UNH adds eight

DURHAM – University of New Hampshire interim head football coach Ricky Santos officially welcomed eight future Wildcats who signed national letters of intent during Wednesday’s early signing period to join the program as members of the incoming Class of 2020.

The early signing period is a 72-hour window from Wednesday to Friday for incoming student-athletes wishing to announce their commitment prior to National Signing Day, which is Feb. 5, 2020.

“We’re so excited to add these student-athletes to the UNH football family,” Santos said. “Our assistant coaches have done a great job in the early signing period in recruiting high-character individuals that come from winning programs and have a championship pedigree. These young men will provide athleticism, position flexibility and a good balance of skill, size and speed to fit the mold of our football program.”

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

Caleb Burke is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver from Johnstown, Pa., who finished an outstanding career at Richland High School by leading the Rams to the PIAA 2A state semifinals. The four-year starter is a four-time LHAC All-Conference player and a two-time All-State and All-Penn First Teamer. In 2019, Burke broke the school’s single-game record for receiving yards and scored the longest touchdown in school history. Over his career, he collected 192 receptions for 3,423 yards and 43 TDs. Burke amassed over 4,000 all-purpose yards and 52 career touchdowns. The multi-sport athlete is a four-year starter for the Rams’ basketball team who has already surpassed the 1,000-point mark in his career. 

What Coach Santos Says

“Caleb is a versatile wide receiver who has the ability to make plays in multiple ways. He has very quick change-of-direction skills and the speed to run by defenders. He can make people miss in space, and his run-after-catch ability is unique. He will instantly make our offense more explosive.”

Joey Corcoran is a 6-foot-2, 188-pound WR from Montreal, Quebec, who played the last two years at St. Paul’s School in Concord. The exceptional, two-sport athlete made an impact on both sides of the ball for the 19-0, back-to-back NEPSAC champions. In two seasons at St. Paul’s, Corcoran recorded 36 receptions for 684 yards and nine TDs; he also returned four punts for scores. On defense, he notched 71 tackles with seven interceptions and one fumble recovery. Corcoran earned All-Evergreen distinction each season, and he was tabbed to the All-New Hampshire First Team and All-New England First Team.

What Coach Santos Says

“Joey is a playmaking wide receiver who has the skill set to affect the game in multiple ways. He is a dynamic returner, as well as pass-catcher, who has the ability to score every time he touches the ball. When the football is in the air, he attacks it and has tremendous body control. He brings a big-play ability to our offense.”

Brody McAndrew, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback from Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pa., capped an exceptional career as a three-year starter who led the Redskins to an impressive 23-11 record and a pair of PIAA District 1 state quarterfinal appearances. As a senior, McAndrew threw for 1,942 yards and 22 TDs with just six interceptions. Career passing numbers included over 5,000 yards and 55 touchdowns. At the culmination of his senior year, McAndrew was named to the Courier Times Golden Team Offense and garnered All-Suburban One League (SOL) National Conference First Team at cornerback and All-SOL Second Team at QB. He was also awarded a 2019 Maxwell Football Club Mini Max Award, which is given annually to the top 60 football players in the Philadelphia Tri-State area.

What Coach Santos Says

“Brody is a dual threat quarterback who is a winner and natural leader. He can make every throw on the field because he has great anticipation and accuracy. He’s a strong, physical runner and has the ability make plays in the run game as well. His skill set is perfect for our scheme, and he will be an impact player for our offense.”

Duncan Moreland is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive back from Beverly, Mass. The two-time team MVP accumulated over 1,800 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns on one side of the ball and racked up 82 tackles on the defensive side. Moreland earned NEC All-Conference honors twice and was a three-time Salem News All-Star. A three-sport athlete, Moreland also excels in track and basketball. He qualified for states five times in track and earned NEC All-Conference three times in basketball to go along with Salem News All-Star honors three times. Off the field, Moreland made the honor roll five times.

What Coach Santos Says

“Duncan is a dynamic defense player who has elite quickness and always gives great effort. He has the ability to make plays on the ball and is physical enough to play down around the line of scrimmage. He will be a great addition to the UNH secondary and will make our defense better.”

Noah Palm is a 6-foot, 200-pound, two-way standout from Cocalico High School in Lancaster, Pa., who helped lead his team to the PIAA 4A state semifinals last season. During that senior campaign, Palm passed for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns while simultaneously leading the team in rushing with over 1,600 yards and 35 touchdowns. On defense, he totaled 109 tackles, four INTs, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and three defensive TDs. Palm earned a 2019 Maxwell Football Club Mini Max Award and was named Penn Live All-State at defensive back. Further, he was feted as the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 Outstanding Offensive Back of the Year and Outstanding Defensive Back of the Year to go along with All-State First Team (QB, DB) and All-State Second Team (punter) accolades.

What Coach Santos Says

“Noah is a very good athlete who has the ability to make plays on both sides of the ball. He will play defense at UNH and, because of his versatility, will certainly have an impact on special teams as well. His quick first step and lateral movement are uncommon attributes, and he will be a playmaker and impact games in multiple ways.”

Neil Politano is a 6-foot-3, 265-pound DL/OL out of Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Fla., who started at both defensive tackle and offensive guard/tackle as a senior captain last season. Politano notched 30 tackles, six TFLs and a team-leading five sacks. On offense, he graded out as the top lineman for head coach Tim Krause. Politano, who is also a stellar member of the varsity weightlifting team, was ranked a Top-40 prospect in Northeast Florida by the Florida Times-Union.

What Coach Santos Says

“Neil is a big, athletic young man who can affect the game on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He has quick feet and uses his hands very well. Guys with his size and athleticism are hard to find, and we expect him to be a big-time player for us.”

Brendan Tighe is a 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete from Lowell, Mass., who did virtually everything for the Red Raiders as a two-time captain. As a senior, Tighe had 740 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 92 carries. He also recorded 24 catches for 352 yards and two TDs, and as a QB, completed 18 passes for 198 yards and two more scores. On defense, Tighe recorded 77 tackles, 14 TFLs, six sacks and another touchdown on a fumble return. His 2,827 receiving yards and 4,064 total yards are both the most in school history, and his 51 touchdowns are ranked second all-time at Lowell High. Tighe has been decorated as a three-time All-Merrimack Valley Conference player and a two-time Player of the Year. As a senior, he was named Boston Herald All-Scholastic, Boston Globe All-Scholastic (for the second time) and Lowell Sun All-Star (for the third time). Tighe is also a standout member of LHS’s lacrosse and indoor track programs.

What Coach Santos Says

“Brendan is a three-sport athlete who is a great competitor and someone with a strong work ethic. He offers position flexibility as someone who can make plays on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. We are thrilled to have him in our program, and he’ll make us better.”

Max Tillett is a 6-foot, 200-pound linebacker from Southern Columbia High School in Catawissa, Pa., who was a key member of the most dominant run in PIAA history. Tillett was a starting linebacker for three state championship teams and garnered All-State First Team, Heartland Conference All-Area (three times), News-Item First Team (three times) and Daily Item First Team (three times) recognition from his LB position. He finished his career ranked second all-time in total tackles (362) at Southern Columbia, including 20 sacks, 50 tackles for loss, and three INTs.

What Coach Santos Says

“Max comes from an elite program with a championship pedigree. He is a physical linebacker who plays downhill and tackles very well. He can play in space and has the ability to run from sideline to sideline.”

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