March 22, 2000

EASTON, PA - The Lafayette College football coaching staff has announced its list of freshmen recruits set to enroll at the College this Fall as members of the Class of 2004, the first recruiting class under Head Coach Frank Tavani.

Tavani will enter his first season with 35 recruits expected to report to preseason camp this coming August. A diverse class, the recruits are coming from Lafayette's historically strong recruiting areas, as well as a few new regions. Of the 35 recruits, 15 are from Pennsylvania, 11 are from New Jersey, two each from Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York, and one each from California, Connecticut, and Ontario, Canada.

"I am excited about the talent we have coming in," said Tavani, who was named Lafayette's 27th head coach on December 11, 1999 after serving on the staff for the previous 13 seasons. "We have some key skill position prospects who we expect to make an immediate impact in the program. Our local recruiting efforts were tremendous again. We have four student-athletes from the area joining our program, including Bethlehem Catholic's Pat Brown, who could be the top player from this year's high school senior class."

Of the 35 recruits, eight are projected by the Leopards' coaching staff as defensive backs, while five are wide receivers, four are running backs, and three are quarterbacks.

"Getting the commitment from quarterback Marko Glavic was just a huge bonus," explained Tavani of the 6-6, 225-pound suburban Toronto native who completed 121 of 196 passes last season for 1,947 yards and 18 touchdowns. "He is a Division I-A prospect who received several scholarship offers. His size, strength, and athletic abilities will allow him to do some amazing things in the Patriot League."

Also highly touted entering Lafayette is wide receiver Ashton Funk, a first-team All-Cape Atlantic League receiver who helped lead Mainland Regional High School to three New Jersey State Division Championships.

Lafayette concluded its 118th season of college football with a 4-7 overall record, and 2-4 and fifth place in Patriot League play. The Leopards' spring practices begin April 1, and culminate with the Maroon-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 29, at 1:30 p.m. Lafayette opens the 2000 season by hosting Towson on September 9 at 1:30 p.m.

2000 Lafayette Football Signees

Adam Allen, DE, 6-2, 235, Mercerville, NJ/Hamilton North-Nottingham

Cory Balliet, ILB, 6-2, 225, Tamaqua, PA/Marian Catholic

Tyreese Barnes, OT, 6-2, 300, Woodlynne, NJ/Collingswood

Michael Beatrice, K, 6-1, 185, Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah

Pat Brown, DT, 6-5, 260, Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic

David Bruestle, SS, 5-11, 190, Holland, PA/Archbishop Wood

Edward Carter, TB, 5-10, 185, Voorhees, NJ/Eastern

Joel Cesare, WR, 5-10, 175, Whitehall, PA/Whitehall

Nick Ferraco, DE, 6-2, 245, Manchester, MA/Manchester

Ashton Funk, WR, 6-4, 210, Linwood, NJ/Mainland Regional

Marko Glavic, QB, 6-6, 225, Pickering, Ontario/St. Mary Catholic

Kellen Graham, OLB, 6-2, 200, Camden, NY/Camden

Thomas Hall, WR, 6-0, 180, Huntingdon Valley, PA/Archbishop Wood

Anthony Hawthorne, SS, 6-1, 190, Long Beach, CA/Millikan

Chris Holland, ILB, 6-2, 220, Andover, NJ/Lenape Valley

Aaron Jackson, WR, 6-3, 190, Williamstown, NJ/Clearview Regional

Matthew Jackson, OLB, 6-2, 210, Shavertown, PA/Dallas

Joshua Keister, FB, 6-2, 235, Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan

Kevin Kozup, TB, 5-11, 190, Boiling Springs, PA/Boiling Springs

Michael McAfee, TE, 6-5, 235, Warrington, PA/Archbishop Wood

Mike McTavish, QB/FS, 6-0, 180, Rockville, MD/Good Counsel

Ryan Moloney, FB, 6-1, 235, Sellersville, PA/Lansdale Catholic

Kevin Moss, OT, 6-4, 270, Simsbury, CT/Simsbury

Nick Mourtos, TE, 6-3, 250, Medford, NJ/Eastern

Michael O'Connor, QB, 6-3, 180, Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg

Justin Pettigrew, CB, 6-0, 180, Jermyn, PA/Valley View

Brad Rock, SS, 6-3, 220, Smithtown, NY/Smithtown

Brian Sondej, DB, 6-1, 190, Valencia, PA/Mars Area

George Taylor, SS, 6-0, 185, Camden, NJ/Camden

Matt Van Doren, CB, 5-10, 190, Mount Carmel, PA/Mount Carmel

Tim Walsh, TE, 6-3, 245, New Bedford, MA/New Bedford

Bruce Wayne, FS, 6-1, 180, Belle Mead, NJ/Hillsborough

Trey Weaver, DL, 6-2, 235, Poolesville, MD/Poolesville

John Weyrauch, WR, 6-0, 185, Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood

Curt Wilson, OT, 6-3, 250, Northampton, PA/Northampton

NOTE -- Official notification will be extended by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.