ALBANY, N.Y. – After an extremely successful 2016 campaign produced by a relatively youthful team, University at Albany head football coach Greg Gattuso and his staff felt size and depth in the trenches were the Great Danes’ immediate needs on the recruiting trail for 2017.
Mission accomplished. The UAlbany coaches brought in some big bodies on both sides of the line, including 6-foot-2, 290-pound transfer Antoine White, a three-year letterman on the defensive line who competed for the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Rose Bowl.
“We feel like we added some big, athletic bodies,” Gattuso said. “Our defensive line played pretty well last year, but we had a lack of depth. One of the guys we are really excited about is Antoine White, who played a lot (three seasons) for Penn State. We also picked up a big-time receiver in Jerod Diggs. He’ll be only a one-year guy for us, but we felt that was an area in which we needed some immediate help,” Gattuso said. “A lot of really big schools loved him, but they were afraid of him because of the one-year thing. With the youth we still have in our receiving corps, we thought that Diggs could impact that area for us.”
Gattuso, whose Great Danes finished 4-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association, 7-4 overall, and nearly captured an FCS postseason playoff berth, also brought in several newcomers on the offensive line. “I think we continued to stockpile offensive linemen,” he said. “We have been really building up to this year in that position.”
Providing strength and depth on that OL will be 6-3, 280-pound Eric Carter, a two-time first-team all-conference selection and offensive MVP from Bayonne High School; Ryan Solt, a 6-2 ½, 284-pound two-time all-state and Wyoming Valley Conference selection from James M. Coughlin H.S.; and Hunter Verti, a 6-4 ½, 335-pounder from Cheshire Academy. Solt’s father, a 1984 Maryland grad, played in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and the Philadelphia Eagles.
New Yorkers Daniel Damico, a 6-2, 230-pound linebacker from Christian Brothers Academy in Manlius, and Damon Burton, a 5-9, 182-pounder from Aquinas Institute in Rochester, each have big-time resumes. Damico made 197 tackles and intercepted two passes en route to being named Mr. Football in Class AA, while Burton made 87 tackles and was an All-State selection for Aquinas, a two-time state champion.
The Great Danes also improved their depth at the offensive skill positions. Karl Mofor a 5-9, 208-pound running back from Eleanor Roosevelt H.S., ran for 1,991 yards and 21 TDs a senior. Zac Barnard a 6-3, 230-pounder from Atco, N.J., ran for 1,100 yards and 22 TDs at Peddie H.S.
OFFENSE
ERIC CARTER, OL, 6-3, 280 pounds. Jersey City, N.J., Bayonne H.S. Monroe J.C.
Two-time first-team All-Conference and team Offensive MVP as senior. Two-time captain.
Gattuso’s take: “We liked Eric because of his athleticism. He is long and can play left tackle or right tackle. A lot of versatility and a little mean streak in him. We like that.”
RYAN SOLT, OL. 6-2 ½, 284 pounds. Hardin, Pa. James M. Coughlin H.S. Senior captain and two-time Wyoming Valley and Pennsylvania All-State selection. Father, Ron, played in NFL with Colts and Eagles.
Gattuso’s take: “Ryan’s father played at Maryland. I had him in camp as a freshman. He’s a guy who had FBS offers. We’re excited about him. Big, very strong athlete. We love his athleticism and he is tough. Comes from a football family. Pure guard.”
HUNTER VERDI, OL. 6-4 ½, 335 pounds, Southington, Conn. Cheshire Academy
Offensive OL MVP. Played football, baseball, wrestling, lacrosse and track.
Gattuso’s take: ”We really like Hunter. He’s a big guy like Matt Campion. Impressed with his versatility, because he can play center, guard or tackle.”
KARL MOFOR, RB. 5-9, 208 pounds. Laurel, Mo. Eleanor Roosevelt H.S. Totaled 1,991 rushing yards and 21 TDs as senior, 4,084 yards 46 rushing TDs, 56 total TDs in career. Senior captain. Two-time All-County.
Gattuso’s take: “We think Karl has a lot of attributes. Big, physical kid. We like that he can carry the ball a lot. Must find a way to take burden off Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks.”
ZAC BARNARD, RB. 6-3, 230 pounds. Atco, N.J. Peddie H.S.
As senior captain ran for 1,100 yards and 22 TDs. All-South Jersey selection.
Gattuso’s take: “He’s a kid who committed to UConn, but they pulled out. He’s a big athlete. He can play LB. We love his ability to move and run. A lot of upside.”
