Nevin Cyr (Pelham/Cushing Academy): UMass
Jake Kiley (Plymouth/New Hampton): Penn State
Andrew Lauderdale (Concord/Trinity): UNH
Alexander Morrill (Lebanon/Lebanon): UNH
Raige Hollis (Laconia/Laconia): Stonehill
Emmitt Smith (Derry/Pinkerton): Bentley
Armond McCrae (Nashua/Nashua South): Merrimack
Cam Shorey (Calais, Maine/Phillips Exeter): UNH

Please send any addition/omissions to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com.

Quarterback Christian McCormick, who was a three-sport athlete at Rice Memorial High School in Burlington, Vt., will join the University of New Hampshire football program as a preferred walk-on.

McCormick played for Berkshire Academy in Sheffield, Mass., last season. He took an official visit to UNH last weeked.

"What really stood out is the campus reminded me of being at home, but with football," McCormick said. "I'm excited about UNH. I know it's the right place for me."

McCormick was named Vermont's Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior season, when he threw for 2,619 yards ad 37 touchdows and led Rice to the Division II state championship. He was also Vermont's quarterback in last year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl.

McCormick helped Rice win state championships in basketball in his sophomore and senior seasons.

He also had an opportunity to join UNH as a walk-on last year, but opted for a year of prep school instead.

"Neither me or my dad thought I was ready for college academically," he said. "Holy Cross showed some interest and Wagner did too. There were also some Division III schools interested, but I wanted to try and compete at the highest level I can. [UNH] felt like a winning atmosphere."

"We are very excited to add 13 student-athletes to the UNH football family," McDonnell said. "This class is one of the most athletic we've brought to Durham in a long time, especially in terms of speed and versatility. With the great blend of athleticism and ability this class possesses, we feel we've added depth and filled our needs with players who can play a number of positions."  
 
DeVaughn Chollette (LB/RB) Scranton, Pa./West Scranton
Dalton Crossan (DB/RB) Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North
Casey DeAndrade (DB/RB) East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater
Ryan Farrell (DB/WR) Westwood, Mass./Xaverian Brothers
Hayden Knudson (DB/WR) Alexandria, Va./Hayfield
Andrew Lauderdale (DE/TE) Concord, N.H./Trinity
Tad McNeely (DL/OL) Whitehall, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic
Alexander Morrill (DL/OL) Lebanon, N.H./Lebanon
Jordan Powell (DE/TE) Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township
Adam Riese (QB/DB) Hamilton, N.J./Steinert
Cameron Shorey (DE/TE) Calais, Maine/Phillips Exeter
Kyon Taylor (DB/WR) Springfield, Va./Lee
Stephane Turner (DB/RB) Rowlett, Texas/Loomis Chaffee
 

Two players signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to play football at St. Anselm College.

David Camille, a linebacker from Bunnell High School in Stratford, Conn.; and Jared Anderson, an  offensive lineman from Bridgton Academy in North Bridgton, Maine, will both join the St. Anselm program. Anderson played for East Longmeadow (Mass.) High School before he enrolled at St. Anselm. 

Lebanon High School offensive lineman Alexander Morrill is among those who signed a national letter of intent this morning to continue his football career at the University of New Hampshire.

"Turned it in before school," Morrill said.

Morrill helped Lebanon win the Division IV state championship as a junior. He will represent the West in the inaugural New Hampshire East-West All-Star Game in June.

"I think he made a good decision," Lebanon coach Chris Childs said. "He considered a year of prep school, but I told him he wasn't going to get any taller (Morrill is 6-foot-1). I don't think he was going to attract an offer from a BC or a UConn because of his height. I think I-AA [FCS] is where he belongs."

Pinkerton Academy running back Emmitt Smith will continue his football career at Bentley University.

Smith, who helped the Astros earn the No. 1 seed for last season's Division I playoffs, has accepted a scholarship from Bentley and is expected to sign a national letter of intent on Wednesday, the first day of the signing period.

Bentley is a Division II program that competes in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Smith was a First Team All-State selection last season, and has also been chosen to participate in the inaugural New Hampshire East-West All-Star Game.

Exeter upset Pinkerton 23-13 in last year's Division I championship game. Smith scored both touchdowns in that loss.

