Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Danzel Manley has some interest in the University of New Hampshire. What's unknown is if UNH has any interest in him.

Manley (pictured), a 6-foot-6, 304-pound offensive tackle, committed to Old Dominion University last October, but said he and the school parted ways earlier this week.

"We just didn't meet on certain standards," Manley said.

With National Signing Day quickly approaching, Manley said he's scrambling to find a place to play. He said UNH is on the short list of schools he's interested in, but realizes it's a little late in the game to be picky.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried," Manley said. "At this point it's really anybody who needs me, because a lot of the schools who showed interest in me (before he committed to Old Dominion) are done recruiting. They're booked."

Manley played left tackle for Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md. He helped the Raiders finish 10-1 last season, when they averaged nearly 40 points per game.

He said besides Old Dominion, Tennessee State, Bowie State, Delta State, Delaware State, Morgan State and Towson were the schools that showed the most interest in him. Manley also said he met with UNH assistant coach Jon Shelton before he committed to Old Dominion, and planned to contact Shelton this weekend. 

"I've been told that someone will grab me because of my size,"  Manley said. "At this point it's where I can find a home at."

If you're wondering how many New Hampshire players are headed to Division I (FBS) schools this year, here's a state-by-state breakdown of Division I talent. The list does not include players headed to Division I FCS schools, like the University of New Hampshire. National Signing Day in Wednesday.

http://www.maxpreps.com/signingday/default.aspx

Two players being recruited by the University of New Hampshire won't be bringing their talent to UNH. 

Erik Lora, a wide receiver from Miami's Christopher Columbus High School, has committed to Eastern Illinois, and Nate Lojek, a 6-foot-4, 301-pound offensive lineman from Trinity High School in Washington, Pa., has accepted a scholarship offer from Robert Morris University.

The following link is a Podcast interview with Nick Schmalhofer, a two-way lineman who committed to the University of New Hampshire earlier this week.

Schmalhofer played at Lancaster (Pa.) High School.

http://blogs.lancasteronline.com/jeffreyreinhart/2009/01/28/catholics-nick-schmalhofer-accepts-a-full-ride-to-the-university-of-new-hampshire/

College: McKissic commits to Dartmouth >> Austin American-Statesman

College: Dartmouth lands tight end >> Cincinnati.com

The New England Hawks of the semipro New England Football League (NEFL) are seeking coaches for the 2009 season.

The Hawks are interviewing for the following positions: head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and position coaches. Anyone interested should contact Mike Bernier (603) 766-1350 or Mike Isola (617) 212-6727 for more information.

Visit the Chalkboard for more information on camps, clinics and coaching vacancies.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Nick Schmalhofer, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound defensive end from Lancaster (Pa.) Catholic High School, has given a verbal commitment to the University of New Hampshire, according to caainsider.com

Schmalhofer (pictured) could play either offensive line or defensive line for the Wildcats. He made 72 tackles -- inlcuding 21 tackles for a loss -- during his senior season. 

Schmalhofer reportedly received scholarship offers from seven schools. Appalachian State was among the schools he visited.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

According to caainsider.com., Jay Colbert, a 6-foot-1, 223-pound defensive end from Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pa., has given a verbal commitment to the University of New Hampshire.

Colbert held offers from at least two other schools: Buffalo and Maine.

Colbert is the fifth player to give a verbal commitment to UNH. The others are defensive end Cody Muller (Souderton, Pa./Souderton Area), offensive lineman Seamus O'Neill (Manchester/Manchester Central), tight end/wide receiver/linebacker Kevin Ganglehoff (Meriden/Kimball Union Academy) and running back Chris Beranger (Winthrop, Mass./Winthrop).

National Signing Day is Feb. 4.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The breakfast fundraiser being organized by Hanover High School coach Mike Ivanoski to benefit Milford coach Keith Jones and his family will be held at the Black Recreation Center in Hanover on Feb. 8 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. The event was originally scheduled to be held at 5 Olde Nugget Alley Restaurant, but was moved to accomodate a potential large turnout.

