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Signing Day: 18 recruits are now Fightin’ Blue Hens

3:47 p.m., Feb. 4, 2004--The defending NCAA Division I-AA national champion University of Delaware football team announced the signings of 18 recruits to national letters of intent on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

The recruiting class includes one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, one offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs. The players are drawn from seven different states and the District of Columbia.

“We offered scholarships to 20 kids and 18 accepted, which is virtually unheard of,” UD Head Coach K.C. Keeler said of the recruiting class.

“We are really excited about this group coming in,” Keeler added. “We like this group not only as football players but even more in terms of the types of personalities that they will bring to our football program.”

Keeler said that winning the national championship enhanced the team’s recruiting efforts. “The fact that these kids saw us play on national television and that they saw our national championship trophies and what the ring will look like when they visited really had an impact,” he said. “They could really look into the future and see the potential and the opportunities that they will have here. We are very thrilled. We were extremely happy with our first recruiting class last year, but I think we’ve even stepped it up a level this year.”

Following are the members of UD’s 2004 recruiting class:

DEMETRICE ALEXANDER - Linebacker - 5-11 - 202 - Lilburn, Ga. (Parkview High School)
One of three Georgia natives in the 2004 recruiting class...played middle linebacker at Parkview High School for head coach Cecil Flowe...was the team’s leading tackler each of the past three seasons...posted 145 tackles in 2003 as he led his squad to an 11-2 record...three-year starter...led team to three state titles during his career...earned second team All-State and first team All-Gwinnett County honors as a senior in 2003...was named one of the top 100 prospects in the state...plans to major in business at DelawareŠson of Gwen Alexander.

FRED ANDREW - Defensive Back - 5-10 - 180 - Balrico, Fla. (Durant High School)
Standout at Durant High School for head coach Mike Gottman...led Durant High School to state semifinals this past fall as a senior...first team All-Western Conference as a senior...first team All-Sun Coast all-area....won team’s Iron Man Award...won team’s Principal Award for his academic accomplishments...also a track and field standout who competed in the 200 and 400 meters...plans to major in civil engineering at Delaware...son of Wilma Miles.

DAVID BEACHY - Tight End - 6-3 - 205 - Manassas, Va. (Osbourn Park High School)
Lone tight end and only Virginia native in 2004 recruiting class...two-way standout at Osbourn Park High School where he played tight end and linebacker for head coach Briain Beaty...missed three games his senior year due to injury but still caught 19 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns and posted 86 tackles to earn team Most Valuable Defensive Player honors...was the 2003 district Defensive Player of the Year...earned first team all-district, first team all-region and first team all-area honors on offense and defense in 2003 and was an honorable mention All-Met selection at linebacker...earned all-district honors on both offense and defense as a junior in 2002 when he also named to the all-area and all-region second teams...led team to district title each of his final two seasons with records of 10-2 in 2002 and 9-3 in 2003...team won the district title and advanced to regionals for the first time in 30 years...plans to major in engineering...son of Thomas and Valerie Smith.

EMANUEL “MANNY” BENEBY - Defensive Back - 6-1 - 170 - Lauderhill, Fla. (Plantation High School)
Third Delaware recruit from Plantation High School in last two seasons, joining current UD redshirt freshmen Greg Benson (offensive line) and Richard Washington (defensive line)...played cornerback at Plantation for head coach Frank Hepler...was captain of 2003 team when he led squad to 10-2 record, the district title and spot in the state 6A playoffs during the 2003 season and to a 10-0 record, conference and district titles, and a No. 1 state ranking as a junior in 2002...posted 57 tackles and had eight pass breakups as a senior...team’s top tackler on special teams...earned honorable mention All-Broward County honors this past fall when he earned first team all-conference honors...named one of the top 100 players in Broward County and was nominated to play in the Broward All-Star Game...plans to major in business at Delaware...son of Keith and Thalia Beneby.

