Bryant signs 18 in early signing period

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University football head coach Chris Merritt is excited to announce the signing of 18 student-athletes during the December signing period. The 18 student-athletes make up the first part of the Class of 2024 that will join the Bulldogs next fall.

"We just spent the entire morning here in the Bryant Football offices celebrating and giving high fives to each other for the initial signees of the 2020 class," said Merritt. "Our staff has been thorough and has worked very hard to bring some very good student athletes to Smithfield. We're excited to see what the future holds…and we're not done yet."

Carlos Abascal | OL | 6-6 | 290 | Katy, Texas/Cinco Ranch
Four-year starter at Cinco Ranch HS in Texas … Went 19-6 over his first two seasons with the Cougars, appearing in a state semifinal as a freshman … All-district selection in 2018 and 2019 … Academic all-district honoree in 2017 and 2019. 

Personal: Son of Cony Tavera and Carlos Abascal … Has two siblings, Jimena and Diego.

Bruce Adlar | DL | 6-5 | 230 | Delray Beach, Fla./Atlantic Community
Played two seasons of varsity football at Atlantic Community HS ... Helped team post an 18-5 record in two seasons ... Team reached the regional finals as a senior ... Honor Roll student. 

Personal: Son of Jennifer and Stanley Adlar.

TJ Butler | DB | 5-10 | 170 | Townsend, Del./Middletown
Three-year starter at defensive back for Middletown HS in Delaware … Team went 10-1 in his senior year … Earned second-team honors at defensive back in each of his final three seasons and first-team accolades at kick returner as a sophomore. 

Personal: Son of Tara Allen-Butler and Tim Butler Sr. … Mother played basketball at Delaware State and father played football at Wesley College … Has two siblings, Aaron and Anjoli.

Peyton Cayea | WR | 6-5 |195 | Carmel, N.Y./Bridgton Academy (Maine)
Played a postgraduate season at Bridgton Academy after playing high school football at Carmel High ... Posted over 1,000 career receiving yards at Carmel ... Posted 605 receiving yards and nine TDs at Bridgton ... Also rushed for 70 yards and threw for 124 ... All-State, All-County and All-Conference at Carmel ... Also ran track and field.

Personal: The son of Todd and Debra Cayea ... Has three brothers and one sister.

Kyle Cichanowsky | RB | 5-10 | 185 | West Chester, Pa./West Chester East
Played four seasons at West Chester East HS in Pennsylvania … Ran for 2,090 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior – eighth most in Pennsylvania … Tallied 3,199 career rushing yards and 39 touchdowns, the seventh-most in ChesMont League history … Two-time team captain … First-team All ChesMont and first-team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania in 2019 … Mini Maxwell Award recipient in 2019 … Also competed in four years of track & field. 

Personal: Son of Kimberly and Marko Cichanowsky … Has three siblings, Mark, Kristina and Michael.

Ryan Clark | QB | 6-1 | 215 | Howell, N.J./Donovan Catholic
Starting QB at Donovan Catholic all four years of high school ... Holds school records in rushing, passing, total yards and touchdowns ... Posted 7,379 total yards and 80 TDs in 41 career games ... Three-time team captain ... Offensive Player of the Year ... Two-time All-Division QB ... Two-time All-Shore QB ... Seven-time Player of the Week. 

Personal: Son of Michael and Brenda Clark ... Has one brother and one sister.

Austin Edmonds | LB | 6-1 | 208 | Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy
Four-year letterwinner at Delaware Military Academy …. Team went 31-9 in his four seasons … Two-time all-conference honoree … Finalist for Maxwell Award … Team was the No. 1 seed in the state playoffs as a sophomore … Diamond State Conference champions as a senior … Also played one year of baseball. 

Personal: Son of Takeisha and Antonie Edmonds … Has two sisters, Alexis and Elyssa.

Colin Elliott | LB | 6-1 | 195 | Westfield, N.J./St. Peter's Prep
Played three seasons of varsity football at St. Peter's Prep ... Started each of his last two seasons, helping the team win a state title as a senior ... Team was ranked No. 1 in the state of New Jersey ... Served as a team captain his senior season ... Posted 110 tackles, 15 TFLs and five sacks as a senior ... Named All-Conference. 

Personal: Son of Richard and Mary Elliott ... Has three brothers and one sister ... Father played football at Susquehanna University ... Brothers Dylan and Sean also played football in college.

