Kingston, R.I. ~ Today Jim Fleming, the head coach of the University of Rhode Island Football team, announced the 2018 recruiting class. The class includes 22 players, 14 of which are freshman, 7 transfers, and 1 graduate senior. The class had 5 players from NY, 4 from FL, 3 from PA and NJ, 2 from MA and CT and one from Maryland, South Carolina, and Delaware. The team signed 4 Linebackers and 4 defensive Lineman as the top two sought after positions. The Rams are still young in the front 7 and needed to fill gaps with 4 Defensive lineman and linebackers graduating this past season.
Coach Fleming started his presser off with the obvious, time. It is now year 5 of the Fleming era, and as his final contracted season is upon is he knows that the inevitable truth is also upon us.
"The message from staff was the time is now. We feel as though we've put a four-year foundation down that is rock solid. We've gotten progressively closer and closer to our goal which is to win a CAA Conference Championship.”
Coach talked about how much time a dedication had gone into recruiting and what was the general game plan for this year’s process. He mentioned how deep this recruiting class is and how they can have an immediate impact on this team, right away.
He then continued with praises and thank you’s for his staff as well as some of the general University staff. Fleming talked about the praises that he has for his Director of Football Operations, Brandon Tuolozzo for his hard work, and how flexible he has been through this long process. He also thanked Chris Satoh (Assistant Director Football Ops, Video Coordinator) and Richard Johnson(strength and conditioning) among others. Fleming also took this time to introduce the team’s newest coaching addition, Donovan Varner, who will be in charge of coaching Wide Receivers.
Before the introduction of the 22 signees, Fleming remarked the successes of the basketball program. He then compared CAA conference foe Villanova, to URI. “Villanova has won a national championship at both basketball and football. There’s no reason that we can’t do that either. With the right people doing the right things, it is definitely possible.”
Then came the intorduction of the players, with groups of them being introduced by the different assistant coaches. Here are this years signees:
Christian Arrington – Linebacker, 6-2 225
Mechanicsburg, Pa. | Cumberland Valley
Kadin Booker - Offensive Line, 6-7 290
Burlington City, N.J. | Ball State
Dylan Brown - Defensive Line 6-3 | 310
Tampa Bay, Fla. | The Hotchkiss School
Brian Campbell - Safety 6-0 | 180
Baltimore, Md. | ASA College
Bryan Castillo - Linebacker 6-1 | 215
Scranton, Pa. | Lackawanna College
Nick Correia – Defensive Line 6-5 | 350
Nantucket, Mass. | Nantucket
Sebastian Delasoudas - Offensive Line 6-2 | 290
Ft. Lee, N.J. | Don Bosco
Ahmere Dorsey - Wide Receiver 5-10 175
Wilmington, Del. | Nassau CC
John Erby - Wide Receiver 5-10 185
Chester, S.C. | Chester
Hunter Gorgas – Tight End 6-5 250
Shrewsbury, Mass. | St. John's
Andre Johnson - Linebacker 6-0 205
Vero Beach, Fla. | Vero Beach
Naim Jones - Running Back 6-0 210
Coram, N.Y. | Nassau CC
Evan Lovell - Offensive Line 6-4 305
Thomaston, N.J. | Peddie School
James Makszin - Defensive Line 6-3 290
Norwalk, Conn. | St. Thomas More
Ryan McDonough - Defensive Line 6-4 250
Vero Beach, Fla. | Vero Beach
Isaiah Moak –Linebacker 6-0 205
Averill Park, N.Y. | Hudson Valley CC
Griffin Saks – Long Snapper 6-0 225
Durham, Conn. | Xavier
Perry Shelbred – Kicker/Punter 5-9 180
Waccabuc, N.Y. | John Jay
Lorenzo Thompson - Offensive Line 6-6 260
Syracuse, N.Y. | Cicero North
Caleb Warren - Tight End 6-3 235
Brandon, Fla. | Seffner Christian Acad.
Keith Wells – Defensive Tackle 6-2 280
Pittsburgh, Pa. | Lackawanna College
Malik Wilder – Cornerback 5-10 180
Bronx, N.Y. | Nassau CC
Fleming closed the press conference with more thank you’s for the people in the room. “We feel it. We feel the support and we appreciate it… We are very grateful for everyone in this room. We'll make you proud.”
This will be a make or break year for the Rams. Can they continue to improve or will we see another roadblock? Rhode Island will open their season at the University of Delaware on August 30th, 2018.
