Bulldogs ink 22 on National Signing Day

BULLDOGS ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2016

Smithfield, R.I. – Bryant University head football coach Marty Fine is pleased to announce the signing of 22 players to National Letters of Intent for the upcoming 2012 football season. The class of 2016 includes players from 10 different states.

Coach Fine's recruiting class is heavy on offensive linemen and defensive backs, as the Bulldogs bring in five of each. The class also includes three linebackers, three quarterbacks, two wide receivers, one tight end, one running back and one kicker.

Ryan Black | RB | 6-0 | 205 | Joppa, Md. | Loyola Blakefield

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Two-year varsity letterwinner for the Dons … All-MIAA A-Team selection as a senior … Selected to play in Baltimore Touchdown Club All-Star game as a senior … Ranked as the 10^th best running back in Maryland by Rivals and the ninth best running back by ESPN … Ranked as the 63^rd best player overall by ESPN in Maryland … Also competed in wrestling and track and field … Finished ninth in the state tournament at 189lbs in 2009 … Member of the Black Student Union club … High school teammates with fellow Bryant recruits, Taylor Janoskie and Jordan Horne.

Personal: The son of Robbie and Samuel Black, Ryan Samuel Black was born on April 23, 1995 … Has one sister, Kelsey … Third cousin, Eric Bledsoe, played basketball at Kentucky and is now a member of the Los Angeles Clippers … Uncle played football at UMass.

Tyler Cardoze | OL | 6-4 | 319 | Corona, N.Y. | Cushing Academy

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A four-year varsity letterwinner at Lawrence Academy before completing a year of post-graduate at Cushing Academy … Helped Lawrence Academy to a pair of ISL Championships in 2009 and 2010 … Named Class C Lineman of the Year as a junior … All-ISL selection as a sophomore, junior and senior … Led Cushing Academy to a 6-1 record this past fall … Participated as a sports journalist and in theater … Also recruited by New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.

Personal: The son of Donna and Anthony Cardoze, Tyler Anthony Cardoze was born on Aug. 10, 1993.

Brandon Dagnesses | DB | 5-10 | 183 | Miami, Fla. | Christopher Columbus

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A two-year varsity letterwinner for the Explorers … Helped team to a 23-4 record in his junior and senior seasons … Team won District Championships in each of his last two years … Won the Regional Championship as a senior … Earned Second Team All-Dade as a senior … Led Miami-Dade with three interceptions and returned one for a touchdown … Earned first and second honor awards … Also recruited by Northern Iowa, Wagner, Albany, Southern Illinois and Florida A&M … High school head coach Chris Merritt played at Indiana University, the same school as Bryant assistant coach Benyard Jones.

Personal: The son of Monique and George Dagnesses, Brandon Dagnesses was born on May 23, 1994 … Has one brother, Stephan.

Aaron Dixon | DB | 6-2 | 205 | Danbury, Conn. | Danbury

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A three-year varsity letterwinner for the Mad Hatters … Earned All-FCIAC honors as a senior … Honorable Mention All-FCIAC selection as a junior … Averaged six yards per carry and nearly 16 yards per catch as a senior … Member of the honor roll for three years … Member of the Key club … Earned three varsity letters in track and field … Also recruited by Villanova, Towson, Temple and Albany.

Personal: The son of Christine and Leroy Dixon, Aaron Phillip Dixon was born on Feb. 9, 1994 … Father played football at Iona.

Ryan Ferguson | LB | 6-1 | 235 | Silver Spring, Md. | Albert Einstein

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A three-year varsity letterwinner for the Titans … Recognized as the team MVP as a junior and a senior … First team all-county RB/LB as a senior … Second team all-county kicker as a senior … All-Gazette Honorable Mention running back as a senior … Led the team in tackles in each of his final two seasons … Lettered three years in lacrosse … Honor roll.

Personal: The son of Colleen and John Ferguson, Ryan Joseph Ferguson was born on Jan. 10, 1994 … Has one brother, Sean … Brother is currently serving in the U.S. Marines.

