RMU Lands First 2026 Commit, Russell Holmes Jr.
Robert Morris just kicked off its 2026 recruiting class. And the first commit for 2026 was also the first RMU commit for Coach Derrick Nsubuga.
That’s a big kickoff.
Russell Holmes Jr. is a 6’1”, 215-pound edge threat out of Lansdale Catholic (PA), who locked in his D1 future with the Colonials after an offer he couldn’t refuse. Holmes had interest elsewhere. Wheeling University offered, and he made the rounds on the local camp circuit, with the expectation that more opportunities will or would have come. Those phone calls will probably still arrive, but this past week RMU sealed the deal with the Keystone State standout.
From the jump, Holmes says Coach Zoo- that is, Coach Nsubuga- was relentless. “Coach Zoo stayed in contact the most throughout the whole process,” Holmes told NEC Blitz. “I came out to camp in late June, their last camp of the year. I knew I had to ball out- and I did. That led to more recruiting attention and eventually the offer.”
That offer moment? Pure cinema. And the pun is very much intended.
“We had just gotten into Coach Zoo’s office for a presentation,” Holmes said. “There was a picture on the projector of me and two other guys visiting. He said he’s trying to build the Avengers and that we’re the three guys he needed. Then he told us the other two were offered- ‘and now you, Russ, have received an offer from Robert Morris University. Clap it up for him.’ Everyone in the room clapped. It was a great moment to experience.”
Coach Zoo arrived this offseason from Utah State, where he served as a graduate assistant. The Colonials faced a lot of turnover this offseason both on the field and on the sidelines. There’s a ton of new faces out in Moon Township with the expectation that there will also be a new special teams coach, as the Colonials will lose Bart Tanski to Kent State. Of those coaches, people in the know have repeatedly brought up Coach Zoo to us as a recruiter and a high energy presence in the offices. It really feels like the Colonials unearthed a diamond here.
As for Holmes, RMU gets a versatile outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid who patterns his game after the likes of Nolan Smith, Haason Reddick, Dylan Stewart, and Collin Simmons. Fast, physical, disruptive—he’s coming to get quarterbacks.
His visit to campus sealed it: “There was just so much love and support from the coaching staff and players. I enjoyed the facilities, the environment- it just felt like the right fit.”
The 2026 class will continue to be built up until the opening whistle of the season. But it’s a good feeling to get on the board, and with Holmes, the Colonials have done just that.
New Haven is on the Board for 2026 with Garrison Heslop
The New Haven Chargers are officially on the board for 2026, and they didn’t have to look any further than their own back yard to land their first pledge. Garrison “G-Money” Heslop, a 6’2”, 170-pound defensive back from nearby West Haven, CT, has become the first player to commit to New Haven for 2026- the season that the program will officially make its move to the NEC in football. And he knows exactly what that milestone means.
“Knowing that the Chargers are moving to Division 1 and that I’ll be eligible to compete for a conference title as a freshman was a huge factor,” Heslop told NEC Blitz. “I want to be part of a program that’s not only competitive but also making big moves and growing. The opportunity to play D1 football right away, and be part of something special from the beginning, really stood out to me.” Heslop is right about what he’ll be competing for. While the FCS playoff spot is ineligible to transitioning programs- at least, for now- there is no rule against hanging banners as a transitioning team. The Chargers will have every chance to do that in 2026 when they play their first full league slate.
While Heslop’s commitment marks a symbolic first for the new-look Chargers, it also speaks to the trust he’s built with the coaching staff. We asked about relationships that stood out to him, and he pointed out the one he’s built with a coach on the other side of the ball in offensive line coach Adrian Burnori.
“Coach Brunori was a great influence,” Heslop said. “He helped me during the recruiting process and he’s the one that offered me.”
For now, the plan is for Heslop to line up at cornerback, though his versatility could lead to reps at other spots in the secondary.
“Corner is my main position, but I definitely feel that I can bring more to the table and play safety or nickel,” he said. “But for now, CB is what I’m being recruited for.”
New Haven’s jump to Division I play signals a new era for the program, and Heslop’s commitment is a sign they’re already building it with intention. He's not just a key get. He's the first.
LIU Lands 4th OL from NJ
Stop me if I’ve written this article before.
It sure feels familiar. LIU landing a commitment from an offensive lineman in New Jersey? We haven’t discussed this before?
We have. But it’s never a bad time to check in with what the Sharks are doing in the trenches.
Shaheem Dezonie, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound offensive lineman out of East Orange, New Jersey, has committed to LIU—becoming the fifth member of their 2025 class, and yes, the fifth offensive lineman.
That’s not a coincidence. It’s a signal.
LIU has found an identity in developing players in the trenches, and the momentum is clearly building. Dezonie said what drew him in was the way the coaching staff connected with him early and consistently.
“The thing that made LIU the place for me was the culture and the coach,” Dezonie said. “From day one the coach [was] talking with me and helping me with any questions I had, showing that they really wanted a person like me to play for them.”
For Dezonie, it wasn’t just football. It was familiarity. LIU’s program culture reminded him of the structure and support he experiences at home in East Orange.
“The culture they had there was similar to what I do now with my family over here in East Orange.”
And for players from Jersey- where the football is competitive and the athletes are typically well-prepared- Dezonie’s size and foundation make him a natural fit for LIU’s vision up front. He also singled out two coaches he’s built relationships with: Coach Pace and Coach Merritt (defensive ends/recruiting), underscoring the cross-unit buy-in that likely made LIU’s pitch even stronger.
