University of Massachusets Athletics
Football Brings In Top Newcomers For 2007
February 07, 2007 | Football
Feb. 7, 2007
AMHERST, Mass. - Football coach Don Brown has announced the following additions to the UMass program for the 2007 season. The class is one of the tops in the nation with a mix of transfers and incoming freshmen. Four of the players are currently enrolled at UMass for the Spring 2007 semester while the other 11 will come to Amherst for the first time in August.
2007 UMASS FOOTBALL NEWCOMERS
Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School/Previous School Brett Arnold P/K Jr. 6-0 180 Longhorne, Pa./Neshaminy/Lackawanna J.C. Ben Coblyn* OL Jr. 6-8 285 Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional/Boston University Matt Goods DT Fr. 6-2 255 Rutherford, N.J./St. Mary's Octavious Hawkins QB Fr. 6-2 205 Hollywood, Fla./South Broward Emil Igwenagu LB Fr. 6-2 215 Boylston, Mass./Holy Name Catholic Courtney Jackson DE Fr. 6-2 225 Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park Jeromy Miles* DB So. 6-2 207 Sicklerville, N.J./Winslow/ Navy Ryan Moreshead LB Fr. 6-2 230 Foxborough, Mass./Foxborough Tim Nolan OL Fr. 6-4 300 Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial Brian Ostaszewski OT Fr. 6-5 300 Stamford, Conn./ Stamford Chris Pollard* DB Jr. 6-2 215 Camden, N.J./Woodrow Wilson H.S./Fort Scott (Kan.) C.C. Sloan Russett* TB Fr. 5-10 200 Manchester, N.H./Manchester Central H.S./New Hampton Prep Josh Samuda OL Fr. 6-4 300 Weston, Fla./Hollywood Hills Justin Sawicki OT Fr. 6-5 305 Medford, Mass./Medford Julian Talley WR Fr. 6-1 180 Sicklerville, N.J./Winslow * Enrolled at UMass Spring 2007
BRETT ARNOLD
Punter/Kicker o Junior-JC
6-0 180
Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy H.S./Lackawanna J.C.
Before UMass: At Lackawanna Junior College, honored as the Northeast Football Conference First-Team Kicker and First-Team Punter ... Two-year starter ... Averaged 40 yards on punts in his two seasons ... Had 2006 game winning 42-yard "Bowl Game" field goal ... Holds school record for longest field goal at 48 yards ... Longest career punt 58 yards ... Dean's List and President's List Award Winner (3.6 GPA or higher needed)... At Neshaminy High School began punting junior year after playing soccer for first two years ... Member of First-Team All S.O.L League junior and senior year ... First-Team Golden Team and First-Team All-Trention junior and senior year ... Senior year named Passport News Elite 11 Punter ... Four-time "Round Table" Player of the Week ... Three-year varsity letter winner for basketball while averaging 15.8 points per game and led the team with 6.0 steals per game his senior year ... Also acted as team captain for basketball ... Born September 3, 1986.
BEN COBLYN
Offensive Line o Junior-TR
6-8 o 285
Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional H.S./Boston University (basketball)
At Boston University (2004-06): Played in 23 games with eight starts in 2005-06 ...Averaged 5.3 ppg and 3.1 rpg .. Led BU in scoring in season-opener at #1 Duke with nine points... connected on 4-7 FG against Blue Devils and All-America center Shelden Williams ... As a true freshman in 2004-05, was forced to redshirt due to a lower back injury ... Played in first two games of the season (vs. Holy Cross & Fordham) ... for a total of 10 minutes, but did not score... Tried to come back after missing the next 8 games and saw 3 minutes at UMass before shutting down for the season.
