Bryant football signs 29 on National Signing Day

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head football coach James Perry has announced his first recruiting class with the signing of 29 student-athletes on National Signing Day. The Class of 2021 will join the Bulldogs this fall.

The Class of 2021 includes student-athletes from eight different states, including 17 signees from New England and five from the state of Rhode Island. There are three QBs, two athletes, two RBs, four WRs, one tight end, nine linemen, two linebackers and six defensive backs in the class.

"This is an exciting day for me and the program," Perry said. "This year's class adds alot on the field and they are equally accomplished in the classroom. I look forward to working with this group of student-athletes over the next four years.

"I also find it fitting that we started receiving NLIs from the incoming class this morning at 7 a.m., and at 8 a.m. we started our indoor running at the Conaty Indoor Athletic Center with the current team. I can't wait to get them all together."

Mike Andrejco | OL | 6-4 | 240 | Wall, N.J. | Wall Township

Andrejco was a three-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Dan Curcione at Wall Township ... Helped the Knights go 10-2 and win a state title as a senior ... Named first team all-state offense and first team all-shore on offense and defense ... Also a three-year letterwinner in basketball ... High Honor student.

Personal: The son of Kathleen and Mark Andrejco ... Has one brother and one sister ... Grandfather, Joseph Andrejco, played football at Fordham ... Father played football at Temple. 

Jack Agnew | DB | 6-0 | 205 | Washington Township, N.J. | Saint Joseph Regional

A three-year starter for head coach Augie Hoffmann at Saint Joseph Regional … Helped the Green Knights win a Big North United league title and a state championship as a senior … Finished his high school career with 160 tackles and 11 tackles for a loss … Made 53 tackles, broke up 10 passes and intercepted two passes as a senior.

Personal: The son of Noel and Thomas.

Ryan Bakie | WR | 6-3 | 195 | Cranford, N.J. | Cranford

A three-year starter for head coach Erik Rosenmeier at Cranford High School … Helped the Cougars win back-to-back league titles as a sophomore and junior … Led Cougars to a perfect 12-0 record and a state championship as a junior … Finished his career with 72 catches for 1,321 yards and 15 touchdowns … Caught 42 passes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior … Finished his career with nearly back-to-back 200-yard receiving games (197 and 196) … Also rushed for 793 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career … Also earned three varsity letters in baseball and basketball.

Personal: The son of Dawn and Joseph Bakie … Has one brother.

Andre Brackett | CB | 5-11 | 175 | East Windsor, Conn. | Loomis Chaffee

Played his senior year at East Catholic before spending a PG year at Loomis Chaffee … Helped East Catholic reach the playoffs for the first time in 10 years as a senior in high school … Named NEPSAC All-New England and first team all-conference at Loomis Chaffee … Broke school single-season records for all-purpose yards, rushing yards (1,501) and touchdowns (16) at Loomis Chaffee … Rushed for 1,240 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior at East Catholic … Named all-state and All-Central Connecticut as a senior at East Catholic … Honor Roll student.

Personal: The son of Catina and Andre Brackett Sr.

Declan Burt | TE | 6-4 | 230 | Lynnfield, Mass. | St. John's Prep

A four-year varsity letterwinner and a three-year starter for head coach Brian St. Pierre at St. John's Prep … Helped the Eagles to back-to-back league runner up finishes … Named a Lynn Item All-Star … Earned preseason ESPN All-State honors … Named to the Ithma All-State First Team, the Suite Sports First Team and a Catholic Conference All-Star … Also a Boston Herald All-State in Rugby … National Honor Society member.

Personal: The son of Dawn and Scott Burt … Has three brothers … Father was a member of the Canadian National Water Polo team.

Jack Cappelletti | WR | 6-1 | 185 | Milford, Mass. | Milford

A three-year varsity letterwinner and two-year starter for head coach Joe Todd at Milford High School … Captained the Hawks as a senior … Finished his career with 85 catches for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns … All-league honorable mention as a senior … Also earned three varsity letters in track and field … Honor Roll student.

Personal: The son of Chris and John Cappelletti … Has one sister.

Alexander Claudio | DB | 6-0 | 190 | Springfield, Mass. | Wilbraham & Monson Academy

A five-year varsity letterwinner for coach Vartabedian at Wilbraham & Monson Academy … Helped the Titans go 7-2 and win a conference title as a senior … First Team All-Western Mass. … Two-time NEPSAC All-New England … Two-time first team all-state … Three-time first team all-league … Team MVP as a senior … Also named a Mass Preps Star Top 35 player as a senior … Also earned four varsity letters in wrestling and three in track and field.

Personal: The son of Antonia and Paul Claudio … Has one brother.

