Football Inks 14 to National Letters of Intent on Signing Day
2/3/2016 4:27:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – National Signing Day brought the addition of 14 student-athletes to the Bucknell football program, Bison seventh-year head coach Joe Susan announced Wednesday. The incoming class has players from eight different states, including six from New Jersey.
“We are privileged to welcome the young men from the High School Class of 2016 and the Bucknell Class of 2020 to the Bucknell Football Family,” said Susan, who ranks ninth on the program's all-time wins list. “Today is the culmination of the effort of the student-athletes, their families and coaches in making the choice to be part of our program. Our administrators, professors, players and the coaches on our staff have worked hard to make this process succeed.
“We are fortunate to recruit the best and brightest men into our program. They will thrive during their experience at Bucknell. We challenge each of them to make a difference on our campus. We have recruited the right people in this class, and we will continue to make a number of additions over the next couple of weeks.”
Bucknell's typical recruiting footprint is the Northeast, but this class features players from Florida and Georgia, as well as Washington. There are also two newcomers from Pennsylvania.
Six of the 14 incoming recruits play on either the defensive or offensive lines. Eight different position groups are included in the incoming class.
In February 2012, the Patriot League approved a policy allowing athletic merit aid in the sport of football and this class represents Bucknell's fourth with the ability to attract student-athletes with those merit aid scholarships.
Bucknell posted a 4-7 record in 2015. The Bison lost 14 seniors to graduation, including six regular starters. Bucknell's 12 victories over the last two seasons rank it third in the Patriot League over that span.
Bucknell Football 2016 Recruiting Class
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Justin Bethea WR 6-1 190 Sanford, N.C./Lee County
Aaron Brown SAF 6-0 180 Silver Spring, Md./St. John's College
Justin Falcone OL 6-5 250 Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield Mem.
Jon Fox SAF 5-11 195 Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson
Chad Freshnock RB 6-1 215 Middletown, N.J./Middletown North
John Hunt DT 6-0 298 Braselton, Ga./Mill Creek
Erik Lukner OL 6-2 280 Sedro Woolley, Wash./Sedro Woolley
Stefone Moore-Green WR 5-8 160 Sicklerville, N.J./Paul VI
Sean Naiman DE 6-3 215 Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional
Dillon Paprota LS 6-0 220 Forked River, N.J./Donovan Catholic
Zack Quilty DE 6-2 210 St. Petersburg, Fla./Tampa Jesuit
John Reedy TE 6-4 225 Wyomissing, Pa./Berks Catholic
Noah Stephenson OL 6-3 285 Palmyra, N.J./Palmyra
Jake Wilson QB 6-3 205 Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch
Justin Bethea, WR, 6-1, 190, Sanford, N.C./Lee County | Video Highlights
Justin Tyrone Bethea … born May 23, 1998 in Sanford, North Carolina … son of Tonya Gray and Tyrone Bethea … member of football, basketball and track teams at Lee County High School … first-team all-conference football player as a senior … also named all-conference as a junior … team MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and captain … ranked third in state 3A classification in receiving yards as a senior … led Cape Fear Valley Conference in receiving yards and interceptions … two-time Academic All-Conference selection … invited to 2015 Charlotte Nike Regional and Texas vs. World Senior Game … helped team to 8-3 record in 2015 … totaled 58 receptions, 1,101 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a senior … registered 80 tackles, 13 pass breakups and six interceptions as a senior.
Aaron Brown, SAF, 6-0, 180, Silver Spring, Md./St. John's College HS | Video Highlights
Aaron Robert Brown … born April 23, 1998 in Englewood, New Jersey … son of Evelyn and Isiah Brown … two-year football letterwinner at St. John's College High School … third Team All-WCAC Conference … ranked second on team in tackles as a senior, including a high of 15 in one game … Eagle Scout … has one brother, Jonathan, who is a member of the men's lacrosse team at Sewanee University.
