Bernards Football Players Commit to NCAA Colleges

Senior players on this year's Bernards High School Mountaineers football team, which wrapped up a 9-2 season and gained a conference championship in the fall, signed Letters of Intent with NCAA colleges last Wednesday on National Signing Day.

Record-setting wide receiver John Maddaluna III accepted a scholarship offer and signed his national letter of intent to attend Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., said Eric Simoneau, statistician for the team. Zach De Leon, a four-year starter at left tackle, also accepted a scholarship and signed to attend the University of San Diego.

Devin Ray, the Maxwell Award Winning quarterback, turned down several out of state scholarship offers to stay home and signed his letter of intent with Rutgers University, Simoneau said. Ray accepted a preferred walk on status with Rutgers, he said.

National Signing Day usually is held on the first Wednesday in February, as the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.  

Jon Diamond, a four-year starter at running back, previously accepted a scholarship and signed his letter of intent to attend the University of Vermont in Burlington, and will play lacrosse for the UVM Catamounts next year, Simoneau said.

Jason Debalso, a three-year starter at right tackle, committed to Fairleigh Dickinson University. Next year, he will play against teammate Phil Garubo, who committed to conference rival Kings College, Simoneau said.

Several senior Mountaineers have yet to make their decisions. Wide receiver Jackson Kotwick is deciding between Allegheny, Ithaca, or Misericordia University. And running Cameron Broughton is deciding between Becker College or East Coast Prep, according to Simoneau.  Also still deciding are linebacker Greg Bolton, corner back Sayre Hoover, and defensive tackle Juan Rodas.

More than half of the senior class at Bernards High School already has committed to colleges, with several scholarship offers being accepted, said Simoneau.