Football Announces 2014 National Letter of Intent Signees

2/6/2014 10:11:00 AM

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 5, 2014) - On Wednesday, Head Coach Bryan Collins (Sayville, N.Y.) announced the names of 11 players who were signed by LIU Post to National Letters of Intent. The group, consisting of nine New York and two New Jersey high school football athletes, will suit up for the Pioneers in 2014.

"It is an exciting time to recruit at LIU Post, as our new stadium is being built," said Collins. "There has been a change in administration, and a new branding around the metropolitan area. This class of 11 signings is nowhere near the end of the recruiting process." He later added: "These were recruits we had early because of prospect camps and watching them play. They addressed needs, but our philosophy is to get the best student-athletes available that will best represent LIU Post in the community, classroom, and on the football field."

2014 Recruiting Class
Player	Hometown/High School: Ht., Wt., Position
Andrew Ris	Franklin Square, N.Y./Carey: 6'2 - 197 - WR
Chika Ewulu	East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow: 6'3 - 215 - LB
Justin Degroat	Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills: 6'3 - 190 - QB
Richard Wright	Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht: 5'11 - 170 - DB
Deon Mash	Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooklyn Tech: 6'4 - 198 - WR
Aaron Guzman	Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack: 5'9 - 195 - RB
Nick Covino	Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity: 6'2 - 235 - DE
Chris Coles	Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack: 6'3 - 275 - OL
James Louison	Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge: 6'4 - 300 - OL
Amir Crenshaw	Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes: 6'4 - 197 - WR
Kasim Thomas	Bronx, N.Y./Mt. St. Michael Academy: 5'10 - 175 - DB

Andrew Ris
WR - 6'2 - 197
Franklin Square, N.Y./Carey
All-County and All-Long Island First-Team Selection...Picked for Empire Challenge...Helped the Seahawks to a Nassau County and Long Island Championship in 2013...Hauled in 27 catches for 249 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior year at Carey...Had three receptions for 35 yards and a pair of scores in a 20-16 win over Garden City (Nov. 22)...Totaled five receptions for 38 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-0 shutout at Garden City (Oct. 5).

Collins on Ris: "Andrew is a long, athletic player that can play on both sides of the ball (wide receiver and safety). He has the length and ability to go up and get the ball, which will make him a force both offensively and defensively."

Chika Ewulu
LB - 6'3 - 215
East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow
All-County First-Team Selection...All-Long Island Second-Team Honoree...Participated in Nassau County All-Star Game...Selected for Outback Steakhouse All-Star Classic...Made 22 tackles in his senior campaign at East Meadow...Led the team in receiving yards (89) in 2013...Recorded two sacks apiece versus Uniondale (Sept. 29) and Massapequa (Nov. 10) in 2012.

Collins on Ewulu: "We got to know Chika during our prospect camp. He is an extremely long and athletic specimen. Chika has the ability to play several positions on both sides of the ball because of athleticism. He can play tight end and work in the slot on offense, while also playing off the edge and at linebacker on defense."

Justin Degroat
QB - 6'3 - 190
Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills
Passed for 1,000-plus yards and 14 touchdowns over his time at Wayne Hills...Threw for 439 passing yards and six scores in 2013...Completed 54.2 percent (52-for-96) of his passes for 682 yards and six TD's in his junior season...Tossed the game-winning touchdown strike in a thrilling 17-14 season-opening victory at Northern Highlands (Sept. 13).

Collins on Degroat: "Justin comes from an outstanding program in Wayne Hills. He played one year at the quarterback position, but is a dual threat. His size makes him more of an impact player, as Justin can see downfield, and tuck and run."

Richard Wright
DB - 5'11 - 170
Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht
All-Borough and All-City Selection...Participated in Brooklyn High School All-Star Football Game...Chosen for Empire Challenge...Recorded an interception and a sack against John F. Kennedy (Sept. 7)...Intercepted a pass in a 16-0 shutout of Canarsie (Sept. 13)...Threw for 89 yards and a TD in a 26-24 win against DeWitt Clinton (Nov. 9).

Collins on Wright: "We rated him as one of the top athletes in the PSAL. Richard has the ability to play wide receiver as well as defensive back. His size and athletic ability will give us an outstanding player in the secondary."

Deon Mash
WR - 6'4 - 198
Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooklyn Tech
All-Borough Selection...Played in Brooklyn High School All-Star Football Game...Caught the team's lone touchdown pass, and added a sack, against Grand Street Campus (Sept. 15)...Recovered a fumble versus Sheepshead Bay (Sept. 21)...Had 25 receiving yards and an interception at DeWitt Clinton (Sept. 28)...Hauled in a 63-yard strike versus Boys and Girls (Oct. 26).

