ERIE, Pa. – Gannon head football coach Jim Kiernan announced the addition of 14 student-athletes to the program Wednesday afternoon during the first official day high school student-athletes are allowed to commit to college football programs per NCAA rules. All 14 have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at Gannon in the fall of 2012.

The newcomers are expected to join a Gannon football program that has won 16 games during the last three seasons, including back-to-back winning campaigns in 2009 and 2010. The latest recruiting class will help offset the graduation of 16 seniors. In all, 49 letterwinners and 11 players who started at least five games last season return in 2012. The program will feature 14 seniors during the upcoming season.

“We are excited about the addition of these student-athletes to the Gannon Golden Knights Football Program,” said Kiernan. “This group has not only excelled on the playing field, but just as importantly in classroom. Our coaching staff did an outstanding job at identifying student-athletes who will be a great fit at our University along with addressing our needs on the playing field. This group adds to an already solid foundation for our program's future success and we are excited to get them on campus this fall.”

Today's signees include five from Ohio, four from Pennsylvania, three from New York, one from Maryland and one from California. The position breakdown includes 10 defensive players and four offensive players.

Gannon completed the 2011 season with a 4-7 overall record, finishing fifth in the PSAC Western Division with a 3-4 mark. The Golden Knights defeated 2009 PSAC Champion Shippensburg and 2010 PSAC Champion Mercyhurst during the 2010 campaign. The program added another victory this season against Mercyhurst, as well as one against 2011 conference finalist Slippery Rock.

The complete list of today's signees can be found below. Additional recruits and bios will be released upon the completion of this year's recruiting class.

Gannon is tentatively scheduled to open the 2012 season Thursday, August 30 against Lake Erie at Gannon University Field. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule begins Saturday, September 8 at West Chester. Gannon opens the PSAC schedule with two road games, before hosting Clarion September 22.

2012 Gannon Football Recruiting Class (As of 2/1/12)
Alphabetical Order

Matt Astorino
(DB, 5-8, 175)
Edinboro, Pa. / General McLane High School

~ Played for head coach Jim Wells at General McLane (Pa.) High School
~ Intended Major: Social Studies/Secondary Education
~ Named to the all-region first team as a defensive back
~ Selected to the all-region second team as an all-purpose back
~ Named to the Meadville Dream Team as a running back
~ Was part of a General McLane program that went 40-9 during his career
~ Helped General McLane advance to the district finals as a senior
~ Is a member of the honor roll and the Principal's Honor Roll
~ Holds a 3.8 cumulative grade-point average
~ Is a member of the National Honor Society
~ Named to the Principal's Cabinet


Christopher Avery
(LB, 6-1, 220)
New Castle, Pa. / New Castle High School

~ Played for head coach Frank Bongivengo at New Castle (Pa.) High School
~ Intended major: Undecided
~ Named to the all-conference first team as both a center and defensive lineman


Matt Brammer
(OL, 6-3, 275)
Crownsville, Md. / DeMatha Catholic High School

~ Played for head coach Elijah Brooks at DeMatha Catholic (Md.) High School
~ Was a three-year varsity letterwinner
~ Served as a team captain during his senior season
~ Named special teams MVP as a senior


Mitch Bugala
(DL, 6-4, 300)
North Ridgeville, Ohio / North Ridgeville High School

~ Played for head coach Jeff Reisen at North Ridgeville (Ohio) High School
~ Intended major: Sports Management
~ Named to the all-conference, all-county and All-Northeast Ohio teams
~ Served as a team captain during his junior and senior seasons
~ Helped North Ridgeville advanced to the postseason and win the conference championship as a sophomore


Justin Dietz
(OL, 6-2, 280)
Red Bluff, Calif. / Kaiser (Hawaii) High School

~ Transferred from the College of Siskiyous in Weed, California
~ Will have two years of eligibility remaining
~ Named to the all-conference first team at the College of Siskiyous
~ Received the scholar-athlete award at Siskiyous
~ Played for head coach Pat Samsonas at Kaiser (Hawaii) High School
~ Named to the all-conference second team as a senior


Kyle DiPirro
(DL, 6-4, 255)
Buffalo, N.Y. / St. Mary's High School

~ Played for head coach Dave Hersey at St. Mary's (N.Y.) High School
~ Intended major: Criminal Justice
~ Was a Trench Trophy finalist
~ Earned All-Western New York honorable-mention accolades
~ Named to the All-State third team
~ Selected team defensive MVP as a senior


Trenton Donald
(DL, 6-4, 235)
Uniontown, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit High School

