By Nate Owen, News Staff

The football team’s 2009 recruiting classes features 10 players new to Northeastern and two players who, while new to the school, certainly know it very well.
‘We signed 12 [players to a National Letter of Intent.] We feel like we have done reasonably well with the local area,’ football coach Rockey Hager said.
‘ After losing 14 seniors last season, the Huskies signed three defensive linemen, two linebackers, two defensive backs, two offensive linemen, a quarterback and a tight end.
‘ In linebacker Chad Hunte and defensive back Kyle Hunte, the Huskies are not only getting fraternal twin brothers, but two players who are very familiar with Northeastern.
The pair played for Brookline High School, under coach Laz Mitjans, who started at defensive back from 1979-82 at Northeastern and roomed with the twins’ father, who was a wide receiver on the team. The Huntes’ mother also attended Northeastern, Mitjans said.
‘I’ve been going to [Northeastern] football games since I was a little kid,’ Kyle said. ‘It was a place I could see myself going too.’
Chad said he and Kyle have been playing football together since they were eight and also played a multitude of other sports growing up.
‘They motivate each other a lot, if one did a good play, the other one wanted to top that,’ Mitjans said. ‘They’re both good students and super kids, they both project very well.’
Among the other signees, CJ Parsons (6’6, 235 pounds, Dover/Xavier Brothers), Tasi Suaava (5’11 268, Cleveland, Ga./White County), and Jared Veruto (6’0 302, Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) will all play defensive line for the Huskies.
‘Parsons runs pretty well, we like his size and motor at defensive end,’ Hager said.’ ‘Veruto is a very strong guy, we like the way he uses his hands. Suava has very good athletic bloodlines. He is related to many Samoan players in the NFL. He is an exceptionally quiet young man, but plays with a roar on the game field,’ he said. ‘He is really going to be a benefit to our interior inside line.’
‘ On the offensive side of the line, NU will add Alex Winks (6’2 292, Abescon N.J./Holy Spirit) and Andrew Anastor (6’5 270, Vineland N.J./Vineland.)
‘ ‘Anastor is a big tackle,’ Hager said. ‘Winks is a guard/center and is very stout. In [offensive coordinator] Brian Surace’s terminology, he’s an anchor. You’re not going to move him very much.’
Tight end Matt Lengel (6’7 220,Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), quarterback Dion Nesmith (6’0 185, Union, N.J./Union), and wide receiver Jordan Batts (5’11 170, Weston Fla./ North Broward Prep) will bolster the Huskies’ skilled positions on offense.
‘[Lengel] is a real strong candidate to be one of the continued tall, play-making tight ends that we’ve had over the past few years,’ Hager said. ‘Cumberland High School has a great football tradition and we want to bring that and a winning attitude to the Husky program.’
Hager said Batts transfered to North Broward Prep as a junior and was not the focus of the offense his first year, which led schools to overlook him.
‘ ‘This year he got to have a little more focus placed upon him and came up with some very nice plays in some very big games,’ he said.
‘ As for Nesmith, Hager said his mobility on the run is what caught his attention, calling his ability to make plays on the move ‘encouraging.’
Linebacker Chris Frazier (6’3 220, Nanjemoy Md./Henry E. Lackey) and defensive back Steven Hunter (6’0 173, Marietta, Ga./Marietta) will also join NU this fall.
‘ ‘We really see a lot of athleticism out of him,’ Hager said of Hunter. ‘He has good vertical speed and we think he is going to be a real nice addition at the corner spot for us.’
Frazier has ‘good potential,’ Hager said. He said he and his staff are pleased with what they’ve gotten out of him.
NU was 2-10 (1-7 Colonial Athletic Association) last season. The Huskies will begin spring practice March 10 and hold their spring game’ April 14.
In addition to the familiarity they had with the university and program, Chad Hunte said the family aspect of the football program made it attractive.
‘The most important reason [we came here] is that they treated us like a family,’ he said. That’s a big concept and one of the reasons why [Northeastern] was the best fit.
Even though they’ve played football together for years, don’t expect the Huntes to room together.
‘I don’t think we’re going to room together,’ Kyle said laughing. ‘We’re still a little different.’
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