Justin Falcone, OL, 6-5, 250, Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial | Video Highlights
Justin Anthony Falcone … born July 1, 1997 in Abington, New Jersey … son of Anthony and Diane … two-year football letterwinner at Haddonfield Memorial High School … second-team all-conference selection … helped team to 2013 and 2014 state titles … team finished 9-2 in 2015 … has one brother, Steven … father played soccer at Philadelphia University.
Jon Fox, SAF, 5-11, 195, Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson | Video Highlights
Jonathan Robert Fox … born Aug. 21, 1997 in West Reading, Pennsylvania … son of Karen and Bill Fox … four-year football letterwinner at Wilson High School … helped team to four undefeated league titles … squad won district championship his junior year … team was 48-6 in his four years … team captain … team Defensive MVP as a junior and senior … First Team AAAA All-State Defensive Back … First Team Eastern PA Football Defensive Back … two-time league Defensive Back of the Year … two-time First-Team All-League … two-time First Team All-County … Berks County Defensive Back of the Year as a junior … All-Academic Team member all four years … totaled 190 tackles and 11 interceptions in three years as a starter … has three younger siblings, Lauren, Joey and Lindsey.
Chad Freshnock, RB, 6-1, 215, Middletown, N.J./Middletown North | Video Highlights
Chad Michael Freshnock … born Sept. 19, 1997 in Red Bank, New Jersey … son of Darlene and Ken Freshnock … four-year football and wrestling letterwinner at Middletown North High School … also lettered in track three times … two-time All-Shore selection for football … football team captain … named all-division for football … selected to New Jersey Super 100 Team … rushed for 2,822 yards in career … caught 35 passes for 447 yards … scored 37 touchdowns for 224 points to set school record in both categories … wrestling district and region runner-up as a sophomore … followed that with district and region championships as a junior … Second Team All-Shore wrestler as a junior … helped wrestling team to division title … has two siblings, Danielle and Devon … both have been members of the field hockey team at Rutgers University.
John Hunt, DT, 6-0, 298, Braselton, Ga./Mill Creek | Video Highlights
John Wesley Hunt V … born Nov. 14, 1997 in Atlanta, Georgia … son of Takako and John … member of football team at Mill Creek High School … team captain … team was regional champion in 2014 and 2015 … team allowed just 150 rushing yards in all of 2015 … has one older sister.
Erik Lukner, OL, 6-2, 280, Sedro Woolley, Wash./Sedro Woolley | Video Highlights
Erik Alexander Lukner … born Dec. 18, 1997 in Corpus Christi, Texas … son of Sonja and Hans Lukner … member of football and wrestling teams at Sedro Woolley High School … two-time first-team all-county and all-conference football player … earned all-state nominations from the Seattle Times, Tacoma News Tribune and Washington Associated Press … named to Seattle Times Chips List … ranked as one of the top prospects in Washington … helped team to state title in 2014 and third-place finish in state in 2015 … finished seventh in state in wrestling as a junior … was third in regionals and first in district for wrestling … Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association 2015 Academic State Champion … played hockey from age five until ninth grade … started playing football in ninth grade … has two younger siblings, Sven and Karina.
Stefone Moore-Green, WR, 5-8, 160, Sicklerville, N.J./Paul VI | Video Highlights
Stefone Alexzander Moore-Green … born Nov. 4, 1997 in Sicklerville, New Jersey … son of Stephanie Moore and Rahshaan Green … three-year football letterwinner at Paul VI High School … also a four-year member of track and field team … football team captain … all-conference selection in football … second in state in return yardage as a senior … scored 30 career touchdowns … helped team to two conference championships … 100-meter dash non-public school state champion … 100-meter dash sectional champion and record holder … second place in 200 in state … Winslow Elite Track Club 400 regional champion … has three younger siblings: Jalen Green, Kieran Queflownder and Alexa Ryan Green.
