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The University of Albany continued to find football talent in the Wyoming Valley Conference. The Ivy League found another. And the Division II PSAC grabbed plenty more.

Wednesday was a busy day in the WVC as three players selected to play at FCS programs, formerly known as Division I-AA.

Coughlin lineman Ryan Solt and Wyoming Area long snapper Tristan Sokach-Minnick announced they will play at Albany. Crestwood defensive back Lance Blass will be moving on to Cornell University.

Solt, the son of former NFL guard Ron Solt, will receive a scholarship. Sokach-Minnick committed as a preferred walk-on, meaning he won’t receive a scholarship initially but will be guaranteed a spot on the roster.

Albany signed two WVC players last year — Wyoming Valley West tight end L.J. Wesneski and Williamsport receiver Jerah Reeves.

“When I went down on my official visit, L.J. was my host,” Solt said. “And I was around Reeves my entire time. Both of them, I love them. They’re a couple valley kids and I can’t wait to get up there with them.”

Solt was named all-state the past two seasons. He blocked for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in earning Times Leader All-WVC honors as a junior and senior.

“He’s a football kid, meaning he respects the game,” Coughlin coach Ciro Cinti said. “He knows the training that’s involved in it and he trains all year round. He knows the time he has to put in. He’s goal orientated. He wanted to go somewhere to further his education and he’s done it through football.”

Solt had offers from FBS schools Army, Rutgers, Syracuse and Maryland, where his dad played. Those programs wanted him to commit much early than he was comfortable doing.

Sokach-Minnick played on the offensive and defensive line, but at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds he wouldn’t be able to transition there at the FCS level. However, long snapping has evolved into a specialty position and his ability drew interests from Colgate, Lehigh, Pittsburgh and Stony Brook.

“Even the coaches will tell you it’s not a high-priority position until you need one in a program,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said.

Sokach-Minnick stumbled upon the position while in eighth grade. The team was doing a punting drill with two punt units during summer conditioning and needed a second long snapper. He volunteered and discovered he was good at it. He continued to hone the skill through practice and attending camps for long snappers.

“I went down on a game day visit and the campus was insane,” Skoach-Minnick said. “I just loved the campus. The team, the way they play, I kind of want to compare it to how Wyoming Area plays. We play with fire, we play with intensity and we played to win.

“When I went down there for game day, I got the same feeling I got here.”

Blass made a verbal commitment to Cornell during double sessions in August, selecting the Big Red over fellow Ivy League schools Penn and Yale as well as a handful of Patriot League teams. Penn State offered him preferred walk-on status after the season, but he stuck with his choice.

Ivy League schools don’t offer athletic scholarships, but are able to lure athletes with financial packages.

“I had been on campus a few times and been at a spring practice,” Blass said. “I just felt that was definitely where I wanted to be and the financials worked out. I just kind of knew.”

Blass was an all-state selection as a sophomore when he intercepted 10 passes. He was named to the Times Leader All-WVC three consecutive years. He missed three games this season with a thigh injury, yet led the Comets in rushing.

Although Blass played mainly safety at Crestwood, he is expected to move to outside linebacker at Cornell.

“What separates him is his leadership ability,” Crestwood coach Greg Myers said. “I think they really saw it, and what type of role model he was at Crestwood really impressed them.”

Several other WVC players selected Division II or III programs. Others are expected to make their decisions over the next few months.

• Wyoming Valley West multi-purpose threat Sean Judge will play at Division II Shippensburg where he’ll be a teammate of two former WVC stars — quarterback Ryan Zapoticky of Dallas and running back Mark Robinson of Meyers.

An all-state selection as a junior and a two-time Times Leader All-WVC selection, Judge amassed 4,868 all-purpose yards and scored 68 touchdowns as a running back, receiver and returner during his career. He also had nine career interceptions.

• Williamsport will be well represented in the PSAC in the fall as four players committed to play in the Division II conference.

Quarterback Isaiah Hankins leads the group. The Times Leader Player of the Year will attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Williamsport coach Chuck Crews said IUP will use Hankins at quarterback. Other programs were recruiting Hankins as an athlete and projected him to receiver, running back or defensive back.

Hankins started for three years and passed for 6,302 yards and 64 touchdowns, breaking the WVC record for touchdown passes of 62 set by former Berwick and Notre Dame star Ron Powlus.

Defensive lineman Ross Stebbins will play at Bloomsburg. The two-time all-state selection led Williamsport this season with 10 sacks. Tight end Jalen Jackson and receiver Elliott Walker — also all-state picks — will remain teammates at Lock Haven.

Jackson had 19 catches for 259 yards as a senior. Walker posted 34 receptions for 604 yards and 10 TDs.

