gannon vs shepherd 9-11-2021

Football Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Winners The Theme for Football Recruiting Class

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon University head football coach Erik Raeburn today announced the addition of 18 players to his roster for the 2022 campaign, most signing national letters of intent. The list includes one mid-year transfer who enrolled at Gannon in January. Mike Dempsey joins the Golden Knights after previously playing at the University at Buffalo.
 
If winning breeds winning, the Golden Knights will enjoy great success over the next few years. A common denominator of the 2022 signees is all come from winning programs that went deep into their respective high school playoffs, in several instances reaching state championship games. Raeburn also tapped into his vast connections in the Midwest to bolster the roster.
 
"We only graduated three seniors from our team but we are really happy to be able to add so many high quality players to our program," Reaburn commented. "We added players from six different states. Our staff worked really hard to find great athletes that will also fit the culture we are building in our program."
 
Here's a look at the newest Golden Knights:
 
Kamari Banks
DL / 6'2" / 265 lbs. / Baltimore, Md. / Milford Mill Academy
Teammate of fellow recruit Shamar Brooks at Milford Mill Academy, playing for head coach Reggie White … helped the Millers finish with a 12-2 record in 2021, reaching the MPSSAA Class 2A state championship game before falling to Douglass 29-14 in the finals … finished with 31 tackles, 22 of those solo, with 4 TFL, 2 sacks, a fumble recovery and a fumble caused ... Milford Mill was 5-0 in 2020 and 10-2 in 2019, reaching the MPSSAA Class 2A state quarterfinals.   
 
Shamar Brooks
DB / 6'2" / 180 lbs. / Baltimore, Md. / Milford Mill Academy
Teammate of fellow recruit Kamari Banks at Milford Mill Academy, playing for head coach Reggie White … helped the Millers finish with a 12-2 record in 2021, reaching the MPSSAA Class 2A state championship game before falling to Douglass 29-14 in the finals … had 62 tackles, 47 solo, with 3 TFL, an interception for 39 yards, 2 passes defensed, a fumble recovery and a fumble caused … also caught 7 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown ... Milford Mill was 5-0 in 2020 and 10-2 in 2019, reaching the MPSSAA Class 2A state quarterfinals … in six games, had a pair of tackles along with 4 receptions for 83 yards.   
 
Chase Crews
OG / 6'3" / 285 lbs. / Glen St. Marie, Flor. / Baker County
Was a 2021 North Florida Offensive Player of the Year nominee and earned first team All-Coast honors … helped Baker County to an 11-3 finish as a senior, advancing to the FHSAA Class 5A State Tournament semifinals with three playoff wins before losing to Central … in 2020, Baker County was 10-3 and again qualified for the FHSAA Class 5A Playoffs … helped lead the team to 251 yards per game rushing.
 
Brad Delphia
TE / 6'4" / 215 lbs. / Lakewood, Ohio / St. Edward
A standout at fabled St. Edward High School, one of the top high school football programs in the state of Ohio … played for head coach Tom Lombardo, helping the Eagles win the 2021 OHSAA Division I state championship … was a two-year starter at tight end, helping St. Edward go 21-3 during that span … team finished with a 15-1 record in 2021, defeating Springfield 23-13 in the 2021 Ohio Division 1 state championship game … Eagles also owned a 19-14 win in the showdown with St. Ignatius … was an instrumental blocker helping the team rush for over 3,200 yards, while catching 7 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown … 2020 St. Edward team was 6-2 with wins over Mentor and St. Ignatius.
 
Mike Dempsey
OL / 6'4" / 265 lbs. / Patchogue, N.Y. / Patchogue-Medford / Univ. at Buffalo
Transfer from the University at Buffalo who played two seasons for the Bulls … reserve offensive lineman on a UB team that played in the 202 Mid-American Conference championship game, losing to Ball State 38-28, before defeating Marshall by a 17-10 score in the Camelia Bowl.
 
