PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania football team will add 31 new members to the #UPrising this autumn as the Quakers embark on their 144th season.
 
"We are very excited for this group of young men to join our program," said George A. Munger Head Coach of Football Ray Priore. "It is balanced class and a very talented group from top to bottom. Throughout the recruiting process, our coaching staff was impressed with each of these young men, not only as football players but as students and people. We believe they are driven and have the intangibles that will make them great Quakers."

The 31 newest members of the program hail from 16 different states – led by California with five new student-athletes. Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland are all sending three players each to University City.

Fifteen of the newcomers play on the offensive side of the ball, highlighted by five players joining as offensive linemen. The defensive side of the ball will add 15 newcomers, with six players joining in the secondary and five at linebacker. One kicker will join the special teams unit.
 
Callum Abernethy | OL
6-4 | 255 pounds
Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich
Highlights

Greenwich: Three-year letter winner … Served as team captain as a senior … His team went undefeated in 2018 and captured a state championship.
 
Personal: Son of Alexis and Colin Abernathy … Has one brother, Wyatt … His dad, Colin, played football at Penn and won two Ivy League titles (1986 & 1988) as well as earning honorable mention All-Ivy in 1988 … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
Mozi Bici | LB
6-1 | 205 pounds
Suffield, Conn./Suffield Academy
Highlights
 
Suffield Academy: Three-year letter winner … Served as team captain during his senior season … His team captured championships in 2018 and 2019 … Played rugby, basketball, track and field and wrestling interscholastically … Also played football at Greenwich High School.
 
Personal: Son of Metije and Mehmet Bici … Has two siblings, Taulant and Leonard … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Hugh Brady | QB
6-3 | 200 pounds
Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School
Highlights
 
Punahou School: Three-year letter winner … Served as team captain … 2018 first-team all-conference selection in the Interscholastic League of Hawaii (ILH) … All-State Honorable Mention … 2019 JPS Senior Bowl Classic invitee.
 
Personal: Son of Yukiko and Shawn Brady … Has two siblings, Eamon and Ruairi … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Sam Carlson |TE
6-4 | 240 pounds
Bozeman, Mont./Tamalpais/Deerfield Academy
Highlights
 
Tamalpais High School/Deerfield Academy: Four-year letter winner … Served as team captain … His Deerfield team went 8-2 in 2019 and was named NEPSAC Mike Silipo Bowl champion … During his postgrad (PG) year at Deerfield, was named the Central New England Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-league … Earned All-New England distinction … At Tamalpais, twice earned all-league accolades and was also a member of the varsity lacrosse team.
 
Personal: Son of Amy McCleary and Stephen Carlson … has two sisters, Vivian and Genevieve … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Joshua Casilli | WR
6-0 | 180 pounds
McMurray, Pa./Peters Township
Highlights
 
Peters Township: Four-year letter winner … Served as team captain … His team won back-to-back conference championships in 2018 and 2019 … A four-time all-conference honoree … Earned all-state honors in 2019 … Named Almanac MVP and a Kennywood All-Star in 2019 … Also played two years of varsity basketball.
 
Personal: Son of Debra and Joseph Casilli … Has two siblings, Zach and Cara … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
Tanner Duve | WR
5-11 | 185 pounds
Culver City, Calif./Culver City
Highlights
 
Culver City: Three-year letter winner in both football and baseball … Served as team captain … His team captured the CIF SS Div 7 Championship in 2018 … Part of a squad that won an Ocean League title in 2019 … He earned first-team all-league honors in 2019 and he was also tabbed as his team's Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Personal: Son of Demetria Eves and Rainer Duve … Has two siblings, Tate and Myles … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Jack Fairman | LB
6-1 | 215
Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Cranbrook-Kingswood School
Highlights
 
Cranbrook-Kingswood: Four-year letter winner … Served as a team captain for two seasons … His team went 10-2 in 2017 to capture the program's first-ever district championship … A four-time all-conference honoree … Earned all-state distinction in 2018 and 2019 … Also a member of the varsity baseball and basketball teams.
 
