WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes Staten Island, NY -
Wagner In Season Openers
The Seahawks will look for their first season-opening win since 2018, when Wagner stormed past Bowie State by a score of 40-23.
The Captains
Graduate students Justin Reilly and Jalin Justice along with junior Brady Anderson were chosen by their teammates to lead the Seahawks in 2024. All three captains have been at Wagner for their entire collegiate careers.
"We're excited about the leaders on our team, especially our three captains, and look forward to seeing them excel on the field and in the classroom this fall," Masella commented.
Reilly returns to Grymes Hill after finishing third on the team in tackles with 53 total tackles in 2023 and is the Seahawks' leading returning tackler going into the 2024 campaign. In the Seahawks' road victory at Sacred Heart he finished with 12 total tackles, one sack, and an interception. Throughout his career, Reilly has appeared in 24 games, recording 110 tackles.
Justice will once again lead Wagner's linebackers after appearing in all 11 games in three consecutive seasons. In 2023, Justice finished with 49 total tackles on the season and 8 tackles for loss with two sacks. The graduate student recorded seven tackles in consecutive games at Stonehill and Saint Francis U, while leaving his mark in Wagner's memorable homecoming win against Merrimack, as his tackle on a mishandled kick sealed the Seahawks' victory.
Entering his third year on Grymes Hill, Anderson returns after earning a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team in 2023. Anderson started all 11 games a year ago and was integral in the Seahawks' run game that produced two 600-yard rushers for the first time since 2016.
Seahawks Earn Preseason All-Conference Honors
Anderson, sophom*ore Jaylen Bonelli, junior Jorel Liverpool, and sophom*ore Zachary Ricci all earned spots on the Preseason All-NEC team.
Wagner's most decorated returning player, Bonelli was named a freshman All-American by FCS Football Central in 2023 and became the second Seahawk ever to win NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year, joining all-time great quarterback Nick Doscher, who won the award in 2009. Last season, Bonelli led Wagner with 40 receptions for 627 yards and four touchdowns throughout the season and picked up a league-leading four NEC Rookie of the Week honors, leading all freshmen in the circuit in every major receiving category.
Named a Second Team All-NEC selection by Phil Steele in 2023, Liverpool appeared in all 11 games a season ago. The New York City native accounted for 41 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2023.
The final Seahawk on the Preseason All-NEC team, Ricci finished the 2023 season with 20 total tackles and two interceptions, including a pick six in Wagner's victory against Stonehill.
Additionally, newcomer Sam Martin, senior Rickey Spruill, and graduate student Jalin Justice earned preseason All-NEC honors by Phil Steele magazine.
Season Preview – Offense
The Seahawks will build around reigning NEC Rookie of the Year Jaylen Bonelli and veterans Rickey Spruill, Chase Stafford, Mark Didio, and Brady Anderson. Albany transfers Tyson Foster and Kevin Singer along with junior college transfer Brandon Sneh will bolster the offensive line, while Christian Tate (Bucknell), Malik Cooper (Temple/Independence CC), and Andre Hines Jr. (Boston College) give the Seahawks additional weapons with previous college football experience.
Season Preview – Defense
The Seahawk defense will feature a plethora of veteran players, with Staten Island natives Logan Barnes and Sam Martin along with defensive back Reilly Dravet and linebacker Jordan Johnson providing additional talent compared to a season ago. Overall, 10 of 11 scheduled starters on the depth chart for Saturday's opener are juniors or older, with Barnes being the only sophom*ore scheduled to start.
Season Preview – Special Teams
Wagner's special teams unit of Ryan Liszner, Drew Borner, Joshua Brown, Bailey Marzola, Nick Ciucci, and Joseph Taikina remains unchanged from a season ago.
The Barnes Connection
Sophom*ore and Staten Island native Logan Barnes is the brother of current quarterbacks coach and former Wagner quarterback Quincy Guy-Barnes.
New Faces On Staff
Head Coach Tom Masella's Staff will feature new faces compared to a season ago.
Apart from defensive line coach Derek Getchell taking over defensive coordinator duties, the 2024 Seahawks will feature five new assistant coaches.
Wide receivers coach Joseph Czelusniak arrives on Grymes Hill with a plethora of coaching experience at the Division II level, most recently at Houston Christian University. Prior to his stint at Houston Christian, Czelusniak coached at UVA Wise.
Safeties coach Kyle Flood joined the staff in the spring after playing at SEC member Alabama from 2020-2024. Flood was a member of the Crimson Tide's 2020 National Championship team along with three SEC titles.
Jacob Liebert will work with Wagner's linebackers and serve as the video coordinator after playing three seasons at Pace as a linebacker and punter. No stranger to the Northeast Conference (NEC), Liebert started his collegiate career at Sacred Heart.
Offensive line assistant Thomas Walsh arrives after a standout career at Stonehill College, where he was a five-year starter, two-time captain, and two-time all-conference selection along the Skyhawks' offensive line.
Assistant Coach Julian Ortiz joins the Seahawks' staff after previously serving as the co-offensive coordinator at Fitchburg State University. At Fitchburg State, Ortiz was also in charge of coaching the wide receivers and tight ends.