Louis Colosimo | QB | 6-1 | 175 | Sarasota, Fla. | Braden River

A three-year varsity letterwinner who played his final season at Braden River for head coach Curt Bradley … Also spent two years at IMG Academy … Helped the Pirates go 9-2 and advance to the regional semifinals as a senior … Completed 135-of-197 (69 percent) of his passes for 2,119 yards, 28 touchdowns and just two interceptions … Named All-Manatee County and All-FACA District 16 … Named the Braden River Offensive MVP … National Honor Society member.

Personal: The son of Denise and Louis Colosimo … Has one brother … Cousin, Michael Colosimo, played football at the University of Cincinnati for a year.

Christopher Fasano | DL | 6-2 | 245 | Lake Grove, N.Y. | Sachem North

A four-year letterwinner at Sachem North High School … Two-time all-division … Also a four-year letterwinner in track and field … Earned all-county, all-state and all-federation honors in the shotput … All-league and all-county in the discus.

Personal: The son of Tracy and Michael Fasano … Has one brother and one sister.

Antonio Giannico | RB | 5-11 | 205 | Mahopac, N.Y. | Archbishop Stepinac

A three-year varsity letterwinner and a two-year starter for head coach Mike O'Donnell at Archbishop Stepinac … Team went a combined 33-3 and won a New York state title in 2015 during his three years … Rushed for 2,000 yards and posted 2,456 all-purpose yards during his career … First team all-state, First Team All-Hudson Valley, First Team All-Journal News and first team all-league as a senior … All-Metro Honorable Mention … Named to the Lohud Super 11 … Helped his team win back-to-back CHSFL AAA titles in 2014, 2015 … Member of the Team USA as a junior … Team captain for two years … Named team MVP as a senior … Scholar Athlete.

Personal: The son of Jacqueline and Anthony Giannico … Has two sisters … Father played football at St. John's … Uncle, Nick Kowgios, played football at Lafayette and eventually in the NFL for the Detroit Lions.

Mekhi Henderson | WR/DB | 5-10 | 180 | Woonsocket, R.I. | Xaverian Brothers

A four-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Charlie Stevenson at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Mass. … Helped the Hawks go 44-4, win two state championships and appear in four super bowls during his four years … Became the first player in school history to start all four years … Helped Hawks win four Catholic Conference titles … Three-time Catholic Conference All-Star … Three-time all-state selection … Named to the Boston Herald All-Scholastic Team as a senior … Led his team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns as a senior … High honors student.

Personal: The son of Elizabeth Santana and Carnell Henderson … Has two brothers and two sisters.

Chris Hindle | QB | 6-3 | 200 | Cranston, R.I. | Bishop Hendricken

A two-year starter at QB for head coach Keith Croft at Bishop Hendricken … Quarterbacked the Hawks to back-to-back undefeated seasons and back-to-back state championships … Competed 65-of-105 passes for 1,354 yards, 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions as a senior … Finished his career with 2,458 passing yards, 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions … Earned first team all-league and first team all-state as a senior … Also named to the USA Today All-USA Rhode Island Football First Team … Earned first team all-league honors and second team all-state honors as a junior … Also earned varsity letters in baseball and basketball … Presidents List.

Personal: The son of Jean and John Hindle … Has one sister … Father played baseball at Providence College from 1982-86.

Andrew Hopgood |WR/DB | 5-11 | 200 | Warwick, R.I. | Bishop Hendricken

A three-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Keith Croft at Bishop Hendricken … Helped the Hawks win three-straight state titles and post a combined record of 35-1 over the last three years … Caught 33 passes for 798 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior … Two-time First Team All-Rhode Island Interscholastic League, two-time first team all-division and two-time first team all-state selection … Named the Gridiron Club Offensive MVP as a junior in 2015 … Named to the USA Today All-USA Rhode Island high school football team as a senior … Also played four years of varsity hockey and two years of varsity baseball … Helped the Hawks win state titles in football, hockey and baseball as a junior in 2015-16 … High honors student.

Personal: The son of Julie and Andy Hopgood … Has two sisters.

Derek Laundry | LB | 5-10 | 215 | Billerica, Mass. | Billerica Memorial

A four-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Duane Sigsbury at Billerica Memorial … Played both linebacker and running back … Posted 111 tackles, 1,015 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior … Named the Lowell Sun Player of the Year, the Merrimack Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a Boston Herald All-Scholastic honoree as a senior … Also named a Mass Preps Star Top 35 player as a senior … Earned Lowell Sun All-Star honors … Captained the football team as a senior … Also earned All-MVC honors and Lowell Sun All-Star honors as a junior … Also earned four varsity letters in lacrosse … Earned All-MVC honors as a junior … Honor Roll student.

