HOUGHTON, Mich. – Head football coach Tom Kearly today announced that 22 student-athletes will join his team and attend Michigan Tech starting  fall 2014.

Tech’s incoming class includes 11 offensive players, 10 defensive players and a punter. Of the 22 student-athletes, 14 are from Michigan  (including three from the Upper Peninsula), seven are from Wisconsin and one is from Arizona.

“Our number one goal is always to find young people who fit our University and community,” said Kearly, who begins his ninth season as the Huskies’ head coach.

“This did not need to be a large recruiting class with only nine seniors on last year’s team. Our biggest need areas were the secondary and interior of the defensive line. We signed five defensive backs and three defensive tackles to address those needs.

“That said, I think we brought in someone at nearly every position who can help our football team in the future.”

Michigan Tech posted a 6-4 record in 2013 for its fourth straight winning season. The Huskies have compiled a 28-13 record since 2010.

Listed below are the 22 student-athletes that will attend Michigan Tech and play football this fall. A brief biography on each is also available.

Notes: The current team has been conditioning and lifting weights since returning from the semester break. Spring practices for Michigan Tech will begin March 27, with the annual spring game to be played at Sherman Field on April 19.

2014 Michigan Tech Football Recruits

Sam Badalamenti

RB    5-9    200    Clinton Twp., Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Warren DeLaSalle High School…Earned All-Catholic and all-county each of his final two years…Named all-state honorable mention and team MVP as a junior…Also participated in baseball, where he was all-conference and helped his team to a Division I state runner-up finish…Plans to major in engineering.

Nick Baumann

DB    5-11    170    Oak Creek, Wis.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Oak Creek High School…Was a two-time All-South East Conference performer…Named OCHS special teams player of the year in 2013…Helped Oak Creek to a league title in 2012 and back-to-back  playoff berths…Also participated in track and field, where he was a two-time state qualifier in the 4×200 relay…Plans to major in kinesiology.

Jeremy Bell

OL    6-3    230    Negaunee, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Negaunee High School…Was an All-UP Dream Team selection as an offensive lineman…Named to the All-Mid-Peninsula Conference First Team as both an offensive and defensive lineman in 2013…Was an AP All-State Special Mention and Detriot Free Press First Team Division 5-6 honoree as a senior…Also participated in track and field and hockey…Plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Xavier Ciardo

DL    6-3    240    Kenosha, Wis.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Indian Trail High School…Earned All-South East Conference accolades in 2013 with 53 tackles and 11.5 sacks…Was a member of the school’s first senior class in football after the program was started…Helped ITHS to a playoff win…Also participated in wrestling and track and field for one year each…Plans to major in civil engineering.

Aaron Curtiss

OL    6-3    280    Coopersville, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Coopersville High School…Named by the Grand Rapids Press to the all-area team…Earned all-conference first team honors as both a junior and senior…Also participated in wrestling and track and field…Was a state finalist (eighth place) in the discus in 2013…Plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Keith Denomie

OL    6-2    260    Baraga, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at L’Anse High School…Earned All-UP Class D honors in 2013…Named to the All-Western Peninsula Athletic Conference as both a junior and senior…Helped L’Anse to state playoff berths in 2012 and 2013…Also participated in basketball for three seasons, where he was an all-league honorable mantion in 2012-13…Plans to major in Kinesiology or exercise physiology.

Reggie Dillingham

DL    6-0    250    Milwaukee, Wis.* | Video Highlights

• Played most recently at the University of Charleston, a Division II school in West Virginia…Started at fullback as a redshirt freshman in 2011, helping the team to a 9-2 record…Has two years of eligibility remaining…Played football, rugby and wrestling at Nicolet High School…Plans to major in business administration.

Emeka Esemonu

DB    6-0    180    Cave Creek, Ariz.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Cactus Shadows High School…Earned all-region second team honors in 2013…Posted 72 tackles, four interceptions and 28 passes defended as a senior…Also participated in track and field for three years…Plans to major in business administration.

Zach Evans

DL    6-2    245    Grand Rapids, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Kenowa Hills High School…Earned all-conference first team, all-region second team and all-state honorable mention honors as a senior…Helped KHHS to state playoff berths in 2011 and 2012…Also participated in track and field for three years…Was named all-conference in wrestling.