Kevin Gebon | QB | 5-10 | 190 | Brooklyn, N.Y. | Poly Prep Country Day

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A four-year varsity letterwinner and two-year starter for Dino Mangeiro at Poly Prep Country Day … Earned starting quarterback position his junior season, leading the Blue Devils to an 8-1 record … Also started at linebacker in each of his last two seasons … Captained the team his senior season and was named to the Outback Steakhouse Boomer Game … Named the city's Top Playmaker in a poll conducted by the New York Post … Rushed for 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns and threw for 1,584 yards and 12 touchdowns in his high school career … Member of the varsity track team for four years … Also recruited by Albany and Stony Brook … Coach Mangeiro played for Bryant assistant coach Greg Gigantino at Rutgers.

Personal: The son of Pauline and Raymond Gebon, Kevin Michael Gebon was born on June 13, 1994 … Has two brothers, Arthur and Ryan, and one sister, Simone.            

Max Heintzelman | OL/DL | 6-3 | 290 | North Kingstown, R.I. | Bishop Hendricken

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A three-year letterwinner and three-year starter for head coach Keith Croft at Bishop Hendricken … Led Hawks to back-to-back Division I Superbowl championships in his junior and senior season … Team went a combined 31-5 in his three years on varsity … Named first team all-division, first team all-state and ESPN First Team All-State as a senior in 2011 … Second team all-division, first team all-state and ESPN First Team All-State as a junior … Played two years of varsity baseball … Honor roll student and member of the Italian Club … Also recruited by Rhode Island and Holy Cross.

Personal: The son of Lisa and Carl Heintzelman, Maximilian Cole Heintzelman was born on June 15, 1994 … Has one brother, Eric … Mother is a graduate of Bryant University … Father was a pitcher on the University of Vermont baseball team.

Jordan Horne | FB | 5-11 | 250 | Baltimore, Md. | Loyola Blakefield

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A three-year varisty letterwinner for the Dons … Earned All-MIAA honors in his junior and senior seasons … Selected to the Crab Bowl as a senior … Also selected to the Super 22 … Named team captain in each of his final two seasons … Also earned two letters in wrestling … High school teammates with fellow Bryant recruits, Taylor Janoskie and Ryan Black … Also recruited by Stony Brook, Monmouth, Temple, Valparaiso and Holy Cross.

Personal: Son of Leslie Fleming-Horne, Jordan Darrell Horne was born on Feb. 24, 1994 … Has one brother, Mike, who plays football at Saint Francis University.

Taylor Janoskie | LB | 6-1 | 210 | Baltimore, Md. | Loyola Blakefield

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A three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for the Dons … Honorable Mention all-state as a senior … Selected to play in the Baltimore Touchdown Club All-Star game and the Maryland All-State Crab Bowl All-Star game … Totaled over 100 tackles as a starter during the last two seasons … Earned two varsity letters in basketball … Member of the National Honor Society … High school teammates with fellow Bryant recruits, Jordan Horne and Ryan Black … Also recruited by Towson, Monmouth, William & Mary, Georgetown, Bentley and Holy Cross.

Personal: The son of Tammy and Toney Janoskie, Taylor James Janoskie was born on March 3, 1994 … Father played football at Bridgewater College … Mother played field hockey and lacrosse and Bridgewater College … Has one brother, Trevor … Cousin does gymnastics at Southern Connecticut.

Kyle Jennings | QB | 6-2 | 196 | Mount Airy, Md. | Linganore

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A three-year varsity letterwinner for Rick Conner at Linganore High … Played for the same program as current Bryant football player Michael Johnson … Led the Lancers to the state 3A playoffs in his senior year … Earned All-MVAL Honorable Mention as a senior … Completed 68-of-134 passes for 916 yards and 11 touchdowns … Rushed for 220 yards and three scores … Lettered two years in baseball … Deans list … Member of National Honor Society … Special Olympics volunteer … Also recruited by Penn, Cornell, Lehigh, Davidson, Georgetown and Johns Hopkins.

Personal: The son of Tina and Steven Jennings, Kyle Steven Jennings was born on April 10, 1994 … Has one sister, Megan.

Dom Kozlowski | K/DB | 6-0 | 193 | Westford, Mass. | Cushing Academy

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A three-year varsity letterwinner at Lawrence Academy before playing his senior year at Cushing Academy under head coach Wayne Clark … Cushing Academy's greatest contributor in 2011, helping the Penguins to a 6-2 record … Knocked down all four field goal attempts with a long of 35 yards … Forced three fumbles and recovered three fumbles on defense … Earned Special Teams MVP honors as a junior at Lawrence Academy … Honor roll student … Also recruited by Maine, UMass, Sacred Heart and New Hampshire.