Donations in any amount will be accepted at the breakfast, and all proceeds will go to the family. Three-year-old Harris Jones, Keith's son, was injured when he was hit by a snowmobile earlier this month, and is currently being treated at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

"We're hoping at least one representative from every football community in the state, including officials and college coaches, will attend," Ivanoski said. "People are welcome to come and stay, or just stop by for a short time. With this location we're hoping Keith and his wife can make it there."

Ivanoski is asking for donations (food or money) to help pay for the breakfast. He said he's also hoping the New Hampshire football community will provide items that can be raffled off to raise money for the Jones family.

Anyone with donations or questions can contact Ivanoski at 298-7495 (home), 491-9777 (cell) or Coach_I@yahoo.com. 

Those unable to attend the breakfast can send donations to the following address:

The Harris Jones Fund
TD Banknorth
PO Box 783
Amherst, N.H.
03031

The University of New Hampshire will face Ball State this season in one of three non-conference matchups on UNH's 2009 schedule.

The game, which will be the first between the two programs, will be played Sept. 12 at Ball State.

The Cardinals, an FBS program, completed the 2008 season with a 12-2 record and were ranked as high as No. 12 in the national polls. Ball State was invited to play in the GMAC Bowl where it lost to Tulsa, 45-13. Ball State quarterback Nate Davis surrendered his final year of eligibility and will enter April's NFL Draft.

Ball State defeated Northeastern 48-14 last season. Northeastern, like UNH, competes in the Colonial Athletic Association.

UNH, ranked No. 8 in the final FCS poll, advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs for the fifth consecutive season and reached the quarterfinal round for the fourth time during that five-year span. UNH finished the 2008 season with a 10-3 overall record and earned the CAA North Division title with a 6-2 record in the conference.

The Wildcats are 4-0 in their last four games against FBS opponents. UNH defeated Army in 2008 (28-10), Marshall in 2007 (48-35), Northwestern in 2006 (34-17) and Rutgers in 2004 (35-24).

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

According to a story in Monday's Nashua Telegraph, Nashua South running back/defensive back David Zocco has committed to the University of Rhode Island.

Zocco was named New Hampshire's Mr. Football and the state's Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior season. He's projected as an outside linebacker in college.

Zocco rushed for 1,648 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, when he helped Nashua South win the Division I championship. He scored five touchdowns in the Division I championship game, a 33-32 triumph over Pinkerton Academy.

He also made 15 receptions for 158 yards as a senior. Defensively, he made 138 tackles and intercepted four passes.

Accoring to the story, Zocco was scheduled  to visit the University of New Hampshire next weekend.

College: UNH will face Ball State >> Manchester Union Leader

College: Auffant will play at Holy Cross >> Portsmouth Herald

The New Level Athletics/Badger Sport Passing Camp will be held Feb. 28 at Rutgers University and is open to New Hampshire players.

The camp will feature quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers and defensive backs. Teams will be grouped by state. The is a $110 registration fee per player.

Those interested can can go to www.7on7.scout.com and click on the register now box.

This is a reminder that Hanover High School football coach Mike Ivanoski has organized a breakfast fundraiser for Milford High School coach Keith Jones and his family. Harris Jones, Keith's 3-year-old son, was injured after being hit by a snowmobile last weekend. He is being treated at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

The breakfast will take place Feb. 8 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at 5 Olde Nugget Alley Restaurant, which is located off Main Street in Hanover. Donations will be accepted at the breakfast.

Those who plan to attend are asked to contact Ivanoski at (603) 298-7495.

Donations can also be sent to the following address:

The Harris Jones Fund
TD Banknorth
PO Box 783
Amherst, N.H.
03031

High School: Laconia honors football squad >> Laconia Citizen

Several sources have reported that Seamus O'Neill, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound offensive lineman who played for Manchester Central, has accepted a scholarship offer from the University of New Hampshire.

