Philadelphia, Pa. – (9/15/2021) – "We are excited to finally be back out on the field," expressed Chestnut Hill College Head Sprint Football Coach Gio Thomas. Like most collegiate football programs, the Scarlet and Gold looks is highly anticipating the start of the 2021 season. Chestnut Hill College opens their Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) season this Friday, September 17, when they host Alderson Broaddus University in a 7:00 p.m. contest at Conshohocken, Pennsylvania's A.A. Garthwaite Stadium.
 
2021 will be the first season for Coach Thomas, who was named the Griffins' head coach in December of 2019. "I am extremely honored and excited to have been chosen to lead this program. "I look forward to continuing to build on the program's success, both on and off the field." Coach Thomas served as the Scarlet and Gold's defensive coordinator from the inaugural 2015 season through 2017, directing a unit that ranked fourth in the league for points allowed (141) and fifth in the league for yards allowed (2,018) during a 4-3, 2017 campaign that saw six Griffins earn All-CSFL defensive recognition.
 
"We expect to get better every day and every week. We want to play physical and disciplined brand of football. We are going to run behind an experience line. We are going to treat every play like it's 4^th-and-goal. And we are going to compete for 60 minutes in every game we play. If we can do that, the rest will take care of itself," outlined Coach Thomas. Taking on his charge is deep and talented roster that welcomes 56 underclassmen waiting to prove themselves at the collegiate level.
 
With four-year starter and Chestnut Hill College Athletic Director's Award winner, Mike Marino '20 now on the sidelines as an assistant coach, Coach Thomas looks to a quarterback depth chart that includes junior Carmen Deo (Manahawkin, N.J.), sophomores; Lonnie Cebulski (Jackson, N.J.) and C.J. Small (Upper Chichester, Pa.), and freshman Connor Rohrbach (Barto, Pa.). Deo is the most experienced of the group, but all four will get a chance to call plays for the Scarlet and Gold this Fall.
 
Fortunately, they will be protected by the Griffins' most experienced unit as the offensive line depth chart includes seniors Sean Plunkett (Philadelphia, Pa.), Teddy Tabasco IV (Ridgefield Park, N.J.) and Matt Weir (Drexel Hill, Pa.). Playing alongside them will be young talent like juniors; Zach Heim (Norristown, Pa.) and Nate Kessler (Telford, Pa.), sophomores; Jason Chedester (Lancaster, Pa.) and Chris Strehl (Easton, Pa.), and freshmen; Joe Carrickhoff (Elkton, Va.), Matt Gauld (Haddon Township, N.J.), and Nick Suscovich (Robbinsville, N.J.). Heim earned All-CSFL Honorable Mention as a 2019-sohomore.
 
A focus of Coach Thomas' offense, the running back committee is headlined by sophomore Tyheem Bailey (Philadelphia, Pa.), sophomore Devonte German (Jersey City, N.J.), and freshman Anthony Broderick (Willow Grove, Pa.). "Bailey has shown exceptional speed," stated Coach Thomas. "But there will be plenty of carries to go around and I think each guy will have a little something to contribute. Providing depth to the running back unit is sophomore John Barlow III (Newark, Del.), and freshmen; Ira Baine (Snow Hill, Md.), Malachi Jones (Salisbury, Md.), Deon Rush (Greenbelt, Md.), and Kevin Taylor (Wilmington, Del.).
 
Chestnut Hill College's most talented position will be at tight end and wide receiver as the Scarlet and Gold offers five targets over 6-feet tall; junior Schneider Juste (Manahawkin, N.J.), sophomore Muta Abbasi (Rockville, Md.), and freshmen Josh Bobo (Mt. Ephraim, N.J.), Matt Davis (Milford, Del.), and Nick Ocampo (Sicklerville, N.J.). They will be complimented by plenty of speed as the Griffins' playmakers also include senior Manny Arias (Miami, Fla.), sophomores Blaec Sanders (Newark, Del.) and Ty Smith (Ruther Glen, Va.), as well as freshmen; Xavier Hendricks (Manahawkin, N.J.) and Branden Moye (Woodbury, N.J.).
 
Defensively, Chestnut Hill College shines in the secondary where senior Rahsul Brown (Swedesboro, N.J.) and junior Ryan Jakeman (Cheltenham, Pa.) return to captain the unit. Jakeman was a an All-CSFL First Team linebacker in 2019 when he totaled a team-high 55 tackles (46 solo, 9 assisted), three sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pair of blocked kicks. Additional holdovers include senior John Casselli (Philadelphia, Pa.) and juniors; Pierson Dyson (Baltimore, Md.) and Colby Goldsmith (Phoenixville, Pa.), while the newcomers consist of sophomores; Colin Circello (Burlington, N.J.), Jehoshua Johnson (New Castle, Del.), and Nelson Millan (Philadelphia, Pa.), as well as freshmen; Myron Brooks (Harrisburg, Pa.), Xavier Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa.), Kareem Kaba (Staten Island, N.Y.), Meech Laylor (Scotch Plains, N.J.), Bear Russell (Newark, N.J.), Cory Solomon (Lanham, Md.), and Elijah Williams (Somers Point, N.J.).
 
The linebackers are headlined by senior Matthew Williams (Somers Point, N.J.), junior Luke Attanasi (Hammonton, N.J.), sophomores; Jonathan Oister (Pottstown, Pa.), Connor Loveless (Doylestown, Pa.), Larry Fonville III (Bethesda, Md.), and freshmen; Jake Bosken (Downingtown, Pa.), Anthony Droege (Lancaster, Pa.), Cam Goldsmith (Royersford, Pa.), Jonathan Oister (Pottstown, Pa.), and Jacob Orrick (Honesdale, Pa.). Williams serves as this unit's most experienced player with nine career tackles (8 solo, 1 assisted).
 
On the line, Chestnut Hill College offers a bounty of physical defenders in seniors; Luke Friend (York, Pa.) and Jack Smeltzer (Philadelphia, Pa.), sophomores; Cash Artis (West Chester, Pa.) and Dennis Cranston Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa.), as well as freshmen; Nas Cooke (Philadelphia, Pa.), Sabastian Mullins (Port Deposit, Md.), Jason Thompson (Norristown, Pa.), and Bryan Wall (Aberdeen, Md.).
 
In 2021, kicking duties fall upon freshmen Hank Gallacher (Manahawkin, N.J.) and Caleb Locklear (Georgetown, Del.). Their abilities will be crucial to the Scarlet and Gold's special teams and vital to the Griffins' success this season.