Player News - Tranzilli Receives National Recognition

Junior offensive lineman Frank Tranzilli has been named to the 2018 College Football America Division II Starting Lineup. Last season, Tranzilli was named first team All-PSAC East, first team All-ECAC, and first team All-Super Region 1 by the Don Hansen Football Gazette.

Frank Tranzilli earned all-conference honors in 2017 (Photo Ron Hockman)

After finishing 9-4 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA playoffs, the Golden Rams are ranked 29th in the College Football America 2018 Yearbook. Other Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams that appear in the poll are #2 Indiana, #20 Shippensburg, and #30 California.

West Chester opens the 2018 season at Bentley on August 30.

West Chester Athletic Site - Frank Tranzilli Named To College Football America 2018 Starting Lineup

Team News - Nineteen Golden Rams Named PSAC Scholar-Athletes

Nineteen members of the Golden Ram football team have been named PSAC Scholar-Athletes for the 2017-2018 academic year. In order to qualify for the honor, athletes must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or better. There were 3,062 athletes from all 18 PSAC institutions of which 266 represented West Chester University.

Representing the football team are:

• sophomore tight end Mike Alley*
• sophomore tight end Cody Boozel*
• junior linebacker Quinten Cheyney*
• senior offensive lineman Tyler Drob*
• senior defensive end John Dubyk*
• junior linebacker Kevin Duggan*
• sophomore offensive lineman Patrick Ferry
• sophomore tight end Tyler Higgins*
• sophomore linebacker Zack Hockman*
• freshman defensive back Tyrone Hodges
• senior offensive lineman Alex Host*
• senior wide receiver Tyler Karpinski*
• sophomore offensive lineman Shane Kraynik*
• sophomore offensive lineman Brian Ross*
• senior defensive end Ch'aim Smith
• sophomore offensive lineman Frank Tranzilli*
• senior offensive lineman Connor Walsh*
• freshman defensive back Cole Zapf

* Student-athletes who were also recognized as a PSAC Scholar-Athlete for the 2016-2017 academic year.

PSAC Site - PSAC Sets New Scholar-Athlete Record with 3,062

West Chester Athletic Site - WCU Paces All PASSHE Institutions With 266 PSAC Scholar-Athletes

Team News - 2018 Roster Changes

Let's take a look at some of the changes from last season to the 2018 roster.

• Almost every player in the 2018 unofficial recruiting class appears on the roster, including transfers Tyrone Barge (DT, Rhode Island), Dom Carey (OL, Marist), and Fulani Freeman (LB, Valley Forge Military Academy). Two players that were part of the recruiting class that do not appear on the roster are Montize Young (CB, Stevens) and Tyreer Mills (ATH, Middletown, PA) who appears to be headed to Jersey Coast Academy.
  

There are four additional incoming transfers:

• Ethan Price (WR, Bloomsburg) - In his two seasons with the Huskies, Price made 36 catches for 629 yards and two touchdowns, including three catches for 86 yards in Bloomsburg's 20-19 win against the Golden Rams last year. Considered a big play threat, Price was an All-State receiver in his senior year at Southern Lehigh High School when he made 56 catches for 1,281 yards and 16 touchdowns.
  
• Alex Coren (OL, Villanova) - Coren, whose grandfather played for the Golden Rams, saw limited time in his three years with the Wildcats, but earned CAA Football All-Academic Team honors along the way.
  
• Wes Verbit (WR, West Virginia) - Verbit only spent one year at West Virginia and didn't appear on the Mountaineer's roster. As a senior at Central Bucks East High School, he was named honorable mention Class 6A All-EasternPAFootball.com, third team All-Southeastern PA, and first team All-Suburban One Continental.
  
• Tony Ellis (WR, Shippensburg) - PSAC fans may have seen Ellis play for the Raiders, but not on the football field. George Anthony Ellis starred for Shippensburg's basketball team. In 102 games over four seasons, the inside presence amassed 581 points, 514 rebounds, 52 blocks and 54 steals. It will be interesting to see how his 6'6" frame fits into West Chester's passing game.
  

Two other freshman are listed:

• William Voss - Offensive lineman from Downingtown East.
  
• Jacob Colby - Offensive lineman from Bishop Shanahan.
  

