Steven Marcus-NewsdayThe only building they recognized was the football stadium and that was not on the itinerary in mid-January. So the first few days at Stony Brook University were nerve-racking for Hofstra transfers Brock Jackolski and Miguel Maysonet. The two left Hofstra after it dropped football last November.
"It was like I was a freshman again,'' Jackolski said Tuesday. "I didn't know where any of the buildings were.''
Or anyone walking around those buildings. "The only person I knew was Miguel,'' Jackolski said.
"The only person I knew was Brock,'' Maysonet said.
The acclimation to football went much smoother. Coach Chuck Priore introduced the players. "We just stood up and said 'Hello,' " Maysonet said.
With spring practice under way, the two are fitting in nicely. "It was tough for them,'' running back Eddie Gowins said, "but we made them feel at home. They are comfortable with us and we are comfortable with them.''
Priore made sure none of his players felt threatened, saying: "There has not been any maintenance. I made sure the team understood that we were going to bring in players that would help and that were good people.''
Gowins added: "In football, you have to compete for your spots. They are here; we are working with them. It's a good thing. It gives us more weapons.''
Gowins (Bellport), Jackolski (Floyd), Maysonet (Riverhead) and incoming freshman JeVahn Cruz (Hills West) will give Stony Brook four Hansen Award winners. Jackolski, who will be a junior, was a two-way player at Hofstra. Priore will use him on offense. "He's a tremendously gifted kid at doing a lot of things,'' the coach said. Jackolski will be the slot receiver, but he will also get some carries and be on the field for kickoff and punt returns. "Offense is where I think I can make the biggest difference on the field," Jackolski said. "I'm real excited that coach P and the whole staff wants me to play offense.''
Maysonet, a natural running back, will get plenty of touches. "We run the ball a lot,'' said Maysonet, who will be a sophomore. "Eddie's going to need a breather. Hopefully, I'll get in.''
That is a certainty. The team already has scrimmaged. "We ran 64 plays, 24 passes, 40 runs,'' Priore said. "If Eddie takes 22 or 23, there's still 18 carries out there. Miguel and Brock are going to get those carries. Miguel is a powerful runner. It will be interesting to see what can do physically to linebackers and also their ability to break tackles. I think they both have the ability to take 10-yard runs and turn them into 25-yard runs. They are going to be a [chore] for opposing teams.''