LIU has now secured pledges from a complete offensive line unit before the first snap of football has been played in 2025. Four of those players hail from New Jersey, and one is from the Empire State. In the NEC, development is how you play high level ball. The Sharks clearly see something they like from athletes in their backyard, and the feeling is obviously mutual. They’ve got the line of the future already set to come to Long Island next fall. It’s strong work from the Sharks early on, who have the most commitments in the NEC to this point.
There’s still a long way to go before National Signing Day, but with five OL commits and counting, LIU is making a clear statement: the path forward starts in the trenches.
Derion “Dash” Johnson Picks Stonehill Over the Sun Belt
They’re digging deep in Shovel Town. The second commitment in their 2026 recruiting class proves that Stonehill is able to compete with anyone on the recruiting trail. When you’ve got as much going for you as the Skyhawks do, maybe that’s not so surprising.
Derion “Dash” Johnson, a 5’11”, 220-pound linebacker out of Paramus, New Jersey, chose the Skyhawks over an FBS offer from Southern Miss. That’s not a typo. Stonehill secured a pledge from a Sun Belt-caliber athlete who could have taken the scholarship, taken the branding, and called it a day. But Johnson made it clear: this was about more than just level. NEC Blitz had the opportunity to catch up with Johnson to talk about what drew him to Stonehill and away from the Sun Belt.
“First and foremost,” Johnson told us, “it’s elite private school education and elite football. Best of both worlds.” Indeed. It’s a common misconception that recruiting comes down to- or should come down to- the biggest offer and the biggest brand. A college is a lifetime decision, though, even in today’s era. In many cases, your college choice is why you’re reading our articles.
Stonehill’s staff clearly made a lasting impression. Johnson singled out Coach Kyle Jones for his energy during individual periods and his connection with Head Coach Eli Gardner. His review is a positive one: “I see myself striving in this program.”
And when it came down to making a decision, it wasn’t a hard sell. “Stonehill just made me feel wanted,” Johnson said. “That’s what stood out.”
Johnson’s versatility certainly gives Stonehill options. He’s a do it all linebacker who can play inside the box or come off the edge. The Skyhawks are a program that’s shown some strong development on defense over the past two seasons, particularly with all-NEC Blitz First Team LB Charles Battaglia. It’s always a good thing when a coordinator (also the linebackers coach) can point to a young player and show a potential addition what he could be, and who he could play like with some seasoning.
It’s obvious- we’re excited about Johnson in part because of the opportunity he turned down to commit to Stonehill. That’s for the fans and the media, though. For Stonehill, winning this recruitment isn’t just about checking a box. It’s a statement about who they are and who they plan to be in the coming years.
Sharks Swarm the Jersey Shore: 4th LIU Commit is Ethan Muller
The early theme of LIU’s 2025 recruiting class? Big men up front. Ethan Muller has become the fourth offensive lineman to commit to the Sharks. Notably, he’s also the fourth overall commit for the program so far.
The Sharks are nothing if not consistent.
Muller, a 6'2", 300-pound lineman out of Hammonton, New Jersey, is the third Garden State native in LIU's current class. With another commit hailing from New York, it’s clear that the Sharks are doubling down on local recruiting early in this cycle. And given the steady rise of New York-area football in recent years- and New Jersey’s long-standing reputation for competitive high school ball- well, it’s a strategy that makes a lot of sense. Certainly, we’ve always been impressed with the toughness you get from athletes up here.
Muller said LIU “just felt like home,” pointing to the energy and vibe of the program as a deciding factor. “The coaches and players matched the energy I wanted in a team. I always dreamed of going D1 and now it happened. Only thing left to do from here is to ball out,” he told NEC Blitz.
Thank goodness that he’s done plenty of that before.
One relationship in particular helped seal the deal. Muller has built a close connection with offensive line coach Ian Pace, who has played a major role in helping LIU become an offensive line pipeline. We’ve mentioned before that no one really wants to be an offensive line pipeline, but having a reputation for developing good offensive linemen and enjoying them for a few years before they move on? Well, there are worse fates. And after sending four offensive linemen up to the FBS level last season, LIU is clearly committed to keeping that momentum going. Muller looks to be yet another key piece in that continued effort.
For a program that’s seen success in developing linemen and helping them move on to bigger stages, the mission is clear: replenish, retool, and keep building up front. With Ethan Muller, they’ve added another piece to that blueprint.
The Sharks want to keep swimming with the big fish in the NEC. And you win in the trenches. If they can keep doing that, it’s only a matter of time before they’re still in the water at the end of November.
LIU’s Going to Need a Bigger Boat: Gets 3rd OL Commit, Rob Yakovchuk
The offensive line factory on Long Island keeps humming.
After exporting four players to the FBS in 2024, the next batch of raw steel is heading in to be molded into the next great Sharks team. But you win football in the trenches in the Northeast, where the cold winter we’ve forgotten in July returns each season and turns football into a game of will and attrition. Speed kills, but you win with toughness here. The Sharks know that.
On July 2, Rob Yakovchuk became the third offensive lineman to commit to LIU in the 2025 cycle—and the third overall commit, period. At some point, it became evident that this is not a coincidence. It’s a factory blueprint.
At 6’4” and 302 pounds, Yakovchuk is the kind of physical presence you expect from someone raised in Brick, New Jersey—a town that sounds like it was engineered to produce trench talent. And LIU’s staff, led by OL coach Ian Pace, has been locking in those kinds of players early in this cycle. We had the chance to catch up with Yakovchuk about his commitment.
“Their upcoming class of recruits is strong,” Yakovchuk said. “And the coaching staff is top tier, with Coach Cooper, who was with Nick Saban at Alabama, and Coach Pace.” Nick Saban’s the best college football coach of all time- there’s no disputing this- but Coach Cooper isn’t exactly a slouch, either. He rates as probably a top 3 coach of all time at Eastern Michigan and parlayed that into the head role at Louisville. Now he’s building it up at one of the true sleeping giants in D1 ball. On his relationship with Pace, Yakovchuk told us he’s clicking with his future position coach. “We’ve built a good relationship ever since I met him at their camp I attended.”
