On National Letter of Intent signing day, Hofstra University Head Football Coach Dave Cohen today announced his 2008 recruiting class which consists of 15 student-athletes.

"I am excited that we kept the some of the best student-athletes on Long Island home and coming to Hofstra," Cohen stated. "We addressed our needs at defensive back where we graduated six lettermen in the secondary. We are happy to have three of those defensive back recruits on campus for the current semester and available for spring practice next month. Freeport (NY) High School graduate and Rutgers University-transfer Leslie Jackman comes back home and we add two junior college recruits in Ray McDonough from Glendale Community College in California and Rashad Swanson, from City College of San Francisco, who is the fourth-ranked safety in the country, to fill our losses.

Cohen also filled some future needs as well. "We brought in our future quarterbacks in Long Island products, Joe Sidaras, a two-time All-New York State selection from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, and Steve Probst, an All-Long Island selection from Farmingdale High School. They are, without a doubt, the two best quarterbacks on the Island."

The Pride, who graduated 24 lettermen from the 2007 team, including All-American kicker Rob Zarrilli, addressed that key special teams need as well. "We are happy to be able to sign All-New Jersey selection from Don Bosco Prep Brian Hanly, the brother of former punter/kicker Chris Hanly," Cohen said. "The addition of Brian and the return of Shane Casciano at punter solidifies our kicking positions."

The Pride begin their 15-session spring drills on March 26, culminating with the Blue-Gold Spring Game on Saturday, April 19. The summer preseason training camp begins on August 2 with the Pride kicking off the 2008 season Thursday night, August 28 at the University of Connecticut.

2008 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL RECRUITS

QuincyBarr

Defensive Line

6-4, 230, Freshman

Brandon, FL/Riverview

High School: Played football and basketball at Riverview High School in Riverview, Florida...All-state honorable mention...All-county selection after posting 26 solo tackles, 36 assisted stops and five sacks as a senior in 2007...Personal: Born April 3, 1989...Has four sisters...Also recruited by Louisville, Boise State and Kansas...Aspires to a career in the NFL or in business.

Chris Edmond                     

Linebacker

5-11, 210, Freshman

Freeport, NY/Freeport/Nassau CC

Comes to Hofstra after one semester at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York...Did not play at Nassau...High School: Played football, basketball and lacrosse at Freeport (NY) High School...Was awarded the 2006 Thorpe Award as Nassau County's Player of the Year...Named to All-New York State and All-Nassau County teams at Freeport...Recorded 1,103 yards on 112 carries at running back and 109 tackles at middle linebacker for the Red Devils as a senior...Posted 21 tackles in a single game for Freeport...Notched 111 tackles as a junior...Personal: Born December 26, 1988...Has two brothers and one sister...Enjoys music and video games in his free time...Aspires to a career in sports medicine.

Joe Garvey                           

Defensive Line

6-1, 230, Junior

Holden, MA/Wachusett Regional/Golden West J.C.

Junior College: Comes to Hofstra from Golden West Junior College in Huntington Beach, California...Played two years at Golden West and was named to the All-Mission Conference team both seasons...Ranked 10th in the conference in tackles for losses in 2007...High School: Played four years of football and basketball at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, Massachusetts...Played on the Mountaineers' State Super Bowl Championship teams in his junior and senior seasons...Named to Central Massachusetts All-Star squad, and all-league teams as a senior after leading the league with 17 sacks...Set the Wachusett single season sack record...Personal: Born August 31, 1986...Has one brother and one sister...His brother Jim was a member of the USA Junior National Crew Team and was a co-captain of the Brown University Crew Team...Enjoys basketball in his free time...Was recruited by New Hampshire, Temple, San Diego State and Stony Brook.