MIKE BYRNE - Offensive Line - 6-5 - 265 - Lititz, Pa. (Manheim Central High School)
Smart player with outstanding size...only offensive linemen in 2004 recruiting class...projected to play center at Delaware...teamed with fellow UD recruit Jarryd Moyer to lead Manheim Central High School to a 15-0 record and the 2003 Pennsylvania AAA state title this past fall...team was 8-3, won section title and advanced to state playoffs his junior year...state title was first ever for Manheim Central...played center, defensive tackle and defensive end for head coach Mike Williams...earned Associated Press first team All-State honors as a senior when he also was named the Lancaster Lebanon League Section 2 Lineman of the Year...two-time All-Lancaster-Lebanon League selection....nominated to play in prestigious Big 33 Game...nominated to play in War of the Roses All-Star Game...had a part in 107 tackles, had two sacks, returned an interception for a touchdown and blocked one kick on defense as a senior...plans to major in psychology at DelawareŠson of Richard Byrne and Sheri Byrne-Long.

GOMEZ CAMBRIDGE - Running Back - 5-10 - 190 - Riviera Beach, Fla. (Dwyer High School)
One of four recruits from Florida...rushed for 1,498 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior this past fall at W.T. Dwyer High School for head coach Jack Daniels...led area in rushing and was named honorable mention All-State and first team all-county....named district 5A Offensive Player of the Year...led team to district title...rushed for over 100 yards in 11 of the 12 games during the 2003 season...rushed for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior...also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2003...also competes in track and field at Dwyer High...plans to major in criminal justice at Delaware...son of Elizabeth Cambridge.

JIM CASERTANO - Defensive Line - 6-2 - 230 - Hatfield, Pa. (North Penn High School)
Outstanding defensive player who led southeastern Pennsylvania power North Penn High School to a 14-0 record and its first ever Pennsylvania AAAA state title in 2003 under coach Dick Beck...also played running back for the Knights and finished as his school’s fifth all-time leading rusher with 1,549 yards, including 640 in 2003...scored a school record 21 touchdowns in 2002...earned first team All-Suburban One Conference and second team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania honors by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003...earned third team All-State honors as a linebacker in 2002 and was a two-time All-Suburban One National selection...team won two league and two district titles...also a standout weight thrower for track and field team...North Penn also produced current Blue Hen wide receiver and kick returner Zach Thomas...son of Jim and Pat Casertano.

ARMAND CAUTHEN - Wide Receiver - 6-1 - 195 - Douglasville, Ga. (Douglas County High School, Hargrave Military Academy)
Played 2003 season at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy under head coach Robert Prunty after an outstanding high school career at Douglas County High School for head coach Phil Williams...in his final two seasons at Douglas County High, caught 82 passes for 1,280 yards and averaged over 30 yards per kickoff return and averaged over 40 yards per punt as the team’s punter...earned first team All-State honors in 2002 and honorable mention All-State honors in 2001....also a two-time all-league and all-county selection...led Hargrave to an 8-1 record in 2003 when caught 18 passes for 303 yards and six touchdowns...has outstanding speed with a clocking of 4.4 in the 40-yard dash...made President’s Commendation List at Hargrave for having a grade point average over 3.3...plans to major in consumer economics at Delaware...son of Toni Cauthen.

RAFIQ GUNTHORPE - Safety - 6-2 - 175 - Brandywine, Md. (Gwynn Park High School)
Standout safety and wide receiver at Gwynn Park High School for head coach Danny Hayes...twin brother, Jahiri, is also a member of Delaware’s recruiting class...earned all-league and all-county honors all three varsity seasons...as a senior, earned first team all-county, first team all-league and first team All-Gazette and Journal...was named a Washington Post Player to Watch...as a junior, also named honorable mention all-area by the Washington Post...hard-hitting player who recorded 85 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions as a senior...posted 89 tackles, 10 sacks, and two interceptions as a junior and 85 tackles and a school record 13 sacks as a sophomore...caught 16 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns over his final two seasons as a wide receiver...has also competed in track and field and basketball...plans to major in physical therapy or athletic training at Delaware...Larry and Margaret Patterson are his guardians.