Personal: The son of Mary and Ralph Laundry … Has one brother and one sister … Brother, Drew, plays lacrosse at Towson.

Derrick Leroy | DE | 6-0 | 215 | St. Augustine, Fla. | St. Augustine

A three-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Brian Braddock at St. Augustine High School … Helped the Jackets go 29-6 over his three seasons … A two-time First Team All-FACA selection.

Personal: The son of Teresa and Derrick Leroy.

Finn Littlefield | OL | 6-5 | 255 | Nashua, N.H. | Nashua High School North

A three-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Dante Laurendi … Captained the Titans to an 8-3 record as a senior … USA Today All-USA New Hampshire First Team … NH Football Report First Team All-State … First team all-area, first team all-league as a senior … Selected to play in the CHaD East/West Game as a senior … All-league honorable mention as a junior … Honor roll student.

Personal: The son of Angela and Mark Littlefield … Has one sister.

James LoChirco | LB | 6-2 | 240 | Everett, Mass. | Mystic Valley Regional Charter School

A four-year starter for head coach Craig Turner at Mystic Valley Regional … Helped the Eagles to back-to-back league titles as a junior and senior … Team went a combined 25-7 over his final three years … Team was a D4 North finalist each of his last two years … Four-time CAC All-Star … Four-time team defensive MVP … Two-time Boston Herald All-Scholastic … Team captain each of his final two years … Posted 121 tackles as a junior … Also a three-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse … Honor Roll student.

Personal: The son of Edith and James LoChirco Jr. … Has two sisters.

Isaac McCray | RB | 5-11 | 195 | Middletown, R.I. | St. Georges School

A four-year varsity letterwinner and starter for head coach John Mackay at St. Georges School in Newport, R.I. … Younger brother of former Bryant great Ricardo McCray … Helped the Dragons win the ISL championship and the Kevin Fleming Bowl as a junior … Set school career records for scoring (358 points), rushing yards (3,661), touchdowns (58) and all-purpose yards (5,051) … Team captain each of his final two years … Two-time All-New England Class C … Three-time First Team All-ISL … Four-time Providence Journal All-Star … Two-time team Thayer (MVP) Cup recipient … USA Today All-USA Rhode Island First Team as a senior … Also earned three varsity letters in basketball and four in track and field.

Personal: The son of Martha and Robert McCray … Has two brothers.

Broghean McGovern | QB | 6-5 | 210 | Haverhill, Mass. | Haverhill

A three-year starter at QB for head coach Tim O'Connor at Haverhill High School … Helped the Hillies win a pair of league championships, including a 9-2 record as a senior captain … Three-time Merrimack Valley Conference All-Star … Threw for 1,503 yards and 17 touchdowns, and rushed for 527 yards and four touchdowns as a senior … Also earned two varsity letter in hockey, one in baseball and one in indoor and outdoor track.

Personal: The son of JoAnn and Tom McGovern … Has three brothers and two sisters.

Tiavonte McLaughlin | DB | 5-10 | 195 | Stafford, Va. | Brooke Point

A three-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Tommy Buzzo at Brooke Point High School … Helped the Blackhawks go 11-2 as a senior … First team all-state, first team all-region and first team all-conference as a senior … Posted 137 tackles, five interceptions and two forced fumbles as a senior.

Personal: The son of Sonia Mealing and Thad McLaughlin.

Shelton McNeal | WR | 5-10 | 167 | Lakeland, Fla. | Kathleen

A four-year varsity letterwinner at Kathleen High School … Helped the Red Devils go 5-5 as a senior.

Personal: The son of Pam Colbert and Shelton McNeal.

Mark O'Brien | OL | 6-3 | 270 | Basking Ridge, N.J. | Ridge

A two-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Bill Tracy at Ridge High School … Started at center each of the last two years for the Red Devils … Captained the team as a senior … Named first team all-area and First Team Mid-State 38 as a senior … Earned Second Team Mid-State 38 as a junior … Honor roll student.

Personal: The son of Denise and Tom O'Brien … Has two brothers … Brother, Michael, plays lacrosse at the University of Scranton.

Michael O'Connor | ATH | 6-1 | 190 | Fair Haven, N.J. | Rumson-Fair Haven

A three-year starter for head coach Jerry Schulte at Rumson Fair-Haven … Helped the Bulldogs go 28-8 and win three-straight state championships as a starter … All-Shore, and all-conference selection … Named to the Shore Zone Sports Team … Threw for 456 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 736 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior … Threw for 674 yards and 12 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,063 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior … Finished his career with over 1,600 passing yards and over 2,700 rushing yards.

