The Malone University football team is excited to announce 17 additions to the program.  Head coach Eric Hehman and his staff brought in an impressive initial class which will be joined by additional players in the next few weeks.

"This initial group is very heavy in offensive linemen which is an area where we needed to grow the most," commented Hehman.  "We think Trevoy Bates (a transfer from Laney College) can be an all-conference player. We also really like JD Stamper and Blake Cary and feel like they will both be high-level offensive linemen.  Blake's brother, Austin, plays at Malone and we have always had great success with recruits from Loudonville."

The defensive front was another area that Hehman and his staff targeted in recruiting.  "Robert Hillery and Thomas Knuff will help us on the interior defensive line," commented Hehman. 
"This class provides tremendous depth up front in the biggest area we needed to grow in order for us to continue to cultivate the program."

In addition to their on-field accomplishments, Hehman is also pleased with what the entire group brings off the field.  "These guys are all great fits for us and can really help us build the program," noted Hehman.  "They are not only outstanding football players but they have outstanding character and are outstanding academically."

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Freshmen
Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	Hometown	High School	HS Coach
Hayden Amstutz	OL	6'3"	270	Dalton, OH	Dalton	Mike Doty
Blake Cary	OL	6'2"	256	Loudonville, OH	Loudonville	Justin Todd
Justin Gangwish	OL	6'5"	260	Independence, KY	Holy Cross District	Bruce Kozerski
Ethan Griffith	OL	6'3"	295	Vermilion, OH	Vermilion	Robert Duray
Joshua Hako-Snow	OL	6'4"	290	Akron, OH	Springfield	Kevin Vaughn
Robert Hillery	DL	6'2"	295	Sanford, FL	Lake Mary	Scott Perry
Tyler Howell	RB	5'10"	175	North Canton, OH	Hoover	Don Hertler Jr.
Thomas Knuff	DL	6'2"	325	Brunswick, OH	Brunswick	Luke Beal
Joseph Palafox	WR	5'11"	155	Apple Valley, CA	Apple Valley	Frank Pulice
Matthew Ramsey	LB	6'3"	220	Canal Fulton, OH	Northwest	Vic Whiting
Cody Stadtman	OL	6'2"	265	Fallon, NV	Churchill County	Brooke Hill
Jacob Stamper	OL	6'2"	270	Mason, OH	William Mason	Brian Castner
Alexander Stotts	WR	6'2"	175	Lebanon, OH	Lebanon	Shawn Lamb
Omar Walker	QB	6'2"	185	Bel Air, MD	C. Milton Wright	Marc Alegi
Osiah Walker	ATH	6'1"	195	Bel Air, MD	C. Milton Wright	Marc Alegi
Keith Williams	LB	6'1"	205	Medina, OH	Highland	Tom Lombardo
Transfers
Trevoy Bates	OL	6'5"	285	San Pablo, CA	Laney (CA) College	Luke Bodwin

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Player Bios

OL Hayden Amstutz (6'3" 270 Ibs.)-Dalton, OH; Dalton High School
Amstutz was a two-time letter-winner in football and a three-time letter-winner in track at Dalton High School. Honors he received in football include being a First Team All-Wayne County Athletic League, First Team All-District and an Honorable Mention All-Ohio selection. In the classroom, he is a four- year Academic Letter Winner at Dalton and served as President of the National Honor Society. Amstutz plans on pursuing a degree in Accounting at Malone.    
 
OL Trevoy Bates (6'5" 285 lbs.)-San Pablo, CA; Pinole Valley High School; Laney (CA) Comm. College
Bates was a two-year starter for Pinole Valley High School and helped his squad to a second-place conference finish in 2011.  He then enrolled at Laney College in Oakland, California, where he competed on the offensive line during the 2013 and 2014 seasons and was a part of Laney's 2013 Bay Bowl Championship squad.  He is undecided on his major at Malone.
 