Myron Green
DE / 6'3" / 227 lbs. / Indianapolis, Ind. / Ben Davis
Played for head coach Jason Simmons at Ben Davis High School along with fellow Gannon recruits Donell Mason and Keoke Toomer ... the Giants finished at 7-6 but reached the semifinals of the IHSAA Class 6A state champioinships, losing to eventual state champion Central Grove ... played in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, reputed to be the toughest football conference in the Hoosier State ... finished with 47 tackles, 30 of those solo, with 9 TFL and a fumble recovery ... had 6 sacks and 29 hurries ... earned honorable mention All-Marion County Countyhonors, an IFCA Class 6A All-State selection, and an All-MIC pick ... as a junior had 27 total tackles, 18 solo, with 3 sacks, 10 hurries and a fumble recovery as Ben Davis once again reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Center Grove in the Class 6A state semifinals ... team finished at 7-6 ... in 2019 the Giants posted an 8-5 record, again losing to Center Grove in the state semifinals.

Jackson Griffin
DB / 5'11" / 185 lbs. / Greenwood, Ind. / Center Grove
Helped Center Grove High School to back-to-back IHSAA Class 6A state championships, each year finishing undefeated at 14-0 … became first team in Indiana history to repeat as Class 6A state champion … in 2021, head coach Eric Moore's Trojans defeated Ben Davis 45-6 in the semifinals before posting a 27-21 win over Westfield in the state championship game … played in 10 games, finishing with 17 tackles with 2 INTs and 2 passes defensed … also had 3 fumble recoveries …. returned an interception for a touchdown in the semifinal win over Ben Davis, receiving the Player of the Game "Big Play" award … also scored a touchdown in quarterfinal win over Lawrence North, picking up a blocked punt for a score in 29-19 win … was an honorable mention All-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference selection … in 2020, Center Grove defeated Ben Davis 48-13 in state semifinals before handing Westfield a 38-14 defeat in state championship game … played in six games with 8 tackles, a fumble recovery and a recovered fumble.
 
Donell Mason
WR / 5'10" / 175 lbs. / Indianapolis, Ind. / Ben Davis
Played for head coach Jason Simmons at Ben Davis High School along with fellow Gannon recruits Myron Green and Keoke Toomer … finished career ranked first in career receptions and second in career receiving yards at Ben Davis … the Giants finished at 7-6 but reached the semifinals of the IHSAA Class 6A state championships, losing to eventual state champion Central Grove … played in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, reputed to be the toughest football conference in the Hoosier State … caught 78 passes for 1,073 yards with 16 TDs, finishing with 1,269 all-purpose yards … on defense, had 25 tackles, an interception and 2 passes broken up … was the team's leading score with 17 TDs and 102 points … was an IFCA Class 6A All-State selection, earned All-Marion County honors and was an All-MIC pick … Ben Davis was also 7-6 in 2020, losing to eventual state champion Center Grove in the Class 6A state semifinals … caught 49 passes for 690 yards with 8 TDs and had 1,231 all-purpose yards … rushed 12 times for 100 yards and had 21 kickoff returns for 417 yards … in 2019, the Giants posted an 8-5 record, again losing to Center Grove in the state semifinals … caught 10 passes for 97 yards with a pair of TDs.
 
Carmelo McLaurin   
DB/WR / 5'10" / 160 lbs. / Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep  
Played for head coach Mike Mischler at Cathedral Prep along with Gannon recruits Michael Parks and Jacon Pollock ... Ramblers were 11-2 in 2021, reaching the PIAA Class 5A state quarterfinals after winning the District 10 championship ... was a first team All-Region selection at defensive back as a senior, finishing with 31 tackles, w interceptions and 3 passes defensed ... also caught 2 passes for 24 yards, returned 3 punts for 68 yards and had 2 kickoff returns for 31 yards ... in 2020 was part of a Prep team that reached the PIAA Class 5A state championship game before losing to Pine-Richland ... had 22 tackles and 2 passes broken up as a junior, with 2 catches for 11 yards ... recorded an interception as a sophomore as the Ramblers went 11-3, winning the District 10 Class 4A championship and reaching the state quarterfinals... 
 
