In addition, Dimetrius Bernard (Jamaica, N.Y.), Marcus Coker (Beltsville, Md.) Adrian Coxson (Baltimore, Md.) and Greg Melendez (Brookyn, N.Y.) have accepted grant-in-aid offers. Coker and Coxson have enrolled at Stony Brook for the spring semester.
The 15-player recruiting class is made of student-athletes from six states, including five players from New York. Stony Brook won its first outright conference championship after defeating Liberty, 41-31, in the 2011 regular season finale. The Seawolves, who won nine straight games, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division I Football Championship.
The offense returns Big South Offensive Player of the Year in Miguel Maysonet (1,633 rushing yards, 15 TDs) and Kyle Essington (1,919 passing yards, 20 TDs) as well as four of its five starting line. The defense returns six starters, including Jawara Dudley who earned first team all-conference honors.
| 2012 Stony Brook Football Recruiting Class | |||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Video | Hometown/High School/Previous School |
| Dimetrius Bernard | DL | 6-4 | 260 |  | Jamaica, N.Y./Holy Cross/Fresno City College |
| Marcus Coker *^ | RB | 6-0 | 230 | | Beltsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic/Iowa |
| Adrian Coxson *^ | WR | 6-1 | 205 | | Baltimore, Md./City College/Maryland |
| Pat D'Amato | QB/ATH | 6-2 | 200 | | Wethersfield, Conn./Xavier |
| Connor Davis | TE/DE | 6-8 | 240 | | Fallston, Md./Fallston |
| Angelo DeShields | WR | 6-0 | 195 | | Baltimore, Md./Mount Saint Joseph |
| Abiade "A.B." Granger | CB | 5-10 | 165 | | Riviera Beach, Fla./Suncoast |
| Da'Rell Hatcher | RB | 5-10 | 200 | | Amityville, N.Y./Amityville |
| Carlos Hernandez | QB | 6-3 | 200 | | Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde |
| Deshawn Lindsay | S | 5-11 | 170 | | Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation |
| Chris Makulik | FB | 6-2 | 240 | | Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford |
| Greg Melendez | S | 6-1 | 210 | | Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie/Idaho State |
| Aaron Thompson | DL | 6-4 | 240 | | Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park |
| Nick Vitale | WR | 5-9 | 185 | | Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand |
| Jaheem Woods | CB | 6-0 | 180 | | Neptune, N.J./Neptune |
^ Enrolled at Stony Brook 2012 spring semester
PLAYERS BY STATE
California (1): Carlos Hernandez
Connecticut (2): Pat D'Amato, Nick Vitale
Florida (2): Abiade Granger, Deshawn Lindsay
Maryland (4): Marcus Coker, Adrian Coxson, Connor Davis, Angelo DeShields
New Jersey (1): Jaheem Woods
New York: (5): Dimetrius Bernard, Da'Rell Hatcher, Chris Makulik, Greg Melendez, Aaron Thompson
PLAYERS BY POSITION
Cornerback (2): Abiade Granger, Jaheem Woods
Safeties (2): Deshawn Lindsay, Greg Melendez
Defensive End (1): Connor Davis (TE)
Defensive Line (2): Dimetrius Bernard, Aaron Thompson
Fullback (1): Chris Makulik
Quarterback (2): Pat D'Amato (ATH), Carlos Hernandez
Running Back (2): Marcus Coker, Da'Rell Hatcher
Wide Receiver (3): Marcus Coxson, Angelo DeShields, Nick Vitale
Bios
Dimetrius Bernard
DL • 6-4 • 260
Jamaica, N.Y./ Holy Cross H.S./Fresno City College
Before Stony Brook: A transfer from Fresno City College ... played in nine games, totaling 17 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, as a senior ... also recorded 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
High School: A 2010 graduate of Holy Cross High School ... made 27 tackles and had a forced fumble as a senior.
Priore on Bernard: "Dimetrius played his high school football at Holy Cross in Flushing, so that's where we became aware of him. He should give us an immediate impact after two years at the junior college level and secure our three-technique position on the defensive line."
