William and Mary Announces Football Class of 2010

02/03/10 12:30PM

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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Coming off one of the most successful seasons in school history, William and Mary Head Football Coach Jimmye Laycock announced the College’s signing of 13 prep players to National Letters of Intent this afternoon. Also included in the Tribe’s incoming class is UNC transfer, quarterback Mike Paulus.

“We came into this off-season looking to improve in some specific areas, especially along the offensive and defensive fronts,” stated Laycock. “I think the staff did a tremendous job of addressing those needs, both on the front and in other areas. As we move forward, I anticipate this class will have the opportunity to contribute greatly to our future success.”

The incoming freshman class is comprised of players from five states along the east coast from North Carolina to New Jersey. In addition to five signees from Virginia, the class also includes players from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina. The group consists of three defensive linemen, three offensive linemen, one quarterback, one linebacker, one kicker/punter and three wide receivers/defensive backs.

Additionally, the College previously announced the transfer of former high school All-America quarterback, Mike Paulus from the University of North Carolina. Paulus, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., came out of Christian Brothers Academy as one of the more heralded scholastic quarterbacks in the nation, and was ranked the No. 1 player in New York by SuperPrep and was the state's Gatorade Player of the Year. He is already enrolled at classes at William and Mary and will participate in spring practice. Paulus will have two seasons of eligibility for the Tribe.

After posting one of the best seasons in the program’s history in 2009, W&M will look to build upon that success during the upcoming campaign. The College will return 13 letter winners (seven offense/six defense) from last season’s team that equaled a school record with 11 wins, advanced to the NCAA Semifinals for the second time in the last six years and ranked as high as third in the final national polls.

W&M will open its season against a Colonial Athletic Association opponent for the second time in the last four years when it plays at Massachusetts on Sept. 4.


2010 Tribe Football Signees

George Beerhalter, DL, 6-3, 250, Pittsburgh, Pa., Montour H.S., Video Highlights

Alex Berry, OL, 6-4, 275, Roanoke, Va., Cave Spring H.S., Video Highlights

John Carpenter, K/P, 6-1, 190, Cumberland, Md., Allegany H.S., Video Highlights

Jake Franklin, OL, 6-4, 263, New Bern, N.C., New Bern H.S., Video Highlights

Alex Goodman, LB, 6-0, 215, Fredericksburg, Va., Brooke Point H.S., Video Highlights

Baron Goodman, OL, 6-3, 284, Smithfield, Va., Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Video Highlights

Jordan King, WR/DB, 5-10, 185, Stafford, Va., Mountain View H.S., Video Highlights

Darnell Laws, RB, 5-11, 211, Sicklerville, N.J., St. Augustine Prep, Video Highlights

Jesse McNeal III, WR/DB, 5-11, 170, Spotsylvania, Riverbend H.S., Video Highlights

Raphael Ortiz, QB, 6-2, 214, Rahway, N.J., St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City), Video Highlights

* Mike Paulus, QB, 6-4, 215, Syracuse, N.Y., Christian Brothers Academy (North Carolina), Video Highlights (Courtesy of Rivals.com)

Mike Reilly, DL, 6-4, 240, Old Tappan, N.J., Northern Valley Regional H.S., Video Highlights

Stephen Sinnott, DL, 6-3, 222, Lansdale, Pa., La Salle H.S., Video Highlights

Ivan Tagoe, DB/WR, 6-0, 203, Burtonsville, Md., Paint Branch H.S., Video Highlights

*Indicates transfer with two years of eligibility remaining.


George Beerhalter
Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour H.S.
Defensive Line
6-3/250
Head Coach: Lou Cerro
Video Highlights
Prep: Three-year letterwinner for head coach Lou Cerro at Montour High School … Earned second-team all-state honors as a senior after garnering third-team distinction as a junior … Will participate in the Pennsylvania Senior East vs. West Game … Reserve for the Big 33 Pennsylvania vs. Ohio Game … Participant at the 2009 Army National Combine in San Antonio … Selected to the all-conference team as both an offensive and defensive lineman following his junior and senior seasons … Served as a team captain in ’09 … Member of the Honor Roll … Volunteered with the Interact Club … Personal: Son of George and Connie Beerhalter … Born on March 11, 1992.

Alex Berry
Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring H.S.
Offensive Line
6-4/275
Head Coach: Tim Fulton
Video Highlights
Prep: Three-year letterman at Cave Spring for head coach Tim Fulton ... Named to River Ridge All-District First Team (offense) and River Ridge All-District Second Team (defense) ... Earned River Ridge Offensive Lineman of the Year Award ... Named to Region IV First Team (offense) and AA All-State Second Team (offense) by both the coaches and the AP ... Helped lead Cave Spring to its first regional title in school history ... Also captain of the Academic Challenge Team at Cave Spring … Personal: Son of Jean Smith and Michael Berry ... Born on Aug. 31, 1991.