Sean Naiman, DE, 6-3, 215, Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional | Video Highlights
Sean Timothy Naiman … born Jan. 7, 1998 in Long Branch, New Jersey … son of Linda and John … three-year football letterwinner at Red Bank Regional High School … two-year football team captain … first-team all-state, All-Shore conference and all-division … named to All-Shore Sports Zone Team … All-Metro Honorable Mention … totaled 42 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, nine sacks and six pass deflections as a senior … helped team to 11-1 record and a division championship as a senior … has an older brother, Dan, and an older sister, Nicole.
Dillon Paprota, LS, 6-0, 220, Forked River, N.J./Donovan Catholic | Video Highlights
Dillon Tyler Paprota … born Dec. 30, 1997 in Toms River, New Jersey … son of Donna and David … three-year letterwinner in football, golf and powerlifting at Donovan Catholic High School … football team captain … 48-for-48 on long snaps and 22-for-22 on kick snaps … also started at center and defensive end for three years … ranked as No. 1 long snapper in the northeast by Special Teams Solutions … ranked No. 20 long snapper in Class of 2016 by Chris Rubio … winner of Rubio Long Snapping Showcase … has two siblings, David and Tyler.
Zack Quilty, DE, 6-2, 210, St. Petersburg, Fla./Jesuit | Video Highlights
Zachary Aaron Quilty … born Feb. 7, 1998 in Tampa, Florida … son of Chris and Karen … three-year football letterman at Jesuit High School … team captain … earned Heart of the Tiger Award, which is given to team's Most Valuable Teammate ... also earned Ironman Award ... awarded Coaches Award as a junior ... third-team all-state defensive lineman ... named First Team All-Area by the Tampa Bay Times ... first-team all-county defensive lineman ... named First Team Big County Preps Defensive End ... posted 13 sacks, 96 tackles, four blocked punts and two blocked kicks as a senior ... helped team to 13-1 record and a state semifinal appearances as part of a defense that limited opponents to an average of nine points per game ... chosen as a National Football Foundation Tampa Bay Scholar-Athlete ... has two younger siblings, Reagan and Emerson.
John Reedy, TE, 6-4, 225, Wyomissing, Pa./Berks Catholic | Video Highlights
John David Reedy … born Oct. 10, 1997 in Reading, Pennsylvania … son of Kathy and John Reedy … three-year football letterwinner at Berks Catholic High School … also a two-year basketball letterwinner … football team captain … 2015 All-Berks County as both a defensive lineman and tight end … PA Football News All-State Honorable Mention defensive lineman … 45 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks as a senior … eight catches and three touchdowns from tight end position … helped team rank first in the county in total offense … football team was 2015 District 3 AA champion with 12-2 record … team won the 2015 Sportsmanship Award from the Berks County Football Coaches Association … has three sisters, Emily, Anna and Caroline … grandfather, Joe Reedy, played football and baseball at Holy Cross in the late 1940s and went on to play in the Boston Red Sox organization.
Noah Stephenson, OL, 6-3, 285, Palmyra, N.J./Palmyra | Video Highlights
Noah Christopher Stephenson … born May 26, 1998 in Voorhees, New Jersey … son of Coleen and Eric Stephenson … three-year football letterwinner at Palmyra High School … also participated in track (2013, 2014) and basketball (2012) … football team captain … named team's Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior … named all-conference, all-county and all-division … football team went 24-9 during his career and advanced to state playoffs in 2015 … has one brother, Sam.
Jake Wilson, QB, 6-3, 205, Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch | Video Highlights
Jacob Tyler Wilson … born Jan. 7, 1988 in Champaign, Illinois … son of Janet and Mark Wilson … four-year football letterwinner at Western Branch High School … two-time all-conference selection … two-year team captain … helped team to three consecutive playoff appearances … threw for more than 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in career … father was an all-state quarterback who played at the college level … has three siblings: Justin, Payton and Mackenzie.
