ERIE, Pa. - On February 3, Gannon head football coach Jim Kiernan announced the addition of nine student-athletes to the program during the first official day high school student-athletes were allowed to commit to college football programs per NCAA rules. All nine agreed to continue their academic and athletic careers at Gannon in the fall of 2010.

Below is a list of bios for the nine student-athletes who committed on February 3. The newcomers are expected to join an experienced group of student-athletes as the Gannon football program lost only eight graduating seniors from last year's 6-5 team. In all, 50 letterwinners and 17 players who started at least six games return in 2010. The program will feature 22 seniors during the upcoming season.

The Signing Day group includes four from Pennsylvania, two from New York, one from Ohio, one from Maryland and one from Florida. The position breakdown includes six offensive players, two defensive players and one punter.

Gannon finished the 2009 season with four consecutive victories, recording its first winning season since 2003 by knocking off 19th-ranked Bloomsburg in the season finale.

Additional signees are expected to be announced at a later date. Gannon is tentatively scheduled to open the 2010 season Thursday, September 2 against Lake Erie at Gannon University Field. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule begins Saturday, September 11 at Shippensburg. Gannon opens the PSAC slate with three road games, before hosting rival Mercyhurst October 2.

2010 Gannon Football Recruiting Class
February 3rd Announcements - Alphabetical Order

Ben Balzer
(OL, 6-2, 300)
Wexford, Pa. / North Allegheny High School

~ Played for head coach Art Walker at North Allegheny (Pa.) High School
~ Intended Major: Undecided
~ Was a two-time all-conference selection, being named to the first team as a senior
~ Started at offensive center

Cody Crosby
(P/QB, 6-4, 190)
Warren, Pa. / Eisenhower High School

~ Played for head coach James Penley at Eisenhower (Pa.) High School
~ Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering
~ Was a four-year starter and letterwinner at Eisenhower
~ Served as the team captain as a senior
~ Earned Associated Press All-State second-team accolades as a senior punter
~ Selected to the Pennsylvania Football News All-State team three times as a punter, landing a spot on the second team as a sophomore and junior while being selected to the third team as a senior
~ Was a two-time all-district selection as a punter
~ Broke 12 school records for his passing, punting and defensive skills
~ Named 2009 Wendy's Heisman Pennsylvania Male Student-Athlete of the Year
~ Was a three-sport athlete, being a four-year starter in basketball and three-year starter in baseball
~ Served as the team captain every year for basketball
~ Was a two-time all-region selection in football, basketball and baseball
~ Was a member of the National Honor Society
~ Received several Eisenhower High School “Knight of the Year” annual awards

Alex Davis
(OL, 6-3, 275)
Erie, Pa. / Strong Vincent (Pa.) High School (Collegiate Academy)

~ Played for head coach Tom Cacchione at Strong Vincent (Pa.) High School
~ Intended Major: Pre-Med
~ Named to the All-State first team
~ Helped Strong Vincent win three district championships
~ Was part of two teams that advanced to the Pennsylvania State Western Finals
~ Graduated Magna Cum Laude with at least a 3.5 GPA all four years

Kasey Gallagher
(LB/DE, 6-0, 230)
Erie, Pa. / McDowell High School

~ Played for head coach Mark Soboleski at McDowell (Pa.) High School
~ Intended Major: Undecided
~ Named to the All-State and All-WPIAL second teams as a senior
~ Was a two-time all-district first-team selection on defense
~ Served as a team captain
~ Was a three-year starter and letterwinner
~ Received the McDowell Scholar-Athlete Award

Kevin Gerlach
(OL, 6-1, 275)
Williamsville, N.Y. / Williamsville South High School

~ Played for head coach Craig Kurzanzki at Williamsville South (N.Y.) High School
~ Intended Major: Undecided
~ Was a four-year varsity letterwinner
~ Earned All-Western New York honorable-mention accolades as a senior
~ Was a three-time all-league selection, being named to the first-team offense as a senior and first-team defense as a junior
~ Received the Jim Dombowski Award twice for being Williamsville South's best offensive linemen
~ Served as the team captain as a senior and junior
~ Received the coach's award as a senior
~ Named Williamsville South's Outstanding Defensive Lineman as a junior

Dave Harding
(Multiple, 5-9, 170)
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Fort Lauderdale High School

~ Played for head coach Richard Dunbar at Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) High School
~ Intended Major: Sport & Exercise Science
~ Played in the BCAA North-South All-Star Game
~ Was a member of the honor roll

Luke Rankie
(LB, 6-3, 210)
Lockport, N.Y. / Lockport High School

~ Played for head coach Greg Bronson at Lockport (N.Y.) High School
~ Intended Major: Undecided
~ Named to the All-State fifth team as a senior
~ Selected Co-Defensive MVP for AA North
~ Was a two-time All-Western New York selection, being named to the second team as a senior and honorable-mention squad a junior
~ Was a three-time all-league selection, being named to the first team as a junior and senior
~ Earned a spot on the all-league second team as a sophomore
~ Was a member of the honor roll every year
~ Named a Scholar-Athlete last three years
~ Was a two-sport athlete, earning all-league honors twice in lacrosse
~ Named to the all-league first team in lacrosse as a senior and second team as a junior
~ Received four varsity letters in lacrosse and three in football
~ Was a two-year captain for both teams

Daniel Tapscott
(QB, 6-2, 190)
Hyattsville, Md. / DeMatha Catholic High School

~ Played for head coach Bill McGregor at DeMatha Catholic (Md.) High School
~ Intended Major: Sport & Exercise Science
~ Was a three-year varsity letterwinner
~ Was 88-of-159 for 1,381 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior
~ Led DeMatha Catholic to an 11-1 record as a senior
~ Earned All-State honorable-mention accolades
~ Named to the all-conference third team
~ Was a two-sport athlete, receiving two varsity letters in baseball
~ Earned all-conference honorable-mention accolades as a junior pitcher
~ Was a member of the honor roll
~ Named to the Principal's List twice

Ty Watson
(QB, 6-2, 205)
Aurora, Ohio / Aurora High School

~ Played for head coach Bob Mihalik at Aurora (Ohio) High School
~ Intended Major: Undecided
~ Was a three-sport athlete, earning all-conference honors in football, basketball and baseball
~ Helped Aurora win the 2008 State Football Championship
~ Was part of a team that won two Summer Baseball State Championships
~ Named to the honor roll and merit roll