It was at that camp, on the Brooklyn campus, where things moved from interest to offer.
“After I showed off my talents, both Coach Pace and Cooper were impressed and they decided to offer me on the spot,” Yakovchuk recalled. “I tried to keep a serious face while talking to Coach Cooper, but as soon as I turned to look at my dad on the sideline, my face lit up.”
Hard to blame him. LIU has become a landing spot for linemen looking to develop under one of the region’s most respected position coaches. And now, Yakovchuk joins a growing 2026 class that’s trench-built from the inside out.
And that factory in Brookville, NY keeps on humming, churning out another batch of stud OLs.
Martin Kicks Off the NEC Commitment Class in 2026 for the Dukes
Will Martin didn’t wait.
The first NEC commit in the 2026 class was a big win for Duquesne. Martin, a 6’2.5”, 220-pound athlete out of Seton LaSalle High School in Pittsburgh, committed to the Dukes with an official announcement on June 9. If you’re going to open up the lid on NEC commits (and Martin eventually set off a flurry of them), you might as well open with a blast. As an opening statement, Martin’s just about as explosive as the 4th of July.
His offer list speaks for itself. He drew FBS attention from Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, and Akron. His first offer came from Toledo—the same Rockets team that just took down Pitt in a bowl game. He also held offers from FCS Albany and Duquesne’s in-city rival RMU. But when it came time to decide, Martin didn’t hesitate.
“Duquesne was the right place for me as soon as I stepped on campus,” he said. “It immediately felt right. The coaches, the location, and the culture made it home for me.”
Martin received his offer right after a camp, and the moment stuck with him. “The conversation was pretty cool when I got my offer. The defensive coordinator Coach Jacobs and the offensive coordinator Coach Doria were there on the field when they called me and were fighting about which side of the ball they want me to play on. When they offered me, I committed on spot, and they definitely did not expect that.”
He might’ve had options on both sides of the ball, but Martin made it clear where he sees himself at the next level. “They are in between me playing tight end and linebacker right now, but I believe I will end up playing linebacker there because I feel like I’m a defensive player at heart.”
When we asked Martin about what coaches made a difference for him, he had an answer we’ve heard a few times now. “Coach Jacobs definitely stood out to me as the DC,” he said. “Right away I had a connection with him. I clicked with him well and I look forward to playing under him.”
Martin becomes the first commit in Duquesne’s 2026 class—and the first NEC pledge overall. You know that we’re always excited by WPIAL players, and Martin became the first such commit in the class as well. His signing was viewed by local experts like Karlo Zovko of WPIAL Insider as “a shocker.” The NEC does it with some regularity, to be sure, but opening the recruiting season by upsetting a slate of G5 offers is always a good way to begin the recruiting cycle for any team in the league. And if his commitment is any indication, the Dukes are setting the tone early.
Sharks Attack New Jersey, Land OL Irvine
Saint Augustine Prep’s Joe Irvine is headed to the Northeast Conference, and he’s bringing a whole lot of power with him.
The 6’5”, 300-pound right tackle from Swedesboro, New Jersey, is the sixth NEC commit we’ve confirmed for the 2025 class, and the second offensive lineman bound for LIU. He’s actually also their second overall commit, and their first from the Garden State. As of right now, LIU is looking for- and landing- big fish locally. If you’ll pardon the pun.
Irvine’s decision adds to a growing trend: offensive linemen see something they like in Brookville. And while the entire LIU staff made an impression, Irvine had no hesitation about what sealed the deal.
“Coach Pace was really the deciding factor,” Irvine told NEC Blitz. “He was absolutely great throughout the whole process, and I’m very excited to work with him.”
That’s a sentiment we’ve heard more than once this cycle. Coach Pace continues to resonate with big men up front. These are players who want development, opportunity, and a coach who understands the nuances of trench warfare in the NEC and beyond. I’ve pointed it out before and I’m sure it was pointed out to Irvine: LIU lost FOUR offensive linemen to the FBS this past season, and one of them had only completed his redshirt freshmen year. You hope to keep all of the players you develop, of course, but if the big issue is that your development is too good, well… you’re not actually having an issue, are you?
Irvine chose LIU over an offer with another NEC school. It’s early in the cycle, and players are going to pick plenty of NEC schools over each other. But it is an early momentum boost for the LIU staff, who are tasked with maintaining what is yearly one of the most talented rosters in the conference. In the NEC, the most important factor in recruiting is relationships, and the one Irvine was able to build with Coach Pace won out.
But for Irvine, it wasn’t just the relationships.
“The LIU staff is just great,” he said. “I loved the look and the feeling of just being on campus.”
As for the moment the Sharks finally decided to strike with that scholarship offer?
“Surreal,” Irvine said. “They were the first program to take a chance on me, and I’m forever grateful for that.”
It’s another early win for LIU in this recruiting cycle. And as the Sharks continue to build their class, landing a reliable bookend like Irvine gives the program another anchor. You win in the trenches, after all. So why not start building there?
Duquesne Establishes Orlando North
The Edgewater-to-Duquesne pipeline is officially a trend.
Nick Collins Jr., a defensive back from Edgewater High School in Orlando, has committed to Duquesne as part of the Dukes’ 2026 class. He’s the third commit for Duquesne so far and the second from Edgewater this cycle, joining athlete Damien Moore Jr. The Eagles went 10-2 in 2024 and are quickly becoming a familiar name in Pittsburgh recruiting circles- at least, for anyone following Duquesne’s recruiting for the class of 2026. We were already familiar with the school after 2025 Edgewater linebacker Deven Thomas also chose Duquesne.
