Moon Township, Pa. – Head Coach John Banaszak of the Robert Morris University football program announced Wednesday that 18 student-athletes have agreed to continue their careers with the Colonials in 2014.
 
Among the new players are three mid-year additions to the roster while the remaining 15 will join RMU in the 2014-15 academic year.
 
The 2014 RMU recruiting class includes student-athletes from six different states and one foreign country. Of RMU's incoming recruits, 10 are listed on defense and eight are listed on offense.
 
"This is almost like the NFL Draft where you won't find a general manager that is not pleased with their draft class," Banaszak said. "We're very pleased with the young men that we have added today. We have added to our team in a number of key spots, including the secondary and certainly with our running backs. I just think it's a very, very good class, and I think that we've hit a home run on all these kids."
 
Four of RMU's incoming recruits play in the defensive backfield, while the Colonials also welcome three student-athletes that can play wide receiver, three on the defensive line and three at linebacker.
 
Spring practice for Robert Morris begins Tuesday, March 18, and will continue into the second week of April. The date for the annual spring game is to be announced.
 
Robert Morris 2014 Football Recruiting Class
(The following list was updated Thursday, Feb. 6)
 
Mid-Year Additions (3)
 
Name                                                          Pos.              Ht.                Wt.               Year            Hometown / High School (Previous School)
Kyle Buss                                                   WR                5-11             200               Fr.              Clifton Park, N.Y. / Shenendehowa Central (Milford)
Steven Fiadewornu                                   DT                 6-3               290               So.             Zurich, Switzerland / Zurich Business School
Nelson Lucas-Murphy                              LB                 6-2               225               Fr.              Exton, Pa. / Downingtown East (Milford)
 
Incoming Freshmen (16)
 
Drew Allen                                                  DB                 6-2               180               Fr.               New Castle, Pa. / New Castle
Mathew Barr                                               QB                 6-3               190               Fr.               Troy, Ohio / Troy
Austin Brown                                              FB                 5-10             210               Fr.               Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Brother Rice
Gerald Ferguson                                       LB                 6-3               195               Fr.               Boca Raton, Fla. / West Boca
Collin Giesey                                             DE                 6-3               257               Fr.               Douglasville, Ga. / Alexander
Mike Lamb                                                 OL                  6-7               335               Fr.               Lancaster, N.Y. / Depew
Ben Line                                                     RB                 6-1               220               Fr.               Oxford, Mich. / Oxford
Mitch Morrison                                          OL                  6-2                260              Fr.               Mentor, Ohio / Mentor
Angelo Natter                                            DE                 6-3                250               Fr.               Pittsburgh, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic
Rameses Owens                                    RB                 6-2                195               Fr.               Shaker Heights, Ohio / Shaker Heights
Ryan Richards Jr.                                    DB                 6-2                205               Fr.               Buffalo, N.Y. / Canisius
David Steele                                              LB                 6-2                200               Fr.               Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland Heights
Cameron Sutherland                              DB                 6-2                190               Fr.               Pittsburgh, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic
Gennaro Trovato                                      DB                 5-10              185               Fr.               Sewickley, Pa. / Quaker Valley
Zach Walker                                             WR                 6-1                200               Fr.               Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Central
Jamison Williams                                   WR                 6-4               195                Fr.               Kings Mills, Ohio / Kings
 
Drew Allen (DB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Joe Cowart at New Castle High School … Was a three-year starter for the Hurricanes … Totaled 37 tackles and three interceptions as a defensive back … Notched two defensive touchdowns, one on an interception and one on a fumble recovery … Also secured 17 receptions for 317 yards as a wide receiver … Contributed four receiving touchdowns … Also returned kickoffs and punts for the Hurricanes, registering a touchdown in 2013 on a kickoff return … Was also an accomplished basketball player for New Castle … Major is undecided.
 
Mathew Barr (QB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Scott Brewer at Troy High School … Was a team captain and threw for over 1,000 yards in his senior season, which had only been done four times since 1985 at Troy … Named as one of the top 10 quarterback prospects in Ohio according to ScoutingOhio.com … Threw for over 800 yards and 10 touchdowns in only eight games in his junior season … Ranked as one of the top 200 players in Ohio according to McCallister Scouting Report and ScoutingOhio.com … Was selected to the Greater Western Ohio team … Was a three-year letterwinner for the Trojans … His father played baseball at Southwestern Michigan … His grandfather played football at Xavier.

Austin Brown (FB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Albert Fracassa at Brother Rice High School … Averaged 9.1 yards per carry this past season … Blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in 2012 and 2013 … Led Brother Rice to three state championships … Spent time at both fullback and running back at Brother Rice … Was a two-year starter for the Warriors … Son of Ken and Deidre Brown … Has two brothers, Bradley and Drake … Plans to major in business.
 
Kyle Buss (WR) – (Video Highlights) – Coached  by Brian Clawson at Shenendehowa Central High School and coached by Bill Chaplick at Milford Academy … Tallied 37 catches for 700 yards and nine touchdowns at Milford … Was ranked the 29th best prep player in the nation according to Scout.com … Was named first team all-purpose player of the year in New York in high school … Finished in fourth place out of 1,100 participants at the national Nike Sparq combine … Son of Karen and David Buss … Has a twin brother, Ryan, and a younger brother, Luke.
 
Gerald Ferguson (LB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Alphonso Moran at West Boca High School … Was ferocious on defense as he tallied 86 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 4 forced fumbles in his senior season … Selected into the Nike South Florida All-Star Game and the Florida-Georgia All-Star Game … Was ranked one of the top 40 players in Palm Beach Post Recruiting Big Board … Led the Bulls with 10 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in one of his games as a senior … Formerly had a verbal commit to a FBS school.
 