John Carpenter
Cumberland, Md./Allegany H.S.
Kicker/Punter
6-1/190
Head Coach: Tom Preaskorn
Video Highlights
Prep: Three-year letterwinner for head coach Tom Preaskorn at Allegany H.S. … Associated Press Consensus All-State First Team selection as a kicker in ’09 … Also earned first-team all-state honors from Rivals.com … Chosen first-team all-area as a kicker and a punter as a senior … Selected to play in the Maryland Crab Bowl and captained the Washington, D.C. team … Connected on all eight of his field goal attempts with a long of 43 yards as a senior … Also recorded 50 touchbacks, converted 60-of-64 extra-point attempts and averaged 40.3 yards per punt with a long of 57 … Chosen first-team all-state (small schools) and first-team all-area as a junior … Was 6-of-9 on field goal attempts with a long of 48 yards, while converting 42-of-43 extra point attempts … Registered 26 touchbacks … Played varsity baseball for three years as a first baseman and a pitcher … Served as a Cumberland Rotary Club Student Representative as a senior … Volunteered with Net-Aid (a service organization) as both a junior and a senior … Personal: Son of Robert and Judith Carpenter, both of whom graduated from W&M in 1983 … Born on Dec. 15, 1991.

Jake Franklin
New Bern, N.C./New Bern H.S.
Offensive Line
6-4/263
Head Coach: Bobby Curlings
Video Highlights
Prep: Three-year starter for head coach Bobby Curlings at New Bern H.S. … Earned second-team all-area honors … Helped team win the 2007 4AAAA State Championship … Chosen as the Player of the Week versus West Craven … Also lettered with the baseball and track teams … Personal: Son of Bill and Renee Franklin … Born on May 1, 1992.

Alex Goodman
Fredericksburg, Va./Brooke Point H.S.
Linebacker
6-0/215
Head Coach: Jeff Berry
Video Highlights
Prep: Three-year letterwinner for head coach Jeff Berry at Brooke Point High School … Selected to the VHSCA All-State Team as a senior … Honored as the 2009 District Co-Defensive Player of the Year … Also garnered all-region, all-district and all-area accolades as a linebacker … Helped lead team to a pair of district championships … Also eared a pair of letters in basketball and lacrosse … Personal: Son of Alex Goodman and Cynthia Howard … Born on May 17, 1992.

Baron Goodman
Smithfield, Va./Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
Offensive Line
6-3/284
Head Coach: Kevin Allen
Video Highlights
Prep: Four-year starter for head coaches Kevin Allen and Monroe Wells at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy … Two-time team captain … Earned the Kevin Blanchard Leadership Award in ’09 … Earned first-team all-state (VISAA) honors as offensive lineman in ’08 after earning second-team distinction as a sophomore … Garnered second-team all-state honors as a defensive lineman in ’09 … Selected first-team all-conference (TCIS) as both a offensive and defensive lineman as a sophomore and a junior … Also named to the All-Suffolk News Herald First Team on both sides of the ball as a sophomore and a junior … Chosen as the team MVP in ’08 after recording 99 total tackles, five sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries … Earned the National Underclassman Combine Lineman Award … Started all 10 games as a freshman … Helped team win TCIS conference title as a sophomore and a senior, while the 2009 team claimed the VISAA DII State Championship … Four-year letterwinner in track as a shot-putter … Served as Vice President of Student Council and was president of Interact Club … Personal: Son of Rick and Joelyn Goodman … Born on Dec. 31, 1992.

Jordan King
Stafford, Va./Mountain View H.S.
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
5-10/185
Head Coach: Eric Cooke
Video Highlights
Prep: Earned honorable mention all-district and all-region honors as a quarterback in ’09 … Served as team captain as a senior and was chosen as the team’s MVP after accounting for more than 60 percent of the squad’s offensive production … Passed for 1,510 yards with 11 touchdowns while rushing for 585 yards and three touchdowns as a senior … Honored as the Freelance Star Offensive Player of the Week three times as a senior … Despite missing most of his sophomore and junior seasons due to injury, he finished his career throwing for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 1,678 on 228 carries (7.4 ypc) with 12 touchdowns … Personal: Son of Earnest and Kristin King … Born on Aug. 5, 1991.

Darnell Laws
Sicklerville, N.J./St. Augustine Prep
Running Back
5-11/211
Head Coach: Dennis Scuderi
Video Highlights
Prep: Earned second-team all-conference honors in ’09 after rushing for 731 yards on 114 carries (6.4 ypc) with six touchdowns … Also hauled in six catches for 105 yards with a touchdown … Rushed for 519 yards on just 59 carries with nine touchdowns as a junior … Two-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com … Personal: Son of Darnell Laws Sr. … Born on Dec. 19, 1991.

Jesse McNeal III
Spotsylvania/Riverbend H.S.
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
5-11/170
Head Coach: Todd Campbell
Video Highlights
Prep: Selected to the Commonwealth All-District Team as a senior … Also chosen to the Free-Lance Star All-Area Team in ’09 … Finished season with 47 tackles, three interceptions, four passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Also recorded 673 rushing yards on 109 carries (6.2 ypc) and four touchdowns … Personal: Son of Jesse, Jr., and Janice McNeal … Born on June 21, 1992.

