25 recruiting class announced on letter of intent day
BY MARK VERNAZZA
HEIGHTS ASST. SPORTS EDITOR As National Letter of Intent Day wound down on February 3, Boston College Head Football Coach Tom O'Brien raised the curtain on this year's stable of recruits at a press conference in the football players' lounge. The date marked the signing deadline for high school seniors and a banner day for O'Brien and his staff. This year's class is a unanimous watershed for O'Brien and his staff.
Ranked 23rd in the ESPN poll and 20th by the Prepstar, O' Brien's staff forged a virtual monopoly on big-name local talent and made tremendous inroads into states like New Jersey, which seven members of the class call home. "I think this class will speak to the future of BC football," said O'Brien. "I perceive this class as a class that two. three or four years from now will be the backbone of BC football and will give us a chance to compete at the highest level in the Big East." In his second full year of recruiting
at BC, O'Brien, who was nationally known as a tremendous recruiter while a coordinator at the University of Virginia, has made incredible strides. "What we have been doing the previous two years is building a foundation," O'Brien said. "We are not yet at the point where we can red-shirt an entire class, but we are getting closer to that." O'Brien went on to say, "Great talent begets great talent. Mike Cloud may have landed us a great running
back. The more great players that come here, the more talented players that want to come." That potentially great tailback O'Brien was alluding to might be Willie Green, a 6M", 220 lb. tailback from Holy Spirit High School in New Jersey. Green is the star of this year's class and has the potential to be the next great BC runningback. He has game-breaking speed (sub 4.4 in the 40 yard dash), tremendous strength (an amazing 380 pounds in the bench press and a perplexing 610 in the squat) and what the coaching staff believes to be exceptional field vision. Green was listed by ESPN as being one of the top-10 recruits in the country. Green had the football staff holding their collective breath, as he had not yet faxed in his letter of intent at the time of O'Brien's press conference. But all was safe, as Green chose to hold his own conference at Holy Spirit to announce his plans before faxing his letter to O'Brien. The letter arrived just minutes after the conference ended. Look for Green to challenge for the starting job as a true freshman. However, the future of the running game does not rest on Green alone. O'Brien landed seven players listed as offensive linemen, although some may shift to the defensive line. At least three of the linemen are considered blue-chip-pers. Leading the list is Augie Hoffman, a 62", 315 lb. mountain from St. Joseph's High School in Parkridge, New Jersey, who was pick by the Sporting News as one of the nation's 10 best linemen. Joining Hoffman as stud linemen are Jim Connor and Keith Leavitt. With great size, both are rumored to be under consideration by the coaching staff for a move [o the defensive side of the ball and they both boast tremendous resumes. Connor, 65", 270 lb. and from Straith Haven, Pennsylvania, was a Superprep AilAmerican and a USA Today honorable mention All-American. Connor was wrapped up early, far before Leavitt fell into the grips of O'Brien. Leavitt has the potential to be the largest Eagle. The lineman from Fitchburg, Massachusetts is 6'B" and currently weighs 290 lbs., but coaches say there is almost no limit to how massive he could be. Leavitt was a Superprep and Parade All-American before committing to the Eagles a few weeks before the February 3 deadline. The Eagles managed to hold off their traditional recruiting rivals Syracuse and Perm State. "What happened in the few
years before we took over the program was that Syracuse and Perm State took control of recruiting in the area," said O'Brien. The story of J.P. Cornelia illustrates more than anything the return of BC to the Northeast's recruiting elite. Cornelia, a fullback from Dorchester and Xaverian High School, had originally committed to Syracuse, but rescinded his verbal commitment and opted for BC after a weekend visit. "A lot of local kids are beginning to realize they can stay home and play with some of the best kids they played against in high school," said O'Brien. "I think that was the case with Cornelia. He said he thought he knew BC, but after he visited, he said he really hadn't known BC." Another player to note in the class is wide receiver Chris Barnes from Dunbar High School in Baltimore, MD, whom O'Brien predicts may be the fastest player on the team when he shows up for fall practice.