Collins on Mash: "Deon is a tall, athletic player that has the ability to play defensive end as well as slot receiver. His height and physicality will help us stretch the field on offense."

Aaron Guzman
RB - 5'9 - 195
Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack
Ran for over 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns in his tenure at Hackensack...Accrued 1,321 rushing yards and 14 scores in 2013...Carried the ball for a season-high 257 yards and four touchdowns in a 44-3 win against Fair Lawn (Sept. 13)...Collected 173 rushing yards and three TD's in a 47-8 rout of Paterson Eastside (Oct. 5)...Took 21 handoffs for 192 yards and a pair of scores in a 35-12 triumph versus Teaneck (Nov. 28).

Collins on Guzman: "Aaron impressed us with his ability to break tackles. He is a big north-south runner that always keeps his legs moving, but is quick enough to get to the edge."

Nick Covino
DE - 6'2 - 235
Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity
All-League Selection...Named the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the CHSFB Senior Bowl...Tallied a sack in a 21-18 edging of St. Francis-Buffalo (Sept. 7)...Recovered a fumble against St. Joseph by the Sea (Sept. 21)...Intercepted a pass in a 41-19 drubbing of Kellenberg (Sept. 29)...Registered a pair of sacks in a 21-14 win versus Monsignor Farrell (Oct. 19).

Collins on Covino: "We first saw Nick at our prospect camp. He is a versatitive and competitive athlete that can play running back, tight end, defensive end or linebacker. Nick has a toughness and great motor that impressed the coaching staff a great deal...His high school coach referred to him as one of the best warriors on the football field."

Chris Coles
OL - 6'3 - 275
Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack
Two-Time Offensive Player of the Game Selection in 2013...Made two tackles against Passaic County Technical (Sept. 20)...Picked up a solo tackle versus Ridgewood (Sept. 27).

Collins on Coles: "We think that Chris is a big body, who is athletic and plays very well in space. He has the ability to fill some holes on the offensive line."

James Louison
OL - 6'4 - 300
Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge
Claimed All-County and All-Conference First-Team Distinction in 2013...Participated in Suffolk County PAL All-Star Game...Registered a sack in a 14-6 win against Amityville (Oct. 26).

Collins on Louison: "We saw James in prospect camp. He has excellent size, and is a tough offensive lineman. His best playing days are ahead of him."

Amir Crenshaw
WR - 6'4 - 197
Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes
All-City First-Team Selection...All-CHSFL First-Team Offense Honoree...Played in CHSFL All-Star Game...Chosen for Outback Steakhouse All-Star Classic ...Hauled in 40 receptions for a team-leading 638 yards and nine touchdowns in his senior year...Caught five balls for a game-best 110 yards in a 47-0 shutout of Cardinal Spellman (Sept. 21)...Made four catches for 59 yards and a score in an 18-17 victory over Fordham Prep (Oct. 5)...Totaled 77 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns versus Xavier (Oct. 19)...Corraled two passes for 59 yards and two TD's in a 41-20 rout of Fordham Prep (Nov. 9)...Grabbed five balls for 145 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-21 besting of Holy Family (Nov. 16).

Collins on Crenshaw: "We evaluatd Amir as one of the top wide receivers in the state of New York. He has tremendous length, which is consistent throughout the class, and can go up for the football. Amir can be an instant impact to the receiving core with the loss of Joe Botti."

Kasim Thomas
DB - 5'10 - 175
Bronx, N.Y./Mt. St. Michael Academy
All-City Selection...All-League Offense Honoree...Played in CHSFL All-Star Game...Three-Time CHSFL Player of the Week...Threw for two passing touchdowns, while rushing for 114 yards and a pair of scores, in a 26-19 win versus St. John the Baptist (Sept. 21)...Took 11 handoffs for 47 yards and a TD in a 34-22 triumph against St. Joseph by the Sea (Oct. 12)...Had nine carries for 72 yards and a touchdown in a 36-7 rout of Kellenberg (Oct. 19)...Rushed 10 times for 50 yards and a score in a 22-12 victory over Bishop Ford (Oct. 27)...Chosen as the CHSFL Player of the Week on Nov. 25, after rushing for 153 yards and a TD in a semifinal playoff win versus St. Peter's.

Collins on Thomas: "Kasim is an excellent athlete who played running back in high school. We project him as a cover corner...He has a chance to play very early in his collegiate career."