O'Neill, who visited UNH last weekend, was named to the Division I All-State Team following his senior season. Maine and Rhode Island were among the other schools that were recruited O'Neill, who is also on the basketball and outdoor track and field teams at Central.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Bunduka Karbo, a four-year starter at Bishop Maginn High School in Albany, N.Y., has given a verbal commitment to play football for coach Turner Gill at the University of Buffalo, according to the dailygazette.com of Schenectady, N.Y.

Karbo was a four-year starter who played both quarterback and defensive back at Bishop Maginn. He's expected to play defensive back at Buffalo.

Karbo, who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 185 pounds, was reportedly Maine's No.1 quarterback recruit. He was also recruited by UNH, Rhode Island, Villanova and Albany.

An accident occurred Sunday that involved Harris Jones, the son of Milford High School head football coach Keith Jones.

According to an email sent by Milford High School athletic director Marc Maurais, Harris Jones is currently being treated at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. Maurais said more surgeries are planned, but it is uncertain if the doctors will be able to save Harris' right leg.

The New Hampshire football community is attempting to help Keith and his wife Kelly meet their financial
needs during this difficult time. A fund has been set up to help the family. Donations can be sent to the following address:

The Harris Jones Fund
TD Banknorth
PO Box 783
Amherst, NH 03031

In addition, Hanover High School football coach Mike Ivanoski has organized a breakfast fundraiser in an attempt to help support the Jones family. The breakfast will take place Feb. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 at 5 Olde Nugget Alley Restaurant, which is located off Main Street in Hanover.

Donations will be accepted at this breakfast and all proceeds will go to the Jones family.

New Hampshire Football Report will pass along more information as it is received.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Although the University of Massachusetts named a new head coach Monday, Laconia High School's Christian Birt plans to honor his commitment to the Minutemen, according to Laconia head coach Craig Kozens.

"He's content and happy with his UMass decision," Kozens said Monday night. "The level of football didn't matter. He just wanted to stay local."

Ohio University, Central Michigan and Boston College were among the schools that showed an interest in Birt, a running back/defensive back who helped Laconia reach the Division IV championship game last fall. Birt rushed for 1,171 yards as a senior. He also scored 24 touchdowns, 19 of which came on the ground.

Don Brown recruited Birt, but Brown resigned as the head coach at UMass to become the defensive coordinator at the University of Maryland earlier this month. Kevin Morris was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach.

"He could have gone to another school, but I think UMass will be a good place for him," Kozens said.

College: Bradshaw commits to Dartmouth >> North County Times

College: UMass interested in Bicknell >> Boston.com

High School: Nashua Elks honoring South football team >> Nashua Telegraph

New Hampshire Football Report will post schedules for each NHIAA division when they are finalized. Anyone with information regarding the 2009 schedules can send it to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com.

Here are the unofficial non-league matchups between Division I and Division II high school teams for the 2009 season. Next year will be the second time games featuring Division I teams against Division II opponents will be scheduled based on regular season order of finish.

Division I teams had an 8-5 record against Division II competition last season. 

• Pinkerton Academy vs. Bishop Guertin
• Nashua South vs. Timberlane
• Manchester Central vs. Exeter
• Londonderry vs. Keene
• Concord vs. Alvirne
• Salem vs. Dover
• Nashua North vs. Merrimack
• Manchester Memorial vs. Winnacunnet
• Manchester West vs. Spaulding

Despite a coaching change, Kimball Union Academy's Kasim Edebali (pictured) said that he will honor his committment to Boston College.

The University of Connecticut also recruited Edebali, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive end. Edebali, who helped KUA reach the New England Private Schools Athletic Conference Super Bowl, made a verbal committment to BC in July.

BC parted ways with former head coach Jeff Jagodzinski last week, after Jagodzinski interviewed for the head coaching postion with the New York Jets.

Gilford High School is looking for a varsity assistant football coach for the offensive and defensive line positions. Those interested can submit a resume and a letter of interest to Dave Pinkham, athletic director, Gilford High School, 88 Alvah Wilson Road, Gilford, N.H., 03249, or email to: dpinkham@gilford.k12.nh.us.

