UNH lands nine recruits

DURHAM– Nine athletes signed a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play football at the University of New Hampshire.

“I am excited about the quality and character of the student-athletes we have signed in this early period,” UNH coach Sean McDonnell said. “What jumps out at me is the versatility and athleticism these nine kids have. They give us a solid foundation for our overall 2019 recruiting class.”

Here is a closer look at UNH football’s 2019 early signing class:

Max Brosmer is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound quarterback from Centennial High School in Roswell, Ga. The two-year starting signal caller capped his impressive career as the all-time regular-season passing leader in Georgia history. As a senior, Brosmer accumulated 3,459 yards and 31 touchdown passes and earned the regional offensive player of the year award and the Centennial Excalibur Award. The two-time North Georgia Offensive Player of the Week showed off his big-play ability on the ground by rushing for 618 yards and two scores. Over the course of his final two seasons, Brosmer completed 441 of 629 passes (70.1 percent) for 7,209 yards and 61 touchdowns. He totaled 789 rushing yards and seven TDs. Among his junior-season honors were All-Region First Team, All-North Fulton Team, Centennial Player of the Year and Georgia Sportswriter Association All-State Second Team.

What McDonnell says

“Max is a very polished QB with a lot of skills that fit the UNH offense. He has an extremely accurate arm, superb anticipation, and his arm strength allows him to spread the ball around the field. He has a very high football IQ and the ability see the field from his QB position.”

Griffin Helm is a 5-foot-11, 185-pound wide receiver from St. Augustine, Fla, who finished up an outstanding career for perennial power Bartram Trail High School in Jacksonville. In his senior season, Helm recorded 44 receptions for 504 yards and six touchdowns. This followed a tremendous junior campaign in which he tallied 46 catches for 658 yards and six TDs. For his efforts as a junior he was named All-St. John’s County Second Team as he helped his team to a Class 7A state championship game appearance. Over the course of his four-year career, Helm racked up 141 catches for 1,732 yards and 15 touchdown receptions; he leaves Bartram Trail as its all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. The skilled athlete has also thrown for two scores and recorded 28 carries for 101 yards.

What MacDonnell says

“Griffin is a very versatile wide receiver who can play all three positions in our offense. He has outstanding hands, runs tremendous routes and has a knack for making big plays. He also has the ability to catch the ball in tight spaces and has considerable run ability after the catch.” 

Breece Hoff is a 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back/athlete from Capital High School in Charleston, W.Va. Hoff capped off a stellar senior season with 61 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 QB sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two blocked punts, an interception and a defensive touchdown. He backboned a Capital defensive unit that pitched three shutouts and held opponents to 16 points/game en route to an 11-3 record and a state semifinal berth. He was selected as the Coalfields and Co. AAA Defensive Player of the Year, All-State First Team and All-Conference First Team on defense. Additionally, Hoff set school records for single-season sacks, single-season TFL, career sacks and career TFL. The two-sport athlete also runs track and field in the 100m, 4x100m relay and the 4x200m relay, where he is a reigning state champion.

What MacDonnell says

“Breece is a dynamic, defensive football player who can close on the ball extremely well. He has the ability to tackle in open spaces and has a proficiency for getting to the passer. He possesses dynamic blitz skills for a second-level player and will be a welcome addition to the UNH secondary.” 

Collin Instone is a 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive/offensive lineman from Johnstown, Pa., who led Richland High School to the PIAA D6 championship this past season. The four-year starter earned 2018 LHAC All-Conference honors when he tallied 61 tackles, six sacks and scored two defensive touchdowns. Instone is a finalist for the District 6 Defensive Player of the Year award, which will be announced later this month, and he has also been nominated for the Pennsylvania Big-33 Game that features the best high school football players in the state. A multi-sport athlete, Instone is a four-year starter for the Rams’ basketball team, where he is a member of the exclusive 1,000-point, 500-rebound club.  He earned 2018 PA Class 3A Basketball All-State Third Team accolades.

What McDonnell says

“Colin is another very good athlete with the ability to play on either side of the ball. He has an explosive first step and the ability to bend and make plays. His athleticism shows up on tape in a lot of different ways. He has great anticipation, a great nose for the ball, and he has a huge upside when he starts focusing in on football.”

