University of Massachusets Athletics
1997-98 Newcomer Bios
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The University of Massachusetts football team signed 20 student-athletes to Letters of Intent for the 1997-98 academic year. The Minutemen attracted a balanced crop of signees, including five offensive linemen, four defensive backs, three running backs, two quarterbacks, two defensive linemen, two linebackers, one wide receiver and one placekicker.
"I am really satisfied with the skill level of this year's class," said Hodges, who begins his sixth season as head coach of the Minutemen. "We have gained several skilled athletes who can make plays, and I think several of them will be heavily involved in games next season. We were very fortunate to come away with this group of recruits, because the competition for them was very good."
#16 Eddie Bowman
Freshman - WR - 6-1 - 175
Philadelphia, Pa. (Mastbaum)
Played for Coach John Murphy at Mastbaum High School ... Talented, mobile option quarterback in high school who will be tried at wide receiver at UMass ... Earned All-State honors as a senior ... First team All-Philadelphia choice at defensive back in his senior season by the Philadelphia Inquirer ... Second team All-Philadelphia selection at defensive back and honorable mention All-Philadelphia choice at quarterback by the Philadelphia Daily News as a senior ... Led Mastbaum to an 8-2 overall record and the Philadelphia Public League semifinals in his senior campaign ... His high school team lost only four games during his four year prep career ... Also played baseball at Mastbaum ... Captain of both the football and baseball team during his senior year.
"Eddie is an excellent athlete who played quarterback in high school. He has the versatility to play several positions, but we're going to start him at wide receiver and see what happens." - UMass assistant coach Brian Crist.
#43 Eric Bross
Freshman - RB - 6-3 - 205
Palm Coast, Fla. (Flagler Palm Coast)
Played for Coach David Hartley at Flagler Palm Coast High School ... Recorded 61 tackles, six interceptions and six pass breakups at free safety during his senior season ... Also had 110 carries for 909 yards (8.3 avg.) and caught nine passes for 132 yards (14.7 avg.) from his fullback position as a senior ... Two-time Flagler News-Tribune Player of the Year selection (sophomore and senior seasons) ... First team All-Area (Flagler and Volusia counties) and first team All-Five Star Conference choice as a senior ... Posted 1,407 yards on 173 carries, 720 yards receiving and 22 total TDs to go along with 12 interceptions in his prep career ... Set a school record with three interceptions in a single game during his sophomore year ... Also lettered in baseball and basketball as a freshman and sophomore.
"Eric is an outstanding athlete who can play a lot of positions for our team. He has good size and speed." - UMass assistant coach Rich Rachel.
#14 Ed Campbell
Freshman - QB - 6-3 - 195
North Arlington, N.J. (North Arlington)
Played for Coach John Galante at North Arlington High School ... Completed 58-of-108 passes for 1,100 yards and 11 TDs, while rushing for 610 yards and 10 TDs on 78 carries during his senior season ... First team Newark Star Ledger All-State Group I selection as a senior ... First team All-League choice in his junior and senior year ... Two-time captain of the football team ... Led North Arlington to the state playoffs as a sophomore and senior ... Ranked seventh in his class academically ... Also lettered in basketball, baseball and golf ... Captain of the basketball team in his senior season.
"Aside from having all the physical attributes that we like in our quarterbacks, Ed has demonstrated he also has the intangibles, such as his ability to lead and his commitment to win." - UMass assistant coach Doug Berry.
#53 Pete Cariello
Freshman - LB - 6-1 - 205
Yorktown, N.Y. (Yorktown)
Played for Coach Ron Santavicca at Yorktown High School ... Played both running back and fullback for Yorktown ... Had 1,382 yards on 197 carries with 22 TDs, while also posting six interceptions during his senior season ... Set the New York state record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown with five as a senior ... First team All-State choice in his senior campaign ... Named Westchester County Defensive Player of the Year and League IA Most Valuable Back as a senior ... Two-time All-Section I pick ... Two-time team captain ... Three-time All-League IA and All-Westchester County choice ... Had 19 career interceptions, returning seven of them for TDs ... Recorded 2,048 yards rushing and 39 TDs in his prep career ... Set school records for most yards rushing in a single season (1,382) and most career interceptions (19).