“Duquesne was the right place to pick because they’re a winning program and the connection I’ve built with Coach Mick,” Collins said. “Duquesne has had a lot of success recently in the NEC and coming from a winning program like Edgewater in Orlando, that’s huge. Also, the relationship I have with Coach Mick is amazing. He’s a great coach and someone I look forward to being around and building my connection with more when I’m up at Duquesne.”
Collins got the offer from Coach Mick- that’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Mickey Jacobs- during a spring visit the DC made to Edgewater.
“The day I got offered, Coach Mick was down in Florida at my school watching us practice and I wasn’t even expecting to get an offer that day to be totally honest,” Collins said. “After the practice, he pulled me aside and we were having a good conversation and towards the end is when he told me he was going to give me an offer. It was just a great surprise that day and I’m just blessed to have been good enough to get the offer.”
Despite the growing Florida connection, Collins said Duquesne wasn’t really on his radar until recently.
“To be totally honest, I didn’t [know much about the program],” he said. “I had knew about Duquesne from people that had grew up in Pittsburgh when they were younger but other than that I didn’t know much.”
Pipelines aren’t something that’s automatic or traditional. Ultimately, recruiting is still about relationships, especially in the NEC and similar leagues. I think sometimes that there’s a misconception that coaches at the high school level push their athletes towards preferred schools. While a high school coach is probably pretty likely to keep their athletes away from a school that they’ve had a poor experience with, there’s not really a push toward certain schools. In this case, it was all about the relationship between the player and prospective coach.
That’s the way recruiting always has been. And in the absence of millions of dollars, that’s how it still is.
Love NEC football? Check out the NEC Blitz Football Preview, available for pre-order (digital) on Amazon.com now. (Physical available 7/1/25).
Stonehill Lands 2026 OL/DL Chuck Crisera
Stonehill has their first Class of 2026 football commit, and he’s bringing size, edge, and a championship mindset from Long Island up north to the Bay State.
Chuck Crisera, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound offensive and defensive lineman from Bayport-Blue Point High School (NY), announced his commitment to the Skyhawks on June 16. He’s the third known NEC football commit in the 2026 cycle and the first to pledge to Stonehill.
The relationship came together quickly. Stonehill defensive line coach Dan Walsh visited Crisera at Bayport-Blue Point on May 7. From there, it didn’t take long. Crisera made it to Easton, Mass., for a visit on June 11th and knew it was the right fit.
“Coach Walsh came to visit me at my high school,” Crisera said. “He loved my length, athleticism, and aggressiveness on film.”
That physical presence is a big part of what makes Crisera an intriguing get for the Skyhawks. Stonehill has built a reputation in the NEC as a program with a niche for player development over the long haul. Clearly, Crisera sees himself thriving in that environment. He spoke to the Stonehill staff about how he fit in with what the Skyhawks do and what they’re building. The answers he heard about what he does were the right ones.
“When I came up for a visit it was about the work I put in, being aggressive, finishing the job and always finding work in the field,” he said. “We talked about being fast off the ball and coming from a championship team with the work ethic and mindset. I was coachable and I love to eat and have a lot of growing physically still left to go.”
On film, you do see a player with a penchant for running through opposing defensive linemen. Without a doubt, that 6’5” frame is the first thing that jumps out, but he’s consistently moving a defender off of the ball. The Phantoms seem to trust his ability to do this- he’s often the guy they’re counting on to create a running lane. Bayport-Blue Point won their league last season and scored 418 points in 12 games (11-1), so leaning on Crisera seems to be working for them.
Crisera describes Stonehill as a place where the energy felt aligned from day one.
“I chose Stonehill because it’s the right place for me to grow,” he said. “The coaches are hungry like me. I feel as if everyone has the same mentality and work ethic as coaches as I do as a player. It’s getting 1% better every day together. It felt like a family and it felt like home. I will be getting a great education.”
He also enters the program with a familiar connection. Tight end Derek Varley, another Bayport-Blue Point product and former teammate, is already on the roster.
“Derek taught me how to be aggressive with heavy hands and an attitude,” Crisera said. “I model my game after my older teammates in high school. I took a little bit of what they all did best and added it to my game.”
From Long Island to Shovel Town (just under 200 miles) Crisera is making that jump as the Skyhawks’ first building block in the 2026 class. Stonehill’s known for taking high-upside prospects and developing them into contributors. Crisera’s already got the frame. Now it’s time to see what the future holds. Until then, he’ll just have to keep digging.
LIU Secures Hometown OL Matthew Benjamin
Matthew Benjamin knew where he wanted to be. The 2026 OL/DL out of William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, NY, had been making the trip to Long Island University for the past two years, making his interest known. So when the opportunity finally came, there wasn’t much to think about.
“I’ve been attending LIU camps for two years now,” Benjamin said. “They run a well-organized camp, and Coach Cooper and his coaching staff get everyone fired up, especially in the one-on-ones. I loved the camps so much I went to two of them in one year.”
That interest and the proximity made the Sharks a natural fit. Mastic Beach is just 70 miles east of Brooklyn, where the most recent camp was (LIU has multiple campuses), and Benjamin has been steadily building a connection with the program for years. He’s a Long Island resident who’s had a chance to swim with the Sharks on more than a few occasions.
“Every time I step foot on campus, it feels like home,” he said. “I felt like I was already part of the team during my spring practice visit. I’ve been keeping in contact with Coach Pace this offseason—he’s a great guy, and I can’t wait to learn from his experience.”