Ron Green

Wide Receiver

5-9, 160, Freshman

Washington, DC/Ballou

High School: Earned letters in football, track, baseball and basketball at Ballou High School in Washington, DC...Named Team Most Valuable Player...Coaches Award recipient...Rookie of the Year as a freshman...Named Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2006...Caught 28 balls for 594 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior...Outdoor track Most Valuable Player in 2006...Basketball Rookie of the Year in 2006...Personal: Born June 20, 1989...Lists Hofstra alum Marques Colston as one of his favorite athletes...Aspires to play in the NFL and pursue a career in accounting.

Brian Hanly                         

Kicker/Punter

6-1, 175, Freshman

Wyckoff, NJ/Don Bosco Prep

High School: Played four years of football and baseball at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey...Was a two-time all-county and All-New Jersey selection in football...Made 6 of 8 field goal attempts and 67-71 extra points as a junior...Made all 10 field goal attempts and 57 of 60 extra points as a sophomore...Played on the Ironmen's football state championship team in 2006 and baseball county championship team in 2007...National Honor Society member...Personal: Born July 27, 1989...His brother Chris was a punter and kicker for Hofstra from 2005 through 2007...Served as a volunteer for the Wyckoff Triathlon...Aspires to a career in medicine after college.

Johnny Hartsfield              

Defensive Line

6-3, 240, Freshman

St. Petersburg, FL/Boca Ciega

High School: Played four years of football and wrestled for one year at Boca Ciego High School in Gulfport, Florida...Named to all-county and All-Suncoast all-star teams...Posted 65 tackles and 9 sacks as a senior...Recorded 63 tackles and 9 sacks as a junior and 38 tackles and 5 sacks as a sophomore...Named to academic honor roll and Doorways Scholar...Personal: Born August 9, 1990...Has two brothers and two sisters...Enjoys listening to music in his free time...Recruited by Indiana, Ball State and Buffalo State...Aspires to a career as a lawyer.

Leslie Jackman                  

Defensive Backs

5-11, 190, Junior

Freeport, NY/Freeport/Rutgers University

At Rutgers: Comes to Hofstra after three seasons at Rutgers University...Played in seven games for the Scarlet Knights in 2007 and recorded six solo tackles and three assisted stops...Played in the first two games of the 2006 season, against North Carolina and Illinois, before suffering a knee injury against the Illini and missing the remainder of the season...Played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2005...Recorded three solo tackles at Louisville...High School: All-Long Island selection as a junior and senior at Freeport (NY) High School where he led the Red Devils to the 2004 Long Island Championship... Rushed for 907 yards on 111 carries and 6 touchdowns and added 3 receiving touchdowns as a senior...Also tallied 33 tackles, 5 pass deflections and 2 interceptions in 2004...Personal: Born June 9, 1987.

Brock Jackolski

Running Back

5-11, 188, Freshman

Shirley, NY/William Floyd

High School: Earned letters in football, track and wrestling at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, New York...Team posted a 33-0 mark, won three Long Island, Suffolk County and division championships, and was a three-time Rutgers Trophy recipient during his tenure...Won the Hansen Award as Suffolk's Most Outstanding Player...New York State Player of the Year (Class AA)...Named to High School All-America team by PrepNation...Two-time All-New York State, All-Long Island and all-division selection...Rushed for 1,381 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior...Carried the ball 329 times for 3,603 yards and 64 touchdowns during his prep career...Averaged 10.9 yards per carry...Personal: Born September 10, 1990...Has one brother and one sister...Recruited by Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island...Enjoys snowboarding and surfing in his free time...Aspires to a career in education.

Ray McDonough                 

Defensive Back

6-0, 184, Junior

Los Angeles, CA/St. Francis/Glendale CC

Junior College: Played two seasons at Glendale (CA) Community College...Earned all-conference, all-state and All-American honors...Team captain...Selected Defensive Back of the year...High School: Played four years of football and basketball and was a member of the track team for one year at St Francis High School in La Canada, California...Named to All-Mission League first team, all-area team by the Pasadena Star News and the Glendale News-Press...Named to East-West All-Star Game...Voted team Special Teams Player of the Year and Defensive Back of the Year...Recorded 79 tackles on defense and 800 yards and 8 touchdowns on offense as a senior in 2005...Posted 30 tackles , 600 yards and 3 touchdowns as a junior...In basketball, averaged 18 points as a senior, 16 points and 9 rebounds as a junior, 20 points and 7 rebounds as a sophomore, and 24 points and 6 rebounds as a freshman...Personal: Born February 24, 1988...Has one brother and two sisters...Enjoys basketball, movies and music in his free time...Recruited by Washington State...Aspires to a career in dentistry.

