Feb. 7, 2008

Staten Island, NY - Wagner College head football coach Walt Hameline has announced the signing of 30 student-athletes who have elected to attend Wagner and play football for the Seahawks. Headlining the class are five mid-year transfers who have enrolled at Wagner for the spring semester and who are eligible to compete in Spring Practice.

Reflecting Wagner College's mission, the 2008 recruiting class has a truly national flavor. Five future Seahawks hail from New York and another five are from Florida. Other states represented in this wide-ranging class include New Jersey (4), Pennsylvania (4), California (3), Connecticut (2), Maryland (2). States that produced one Wagner recruit include Massachusetts, Virginia, Michigan and even one recruit who was born and raised in Hawaii.

All of these newcomers are expected to take the field for the Seahawks program in the Fall 2008 semester. The 30 players announced today elected to sign with Wagner during the national signing Any additions to the 2008 recruiting class will be announced at a later date.

"I am excited about the quality and quantity of the young men that we have attracted to Wagner. This is a group of fine student-athletes," said Hameline. "The prestige of a Wagner education and our location, which provides access to countless career and social opportunities in the greatest city in the world, make us terrific a destination for young people.

"Combine that with the opportunity to play at a competitive level of college football, add to that a tremendous campus life, and you have the ingredients for success," Hameline added. "I have to commend my coaching staff for their tireless work in identifying and selling our vision to this group. I also commend our current players who did a terrific job communicating what life as a Seahawk is all about to these young men when they visited our campus.

"I also think the momentum generated from our success last season, and the honors attained by several of our top guys, played a key role in helping to assemble such a fine recruiting class," Hameline continued. "My staff hit the ground running immediately following the Jacksonville game (41-27 win in season finale on Nov. 17). And today's class represents the fruits of that labor."

The 2007 Seahawks went 7-4 with a 3-3 mark in the NEC and produced five All-NEC players, two All-Americans and one ECAC All-Star. The 2008 campaign will mark Hameline's 28th as head coach and he has an all-time record of 186-97-2 (65.5%).

Quintin Anderson Fr. OL 6-4, 270 Milford (NY) Academy/ Penfield HS Rochester, NY

Is a physical specimen who runs well and has excellent agility for a man his size ... Helped lead perennial prep powerhouse Milford (NY) Academy to an 11-1 record in 2007 ... 30 of his teammates have committed to FCS or FBS schools ...A standout two-year lineman for the Penfield HS Patriots ... Named third-team Central New York Class AA All-State Third Team ... Also named to the New York Sportswriters Association All-State Third Team.

Adam Farnsworth Jr. QB 6-3 205 Weber HS /Snow CC (UT)/Univ. of Iowa Ogden, UT

A transfer from the University of Iowa who will have two years of eligibility remaining ... Played one season at Snow Community College in Utah under head coach Jeff Kilts ... Spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons as a member in the Big 10 as a member of the University of Iowa football team ... Earned honorable mention All-State recognition as a senior at Weber HS ... First-Team All-Conference selection as a senior when he completed 140-265 passes for 1,435 yards and 13 TDs ... served a two-year Mormon mission in the Philippines.

Steve Panasuk So. QB 6-3 205 New Egypt HS/La Salle University Toms River, NJ

Gained valuable experience starting six games while seeing action in eight games as a true freshman in 2007 at La Salle ... Enrolled at Wagner after the Explorers dropped their football program ... saw action in eight games last season, completing 35-92 passes for 335 yards, which tied for the team in passing yardage ... Threw two TDs and seven INTs ... Completed 7-18 passes for 115 yards vs. Geneva and was 10-25 through the air for 113 yards vs. Saint Francis (PA) ... his long completion for the year was 42 yards ... In his senior season at New Egypt HS, completed 66-112 passes for 1,242 yards and nine TDs as a senior in leading New Egypt to a 5-3 record ... Rushed for 564 yards on 77 carries and nine TDs ... Top game came in 23-13 win over Allentown HS when he completed 12-17 passes for 229 yards and a TD and ran for 185 yards on 20 carries ... Also had 29 tackles from his safety position.