Visit the Chalkboard for more information on camps, clinics and coaching vacancies.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Dartmouth has an interest in Akil Sharp, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound running back from Sierrra Vista High School in Nevada.

Sharp (pictured) rushed for 1,646 yards and 20 touchdowns during his senior season. Sharp is also being recruited by California, Brown and Princeton.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Here's a look at some of Vermont's defensive players who were selected to participate in this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, which will be played Aug. 1 (2:30 p.m.) at Windsor High School:

Chris Carswell
BFA-St. Albans/End
6-3, 230

A three-year starter for BFA who moved from linebacker to defensive end for his senior season. ... Team captain at BFA and for the North-South Senior Bowl. ... Played both guard and center on offense.

Cam Laundry
Hartford/End
6-2, 185

Laundry helped Hartford win back-to-back Division I state titles. ... Good athlete who also plays varsity basketball. ... Lined up at tight end on offense.

Jon Roeder
South Burlington/Tackle
6-2, 275

A two-way starter for the Rebels, who reached the Division I semifinals each of the past two years. ... Good speed for a defensive lineman. ... Named his team's top lineman, and also participated in the North-South Senior Bowl.

Jerall Sinclair
South Burlington/Tackle
6-1, 295

Versatile player who has played both offensive line and fullback on offense. ... Was a team captain during his senior season. ... Played offensive line in the North-South Senior Bowl.

Emmanuel Whyte
Mount Anthony/Secondary
6-2, 195

Dangerous player in all three phases of the game. A sure-tackler who also plays quarterback and can return kicks. ... Named Mount Anthony's Most Valuable Player as a senior.

Josh Waldner
St. Johnsbury/Secondary
6-3, 200

Made seven interceptions as a senior. ... Usually lined up against opposing team's top receiver. ... Also plays varsity basketball and lacrosse. ... A wide receiver who was forced to play quarterback because of injuries.

High School: Four Colonels to play in Shrine Bowl >> Brattleboro Reformer

High School: Vermont's Shrine team announced >> Rutland Herald

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Here's a brief look at some of the Vermont players who were selected to participate in this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, which will be played Aug. 1 (2:30 p.m.) at Windsor High School:

Grant White
Springfield/Quarterback
6-3, 200 pounds

Played for Vermont head coach Mike Hatt at Springfield. ... Completed 109 of 165 pass attempts for 1,821 yards and 26 touchdowns during his senior season. Also carried the ball 103 times for 466 yards and 16 TDs. ... Led Springfield to an 11-0 record and the Division III state championship. ... Holds the school record for career TD passes (52). ... Also plays basketball and baseball for Springfield.

Mick Wong
Hartford/Running Back
5-7, 190 pounds

May be Vermont's top ground threat in this year's game. Rushed for 1,427 yards (averaged 9.7 yards per carry) and helped Hartford claim its second straight Division I title. ... Scored 18 TDs as a senior. ... Wong, who is also a standout linebacker, was named Vermont's Gatorade Player of the Year.

Brian Wilcox
Mount Mansfield/Running Back
6-1, 225 pounds

Despite being hampered by an ankle injury, Wilcox rushed for 1,497 yards and scored 21 touchdowns during his senior season. ... He was a four-year starter at Mount Mansfield, where he began his high school career as an offensive and defensive lineman. ... Selected as Mount Mansfield's MVP.

Mark Comstock
Rutland/Wide Receiver
6-3, 180 pounds

Comstock may be the most versatile players on the Vermont roster. Also a top defensive back and punter. ... Helped Rutland reach the Division I championship game. ... Selected as the MVP of Vermont's North/South Senior Bowl.

James Durham
Spaulding/Wide Receiver
5-11, 175 pounds

Was selected as Vermont's Gatorade Player of the Year following his junior season. ... Will give Vermont a big-play threat in the kicking game. ... Durham caught six TD passes, ran for a touchdown, returned an interception for a touchdown and scored on three punt returns last season. ... Committed to play for Amherst College in the fall.