Spencer Mesaros
DL / 6'1" / 245 lbs. / Ravenna, Ohio / Southeast
Teammate of Gannon recruit Jaidyn Sapp at Ravenna Southeast High School, playing for head coach Patrick Youel … the Pirates finished with a 9-2 record in 2021, losing to Garaway in the OHSAA Division V Tournament … a three-time All-Ohio selection who was named the Division V Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a first team honoree … was named to the first team 2021 All-Northeast Inland District, along with the Defensive Player of the Year … selected to play in the 75th North-South All-Star Football Classic, which consists of two games and is slated to be played April 30 in Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium … was defensive force during his three-year career, recording 292 tackles and 51 tackles for loss … was a second team Division V All-Ohio selection as a junior … Southeast finished with a 5-4 record in 2020, leading the Pirates to their first-ever playoff win … was also an All-Ohio selection as a sophomore.
 
Michael Parks
RB / 5'8" / 160 lbs. / Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep 
Played for head coach Mike Mischler at Cathedral Prep along with Gannon recruits Jacob Pollock and Carmelo McLaurin ... Ramblers were 11-2 in 2021, reaching the PIAA Class 5A state quarterfinals after winning the District 10 championship ... earned first team All-Region honors at both running back and linebacker as a senior and was named the Region 6 Player of the Year ... went on to earn Associated Press All-State honors and All-District honors ... carried 170 times for 1,516 yards with 17 TDs, an average of 8.9 yards per carry ... caught 15 passes for 153 yards  and a touchdown ... added 42 tackles and 2 sacks on defense ... as a junior ran for 933 yards and 8 TDs on 128 carries, with 8 receptions for 20 yards, leading the Ramblers to the PIAA Class 5 A state championship game before losing to Pine-Richland ... on defense had 36 tackles ... earned second team All-Region honors at both running back and linebacker ... was also an All-District selection ... had 14 carries for 52 yards as a sophomore along with 15 tackles and an interception as Prep went 11-3, winning the District 10 Class 4A championship and reaching the state quarterfinals. 

Jacob Pollock
DL / 6-1 / 240 / Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep
Played for head coach Mike Mischler at Cathedral Prep along with Gannon recruits Michael Parks and Carmelo McLaurin … Ramblers were 11-2 in 2021, reaching the PIAA Class 5A state quarterfinals after winning the District 10 championship … was a first team All-Region choice at defensive line and also an All-District selection … had 50 tackles along with 5 sacks … caught one pass for 3 yards … helped the Ramblers reach the PIAA Class 5A state championship game before losing to Pine-Richland as a junior … was a reserve defensive lineman who finished with 7 tackles … Prep went 11-3, winning the District 10 Class 4A championship and reaching the state quarterfinals his sophomore season.
 
Bryan Russ
DB / 5'11" / 190 lbs. / Macedonia, Ohio / Nordonia
Standout defensive back for head coach Jeff Fox at Nordonia High School … a three-year starter and team captain … as a senior, was a third team All-Ohio Division II honoree and also earned first team All-Suburban League and first team all-district accolades … was a Division II honorable mention All-District choice as a junior and an all-conference honoree … played in All-American Bowl in Dallas in January and selected to play in North/South All-Star Game on April 30 … was a nominee for the Greater Akron High School Defensive Player of the Year … finished career with 218 tackles, 9 interceptions, 10 passes broken up, 3 TFL, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and a blocked extra point … as a senior had 67 tackles, including 46 solo, with 5 INTs, 6 passes broken up, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recoveries and 2 TFL … Macedonia finished with a 10-3 record his senior year, advancing to Ohio state playoffs … reached the Division II regional semifinal before losing to Archbishop Hoban … father Bernard Russ played linebacker collegiately at West Virginia then went on to play three seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots.