Before College: At Amherst Regional High School was co-captain of the Amherst football team as a senior tight end/defensive end... named All-League and All-Western Massachusetts as a senior... earned a spot on The Republican Division I Football All-Scholastic First Team as both a senior basketball and football player... also named to the team as a junior basketball player ... As a junior basketball player, was the driving ... force behind team's Massachusetts Division I State Championship, the Hurricanes first-ever State basketball title... scored 16 points and added 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in the title game... an All-Valley League and All-Western Massachusetts basketball player during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons... averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds per game as a junior and nearly 15 points per contest as a senior... named First Team All-State by Boston Prep Basketball and was a Five-Star basketball pick by The Daily Hampshire Gazette... ... Born on Jan. 27, 1986 in Northampton, Mass.
MATT GOODS
Defensive Tackle o Freshman-HS
6-2 o 255
Rutherford, N.J./St. Mary's H.S.
Before UMass: Played at St. Mary's High School in New Jersey ... Helped St. Mary's to the New Jersey State Group I Parochial Championship ... Was named the MVP of the state title game after he racked up eight tackles and three tackles for loss ... As a senior tallied 56 total tackles and 10 sacks ... Named a First-Team All-League honoree ... Honored as All-Bergen County ... Born June 27, 1988.
OCTAVIOUS HAWKINS
Quarterback o Freshman-HS
6-2 o 205
Hollywood, Fla./South Broward H.S.
Before UMass: Star quarterback at South Broward High School ... Member of First-Team Miami Herald All-Broward 6A-4A Football Team ... Starting quarterback in Miami Broward All-Star Game...Named North/South Broward All State ... Co-MVP of High School Team ... Threw for 1539 yards as a senior on 66-of-123 with 15 touchdowns ... Also gained 153 rushing yards and two ground scores ... Led team to an 8-2 finish as a senior ... Born January 18, 1989.
EMIL IGWENAGU
Linebacker o Freshman-HS
6-1 o 215
Bolyston, Mass./Holy Name Catholic H.S.
Before UMass: Helped Holy Name to two consecutive Division 2 Super Bowl wins ... As a senior, gained 1918 yards on 138 carries and 23 touchdowns ... Also had nine point after touchdowns ... On the defensive side racked up 95 tackles and two interceptions ... For his career, totaled 470 carries for 5,037 yards, 54 touchdowns, 372 total points, 290 tackles, 12 interceptions ... Member of Massachusetts "Super 26" Team as one of the 26 best players in the state ... Born March 27, 1989.
COURTNEY JACKSON
Defensive End o Freshman-HS
6-2 o 225
Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park H.S.
Before UMass: Played at Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine, Md. under head coach Danny Hayes as a senior after playing at Lackey High School for three years ... Served as team captain ... Totaled 93 tackles, 13 sacks, and five fumble recoveries his senior year ... Also played tight end and had three receptions for 156 years ... Made All County and All Gazette Teams ... Ran track and played basketball ... Born December 26, 1988.
JEROMY MILES
Defensive Back o Sophomore-TR
6-2 o 207
Sicklerville, N.J./Winslow H.S./Navy
Before UMass: At Navy (2006): Named the ECAC Rookie of the Year ... Also named First-Team All-East by the ECAC ... Named Sporting News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American ... Took over starting job for injured DuJuan Price ... Started 11 of 13 games at safety ... FInished the season with 61 tackles, which ranked sixth on the team ... Also had two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery ... Played at Winslow High School in New Jersey where he played football and wrestled ... Born July 20, 1987.
RYAN MORESHEAD
Linebacker o Freshman-HS
6-2 o 230
Foxborough, Mass./Foxborough H.S.
Before UMass: Member of 2006 Division State Championship Football Team at Foxborough High School ... Two-time Hockomock League All Star ... Two-time Sun Chronicle All Star...2006 Hockomock League Defensive MVP...Two-time Boston Globe All Star ... 2006 Boston Globe All Star...2006 Boston Globe All Scholastic...2006 Boston Herald All Scholastic ... Named to 2006 Massachusetts Coach's "Super 26" ... Three-time team leader in tackles ... 2005 Thanksgiving Game Defensive MVP ... High school career includes 302 tackles, 12 sacks, five interceptions ... A Division 3 Sectional and State Champion in wrestling ... Born August 9, 1988.