Personal: The son of Elizabeth and Rafal Kozlowski, Dominik Artur Kozlowski was born on Dec. 18, 1992 … Has two brothers, Max and Alex.

Dylan LaGarde | QB | 5-11 | 185 | Rossmoor, Calif. | Los Alamitos

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A three-year varsity letterwinner at Los Alamitos High … Earned All-Sunset League honors as a sophomore and junior … Selected to Orange Country Dream Team as a senior … Threw a school-record five first-half touchdowns in a game as a senior … Completed 86-of-155 passes for 1,393 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior … Earned Underclassman Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010 … Named Offensive Player of the Year as a senior … Member of the honor roll … Also recruited by Penn, San Diego, San Jose State, Nevada , Central Connecticut and Montana State.

Personal: The son of Diana and Marvin LaGarde, Dylan Irie LaGarde was born on Oct. 19, 1993.

Jacob Logan | TE | 6-4 | 220 | North Palm Beach, Fla. | Jupiter

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A three-year varsity letterwinner for the Benjamin School before spending his senior season at Jupiter … Earned second team all-conference 8A as a senior … Caught 21 passes and averaged nearly 10 yards per catch over his final two seasons … Caught 12 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns as a junior … Also competed in basketball and track … Honor roll student … Also recruited by Columbia, Central Connecticut and Brown.

Personal: The son of Meredith and Paul Logan, Jacob Collier Logan was born on Jan. 11, 1994 … Has one sister, Savannah.

Abe M'Bodj | OL | 6-3 | 290 | North Beach, Md. | Northern High

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A two-year letterwinner for Northern High … Started in 20 games over his final two seasons … Selected to the Maryland All-State Crab Bowl All-Star game and the Chesapeake Bowl … Named the Most Valuable lineman at the Bryant summer football camp … Rivals rated him as the 12^th-best offensive lineman in Maryland … Head coach AJ Berberian describes Abe as a player that does what he needs to do to get better … Honor roll student.

Personal: The son of Kim Williams, Amadou Abraham M'Bodj was born on June 11, 1994.

William Morlock | OL | 6-2 | 270 | Sandy Hook, Conn. | Newtown

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A three-year letterwinner for the Nighthawks … Played at the same high school as current Bryant football player Connor McNamara … Team lost just seven games in his final three years … Named Honorable Mention All-SWC as a junior and Second Team All-SWC as a senior … Earned four varsity letters in wrestling … Finished fourth in the SWC, fourth in the LL divisional and was a state open qualifier as a junior … Head coach Steve George referred to Morlock as one of the hardest working guys to ever come through our program … Described as quick to learn and quick on his feet.

Personal: The son of Deedee and John Morlock, William Maclean Morlock was born on June 10, 1994 … Has two brothers, Wesley and Christian.

Marko Piedmont | OL/DL | 6-1 | 240 | Wilton, Conn. | Wilton

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A three-year letterwinner and starter for the Warriors … Named Second Team All-FCIAC as a junior and a senior … Lineman of the Year as a junior … Recognized by MSG Varsity as one of the top 30 players in the state of Connecticut in 2011 … Head coach Bruce Cunningham describes Marko as a player with an outstanding work ethic and leadership qualities … Earned two letters in indoor track and three in outdoor track … Honor roll student in all four years of high school … Also recruited by Sacred Heart and Bentley.

Personal: The son of Karena and Mark Piedmont, Marko Nicholas Piedmont was born on June 15, 1994 … Has two sisters, Mallory and Payton.

DJ Randle El | WR | 6-1 | 170 | Leesburg, Va. | Fork Union Military Academy

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A two-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Mickey Sullivan … Started two years for the Blue Devils, appearing in 22 games … Led team to a Virginia Prep League State Championship as a junior … Caught 51 passes for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior … Returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown … Earned first team all-prep, all-region and all-state as a senior … Lettered two years in track and field … Helped 4x200m relay team break the state record as a junior.

