Colgate Fills Needs at Receiver, O-Line, Linebacker, Defensive Back
Colgate’s initial foray into college football’s early signing period produced 16 future Raiders and a happy head coach.
Dan Hunt gave a thumbs-up to the new format of signing student-athletes during a three-day window that runs through Friday. This period complements the traditional National Signing Day that this year takes place Feb. 7, and Hunt believes the early date allows teams to get acclimated earlier with their incoming team members.
“I like it; it’s fun,” Hunt said. “Obviously, we always have a good time with signing day (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was this year’s theme on @CoachDanHunt) and it’s nice to get this part of it wrapped up.
“It allows us to contact these kids a little bit more and go ahead and get a head start on next year.”
Colgate signed its 16 newcomers from nine states and across seven positions. Wide receiver, offensive line, linebacker and defensive back drew three signees apiece, with running back adding two and single signees for the defensive line and tight end.
Pennsylvania is home to five future Raiders, followed by two each from Connecticut, Illinois and New Jersey. Single-state representatives are from Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan and New York.
Coaches Know What Fits at Colgate
“Credit to our assistant coaches because they know what is successful at Colgate,” Hunt said. “They know the type of players who work in our offense and our defense. Sometimes, those are kids who a lot of schools want. But sometimes we may be the only school recruiting them, and that’s OK with us. We know what we need, we know what fits our style and we know what can be successful here.
“Our assistant coaches work together finding talent and evaluating talent, and we’ve been able to get kids who we can plug in and be successful early.”
Hunt has the proof to back up that statement. Not only have the Raiders captured Patriot League championship banners in two of the last three seasons, but Colgate has been the home of the two most recent conference Rookies of the Year in Abu Daramy-Swaray and Grant Breneman.
“That’s a lot of pressure on these guys, which I like,” Hunt said of a potential three-peat. “I’m not promising that this year but maybe there’s a third in there. We will see.”
A Colgate staple for many years that has continued under Hunt is class football performance from class individuals. The head coach of the Raiders says more of the same is heading this way.
“I just love the quality of the people in this class,” he said. “I’ve met all of their families and they’re going to fit in great. I’m excited we could do it in December and have some early Christmas presents.”
Colgate Class of 2022 Early Signees
- Sean Amill, WR, 6-0, 190, Greenwich, Conn.
- Mike Bevino, TE, 6-3, 240, Milford, Conn.
- Milton Braasch, LB, 6-0, 220, Prairie Village, Kan.
- Coleman Coco, DL, 6-4, 245, Pittsburg, Pa.
- John Cox, RB, 5-7, 200, Moore Haven, Fla.
- J.C. Gaughan, LB, 6-0, 195, Moscow, Pa.
- Michael Griggs, OL, 6-4, 285, Wall, N.J.
- Will Gruber, DB, 5-10, 175, Hermitage, Pa.
- Collin Heard, DB, 5-10, 175, West Bloomfield, Mich.
- J.T. Hower, DB, 5-10, 170, Kennett Square, Pa.
- Garrett Oakey, WR, 5-11, 175, Hinsdale, Ill.
- Jaret Petrichick, LB, 6-2, 210, Pittsford, N.Y.
- Shiva Puttagunta, OL, 6-2, 260, College Park, Ga.
- Jayvion Queen, OL, 6-5, 280, Altoona, Pa.
- Jack Scislowski, RB, 5-6, 160, Barrington, Ill.
- Josh Szott, WR, 6-3, 190, Princeton, N.J.