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Delaware football announces three additions to roster 9:31 a.m., Feb. 27, 2004--Three scholar-athletes, including transfers from the University of Missouri and West Virginia University, have been added to the University of Delaware football roster for the 2004 season, it was announced Thursday by UD Head Coach K.C. Keeler. Quarterback Santino “Sonny” Riccio, a transfer from Missouri, and defensive lineman Rachid Stoury, a transfer from West Virginia, are currently enrolled at UD and will take part in spring drills. Also joining the Fightin’ Blue Hens is freshman Omar Cuff, originally a member of the 2003 recruiting class who did not attend school this past fall. He, too, is currently enrolled at UD and will take part in spring drills. Riccio is a 6-foot 2-inch, 200-pound quarterback from Ellwood City, Pa., where he starred at Lincoln High School. He will have junior eligibility and will battle with returning sophomores Ryan Carty and Brad Michael to replace All-American Andy Hall. Riccio enjoyed an outstanding high school career at Lincoln, where he was a four-year varsity letter winner in football and also starred on the baseball team. As a senior, he threw for 618 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 601 yards and eight touchdowns in football and batted .370 in baseball. Riccio played at Missouri for three seasons, redshirting as a freshman and serving as a backup quarterback in 2002 and 2003 to current Heisman Trophy candidate Brad Smith. He played in just three games in 2002 but saw significant action this past fall when he threw for 134 yards and two touchdowns, including 59 yards and a touchdown in a win over Ball State. He won the hearts of Mizzou fans when he threw for a touchdown off a fake field goal in an upset victory over Nebraska. The Tigers went 8-5 and played in the Independence Bowl. “We are excited about the attributes that Sonny will bring to our offense,” Keeler said. “It was important that with us having only two quarterbacks on scholarship, we needed more competition at that spot for the spring.” Stoury is a 5-foot 10-inch, 288-pound defensive tackle from Upper Darby, Pa. He sat out his freshman season at West Virginia in 2002 and did not see game action this past season when the Mountaineers posted an 8-5 record and lost to Maryland in the Gator Bowl. He will have sophomore eligibility for UD. Stoury was a three-year starter and a two-time All-Delaware County selection at Upper Darby High School. He led Upper Darby to a 6-3 record as a senior when he was a team captain and Most Valuable Player. He also was named to the All-DelVal Central team, earned All-Southeastern Pennsylvania honors and played in the prestigious Big 33 All-Star Game. “Rachid adds depth to an already strong unit at defensive line for us,” Keeler said. “He will play inside for us and will hopefully allow us to have more flexibility up front and allow us to move Chris Mooney to the end spot in certain situations.” Cuff, a 5-foot 10-inch, 177-pound defensive back from Landover, Md., originally signed an NCAA Letter of Intent as part of the Hen recruiting class in February 2003 but did not attend UD this past fall. He is enrolled this spring and will have freshman eligibility. At Flowers High School, the speedy Cuff played running back and free safety, punted and returned kicks. He led the team to a No. 2 ranking in Prince George’s County and earned All-Metro and All-County honors as a senior. He surpassed 2,000 yards rushing, 1,000 yards receiving and 4,000 all-purpose yards during his career and averaged more than 30 yards per kickoff return. UD is coming off the finest season in school history, having posted a 15-1 record, captured the Atlantic 10 Football Conference title and won the NCAA Division I-AA national championship. The Hens will begin spring drills in March and will conclude practice with the annual Blue-White game on Friday, April 16, at Delaware To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
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