Marcus Coker
RB • 6-0 • 230
Beltsville, Md./ DeMatha Catholic H.S./University of Iowa
Before Stony Brook: Transfer from Iowa ... rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons with Hawkeyes ... second in the Big Ten in rushing (1,384 yards - 115.3 ypg) as a sophomore, earning second-team all-conference ... named co-MVP of 2010 Insight Bowl against No. 12 Missouri after rushing for 219 yards and two touchdowns.
High School: A two-time all-state, all-county and all-conference performer at Maryland high school power DeMatha Catholic ... a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com and three-star according to ESPN ... accounted for 1,698 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior ... rushed for 392 yards, a school record and fourth most in state history, and five touchdowns against Gilman.
Priore on Coker: "We're real excited about having Marcus for spring practice. He was the second-leading rusher in the Big Ten, which should give us a big boost with the graduation of Brock Jackolski."
Adrian Coxson
WR • 6-0 • 205
Baltimore, Md./ City College H.S./University of Maryland
Before Stony Brook: Transfer from Maryland ... totaled four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt freshman ... originally signed with Florida before transferring during preseason.
High School: A four-star prospect who was rated as the No. 19 receiver in the nation according to Scout.com ... No. 101 in ESPNU 150 as a senior ... ESPNU's No. 16 wide receiver ... No. 20 in Top 150 Dream Team by SuperPrep Magazine ... No. 35 receiver according to Rivals.com ... totaled 1,930 yards and 19 touchdowns ... returned four punts for TDs ... Baltimore Sun first team All-Metro.
Priore on Coxson: "Adrian will help secure our wide receiver position and help us absorb the graduation of Matt Brevi."
Pat D'Amato
QB/ATH • 6-2 • 200
Wethersfield, Conn/Xavier H.S.
High School: Attends Xavier High School ... quarterbacked No. 1 team in state ... CHSCA Class LL All-State ... totaled more than 1,800 yards and accounted for 28 touchdowns (15 pass, 13 rush) ... led Xavier to Class LL state title ... All-Southern Connecticut Conference Division I.
Priore on D'Amato: "Pat led Xavier to two state championships as a quarterback/athlete so we're excited to have his leadership on our team."
Connor Davis
TE/DE • 6-8 • 240
Fallston, Md./Fallston H.S.
High School: Attends Fallston High School ... ESPN Small School first team All-State ... Maryland Crab All-Star Game ... first team All-UCBAC Chesapeake Coaches ... Baltimore Sun defensive player to watch ... 235 yards and five touchdowns, and 117 tackles, 12 sacks and a blocked punt as a senior.
Priore on Davis: "Connor brings tremendous size to either position. We're excited to have his talent level and his height at Stony Brook."
Angelo DeShields
WR • 6-0 • 195
Baltimore, Md./Mount Saint Joseph H.S.
High School: Attends Mount Saint Joseph High School ... 2010 & 2011 All-MIAA selection.
Priore on DeShields: "Angelo has tremendous skills and the physicality to play wide receiver at the Division I level."
Abiade Granger
CB • 5-10 • 165
Riviera Beach, Fla./Suncoast H.S.
High School: Attends Suncoast High School ... first team Class 6A-5A-3A ... second team All-Area ... Palm Beach Post's No. 36 player in the county ... two-star recruit according to Rivals.com ... totaled 35 tackles, nine passes defended and two sacks ... team's leading punt and kick returner ... blocked five field goals ... All-Palm Beach County in track ... state qualifier in the high jump, triple jump and 4x400 relay.
Priore on Granger: "We're excited to have his talent and leadership skills. "A.B. is an outstanding athlete who will have a great future."
Da'Rell Hatcher
RB • 5-10 • 200
Amityville, N.Y./Amityville H.S.
High School: Attends Amityville High School ... second-team All-Long Island and third-team all-state ... rushed for 1,279 yards and 14 touchdowns ... led Warriors to Division IV Championship game ... rushed for 366 yards and five touchdowns against John Glenn, ending Knights 17-game winning streak.
Priore on Hatcher: "Da'Rell has really worked his way into becoming a top running back on Long Island. His powerful running style will be welcomed in our backfield."
Carlos Hernandez
QB • 6-3 • 200
Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde H.S.
High School: Inland Valley Offensive MVP and first team selection ... second team All-State ... Los Angeles Times quarterback to watch as a senior ... All-CIF Central Division ... Central Division co-Offensive Player of the Year ... All-Riverside County ... passed for 1,900 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead Mustangs to 14-0 record ... threw four touchdowns in state championship game.