JEROD DIGGS, WR. 6-0, 190 pounds. Washington, D.C. Perry Street Prep. Marshall University. Lackawanna College.
Senior captain and two-time All-Conference in high school. NEFC All-Conference and MVP for Lackawanna.
Gattuso’s take: “We thought we could use a player of his ability. Big-time playmaker who came to football late in life. He gets better every year. He’s big-play football guy who can make some big plays for us.”
MARQUIS THORNES, WR. 6-3, 185 pounds. Baltimore, Md. McDonogh H.S. Caught eight TD passes and made three interceptions as a senior captain. Second-team All-Met selection on defense. Also played basketball and ran track.
Gattuso’s take: ”Big, long receiver who comes from great program in Maryland. We like that he’s a big receiver more than just a possession receiver. He’s an excellent all-around athlete.”
DEFENSE
ANTOINE WHITE, DL. 6-2, 290 pounds. Millville, N.J. Millville H.S. Penn State University
Two-time captain in high school as well as All-Conference and All-State. Two-year letterman for Nittany Lions and recorded 80 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss and five QB sacks.
Gattuso’s take: “Antoine is in situation where he became available. Big man who can run. He has a lot of big-game snaps under his belt. He can make an impact and help us keep rotation going on the line. He’s a good get for us.”
MAZON WALKER, DL. 5-10, 279 pounds. Huber Heights, Ohio. Wayne H.S. Defensive MVP, team captain and recorded 72 tackles, six QB sacks and three fumble recoveries as a senior, when he earned third-team All-State and first-team All-Conference and All-District honors.
Gattuso’s take: “Aggressive, physical kid. I’m not afraid of the 5-10, 5-11 defensive linemen. He was overlooked because of his height. He’ll be a nose guard for us. Very powerful and explosive.”
ZACH VERDI, DL 6-1, 256 pounds. Southington, Conn. Loomis Chassee. Cheshire Academy.
Captain at Loomis as junior. Hunter Verdi’s brother.
Gattuso’s take: “He’s a hard-nosed kid who was at camp with his brother. Plays with a hard-nosed brand of football. Good defensive end and run-stopper.”
JUSTIN WALKER, LB. 6-0, 219 pounds. Bayonne N.J. St. Peter’s Prep. Lackawanna College.
Team captain as a senior.
Gattuso’s take: “He comes in at a time when we graduate three seniors at linebacker. Big thing for us is he’ll make us better.”
DANIEL DAMICO, LB. 6-2, 230 pounds. Manlius, N.Y. CBA.
Made 197 tackles, 48 tackles for a loss, recorded 4 ½ QB sacks and recovered two fumbles as senior captain. Team MVP, All-State MVP and Mr. Football in Section 3 AA.
Gattuso’s take: “He played defensive line three years and moved to linebacker. We got in on him. We love him. He’s a great student who had a great year. He’s heckuva football player from another great program.”
DANIEL BANKS, DB, 5-9, 164 pounds. Macedonia, Ohio. Nordonia H.S.
All-County DB also competed in track for four years.
Gattuso’s take: “He’s an athletic kid who is quick. Ohio football players are great.”
DAMON BURTON, DB, 5-9, 182 pounds. Rochester, N.Y. Aquinas Institute. Totaled 87 tackles and three QB sacks as a senior captain. First-team all-state and two-time state champion. Also boxed for five years and competed on baseball, lacrosse and track teams.
Gattuso’s take: “He’s an explosive athlete who is a heckuva football player. He came from another strong program. We like the fact that we keep getting some very good players from New York.”
ANTHONY LANG, DE. 6-3, 225 pounds. Jamaica N.Y. Christ the King H.S.
Senior captain was a first-team All-State selection. Recorded 45 tackles and six sacks. Also lettered two years in basketball.
Gattuso’s take: “Anthony is a kid we’ve been after for a long time. Saw him at camp and liked him. He’s a guy who can play a lot of positions. We see him as a flexible, athletic pass rusher. We expect him to be a great pass-rusher on the edge for us.”
ISAIAH WATSON, DE/LB. 6-3, 220 pounds. Hammonton, N.J. Cedar Creek H.S.
Two-time All-Conference player and led his team to New Jersey State title in 2015.
Gattuso’s take: “He’s a steal for us. Three FBS offers including Army, Old Dominion and Buffalo, but he became available for us. Big, athletic kid who played TB and LB. Very versatile.”
