Alfred University welcomes 45 football recruits 7/03/03
ALFRED Headlining the group of newcomers on offense is a pair of transfer wide receivers, sophomore Tyquan Horton and junior Chris Sargent.Horton, a 6-4, 200-pound Syracuse native, played one season at Fordham University, starting eight games as a freshman in 2000. A graduate of Corcoran High School, Horton possesses exceptional speed and size and is expected to compete for a starting job among a very deep receiving corps.Sargent transfers to Alfred from rival St. Lawrence University, where he played in 2001. He was the Saints' leading receiver with 33 catches for 335 yards. He was also tops in kickoff returns (26 for 435 yards) and punt returns (19 returns for 177 yards. He is expected to compete for a starting wide receiver spot and will return kicks and punts. Sargent will be joined by his younger brother, Greg, a 5-8, 160-pound tailback who was an All-Conference running back at Ogdensburg High School in 2002.Another solid addition will be freshman offensive guard Mike Yokopovich of Webster. The 6-1, 250- pound Yokopovich was an All-New York State selection and First Team Greater Rochester All-Star as a senior in 2002 after helping lead his Webster High team to a third straight Section V title and second consecutive New York State championship. He was named Most Valuable Offensive Lineman in both the Section V and state title games. He will compete right away for a starting spot on an offensive line that lost three of five starters from last season.On the defensive side of the ball, AU head coach Dave Murray is hoping 6-1, 220-pound linebacker Greg Buonavita will be able to contribute immediately to a unit that lost seven of 11 starters (including two of three linebackers) from a year ago. Buonavita was a First Team Suffolk County All-Conference selection while playing at John Glenn High School on Long Island. He was recruited to play at Division I-AA St. John's University but transferred to AU after St. John's discontinued its football program.A trio of freshman , Andrew Carroll, Nick Gatto and Jake Rulander will join
Buonavita in helping to restock the Saxons' linebacking corps.Carroll, a 5-11, 200-pound linebacker, was a First Team All-League performer at Starpoint High School his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Gatto was Class D North Co-Defensive Player of the Year his senior year at Maple Grove High School. The 6-0, 205 pound linebacker was also an Honorable mention All-Western New York selection last year. The 5-11, 170-pound Rulander was a standout at Eisenhower High School (PA), where he was a member of the Big 30 Team in 2002. He was a First Team Allegheny Mountain League All-Star his junior and senior seasons.Matt Krauss, a 6-2, 190-pound defensive end from Cassadaga Valley High School, will be expected to help replenish a defensive line that lost four letterwinners (including three of four starters) from last season. He was Class C South Co-Defensive Player of the Year and an Honorable Mention All- Western New York selection last year.Other recruits expected to contribute to the defensive line are freshmen Jhery James and Andy Rantz. James is a 5-11, 220-pound nose tackle from Holy Trinity High School on Long Island. He was an All-League performer in 2002 and was selected to play in Long Island's Senior Bowl. Rantz, a 6-1, 230-pound defensive end from Milton (PA) Area High School, was a First Team All-Central Susquehanna Conference selection in 2002. He was also a First Team All-County and Second Team All-District 4 performer.The Saxons open preseason camp on Aug. 16. The team has a scrimmage Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. at home against Kings College before opening the regular season Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at St. John Fisher. Alfred's season home opener is Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. against St. Lawrence.