Keith Cook
Springfield/Center
6-2, 250 pounds

A three-year starter for Springfield, where he snapped for Vermont quarterback Grant White. ... A standout on both sides of the ball, Cook was named Springfield's top defensive player in each of the last three seasons.

Houston Judd
North Country/Guard
6-2, 215

A three-year starter for North Country, where he is also a goalie on the hockey team. ... Team captain of the football team as a senior. Also played defensive end. ... Represented North Country in the North/South Senior Bowl.

Beau Bomhowuer
Hartford/Tackle
6-1, 220

Top lineman for the top Division I team in Vermont each of the last two seasons. ... An exceptional base blocker, but is also effective when he pulls and is used as a lead blocker. ... Could be part of an offensive line that includes Garret Jacobs, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound guard from Brattleboro; and Ethan Peterson, a 6-2, 275-pound tackle from Rutland. 

Coming Thursday: A look at the Vermont defense.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The following players have been selected to represent Vermont in this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. New Hampshire Football Report will post the New Hampshire roster when it is released.

Jeromy Anderson (Spaulding)
Connor Beerworth (Rutland)
Brandon Bergeron (Hartford)
Beau Bomhouer (Hartford)
Chris Carswell (Bellows Free Academy)
Mark Comstock (Rutland)
Keith Cook (Springfield)
James Durham (Spaulding)
Adam Farmer (South Burlington)
Steve Frankiwicz (Brattleboro)
Heath Genier (Fair Haven)
Sean Harrison (Middlebury)
Travis Haskins (Brattleboro)
Garett Jacobs (Brattleboro)
Houston Judd (North Country)
Cameron Landry (Hartford)
Terrell Martin (Hartford)
Jacob McArdle (U-32)
Stephen Miller (Springfield)
Evan Parker (Montpelier)
Ethan Peterson (Rutland)
David Reffi (Brattleboro)
Patrick Riley (Hartford)
Josh Robinson (Woodstock)
John Roeder (South Burlington)
Kris Sabourin (Bellows Free Academy)
Jerall Sinclair (South Burlington)
Ben Smith (St. Johnsbury)
Cody Tancreti (Windsor)
Joe Thieret (Essex)
Joshua Waldner (St. Johnsbury)
Grant White (Springfield)
Allen White (Mill River)
Emmanuel Whyte (Mt. Anthony)
Brian Wilcox (Mt. Mansfield)
Mick Wong (Hartford)

New Hampshire Football Report will begin analyzing the Vermont roster on Wednesday.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Two college head coaches with ties to New Hampshire -- Brown's Phil Estes and Murray State's Matt Griffin -- have been mentioned as possible replacements for Don Brown at the University of Massachusetts. Brown resigned his position at UMass on Friday to become the defense coordinator at the University of Maryland.

Estes, who has been Brown's head coach since 1998, played at Laconia High School and at the University of New Hampshire. He was a member of the 1976 UNH team that won the Yankee Conference Championship.

Estes, a 1980 UNH graduate, spent three years as UNH's offensive coordinator (1991-93). He also coached at Concord High School.

Griffin, who played quarterback at UNH, has been the head coach at Murray State since 2005. He helped the Wildcats win the 1991 Yanke Conference Championship and graduated from UNH in 1992. He began his coaching career at Plymouth State, where he served as an assistant coach in 1992 and 1993.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

St. Anselm junior running back Luke St. Marie has been honored by Don Hansen's Football Gazette as a Second Team member of the 2008 All-Super Region One Team.

St. Marie (pictured) finished his junior year with 742 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 141 carries. He was named to the Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team.

St. Marie rushed for a career-high 241 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-42 win at Merrimack and earned the New England Football Writers Association Gold Helmet Award for that performance. He ended the season with a 144-yard, two-touchdown showing in a road win at Pace.

This marks the seventh year Football Gazette has selected NCAA Division II All-Region teams. The national publication has selected NCAA Division II All-America Teams since 1988.

Don Brown, who spent three seasons (1993-1995) as the head coach at Plymouth State, has resigned from his position as the head football coach at the University of Massachusetts to become the defensive coordinator at the University of Maryland.