Jaidyn Sapp 
RB/OLB / 6'2" 195 lbs. / Ravenna, Ohio / Southeast High School
A standout at running back and linebacker for head coach Patrick Youel at Ravenna Southeast High School … teammate of fellow Gannon recruit Spencer Mesaros … a three-sport athlete who excelled in three sports (football, wrestling, and lacrosse), earning 11 letters so far was named the 2021 Male Athlete of the Year … the Pirates finished with a 9-2 record in 2021, losing to Garaway in the OHSAA Division V Tournament … a nominee for Offensive Player of the Year that will be announced this spring at Portage County High School Sports Awards show … 2021 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Division V All-Ohio honorable mention honoree, along with 2021 All-Northeast Inland District football team, earning first team honors in 2021 after being named to the honorable mention team in 2020 … was a first team All-PTC selection in 2020 and 2021 … ran for 1,227 yards and 21 TDs on 183 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry … ran for 4 TDs in 42-22 win over Lutheran East in first round of playoffs … All-Ohio wrestler who took fifth place a year ago … was honorable mention All-District in lacrosse … Southeast finished with a 5-4 record in 2020, leading the Pirates to first-ever playoff win with 18 carries for 153 yards and 2 TDs in 35-6 win over Buckeye Local … brother Eric is on the Gannon baseball team.
 
Eric Steinle
WR / 6'2" / 170 lbs. / Albion, Pa. / Northwestern
 Played for head coach Mark Brooks at Northwestern High School, leading the Wildcats to a 7-1 record … the lone loss came in the District 10 Class 2A semifinals, losing 41-21 to District 10 power Wilmington … finished the season with 13 receptions for 348 yards, a 26.8 yard average, with 4 TDs … that included a 5-catch, 208-yard game against Saegertown … had 8 receptions and a touchdown in playoff game vs. Wilmington … on defense, had 14 tackles and a pair of interceptions …. Was a two-time first team All-Region selection at wide receiver, and earned first team All-Region accolades at defensive back as a senior and second team as a junior … in 2020, caught 17 passes for 238 yards and 5 TDs … added 23 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery … had 30 career receptions for 586 yards with 9 TDs, adding 56 tackles and 4 INTs on defense … also a standout for the Northwestern basketball team, leading the Wildcats in scoring with 13.6 ppg. including 49 3-pointers  ... was a first team All-Region 3 selection … as a junior, averaged 13.3 ppg. with 42 3-pointers.
 
Gavin Tonery
OL / 6'4" / 285 lbs. / Pittsburgh, Pa. / Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Was a first team all-conference selection for a Chargers team that finished as the WPIAL Class 1A runner-up … OLSH came in seeded ninth and upset top-seed Clairton in the WPIAL quarterfinals, 29-15, then went on to beat Rochester, 14-13 … lost to Canevin in the finals at Heinz Field to end the year with a 9-4 record.
 
Keoke Toomer
LB / 6'0" / 215 lbs. / Indianapolis, Ind. / Ben Davis
Played for head coach Jason Simmons at Ben Davis High School along with fellow Gannon recruits Donell Mason and Myron Green … the Giants finished at 7-6 but reached the semifinals of the IHSAA Class 6A state championships, losing to eventual state champion Central Grove … played in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, reputed to be the toughest football conference in the Hoosier State … was an IFCA Class 6A All-State selection and earned honorable mention All-Marion County accolades … also an IFCA Academic All-State honoree … finished with 114 tackles, 97 solo, with 6 TFL, 5 sacks and 17 hurries … had 2 interceptions for 37 yards … as a junior, had 99 total tackles, 72 solo, with 11 TFL, 7 sacks, 13 hurries, 2 fumbles caused and an interception as Ben Davis once again reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Center Grove in the Class 6A state semifinals … team finished at 7-6 … in 2019, the Giants posted an 8-5 record, again losing to Center Grove in the state semifinals.
 
Chase Warner
DE / 6'2" / 225 lbs. / St. Augustine, Flor. / Nease
A standout on a Nease High School team that finished the year with a 9-4 record, reaching the FHSAA 7A District 2 State Tournament finals before losing to Buchholz … was a FACA 7a District 6 first team selection at defensive line after finishing with 76 tackles, including 42 solo stops … had 8 TFL with 3 sacks, 2 fumbles caused  and  one fumble recovery … as a junior had 7 TFL and 3 sacks … was an  honorable mention 2021 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns Football All-Area selection on defense.
 
 
 
 
 
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