TIM NOLAN
Offensive Line o Freshman-HS
6-4 o 300
Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial H.S.
Before UMass: Lettered at Jackson Memorial High School in New Jersey ... Named First-Team All-State Group 4 ... First-Team All-Shore ... First-Team All County ... Honored as Team's Offensive Line MVP ... Team Captain as a senior ... Member of 2005 State Championship Team ... Born January 5, 1989.
BRIAN OSTASZEWSKI
Offensive Line o Freshman-HS
6-5 o 300
Stamford, Conn./Stamford H.S.
Before UMass: Played at Stamford High School in Connecticut with current UMass lineman Vladimir Ducasse ... Member of First-Team All State Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) ... Second-Team All State Hartford Courant ... Member of First-Team All-FCIAC ... Selected to participate in Governor's Cup All Star Team vs. Rhode Island...Was a three year started appearing in 30 consecutive games on both offensive and defensive lines ... Born April 1, 1989.
Chris Pollard
Defensive Back o Junior-JC
6-2 o 215
Camden, N.J./Woodrow Wilson H.S./Fort Scott (Kan.) C.C.
Before UMass: At Fort Scott C.C. (2004-05): Played two seasons at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas ... Named a preseason NJCAA All-American at safety ... Honored as an All-Conference selection as a freshman and sophomore ... Led the Greyhounds in tackles as sophomore with 66, also had one interception. Graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, N.J. ... Named All-Conference twice ... Born June 22, 1985.
Sloan Russett
Tailback o Freshman-HS
5-10 o 200
Manchester, N.H./Manchester Central H.S./New Hampton Prep
Before UMass: Spent one prep season at New Hampton In New Hampshire ... Graduated from Manchester Central High School ... Lettered for seasons and gained more than 4,000 yards, scoring 60 touchdowns ... As a senior, rushed for 2,600 yards breaking the school record ... Honored as an All-State player as a senior ... Piled up a single-game career high 310 yards on 17 carries against rival Pinkerton Academy ... Team captain as a senior ... Born March 29, 1987.
JOSHUA SAMUDA
Offensive Line o Freshman-HS
6-4 o 300
Hollywood Hills, Fla./Hollywood Hills H.S.
Before UMass: Starred at Hollywood Hills High School in Florida ... Member of First-Team Miami Herald All Broward 6A-4A Football Team ... Named North/South Broward All-Star ... Helped team to a 7-4 record playoff appearances ... Team rushed for 2,436 yards, a 5.81 average per rush and 25 rushing touchdowns ... Born December 23, 1988.
JUSTIN SAWICKI
Offensive Tackle o Freshman-HS
6-5 o 305
Medford, Mass./Medford H.S.
Before UMass: Played as a senior at Medford High School after competing at Malden Catholic in Massachusetts ... First Team Greater Boston League All-Star... Awarded Most Valuable Offensive Lineman of the Year by his coach...Three-year letterman...Two-year varsity starter ... Registered 67 pancake blocks as a senior and allowed one sack in 11 games ... Graded out at 87 percent of blocking percent for his senior season...Started 21 consecutive games at right tackle...Dominating pass blocker...Named to Rise Magazine as a Greater Boston All-Area Football Stars to watch ... Born March 30, 1989.
JULIAN TALLEY
Wide Receiver o Freshman-HS
6-1 o 180
Winslow, N.J./Winslow H.S.
Before UMass: Played at Winslow High School in New Jersey where he was a teammate with newcomer Jeromy Miles ... Member of First-Team All-State Group 3, First-Team All-South Jersey, First-Team All-Conference ... Third-Team All-State as a senior ... Team captain ... Career totals include 98 receptions for 2,049 yards and 17 touchdowns ... Born June 9, 1989.