Shane Smith Jr. FB 6-2 230 Milford Academy (NY)/Univ. of Central Florida Honesdale, PA/

A transfer from the University of Central Florida, an FBS program that competes in Conference USA ... after red-shirting there as a freshman in 2005, appeared in nine games at fullback and on special teams in 2006 ... For the season, caught three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown ... Had two of those receptions in a win at Memphis, including a three-yard TD reception in the first quarter ... Regarded as a bruising fullback who is a tremendous blocker with good hands ... started all 12 games for Milford in the fall of 2004 ... rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries ... added 17 receptions for 191 yards and two TDs ... played high school football at Honesdale High School (PA) where he played for head coach Gene Biscontini ... Rushed for 2,698 yards and 39 TDs as a senior ... Gained 4,996 yards in his career with a high game of 396 yards and eight TDs ... First-team All-State honoree at TB ... All-Region and All-Conference honoree ... rushed for 1,694 yards and 29 TDs as a junior.

Prince Young RB 5-10, 210 Brick Township Memorial HS/Fork Union (VA) Military Academy Neptune, NJ

A tough, hard-nosed runner ... Had 24 carries for 115 yards to help Fork Union to a 38-0 win over Pittsburgh Blue Storm ... rushed for 86 yards on 17 carries in the season finale, a 34-0 victory over Hargrave Military ... a second-team All-Ocean County selection by The Star-Ledger as a senior at Brick Memorial... Named the Shore Conference Comeback Player of the Year after battling back from a knee injury suffered in his junior season ... Also a productive starting linebacker for the Mustangs ...possesses excellent speed, burst, balance and vision.

Wagner Recruits who will Enroll in Fall 2008

Name			Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	School/Hometown
Matt DeZarlo		LB	5-11	210	South River HS/South River, NJ
Aggressive athlete who helped lead the Rams to state finals as a senior; Academic All-American
Derrick Forrest		DL	6-2	230	Calvery Christian Academy/Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Three-time MVP; gifted athlete; First-Team All-County; invited to prestigious Broward County All-Star Game
Nick Linehan		WR/LS	6-3	195	Bishop Feehan HS/Attleboro, MA
Also a proficient long-snapper; older brother Tyler ('08) excelled in same role; team went 10-2-1 as a senior
Wes McDaniel		RB	5-10	180	Blue Ridge HS/ Richmond, VA
Rushed for 3,529 yards and 42 TDs in his career; Named All-State, All-Region and All-Metro
Savino Melluzzo	RB	5-10	190	Southington HS/ Southington, CT
Second-Team All-State selection; Named All-Conference; Tough, hard-nosed runner
Zach Michael		DB	6-2	195	Gettysburg HS/ Gettysburg, PA
Hard-hitting defensive back who was named to the AP Pennsylvania Class AAA all-state team; scored eight TDs on offense
Justin McKillop		LB	6-1	230	Saugus HS/Saugus, CA
All-Conference, All-League choice; defensive MVP, team captain; will be joined on team by identical twin brother Ryan
Ryan McKillop		LB	6-1	220	Saugus HS/Saugus, CA
Two-time defensive playmaker of the year; team captain; Named All-Conference, All-League; will be joined on team by identical twin brother Justin
Ryan Middleton		DB/RB	5-10	185	West Orange HS/Winter Garden, FL
Dynamic and versatile athlete; can play DB, RB and QB; Rushed for 648 yards, amassed 55 tackles and two INTs
Ricky Morgan		DB	5-10	195	Palmer Trinity HS/ Miami, FL
Versatile playmaker who was a standout at DB, RB and LB; rushed for 120 yards and two TDS vs. Zion Lutheran; Honorable Mention All-Dade County
Kyle Muir		P	6-2	185	Hudson C.C./Spencerport HS/Spencerport, NY
Three-time All-League; National Honor Society Club member; career-long 56-yard punt; Second-team All-Conference punter in junior college
Mikah Pada		DB	5-10	185	Kealakene HS/Saddleback (AZ) College/ Kamuela, HI
Played in one nation's top junior college programs; First-Team All-Mission Conference; regarded as a "shut-down
 CB
Tony Pedrotti		DL	6-0	275	West Genesee HS/ Syracuse, NY
Helped lead his team to New York state championship in 2007; Second-team All-Conference selection
Brent Peltz		DL	6-1	215	Christian Brothers Academy/Skaneateles, NY
Named to the All-Central New York (CNY) team; served as team captain senior year
Alex Scharf-Garcia	WR	5-11	175	Gulliver Prep/ Key Biscayne, FL
Demonstrated big-play ability with 14 reception for 279 yards (20-yard average) with a long of 81 yards for 8-1 team
Julian Stanford		DL	6-2	210	Bloomfield HS/ Bloomfield, CT
A versatile talent who starred at DL, LB and RB; No.2 rusher in conference with 804 yards and nine TD's