ERIE, Pa. - Gannon head football coach Jim Kiernan announced the addition of 17 student-athletes to the program Wednesday afternoon, increasing the 2010 recruiting class to 26. All 26 student-athletes have agreed to continue their academic and athletic careers at Gannon in the fall of 2010.

The newcomers are expected to join an experienced group of student-athletes as the Gannon football program lost only eight graduating seniors from last year's 6-5 team. In all, 50 letterwinners and 17 players who started at least six games return in 2010. The program will feature 22 seniors during the upcoming season.

The 2010 recruiting class includes 10 New York, nine from Pennsylvania, three from Maryland, two from Ohio, one from California and one from Florida. The position breakdown includes 15 offensive players, 10 defensive players and one punter.

“We continue to develop depth across the board in our program with the addition of these student-athletes,” noted Kiernan. “We are excited to have this group of incoming student-athletes join our program as they will be part of the program's future success.”

Gannon finished the 2009 season with four consecutive victories, recording its first winning season since 2003 by knocking off 19th-ranked Bloomsburg in the season finale.

The Golden Knights are tentatively scheduled to open the 2010 season Thursday, September 2 against Lake Erie at Gannon University Field. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule begins Saturday, September 11 at Shippensburg. Gannon opens the PSAC slate with three road games, before hosting rival Mercyhurst October 2.


2010 Gannon Football Recruiting Class
March 31st Announcements - Alphabetical Order

Tom Abel
(FB, 5-10, 175)
Huntingtown, Md. / Huntingtown High School

~ Played at head coach Jerry Franks at Huntingtown High School
~ led Huntingtown to back-to-back conference championships
~ helped Huntingtown win the Maryland 3A Regional Championship en route to a 3A state runner-up finish as a senior


Jeff Bellanca
(LB, 5-10, 185)
Grand Island, N.Y. / St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute

~ Played for head coach Bob O'Connor at St. Joseph's Collegiate Inst.
~ Was a two-time all-league selection
~ Earned All-Western New York honorable-mention accolades
~ Named team MVP
~ Served as a team captain
~ Was a two-sport athlete, earning all-conference honors in baseball


Ryan Bodamer
(RB, 5-10, 175)
Port Allegany, Pa. / Port Allegany High School

~ Played for head coach Mike Bodamer at Port Allegany (Pa.) High School
~ Was a two-time all-conference defensive selection
~ Earned PA Football News All-State honorable-mention accolades twice
~ Selected to the Olean Times-Herald Big 30 All-Star team
~ Named to the District 9 Player of the Week honor roll six times
~ Is a member of the honor roll


Kevin Borton
(DL, 6-0, 250)
Orange, Calif. / El Modena (Calif.) High School

~ Played for head coach Greg Olquin at El Modena (Calif.) High School
~ Was a two-time all-league first-team selection
~ Served as a team captain during junior and senior seasons
~ Was a three-year varsity starter
~ Named Rookie of the Year as a freshman
~ Selected Lineman of the Year as a sophomore
~ Received the Hitman Award twice
~ Named team defensive MVP as a junior
~ Selected to the North Orange County All-Star team as a senior
~ Transferred from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif.
~ Was a two-year starter at Orange Coast College


Keith Bykowski
(LB, 5-10, 190)
Cheektowaga, N.Y. / Cheektowaga Central High School

~ Played for head coach Scott Zipp at Cheektowaga Central (N.Y.) HS
~ Named to the All-State first team (Class B)
~ Earned All-Western New York honorable-mention accolades
~ Named to the North Division All-Star first team
~ Selected North Division Defensive MVP and team def. MVP as a senior
~ Was a two-time recipient of the Scholar-Athlete Award
~ Led Cheektowaga Central to a 10-1 record, as well as division and section titles as a senior


Patrick Doty
(WR, 6-1, 180)
West Point, N.Y. / James I. O'Neill High School

~ Played for head coach Tim Hendershot at James I. O'Neill (N.Y.) HS
~ Named to the All-State and All-Section third teams
~ Selected team's most outstanding player for both offense and defense
~ Helped James I. O'Neill win the Section IX Championship as a senior
~ Was a member of the high honor roll


Thomas Fullum
(DL, 6-6, 210)
Aliquippa, Pa. / Southside Beaver High School

~ Played for head coach James Winner at Southside Beaver (Pa.) HS
~ Named to the all-conference first team as a defensive end
~ Selected to the all-conference second team as an offensive tackle
~ Named All-Big Seven
~ Guided Southside Beaver to back-to-back playoff appearances
~ Was a member of the honor roll