Doug Fabry

TE    6-4    215    Wrightstown, Wis.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Wrightstown High School…Was a three-time all-conference first team selection…Named all-region first team and all-state honorable mention as a senior…Helped Wrightstown to a state title in 2011…Also participated in basketball and track and field for four years each…Plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Graham Hubbell

DB    6-0    185    Plainwell, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Plainwell High School…Named to All-Wolverine Conference First Team, all-county and all-area dream team as a junior…Had 12 tackles and two interceptions in three games as a senior before a suffering an injury…Also participated in swimming for three years and track and field for two years.

Tyler Jacqmain

LB    6-1    205    Saginaw, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Saginaw Nouvel High School…Named AP All-State as a linebacker…Was a two-time Sports Scene Dream Team selection…Had 328 tackles, 21.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and three interceptions in career…Team was MHSAA State Champions in 2011…Was a member of the National Honor Society and earned High Academic Honors all four years…Also played basketball and baseball and ran track … Plans to major in engineering.

Michael James

P    5-11    185    Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Sault Area High School…Was a All-UP First Team defensive back and punter…Holds school record for most wins as a starting quarterback…Will play in the 2014 UP All-Star Game…Led team to postseason berths in 2012 and 2013…Was the Northern Michigan champion in wrestling…Also played baseball and basketball…Plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Jake Kacynski

TE/OL    6-4    255    Ludington, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Ludington High School…Two-time all-area as a tight end and defensive end…Two-time all-conference first team TE and DE…Named special mention all-state…Team qualified for playoffs for first time since 1998 as a sophomore…Named academic all-state four times in hockey and also ran track…Plans to major in civil engineering.

Max Keyzers

LB    6-1    200    Little Chute, Wis.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Little Chute High School…All-region first team selection as a linebacker…Two-time all-conference first team selection…Wrestled for three years and did pole vault, shot put and the 100-meter dash in track and field for three years…Plans to major in chemical engineering.

Emanuel Kirkland

DB    5-11    170    Lansing, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played a Lansing Waverly High School…Class A all-area selection as a defensive back…Named all-conference after 40 tackles, including five tackles for loss, 12 breakups and three interceptions…All-area and all-conference in track and qualified for the state meet in the 110 hurdles and 4×100 relay…Also played basketball.

Kevin Kirkland

WR    5-11    170    Lansing, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played a Lansing Waverly High School…All-area and all-conference wide receiver…Had 48 catches for 790 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013…All-area and all-conference in track and qualified for the state meet in the 110 hurdles and 4×100 relayPlans to major in civil engineering.

Sam Lacko

WR    6-3    180    Eagle River, Wis.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Northland Pines High School…Two-time first team all-conference selection as a wide receiver…As a senior, served as team captain and named offensive team MVP…Was a semifinalist for the Al Toon Award…Team went to the playoffs all four years…Was team and three-time captain of the golf team…Plans to major in engineering.

Seth Malcolm

OL/DL    6-2    245    Sterling, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Standish-Sterling High School…Named to the Bay City Times Dream Team as an offensive and defensive lineman…Honorable mention academic all-state…Selected as the team’s co-offensive MVP…Team made postseason during the last three seasons and was district champions in 2013…Was an academic all-state selection in baseball and also played basketball…Class valedictorian…Plans to major in engineering.

Drew Marion

QB    6-1    200    Lake City, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Lake City High School…Two-time conference MVP as a quarterback…2012 Detroit Free Press First Team All-State selection…Three-time all-conference selection…Threw for 5,288 yards and 58 touchdowns and rushed for 3,581 yards and 86 touchdowns…Team qualified for first playoff in school history and was district champs in 2012 and 2013…Also played basketball and baseball…Plans to major in engineering.

Cal McCarty

OL    6-4    220    Brussels, Wis.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Southern Door High School…All-state punter as a junior…Named first team all-conference…Averaged 43.2 yards per punt in 2012…Also played offensive tackle, defensive end and tight end…Played basketball and threw shot put and discus in track and field…Plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Jaylyn Williams-Boone

DB    5-7    150    Flint, Mich.* | Video Highlights

• Played at Flint Carman-Ainsworth High School…Named All-Saginaw Valley Conference First Team as a cornerback…Served as team captain…All-academic selection and AP Student…Had 28 tackles, including 25 solo, two tackles-for-loss and 11 breakups…Was also an all-conference pole vaulter and all-conference wrestler.