Personal: Son of Sarah and Andrew Fairman … His dad, Andrew, played baseball at the University of Michigan from 1989-91 … Sister, Elizabeth, is a rower at Bates … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Ned Freeland | OL
6-4 | 255 pounds
Nashville, Tenn./Montgomery Bell Academy
Highlights
 
Montgomery Bell: Three-year letter winner … His team finished as the runner-up in both 2017 and 2019 … Also a two-year letter winner in basketball.
 
Personal: Son of Jennifer and Mark Freeland … Has one brother, Andrew … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Graham Gotlieb | K
5-11 | 160 pounds
Boca Raton, Fla./Pine Crest School
Highlights
 
Pine Crest: Three-year letter winner … Also a four-year member of the varsity soccer team and a two-year team captain … Earned all-county honors in 2019 … Two-time All-Southeastern Football Conference (SFC) honoree … Blue-Grey All-American … Picked up all-county honors as a senior.
 
Personal: Son of Fiona and Norman Gotlieb … Has one sister, Erin … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
Henry Iloanya | DL
6-3 | 240 pounds
Glenn Dale, Md./Gonzaga College HS
Highlights
 
Gonzaga: Four-year letter winner … His team won the 2018 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship … Earned all-conference honors as a senior.
 
Personal: Son of Felicia Nweze … Has two siblings, Kelvin and Chelsea … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
Griffin Jackstadt | OL
6-4 | 265 pounds
Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat
Highlights
 
Barnegat: Three-year letter winner … Served as team captain … His team won the 2018 Patriot Division championship … In 2018, he was first-team All-Patriot Division … As a senior, he was first-team all-state, Group 2, first-team All-Patriot Division and third-team All-Shore … Also a member of the varsity track & field and wrestling teams … National Honor Society member.
 
Personal: Son of Meredith and Marc Jackstadt … has one sister, Maddie … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Isaiah Jordan | LB
5-10 | 220 pounds
Rockville, Md./St. John's College HS
Highlights
 
St. John's: Four-year letter winner … His team won the 2017 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship … Three-time all-conference honoree … Archbishop Hannan Chapter of the National Honor Society Saint John College High School … National Society of High School Scholars member.
 
Personal: Son of Tawana Taylor and Fred Jordan … Has two siblings, Marcus and Darrwen … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences …
 
 
Jack Kirby | OL
6-3 | 290 pounds
Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier
Highlights
 
St. Xavier: Four-year letter winner … Was a team captain as a senior … His team won the 2016 state championship … Two-time all-conference honoree.
 
Personal: Son of Jamie and Todd Kirby … Has one sister, Bella, who has committed to play tennis at Xavier … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
Maurcus McDaniel | DB
6-0 | 185 pounds
King of Prussia, Pa./Episcopal Academy
Highlights
 
Episcopal Academy: Four-year letter winner … Served as team captain … His team won the Inter-Ac championship … He was named Inter-Ac MVP … Two-time All-Inter-Ac honoree … First-team All-Delco … First-team All-Southeastern PA … Spanish Honor Society member.
 
Personal: Son of Frances Weightman and Maurice McDaniel … Has two siblings, Emiah and Iyona … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Travis McFarling | DL
6-4 | 260 pounds
Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound
Highlights
 
Flower Mound: Three-year letter winner … Served as a team captain … His team won the 2018 5-6A District championship … Three-time all-district honoree … National Merit Scholar finalist.
 
Personal: Son of Muriel and Bruce McFarling … Has one brother, Luke … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
Chandler McGruder | RB
5-8 | 200 pounds
Indianapolis, Ind./IMG Academy
Highlights
 
IMG Academy: Four-year letter winner … Served as a team captain for two seasons … Was named his team's Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior … Twice honored as a Scholar Athlete.
 