Sean Herron
(OL, 6-3, 330)
Erie, Pa. / Strong Vincent High School

~ Played for head coach Tom Cacchione at Strong Vincent (Pa.) HS
~ Named to the All-State first team as a defensive tackle
~ Was part of a Strong Vincent team that recorded an undefeated regular season in 2008
~ Was a member of the honor roll


Joe Hopwood
(OL, 5-10, 230)
Oil City, Pa. / Oil City High School

~ Played for head coach Matthew Lauerde at Oil City (Pa.) High School
~ Served as a team captain during his senior season
~ Was a three-time recipient of the Weight Room Warrior award
~ Received the Unsung Hero award as a sophomore and Character award as a senior
~ Was a member of the honor roll


Matthew Hornung
(DE, 6-1, 215)
Buffalo, N.Y. / Cheektowaga Central High School

~ Played for head coach Scott Zipp at Cheektowaga Central (N.Y.) HS
~ Served as a team captain during his senior season
~ Led Cheektowaga Central to a 10-1 record, as well as division and section titles
~ Named to the All-State Class B second team
~ Was a two-time All-Western New York third-team selection
~ Named to the all-division first team twice
~ Was a Trench Trophy nominee
~ Was a Western New York Lineman of the Year finalist
~ Named team offensive lineman of the year as a senior
~ Was a member of the honor roll
~ Named NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete three times
~ Was a two-time All-ECIC Academic team selection


Ian Kennedy
(LB, 5-9, 185)
West Seneca, N.Y. / Bishop Timon High School

~ Played for head coach Al Monaco at Bishop Timon (N.Y.) High School
~ Led team in tackles two straight years
~ Named team Defensive MVP
~ Served as a team captain during his senior season
~ Named to the All-Catholic and All-Metro teams
~ Earned All-Academic honors
~ Received the Armed Forces Student-Athlete Award
~ Graduated with a 3.75 GPA, receiving high honors


Alan Lockwood
(RB, 5-8, 197)
Conewango Valley, N.Y. / Randolph Central High School

~ Played for head coach Pat Slater at Randolph Central (N.Y.) HS
~ Landed a spot on the All-State Class D first team
~ Named Offensive MVP at the State semifinals and finals
~ Selected WKBW Channel 7 Offensive Player of the Year
~ Was a member of the honor roll and merit roll


Nathan McKillop
(QB, 6-0, 210)
Jonestown, Pa. / Northern Lebanon High School

~ Attended Northern Lebanon High School


Adam Schaffer
(P, 5-10, 170)
West Chester, Ohio / Moeller High School

~ Played for head coach John Rodenberg at Moeller (Ohio) High School
~ Was a two-year varsity letterwinner
~ Played in the Ohio vs. USA game
~ Helped Moeller qualify for the post-season
~ Was a National Combine Series finalist
~ Selected as a Ray Guy Top 25 punter
~ Was a member of the honor roll
~ Received the Father Chaminade Service award


Dom Sedlak
(DE, 6-0, 250)
Auburn, N.Y. / Auburn High School

~ Played for head coach Dave Moskov at Auburn (N.Y.) High School
~ Was a two-time all-league first-team selection as a defensive tackle
~ Served as a team captain during his senior season
~ Earned All-CNY honors as a junior defensive tackle
~ Was a member of the honor roll


Ryan Sweet
(WR, 6-2, 195)
East Aurora, N.Y. / East Aurora High School

~ Played for head coach Tim Wade at East Aurora (N.Y.) High School
~ Named to the All-State and All-Western New York second teams as a senior wideout
~ Selected Class B Offensive Player of the Year as a senior
~ Named to the All-Division first team as a senior cornerback
~ Served as a team captain during his senior season
~ Named team MVP and special teams MVP
~ Landed a spot on the All-Western New York second team (kicker) and All-Division first team (linebacker) as a junior
~ Named to the All-Division first team as a sophomore kicker
~ Was a scholar-athlete
~ Lettered three times in both football and basketball


Justin Vescio
(LB, 5-9, 185)
Sewickley, Pa. / Quaker Valley High School

~ Played for head coach Jeff Besong at Quaker Valley (Pa.) High School
~ Was a four-year letterwinner
~ Named to the all-conference second team
~ Received the Andy Shulick Award for his leadership and discipline on and off the field
~ Record a school-record 33 tackles in one game as a junior
~ Made a school-record 150 tackles during his junior campaign