By Desmond Bernal
Stonehill College Football Head Coach Eli Gardner announced 13 commitments last Wednesday, February 3, for National Signing Day of 2021.
Among the 13 commits, six were from local areas in Massachusetts, with some big names being Marje Mulumba from East Coast Prep and CJ Davis from Springfield Central.
In an interview with Stonehill Athletics about all the incoming Class of 2025 commits, coach Gardner spoke highly of Marje Mulumba and his excitement to bring an athlete of his caliber to the program.
“He’s a physical, athletic, outside linebacker that can do a lot of different things from the coverage, from blitzing, and from a run-stopping standpoint,” Gardner said.
Mulumba is a 6 foot, 2 inches tall, 205 pounds outside linebacker who graduated from Beverly High School and then did a postgraduate semester at East Coast Prep. in Western Massachusetts. Gardner said that Mulumba is the program’s first early-enrollment and is on campus this spring semester.
Coach Gardner was excited about adding CJ Davis as well, who he said received a lot of attention from other programs in the conference.
“He’s a dynamic playmaker in the secondary. He can play the half field really well,” Gardner said. “He’s physical, and he’s a great competitor and leader, and those are the things that really stuck out to us in the process, and he’s going to be a great fit in our secondary.”
Coach Gardner added some vital pieces alongside Mulumba and Davis to the defensive side, which had a strong 2019-20 season. Last season, the program saw its best defensive performance in Gardner’s four years as head coach, allowing only 21.1 points per game.
The program received some talent for their offense with two tight ends, two offensive linemen, and a wide receiver/running back.
On Friday, the program via Twitter (@StonehillFB) announced nine more commitments to the program.
Below is the list of all the athletes announced that will be apart of the team in the fall:
Cam Shaughnessy, Plymouth North High School, DT
Kyle Donovan, Amesbury High School, TE
CJ Davis, Springfield Central High School, DB
Jalen Rotella-White, Iona Prep High School, CB
Vahn Friday, Saint Joseph’s Regional High School, DT
Noah Canty, Xaverian Brothers High School, TE
Chris Domercant, Bellingham High School, WR
Ifeanyi Ijezie, North Point High School, DE
Evan Scribner, Saint Peter’s Prep High School, OL
Marje Mulumba, East Coast Prep, OLB
Will Conway, Lawrenceville School, OL
Tolu Olajide, Lawrence High School, OL
Jarel Washington, Iona Prep High School, WR/RB
Ashur Carraha, Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, QB Brian Cipri, Wilton High School, OL
Matt DeVirgilio, Dedham High School, RB
Jack McCarthy, Archbishop Williams High School, TE
Luke Manning, Souhegan High School, WR
Dan Fortin, Masconomet Regional High School, OL
Dan Hurley, Wakefield Memorial High School, K
Jake Newsham, Saint John’s High School, WR
Bryson Carter, Archbishop Spalding High School, WR
To watch the “Stonehill Football 2021 National Signing Day Show,” go to https://www.stonehillskyhawks.com/sports/fball/2020-21/videos/20210204-77mp53mf.