Personal: Son of Patricia and Edward McGruder … Has one brother, Donovan … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Shiloh Means | DB
5-11 | 195 pounds
Indianapolis, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral
Highlights
 
Indianapolis Cathedral: Three-year letter winner … Served as the team captain during his senior season … 2018 Indiana Preps Top 22 All-State … 2019 three-time MaxPreps Defensive Player of the Week … 2018 USA Football Defensive Player of the Game … 2019 #1 Ranked Defensive Back at St. Louis OPENING Regional … 2019 Pre-Season Indianapolis Star ALL-USA Central Indiana High School football Super Team … 2019 IndyStar ALL-USA Football Super Team … 2019 Associated Press All-State Team … Also ran track and was part of a record-setting 4x400 relay … Two-time Academic All-State honoree.
 
Personal: Son of Lashonda Young and Adell Means … Father played football at Butler University … Has three siblings: Anthony, Chris and Hayle … Sister, Hayle, played volleyball at Mississippi Valley State University … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Charlie Mossy | DL
6-4 | 225 pounds
Rancho Sante Fe, Calif./The Bishop's School
Highlights
 
The Bishop's School: Four-year letter winner … Served as team captain … His team went 14-1 in 2016 to capture a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championship … In 2018, he earned all-league honors … As a senior, he was the league's Defensive MVP and first-team all-league.
 
Personal: Son of Sandy and Peter Mossy … Has two brothers, Travis and Blake … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Aidan Nash | DB
6-3 | 205 pounds
Medford Lakes, N.J./St. Joseph's Prep
Highlights
 
St. Joseph's: Three-year letter winner … Also played lacrosse and basketball … His team captured three Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) 6A State Championships … First-team All-Catholic League as a senior … Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) Scholar Athlete as a junior … As a junior he earned All-MAPL honors … AP Scholar … National Honor Society member.
 
Personal: Son of Stephanie Nash … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Lawson Nash | DB
5-11 | 195 pounds
Richmond Heights, Ohio/St. Edward
Highlights
 
St. Edward School: Three-year letter winner … Served as team captain for three seasons … Also played basketball and ran track … His team captured the OHSAA Division I State Championship in 2018 … Honorable Mention All-State … National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete … Two-Time French Student of the Year … National Honor Society member.
 
Personal: Son of Latrice and Brian Nash … Will be joined at Penn by his twin brother, Logan … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Logan Nash | DB
5-10 | 190 pounds
Richmond Heights, Ohio/St. Edward
Highlights
 
St. Edward School: Three-year letter winner … Served as team captain … also played basketball and ran track … His team captured the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I State Championship in 2018 … First-team All-Ohio … MaxPreps first-team All-Ohio … First-team All-Northeast Ohio … Cleveland's Best of the Best … National Honor Society member … National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete … Power of the Pen state finalist.
 
Personal: Son of Latrice and Brian Nash … Will be joined at Penn by his twin brother, Lawson … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
Jordan Niles | RB
5-8 | 190 pounds
Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater Central Catholic
Highlights
 
Clearwater Central Catholic: Four-year letter winner … Served as a team captain for two years … First-team All-America … First-team All-Pinellas … Offensive MVP.
 
Personal: Son of Tandala and Bennie Niles … Father played football at Florida A&M … Has two brothers, Ben—who played football at Dartmouth—and Tony … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Jack Plank | OLB
6-3 | 220 pounds
Kensington, Md./Georgetown Prep
Highlights
 
Georgetown Prep: Three-year letter winner … Served as a team captain … His team won three consecutive Interstate Athletic Conference (IAC) championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019 … He was the 2019 IAC Defensive Player of the Year … Three-time All-IAC honoree … Honorable mention All-Met as a senior … Also played lacrosse … National Honor Society member.
 
Personal: Son of Laura and Stuart Plank … Father played football at Virginia Tech … Has one sibling, Casey … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
Cameron Polemeni-Hegarty | OL
6-4 | 290 pounds
Goldens Bridge, N.Y./Choate Rosemary Hall
Highlights
 
Choate: Four-year letter winner … Served as team captain … His team won back-to-back-to-back NEPSAC Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018 … Twice earned first-team All-New England honors … Also a member of the wrestling and track & field squads.
 
