WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University head football coach Roger Waialae has added 20 new faces to the Hilltopper roster for the 2014 season.
“We’re very excited about this year’s recruiting class,” Waialae said, “and we’re not finished. We have several other guys who have signed but we have to wait for the paperwork to go through before the NCAA will let us announce them. We’re also on the short list with a handful of guys who will be making their decisions in the next week or so.”
Fourteen of the 20 players in today’s announcement are currently wrapping up their final semester of high school but the remaining six have been taking classes on campus since January.
Among the highlights from that group are junior cornerback Solomon Dixon, a former Hawaii state sprint champion who led the University of Idaho in interceptions as a freshman. Dixon played in 17 straight games for the Vandals before going down with a season-ending injury midway through his sophomore season.
Other transfers to watch include mammoth defensive lineman Demarlow Moses (6-2, 320), a rugged run-stuffer from Cerritos (Calif.) College who was athletic enough to see significant time at defensive end last fall; former Brooke High tight end Joe Staffileno, who returns to the valley after sitting out a redshirt season at Shepherd; and athletic free safety Parrish McKnight, who transferred in from NCAA FCS University of Albany (N.Y.).
“Dixon is probably as fluid a corner as we’ve had here,” Waialae said, “and it’s amazing how quick Moses is for his size. We’re pretty happy that we were able to get this group in here so they can go through spring practice and get up to speed. They all have the potential to contribute in the fall.”
When combined with the 14 high school recruits, there’s a good mix of offense and defense in this signing class. The list includes 5 defensive backs, 4 linebackers, 4 tight ends, 2 defensive linemen and 2 offensive linemen to go along with a wide receiver, running back and quarterback.
As has been the case in recent years, the Hilltoppers’ recruiting “footprint” stretches from coast-to-coast and beyond. Waialae and his staff signed players from as far away as Hawaii, California, Florida and Georgia this year but 11 of West Liberty’s newest gridders hail from the tri-state area (West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania).
“The Ohio Valley and the OVAC, that’s our base,” Waialae said. “We always look to the valley first and then fill out what we need with players from other areas.”
With a strong nucleus returning from last year’s 6-5 team that fell one touchdown short of a third-place finish in the Mountain East Conference, Waialae can’t wait to get back on the field with his team in a few weeks for spring practice. He’s also looking forward to August when this year’s recruiting class will get its first real taste of college football.
“This is one of the most athletic classes we’ve ever signed,” Waialae said, “and that includes the linemen. We did bring in a few guys who missed most or all of last season due to injury. In most cases, if those guys hadn’t been injured, they would have signed with a Division I program so with today’s medical technology and our history of success with that type of player in the past, we feel those are good risks to take.
The Hilltoppers kick off the 2015 season at home on Sept. 5 against defending MEC champion and NCAA Division II national semifinalist Concord. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at West Family Stadium.
2015 WEST LIBERTY FOOTBALL RECRUITS
Solomon Dixon, CB, 5-11, 185, Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii/Idaho
2-year letterman and part-time starter at NCAA FBS Idaho. …Played in all 12 games in 2012 and first 5 games in 2013 before going down with injury. …Sat out 2014 season. …67 tackles, 6 tackles-for-loss, 4 INTs, 10 passes defended and a blocked kick. …Career-high 9 tackles with 1 TFL vs. Fresno State. …2-time all-stater at Honolulu (HI) McKinley HS. …1,000-yard rusher set school record with 267-yard game. …Track and field standout was Hawaii state champion in 400-meter dash as a sophomore
Ronald Jefferson, RB, 6-0, 225, Fr., Cleveland, Ohio/John F. Kennedy
All-Senate Athletic League selection did not play football last season. …Second-leading rusher on 9-1 JFK team as sophomore. …Missed junior year with knee injury. …Led team in rushing as a senior
Parrish McKnight, DB, 5-11, 185, So., Webster, N.Y./Albany
Played in 7 games, primarily on special teams, at NCAA FCS Albany as a redshirt freshman in 2013. …Did not participate in football-related activities in 2014. …All-County, All-Greater Rochester and All-State QB/DB as a senior at Webster (NY.) Schroeder HS. …Versatile athlete passed for 3,522 yards, ran for 2,004 and scored 33 TDs in four varsity seasons. …Played in 2012 New York State All-Star Classic
Demarlow Moses, DL, 6-2, 320, Jr., Los Angeles, CA/Cerritos College