~ Played for head coach Gerry Rardin at Walsh Jesuit (Ohio) High School
~ Intended major: Sports Science/Physical Therapy
~ Was a three-year starter
~ Named Most Improved Lineman as a sophomore
~ Selected Defensive Lineman of the Year as a junior
~ Named Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year as a senior
~ Received the Bill Rico Memorial Award as a senior
~ Named to the all-conference first team and all-district second team
~ Led the football team to the 2011 regional finals with a 12-2 record
~ Was a two-sport athlete, being a three-year starter in basketball
~ Received the Best Defensive and Rebounding Award in basketball
~ Served as a team captain for both football and basketball
~ Led the basketball team to the 2010 regional finals with a 20-4 record


Jake Dwaileebe
(WR, 5-10, 170)
Jamestown, N.Y. / Jamestown High School

~ Played for head coach Tom Langworthy at Jamestown (N.Y.) High School
~ Intended major: Accounting
~ Named to the all-league first team
~ Earned All-Western New York second-team accolades
~ Named team offensive MVP
~ Served as a team captain


Casey Erhardt
(DL, 6-4, 250)
Marilla, N.Y. / Iroquois High School

~ Played for head coach Keith Marshall at Iroquois (N.Y.) High School
~ Named to the All-Division first team on defense
~ Selected to the All-Division second team on offense
~ Received team's Lineman of the Year award
~ Served as a team captain during his senior campaign
~ Was a four-year starter
~ Named Iroquois' Most Valuable Player
~ Was a Trench Trophy nominee
~ Named Student of the Month


Justin Fleo
(DB, 6-0, 195)
New Castle, Pa. / New Castle High School

~ Played for head coach Frank Bongivengo at New Castle (Pa.) High School
~ Intended major: Business
~ Named to the all-conference first team as a senior
~ Earned all-conference honorable-mention accolades as a running back
~ Received All-Big School honorable-mention honors as a wide receiver
~ Set the school's single-game rushing record with 276 yards against Blackhawk
~ Is a two-sport athlete, participating in track
~ Helped the 4 X 100 meter relay team set a school record while being named all-state and winning the conference championship
~ Is a member of the National Honor Society


Tyler Givens
(LB, 5-11, 215)
Rogers, Ohio / Beaver Local (Ohio) High School

~ Played for head coach Rich Wright at Beaver Local (Ohio) High School
~ Intended major: Sport & Exercise Science
~ Was a three-time all-conference selection
~ Led the team in tackles three consecutive seasons
~ Named to the All-Local team three times
~ Selected to the All-Quad County, the All-Eastern District and the All-Area teams twice each
~ Earned All-Ohio Valley accolades
~ Named team MVP
~ Was a Big 22 Candidate and Big 33 Special Mention
~ On pace to graduate in the top 20 percent of his class
~ Is a member of the honor roll


Brock Jones
(DB, 5-10, 190)
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit High School

~ Played for head coach Gerry Rardin at Walsh Jesuit (Ohio) High School
~ Intended major: Business
~ Named to the Associated Press All-Ohio first team
~ Selected to the All-Northeast Inland All-District first team
~ Named Most Valuable Player of the North Coast League
~ Landed a spot on the Akron Beacon Journal's All-Star Team
~ Selected team MVP
~ Helped Walsh Jesuit win the conference title, advancing to the regional finals


Deyne Richardson
(LB, 6-5, 195)
Beaver Falls, Pa. / Beaver Falls High School

~ Played for head coaches Ryan Matsook and Brian Burton at Beaver Falls (Pa.) High School
~ Intended major: Business
~ Was a three-year letterwinner
~ Served as a team co-captain
~ Led the conference in interceptions
~ Recorded 145 tackles and 10 interceptions during his career
~ Named to the Conference Top 22 All-Star Team as a defensive back
~ Was a two-sport athlete, lettering three times in basketball
~ Served as a team co-captain in basketball
~ Helped the basketball team win back-to-back conference championships
~ His basketball team is currently ranked third in the state with a 14-2 record
~ Awarded the C.J. Betters Christmas Tournament Academic Scholarship Award
~ Serves as the Vice President for both the Senior Class and Student Council
~ Has been an honor roll student the last two years
~ Named Lions Club Student of the Month


Rob Wallace
(OL, 6-5, 265)
Seven Hills, Ohio / Padua Franciscan (Ohio) High School

~ Played for head coach Tony Shuman at Padua Franciscan (Ohio) School
~ Intended major: Engineering
~ Was a three-year varsity letterwinner, being a two-year starter at left tackle
~ Named to the 2011 JJHuddle Preseason All-Ohio Division III First Team
~ Selected to the Ohio North Coast League first team, as well as being named Preseason Blue Division Most Valuable Lineman
~ Named to the Associated Press Northeast Lakes Division III All-District first team
~ Earned All-Ohio Division III Special-Mention Honors
~ Helped Padua Franciscan advance to the OHSAA Division III Regional Quarterfinals in 2009 and the OHSAA Division III Regional Semifinals in 2010
~ Has been a member of the honor roll every year
~ Is a member of the merit roll