Coach Ian Pace has quietly become one of the top developers of offensive line talent in the Northeast. He’s good enough that I almost feel like I shouldn’t be typing his name out. I don’t want to stop covering the offensive lines he’s been putting out. LIU was not an easy place to play offensive line in 2024. When their offense hit its stride late in the season, it did so with quarterback Ethan Greenwood, who made a lot of his plays in a freelancing situation. Linemen had to hold their blocks and be able to adapt to a play changing behind them. The Sharks line could do it, and as the offense started piling up the points it was impossible for their work to be a secret. Last season alone, LIU had four offensive linemen transfer- each one to an FBS program. And while that kind of attrition could be seen as a setback, at LIU it’s understood as the byproduct of doing the job well. Build guys up, teach the right habits, get them game-ready. Sometimes, that preparation gets noticed elsewhere.
The Sharks also had an All-NEC redshirt freshman on the line last fall in Moshood Giwa. He didn’t need years to make an impact. He got on the field after sitting and developing for a year, proved he belonged, and ultimately landed at Rutgers in the Big 10. Again: it’s not the goal, but it’s evidence that the development pipeline at LIU is real. When you look at the offensive line roster for this year’s team, your eyes immediately head towards the redshirt freshmen. Is there going to be another Giwa this season, and who’s it going to be?
Now, Benjamin joins that proven system as the first commit in the Sharks’ 2026 recruiting class. He’s also just the second 2026 commitment in the NEC so far. A two-way player at William Floyd, Benjamin projects as a key piece in LIU’s next wave of linemen—tough, engaged, and apparently already comfortable in the culture. He’ll pass the eye test going on the field, currently at 6’5” and 279 lbs. The William Floyd Colonials use him at left tackle, and the camp film we’ve watched does show a player who’s tough to get past off the edge.
The road from Mastic Beach to LIU isn’t a long one, even in New York traffic. For Benjamin, it’s already felt like home for a while. Now, it’s official.
Duquesne Camp Shines in the Rain
The skies opened up, but the doors to the Bluff stayed wide open.
Duquesne’s June 6 football camp brought in athletes from across the East Coast, including plenty who crossed state lines and boarded jets to be there. There was a steady rain like usual in the Steel City, but the Dukes managed to run a full camp of competitive reps, hands-on coaching, and crucial evaluations that led to several offers in the days following.
For Orlando hybrid defender Zeke Gunn, the wet weather didn’t dampen the experience. In fact, it added to it. (He’d fit in.)
“It rained the whole time but that made it kinda fun,” Gunn said. “The coaches were really coaching a lot and seemed to care a lot about technique and fundamentals.”
Gunn, who plays safety, outside linebacker, and wide receiver, was moved around throughout the day. Coach Jacobs had him work with the safeties before shifting him to linebacker, then even got him some WR reps.
“I won some 1v1s,” Gunn offered. “All the coaches were great.”
After a tour of the campus and some time to digest the visit, Gunn got the call he’d been waiting on.
“I thought I did well, but with it taking a couple days, I definitely got nervous,” he said. “Very happy he called me today and offered.”
That same day, another athlete from Orlando got his own good news. Akeevin Anderson, also of Orlando Christian Prep impressed throughout the camp and followed up with a Monday phone call from the Dukes' staff.
“The conversation was good,” Anderson reported. “He told me I’m one of the highest kids on their board right now and that the whole staff loved my film and that I’m a baller!”
Anderson had already felt wanted at camp, calling the full staff “very welcoming” and giving particular credit to Coach Jacobs and Head Coach Jerry Schmitt.
Meanwhile, Carlos Diggs, a versatile athlete from nearby Gateway High School, didn’t need directions to campus. What he did need was an opportunity to compete, and the camp on the Bluff offered that.
“It was great, a lot of great coaching, with a lot of great drills, and good competition,” Diggs said. “My experience was good except all the rain, but you can’t choose what conditions you play in on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.”
Diggs confirmed that while his recruitment remains open, the idea of playing for his hometown school “does excite” him. Gateway has long been a talent-producing program in the Pittsburgh region, and the Dukes clearly took note.
Not every camper received an offer. Not every camper needed one right away. But the feedback and chance to compete in front of a D1 coaching staff is worth the effort. The Dukes certainly gave out offers, but in one case, they even got something back. Local standout ATH Will Martin of Seton LaSalle was offered and wasted no time letting Dukes Nation know that he had finally gotten the offer he’d been waiting on. Martin committed, turning down multiple FBS programs to stay home and compete in Pittsburgh. This is the first commit in 2026 that we’ve caught in the NEC. Martin came to the Bluff, competed, showed the coaches what he could do, and came away with the offer he’d dreamed of. For their part, the Dukes have their first piece to build around for the future.
And that’s how you win football games up here in the Northeast: recruit, evaluate, and develop. Rain or shine.
CCSU Lands FAU Transfer OL Marchbank
Central Connecticut State may have waited until late May to offer Maddox Marchbank, but it looks like the Blue Devils got their guy.
The former Florida Atlantic offensive lineman, capable of anchoring a line at either center or guard, announced his transfer to CCSU with four full years of eligibility remaining. His recruitment had no shortage of interest: in-conference and in-state rival New Haven extended an offer, Tennessee State jumped in, and Fordham made their push with an in-home visit. But CCSU was the final program to offer, doing so on May 27. And Marchbank’s patience? It might have made all the difference in the world.
“A couple things stood out to me while I was there,” Marchbank said. “The staff really seems to care about the players more than I’ve ever seen and Coach Lechtenberg builds a great relationship with everyone. Every time we walked past a player, he stopped to talk to them. He also goes above and beyond making sure he can get as much as possible for the players.”
That genuine connection helped tip the scale. So did the culture. But winning helps, too. And as 2024 showed, you can do a lot of that in Hard Hittin’ New Britain.