Played in 5 games at West L.A. College in 2012 before transferring to Cerritos (Calif.) College. …Played in all 11 games at Cerritos in 2013. …Career-high 6 tackles with 1 TFL vs. Fullerton. …3-year starting lineman at Los Angeles (Calif.) Dominguez HS. …Helped Dominguez to San Gabriel Valley League championship
Joe Staffileno, TE, 6-4, 260, R-Fr., Wellsburg, W.Va./Shepherd
Sat out redshirt season at Shepherd last fall. …3-year letterman at Brooke (W.Va.) HS. …2-time All-Valley selection. …Caught 29 passes for 403 yards and 5 TDs as senior. …Played in OVAC All-Star Game. …Father Ron Staffileno was an offensive lineman at the University of Maryland
Aaron Kesi, LB, 6-1, 215, Fr., Waipahu, Hawaii/W.R. Farrington
Did not participate in football-related activities last fall. …2nd-team all-state LB/DE for 2013 OIA Red East champion W.R. Farrington HS. …1st-team All-OIA Red East selection as a senior. …Played for East Team in 2013 HUB All-Star Game
Dylan Anderson, LB, 6-2, 220, Fr., Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown
Honorable mention All-OVAC Class 5A linebacker for perennial West Virginia big-school power Mohigans. …Honorable mention All-West Virginia Class 3A selection
Trey Anderson, WR, 6-3, 215, Fr., Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley
2-time Honorable mention Ohio Division II All-District wide receiver at Hilliard Bradley. …Speedy wideout ran a 10.8 in the 100-meter dash at district meet …Had 750 total yards (rushing/receiving) and scored 10 TDs as a senior
Zach Connor, LB, 6-0, 220, Fr., Mingo Junction, Ohio/Indian Creek
3rd-team All-Ohio Division IV linebacker at Wintersville (Ohio) Indian Creek HS. …1st-team All-Eastern District and All-OVAC selection. …All-Valley “Big School” captain had 105 tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss and 5 QB sacks as a senior
Logan Deri, DB, 6-1, 180, Fr., North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin
2-way standout (DB/WR) at Norwin (Pa.) HS. …2nd-team WPIAL All-Foothills Conference pick led team in tackles from his safety spot. …Had 98-yard interception return vs. Greater Latrobe.
Anthony Duncan, TE, 6-3, 210, Fr., Cleveland, Ohio/Central Catholic
2-way starter (TE/DE) at Cleveland (Ohio) Central Catholic. …Charted with 40 tackles and a staggering 14 sacks in first 7 games at defensive end position. …Had 5 catches for 85 yards and a TD as a tight end. …Caught 5 2-point PAT passes
Dominique Hudson, OL, 6-1, 275, Fr., Odenton, Md./Meade
1st-team Capital Gazette All-County guard at Meade HS in Fort Meade, Md. …Honorable mention all-state. …Helped lead team to back-to-back Class 4A East Region championships and state semifinal berths.
Joey Ierulli, LB, 6-0, 220, Fr., Wellington, Fla./Palm Beach Central
Standout LB played for father, Tino Ierulli, at Palm Beach Central HS. …2-way starter (FB/LB) had 39 tackles, 2 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles in first 3 games before suffering season-ending injury. …Also handled long-snapping duties. …Started as sophomore and junior at Lake Minneola (Fla.) HS.
Jake Kingera, TE, 6-3, 225, Fr., Pickerington, Ohio/Central
Special mention All-Conference tight end at Pickerington (Ohio) Central HS. …Helped lead Tigers to undefeated regular season and No. 3 seed in Ohio Division I playoff field
Cody Long, QB, 6-4, 215, Fr., Fort Myers, Fla./Estero
Highly-rated pro-style QB missed nearly his entire senior season at Estero (Fla.) HS due to injury. …Had an impressive junior debut with 1,668 passing yards and 420 rushing yards for 17 TDs in 9 games to key Estero’s playoff drive. …Missed post-season play due to broken arm
Zeke May, OL, 6-3, 290, Fr., Monaca, Pa./Central Valley
1st-team WPIAL Class AAA Parkway Conference offensive lineman at Central Valley (Pa.) HS. …Helped lead team to WPIAL Class AAA title and first Pennsylvania Class AAA championship game appearance in school history.
Chalmer Moffett, TE, 6-3, 235, Fr., Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park
Had 13 catches for 237 yards in 5 games as senior before going down with season-ending injury. …1st-team All-OVAC Class 5A TE/DE, 2nd-team All-West Virginia Class 3A defensive end and special mention All-Valley “Big School” despite shortened season. …Preseason 1st-team All-State (Charleston Daily Mail) defensive end
Josh Ojo, DB, 5-10, 160, Fr., Stephens City, Va./Sherando
2nd-team Class 4A all-state WR/DB/KR at Sherando (Va.) HS. …2-time 1st-team All-Region, All-Northwest District and All-Conference 21 selection at defensive back. …Also earned 1st-team All-District honors as kick returner. …Helped lead Sherando to 9-3 record and regional playoff berth
Nate Salomon, DB, 6-1, 190, Fr., Grayson, Ga./Brookwood
Starting free safety at Brookwood HS in Snellville, Ga. …Also saw action at running back and on special teams. …Finished season with 50 tackles, including 5 TFLs, 2 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries and 6 pass break-ups
Austin Yackey, DL, 6-1, 235, Fr., Sugarcreek, Ohio/Garaway
Inter-Valley Conference Player of the Year and 1st-team All-Eastern District defensive end at Sugarcreek (Ohio) Garaway HS. …Special Mention All-Ohio Division VI. …Helped lead Pirates to 11-1 record and a berth in the Ohio Division VI regional semifinals
