WALTHAM, Mass. – More than 20 high school football players, representing seven different states, have committed to continue their football and academic careers at Bentley University, Falcon head coach Bill Kavanaugh announced Wednesday on national signing day.

Kavanaugh, who is preparing for his third season at his alma mater, received commitments from student-athletes hailing from Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York and Virginia, as well as Massachusetts.

"We are extremely excited about our success recruiting the class of 2020 to this point," said Kavanaugh. "This group fits within our program and on our campus. We are not done recruiting but believe we have a great start! It takes a special kid to fit in this program and we are pleased with the 21 student-athletes who have decided to join us."

Eleven members of the recruiting class are listed as defensive players, including linemen Frank Damata (Framingham/Marian HS), Nolan LeBlanc (Andover/Brooks School), Nic O'Connell (North Reading/North Reading HS) and Matt Yanes (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg HS).

The additions to the defense also include linebackers Tommy Healy (Clifton, Va./Avon Old Farms School (Conn.)), Kyle O'Donnell (Seaford, N.Y./St. Anthony's HS), Eddie O'Hara (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk HS) and Stephen Steneck (West Milford, N.J./West Milford HS). Also committing to the Falcons were defensive backs Quintin McDermott (Franklin/Milton Academy), Tom Sullivan (Burlington/Malden Catholic HS) and Peter Thorbahn (Norwell/Xaverian Brothers HS).

On the offensive side of the ball, the additions include four players who the coaching staff classifies as "athletes": Tim Cassidy (Milford/St. John's HS), Ryan McCarthy (Holden/Wachusett Reg. HS), Travis McGee (Lecanto, Fla./Lecanto HS) and Austin Triglia (Ramsey, N.J./St. Joseph Regional HS).

Bentley's recruiting class of 2016 also includes wide receivers Oliver Sawyer (Uxbridge/ Uxbridge HS) and Reise Turransky (Winthrop/Malden Catholic HS), quarterback Joe Kolbe (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./CBA), running back Tommy Wilson (Madison, Conn./Kent School), offensive lineman William Brown (Bardstown, Ky./Bethlehem HS) and kicker Nicholas Maldarella (Saint James, N.Y./ St. John the Baptist HS).  

"Our current team is working extremely hard to get better and will welcome these young players with open arms," said Kavanaugh.

Bentley finished the 2015 season with a 5-6 record.

William Brown, OL, Bardstown, Ky., Bethlehem HS, 6-2, 307

Brown, who will be the first Bentley football player from the state of Kentucky, was selected for a number of honors for his 2015 performance, including team MVP, the Coaches' Award, the Senior Academic Award and Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was voted as a captain for the Eagles and was selected as first-team All-District.

Cassidy was selected as the 2015 Division 2 Offensive MVP by the Central Massachusetts Football Coaches Association after an outstanding season in which he threw for 15  touchdowns and ran for another 20. He amassed 2,254 passing yards and 807 on the ground for 3,061 yards total offense. He was a co-captain for the Pioneers and was selected for the Worcester Telegram 2015 Super Team. Cassidy also played baseball for St. John's and was very active off the field, serving as vice president of the junior class and Student Activities Council treasure as a senior. He is an AP honors student and a member of the National Honor Society. 

Frank Damata, DL, Framingham, Mass., Marian HS, 6-3, 285

A four-year member of the Catholic Central League all-star team, Damata was chosen as the CCL Lineman of the Year following his senior season. He was the Mustangs' team MVP as well as a team captain. Earlier in his career, he was selected as the team's Lineman of the Year as a junior, the MVP as a sophomore and the Rookie of the Year as a freshman.

Tommy Healy, LB, Clifton, Va., Avon Old Farms School, 5-10, 190

Healy was selected as Avon Old Farms' defensive MVP as well as a member of the All-Conference first team.

Joe Kolbe, QB, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Christian Brothers Academy, 6-2, 190

A three-year starter who led CBA to a 21-9 record over that span, Kolbe was a three-time Section II All-Star. He threw for 30 touchdowns and over 2,800 yards as a senior, and helped the Brothers to the 2013 section championship. He was a recipient of the Don Crotty Leadership Award from CBA, and was chosen as a Class AA Empire Division second-team all-star.

Nolan LeBlanc, DL, Andover, Mass., Brooks School, 6-2, 270
A team captain as a senior, LeBlanc was selected All-Independent School League and All-New England Class C in 2014. This past season, he was presented with the team's Coaches Award, which recognizes the player who best exemplifies the characteristics valued by the Brooks football coaches: preparation, commitment to excellence and the spirit of competition.

Nicholas Maldarella, K, Saint James, N.Y., St. John the Baptist HS, 6-0, 185

A four-year varsity kicker for the Cougars, Maldarella made 110 of 119 career extra points and 19 of 24 field goals, with a career long of 43 yards. He was selected MSG Varsity second-team All-Long Island and MSG Varsity honorable mention All-Metro. A member of the 2015 Catholic High School Football League Senior Bowl team, he was chosen as the CHSFL Player of the Week during week two of his senior season after a game-winning 35-yard field goal in overtime.

Ryan McCarthy, ATH, Holden, Mass., Wachusett HS, 6-2, 185

One of Wachusett's captains during the 2015 season, McCarthy is a two-time member of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Super Team. He was selected All-Mid-Wach Class A League following his junior and senior seasons, and was the Mountaineers' Thanksgiving Day game MVP.