Another New Jersey treasure is 65", 250 lb. defensive end Torn Martin, who was included in New Jersey's top five players. Martin was also named by Superprep as the ninth-best linemen in the nation. Martin is perhaps the defensive jewel of this year's class. Martin was another member of this year's class to be wrapped-up by Christmas. Despite all the hype of this year's class, O'Brien remaiss guarded in his optimism. "I think it's a great class and were very excited about it. But I always go back to [the University of] Miami, when they won the national title without ever having a class in the top 25." The Eagles still lack depth as O'Brien rebuilds the program. Hence, some members of this class will be forced to play as true freshmen. "Some of these guys will have to play next season," said O'Brien. "Who they will be will be determined at fall practice." It appears that some true freshmen could make an impact next season.
1999 B.C. FOOTBALL SIGNEES Name HE Wt. (lb) Pos. Hometown Chris Barnes 6M" 180 WR Baltimore, MD Leo Bell 66" 275 OL Cincinnati, OH Doug Bessette 511" 205 DB Bridgewater, MA J.P. Cornelia 6'l" 215 FB Dorchester, MA Jim Connor 65" 270 01. Straith Haven, PA Paul Cook SMI" 190 SS/RB Berea, OH RudyDiPietro 65" 300 01./ DI. Westbrook, ME BrianFlores s'll"' 195 DB Brooklyn, NY William Green 6'l" 220 RB Abescon, NJ Keith Hemmings 6'l" 195 WR Keassbey.NJ Augie Hofmian 62" 315 OL Parkridge, NJ Kevin Kiley 63" 200 QB Fairfax Station. VA Derrick Knight .59" 185 RB Westwood, MA _^ Keith Leavitt 6'B" 290 OL/DL Fitchburg, MA Tom Martin 65" 250 DE Farmingdale, NJ Frank Misurclli 65" 225 TK Stanhope, NJ JoshOtt 6'l" 19S LB Silver Springs, MD Mark Panenteau 65" 290 OL Ft. Lauderdale, FL William Poole 511" 185 DB St. Albans, NY J.D.Schmidt 63" 225 - McClean, VA GregToal 6'o" 200 RB Ramapo. NJ Trevor White 510" 180 RB Syracuse, NY Frank Wilpert 66" 275 OL Haddon, NJ
HEIGHTS PHOTO'KIM AIME Tom O'Brien held a press conference Wednesday in Conte Forum to announce his recruiting class, which has received very high marks from the experts.
BY MARK VERNAZZA
HEIGHTS ASST. SPORTS EDITOR As National Letter of Intent Day wound down on February 3, Boston College Head Football Coach Tom O'Brien raised the curtain on this year's stable of recruits at a press conference in the football players' lounge. The date marked the signing deadline for high school seniors and a banner day for O'Brien and his staff. This year's class is a unanimous watershed for O'Brien and his staff.
Ranked 23rd in the ESPN poll and 20th by the Prepstar, O' Brien's staff forged a virtual monopoly on big-name local talent and made tremendous inroads into states like New Jersey, which seven members of the class call home. "I think this class will speak to the future of BC football," said O'Brien. "I perceive this class as a class that two. three or four years from now will be the backbone of BC football and will give us a chance to compete at the highest level in the Big East." In his second full year of recruiting
at BC, O'Brien, who was nationally known as a tremendous recruiter while a coordinator at the University of Virginia, has made incredible strides. "What we have been doing the previous two years is building a foundation," O'Brien said. "We are not yet at the point where we can red-shirt an entire class, but we are getting closer to that." O'Brien went on to say, "Great talent begets great talent. Mike Cloud may have landed us a great running
back. The more great players that come here, the more talented players that want to come." That potentially great tailback O'Brien was alluding to might be Willie Green, a 6M", 220 lb. tailback from Holy Spirit High School in New Jersey. Green is the star of this year's class and has the potential to be the next great BC runningback. He has game-breaking speed (sub 4.4 in the 40 yard dash), tremendous strength (an amazing 380 pounds in the bench press and a perplexing 610 in the squat) and what the coaching staff believes to be exceptional field vision. Green was listed by ESPN as being one of the top-10 recruits in the country. Green had the football staff holding their collective breath, as he had not yet faxed in his letter of intent at the time of O'Brien's press conference. But all was safe, as Green chose to hold his own conference at Holy Spirit to announce his plans before faxing his letter to O'Brien. The letter