RI Football Players Also Making Their Mark

While Rhode Island high school athletes in other sports seem to be getting a lot of ink for signing letters of intent in their sport, football seems to be put on the back burner as people wrongly assume that Rhode Island does not turn out many college football players. Few realize that just a short few years ago there were four Rhode Islanders in the NFL.

No small feat for such a small state. Deion Anderson (Cowboys), Will Blackmon (Packers), Steve Silva (Colts) and Matt Sherry ( Colts) were on NFL rosters. Travis Rowley, was the leading passer in the Arena Football League for the Arizona Rattlers.

It is a numbers game that few people realize. Many high schools in Texas, California, Florida and Georgia have 2000-3000 students while others like Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas and top notch teams like IMG Academy in Florida recruit top players. Therefore, people really interested in football should appreciate what the small state of Rhode Island produces.

Here is a sampling of just those Rhode Islanders, who have made the rosters of D1 FBS and FCS schools.

Kwity Paye is at the University of Michigan. The 6-4, 241lb Freshman has appeared in 8 games and

registered 2 sacks and one tackle for loss. Defensive coach, Don Brown, is high in praise for the Rhode islander out of Bishop Hendricken, and tabs him a up and coming force on future Wolverine teams.

Lee Moses plays Cornerback for the UMass Minutemen. The 6' 200 pound Moses has appeared in all games and started nine, recently having an interception in a game versus SEC tough team Mississippi State. Last year Lee had 44 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 6 pass breakups while being named to the Phil Steele All Independent team. Lee is also out of Bishop Hendricken.

Rodolph Zleh from Mount Pleasant and North Dakota State College of Science, now plays for the New Mexico Highlands under former Bryant coach Marty Fine. The 5-10 196 pound running back has 86 carries for 635 yards and seven TDs with a longest run of 75 yards. He also has 14 catches for 190 yards and 2 Tds with a long of 60, plus nine kick returns for 283 yards (and one TD, that being a 98 yarder).

Joseph Putu, also from Mount Pleasant and NDSCS, plays at FBS University of Florida, where he suits up for the Gators and has appeared in every game as a nickel back and special teams performer.

At URI Marvin Beauvais, from Cranston East has been a standout at wide receiver for the Rams, who are trying to get their program turned around. The Junior wide receiver is 7th in the CAA in receiving and has caught at least 5 passes in 8 of 12 games. He has 46 catches for 732 yards and 5 TDs.

URI teammate Momodou Mbye from Shea HS played in all games this year with 7 starts. He had three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and four pass breakups. As a Red shirt freshman, he had 54

tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, seven PBU's, one interception and one fumble recovery.

Recent graduate Anthony Ferrer from Cranston West played a prominent role for the Rams for two years.

At Brown, Brett Estes, from East Greenwich, son of Coach Phil Estes, has averaged 37 yards per punt.

Another punter from East Greenwich, Nolan Cooney is a walk-on for the Syracuse Orangemen. Though yet to appear in a game, he has already earned All ACC honor roll recognition and also the Syracuse AD's Honor Roll Award for the Saltine Warriors.

Jake Flaherty from South Kingstown was a standout LB at 'Cuse.

Another Rhode Islander tearing up the college grid scene is Portsmouth's Matt Sewall. He follows in the footsteps of his brother, Bobby, a star at Brown, and Isaac McCray from Middletown, who was a rushing sensation for the Black & Gold Bulldogs. He appeared in 9 games as a freshman. His sophomore year he played in all ten games with 15 catches for 195 yards and 2 TDs. As a junior, Sewall really broke out playing in 11 games with 5 starts and earning All Northeast Conference recognition as a kick returner. He also had 39 receptions for 522 yards and 7 TDs, carried 8 times for 48 yards and one TD and had 17 kick returns for 491 yards and one touchdown. He led Bryant with 9 Tds and 100 all purpose yards a game while becoming a

rare performer to register over 1000 all purpose yards in a season.

Komatay Koffie, who is a half brother to Kwity Paye, played at NDSCS and was awarded a scholarship to New Mexico State University, where he is a defensive back.

Sean Coyne, another Portsmouth High standout is a freshman kicker and receiver at perennial FCS powerhouse, New Hampshire University. The Wildcats are once again in the FCS playoffs and won their first round game against Central Connecticut by a 14-0 score.

Tre Jones from St. Raphael Accademy is a regular performer for Central Connecticut. The 6-3 230 pound Rhode Islander has 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery this year as a true freshman.

Dan Karlin from Classical is a backup QB at bowl bound Duke University.

Jarrett Collins from Middletown and Bridgton Academy, is a QB on the roster of the Sacred Heart University Pioneers.

Donovan Carcieri-Cassidy, grandson of former EGHS and Brown standout, and former Governor

of Rhode Island, Don Carcieri, is a kicker for the Naval Academy Prep School, which he is attending in preparation for admittance to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Other former Rhode Island schoolboys are waiting in the wings itching for a chance to show what they can do on the D-1 college gridiron. They include :

URI - Prince Asiedu, Tolman; Malik Gavin, Cranston East; Hayden Prior,Chariho; Anthony Garro,

Westerly, who has appeared in all games as a holder; Michael A'Vent, LaSalle ; Mazen Tamen,

Cranston West, a transfer from UMass-Dartmouth, where he appeared in 7 games; Stephen Young, Mt. Pleasant; Assan Touray, Woonsocket; Jarrell De Los Santos, Classical; J.J. Manville, Shea; Andre Bibeault, Cumberland; and Seth Burdett from Warwick.

Bryant has a host of local high school products: Alfred Dorber, St.Ray's, who has appeared in 7 games with 101 rushing yards and 1 TD; Isaac McCray from Portsmouth Abbey 5 games, 287 yards rushing and 3 TDs; Joe Fine, Cumberland who has been a regular for three years at TE; James Piccirelli, Warren &LSA; Mekhi Henderson, Woonsocket and Xavierian Brothers; Cameron Morenzi, Bristol & LSA; Andrew Hopgood, Warwick and BH; Chris Hindle from Cranston & BH; Joel Diaz, North Providence & Wilbraham Monson; Gbatoh Browne, Classical, has appeared in 7 games; Andrew Wallace, Cranston & LSA; Michael Garvey, Middletown & Cushing Academy.

Recently, Paul Piccirelli from LaSalle punted for Tulane, while another LSA grad Anthony

Morookian, started for four years at Toledo University.

There are also many Rhode Islanders on the rosters of Division Two and Three colleges throughout New England.