free safety or if he gets faster a cornerback, has the hands and quickness to play slot. Hes 6′0” 160lbs. he took a visit and met with coaches in january. Still waiting to hear from him yet
Another possible newcomer for RMU is Ethan Riley from Valley View HS in NorthEast PA. Other schools hes talking to supposively are Albany, and Valpraiso(Ind.) as well as RMU. Looks like he will be a free safety or if he gets faster a cornerback, has the hands and quickness to play slot. Hes 6′0” 160lbs. he took a visit and met with coaches in january. Still waiting to hear from him yet