Steven Fiadewornu (DT) – A raw product who will have three years of eligibility with Robert Morris … Was born in Ghana before moving to Switzerland ... Majoring in management.
 
Collin Giesey (DE) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Matt Combs at Alexander High School … Tallied 83 tackles, including 60 solo stops, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks in his senior season … Also notched five pass breakups and four forced fumbles in 2013 for the Cougars … Named first-team all-county and all-region … Earned a Football Academic award and a scholar-athlete award … Is also a member of the National Honors Society … Son of Michelle and Glen Giesey … Plans to major in education.
 
Mike Lamb (OL) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Ryan Wilson at Depew High School … Garnered all-state and All-Western New York recognition in his junior and senior seasons … Named a Trench Trophy Finalist, an award given to the area's most outstanding lineman, at the conclusion of the 2013 season … Was a three-year starter for the Wildcats as an offensive and defensive lineman … Earned all-league honors in all three seasons … Received three letters in basketball and was a sectional finalist in track & field in the shot put … Was also a member of the school's scholar-athlete team as a senior … Son of John and Nancy Lamb … Has one sister, Megan, who attends the University at Buffalo.
 
Ben Line (RB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Bud Rowley at Oxford High School … Was a three-year starter for the Wildcats … Earned all-county and all-league honors in his senior season … Carried the ball 120 times for 693 yards and scored nine rushing touchdowns and one receiving TD during the 2013 campaign … Was also an all-state wrestler and is currently ranked fourth in the state of Michigan … Son of Joe and Kathy Line … His oldest brother, Zach, plays in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings … His other brother, Prescott, starts for Southern Methodist University … Plans to major in business.
 
Nelson Lucas-Murphy (LB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Mike Matta at Downingtown East High School and coached by Bill Chaplick at Milford Academy … Totaled over 300 tackles in his career for the Cougars … Led the team with 115 tackles in his sophomore year … Surpassed that mark in his junior season by notching 123 stops … Missed portions of his senior seasons with an injury … Was part of the top prep defense in the country at Milford … Major is undecided.
 
Mitch Morrison (OL) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Steve Trivisonno at Mentor High School … Named a First Team All-Northeast Ohio honoree as well as a First Team All-Star by The News-Herald … Was a three-year starter for the Fighting Cardinals … Led his team to the state finals in 2013 … Plans to major in biochemistry.
 
Angelo Natter (DE) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Terry Totten at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School … Was a first-team all-conference selection … Was a two-year starter for the Vikings … Posted over 100 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup for the Vikings … Was a member of the Vikings team that went 15-1 in 2013 and played in the state title game … Son of Rose Marie and Gary Natter.
 
Rameses Owens (RB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Jarvis Gibson at Shaker Heights High School … Had 142 carries for 1,223 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2013 … Led his team to the state playoffs in his senior season … Was also a receiving threat for the Raiders … Notched 17 catches for 285 yards and three receiving touchdowns … Accumulated 2,264 yards and 28 touchdowns in his career at Shaker Heights … Plans to enroll in the pre-med program at RMU.
 
Ryan Richards Jr. (DB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Rich Robbins at Canisius High School … Named to the All-New York team as a senior … Was a three-year starter for Canisius … Served as a co-captain as a senior … Named to the Western New York All-Catholic First Team … Tallied over 100 tackles … Led Canisius to two Monsignor Martin league championships.
 
David Steele (LB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Jeff Rotsky at Cleveland Heights High School … Was a team captain and led his team to its first-ever state playoff win in school history … Totaled 88 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass break-up … Received All-Northeast Ohio honors as a senior for the Tigers … Plans to major in business and join Robert Morris' ROTC program.
 
Cameron Sutherland (DB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Terry Totten at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School … Was a three-year starter for the Vikings … Totaled 43 tackles, 15 pass breakups, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries for the western Pennsylvania powerhouse … Returned three punts for touchdowns … Also had 39 catches for 768 yards and seven touchdowns as a wide receiver … Was a second-team all-conference selection … Son of Aletha Smith … Plans to major in communication.
 
Gennaro Trovato (DB) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by John Tortorea at Quaker Valley High School … Received all-conference and all-district awards in his senior year … Led the program to its first home playoff game in school history this past year having arguably the best season in school history in almost two decades … Was also an accomplished lacrosse player that earned all-conference and district honors.
 
Zach Walker (WR) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Tim Rogers at Forest Hills Central High School … Led his team to a state championship and three state semifinalist berths in his career … Amassed over 2,500 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns during his high school career … Selected all-state first team … Was a two-way starter and punt returner for the Rangers … Earned conference honors and was selected to the Michigan All-Star team … Garnered five interceptions in his career as well … Also played basketball and ran track for Forest Hills Central … Son of Lauren and Todd Walker … Has one sister, Aspen, who attends Penn … Plans to major in mechanical engineering.
 
Jamison Williams (WR) – (Video Highlights) – Coached by Andy Olds at Kings High School … Had 55 catches for 700 yards as a senior for the Knights … Notched over 1,000 all-purpose yards in 2013 … Set the single-season record for most receptions in the history of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) … Named All-ECC First Team, all-city first team and all-district as a senior … Voted to the Southwest Ohio First Team squad … Also tallied three interceptions as a defensive back in his senior season … Son of Renee and Frank Williams … Has one brother, Prescott, and one sister, Kella … Mentored by Kings wide receivers coach Aaron Szabo.