In a league where Duquesne and LIU both fielded dominating offensive lines, no team controlled the line of scrimmage like Central Connecticut State. The Blue Devils mauled opponents up front in 2024, and while they’re reloading with a new offensive line coach, the plan hasn’t really changed. You win in the trenches, especially in cold-weather ball, and CCSU plans to keep it that way. CCSU can’t afford to lose a step- while LIU saw some of their talented linemen head to FBS, Duquesne looks to even the score with CCSU in 2025. Some things in football are universal, and the necessity of strong play on the offensive line is as true as gravity.
“The parts that made it the place for me were how nice the area is, how much the coaches care about the players, the players all love it there,” Marchbank said. “And the fact the program got turned around so quickly with Coach Lechtenberg. I want to go somewhere we can wreck the conference and make a postseason run.”
For CCSU, Marchbank brings FBS pedigree and the potential to develop into an interior anchor and the cornerstone of a monster line. For Marchbank, it’s a chance to grow inside a proven system, one where offensive linemen don’t just get recruited. Dominate on the offensive line at Central Connecticut State, and you’ll have the chance to crack it anywhere in the country, including the Big Ten. That’s the goal for some players, but for now Marchbank is focused on a repeat championship run for the Blue Devils.
And while CCSU was the last to offer, it was the one that hit home. Sometimes, it’s good to be first. But in Marchbank’s case, it was even better to be last.
Plenty of Reps, Real Results: RMU Mega Camp Delivers for WPIAL Talent
School is still in session.
The first Saturday of June usually signals the start of summer break. For high school football players in Western Pennsylvania (that’s a proper noun), it was more than the last week of school.
It was an opportunity.
RMU hosted its Mega Camp on June 1, and by all accounts, the event lived up to its name. Five FBS programs were in attendance, but RMU was the only NEC team on-site. That gave them the advantage of getting a firsthand look at the region’s top talent, with no other conference rivals on the gridiron. The early evaluations (and some early offers) might be the difference in recruiting down the line.
Among the biggest winners was Kaiyen Mbandi, a versatile lineman from Gateway High School in Monroeville. Just a short drive across the city from RMU’s Moon Township campus, Mbandi didn’t waste the chance to showcase what he’s been building in the offseason.
“The camp was great. I loved it there and I loved competing!” Mbandi told NEC Blitz. “It was really a product of all the training I’ve been doing. During the one-on-ones, I really showed my versatility by dominating at all five positions on the line.”
His effort didn’t go unnoticed. Mbandi left the camp with an offer from RMU, likely as an offensive lineman.
Not everyone walked away with an offer, but the feedback and exposure still matters as players kick off their senior year recruitment. Dylan Rogers, a DE/EDGE/LB from Montour (another WPIAL school), turned in a strong performance. While this was his first in-person introduction to many on the RMU staff, he’s already thinking long-term. He’s spoken with the Colonials staff on the phone, but showing what you can do in person is what earns you an offer.
“It was a well-organized camp that really gave all players an opportunity to get reps and to get better,” Rogers said. “The coaches had so much attention to detail, and they encouraged players to compete in almost every drill, which really brought out the best of us.”
Rogers made an impression on the staff and especially appreciated working with new defensive line coach Benjamin Nsubuga. We’ve heard nothing but praise for the new DL coach at RMU. He’s brought a new energy level to the program that will help with development and recruiting for the Colonials.
“Coach Nsubuga had so much energy throughout the whole camp and gave me good advice for my pass rushing,” Rogers said. “I also had the opportunity to meet the head coach and defensive coordinator. I’m hoping to stay in touch and continue the recruiting process. I know I can be a playmaker for RMU.”
Mega Camps often carry a reputation for being overcrowded, with players getting lost in the shuffle. That wasn’t the case here. Multiple attendees noted how the setup allowed for actual instruction, real reps, and meaningful feedback. Kudos to RMU for pulling off a pretty difficult event.
As summer unfolds and camp season hits full swing (we’ve got two NEC camps tomorrow), RMU’s approach at this Mega Camp set the tone. First impressions matter everywhere in life. For players like Mbandi and Rogers, this was a strong one for both sides.
Lakers Host JUCO OL On Official Visit
Mercyhurst has been making moves in the trenches all offseason. And, as we’ve pointed out before, they like to look west for JUCO players. They’ve had no problem going to the Golden State before- including this offseason- and they’re still fishing for at least one more lineman.
Navi Arretché, an offensive lineman out of Modesto Junior College, recently took an official visit to Mercyhurst and came away impressed. The Lakers are the first Division I program to offer him, and while Arretché has drawn interest from UC Davis and made an unofficial stop at UCLA, Mercyhurst brought him on campus to show him what life on Lake Erie would look like for the young OL.
“Being there just felt comfortable, and that was because of the people,” Arretché said. “Everyone was welcoming. The coaches are also really easy to have a connection with. Talking with Coach Riemedio felt like talking to a father who wanted the best for you, and knows the potential that you have. Coach Waring is also someone who I can tell would do anything for his offensive line. It’s really enjoyable to be around him. He’s also incredibly smart when it comes to offensive line play as well.”
In a recruiting landscape increasingly shaped by NIL- even at the FCS level- it’s refreshing to be reminded that connection still matters. And not just surface-level rapport. Official visits can be a lot of fun, and a lot of times you hear about what campus is like and the activities the recruits got to participate in. What stands out with Navi Arretché isn’t just that he had a good time on his official to Mercyhurst- it’s who he felt that bond with.