Personal: The son of Kathy and Tom O'Connor … Has one brother and one sister.

Stephen Olive | OL | 6-6 | 240 | Chelmsford, Mass. | Lawrence Academy

A three-year varsity letterwinner and a two-year starter for head coach Paul Zukauskas at Lawrence Academy … Helped the Spartans go 14-3 over his final two years … Team won three-straight Independent School League titles and two NEPSAC titles in his three years … All-ISL selection as a senior … Honor Roll student.

Personal: The son of Carol and Stephen Olive … Has one brother … Cousin, Jason Arias, played lacrosse at BYU … Cousin, Carolyn Swords, played basketball at Boston College and four years in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky and the New York Liberty ... Cousin, John Swords, played basketball at Bowdoin … Cousins, Robert and Russell Halliday, played lacrosse at Bowdoin … Grandfather, David Sneden, played basketball at Wagner … Brother, Russell, played baseball at UMass Lowell.

David Onyemem | DB | 6-1 | 193 | Dracut, Mass. | Central Catholic

A four-year varsity letterwinner at Central Catholic … Helped his team win back-to-back MVC Championships … MVC All-Star … Preseason all-state selection … Captained team as a senior … A four-year varsity letterwinner in track and field, as well … Helped track team win two MVC titles.

Personal: The son of Ivy Zambe and David Onyemem … Has one sister.

Robert Perez | OL | 6-2 | 290 | Miami, Fla. | Christopher Columbus

A two-year starter on the offensive line for head coach Chris Merrit at Christopher Columbus High School in Florida … Helped the Explorers make it to the state semifinals as a junior and win a district championship as a senior … Earned Class 8A first team all-state honors as an offensive lineman … Named Second Team All-Dade County as a senior … Invited to the North vs. South All-Star Game … Invited to the Dade vs. Broward All-Star Game and the NoKaOi Senior Bowl in Hawaii … Captained the Explorers as a senior … Also earned varsity letters in wrestling and track and field.

Personal: The son of Rosa and Robert Perez … Has one brother.

Jared Piatnik | ATH | 6-3 | 210 | Bethel, Conn. | Bethel (Wyoming Seminary)

A three-year varsity letterwinner at Bethel High School in Connecticut before spending a post-graduate year at Wyoming Seminary … Two-time all-league selection at Bethel … Captained his team as a senior at Bethel and at Wyoming Seminary … Set Bethel school records for passing yards in a career, passing yards in a season and total passing touchdowns … Named team MVP at Wyoming Seminary … Also earned four varsity letters in lacrosse … Two-time all-league selection in lacrosse and a team captain … Team MVP as a senior … Also lettered four years in track and field … Finished eighth in Class M in Connecticut in the shot put as a senior.

Personal: The son of Sandy and Todd Piatnik … Has one brother … Father played football at Villanova … Brother, Joey Piatnik, plays football at Bentley … Cousin, Joey Pizano, played football at Pittsburgh … Cousin, Jimmy Pizano, played football at Massachusetts … Cousin, Billy Prebola, played football at UPenn.

Andrew Wallace | DE | 6-1 | 225 | Cranston, R.I. | LaSalle Academy

A three-year starter for head coach Geoff Marcone at LaSalle Academy … Helped the Rams win three-straight division titles and advance to the state title game three-straight years … Posted 81 tackles and six sacks as a senior … Earned first team all-division, first team all-state and was named to the USA Today All-USA Rhode Island Football First Team … Second team all-division and second team all-state as a junior … National Honor Society member.

Personal: The son of Julia Turner and Eric Wallace … Has one brother.

Tyrrell Washington | WR | 6-3 | 205 | Sebastian, Fla. | Avon Old Farms (Vero Beach)

A four-year varsity letterwinner at Vero Beach High School in Florida before spending a PG year at Avon Old Farms in Connecticut … Posted 28 catches for 465 yards and six touchdowns in his senior year at Vero Beach … Caught 43 passes for 603 yards and seven touchdowns in his one season at Avon Old Farms … Also a member of the varsity basketball team at Avon Old Farms.

Personal: The son of Michell and Charles Washington … Has three brothers … Father played football at West Virginia.

Greg Wood | DT | 6-1 | 265 | Braintree, Mass. | Braintree

A three-year starter on the offensive and defensive line for head coach Brian Chamberlain at Braintree High School … Posted 43 tackles, four sacks, eight tackles for a loss and one sack as a senior … Two-time all-league offensive tackle … Also a Patriot Ledger All-Star, a Boston Herald All-Star and a Boston Globe All-Star … Named to the USA Today All-USA Massachusetts Second Team … Also earned two varsity letters in winter track and four in spring track.

Personal: The son of Lauren Wood … Has two brothers.