The IUP football team signed
three incoming freshmen this week to bring its total of newcomers for the
2007 season to 13. In all, the Crimson Hawks have added 10 incoming
freshmen and three transfers.
This week, head coach Lou
Tepper inked defensive lineman Aaron Brezovic of Greater Johnstown,
offensive lineman Tyler Hoover of Tyrone and Tom Beasley of Phoenixville,
who played wide receiver, defensive back and quarterback in high school.
Last month Tepper signed
Norman Rox, a running back from Cleveland who was named to the All-Ohio
Division II first team.
Earlier last month, IUP
added quarterback J.J. Townsend (Warren, Ohio/John F. Kennedy High School),
wide receiver Roy-al Edwards (Wallingford/Strath Haven), cornerback Curtis
McGriff (Pittsburgh/Shaler), tight end Nathan Morrow (Homer City/
Homer-Center) and offensive linemen Vince Wassel (McKeesport/McKeesport) and
Jared Walls (Bridgeville/ Chartiers Valley).
In addition, the Crimson
Hawks accepted three transfers from the disbanded Mansfield program in
Earnest “Pooh Bear” McNeal (running back), Josh Miller (linebacker) and
Jermaine Smith (defensive end).
Brezovic, a 6-2, 220-pound
defensive end, had 29.5 sacks his final two seasons at Greater Johnstown
while being named a National Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year honoree.
Brezovic tallied 104 tackles and 12.5 sacks as a senior, one year after
recording 17 sacks as a junior.
Beasley, a 6-1, 185-pounder,
played quarterback as a senior at Phoenixville, where he completed 36 of 70
passes for 720 yards and four touchdowns. He boasted a .514 completion
percentage and was second on the team with 495 rushing yards on 112 carries.
As a receiver, Beasley’s
eight receptions went for 125 yards for an average of 15.6 yards per catch.
As a cornerback, Beasley was recognized as a defensive player to watch by
Eastern PA Football after making 20 tackles and one interception a year ago.
Hoover, a 6-3, 300-pound
offensive lineman, has the size to be effective. As a two-way lineman at
Tyrone, he twice garnered first team all-state honors as a defensive lineman
but will be used on the offensive front at IUP. Hoover registered 8.5
sacks last year in leading Tyrone to the District 6 championship game.
Rox gained 2,506 yards as a
two-year starting running back at East Cleveland’s Shaw High School. At
5-11, 200 pounds, he rushed for 1,276 yards and scored 17 touchdowns a year
ago.
Rox, who boasts a 40-yard
dash time of 4.4 seconds, averaged 141.5 yards per game as a senior a year
after gaining 1,230 yards on the ground.
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