Wagner In The NFL
The Seahawks once again had three players in NFL camps in 2024. Former Wagner College All-American Cam Gill signed with the Carolina Panthers in the offseason and recorded a sack in Carolina's final preseason game.
Following a record-setting collegiate career that saw him earn consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) Defensive Player of the Year and All-America honors, Gill was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buccaneers following the 2020 NFL Draft and earned a spot on Tampa Bay's roster in training camp before winning Super Bowl LV in memorable fashion.
Gill made a tackle on a kickoff with 7:25 to play in the third quarter, before combining with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in taking down Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a sack with five minutes remaining in the game. Gill was also credited with a forced fumble on the play.
In four seasons, Gill has recorded 29 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in a Bucs uniform and was a key contributor on Tampa Bay's special teams in 2023.
Gill finished his Seahawk career as one of Wagner's most decorated players ever, as he was named a STATS FCS First Team All-American, Hero Sports FCS Second Team All-American, Associated Press Third Team All-American, and All-ECAC First Team selection, while playing in the Prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl following the 2019 season. The Douglasville, GA native became the fifth player in NEC history to repeat as the league's top defensive player and finished his collegiate career as the conference's all-time sack leader with 34 career sacks. In 2019, the dynamic outside linebacker led the league with 9.5 sacks while accumulating 20 tackles for loss and 60 overall stops in 12 games. Gill also received an invitation to compete in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl while finishing as a finalist for the FCS' Buck Buchanan Award, the top defensive player in the country.
Defensive lineman Chris Williams was traded to Chicago after recording two sacks, including a safety, in the preseason for the Cleveland Browns.
Williams signed with the Browns' practice squad after spending a majority of the 2023 season on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.
The Brooklyn native is in his third NFL season after originally being signed by the Indianapolis Colts and has appeared in 13 NFL games, all of which came in a Colts uniform.
A strong playmaker in the middle of Wagner's defense, Williams earned his second consecutive All-NEC honor and first appearance on the first team in 2019. Williams jumped on the scene for NFL scouts following his senior season, when he participated in the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl alongside his teammate Cam Gill. Williams dominated opposing offensive lines all season, finishing with 62 tackles, including four sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. Williams recorded two sacks in Wagner's victory over LIU in 2019 and led the Green and White with 11 total tackles in the 2019 season-opener at FBS member UConn.
Former All-American Titus Leo spent his second NFL training camp with the Indianapolis Colts. Leo was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, becoming the highest draft pick in school history.
Leo was a First Team All-NEC selection in 2022 and played in the prestigious East West Shrine Bowl following the 2022 season.
A two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year, Leo was the recipient of multiple preseason All-America honors and departed Wagner and the NEC as one of the most decorated defensive players in school and league history.
Throughout his five-year career, Leo compiled 234 total tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
Leo was named to the watch list for the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl. Leo also earned a spot on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, which Stats Perform presents to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
Apart from Gill, Williams, and Leo, numerous former Wagner assistant coaches continue to shine in the NFL, led by coordinators Lou Anarumo (Cincinnati Bengals) and Patrick Graham (Las Vegas Raiders).
Hameline Returns To College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
Wagner College Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and former head football coach Walt Hameline was named to the 2025 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame announced.
This year's ballot includes 77 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 101 players and 34 coaches from the divisional ranks.
The ballot was emailed to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which will deliberate and select the class.
Wagner In The Preseason Poll
Reigning champion Duquesne was tabbed the favorite to repeat as NEC champs at season's end ahead of Saint Francis U, Robert Morris, and LIU, with the Red Flash and Sharks receiving one first place vote each. Stonehill, Wagner, and CCSU rounded out the annual poll.
The Schedule
Following two road games at Lehigh (9/7) and Delaware State (9/14), the Seahawks will open up NEC play against Robert Morris at home on September 21, as the Colonials return to the conference as an associate member in 2024.
The first FBS contest of the year will take place on September 28, as the Seahawks travel to FAU for the third-ever meeting between the two teams. After a road game at Stonehill on October 5, the Seahawks will play consecutive home games against Columbia (10/12) and Saint Francis U (10/19).
Wagner will wrap up the month of October at UMass (10/26) before traveling to CCSU (11/2). Following the bye week, Wagner will play at Duquesne (11/16) before wrapping up the 2024 regular season against LIU at home on November 23.
Wagner will play two FBS opponents for the seventh time in program history in 2024. In 2015, the Seahawks played at Rice and at BYU while in 2016 the Green & White traveled to UMass and Boston College. In 2019, Wagner faced UConn and Florida Atlantic. During the 2021 fall season, Wagner took on Buffalo and Temple. In 2022, Wagner faced off against Rutgers and Syracuse before taking on Navy and Rutgers in 2023.
Tailgating Returns
Wagner College Athletics is pleased to announce the re-introduction of tailgating during the 2024 football season. Visit wagnerathletics.com for the full tailgating policy.
Up Next
Following Wagner's season opener against Virginia Lynchburg, Wagner will travel to Lehigh on September 7, with kickoff set for noon.
Print Friendly Version