• Coughlin lineman Devon Ortolani will play at Bloomsburg. He opened holes for two 1,000-yard rushers this season. The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder added 26 tackles as a defensive end.

• Hanover Area defensive back Brandon Chafin will continue playing at East Stroudsburg. He was a standout receiver as an underclassman before moving to quarterback as a senior and accounting for over 1,700 yards from scrimmage. He also was a Times Leader All-WVC pick.

• Berwick had four players commit, headed by defensive back Anthony Cicini.

Cicini will play at Division II Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Cicini was a Times Leader All-WVC selection after making 68 tackles. He was also second on the team with 18 receptions.

Assumption has dipped into the local area for talent recently. Also on the Greyhounds’ roster are defensive lineman Corey Souryavong (Old Forge) and Tyler Armillary (Riverside) and offensive lineman Joe Bruno (Old Forge). Assumption was 9-3 this past season.

Three other Berwick players will attend Division III colleges. Receiver/quarterback Mike Force will play at Wesylan College in Middletown, Connecticut. Defensive end Kyle Roberts is headed to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Receiver Harrison Kuchka is heading to Grove City College, which is about 60 miles north of Pittsburgh.

• Wyoming Valley West defensive lineman Brydon Rukstalis will play at Division III Susquehanna. He finished with 69 tackles and three sacks this season.

Former Coughlin head football coach J.P. Meck greets Coughlin lineman Ryan Solt at the Chicken Coop during a party to celebrate Solt’s signing with the University of Albany on Wednesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_RyanSolt-1.jpg.optimal.jpgFormer Coughlin head football coach J.P. Meck greets Coughlin lineman Ryan Solt at the Chicken Coop during a party to celebrate Solt’s signing with the University of Albany on Wednesday.

Wyoming Area long snapper Tristan Sokach-Minnick signed to attend the University of Albany as a preferred walk-on. Seated, from left: Blaise Sokach-Minnick, brother; Mary Beth Sokach, mother; Sokach-Minnick; Donnie Minnick, father; Stephen Sokach-Minnick, brother. Back row: Wyoming Area athletic director Joe Pizano, Wyoming Area head coach Randy Spencer, Wyoming Area secondary center principal Jon Pollard, Wyoming Area assistant head coach Mike Fanti.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Sokach-Minnick-1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area long snapper Tristan Sokach-Minnick signed to attend the University of Albany as a preferred walk-on. Seated, from left: Blaise Sokach-Minnick, brother; Mary Beth Sokach, mother; Sokach-Minnick; Donnie Minnick, father; Stephen Sokach-Minnick, brother. Back row: Wyoming Area athletic director Joe Pizano, Wyoming Area head coach Randy Spencer, Wyoming Area secondary center principal Jon Pollard, Wyoming Area assistant head coach Mike Fanti. John Erzar | Times Leader

Crestwood football standout Lance Blass signed to continue his academic and football careers at Cornell University. Front row, from left: Nancy Blass, mother; Blass, Joe Blass, father. Back row: Crestwood athletic trainer Mike Bannon; Crestwood head coach Greg Myers; Crestwood principal Chris Gegaris.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Blass-1.jpg.optimal.jpgCrestwood football standout Lance Blass signed to continue his academic and football careers at Cornell University. Front row, from left: Nancy Blass, mother; Blass, Joe Blass, father. Back row: Crestwood athletic trainer Mike Bannon; Crestwood head coach Greg Myers; Crestwood principal Chris Gegaris. Submitted photo

Wyoming Valley West football standout Sean Judge signed with Shippensburg University to further his academic and athletic careers. Front row, from left: Wyoming Valley West head coach Pat Keating; Kim Judge, mother; Judge; Sean Judge, father. Standing: principal Dave Novrocki; athletic director Sandy Mackay, assistant principal Chris Barnic; assistant principal Tara Carey.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Judge-WVW-1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Valley West football standout Sean Judge signed with Shippensburg University to further his academic and athletic careers. Front row, from left: Wyoming Valley West head coach Pat Keating; Kim Judge, mother; Judge; Sean Judge, father. Standing: principal Dave Novrocki; athletic director Sandy Mackay, assistant principal Chris Barnic; assistant principal Tara Carey. Submitted photo

Coughlin lineman Ryan Solt talks to his mother Linda at the Chicken Coop in Wilkes-Barre during a party to celebrate Solt’s signing with the University of Albany.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_RyanSolt2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgCoughlin lineman Ryan Solt talks to his mother Linda at the Chicken Coop in Wilkes-Barre during a party to celebrate Solt’s signing with the University of Albany. Submitted photo

By John Erzar

[email protected]

VIDEO

To see video of Coughlin lineman Ryan Solt talks about recruiting and having a dad who played in the NFL, visit timesleader.com

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar

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