Nashua South running back/split end Armond McRae will continue his football career at Merrimack College, according to his father Arnie McRae.

McRae is scheduled to sign a national letter of intent with Merrimack on Wednesday. Merrimack is a Division II school that competes in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Merrimack recruited McRae to play slot back and return kicks.

McRae was a three-year starter for Nashua South, and finished his career with 54 touchdowns, 2,158 rushing yards and 1,624 receiving yards. He was a First Team All-State selection last season, when he had 1,172 rushing yards, 320 receiving yards and 20 TDs (14 rushing).

Those who plan to attend can RSVP to Cory McClure at (603) 677-3405 or cmcclure@newhampton.org.

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New Hampshire football fans will have a fifth college team to root for next fall, when Franklin Pierce begins its inaugural season of play in the Collegiate Sprint Football League.

Sprint football is played by the same rules as 11-man football, but has a 172-pound weight limit. Franklin Pierce, which announced the addition of the sport last September, is the CSFL's seventh member, joining Army, Navy, Princeton, Pennsylvania,Cornell, Mansfield and Post.

"It's college football for lightweight guys," Franklin Pierce coach Peter Ewald said. "It's a quicker, faster game in general, but there really is not much of a difference."

Dartmouth (FCS), Plymouth State (Division III), St. Anselm (Division II) and UNH (FCS) are New Hampshire's other college football programs.

Ewald, who has spent the last two seasons coaching the sprint team at Post, played at Syracuse and has also coached college football at Marist, Bates, Lebanon Valley College and Sacred Heart. He also spent two seasons as the head coach at Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, Conn., before he accepted the Post job.

"That was my first time with [sprint fooball]," Ewald said. "The big thing is I wanted to get back into college football. High school football just wasn't for me.

"When Frankilin Pierce was thinking about adding the sport they called me and wanted to come down and see the facilities and things were done at Post. That led to some conversations and I felt [Franklin Pierce] was a better opportunity for me in many ways. From a living standpoint it was very attractive, and from a professional standpoint they have a track record of success across the board at Franklin Pierce. The backing is here that I wasn't getting at Post."

Franklin Pierce will play its home games at Oakmont Regional High School in Massachusetts. Ewald said building a home field will soon become a top priority for the school.

The Ravens will play a four-game schedule next season. The opponents will be Penn, Mansfield, Post and Princeton.

"They allow you to ease your way into competition," Ewald said.

Ewald is currently spending most of his time on the job recruiting players. He said the New England states plus New York and New Jersey are his target recruiting areas.

"I need to get a team," Ewald said. "I'm hoping that New Hampshire embraces this and that[New Hampshire] players see this as a valuable option."

* * *

Ewald is looking for candidates to fill the Franklin Pierce coaching staff, which will include two graduate assistants and four other paid positions.

"Anybody who is interested I would be interested in talking to," he said.

Anyone interested in a coaching position can contact Ewald at EwaldP@franklinpierce.edu.

DeVaughn Chollette, a 6-foot-1, 223-pound linebacker from West Scranton (Pa.), committed to the University of New Hampshire on Wednesday.

Chollette, a four-year starter, also played running back for West Scranton and rushed for 1,255 yards during his senior season.

Army and several Patriot League schools also showed interest in Chollette.

Cameron Shorey, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound tight end, committed to play for the University of New Hampshire on Monday.

Shorey, who played for Phillips Exeter Academy last fall, took an official visit to UNH last weekend.

"I committed [Monday] morning in Coach Mac's [UNH coach Sean McDonnell's] office," Shorey said. "He asked me what I was thinking and I told him I wanted to be a Wildcat. The staff and players, both current and prospective, were just my kind of people.

"I was looking for a place where I would be comfortable and be able to make an impact and develop my own skills at the same time, and I knew this was it. After my position meeting with [Brian] Barbato I was feeling pretty good about my role as a tight end in their offense."

Shorey, who lives in Calais, Maine, was also considering Maine and Villanova. He was scheduled to visit both schools later this month. Villanova was recruiting him to play defensive end.

Shorey enrolled at Phillips Exeter in 2010 with the intent of pursuing a Division I basketball career, but returned to the football field last fall. 

"[UNH runs] an aggressive offense and like to throw the ball and that's my style," Shorey said. "I'm feeling great about my decision."