Oleh Manzyk is a 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back/tight end/linebacker from Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pa. As a runner, he toted the rock 64 times for 556 yards (8.8 yards/carry) and 14 touchdowns. As a senior, Manzyk led his team in total tackles (78), which included 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. The linebacker spearheaded a Neshaminy defense that finished the season 8-4 and held opponents to 14 points/game. He was subsequently named to the All-State First Team, Courier Times Golden Team and SOL National Conference All-League First Team. As a junior in 2017, Manzyk earned the Southeastern Pennsylvania Defensive Player of the Year award and was named a Pa. Football News All-State First-Team linebacker. In 2016, he was tabbed to the Pa. Football News All-State First Team at tight end. Manzyk is the first player in Neshaminy’s 88-year history to be named all-state at two different positions.

What McDonnell says

“Oleh is a versatile, two-way player who has a nose for the football. His athleticism will greatly aid his ability to run and tackle in open spaces, a much-needed quality at this level of football. He is an explosive player who will also add valuable depth to our special teams.”

Caleb Mead is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back/running back/return specialist from Upper Moreland High School in Willow Grove, Pa. As Southeastern Pennsylvania’s leading rusher in 2018, Mead carried 190 times for 1,653 yards –an eye-popping 8.7 yards/carry—and scored 17 TDs. Defensively, he registered 30 tackles, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception. Mead added three career touchdowns on kickoff returns. He was named All-Suburban League First Team at both RB and DB his senior season. As a junior in 2017, he led the conference in rushing yardage and garnered All-Suburban League First Team honors. Mead finished his career at UMHS with 328 carries for 2,981 yards (9.1 yards/carry) and 37 touchdowns. The two-sport athlete also runs the 100m and anchors the 4x100m relay team for the track and field team; he is a two-time All-Suburban League performer in each event.

What McDonnell says

“Caleb is an extremely fast, quick athlete who has a flair for scoring touchdowns. His quickness and ability to change directions make him an explosive, two-way threat. He has very good ball skills and the ability to help us on either side of the ball.”

Dylan Poirier is a 6-foot-3, 260-pound offensive lineman/defensive lineman from North Kingstown, R.I., who was named the Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year and the Ocean State’s 2018 Lineman of the Year for his play on both sides of the ball. Poirier anchored North Kingstown to back-to-back state championships. After capturing a Division II crown in 2017, he served as a captain for a Skippers team that moved up a class and won the 2018 Division I title. As a senior, Poirier was a disruptive force on the defensive line with 61 tackles and 29 TFL, including nine sacks. He finished his illustrious career with 156 tackles and 28 sacks. Other honors include All-State First Team, All-Academic Team and MVP of the annual Thanksgiving Day game. The three-sport athlete is captain of the North Kingstown basketball team and competed in lacrosse for two seasons.

What McDonnell says

“Dylan is an outstanding all-around athlete. He is a three-sport athlete who can move very well for an offensive lineman. He has a wide wingspan and excellent feet, which both will greatly aid him in pass protection. He has a good frame in which to grow and gain the size needed for this level. His versatility will add depth to the UNH offensive line.”

Isaac Seide is a 5-foot-9, 185-pound running back from Everett, Mass., who had a successful senior season for Everett High School, one of the top programs in New England. He guided Everett to a 9-1 record and a trip to the semifinals by rushing for over 800 yards and 11 touchdowns. His accomplishments included berths on the Boston Herald All-Scholastic Team and the MIAA All-State First Team. As a junior, Seide led Melrose High to an undefeated Massachusetts Division 4 state championship by rushing for 1,497 yards and 23 touchdowns. He was named to the All-Middlesex League First Team, Boston Herald All-Scholastic Team, and was feted as the Boston Globe Division 4 Player of the Year.

What MacDonnell says

“Isaac is a very strong, physical runner with good speed and explosiveness. In the last two years he has been the most productive running back on the North Shore. He has the ability to take over a game with his running style. He combines outstanding vision with a huge burst that makes him an extreme threat on the offensive side of the ball.”

Noah Stansbury is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back from Edison, N.J., who finished his Edison Eagle high school career as the Garden State’s leader with nine interceptions (No. 38 nationally) in 2018. The All-State Second Team DB finished the year with 48 solo tackles, five pass breakups and 14 passes defended. On the offensive side of the ball, the wideout compiled more than 300 all-purpose yards, including 17 receptions for 217 yards and five TDs. Stansbury was named to the Jersey Sports Zone All-Zone Defensive Team, the All-Group 5 First Team and the Home News Tribune 2018 All-GMC Defensive Team.

What McDonnell says

“Noah is a very long and athletic defensive back who can cover ground in the back part of the secondary. He has a nose for the ball and tremendous ball skills that enable him to intercept a lot of passes. He will help continue the strong tradition of secondary play here at UNH.”  

This marks the second year of NCAA Division I Football’s Early Signing Period (Dec. 19-21). The traditional NLI Signing Day (Regular Period) is set for Feb. 6, 2019.

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