By Akin Taylor | February 24, 2023
Head Coach Greg Gattuso and the University of Albany football program have announced the upcoming class of Great Danes joining the football team in 2023. The list includes 19 new student-athletes in total, including eight transfers and 11 freshmen.
QB Jordan Rae out of Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse is one of 11 freshmen in this year’s recruiting class.
Photo Credit: Jordan Rae
Coach Gattuso wants to add a substantial amount of players to the roster that can be beneficial to the program this upcoming season.
“[The goal was to] add quality players to our group of returning starters. We reached that goal and then some.” Gattuso said. “We have a strong group of experienced players at the mid-year, plus we have been successful in addressing positions where we have lost starters.”
Amongst the eight transfers, they brought in 6’2” cornerback Aamir Hall who was a FCS Freshman All-American at Richmond University. Hall recorded a fantastic stat line of 106 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2 INTs, two forced fumbles, and 19 pass break-ups. Richmond was ranked 7th in the FCS in scoring defense.
Some of the other transfers are junior Ben Eisenhower, an offensive linemen out of Lackawanna College, Ondre Toland, an offensive linemen from Monroe Community College, Michel Lucien, a linebacker from Monroe Community College, Levi Wentz, a wide receiver out of Old Dominion University, Trey Lindsey, a quarterback transfer out of Auburn University and safety DaeSean Winston, a graduate student from Temple University.
Trey Lindsey is a former walk-on at Auburn, who spent three years in the depth chart with former 4-star recruit Bo Nix who is now at Oregon University, leading the Ducks to an excellent 10-3 year this past season. Lindsey recorded 2,200 yards and 24 TDs as a high school senior and the school record holder for TDs and passing yards at Montgomery Academy.
From a class of 11 freshmen, a couple of recruits stand out: Jordan Rae, and offensive lineman Joey McMahon. Rae is an undersized 6’0” quarterback out of Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse. He recorded a stat line of 5,700 career passing yards and 70 TDs to just 9 INTs with 12 rushing TDs. As well compiling a state championship and two all-central New York selections.
McMahon out of St. Joseph’s Prep in Pennsylvania is a two-time state champion, 2nd Team all-Philadelphia, and 2nd team all-state. The recruitment of four linemen should improve the Great Danes’ offense performance this season. The Great Danes averaged a total of 29.6 points per game while their opponents averaged 34.