Plymouth State had a 25-6 record in Brown's three-year tenure as the program's head coach. He also served an an assistant coach at Dartmouth during the 1982 season, and was Dartmouth's defensive coordinator from 1993 to 1995.

UMass competes in the Colonial Athletic Association's North Division, a league that also includes the University of New Hampshire.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Anna Grant, a 16-year-old Stratham resident, will be in Charlotte, N.C., this weekend to compete in the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competition before Saturday's NFC playoff game between Arizona and Carolina.

Grant (pictured), a sophomore at Exeter High School, has reached the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick national finals in each of the past three years. Grant was showered with boos at the RCA Dome -- home of the Indianapolis Colts -- last year, when she was announced as the winner in the ages 14-15 division while she was wearing a New England Patriots jersey.

After that incident, Grant appeared on several national television shows, including ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption." Patriots owner Robert Kraft invited Grant to the AFC championship game between New England and San Diego, and the Colts also invited Grant and her family to the Indianapolis 500.

Grant, who plays varsity soccer at Exeter, is one of 32 contestants who advanced to this year's national finals. Before finishing first in her age group last year, Grant placed third in the ages 12-13 division in 2007.

This year's winners will be announced after the third quarter of Saturday's Arizona/Carolina game, which will be shown on FOX. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m.

Here's how the initial New Hampshire roster for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl will be broken down by division:

> 9 players from Division I
> 8 players from Division II
> 6 players from Division III
> 6 players from Division IV
> 4 players from Division V
> 3 players from Division VI
 
New Hampshire is not allowed to select more than two players from one team during the initial selection process. More than two players from one team may end up on the roster if a player who was originally selected is unable to participate.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Nick Schmalhofer, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound offensive/defensive lineman from Lancaster (Pa.) Catholic High School, is among the players the University of New Hampshire is trying to lure to Durham during the current recruiting period.

According to a story on Rivals.com., Schmalhofer has scholarship offers from Appalachian State, UNH, Stony Brook and Western Carolina. The story says William & Mary and the University of Rhode Island have also shown some interest.

UNH was scheduled to visit Schmalhofer at his home earlier this week.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Tom Williams, a former assistant coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is expected to be named Yale's head coach at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Williams will replace Jack Siedlecki, who retired following the 2008 season. Siedlecki served as Yale's head coach for 12 seasons.

There are four New Hampshire residents on Yale's roster: freshman quarterback Bryan Farris (Derry); senior offensive lineman Bryan Kana (Bedford); freshman defensive lineman Reed Spiller (Portsmouth); and senior fullback Shebby Swett (Bow). Farris played at Pinkerton Academy, Kana played for Bishop Guertin, Spiller played at Portsmouth and Swett played for Bow.

Two other players on the Yale roster played football in New Hampshire: junior place-kicker Tom Mante, who lives in Westford, Mass., and played at BG; and senior defensive lineman Aroqundade Uthman, who lives in Staten Island, N.Y., and played at Phillips Exeter Academy.

College: Fourth and long >> TheDartmouth.com

College: Mullen juggling two jobs >> The Gainesville Sun

College: TSN names Sicko to Second Team >> The Sports Network

The postseason parade of honors continued for the Plymouth State University football team this week when four Panthers were named to the 2008 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Northeast All-Star Team.

Senior running back Jeff Mack (Milford, N.H./Milford) and senior offensive lineman Joe Duval (Dover, N.H./Dover) were PSU's representatives on the offense, and junior defensive lineman Jim Sestito (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) and sophomore defensive back Kevin Whalen (Wallingford, Conn./Sheehan) were recognized on defense. Plymouth State led all schools with four players selected, while Trinity College, Williams College and Tufts University were each represented by three players.

The teams are voted on by the ECAC Division III Northeast head coaches.  The players will be honored on Feb. 24 at the annual Eastern College Football Awards Banquet presented by FieldTurf Tarkett, an event held in the Pegasus Restaurant at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, N.J.