"Pete is a tough, aggressive player who steps up and makes big plays at critical times." - UMass assistant coach Brian Crist.
#72 Christian Erhartic
Freshman - OL - 6-7 - 305
Chelmsford, Mass. (Chelmsford)
Played for Coach Bruce Rich at Chelmsford High School ... Great size and strength ... Second team Lowell Sun and honorable mention All-Merrimack Valley League choice in his senior season, despite Chelmsford's 2-8 record ... Helped Chelmsford post an 8-1-1 record and claim the Eastern Massachusetts Division 2A Super Bowl title in his sophomore year ... Also played basketball (center) for Chelmsford, averaging in double figures in both scoring and rebounding during his senior year ... Earned honorable mention Merrimack Valley League and Lowell Sun accolades as a senior ... Threw the shot put and earned Division I Merrimack Valley League All-Star honors in his senior campaign.
"Christian is an excellent all-around student-athlete. He is an extremely hard worker whose best years are ahead of him." - UMass assistant coach Jerry Gordon.
#77 Bryah Gifford
Freshman - OL - 6-3 - 255
Ballston Lake, N.Y. (Shenendehowa)
Played for Coach Brent Steuerwald at Shenendehowa ... Saw action as the tight tackle on his team's offensive system ... First team All-League choice as a senior ... His team ran behind him approximately 75 percent of the time during his senior campaign, according to his high school coach ... Earned his school's Lou Girard Award as a senior, given to the top offensive lineman on the squad ... Needs to develop more upper body strength.
"Bryah is a solid young talent who should develop into a fine offensive lineman at UMass. He has great overall athletic skills and excellent footwork. Bryah is also an intelligent young man who will be a positive contributor, both on the field and in the classroom." - UMass assistant coach Bob Colbert.
#20 Tehran Hunter
Junior - DB - 5-8 - 160
Piscataway, N.J. (Nassau Community College)
Played for Coach George Power at Nassau Community College the past two seasons, the same feeder school which produced former UMass cornerbacks Breon Parker and Kory Blackwell ... Two-year starter at cornerback while at Nassau ... Recorded 10 interceptions in his two seasons, including a team high six last year ... Had one interception return for a touchdown as a sophomore ... Also a punt returner at Nassau, with a career long return of 88 yards ... Nassau posted a 20-2 overall mark in his two seasons ... Played his high school ball for Coach Joe Kuronyi at Piscataway High School ... Also ran track at both Nassau and Piscataway.
"Tehran is an excellent man-to-man cover cornerback in the same mold as Breon Parker and Kory Blackwell. He has track speed combined with quick feet." - UMass assistant coach Rich Rachel.
#79 Corey Mitchell
Freshman - OL - 6-4 - 260
Utica, N.Y. (Proctor)
Played for Coach Guy Puleo at Proctor High School ... Saw action on both sides of the line during his prep career ... First team All-Section III Central New York (Class 2A) choice as an offensive lineman during his senior season ... Played in the John Arcaro All-Star Memorial Senior Classic, showcasing the top senior talent in the Upstate New York region ... Also lettered in basketball (center) at Proctor.
"Corey is an excellent student-athlete who will bring good size to our offensive line." - UMass assistant coach Stanley Clayton.
#23 Jeremy Robinson
Freshman - DB - 6-2 - 170
Syracuse, N.Y. (Nottingham)
Played for Coach Craig Reopell at Nottingham High School ... Saw action at quarterback and defensive back in his prep career, but will be tried in the secondary at UMass ... Threw for 960 yards and ran for 720 yards as a senior ... Tossed for 1,220 yards and ran for 620 yards as a junior ... First team All-American League choice as a senior ... Team's Most Valuable Player in his senior campaign.
"Jeremy is a very good athlete who can play several positions for our squad, including defensive back, wide receiver and quarterback. He combines good speed, quickness and great hands along with strong leadership skills." - UMass assistant coach Bob Colbert.