OL Blake Cary (6'2" 256 Ibs.)- Danville, OH; Loudonville High School
Cary was a three-time letter-winner in football, a four-time letter-winner in wresting, a one-time letter-winner in baseball, and an Honor Roll student at Loudonville High School. In football, he was voted First Team All-Ohio, First Team All-District, and the Geiser Lineman of the Year. In 2012, Loudonville reached the Regional Quarterfinals, in 2013 the Regional Semifinals, and in 2014 the squad reached the Regional Finals. Cary also helped the Loudonville wrestling team finish seventh as a team at the State Championship Meet in 2014. His brother, Austin Cary, is a member of the Pioneer football program. Cary plans on pursuing a degree in Nursing at Malone. 
 
OL Justin Gangwish (6'5" 260 Ibs.)- Independence, KY; Holy Cross District High School
A three-time letter-winner in football at Holy Cross District High School, Gangwish earned First Team All-District, Second Team All-Region and Second Team All-Northern Kentucky honors. He was a member of the squad that won the 2011 Kentucky State 2A Football Championship. In the classroom, he was a three-year member of the National Honor Society. Gangwish is undecided on his major at Malone.
 
OL Ethan Griffith (6'3" 295 lbs.) – Vermilion, OH; Vermilion High School
Griffith, a three-year letter-winner in football at Vermilion, was twice named First Team All-Lorain County, twice tabbed First Team All-Northeast Lakes District and was a two-time Second Team All-Ohio honoree.  Griffith is undecided on his major at Malone.
 
OL Joshua Hako-Snow (6'4" 290 Ibs.)- Akron, OH; Springfield High School
Hako-Snow was a three-time letter-winner at Springfield High School. In his junior season, he was a Second Team All-Portage Trail Conference award winner. In his senior season, he was a First Team All-Portage Trail Conference, a Second Team All-Division selection and a member of the Thanks4Giving All-Star Game.  Academic Honors he received include being a part of the Merit Roll. Hako-Snow plans on pursuing a degree in Education with a minor in Sports Management at Malone.
 
DL Robert Hillery (6'2" 295 Ibs.)- Sanford, FL; Lake Mary High School
Hillery participated in football and track while being an Honor Roll student at Lake Mary High School. In 2013 and 2014, he was a First Team All-Conference selection, an 8A-2 District Champion, and an 8A-2 Seminole Athletic Conference Champion. In addition, he helped guide the squad to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in 2013 and 2014. Hillery plans on pursuing a degree in Sports Management while minoring in Music Production at Malone. 
 
RB Tyler Howell (5'10" 175 Ibs.)- North Canton, OH; Hoover High School
Howell was a two- time letter-winner in football and one-year letter-winner in swimming at Hoover High School. He had over 500 yards rushing and six touchdowns in two seasons as a starter while playing running back, defensive end/outside linebacker, and kickoff returner. In the classroom, he is a member of the National Honor Society, Honor Roll and a three- time Academic Lettermen. Howell plans on pursuing a degree in English with a minor in Creative Writing at Malone.
 
DL Thomas Knuff (6'2" 325 Ibs.)- Brunswick, OH; Brunswick High School
Knuff was a four-time letter-winner in football and a member of the rugby team at Brunswick High School. While at BHS, he was a First Team All-County, First Team All-Gazette, First Team All-Conference, and Second Team All-State selection for football. In rugby, he was a member of the 2013 Division II State Championship squad. Knuff is undecided on his major at Malone. 
 
WR Joseph Palafox (5'11" 155 Ibs.)-Apple Valley, CA; Apple Valley High School
Palafox was a three-time letter-winner in football, a one-year letter-winner in track and a Distinguished Scholar for Apple Valley High School. During his senior campaign, he tallied 50 tackles as a defensive back.  He also caught five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown against the number one team in the division. He has a relative, Alexandra Carcano, who is a member of the Pioneer women's soccer team. Palafox plans on pursuing a degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy and a minor in Business Administration at Malone.
 
