UNH adds five on signing day

DURHAM – University of New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell officially announced five future Wildcats signed national letters of intent on National Signing Day, bringing the total number of NLI signees to 14 for UNH football’s 2019 incoming class.

“These five players help finalize a very good recruiting class that started with the early signing period,” McDonnell said. “Our coaches continue to find and recruit versatile players who can play multiple positions in our program. This group has outstanding football skills that will add to the team in many different ways, and we are excited about them being a part of the UNH football family.”

Here is a closer look at the five prospective student-athletes who signed NLIs on Feb. 6:

Jonathan Collins, Jr., is a 6-foot, 175-pound DB/WR from Williamstown High School in Williamstown, N.J. As a senior captain, he led the Braves to a 12-1 record and a N.J. Group 5 state championship appearance. Collins was one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in New Jersey last season, compiling over 1,200 passing yards, more than 1,200 rushing yards and 27 total touchdowns. On the defensive side, he recorded 33 tackles and two interceptions. The New Jersey Coaches Association tabbed Collins to its Super 100 All-State Team, which identifies the top 100 players in the entire state. He was also named to the All-West Jersey Football League First Team and earned All-State Second Team honors.

What McDonnell says:

“JC is a very talented athlete who can play multiple positions on either side of the ball. He has great instincts and vision when he has the ball in his hands. On the defensive side of the ball he has very good anticipation and can cover people extremely well. He will help bring versatility to the defensive backfield here at UNH.”

Burke Griffin is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound athlete from Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor, Wash. The two-time captain led Peninsula to three straight state quarterfinal appearances. As Peninsula’s quarterback, Griffin amassed over 4,800 passing yards, 1,700 rushing yards and 53 total touchdowns with a 72-percent completion percentage. As a senior, he was named an Associated Press All-State quarterback and was awarded league offensive MVP honors. He added All-League First Team and All-Area First Team accolades as both a quarterback and punter and was subsequently named a South Sound Conference Fall Scholar-Athlete. In his career, Griffin was named a two-time Athlete of the Year by the Tacoma Athletic Commission and an eight-time Tacoma News Tribune Athlete of the Week. The multi-sport athlete placed in the 110m hurdle at the 2018 Class 3A Washington state track and field championships.

What McDonnell says:

“Burke is an explosive, quick-twitch kid who is a multi-talented football player. He can throw it, catch it, and kick it. He has a lot of different talents that will help us on the offensive side of the ball. His punt-catching and kick-catching skills will also contribute to our return game on special teams” 

Konstantin Hellge is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound TE/DE from Berlin, Germany. He played for the Berlin Rebels club team in high school and then spent a post-graduate year in the United States at Hebron Academy in Hebron, Maine. Hellge garnered Boston Globe Evergreen League All-Scholastic All-Star recognition in 2018. He was also named to the Class C All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference Team and was tabbed Hebron’s team MVP. He recorded nine catches for 215 yards and a touchdown at Hebron after registering 18 catches for 430 yards and 10 TDs in his final season for Berlin. ​Hellge was twice named to the All-State Team in Germany. In addition to football, he is also a starter on the Hebron basketball team.

What McDonnell says

“Konstantin is a very long and athletic pass-catching tight end prospect. He has a strong frame to grow into and has the potential to be a big target for us in the passing game. He has soft hands and does a good job adjusting to the ball. He made the adjustment from wide receiver to tight end in his post-grad year while also improving his blocking skills at Hebron Academy.” 

Tyrell Wiggins is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound DB/RB from Roxbury, Mass., who was a four-year starter for the Dexter Southfield School. In his senior year, Wiggins followed up an Evergreen League All-Star junior season by leading Dexter to a 9-2 record and a NEPSAC Class C league championship. Wiggins recorded 1,052 rushing yards on just 96 carries (11.0 yards/rush) and 10 rushing touchdowns to go along with 10 receptions for 245 yards (24.5 yards/catch) and two more scores. As a multipurpose player, Wiggins also returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns. Defensively, he registered 31 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception. For his efforts, Wiggins was named Boston HeraldAll-Scholastic, Boston Globe All-Scholastic, and garnered Evergreen League and NEPSAC Player of the Year honors.

What McDonnell says

“Tyrell is another versatile athlete who has excelled on both sides of the ball. He has great hips and change of direction from his corner position, and he does a terrific job of getting downhill to tackle when playing safety. He has impressive vision and cutting ability and has a tremendous burst when he sees daylight in the open field with the ball in his hands.”

Zedane Williams is a 6-foot, 200-pound linebacker/running back from Springfield, Mass., via Suffield Academy in Suffield, Conn. The standout two-way performer was honored as an All-NEPSAC First Team running back and linebacker, as well as USA Today All-USA Connecticut. After helping lead Suffield to a 7-3 record, he was selected as the team MVP. Prior to Suffield, Williams had an extremely accomplished career at Springfield Central High School. In 2017 he amassed 85 total tackles – 58 solo – tallied six sacks and one interception and was recognized as Massachusetts All-State First Team and All-Western Mass. First Team.

What McDonnell says

“Zedane is an explosive linebacker who plays with a high motor and can make plays from sideline to sideline. He is a tremendous fit for our defense with his ability to tackle in open spaces and help in pass coverage. His athleticism will really help us on special teams here at UNH.”

*****

UNH has also received verbal commitments from two New Hampshire residents: Manchester Central wide receiver Nick Olibrice, and Bedford linebacker Ryan Toscano. Both will join the program as walk-ons.

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