Ken Munson                        

Defensive Back                   

5-11, 195, Freshman

Staten Island, NY/Tottenville/Naval Academy Prep School

Comes to Hofstra from the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island...High School: 2007 graduate of Tottenville High School in Staten Island, New York...All-New York City PSAL selection...Team captain...Recorded 65 receptions for 870 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior...Posted over 100 receptions and 20 touchdowns during his Tottenville career...Was recruited by Navy, Duke, Temple and Buffalo coming out of high school....Played in the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge and the New York-New Jersey Governor's Bowl.

Jordy Paulemon

Defensive Line

6-3, 291, Freshman

Brentwood, NY/Brentwood

High School: Lettered in football, track and field, and basketball at Brentwood High School...All-Suffolk County and all-league selection in football...Helped team to a Big 4 championship in 2007...Averaged six tackles per game as a senior...Earned All-New York State honors in track and field...Personal: Born January 1, 1990.

Steve Probst                        

Quarterback

6-4, 200, Freshman

North Massapequa, NY/Farmingdale

High School: Played four years of football and basketball and two years of lacrosse at Farmingdale (NY) High School...Member of the Dalers' Nassau County championship team, Long Island finalists and Rutgers Cup champions...Earned the Doc Snyder Award as a senior as Nassau County's Most Outstanding Quarterback after passing for 860 yards and 8 touchdowns and rushing for 702 yards and 10 touchdowns in 8 games...Named to all-county and All-Long Island teams in 2007...All-county pick as a junior...Personal: Born June 16, 1990...Has two brothers...Enjoys golf and video games in his free time...Recruited by Rutgers, Syracuse, Villanova and Temple...Volunteered for the Big Friend Program for Farmingdale's Youth Council.

Joe Sidaras                          

Quarterback

6-3, 218, Freshman

Mastic Beach, NY/William Floyd

High School: Played four years of football and two years for lacrosse at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, New York...Two-time all-division, All-Suffolk County, All-Long Island and All-New York State selection for the Colonials...Played on three Long Island Championship teams...Completed 74 percent of his passes for 1,304 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 324 yards and 1 touchdown as a senior...Completed 73 percent of his passes for 1,492 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 587 yards and 7 touchdowns as a junior...Personal: Born August 19, 1990...Has one brother and one sister...Enjoys the beach in his free time...Recruited by Rutgers, Boston College, Army and Stony Brook...Volunteered for the Special Olympics...Aspires to a career in education.

Rashad Swanson

Defensive Back

6-0, 198, Junior

Antioc, CA/Dea Valley/City College of San Francisco

Junior College: Was an All-American third team selection and an all-conference pick in 2007 at City College of San Francisco...Was a member of CCSF's junior college national championship team...Rated as one of the top four safeties in the county by Rivals.com...High School: Was a member of the football, basketball and track teams at Dea Valley High School in Antioch, California...Named to all-league second team after recording 127 tackles, 4 forced fumbles and 1 interception as a senior in 2005...Posted 45 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions as a junior...Personal: Born September 27, 1988...Has two brothers...Enjoys video games in his free time...Was recruited by Mississippi.

Chris Thomas

Linebacker

6-1, 200, Freshman

Staten Island, NY/Curtis

High School: Lettered in football and track at Curtis High School on Staten Island...Helped team to 2007 New York City championship...Named to All-New York State Class AA first team...First team All-New York City selection...Named to All-PSAL team...Team captain...Tallied 95 tackles and 15 sacks as a senior...Selected to play in the 2008 Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge.

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