#95 Joe Romero
Freshman - DL - 6-2 - 250
Staten Island, N.Y. (Curtis)
Played for Coach Fred Oliveri at Curtis High School ... Recorded 108 tackles, six quarterback sacks, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions during his senior season ... Named a co-recipient of the Fabbri Award as a senior, honoring the Player of the Year on Staten Island ... Fourth team All-State choice in his senior year ... Named to the New York Daily News All-Star team as a senior ... Posted 181 tackles, 23 fumble recoveries, 21 sacks and three interceptions during his prep career.
"Joe is a solid tackler who can get up the field well. He has a superb work ethic and could make an immediate impact on the defensive line." - UMass assistant coach Jerry Gordon.
#36 James St. Fort
Freshman - FB - 5-11 - 215
Elizabeth, N.J. (Elizabeth)
Played for Coach Jerry Moore at Elizabeth High School ... Ran for 531 yards and three TDs on 48 carries (11.1 avg.) while grabbing seven catches for 79 yards during his senior year ... Also played linebacker for Elizabeth, making 43 solo tackles, 23 assisted stops, two sacks, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles as a senior ... Set a school record in his senior campaign with his 86-yard fumble return for a touchdown ... Named to the Coaches Super 100 (top 100 high school seniors in New Jersey) ... His high school team competed in the State Group IV playoffs during his junior and senior year.
"As his stats indicate, James is a great player on both offense and defense. But the one statistic that doesn't show anywhere is his great blocking ability. We expect James to be physically ready to contribute early at UMass as a fullback." - UMass assistant coach Doug Berry.
#96 Joel Sarapin
Freshman - DE - 6-3 - 220
East Brunswick, N.J. (East Brunswick)
Played for Coach Marcus Borden at East Brunswick High School ... Recorded 51 solo tackles, 20 assisted stops, nine sacks and seven tackles-for-loss during his senior season ... Participated in the New Jersey North-South All-Star Game as one of the top high school seniors in the state ... All-State and All-Greater Midwest Conference pick during his senior campaign.
"Joel is a versatile football player. In high school he played five different positions on defense. He is projected to play defensive end at UMass, and has the potential to be a dominant pass rusher." - UMass assistant coach Stanley Clayton.
#40 Marcel Shipp
Freshman - TB - 6-0 - 195
Paterson, N.J. (Milford Academy)
Played one year of prep ball for Coach Jeff Bevino at Milford Academy ... Played his high school ball for Coach John Iurato at Passaic Tech ... Ran for 1,510 yards and 24 TDs on 172 carries (8.8 avg.) during his senior season ... A New Jersey Super 100 pick, as one of the top 100 high school seniors in the state ... Participated in the New Jersey North-South All-Star Game ... First team All-State choice as a senior ... Two-time Newark Star-Ledger and North Jersey Herald-News All-Area pick ... Ran for 3,239 yards and 42 TDs on 429 carries (7.8 avg.) in his prep career.
"Marcel is an outstanding athlete who can turn the flow of a game with one play." - UMass assistant coach Brian Crist.
#13 Ed Silfa
Freshman - DB - 6-0 - 170
Bronx, N.Y. (Mount St. Michael)
Played four years for Coach Mario Valantini at Mount St. Michael ... Top cornerback on his high school team as a senior, leading the squad to a 9-2 overall record and the Catholic League city championship for metropolitan New York City ... Second team All-Catholic League choice during his senior campaign ... Recorded a team high three interceptions as a senior ... Ran track in high school ... Competed on several relay events in the Junior Olympics for the Dominican Republic.
"Ed has a ton of potential in our program, considering he's only played defensive back for two years. He still has some learning to do about the position, but his raw ability and his aggressiveness should make him one to watch. His speed could also allow him to see action as a return specialist." - UMass assistant coach Jerry Gordon.
#37 Brian Smith
Freshman - DB - 6-1 - 195
Wilmington, Del. (Concord)
Played for Coach George Kosanovich at Concord High School ... Recorded 78 tackles and 14 sacks during his senior season ... Saw time at wide receiver, making 20 receptions for 495 yards and five TDs ... Also returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown ... First team All-Blue Hen Conference choice on defense and second team All-Blue Hen Conference pick on offense as a senior ... Also lettered in basketball and track ... Captain of both the football and basketball teams during his senior season ... Team's leading scorer on the basketball squad ... Ran the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and competed in the high jump for Concord's track team.