LB Matthew Ramsey (6'3" 220 Ibs.)- Canal Fulton, OH; Northwest High School
Ramsey was a three-time letter-winner in football, an All-Northeast Inland District Honorable Mention selection and an All-Stark County Honorable Mention honoree during his senior campaign at Northwest High School. In addition, he was recognized with the Del Halpin Award for best Defensive Lineman and also received the Scholar Athlete Award. As a defensive end, he recorded 73 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and six sacks during his senior year. Ramsey plans on pursuing a degree in Education at Malone.  
 
OL Cody Stadtman (6'2" 265 Ibs.)- Fallon, NV; Churchill County High School
Stadtman was a two- time letter-winner in football, while also participating in basketball and track at Churchill High School. In 2014, he was named to the Division 1A All-North First Team and Division 1A All-State First Team.  He also collected Division 1A All-North Honorable Mention accolades in 2013. He helped guide CCHS to a Northern Championship and State Runner-Up finish in 2013.  Churchill also captured the Northern Champions in 2014. Stadtman will be pursuing a degree in Biology/Pre-Med while at Malone.  
 
OL Jacob Stamper (6'2" 270 Ibs.)- Mason, OH; William Mason High School
Stamper was a two- time letter-winner in football at William Mason High School where he earned First Team All-Greater Miami Conference, Honorable Mention All-Southwest Ohio, and Honorable Mention All-City.  Stamper also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-Ohio honors and WMHS's Principals Award. Stamper plans on pursuing a degree in Education/Intervention Specialist with a minor in History at Malone.
 
WR Alexander Stotts (6'2" 175 Ibs.)- Lebanon, OH; Lebanon High School
Stotts was a three- time letter-winner in football and four- time letter-winner in basketball at Lebanon High School. In football, he was a Greater Western Ohio Conference Second Team honoree during both his junior and senior year and was a Greater Western Ohio Conference Second Team selection in basketball during his junior campaign. Stotts will be pursuing a degree in Special Education at Malone.  
 
QB Omar Walker (6'2" 185 Ibs.)- Bel Air, MD; C. Milton Wright High School
Walker was a two-time letter-winner in football at C. Milton Wright High School where he was a three-time First Team All-County, three-time First Team All-Conference, two-time All-State Honorable Mention, and Second Team All-State selection. He participated in the Maryland Crab Bowl and holds school records for most rushing yards in a single game (290), most rushing yards for a QB (2,764), most total yards (7,331), and most touchdowns (75). In the classroom, he was an Honor Roll student. Walker plans on pursuing a degree in Education with a minor in Sport Management at Malone.
 
ATH Osiah Walker (6'1" 195 Ibs.)- Bel Air, MD; C. Milton Wright High School 
Walker was a two-time letter-winner in football at C. Milton Wright High School where he played wide receiver, defensive back, and was a returner on special teams. Osiah was a two-time First Team All-County, two-time First Team All-Conference and a two-time All-State Honorable Mention selection.  He accounted for a total of 21 touchdowns and 2037 total yards while also contributing 144 tackles and six interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. In the classroom, he was an Honor Roll student. Osiah plans on pursuing a degree in Economics with a minor in Sports Management at Malone.  
 
LB Keith Williams (6'1" 205 Ibs.)- Medina, OH; Highland High School
Williams is a three-year letter-winner in football, a member of the National Honor Society, and a four- year Scholar Athlete at Highland High School. He was named Division II Special Mention All-Ohio, First Team All-Gazette, First Team All-Northeast Inland District, and First Team All-Suburban League during his time at HHS. In addition, he was a member of the 2013 Highland team that advanced to a Region IV State Semifinal.  In 2014, he helped Highland to a Suburban League Championship and a berth in the State Playoffs. His relative, Edward Williams, is a member of Malone's baseball team. Williams plans on pursuing a duel degree in Business and Accounting at Malone.