This is the moment Gordy Combs has been waiting for. With a full complement of scholarships, the Towson University football team should be stronger than ever before.
“I believe that in all the years ? this is the closest we get to [Division] I-A,” Combs said. “We just need a little extra time to develop.”
And with a solid group of veterans and experienced underclassmen returning to a Tigers team that went 7-4 in 2006, Combs is in a position to redshirt the majority of the 11 student-athletes who signed letters of intent during Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
“When we got back into scholarship football, our strategy was to redshirt as many as we can,” Combs said.
In joining the Atlantic 10 Conference, Combs was used to seeing opposing depth charts full of fourth-year juniors and fifth-year seniors. Now, Towson has the ability to redshirt underclassmen and field a veteran lineup.
“I think at the I-AA level, you really need an opportunity to develop physically,” Combs said.
While Towson didn’t chase many skill position talents, it filled some needs on the defensive front. Incoming defensive linemen include Yaki Ibia (South Lakes High/Reston, Va.) and Marcus Valentine (Winslow Township High/Sicklerville, N.J.). Valentine, who played is one of four recruits the Tigers have signed from New Jersey.
Towson also raided local programs, bringing in seven Maryland-area recruits. The Tigers added an athletic linebacker corps, including locals Chris Franklin (Northern High/Dunkirk), Joshua McCants (Gaithersburg High/Rockville), and Chris Patterson (Northwest High/Germantown). Offensive linemen Joe McNamara (Catonsville High) and Mel Weeramunda (Seneca Valley High/Germantown), quarterback Matt Ray (Urbana High/Frederick) and receiver Nick Oates (Springbrook High/Frederick) round out the local recruits.
Center Dan Hurley (Bishop Ahr High/Colonia, N.J.) and tackle John Esposito (Hanover Park High/Florham Park, N.J.) surpass Combs’ goal of three offensive linemen per year.
The Tigers also added safety Dan Collins (Council Rock High/Newtown, Pa.), the brother of current Tigers tight end Ryan Collins, and quarterback Andrew Daley (Eastern High/Gibbsboro, N.J.).
TIGERS IN 2007
» Towson will participate in the inaugural season of Colonial Athletic Association football in 2007 with the same programs from the now-defunct Atlantic 10.
