Feb. 6, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's football team added the first names to its 2008 recruiting class when head coach Chuck Priore announced the names of six players who signed letters of intent to play for the Seawolves starting with the 2008 season. Matt Dardenne (Fremont, Calif.), Eddie Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.), Jordan Gush (Richardson, Texas), Adrian Sawyer (Oakland, Calif.), Wes Skiffington (Brandon, Fla.) and Marcus Wilson (Pennsauken, N.J.) will all add their names to the Stony Brook roster next season.

"We're excited about the class," said Priore. "It is a small class right now, but we are excited with our start. We are in the third stage of a four stage process of taking our program to the full scholarship level of the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision - formally I-AA) and we have tried to work our classes to fit some specific needs; whether it is to get a bit older or balance our freshman class. We have patience with our recruiting class and try not to use all of our spots up early. Last year we signed six players after April 1st and all had an impact on our program."

One of three transfer players in the first group to sign, Dardenne is a 6-4, 210-lb. quarterback that has played the last two seasons at Laney College in California. Last fall he threw for over 2,400 yards, tossing 25 TD passes vs. just nine interceptions. In his two seasons at Laney he totaled over 5,000 yards in the air and threw 50 touchdown passes, helping the school to a 19-3 record. "He is a quality football player," said Priore. "We graduated Josh Dudash and we felt that we needed to have an older player in the program. He has a great personality; he is what you want in a quarterback."

A local Long Island product out of Bellport, New York, Gowins adds another running back to the Stony Brook stable. A 5-10, 222-lb back, he spent last season prepping at Bridgton Academy after being named the Hansen Award winner as Suffolk County's best player in 2006 while at Bellport. As a senior for the Clippers he was just four yards shy of 2,000 rushing yards, scoring 34 touchdowns while earning all-state and all-Long Island honors. Last season at Bridgton he turned in another 1,000-yard season, totaling 1,106 while scoring 11 times. "We are excited about getting this local player," remarked Priore. "Joe Cipp's players have been successful as college players. He is a combination of power and speed that will definitely fit in our plans."

Gush is the wide receiver of the group, a 5-11, 175-lb. wideout that played at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas. A second team all-state player as a senior, he was the city and district MVP after making 93 catches for 1,191 yards and 15 TDs. He also excelled on special teams, returning two kickoffs and one punt for scores. A three-year starter, he totaled over 2,000 yards in career reception yardage. "Jordan is a unique player," said Priore. "He has the ability to step on the field right away; he is a knowledgeable player with some speed."

Sawyer was a favorite target of Dardeene's passes at Laney College. A 6-3, 235-lb. tight end, he is a native of Oakland, California. Last season he caught 17 passes at Laney, the third-highest total on the team. He hauled in one pass for a score and averaged over 14 yards per reception. "When we saw Dardeene's films we noticed Sawyer," remembers Priore. "He has caught a lot of footballs and is physically good enough to block on the line of scrimmage. His best attribute will be his ability to catch passes, he is someone that we will be able to flex out and stretch the field vertically with."

A kicker, Skiffington comes to Stony Brook from Florida where he hails from Brandon. As a senior he averaged 42.3 yards per punt at Armwood High School while hitting on four of seven field goal attempts, helping his team to a 13-1 record and top-10 ranking in the Sunshine State. "Wes was our top pick as a kicker coming out of the fall and we were able to land him," said Priore. "He is a kicker/punter combination that will be able to come in and give us some depth at those positions."

Another player with collegiate experience, Wilson comes to Stony Brook after spending two seasons at the University of Iowa. A 6-3, 205-lb. safety, played in all 13 of the Hawkeyes games in 2006, making a pair of starts. He made 21 tackles and was one of seven players to pick off a pass, getting his pic against Purdue. A native of New Jersey, Wilson played his high school ball at Camden Catholic where he was a two-time all-region player. "Marcus is a talented, talented athlete," remarked Priore. "He is someone that should fit in right away, we are excited about him. From day one he should have an impact on this program."