When your first Division I offer comes with genuine relationships, and those ties are with the head coach and recruiting coordinator, that’s meaningful. Arretché spoke about Coach Riemedio like a mentor, and had high praise for Coach Waring’s approach to both the person and the position. That kind of alignment doesn’t guarantee a commitment, but it does create staying power, and the Lakers seem poised to be a player moving forward.
And why not? It wouldn’t be the first time a California JUCO product found a home in Erie. The Lakers have had success in that lane before- most notably with Adam Urena- and Arretché could be the next in line. He’s transferring after a true freshman season and should have plenty of eligibility to develop. No commitment yet, but Mercyhurst has clearly set the tone. This is one to monitor.
Mercyhurst Is All Alone in Cincinnati
It is true- there are no lakes in Cincinnati. Just the Ohio River. But while there’s no lakes, there’s been plenty of Lakers.
Mercyhurst is making a strong play for Cincinnati-area talent, focusing on Class of 2026 prospects roughly 345 miles from their Erie, PA campus. The Lakers have extended offers to several players from the region, including Reid Baker (Inside Linebacker), Kemaury Tye (DB), Andre Underwood (ATH), Grant Hester (OT/OG), and most recently, Brady Kuhn (OLB), all hailing from Cincinnati, OH. They’ve also been active in suburbs like Springboro, OH, where they have an offer out to OLB/TE Evan Weinberg.
It’s actually been a working strategy already for Mercyhurst. They snagged WR Trace Jallick from Cincinnati in the 2025 class. He was listed as a 3 star on 247, and was the National High School offensive player of the year. Statistically, Jallick was 4th in the nation in receiving yards. Mercyhurst may have had a unique pitch and definitely had offensive firepower that Akron and Kent State couldn’t match, as he committed to the Lakers. Jallick figures to be one of the key additions from the Mercyhurst 2025 high school class and a player who could see the field as a freshman.
Interestingly, Mercyhurst seems to have this recruiting territory largely to themselves among NEC teams. Other conference programs haven’t shown significant activity in the Cincinnati area based on our current recruiting trackers. Even RMU, who historically recruits Ohio very strongly, hasn’t gone this deep into the Buckeye state. This strategic focus could give Mercyhurst an edge in building their roster with some overlooked Ohio talent as they continue their transition to Division I in the NEC.
RMU First Offer In On Local Standout Tristan Reed
There’s something about WPIAL players.
You’ve heard it before—and you’ll hear it again. Programs in the NEC recruit nationally- that’s the reality of Division I- but they don’t just win with their local talent. They build with it. And RMU made sure to be first in line for one of the region’s most versatile athletes.
Tristan Reed, a standout from Washington High School, picked up his first Division I offer from RMU after a strong showing at camp. The Colonials didn’t wait. They made the move.
“First and foremost, I want to thank WPIAL Insider for inviting me to the camp. Overall, the experience was great. It was well-run, and the competition was strong,” Reed said. “It started when Coach Makrinos came up and asked if I was going to play wide receiver or quarterback. We talked for a bit, and I told him I’d be at WR that day.”
That’s when Reed started making noise.
“At the combine portion, I ran a 4.54 on my first 40. Coach Makrinos said he was impressed and told me to run it again. On my second try, I clocked a 4.50 flat. Then he walked up to me, shook my hand, and said, ‘Tristan, we’re going to offer you a scholarship here at RMU.’ That was the highlight of my life. All the work I’ve put in for years is finally paying off. I just want to thank Coach Makrinos and RMU for taking a chance on me.”
Reed’s been drawing more attention recently after committing to playing defensive back and wide receiver moving forward. With his versatility, there’s plenty to like—especially for a Colonials program eager to reload with regional athletes. They were the program with the most WPIAL recruits in the nation for the 2025 class.
Reed has not committed to the Colonials. It’s early in the process, but there’s often said to be an advantage for being the first offer in. RMU evaluated Reed and was the first to recognize his talent in Division I.
And again, let’s say it louder for the people in the back:
You can win a lot of games with WPIAL players.
From the Big Apple to the Big Ten: LIU Sends 2 to the P4
Long Island University may not historically be a household name in Power Four recruiting circles, but two recent spring portal transfers are making that case harder to maintain. Defensive lineman Elijah St. John and offensive tackle Moshood Giwa are now suiting up for Purdue and Rutgers, respectively—two Big Ten programs. In the Big Ten, they’re awfully familiar with the “cloud of dust” approach to football, and linemen on both sides of the ball are crucial to winning with and against the run game.
For LIU, these moves are more than just roster changes; they’re proof of concept. No one wants to lose their best players, and the Sharks will have their work cut out for them replacing some of their best players in 2025. But from a recruiting standpoint, it’s hard to ignore what Coach Cooper and his staff is doing: If you come to LIU unranked, you can work and be developed into a player ready for the P4 ranks.
From LIU to the Big Ten Trenches
The jump from the NEC to the P4 is not just about raw talent. It’s about a program developing their players. Both St. John and Giwa have gotten stronger and turned into game changing players while on Long Island. It probably doesn’t hurt that they’ve been going against each other in practice for over a year, either.
Elijah St. John, a 6-1, 275-pound defensive lineman from Ottawa, Ontario, has committed to Purdue after back-to-back seasons as a disruptive force up front for the Sharks. In 2024, he posted 40 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and two forced fumbles in 12 games. That kind of performance, combined with his motor and experience, made him a key target for the Boilermakers as they reshaped their defensive front. For our part, he was anticipated to be an all-NEC player. We had him graded as the best second team All-NEC Blitz preseason defensive lineman prior to his departure.
Purdue, which has leaned heavily on the portal this offseason, added St. John as one of six defensive linemen in the spring window. The Canadian’s journey from Clearwater Academy International to LIU, and now to West Lafayette, underscores how LIU can turn overlooked prospects into Big Ten contributors. For St. John, he now faces a tough competition to earn playing time among a defensive front that will look to play and rotate out players for maximum disruption. He’ll have to lean on the same effort that turned him into a starter at LIU to do that for the Boilermakers.