Making room for all of the additions were several players with eligibility left that are not listed on the 2018 roster. Some notables:

• Jordan Banks - The wide receiver had 14 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns in 2017. Over his three seasons with the Golden Rams, he tallied 54 catches for 750 yards and ten scores as he made ten starts in 2016.
  
• Zack Hockman - The linebacker elected to stop playing football after playing for the Golden Rams in 2015 as a true freshman and again in 2017. He registered 43 total tackles, including 5.0 tackles for loss.
  
• Simon Williams -The tight end played in all 13 games last season, making one catch for a 21-yard touchdown against Bentley.
  
• Shane Kraynik - The big offensive lineman played two games in 2016, but suffered an injury prior to the 2017 season.
  
• Tyler Higgins - The tight end appeared in ten games over two seasons for the Golden Rams.
  
• Deionte Wilson - The safety played in all 13 games last season, registering 26 total tackles, including forcing and recovering a fumble at Cheyney. He is now with PSAC East rival Shippensburg.
  
• Other players not returning include running back Nafeese Nasir, defensive back Nyseer Jones, defensive back Devin Darden, defensive back Ed Scannapieco, offensive lineman Austin Reusing, offensive lineman Dashon Thomas, wide receiver Mack Focht, tight end Adam Schreck, tight end Connor McGrath, and defensive tackle Amara Kenneth.
  

Defensive tackle Shaq Ryder is back. Again. Ryder started all 13 games in 2014, finishing fifth on the team in tackles with 54, including four sacks. Ryder was named PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week for his ten tackle performance at Kutztown. He then didn't appear on the roster in 2015. And although he appeared on the 2016 roster, he did not participate in a game. He was then absent from the 2017 roster.

There are at least a dozen number changes, so make sure you buy a program at the game!

Player News - Morrissey Receives Another All-American Nod

Senior linebacker Tyler Morrissey has been named second team NCAA Division II Preseason All-American by national publication Lindy's Sports. Last month, Morrisey was named to Street and Smith's Division II Preseason All-American Team.

Last season, Morrissey was named first team All-PSAC East, first team All-ECAC, first team CCA All-Super Region 1, second team CCA All-American, second team AP All-American and honorable mention All-American by the Don Hansen Football Gazette. He was also named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year, ECAC Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award. He finished the season with 137 tackles which was the most in the nation, including 14.0 tackles for loss (sixth in the PSAC), five quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles (both in the playoffs).

Tyler Morrissey was involved in 137 tackles last season (Photo Ron Hockman)

After finishing 9-4 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA playoffs, the Golden Rams are not ranked in Lindys' Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams that appear in the poll are #2 Indiana, #14 California, and #18 Edinboro.

West Chester opens the 2018 season at Bentley on August 30.

Event News - DFRC Blue-Gold All★Star Football Game

A future Golden Ram will be participating in the 63rd Annual DFRC Blue-Gold All★Star Football Game to be held at 7:00 pm on June 23 at University of Delaware Stadium. Defensive back Julian Trammell of Caesar Rodney High School is slated to play for the Gold squad in the contest. Proceeds from the event benefit Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities.

WDEL - 2018 DFRC Blue-Gold Football Rosters Announced

Event News - Annual McDonald's Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic

A future Golden Ram will be participating in the 48th Annual McDonald's Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic to be held at 7:30 pm on June 14 in Nazareth's Andrew Leh Stadium. Tight end Zach Liggitt of Northampton High School will suit up for the Gold squad.

Current Golden Rams who have played in this game include defensive end David Simmons and offensive lineman Patrick Ferry. Former West Chester running back Eddie Elliott participated in this game in 2012.

Proceeds from the event benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Team News - Shepherd to Join PSAC

Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV is reportedly joining the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference as a full member effective in the 2019-2020 season. As of now, the only official announcement has come from the Mountain East Conference which has only stated that Shepherd is leaving the Mountain East. This move will restore the PSAC to 18 schools after Cheyney University, which initially ended their football program in December, announced the end of all athletic programs in March.