"Brian is an excellent athlete with good speed and quickness that allows him to play a number of positions. He has the ability to step in and be a factor in the defensive backfield next season." - UMass assistant coach Rich Rachel.
#49 Chad Stackpole
Freshman - PK - 6-0 - 185
South Daytona Beach, Fla. (Atlantic)
Played for Coach Kevin Sullivan at Atlantic High School ... Connected on 7-of-14 field goals, with a long of 50 yards, and 22-of-25 PATs during his senior season ... Was 10-of-18 in field goal attempts and 33-of-36 in PAT tries in his prep career ... His 50-yard field goal and seven field goals made during his senior year were both school records ... Third team All-State choice as a senior ... Second team All-Volusia County pick by the Orlando Sentinel during his senior season ... Second team All-Volusia County choice by the Daytona Beach News-Journal as a senior.
"Chris is an outstanding placekicker with good range who can make an immediate impact with our special teams. He has shown the ability to come through under pressure by kicking some big field goals during his high school career." - UMass assistant coach Rich Rachel.
#19 Levar Stockton
Freshman - QB - 6-4 - 225
South Yarmouth, Mass. (Worcester Academy)
Played one year of prep ball for Coach Mike Stubijar last fall at Worcester Academy .... Threw for 1,100 yards and six TDs and ran for another 150 yards at Worcester ... Ranked the No. 5 quarterback in Central Massachusetts last fall ... Also ran track while at Worcester ... Played at South Yarmouth High School prior to attending Worcester Academy.
"Levar is a great competitor. He is very athletic and makes things happen at crucial times in games." - UMass assistant coach Stanley Clayton.
#62 Russell Tatro
Freshman - OL - 6-2 - 265
Bridgewater, Mass. (Bridgewater-Raynham)
Played for Coach Dan Buron at Bridgewater-Raynham High School ... Led his high school team to an 11-2 overall record and a runner-up finish in the Eastern Massachusetts Division 1A Super Bowl during his senior season ... Named to the Old Colony League All-Star team ... Taunton Gazette All-Scholastic team selection ... Also lettered in track as a shot putter.
"Russell comes from an outstanding, winning program at Bridgewater-Raynham. His aggressive attitude will certainly be a plus for next year's offensive line." - UMass assistant coach Jerry Gordon.
#52 Compton Webster
Freshman - LB - 5-11 - 215
Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Tech)
Played for Coach Jim DiBennidetto at Brooklyn Tech High School ... Recorded 68 tackles and one interception during his senior season ... Posted 152 tackles in his prep career ... Played and served as team co-captain in the Brooklyn Big 44 All-Star Game, recognizing the top high school seniors in the Brooklyn area ... Received the highest GPA on the team award ... Also earned the team's Most Courageous Player award.
"Compton is a courageous competitor who competes from his heart. We expect him to be an outstanding student-athlete for the University of Massachusetts." - UMass assistant coach Jerry Gordon.
#70 Greg Zambelli
Redshirt Freshman - OL - 6-2 - 265
Dunellen, N.J. (Temple University / Bishop Ahr)
Transferred from Temple University after the fall 1996 semester ... Did not see game action with the Owls ... Played for Coach Tony Aschettino at Bishop Ahr High School during his junior and senior years ... Played his freshman and sophomore seasons on the varsity squad at Wardlow / Hartridge High School ... First team All-State and All-Parochial choice as a senior ... Played in the New Jersey North-South All-Star Game after his senior year ... Tabbed an All-East selection by Blue Chip Magazine prior to his senior season ... Third team All-State choice as a junior ... Also lettered in track and field at Bishop Ahr ... Two-year varsity starter in basketball at Wardlow / Hartridge who helped the team to an undefeated season and the state championship during his sophomore campaign.
"Greg is a great athlete and a great addition to our football family. He has the potential to step in immediately and help our offensive line." - UMass assistant coach Stanley Clayton.