Personal: The son of Jaune and Antwaan Randle El, Eden Dijon Randle El was born on March 19, 1994 … Has four sisters, Ciara, Aunna, Arynn and Alexa … Father won Super Bowl XL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and also played for the Washington Redskins … Antwaan, his brother Curtis and current Bryant assistant coach Benyard Jones were all teammates at Indiana and played for current Bryant head coach Marty Fine.

Karl Sery | DB | 5-10 | 183 | Waltham, Mass. | Hudson

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Earned four varsity letters for Hudson High … Helped Hawks go from 2-9 his freshman year to back-to-back appearances in the Super Bowl in his junior and senior seasons … Recognized as the Division 3 Defensive MVP as a senior … Named a Midland League All-Star, Worcester Telegram Super Teamer and a Central Mass. Division All-Star as a senior … Earned preseason all-state and all-league honors as a senior … Rushed for over 1,400 yards as a junior … 152^nd ranked cornerback in the country and the 19^th-best prospect in Massachusetts by ESPN … Earned four varsity letters in track and field … Helped 4x50 relay team to a state championship this season … Was four-year class president.

Personal: The son of Anne Taverne and Jean-Claude Sery, Karlhainge Guy Sery was born on Nov. 16, 1993 … Has two sisters, Sasha and Bahamia.

Abri Tate | DE | 6-4 | 224 | Fort Mill, S.C. | Nation Ford

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A four-year letterwinner under Michael Allen at Nation Ford High School … Helped team make the playoffs for the first time as a senior in 2011 … Named conference Defense Player of the Week three times and Defensive Lineman of the Week on several occasions … Registered 62 tackles and eight sacks as a junior … A/B Honor Roll student … Junior Scholar … Member of the Honor Society … Also recruited by Marshall, NC State, Georgia Tech, Wofford, Furman and Fordham.

Personal: The son of Endee and Greg Tate, Nicholas Abri Tate was born on Dec. 25, 1993 … Has one brother, Keith.

Brian Taylor | DB | 6-1 | 180 | Millersville, Md. | Severna Park

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A two-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Mike Price … Helped Falcons to a record of 11-9 in his two seasons … Earned two letters in lacrosse … Four-year member of the honor roll and a member of the National Honor Society … Also recruited by Penn and Colgate.

Personal: The son of Angela and Greg Taylor, Brian Gregory Taylor was born on April 15, 1994 … Has one sister, Autumn … Sister plays softball at George Washington University … Father played football at Virginia and one year with the New England Patriots.

Raamah Vaughn | WR | 5-10 | 160 | Fort Washington, Md. | River Hill

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A two-year varsity letterwinner at River Hill … Led the Hawks to a state championship as a senior … Rushed for 97 yards and three touchdowns in the state title game … Registered 10 rushing TDs on the season and threw for six more … Selected first team all-county and first team all-state by Rivals as a senior … Ranked the 76^th-best player and ninth-best athlete in Maryland by Rivals … Received two-star ranking and is the 30^th ranked receiver in Maryland by ESPN … ESPN ranks him as the 148^th-best athlete in the country … Lettered three years in track and field … Holds school record in the 100m and was a part of school record teams in the 4x100m and 4x200m events … State qualifier two years in track and field … Golden honor roll student three times … Also recruited by Georgetown and Villanova.

Personal: The son of Raquel McLaughlin and Rodney Vaughn, Raamah Cinque Vaughn was born on Sept. 23, 1993 … Has one brother, Cyrus.

Charles Wingate | DB | 5-9 | 165 | Englewood, N.J. | Bergen Catholic

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A three-year varsity letterwinner at Bergen Catholic … Led the state of New Jersey in interceptions as a senior (7) … Earned second team all-league honors as a sophomore and first team all-league honors as a junior and senior … First team all-county and second team all-state as a senior … Earned four letters in basketball and two in track … Earned first and second honors … Becomes the sixth player from Bergen Catholic recruited under head coach Marty Fine … Four of the previous six have gone to become captains for the Bulldogs … Also recruited by Army, James Madison and William & Mary.

Personal: The son of Robin and Ernest Wingate, Charles Isaac Wingate was born on Feb. 20, 1994 … Has two brothers, Ernest Jr. and Julius.