Shepherd has been in the Mountain East since the conference formed in 2013. Prior to that, they were members of the now defunct West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. From a football perspective, the Shepherd Rams are the only Super Region I team since 2004, when regionalization was instituted in the NCAA Division II playoffs, that has played more playoff games (21) and has more playoff wins (12) than West Chester. Shepherd won the region in 2010, 2015 and 2016 and played in the national championship game in Kansas City in 2015. In their only meeting in 2013, the Golden Rams defeated the Rams in Shepherdstown by a score of 28-7 to win the region championship. Shepherd's long-time head football coach Monte Cater (245-93-1) retired earlier this year after 31 years at the helm. He was replaced by Ernie McCook who was an assistant on Cater's staff for the past 18 years.

Charleston Gazette-Mail - Shepherd to leave Mountain East Conference for PSAC

Mountain East Conference - MEC Statement Regarding Shepherd University

Event News - Hero Bowl

A few future Golden Rams will be participating in the 42nd Annual Delaware County Hero Bowl football game to be held at 7:30 pm on May 31 at Cardinal O'Hara High School. Expected to participate in the contest are running back Danny Guy of Garnet Valley, running back Ja'Den McKenzie of Springfield, and receiver Carrington Hooks of Haverford. All with suit up for Team Red.

Several former Golden Rams have participated in this contest including linebacker Tyler Morrissey (2012), offensive lineman Connor Walsh (2014), defensive back Jaishan Thornton (2014), offensive lineman Brian Ross (2015), offensive lineman John DiPasquale (2015), and kicker George Lambritsios (2016). The Hero Bowl serves as Delaware County's senior all-star game with all proceeds going to benefit the Hero Scholarship Fund of Delaware County to provide scholarships to the children of police officers, fire fighters and EMS workers who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Delco Daily Times - Bowens ready to bring it for Hero Bowl

UPDATE - Delaware County Daily Times - Offense is for kicks as Red Team all-stars squeeze by Blue Team at Hero Bowl

Alumni News - Mike Horrocks to Capital Area Sports Hall of Fame

Former Golden Ram quarterback Micahel Horrocks '85 will be inducted into the Capital Area Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. The Chapter’s annual 52nd Hall of Fame induction banquet will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at the Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg East, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg.

Horrocks starred at Hershey High before playing for the Golden Rams. He finished his West Chester career 226 of 458 passes for 3,236 yards and 27 touchdowns and led West Chester to a 35-27 win at Delaware in 1983. A member of the West Chester University Killinger Foundation Football Hall of Fame, Horrocks was the co-pilot of United Airlines Flight 175 that terrorists flew into the World Trade Center’s South Tower on September 11, 2001.

Capital Area Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame - 2018 Induction Banquet

September 11th Families Association - Michael Horrocks’ Induction into the Capital Area Chapter Sports Hall of Fame

Player News - Morrissey, Paulison Preseason All-Americans

Senior linebacker Tyler Morrissey and senior punter Brendan Paulison have both been named to the Street and Smith's Division II Preseason All-American Team. The Golden Rams were one of just three teams in the country with two players cited.

Last season, Morrisey was named first team All-PSAC East, first team All-ECAC, first team CCA All-Super Region 1, second team CCA All-American, second team AP All-American and honorable mention All-American by the Don Hansen Football Gazette. He was also named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year, ECAC Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award. He finished the season with 137 tackles which was the most in the nation, including 14.0 tackles for loss (sixth in the PSAC), five quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles (both in the playoffs).

Tyler Morrissey was involved in 137 tackles last season (Photo Ron Hockman)

After the 2017 campaign, Paulison was named first team ALL-PSAC East, first team CCA All-Super Region 1, first team All-ECAC, second team CCA All-American and honorable mention All-American by the Don Hansen Football Gazette. He averaged 44.1 yards per punt (third in the country), booming 17 of his 61 punts for more than 50 yards while dropping 23 of them inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The Golden Rams were second in the nation in net punting, as Paulison limited opponents to only 25 returns for 142 yards on the season.

Brendan Paulison is one of the top punters in the country (Photo Ron Hockman)

After finishing 9-4 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA playoffs, the Golden Rams are not ranked in Street and Smith's Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams that appear in the poll are #2 Indiana and #24 Edinboro. Other teams from Super Region 1 that appear on the list include #12 Shepherd of the Mountain East Conference, #17 Assumption of the Northeast-10, and #21 Findlay of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

West Chester opens the 2018 season at Bentley on August 30.

West Chester Athletic Site - Morrissey and Paulison Named Preseason All-America by Street & Smith Magazine