Team News - Roster Update

Reading the school's official season preview and updated roster provides some insight into unexpected and previously unannounced changes in player personnel. The most notable departures are cornerback Dante Devine and kicker Will Huff. Devine (38 tackles, 2 TFL, 4 pass breakups) played in nine games last season and started two. His absence exasperates the loss of experience in the secondary for the Golden Rams. Huff was the Golden Rams' kickoff specialist last season and there's a reason for it - he had the best leg on the squad for that purpose. His departure means that punter Rich Bruno will likely handle kickoffs while Bruno and kicker Shawn Leo will back up each other as they are the only two kickers listed on the current roster. Sure professional teams only carry one punter and one kicker on their team. But in the pro ranks, a catastrophic issue with a kicker lasts only one game until they pluck a free agent off the street. College teams have larger rosters since they don't have that same luxury. Maintaining healthy kickers now becomes another concern for West Chester this season.

John McGilligan

There are a host of players here this season that neither appeared on last year's roster nor were they in high school. Among them is R-Fr. John McGilligan who had reportedly committed to Shippensburg but did not appear on any football roster last season. McGilligan was First Team All-Catholic at wide receiver and ranked #59 on the Philadelphia Inquirer's Preseason Top 150 list. He is listed as a defensive back for the Golden Rams.

Kyle Keyser

Also new to West Chester this season is R-Fr. Kyle Keyser, who is the younger brother of wide receiver Tim Keyser. Kyle was First Team All-Central League at wide receiver, First Team All-Delco as an all-purpose player and ranked #149 on the Philadelphia Inquirer's Preseason Top 150 list. After redshirting last season at Holy Cross, he is listed as a defensive back with the Golden Rams.



The other new faces are R-Fr. defensive back Justin Howe (Shippensburg), R-Fr. defensive back Byron Cooper (Massachusetts), R-Fr. defensive back Jeremy Irving (Bloomsburg), So. fullback Mike Hagan (originally committed to Towson), Jr. defensive lineman Jamiel Sims (Wagner), and So. defensive lineman Matt Sanderson (Bloomsburg).