Priore on Hernandez: "Carlos is an established quarterback who does a lot of the things we look for to play in our system."
Deshawn Lindsay
S • 5-11 • 170
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation H.S.
High School: South Florida Sun-Sentinel's top 50 player ... Rivals.com two-star recruit ... accounted for 73 tackles and three forced fumbles as a senior ... 68 tackles and two forced fumbles as a junior.
Priore on Lindsay: "Deshawn comes to us from one of the better high school programs in Florida. "He's a physical safety who can defend the run and pass."
Chris Makulik
FB • 6-2 • 240
Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford H.S.
High School: Attends Patchogue-Medford High School ... rushed for 607 yards and six touchdowns ... had a season-high 196 yards and three touchdowns against Sachem East ... All-Suffolk County.
Priore on Makulik: "Chris is a local product who had impressed us in various combines. His ability to play fullback and our H-back position will be vital."
Greg Melendez
S • 6-1 • 210
Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie H.S./Idaho State/Hofstra
Before Stony Brook: Spent last two seasons at Idaho State ... suffered a season-ending injury in 2010, but started all 11 games for the Bengals in 2011 ... recorded 51 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble ... spent 2007-09 at Hofstra ... started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman, registering 72 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble ... started all 11 games as a sophomore, totaling 72 tackles, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception.
High School: A 2007 graduate of Canarsie High School ... All-Brooklyn and All-State selection ... led Chiefs to 11-2 record as a senior.
Priore on Melendez: "Greg is another local product who started his career at Hofstra. He continued his career at Idaho State where he started each game last year. Greg's an upperclassmen, and we're excited he's going to play his last year with us."
Aaron Thompson
DL • 6-4 • 240
Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park H.S.
High School: Attends Deer Park High School ... second team All-Long Island ... fourth team All-State ... All-Suffolk County ... registered 80 tackles and seven sacks as a senior ... team captain ... former high school teammate of current Seawolf Dimitry Russ.
Priore on Thompson: "Aaron will be a defensive lineman in our system. He has imposing size and strength and will continue to get better."
Nick Vitale
WR • 5-9 • 185
Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand H.S.
High School: Attends Daniel Hand High School ... caught 52 passes for 863 yards and 11 TDs as a senior ... led team to Class L state title ... 2011 CHSCA All-State Team ... 2011 Walter Camp All-State Team ... Post-Chronicle Offensive Player of the Year ... All-Southern Connecticut Conference Division I ... brother of current Seawolf Rich Vitale.
Priore on Vitale: "Having coached his brother, Rich, we know what kind of player Nick is going to be. He excelled at wide receiver as a senior, leading his team to a state title."
Jaheem Woods
CB • 6-0 • 180
Neptune, N.J./Neptune
High School: Attends Neptune High School ... Newark Star-Ledger's Monmouth County Player of the Year and first team all-county ... Shore Conference Offensive Player of the Year ... Group 3 All-State ... first team All-Group 3 ... MSGVarsity.com second team All-New Jersey ... accounted for 2,473 yards and 30 touchdowns ... helped the Scarlet Fliers to a state title after rushing for 257 yards, passing for 164 yards and totaling four touchdowns ... made 76 tackles and five interceptions at cornerback.
Priore on Woods: "Jaheem might be the best athlete in this class. He's an accomplished athlete who's equally good on both sides of the ball. We're excited about having his athletic talent."
| 2012 Stony Brook Football Schedule | ||
| Date | Opponent | Location |
| Sept. 1 | Central Connecticut | STONY BROOK |
| Sept. 8 | Pace | STONY BROOK |
| Sept. 15 | TBA | TBA |
| Sept. 22 | Colgate | STONY BROOK |
| Sept. 29 | at Army | West Point, N.Y. |
| Oct. 6 | Charleston Southern | STONY BROOK |
| Oct. 13 | at Coastal Carolina | Conway, S.C. |
| Oct. 20 | Gardner-Webb | STONY BROOK |
| Oct. 27 | at Presbyterian | Clinton, S.C. |
| Nov. 3 | VMI | STONY BROOK |
| Nov. 10 | at Liberty | Lynchburg, Va. |
