Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh adds eight to 2019 football recruiting class
2/6/2019 5:27:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore has announced the addition of eight student-athletes that will join the Mountain Hawks' football program this summer. This group of eight joins the 12 student-athletes that signed National Letters of Intent during December's early signing period to comprise Lehigh's Class of 2023.
"We went out on the road as quickly as we could, trying to hire staff along the way," Gilmore said. "We hit the road trying to see the most viable prospects that we could. Over the last couple of weeks we've been all over the country trying to get the best possible student-athletes for Lehigh. I think we've done a good job of addressing the needs that we have. Overall, we have a very balanced class that will help us do what we need to do come the fall."
The newest signees include six offensive players, one defensive player and an athlete, who could contribute on either side of the ball. By position, the new signees include one running back, two wide receivers, one tight end, one offensive lineman, and one defensive back.
"There were some positions that needed greater numbers. That's always going to be the case with the offensive and defensive lines," Gilmore explained. "This year, there weren't any positions that needed more than usual. There might have been a little bit more in the secondary for example, as well as the normal numbers that you'd need on the offense and defensive lines. By pure numbers, that's where we had our biggest number of recruits that we had to bring in."
Seven states are represented among the February signees, with two student-athletes hailing from Georgia and one each from Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Of the 20 signees thus far, 12 project on offense, six project on defense, plus one specialist and one athlete. Ten states are represented among the full class, with Georgia leading the way with five and Pennsylvania following with four.
"During a transition like this, you just have to go out and get to the areas where there are viable recruits," Gilmore said. "That's been pretty far and wide overall. We've gone as far California but also Illinois and Florida. Georgia has been good state for us this year so far. Wherever they were available. Obviously at Lehigh there are certain standards academically as well as athletically that we're looking for. Taking those into consideration, we went after the best possible prospects."
After being hired a little less than a month ago, Gilmore and his staff had to head onto the recruiting trail almost immediately, while also making connections with the student-athletes that signed in December.
"I've been trying to reach out to the early signees while also trying to work on securing the student-athletes we've announced today," Gilmore said. "You have to stay on that time table leading into signing day today, but we've been reaching out to the early signees one-by-one to make those initial connections. The coaches on staff that were a part of recruiting them have been keeping in touch as well."
Lehigh is also expected to add several additional student-athletes to the class, later this spring.
The Mountain Hawks are in the midst of their winter workout program and will begin their spring practice segment in mid-March.
The newest additions to the Class of 2023 are listed below.
Jalen Burbage – WR; 6-0/170; Lexington, Ky./Bryan Station
Team MVP as a junior and senior… first team All-City as a senior… honorable mention All-State honoree… played quarterback in high school and passed for more than 4,600 yards and ran for more than 2,500 throughout his career… also played basketball and ran track.
Matt DiPietro – WR; 6-2/180; Somerville, N.J./Immaculata
First team All-Conference… Mid State 38 Player of the Week nominee after game with four receptions, 96 yards and a touchdown plus two sacks… Basilone Bowl NJ All-Star Team… also lettered in lacrosse where he was All-Conference performer… QNJ Star Scholar-Athlete Award.
Nate Hope – RB; 5-9/190; Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek
First team All-Region running back… two-time Offensive MVP… three-time team captain… 13-time Player of the Week honoree… won two Georgia Player of the Week awards… Student-Athlete of the Year award winner… four-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient… also competed in track and field.
Brendon Passarelli – OL; 6-0/300; Hinsdale, Ill/Hinsdale Central
Two-time All-Conference honoree… All-State as a senior… West Suburban Silver Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year… Dean's List student.
Simeon Sabvute – ATH; 5-9/180; Ijamsville, Md./Oakdale
All-League performer in football… Baltimore Touchdown Club All-Star… Academic Honor Roll student… also lettered in basketball and track and field.
Kyle Smith – TE; 6-2/215; Walpole, Mass./The Hotchkiss School
First team All-Baystate League in 2018… team defensive MVP… All-Erickson Conference… All-New England Class A Honorable Mention… also played lacrosse, where he was All-League performer… National Honor Society member.
Brandon Spencer – DB; 5-11/175; Marietta, Ga./Walton
All-League and All-Region honoree… two-time Cam Newton All-Star… honor roll student… also lettered in basketball.
Damon Stewart - OL; 6-3/285; New Britain, Conn./Suffield Academy
Two-time All-State lineman… honored on the offensive line in 2016 and the defensive line in 2017… Outstanding Lineman for the 2018 season… All-Conference and All-League lineman in 2016 and 2017… also participated in rugby and track and field… honor roll student at both Newington High School and at Suffield Academy.
Lehigh Football Class of 2023 (As of Feb. 8)
"We went out on the road as quickly as we could, trying to hire staff along the way," Gilmore said. "We hit the road trying to see the most viable prospects that we could. Over the last couple of weeks we've been all over the country trying to get the best possible student-athletes for Lehigh. I think we've done a good job of addressing the needs that we have. Overall, we have a very balanced class that will help us do what we need to do come the fall."
The newest signees include six offensive players, one defensive player and an athlete, who could contribute on either side of the ball. By position, the new signees include one running back, two wide receivers, one tight end, one offensive lineman, and one defensive back.
"There were some positions that needed greater numbers. That's always going to be the case with the offensive and defensive lines," Gilmore explained. "This year, there weren't any positions that needed more than usual. There might have been a little bit more in the secondary for example, as well as the normal numbers that you'd need on the offense and defensive lines. By pure numbers, that's where we had our biggest number of recruits that we had to bring in."
