Last year the University of New Hampshire football team signed two defensive back recruits that had immediate, and impressive, impacts – Pop Lacey from Reading, Penn., and Prince Smith, Jr., from Philadelphia. The Wildcats went back to that productive well on Wednesday, signing another defensive back named Pop and another from The City of Brotherly Love as part of their 14-player class.
Tiyan “Pop” Bush is a 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back out of Port Charlotte, Fla. The first play on his high school highlight reel is hit so big it knocks the ball carrier’s helmet off.
“He has a knack for making big hits and great tackles,” UNH Coach Sean McDonnell said of Bush, who had 77 tackles, eight sacks and an interception, and was named Defensive MVP of the South Central Florida All-Star Game, as a senior at Port Charlotte High School.
Philadelphia’s Sheir-Ron Whittaker (6-0, 170) was an All-City First Team pick after he recorded 53 tackles, 15 pass break ups and three interceptions as a senior at Delaware Valley Charter School.
“His ball skills really jump out at you, either catching the ball or defending the pass,” McDonnell said of Whittaker. He has a great nose for the ball.”
It won’t be easy for Bush and Whittaker to make the same impact as Lacey, who led UNH in tackles (82) and was an All-CAA Third Team pick, or Smith, who led the Wildcats in interceptions (five) and pass breakups (13) and was the CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year. But McDonnell is happy to add them, and the 12 other student-athletes, to the New Hampshire team.
“These guys fit the needs that we have been looking for the past year. I’m excited by the overall speed and athleticism of our skill kids, and I really like the size and strength of the line prospects,” said McDonnell, who led New Hampshire to an 8-5 record last year and a 13th straight trip to the FCS playoffs. “All these student-athletes fit the model that we have built here and I think they’re all great players, and even better kids.”
There were no New Hampshire residents in UNH’s class, although former St. Thomas quarterback Stephen Hedberg, who finished his high school career with 65 touchdown passes and spent last year at Phillips Andover, will join the Wildcats next season as a walk-on. But the Wildcats did attract plenty of nearby talent with four recruits from Massachusetts – offensive linemen Riley Burns from Milford and Patrick Flynn from Hanover, defensive back/wide receiver Sherron Dailey-Harris from Randolph and wide receiver Brian Espanet from Hopedale.
Burns (6-3, 300) is the brother of current UNH defensive lineman Sean Burns, a 6-1, 270-pound sophomore. The younger Burns was an All-State First Team selection out of Milford High after paving the way for a running game that gained more than 1,300 yards, and he was also a letter winner for the hockey team. Flynn (6-3, 265) was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year by the Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Patriot Ledger after he led Hanover to a 12-0 record and the school’s first state championship in 40 years.
Dailey-Harris (6-0, 170) was a Super 26 All-State Team selection after his senior year at Lawrence Academy when he had totaled six touchdowns (three receiving, one interception return, one kickoff return and one rushing) and had a team-high four interceptions.
“(Dailey-Harris) is a long, smooth athletic player who we have been watching for a couple of years now,” McDonnell said. “He has a good frame that will get better as he focuses on one sport (he also plays basketball). He has great playmaking skills on both sides of the ball.”
Espanet (6-3, 185) caught 97 passes for more more 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns as he helped Millis-Hopedale to the Division 4 state championship. He was named to the Super 26 All-State Team and All-State First Team by the Globe, and he’s also a 1,000-point scorer in basketball and a standout on the baseball diamond.
“(Espanet) is a terrific, three-sport athlete who has a huge upside,” McDonnell said. “He has great eye-hand coordination and the ability to go up and the get the ball from his receiver position.”
Burns and Flynn will be joined by another pair of intriguing offensive line prospects – Cameron Rush from Avella, Penn., and Curtis Linton from Bear, Del. Rush (6-4, 300) had 35 pancake blocks for Bishop Canevin in Pittsburgh and was an All-WPIAL First Team selection. Linton (6-3, 270) was a three-year starter for Caravel Academy, a two-time all-conference selection, an all-state third team pick as a senior and a two-time all-conference heavyweight wrestler.
And Espanet will be joined by a pair of intriguing wide receiver prospects – B.J. Hill from Stafford, Va., and C.J. Turner from Rochester, N.Y. Hill (6-0, 190) was named to Virginia’s 5A All-State First Team after producing 69 catches, 1,100 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns as a senior at Brooke Point High School. Turner (5-7, 165) was a three-time All-Greater Rochester selection and set the Eastridge High School record with 36 career touchdowns.
The other student-athletes who signed with UNH on Wednesday were wire receiver/kicker Sean Coyne (5-10, 175) from Portsmouth, R.I., linebacker/tight end Gunner Gibson (6-3, 230) from Hailey, Idaho, linebacker Kyle Hamper (6-0, 210) from Portland, Ore., and running back Carlos Washington (5-10, 205) from Fort Washington, Md.