Meanwhile, Moshood Giwa brings a different kind of toolset to Rutgers—a 6-6, 315-pound frame with 34-inch arms and experience at both tackle spots. After redshirting in 2023, the Brooklyn native logged 734 snaps across 11 games in 2024. He can play both tackle spots, which might have made him even more attractive to the power schools. That versatility is now drawing attention in Piscataway, where Rutgers is looking to replace longtime starter Hollin Pierce and solidify the edges of its offensive line.
With three years of eligibility and a solid foundation built at LIU, Giwa is already deep in the competition under offensive line coach Pat Flaherty. His ability to plug in at multiple positions makes him a valuable asset for a team that’s reconfiguring its line around returning veterans and young challengers. It’s possible that he’ll need further development, but he’s already shown the potential to grow.
A Development Blueprint
It’s an exciting time to be recruited by the Sharks. LIU’s coaching staff has built a reputation on evaluating under-recruited talent and turning it into opportunity. That approach has now paid off on both sides of the line, in two of the most physically demanding positions in college football. For a program that played physical ball in the NEC last season, sending a pair of linemen to the Big Ten is a statement about just how powerful they can be.
This isn’t a one-off. LIU continues to build its roster with the knowledge that if players perform, the Power Four will come calling. That may challenge traditional views of success in the FCS—but for LIU, success now means preparing athletes not just to compete, but to ascend. From here, the Sharks will bring in the next class of players and develop them into difference makers. They’ll lose some after they’re successful in the Big Apple, but that’ll just make them more attractive to the next class of student athletes that want to develop into stars.
As the college football landscape continues to shift with the portal and NIL, programs like LIU are redefining what it means to be a developmental program. St. John and Giwa are proof: the Sharks aren’t just keeping up. They’re developing their athletes into players that any team in the nation would love to have.
They’re sending players to the biggest stages in the sport. And that message is clear. If you can be a difference maker here, you can play anywhere.
California Dreaming: Mercyhurst Gains Commitment From Amir Lemmons
Mercyhurst has added a key piece to its defensive backfield with the commitment of Amir Lemmons, a physical and productive defensive back out of Sierra College in Northern California. At 6’1”, 200 pounds with a rangy 78-inch wingspan, Lemmons is the kind of athlete who stands out on film. It’s not just on film where he makes an impact, though. Lemmons is always readily apparent in the box score.
Lemmons was a Unanimous All-NorCal First Team selection after a monster season in the JUCO ranks, racking up 134 tackles, 8 pass breakups, 5 tackles for loss, and 1 interception. More than just a stat machine, Lemmons brings physicality to the backend of the Mercyhurst defense. You love to see a physical player that’s adept at tackling at the safety position, and it looks like the Lakers may have landed just that.
The reason why Lemmons committed from all the way in California is simple and a reflection that at our level the relationships still matter. “It felt like home. All of the people there are great,” Lemmons said of his commitment to the Lakers.
It’s not the first time the Lakers have pulled from California, and it certainly won’t be the last.
Mercyhurst head coach Ryan Riemedio has deep ties to California from his time as a player and coach in the region, and that familiarity has quietly become a recruiting edge. Lemmons isn’t the first JUCO standout from California to find his way to Erie—Adam Urena, a quarterback from Citrus College, took the same path previouisly.
It’s an unusual pipeline for a program based in western Pennsylvania, but the returns speak for themselves. Mercyhurst has found value in looking beyond traditional borders, especially when it leads to players with Lemmons' level of production and polish. Whether it’s Western PA or northern California, the Lakers are showing they know how to identify talent—and land it.
With Lemmons in the mix, the Lakers' secondary just got more dangerous. We’ll be keeping an eye out for him this season.
“I’d Love to Go Here”: Daryl Agyei Takes Us Inside Wagner Junior Day
Class of 2026 defensive lineman Daryl Agyei (6’0, 235) is still waiting on an offer, but he’s not waiting to put in the work.
The Linden (NJ) product recently visited Wagner for Junior Day and came away impressed with what the Seahawks are building. He gave us a look inside the experience for some of the rising seniors who made the trip to Staten Island. “We had a tour around campus, the locker rooms, and the stadium itself,” Agyei said. “We were also able to watch spring practice and see how the program works and prepares for games.”
Head coach Tom Masella addressed the group, speaking about Wagner’s football culture, academic offerings, and the program’s long climb—from Division III roots to its current place in Division I. Masella knows that journey firsthand: he was on staff during Wagner’s 2012 NEC title run and FCS playoff win, and part of the program in the 1980s just before its DIII national championship in 1987.
We’ve been vocal fans of what Masella’s building on Staten Island and the slow but steady growth that the program has shown through his time there. It’s evident in some of the recruits Wagner’s pulled in as of late, as well as some of the talent that the program has developed. Win on Staten Island and you just might get a chance to win at the next level. There’s three active NFL players who have played for the Seahawks.
Agyei didn’t get one on one time with the coaches during the visit, but he connected with players and walked away with a strong impression. “It was great to see how serious the team takes their preparation,” he said. “I’d love to go here if given the chance.”
Watch Agyei’s film and it’s clear why he’s worth tracking. He shows the ability to get into the backfield from a three-point stance or as a stand-up edge, and he’s not just an edge rusher—he can slide inside and still disrupt. Linden uses him across the line, and he delivers for the New Jersey program.
Wagner may have been one of the first to get a closer look, but he’s got plenty of Junior Day visits on the calendar. The rest of the cycle should be worth watching.