JAHIRI GUNTHORPE - Safety - 6-2 - 176 - Brandywine, Md. (Gwynn Park High School)
Standout safety and wide receiver at Gwynn Park High School for head coach Danny Hayes...twin brother, Rafiq, is also a member of Delaware’s recruiting class...named a Washington Post Player to Watch as a senior...earned second team all-county and second team all-league honors as a junior...was named Washington Post Player of the Week as a sophomore...posted 49 tackles, forced two fumbles, and caught two passes for 85 yards and a touchdown as a senior...posted 89 tackles and led team with five interceptions go with nine sacks as a junior...had 57 tackles, nine sacks, and forced four fumbles as a sophomore...also played basketball at Gwynn Park High School...plans to major in business...Larry and Margaret Patterson are his guardians.

RALPH HINES - Linebacker - 5-11- 215 - Lithonia, Ga. (Dunwoody High School)
One of three Georgia natives in recruiting class...four-year starter at inside linebacker at Dunwoody High School under head coach James Teeter...team played a 3-4 defense...as a senior, earned second team 4A All-State honors...also earned first team All-DeKalb County honors and was named to the Atlanta city All-Area team as a senior...son of Connie Hines.

DANNY JONES - Running Back - 5-8 - 170 - Stratford, N.J. (Saint Joseph’s Prep High School)
Outstanding two-way player for Philadelphia Catholic League power Saint Joseph’s Prep under head coach Gil Brooks...played running back, wide receiver and defensive back...led team to three straight Catholic League championships and a top ranking in Southeastern Pennsylvania by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003...earned first team All-Catholic League honors and was first team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania as a defensive back in 2003, when he intercepted five passes and broke up 26 on defense and rushed for 1,164 yards and 16 touchdowns on offense....three-time All-Catholic League selection...has run a 4.28 40-yard dash time...attended the same high school as former Delaware All-American quarterback and 2002 National Football League Most Valuable Player Rich Gannon of the Oakland Raiders....son of Marjorie Sommerville.

AARON LOVE - Wide Receiver - 5-8 - 160 - Oak Park, Mich. (Southfield High School)
Standout wide receiver and kick returner at Southfield High School where he played under head coach David Reese...will be just second member of squad from state of Michigan, joining senior kicker Brad Shushman of St. Joseph’sŠtwo-year varsity letter winner who earned all-conference and all-metro honors as a senior in 2003...team captain as a senior...was team Most Valuable Player on special teams as a junior and on offense as a senior...caught 19 passes for 361 yards and 11 touchdowns and had 1,180 return yards as a junior...caught 56 passes for 755 yards and nine touchdowns and had 594 return yards as a senior...plans to major in criminal justice at Delaware...son of Michael and Alisha Love.

MANUEL MARSHALL - Defensive Tackle - 6-3 - 270 - Cheverly, Md. (Gonzaga High School)
Outstanding two-way lineman as a defensive tackle and offensive guard...played at Gonzaga High School under head coach Kenny Lucas, a former Blue Hen standout defensive back (1985-87)...three-year starter on both sides of the ball...two-time all-league selection and a 2003 All-Met honorable mention selection...team captain as a senior...nominated for U.S. Army All-American “Tough Man” Award...named to MdVarsity.com Dream Team...led team to three straight WCAC Conference championship game appearances, including a league title in 2002...team was ranked No. 2 in Washington, D.C., metro area by the Washington Post in 2002...three-sport standout who also plays basketball and competes in track and field...led Gonzaga basketball to 2003 WCAC city title...weight thrower who led team to 2002 WCAC title and was third at the 2003 WCAC shot put competition...plans to major in engineering at Delaware...son of Matthew and Maria Marshall.

MARIO McLEAN - Defensive Back - 6-2 - 175 Towaco, N.J. (Montville Township High School)
Standout safety, wide receiver and running back at Montville Township High School where he played for head coach Jerry Gallagher...earned first team All-State honors by the New Jersey Sportswriters, third team All-State by the Newark Star-Ledger, first team all-county and first team all-conference honors at defensive back as a senior in 2003...named to the New Jersey Super 100 team...led 2003 team to a school-record nine wins and its first state playoff win in school history...team also set school records for scoring and scoring defense in a season and posted six shutouts....team captured Northern Hills Conference Suburban Division title....also a standout basketball player who earned third team all-county honors as a junior in 2003...son of Lurlene McLean.