Seven states are represented among the February signees, with two student-athletes hailing from Georgia and one each from Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Of the 20 signees thus far, 12 project on offense, six project on defense, plus one specialist and one athlete. Ten states are represented among the full class, with Georgia leading the way with five and Pennsylvania following with four.
"During a transition like this, you just have to go out and get to the areas where there are viable recruits," Gilmore said. "That's been pretty far and wide overall. We've gone as far California but also Illinois and Florida. Georgia has been good state for us this year so far. Wherever they were available. Obviously at Lehigh there are certain standards academically as well as athletically that we're looking for. Taking those into consideration, we went after the best possible prospects."
After being hired a little less than a month ago, Gilmore and his staff had to head onto the recruiting trail almost immediately, while also making connections with the student-athletes that signed in December.
"I've been trying to reach out to the early signees while also trying to work on securing the student-athletes we've announced today," Gilmore said. "You have to stay on that time table leading into signing day today, but we've been reaching out to the early signees one-by-one to make those initial connections. The coaches on staff that were a part of recruiting them have been keeping in touch as well."
Lehigh is also expected to add several additional student-athletes to the class, later this spring.
The Mountain Hawks are in the midst of their winter workout program and will begin their spring practice segment in mid-March.
The newest additions to the Class of 2023 are listed below.
Jalen Burbage – WR; 6-0/170; Lexington, Ky./Bryan Station
Team MVP as a junior and senior… first team All-City as a senior… honorable mention All-State honoree… played quarterback in high school and passed for more than 4,600 yards and ran for more than 2,500 throughout his career… also played basketball and ran track.
Matt DiPietro – WR; 6-2/180; Somerville, N.J./Immaculata
First team All-Conference… Mid State 38 Player of the Week nominee after game with four receptions, 96 yards and a touchdown plus two sacks… Basilone Bowl NJ All-Star Team… also lettered in lacrosse where he was All-Conference performer… QNJ Star Scholar-Athlete Award.
Nate Hope – RB; 5-9/190; Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek
First team All-Region running back… two-time Offensive MVP… three-time team captain… 13-time Player of the Week honoree… won two Georgia Player of the Week awards… Student-Athlete of the Year award winner… four-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient… also competed in track and field.
Brendon Passarelli – OL; 6-0/300; Hinsdale, Ill/Hinsdale Central
Two-time All-Conference honoree… All-State as a senior… West Suburban Silver Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year… Dean's List student.
Simeon Sabvute – ATH; 5-9/180; Ijamsville, Md./Oakdale
All-League performer in football… Baltimore Touchdown Club All-Star… Academic Honor Roll student… also lettered in basketball and track and field.
Kyle Smith – TE; 6-2/215; Walpole, Mass./The Hotchkiss School
First team All-Baystate League in 2018… team defensive MVP… All-Erickson Conference… All-New England Class A Honorable Mention… also played lacrosse, where he was All-League performer… National Honor Society member.
Brandon Spencer – DB; 5-11/175; Marietta, Ga./Walton
All-League and All-Region honoree… two-time Cam Newton All-Star… honor roll student… also lettered in basketball.
Damon Stewart - OL; 6-3/285; New Britain, Conn./Suffield Academy
Two-time All-State lineman… honored on the offensive line in 2016 and the defensive line in 2017… Outstanding Lineman for the 2018 season… All-Conference and All-League lineman in 2016 and 2017… also participated in rugby and track and field… honor roll student at both Newington High School and at Suffield Academy.
Lehigh Football Class of 2023 (As of Feb. 8)
| Name | Pos. | Ht./Wt. | Hometown/High School |
| Stephon Bland | OLB | 6-1/200 | Cumming, Ga./West Forsyth |
| Jalen Burbage | WR | 6-0/170 | Lexington, Ky./Bryan Station |
| Jack Bush | WR | 6-0/185 | West Chester, Pa./Episcopal Academy |
| Michael Callahan | DL | 6-3/230 | Plano, Texas/Trinity Christian Academy |
| Dean Colton | DL | 6-3/255 | Atlanta, Ga./Marist |
| Matt DiPietro | WR | 6-2/180 | Somerville, N.J./Immaculata |
| Johnny Foley | WR | 6-2/185 | Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield |
| Zaythan Hill | RB | 5-11/200 | Southern Pines, N.C./Pinecrest |
| Nate Hope | RB | 5-9/190 | Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek |
| Jack Kempsey | OL | 6-5/275 | Gordon, Pa./North Schuylkill |
| TyGee Leach | DB | 6-0/190 | Norristown, Pa./Malvern Prep |
| Jackson Michaels | DL | 6-3/220 | Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta |
| Ian O'Connor | TE | 6-4/215 | Rumson, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven |
| Brendon Passarelli | OL | 6-0/300 | Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central |
| Simeon Sabvute | ATH | 5-9/180 | Frederick, Md./Oakdale |
| Kyle Smith | TE | 6-2/215 | Walpole, Mass./The Hotchkiss School |
| Damon Stewart | OL | 6-3/275 | New Britain, Conn./Suffield Academy |
| Nigel Summerville | QB | 6-1/200 | Charlotte, N.C./Vance |
| Brandon Spencer | DB | 5-11/175 | Marietta, Ga./Walton |
| Dylan Van Dusen | K/P | 6-4/185 | Radnor, Pa./Radnor |
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