Stony Brook announced the addition of 6-2, 285 pound offensive lineman Fernando Diaz to the roster on Friday. Diaz, a 2009 graduate of Cardinal Hayes (Bronx), transferred from the University of Pittsburgh. It certainly isn’t the first time Stony Brook landed a former FBS player and it won’t be the last.
It helps that Stony Brook is the only major college football program area that appears to be on the rise. While the Seawolves aren’t likely to make a jump to the FBS level anytime soon, we touched on the possibility of the program looking to move on to a higher profile FCS (Football Championship Subdivision – Formerly Division I-AA) conference in an earlier post.
Including Diaz, Stony Brook has six FBS transfers on its roster. There’s no doubt the Seawolves will be looking to add more. At this rate, the FBS players on Stony Brook’s roster could nearly equal the FCS players on the team. That might be stretching it, but it’s evident that Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore is playing for keeps.
“We’re excited to get a premier player like Fernando,” Priore said in a statement. “It’s always a goal of ours to recruit quality local talent to give Stony Brook as much of a local flair as possible.”
Diaz, who will be eligible this fall, is expected to battle for a starting position at right guard.