Lake Ellis | DB | 5-11 | 170 | Orlando, Fla./The First Academy
Played three seasons of varsity football at The First Academy … Regional finalist as a senior … District champions as a sophomore and junior … Named first-team all-state, first team all-area and district playr of the year as a senior … Chosen as one of the Orlando Sentinel's Top 60 seniors in 2019 … Participated in the Blue/Grey All-American Game and FACA North/South All-Star Game … First-team all-area at defensive back and first-team all-district at defensive back and wide receiver as a junior … Also participated in four years of track & field and three years of basketball … District champion in triple jump and state champion in 4x100. 

Personal: Son of Latosha and Harold Ellis … Father played in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets … Has one sister, Sydney.

Konor Lathrop | TE | 6-4 | 225 | Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch
Played four seasons of varsity football at Highlands Ranch High School … First-team all-conference as a senior and second-team honoree as a junior … Qualified for the second round of the playoffs in all four seasons … Also competed in four years of basketball and four years of track and field … Second-team all-conference in basketball … State shotput alternate. 

Personal: Son of Jenny and Kolby Lathrop … Father played football at Nebraska Kearney … Has three siblings, Kaden, Kaleb and Tian.

Nathan Marshall | OL | 6-7 | 290 | Lakewood Ranch, Fla./Cardinal Mooney
Played three seasons of varsity football at Cardinal Mooney … Undefeated regular season in his junior year … Recorded 42 total pancake blocks as a senior and 21 as a junior … Also competed in one year of track & field. 

Personal: Son of Kimber and Keith Marshall.

Alex Mastroianni | LB | 6-3 | 220 | Stockholm, N.J./Wallkill Valley
Played three seasons of varsity football at Wallkill Valley ... Scored a school-record 36 touchdowns in his career ... Three-time All-Conference and two-time All-Morris/Sussex ... 2018 NJ Herald All-Team ... 2019 NJ.com Top 75 players in New Jersey ... Also ran four years of varsity track and field ... 2019 NJ Herald Track and Field Athlete of Year ... State Champion in the javelin ... 2019 NJ North 1 Group 1 champion in the 400 hurdles and javelin ... Two-time US Nationals qualifier in the javelin ... Holds six school records in track and field. 

Personal: The son of Peter and Chantal Mastroianni ... Has one brother ... Father played football at Rowan University ... Mother ran track and field at Fairleigh Dickinson.

Jayvis Rayside | DB | 5-10 | 193 | Parlin, N.J./Sayreville
Played four years of varsity football at Sayreville High School … All-Greater Middlesex Conference as a junior and senior … Sectional and Bowl champions as a junior … State champion as a freshman … 118 tackles and 12 tackles for loss as a junior … 87 tackles, six tackles for loss and an interception as a senior … Also competed in one year of track & field. 

Personal: Son of Kimberly Abdolrazek and Jayvis S. Rayside … Has one sister, Brielle.

Ben Silver | LB | 6-1 | 225 | Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep
Three-year varsity starter at St. Peter's Prep … State champion in an 11-1 senior year while starting at tight end, defensive end and punter … Second-team all-state and first-team all-area in 2019 … 66 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2019 … Earned state player of the week and Hudson County Athlete of the Week for his Week 5 performance … Also participated in two years of track & field. 

Personal: Son of Kathleen and Ian Silver … Has two sisters, Sydney and Sadie.

Marc Taglieri Jr. | TE | 6-4 | 215 | Fort Myers, Fla./Bishop Verot
Played two years of football at Bishop Verot High School … Started at tight end and defensive end both years … 9-3 record and a regional runner-up in both seasons … Selected to the Rotary South All-Star Game on both sides of the ball … Enters his fourth year of varsity lacrosse in the spring after all-area selections as a sophomore and junior. 

Personal: Son of Christine and Marc Taglieri … Mother played basketball and father played baseball at Virginia … Has one sister, Juliana.

Garrett Terlizzi | OL | 6-6 | 280 | Brielle, N.J./Manasquan
Played four years of football at Manasquan High School … Division championship and state finals appearance as a junior … State champions as a freshman … Also competed in three years of track & field as a thrower. 

Personal: Son of Sandra Bauer and Paul Terlizzi … Has one brother, Henry.

Nick Thoresen | OL | 6-2 | 267 | Ponte Vedra, Fla./Nease
Three-year varsity starter at Nease High School … Earned a team MVP honor as a sophomore … Also competed in two years of wrestling, two years of weightlifting and one year of track & field. 

Personal: Son of Christine and Timothy … Has one brother, Nathan.