Personal: Son of Madeleine Polemeni and Brian Hegarty … Has four siblings: Danielle, Nicole, Matt and Christina … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Bennett Smith | TE
6-5 | 225 pounds
Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School
Highlights
 
Charlotte Latin: Four-year letter winner … Served as team captain as a senior … His team won back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017 … Earned all-conference honors as a senior … Also played basketball and was a two-time captain … Gold Key in Scholastics Writing … Headmasters List member … SALT (Student Athlete Leadership Team) member.
 
Personal: Son of Kristin and Brett Smith … Has two siblings, Livy and JP … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Walter Soefker | DB
5-10 | 195 pounds
Memphis, Tenn./Choate Rosemary Hall/United States Naval Academy
Highlights
 
Transferred to Penn from the U.S. Naval Academy
 
Choate Rosemary Hall: Four-year letter winner … Served as a team captain for three years … Earned All-New England and all-state honors … also played varsity soccer and was a team captain … National Honor Society member.
 
Personal: Son of Jana and Shane Soefker … Has three siblings, Mia, Paulina and Abigail … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Sterling Stokes | WR
6-4 | 215 pounds
Oakland, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd
Highlights
 
Bishop O'Dowd: Three-year letter winner and starter … Served as team captain as a senior … His team captured the 2018 North Coast Section (NCS) Division 2 Championship … Three-time All-Bay Area by the Bay Area News … Three-time All-Metro by the San Francisco Chronicle … Three-time All-NCS selection … Two-Time all-state… Four-time All-NCS Academic honoree … All-NCS Scholar Athlete.
 
Personal: Son of Kimberly and Eric Stokes … Has two siblings, Dominique and Jalen … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Nate White | OLB
6-1 | 210 pounds
Dana Point, Calif./Mater Dei
Highlights
 
Mater Dei: Four-year letter winner … Served as team captain … His team captured California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), State and National Championships in 2017 and 2018.
 
Personal: Son of Nhu and Russell White … ... Son of Laurie Crowe ... Has three siblings: Ryan, Reid and Alexa … His sister Alexa attends Stanford ... Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
Cameron Williams | TE
6-3 | 230 pounds
Villanova, Pa./Radnor
Highlights
 
Radnor: Three-year letter winner … Two-way starter on offense and defense as a junior and senior … As a senior, he earned All-Main Line Honorable Mention … Radnor Distinguished Honor Roll all eight semesters of high school … National Honor Society member.
 
Personal: Son of Alicia and Denean Williams … Has two siblings, Gavin and Joshua … Grandfather, Jerome Williams, was captain of the Penn track team and competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business
 
 
Gabe Wright | Athlete
5-11 | 180 pounds
Stockbridge, Ga./Eagle's Landing Christian Academy
Highlights
 
Eagle's Landing: Four-year letter winner … Served as team captain … His team won state and region Championships in 2018 and followed up with the 2019 state championship (13-1 record) … Earned all-county honors … Second-team all-region as a senior … 2019 all-state honorable mention … Two-Time Scholar Athlete in high school … Four-Time All-State Honor Chorus.
 
Personal: Son of Roxanne Payne and Gregg Wright … Stepfather, Edward Halsell, was a golfer at UC Santa Barbara … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
Ryan Zanelli | QB
6-2 | 195 pounds
Santa Ana, Calif./La Habra
Highlights
 
La Habra: Three-year letter winner … Served as team captain for two seasons … His team won back-to-back Freeway League championships in 2018 and 2019 and advanced to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division 3 semifinals his senior year … Two-time Freeway League Offensive Player of the Year … First-team All-CIF as a senior … Team MVP … AP Heritage Program member all four years of high school.
 
Personal: Son of Janine and John Zanelli … Has two sisters, Ashley and Kayla … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.