Quintin McDermott, DB, Milton Academy, Franklin, Mass., 6-2 175

The Mustangs' 2015 team MVP, McDermott was selected All-League, All-New England and second-team All-State following his senior season. His 2015 statistics included nine interceptions and 80 tackles in nine games.

Travis McGee, ATH, Lecanto, Fla., Lecanto HS, 6-0, 180

McGee was a four-year starting quarterback and two-year captain for the Lecanto Panthers with his career totals including 326 for 721 for 4,838 yards and 47 touchdowns  through the air and 1,083 yards with 15 TDs on the ground. He was a two-time All-County and All-District honoree, and was chosen for the 2014 All-North Florida team. In addition, his junior year featured his selection as the Citrus County Chronicle Offensive Player of the Year.  McGee holds the school passing records in total completions, yardage, touchdowns and wins (19).

Nic O'Connell, DL, North Reading, Mass., North Reading HS, 6-3, 220

O'Connell was a starter on both offense and defense in all 43 games of his high school career. He was a three-year team captain, a two-time selection for the Eastern Massachusetts all-star team and a two-time team MVP. In addition, he was chosen for All-Cape Ann League honors as a sophomore, junior and senior.

Kyle O'Donnell, LB, Seaford, N.Y., St. Anthony's HS, 6-1, 205

A two-time Catholic High School Football League champion, O'Donnell was a three-year varsity starter for St. Anthony's, the alma mater of 2015 Bentley captain Matt Biscardi. He helped the Friars win the CHSFL championship in 2013, was voted team captain as a senior and was selected for the CHSFL Senior Bowl.

Eddie O'Hara, LB, Norwalk, Conn., Norwalk HS, 6-1, 220

O'Hara is a three-sport athlete for the Bears, playing baseball and basketball as well as football. He's been a team captain in all three and was selected for the All-FCIAC football team. The Norwalk Hour selected him as its 2015 Football Most Valuable Player, and for its All-Area team, after a senior year in which he amassed 95 tackles, including 19 for losses.

Oliver Sawyer, WR, Uxbridge, Mass, Uxbridge HS, 6-4, 200

Sawyer, the only wide receiver to be voted a member of the central Massachusetts Super Team, was a first-team All-Central Massachusetts and Milford Daily News All-Star. A two-time offensive MVP for Uxbridge, he broke the central Massachusetts record for receptions in a single season with 66. Sawyer finished his career with multiple school records, including the single season marks for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. He's also the Spartans' career record holder in each of those categories.

Stephen Steneck, LB, West Milford, N.J., West Milford HS, 6-1, 215

Steneck, a team captain at West Milford High, earned a number of accolades as a senior, including first-team All-County and All-Area, second-team All-Big North Conference and honorable mention MSG varsity All-State. Those came after being a first-team All-Conference and All-Area, as well as second-team All-County, honoree as a junior. Steneck, who ranks third in school history in both single season tackles and career assisted tackles, was nominated for the North-South All-Star game.

Tom Sullivan, DB, Burlington, Mass., Malden Catholic HS, 5-11, 180

The Lancers' leading tackler each of the last three seasons, Sullivan has chosen Bentley after being selected as the 2015 Catholic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was a two-time All-Catholic Conference selection and a 2015 Eastern Massachusetts all-star. Sullivan was a team captain at Malden Catholic, a recipient of an MIAA Student-Athlete Citizenship Award and a member of the National Honor Society.

Peter Thorbahn, DB, Norwell, Mass., Xaverian Brothers HS, 6-0, 180

A member of the 2015 ESPN Boston All-State team, Thorbahn was a team captain for the Xaverian Hawks. He earned All-Scholastic honors from both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald, was chosen for the All-USA Massachusetts first team and was a 2015 Catholic Conference all-star. During his career, Xaverian captured state championships each of the last two seasons. As a senior, he returned two of his five interceptions for touchdowns and scored four TDs as a receiver.

Austin Triglia, ATH, Ramsey, N.J., St. Joseph Regional HS, 5-10, 185

One of the team captains at St. Joseph Regional, Triglia was selected a second-team All-League wide receiver and to the third-team All-State non-public team as a cornerback his senior year. The two-year starter also received honorable mention for All-League cornerback as a junior.

Reise Turransky, WR, Winthrop, Mass., Malden Catholic HS, 5-8, 165

The recipient of ten varsity letters, including five in football, Turransky was selected as a Catholic Conference all-star last fall. He helped Winthrop High win the Northeastern Conference championship in 2014 and received a citation from Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert Deleo for playing in the All-American Bowl Feb. 22, 2012. Turransky was nominated as the student-athlete of the week Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2015.

Tommy Wilson, RB, Madison, Conn., Kent School, 5-10, 185

Wilson has decided to attend Bentley after being selected for the Connecticut all-star team. He was the recipient of the All-Erickson Prep football team certificate and All-Founders League honors. In addition, he received a Male Athlete of the Week award at Kent. Wilson went to Daniel Hand High School prior to  attending Kent.

Matt Yanes, DL, Stewartsville, N.J., Phillipsburg HS, 6-3, 250

Yanes , a two-year starter at defensive end and offensive tackle for Phillipsburg, was selected third-team All-State offense this past season. Other honors included All-Group 4 first-team offense, All-MS-38 Conference first team defense and All-Area second team defense. He was the recipient of the 2015 Maxwell Award from the Maxwell Football Club for football, academics and community service. In addition, he was a Timex Heart of a Giant selection.