arrived just minutes after the conference ended. Look for Green to challenge for the starting job as a true freshman. However, the future of the running game does not rest on Green alone. O'Brien landed seven players listed as offensive linemen, although some may shift to the defensive line. At least three of the linemen are considered blue-chip-pers. Leading the list is Augie Hoffman, a 62", 315 lb. mountain from St. Joseph's High School in Parkridge, New Jersey, who was pick by the Sporting News as one of the nation's 10 best linemen. Joining Hoffman as stud linemen are Jim Connor and Keith Leavitt. With great size, both are rumored to be under consideration by the coaching staff for a move [o the defensive side of the ball and they both boast tremendous resumes. Connor, 65", 270 lb. and from Straith Haven, Pennsylvania, was a Superprep AilAmerican and a USA Today honorable mention All-American. Connor was wrapped up early, far before Leavitt fell into the grips of O'Brien. Leavitt has the potential to be the largest Eagle. The lineman from Fitchburg, Massachusetts is 6'B" and currently weighs 290 lbs., but coaches say there is almost no limit to how massive he could be. Leavitt was a Superprep and Parade All-American before committing to the Eagles a few weeks before the February 3 deadline. The Eagles managed to hold off their traditional recruiting rivals Syracuse and Perm State. "What happened in the few
years before we took over the program was that Syracuse and Perm State took control of recruiting in the area," said O'Brien. The story of J.P. Cornelia illustrates more than anything the return of BC to the Northeast's recruiting elite. Cornelia, a fullback from Dorchester and Xaverian High School, had originally committed to Syracuse, but rescinded his verbal commitment and opted for BC after a weekend visit. "A lot of local kids are beginning to realize they can stay home and play with some of the best kids they played against in high school," said O'Brien. "I think that was the case with Cornelia. He said he thought he knew BC, but after he visited, he said he really hadn't known BC." Another player to note in the class is wide receiver Chris Barnes from Dunbar High School in Baltimore, MD, whom O'Brien predicts may be the fastest player on the team when he shows up for fall practice.
Another New Jersey treasure is 65", 250 lb. defensive end Torn Martin, who was included in New Jersey's top five players. Martin was also named by Superprep as the ninth-best linemen in the nation. Martin is perhaps the defensive jewel of this year's class. Martin was another member of this year's class to be wrapped-up by Christmas. Despite all the hype of this year's class, O'Brien remaiss guarded in his optimism. "I think it's a great class and were very excited about it. But I always go back to [the University of] Miami, when they won the national title without ever having a class in the top 25." The Eagles still lack depth as O'Brien rebuilds the program. Hence, some members of this class will be forced to play as true freshmen. "Some of these guys will have to play next season," said O'Brien. "Who they will be will be determined at fall practice." It appears that some true freshmen could make an impact next season.
1999 B.C. FOOTBALL SIGNEES Name HE Wt. (lb) Pos. Hometown Chris Barnes 6M" 180 WR Baltimore, MD Leo Bell 66" 275 OL Cincinnati, OH Doug Bessette 511" 205 DB Bridgewater, MA J.P. Cornelia 6'l" 215 FB Dorchester, MA Jim Connor 65" 270 01. Straith Haven, PA Paul Cook SMI" 190 SS/RB Berea, OH RudyDiPietro 65" 300 01./ DI. Westbrook, ME BrianFlores s'll"' 195 DB Brooklyn, NY William Green 6'l" 220 RB Abescon, NJ Keith Hemmings 6'l" 195 WR Keassbey.NJ Augie Hofmian 62" 315 OL Parkridge, NJ Kevin Kiley 63" 200 QB Fairfax Station. VA Derrick Knight .59" 185 RB Westwood, MA _^ Keith Leavitt 6'B" 290 OL/DL Fitchburg, MA Tom Martin 65" 250 DE Farmingdale, NJ Frank Misurclli 65" 225 TK Stanhope, NJ JoshOtt 6'l" 19S LB Silver Springs, MD Mark Panenteau 65" 290 OL Ft. Lauderdale, FL William Poole 511" 185 DB St. Albans, NY J.D.Schmidt 63" 225 - McClean, VA GregToal 6'o" 200 RB Ramapo. NJ Trevor White 510" 180 RB Syracuse, NY Frank Wilpert 66" 275 OL Haddon, NJ
HEIGHTS PHOTO'KIM AIME Tom O'Brien held a press conference Wednesday in Conte Forum to announce his recruiting class, which has received very high marks from the experts.