KERVIN MICHAUD - Wide Receiver - 5-10 - 170 - Levittown, Pa. (Pennsbury High School)
Standout wingback and wide receiver at Pennsbury High School under head coach Galen Snyder...projected as a wide receiver at Delaware...earned second team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania honors by the Philadelphia Inquirer and second team all-area honors by the Bucks County Courier Times...named Athlete of the Year by Courier Times and area Player of the Year by the Trentonian...three-time member of Courier Times All-Area team...named honorable mention All-State by Pennsylvania Sports Beat Magazine...two time All-Suburban One Conference selection...rushed for 1,130 yards and averaged over 7.5 yards per carry as a senior when he led team to 7-3 record...caught 23 passes for 545 yards and averaged 8.3 yards per rush as a junior...teams were 17-13 in his three-year varsity career...also a standout sprinter in track and field...named 2003 Courier Times Athlete of the Year for outdoor track and field...placed third in the 400 meters, fourth in the 200 meters, ninth in the 100 meters and seventh in the 4x100 meter relay at the 2003 Pennsylvania state outdoor track and field meet...placed second in the 4x100 meter relay at the state meet as a sophomore in 2002...has led team to two state team titles in indoor and outdoor track and field...plans to major in math or science field at Delaware....son of Kellelie Sylvestre.

JARRYD MOYER - Quarterback - 6-4 - 205 - Manheim, Pa. (Manheim Central High School)
Lone quarterback in recruiting class....teamed with fellow UD recruit Mike Byrne to lead Manheim Central High School to a 15-0 record and the 2003 Pennsylvania AAA state title this past fall and 8-3 record, section title and state playoff appearance in 2002...state title was first ever for Manheim Central...two-year starter for coach Mike Williams...named Pennsylvania AAA first team All-State by the Associated Press and by Pennsylvania Football News and was the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 Offensive Player of the Year in 2003...completed 92 of 164 passes for 1,549 yards and 17 touchdowns and also rushed for 1,105 yards and 14 scores this past fall...threw four touchdown passes and ran for two more in a state playoff win over Shamokin...threw for 1,671 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 746 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior...nominated to play in prestigious Big 33 Game...attended the same school that produced former Delaware All-American quarterback Matt Nagy (1996-2000)...also a two-time All-Lancaster Lebanon League selection in baseball who batted .403 as a sophomore...plans to major in physical education or sport management at Delaware...son of Doug and Denise Moyer.

STEPHEN PURKEY - Defensive End - 6-1 - 235 - Port St. Lucie, Fla. (John Carroll High School)
One of four Florida natives in 2004 recruiting class...standout lineman at John Carroll High School for head coach Lenny Jankowski...four-year varsity starter and two-year captain who earned All-State honors his final two seasons and was a three-time all-area pick...named Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers Defensive Player of the Year for the Vero Beach area this past fall...led the Treasure Coast with 12 sacks and 11 blocked kicks and also added 126 tackles in 2003 and was named the Tri-County Defensive Player of the Year...named to the Class 2B All-State first team in 2003 after leading the Golden Rams to an 11-2 record, a No. 4 state ranking and the program’s first state semifinal appearance since 1970...2002 team went 11-1, won the district title and was ranked No. 5 in the state...selected to play in the Outback All-Star Game...posted career totals of 403 tackles, 29 sacks, 47 tackles for loss and 12 blocked kicks...high energy player who is called “the best defensive player ever at John Carroll” by Jankowski...son of Brian and Cheryl Purkey.

The Fightin’ Blue Hens will begin spring practice in mid-March and will hold the annual Blue-White Spring Game at 7 p.m., Friday, April 16, at Delaware Stadium.

The Hens will begin defense of their national title in the 2004 season opener against the University of New Hampshire on Thursday, Sept. 2, at Delaware Stadium.

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