Raphael Ortiz
Rahway, N.J./St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City)
Quarterback
6-2/214
Head Coach: Rich Hansen
Video Highlights
Prep: Served as a team captain during his senior year … Threw for 1,610 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior … Three-time participant in NJSIAA Non-Public, Group IV Title games … Earned The Star Ledger first-team All-State honors … All-Non-Public Group IV First Team Offense … First-team All-Hudson … Hudson County Player of the Year … HCV All-County Team … NJTCC Division IV All Conference First Team on offense … Named to the 2009 Super 100 All-State Football Team … MSG High School Game of the Week MVP (9/26/2009) … Bigtime Positional Finalist at the 2009 Chuck Mound Bigtime High School Football Awards … Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week (11/29/09) … Invited to play in the New Jersey vs. New England Senior Bowl … Finished his SPP Varsity Football Career with an impressive No. 3 Final State Ranking for 2009 … Four-year varsity basketball player under Coach Mike Kelly … Back-to-back county champions … Earned Academic First Honors for all four years … Personal: Son of Rafael and Allison Ortiz … Older brother of five sisters … Born on Feb. 11, 1992.

Mike Paulus
Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (University of North Carolina)
Quarterback
6-5, 215
Head Coach: Joe Casamente
Video Highlights (Courtesy of Rivals.com)
At UNC: Played in four games and was 4-for-13 for 33 yards with two interceptions … Saw action on the final series in the win over No. 23 Boston College … Made first career start at Miami and was 1-for-4 for 10 yards … Entered the Virginia Tech game for an injured T.J. Yates and was 3-for-8 for 23 yards and two picks … Saw first career action in the fourth quarter at Rutgers and was 0-for-1 passing … Redshirted in 2007 … High School: SuperPrep All-America … Ranked the No. 1 player in New York by SuperPrep … Ranked the No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the country by Rivals.com … Considered the No. 7 quarterback in the country by PrepStar … Named the New York state Gatorade Player of the Year … Member of Tom Lemming's All-America team … Ranked the No. 10 quarterback in the country by Scout.com … Considered the No. 15 quarterback in the country by SuperPrep … Completed 58 percent of his passes for 2,304 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior … Led team to an 11-1 record as a junior, falling in the state semifinals … Completed 131 of 234 attempts for 2,084 yards and 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions … Earned third-team all-state honors as a junior … Coached by Joe Casamente … Personal: Son of Denise and David Paulus … Looking to pursue a degree in marketing at the College … His brother, Greg, played point guard for Duke's basketball team, then started a season at quarterback for Syracuse … Brothers David, Matt, Danny and Chris played football at Georgetown … His sister, Sarah, is a basketball player at Fairfield … Born October 12, 1988

Mike Reilly
Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional H.S.
Defensive Line
6-4/240
Head Coach: Brian Dunn
Video Highlights
Prep: Earned first-team all-county and first-team all-league honors as a senior … Recorded 23 sacks during a two-year span, which was a school record … Served as a team captain … Honored as the Athlete of the Month for Northern Valley Old Tappan … Selected as the Combine King MVP at the National Underclassmen Combine New Jersey … Garnered the “Best Lineman” team award … Represented OTHS as the league sportsmanship conference … Chosen as the Defensive Player of the Week to Watch as a junior … Member of the Half Ton Lifting Club as a senior … Personal: Son of Terence and Betty Reilly … Born on Dec. 14, 1991.

Stephen Sinnott
Lansdale, Pa./La Salle H.S.
Defensive Line
6-3/222
Head Coach: Drew Gordon
Video Highlights
Prep: Three-year starter for Gordon at La Salle High School … Earned first-team all-state honors and garnered first-team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania distinction in ’09 in helping his team to the 2009 State Championship … Two-time All-Catholic selection … Earned all-city honors twice … Team’s leading tackler as a senior with seven tackles per game … Also registered nine sacks, three forced fumbles and five defended passes … Personal: Son of Robert and Trish Sinnott … Born on June 27, 1992.

Ivan Tagoe
Burtonsville, Md./Paint Branch H.S.
Defensive Back/Wide Receiver
6-0/203
Head Coach: Michael Nesmith
Video Highlights
Prep: Chosen to the DCSportsFan Super 60 Team as a senior … Honored as the 2009 DCSportsFan Defensive Player of the Year … Garnered first-team All-Met accolades as a defensive back from the Washington Post … Selected to the All-Gazette First Team as a wide receiver by the Montgomery Gazzette … Named to the 2009 Maryland High School Consensus All-State Team … Chosen as the 2009 Division 4A Player of the Year … Earned Montgomery County 4A all-league accolades … Member of the Washington Team in the Maryland Crab Bowl … Finished senior season with 63 tackles, nine sacks and a pair of interceptions … Also totaled 54 receptions for 807 yards and 11 touchdowns as a wide receiver … Personal: Son of Ivan and Francis … Born on Oct. 19, 1992.
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Past Signing Classes