The four Panther All-Stars were also New England Football Conference First Team All-Stars and were all key players in Plymouth State's run to the NEFC championship and berth in the NCAA playoffs.

Mack rushed for a school-record 1,779 yards and 20 touchdowns. He ran for more than 200 yards four times, and ranked in the top 10 in the nation in rushing. He carried the load for the Panthers, who ran the ball nearly 90 percent of the time. Duval anchored the powerful offensive line opening holes for Mack.

The Panthers had the top defense in the NEFC this season, led by Sestito and Whalen. Sestito recorded 41 tackles, including a conference-leading 8.5 sacks, while Whalen had three interceptions and eight pass break-ups to earn his second straight All-NEFC selection.

Plymouth State won nine games in a row this year, including the NEFC championship game, before losing to SUNY Cortland, 31-14, in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, finishing the season with a 10-2 overall record.

The Manchester Wolves will hold open tryouts on Jan 31 and Feb. 21. Pre-registration is $50. It will cost $60 to register on the day of the tryout.

To pre-register, call the Wolves office at (603) 627-9653, or e-mail BJosselyn@Manchesterwolves.com to receive a pre-registration form. Here are the tryout schedules: 

Jan. 31

8:a.m.: Player Registration

9: a.m.: Tryouts Begin

• 40 Yard Dash
• Short-Shuttle
• Broad Jump
• Position Specific Drills

11 a.m.: Kickers Only

Feb. 21

8:a.m.: Player Registration

9: a.m.: Tryouts Begin

• 40 Yard Dash
• Short-Shuttle
• Broad Jump
• Position Specific Drills

11:a.m.: Kickers Only

All players should bring a t-shirt, shorts and shoes (cleats are suggested), along with identification (must be at least 18 by time of tryout). Both tryouts will be held at the The Hampshire Dome in Milford. Training camp will begin on March 7th.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

St. Anselm College quarterback Marc Wilson (pictured) has been named the 2008 ECAC Division II Rookie of the Year, the league announced Monday.

Wilson, the Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Year, was a two-time Northeast-10 Player and Freshman of the Week last season. He set the program's single-game records for rushing attempts (36) and rushing yards (285), as well the single-season rushing record (1,214 yards). Wilson and the Hawks set nearly every team offensive record under first-year head coach Patrick Murphy.

Wilson helped the Hawks to a 2-8 record that included road victories over Merrimack and Pace. Wilson's 285-yard rushing performance came in the 28-14 victory at Pace.

Chris Beranger, a 6-foot, 185-pound running back/defensive back from Winthrop (Mass.) High School, has given a verbal commitment to the University of New Hampshire.

According to a story in Monday's Manchester Union Leader, Beranger (pictured) accepted UNH's scholarship offer on Saturday.

Beranger scored 25 touchdowns during his senior season.

High School: Lynch proving Northeast has talent >> ESPNRise

College: Kelly calling shots at UO sooner than expected? >> The Oregonian

The 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a game that features some of the top high school talent in the nation, will be played Saturday in San Antonio. The opening kickoff is set for noon, and the game can be seen on NBC.

The East roster includes three players from New England: Brennan Williams, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive tackle from Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, Mass.; Joshua Adams, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound wide receiver from Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, Conn.; and Jake Golic, a 6-foot-4, 202-pound tight end from Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford, Conn.

The NFL Draft Scout lists University of Maryland linebacker Dave Philistin as a possible late-round selection in the 2009 draft.

Philistin (pictured), who played at Manchester Central, completed his Maryland career when the Terrapins beat Nevada, 42-35, in Tuesday's Humanitarian Bowl.

University of New Hampshire tight end Scott Sicko was among the players the College Sporting News named to its Fabulous Fifty Division I FCS All-American Team, which was released Thursday.

Sicko (pictured) made 50 receptions for 660 yards and seven touchdowns for the Wildcats last season. He averaged 55.0 receiving yards per game.

Three other UNH players -- wide receive Mike Boyle, linebacker Matt Parent and defensive back Dino Vasso -- were honorable mention selections.