BRYANT UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
February 2, 2006

Bulldogs Welcome 19 Additions to the 2006 Football Team

 SMITHFIELD, RI – A total of 19 football players have signed national letters of intent to play at Bryant University.  The announcement was made today by third-year Bulldog football coach Marty Fine and Bryant interim director of athletics John Ruppert. 
    
Bryant posted a 7-3 record in 2005, setting a school record for wins in a season and earned a spot in the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional rankings for the first time in the program's history.  


The 19 new recruits (alphabetically):

Tom Byrne, LB, 5-10, 210, Tewksbury, MA (Tewksbury Memorial)
Two-year starter and team captain … Merrimack Valley All-Conference selection … Lowell Sun All-Star team ... Outstanding wrestler at Tewksbury, posting a 29-6 record.  

Nick Candito, OLB/WR, 6-3, 202, West Boylston, MA  (St. John's HS)
Helped lead team to back-to-back Super Bowl Championships in 2004 and 2005 as a defensive back and linebacker … Lettered in football, baseball, and track … 2005 Shriner's Bowl nominee … 2005 Central Mass All-Star … National Honor Society.

 Doug Emerzian, TE, 6-4, 215, Rowley, MA  (Triton Regional High School) (pictured right)
Three-sport athlete and team captain at Triton in football, baseball, and basketball … Two-time Cape Ann All-League honors in football and team MVP in 2005. will be graduating from Triton Regional High School in the spring. 

Lindsey Gamble, RB, 5-9, 190, Boston Mass (Reading Memorial HS)  (pictured left)
All-time career rushing leader with 2,367 yards … only player to rush for over 1,000 yards in two seasons … Team captain and First Team Middlesex All-League selection ... Team's Offensive Performer of the Year award winner ... Selected to participate in Shriners Football Classic all-star game.  

Patrick Gauthier, LB/OT, 6-2, 250, Woonsocket, RI (Woonsocket HS)
Two-time all-division selection and second team all-State honors … All-Academic and voted team's best offensive lineman … Coaches' Award recipient … Four varsity letters in football and baseball and one letter in wrestling … Honor Roll and Rhode Island Honor Society … Helped lead team to 2004 Super Bowl championship and Division Championship in 2005.

Peter Gauthier,  LB/OG, 6-2, 260, Woonsocket, RI (Woonsocket HS)
Two-time all-state selection (first and second team) …. First Team All-Division lineman and second team all-division linebacker … All-Academic team selection … Voted team MVP … Honor Roll and Rhode Island Honor Society … Earned four varsity letters in football and baseball and one in wrestling … Helped lead team to 2004 Super Bowl championship and Division Championship in 2005.

Kevin Goncalves, WR/DB, 5-10, 170, Hyannis, MA (The Tilton School)
Compiled 21 touchdowns by rushing, receiving, kick returns and punt returns … Three-year starter and team captain … A three-time all- conference pick and two-time all-New England … Also lettered in basketball.

Bobby Heilmann, PK, 5-10, 160, Wyckoff, NJ (Ramapo HS)
First major preseason all-American to have committed to the Bryant football program … A First Team All-League and Second Team All-County selection  … First Team All-Suburban  … Was a preseason Reebok/Sports Illustrated Mid-Atlantic All-America selection as a senior … Helped lead team to NBIL Division titles and North I Group III State Championship … One of the top kickers in New Jersey in 2004.

Pete Krafka, OL, 6-3, 275, Milford, MA (Bishop Feehan)
Three-time state champion and was a team captain this past season for the Shamrocks in 2005 … He was named EAC All-Star and Attleboro Sun Chronicle All-Star in 2005 …  A professional string bass player, Krafka was a member of the Massachusetts All-State Orchestra from 2002- 2005.

Kyle Laham , QB/DB, 6-0, 190, Westborough, MA (Westborough HS)
Played various roles at Westborough, including quarterback, running back, punter, and kick return specialist … Averaged 6.5 yards per carry and had seven touchdowns as a senior in 2005 … Central Mass Division I-A All-Start and Central Mass Second Team selection … Led Central Mass in passing in 2004 …  is 6’0, 190 QB/DB who played four years at Westborough High School … Standout member of school's track team where he is part of  four school records the 4x200 relay, 4x100relay, 4x55 relay plus the school record holder in the shot put.  Has received nomination of Congressman James P. McGovern to the US Military Academy- West Point in 2006.

Ben Lyons, OL, 6-7, 305, Westfield, MA (Avon Old Farms)
Joins the Bulldogs after spending two years at Avon Old Farms School and two years at St. Thomas Moore He is 6’7, 305 pounds … Named Freshman Athlete of the Year … Also lettered in lacrosse for four years.  

Zack Norley, QB, 6-4, 195, Sudbury, MA (Lincoln-Sudbury HS)
A two-sport standout at Lincoln-Sudbury High School where he played four years of football and baseball  … Team captain as a senior … MetroWest Daily News All-Star as a junior …  Father was a three-year starting quarterback at Syracuse (1982-85) and brother, Todd, plays at Bentley. 

Paul Polomski, LB, 6-0, 215, Franklin MA (Franklin HS)
A Hockomock League All- Star and a Metro West Daily News All-Star selection … Team captain. 

Khalel Pritchard, QB/DB, 5-9, 160, Boston MA (Newton North)
Named Boston Globe All-Scholastic and Division IA Eastern Mass All- Star … Career touchdown passing leader at  Newton North … Standout track athlete where he was part of the school's 4x50 relay squad that set a state record …  Member of  the Jubilee Singers Gospel Choir and Honors Family Singers Classical Choir.

Nick Scardelli, QB, 5-10, 160, Manalapan, NJ (Manalapan HS)
Team captain  … School record holder for most career passing yards, career completions, and career touchdowns … Conference co-passing leader … Two-time all-district selection (2004, 2005) … Earned letters in football, baseball, and wrestling.

Kevin Skelly, OL, 6-0, 250, Brookfield, CT (Brookfield HS)
A four-time all-conference and all-academic selection at Brookfield HS … All-conference second team selection and all-Patriot team member. 

Vinton South, QB, 6-2, 185, Dumont, NJ (Dumont HS)
All-League quarterback as a junior and senior. 

Dan Weaver, LB, 6-0, 220, Bloomfield, PA (West Perry HS)
(pictured right) Started in 30 consecutive games at West Perry, recording 260 career tackles … A two-time first team all-conference linebacker … East/West All-Star game participant … Defensive MVP … Selected to the Patriot News Mid State Top-100 players. 

Andre Whyte, RB, 6-1, 195, Bennington, VT (Mount Anthony HS)
All-state selection with tremendous speed.