On Thursday, May 11, 2023, Upper Dublin seniors DJ Cerisier, Coleman Zamborsky, Kyree Butler, Tawfiq Bartlett, Nyles Bunn-McNeill, Colin O’Sullivan & Riley Hackett were recognized for committing to compete in football at the collegiate level.
“It’s really a shame that this class had to deal with the extra COVID years awarded by the NCAA and the portal and the logjam it created at the next level,” coach Bret Stover said. “I believe had they come through a different time the opportunities for them would have been even more plentiful. That being said, I believe they all are in the right place with the opportunities to find playing time and get a quality education at the same time.”
Tawfiq Bartlett – Lebanon Valley College (Football)
Major: Sports Medicine
Final list of colleges: Lebanon Valley, Muhlenberg, Ursinus, Alvernia
Reasons for choosing Lebanon Valley: “I chose LVC because that’s where I felt most at home. I have a great relationship with the defensive coordinator and the rest of the staff. They consciously show love. It’s also one of the best schools for my major and number one in job placement in Pennsylvania.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “I started playing pound ball in the KSL for the Willow Grove Bears, and ever since then, it’s been my dream to play at the collegiate level. Recruiting started at the beginning of my junior year. I got a couple of invites to junior days and coaches started to contact me on Twitter.”
Coach Bret Stover says: “We took a step back at linebacker/fullback when Tawfiq tore his ACL and was lost for the year. He worked real hard on his rehab, and I’m so happy he earned the opportunity to play Saturdays. Lebanon Valley College got a heck of a competitor and teammate, and I can’t wait to see him compete.”
About Tawfiq:
Favorite food: Chicken fingers & fries
Favorite movie: Friday
Favorite artist: Rod Wave
Nyles Bunn-McNeill – Virginia State University (Football)
Major: Engineering
Final list of colleges: Virginia State, Delaware Valley, Eastern, North Carolina A&T, Lycoming, Hampton University
Reasons for choosing Virginia State: “Felt like home, solid sports team, real good engineering program and good cultural environment.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “The progression that led me to playing college football really came from my senior year of high school. I had the best season of high school football my last year and that stuck with me. I played with an amazing group of brothers that had each other’s back from the time we started lifting in spring to the final game of our season. Growing up I’ve always played football and basketball – it kept me busy. I love both sports, and they were my getaway from everything else I was going through as a young kid and still am till this day. So being able to even play a college sport is an honor. Everyone can’t play in college – it’s a small percentage for each sport. I knew I wanted to play in college since early middle school days. I’ve always played a grade up for better competition while still playing my age bracket. My college recruiting process started in the summer of eighth grade.”
Coach Bret Stover says: “Nyles has so much untapped potential as he is only a few years into his football career. He has the frame to put on muscle, and his size will pay dividends for him as he fills out his frame over his college career.”
About Nyles:
Favorite food: Tacos
Favorite movie: Blue Streak: Boondocks
Favorite artists: Lil Baby, Lil Durk, G Herbo
Kyree Butler – Kutztown University (Football)
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: Kutztown, West Chester, University of Albany
Reasons for choosing Kutztown: “Kutztown just felt like a fit for me from the campus to the people to the coaches, and I can’t wait to grow as a person, student and as an athlete there.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “It started early as I was talking to the coach as a freshman – just like an introduction, nothing serious but still nerve racking at the time, but being thrown in as a varsity starter as a freshman prepares you for a lot of things people could throw at you.”
Coach Bret Stover says: “Kyree may be the best two-way lineman we ever had here at UD. He is that unusual combination of strength, size and athleticism. The way he consumed double and triple teams and allowed his teammates to make plays was fun to watch. He will be a great addition to the KU defensive front, and it will be interesting to see him excel when he only has to play one way and will be fresh in fourth quarters because they won’t ask him to pull and lead on sweeps and pass protect.”
About Kyree:
Favorite food: Mac ‘n Cheese
Favorite movie: The Boondocks
Favorite artist: Rod Wave
DJ Cerisier – Duquesne University (Football)
Major: Entrepreneurship
Final list of colleges: Duquesne, New Hampshire, Slippery Rock
Reasons for selecting Duquesne: “I picked Duquesne because I felt most comfortable there with the community, school and the team. Also, with the major I’m doing, I feel like I can excel there the most with the unlimited opportunities that are there.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “The progression that led me to playing at the college level was really just me coming back and playing football again and realizing I have what it takes to play at the next level. I started thinking about playing in college my freshman/sophomore year. The recruiting process started my junior year, and it started when I posted my highlights from the season, and coaches started to contact me.”
Coach Bret Stover says: “DJ will be difficult to replace in the secondary. He would take the opponent’s best player and lock them down. He only gave up one TD all season, and it came on a broken play vs. Imhotep in the 5A Eastern Final. We already miss his smile but look for big things from him on Saturdays.”
About DJ:
Favorite food: Chicken fingers & fries
Favorite TV show: Breaking Bad
Favorite artists: Future, Lil Durk, Miguel
Riley Hackett – West Chester University (Football)
Major: Business
Reasons for choosing West Chester: To learn more about how business works and to be able to play a sport in college.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “I started thinking about the recruiting process going into my sophomore year. I started going to camps and training with trainers. Eventually, coaches started to come into the school or reached out over Twitter.
Coach Bret Stover says: “Riley has a lot of upside. With his frame and willingness to work on and off the field, it will be fun to watch him compete with only having to play one way. West Chester University got a player with still a lot of potential to get even better.”
About Riley:
Favorite food: Boneless Wings
Favorite TV show: Demon Slayer
Favorite music/artist: Rap/JID
Colin O’Sullivan – Rutgers University (Football)
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: Rutgers, Boston College, Penn State
Reasons for choosing Rutgers: “Rutgers truly felt like home to me. Every time you walk in the building, everyone welcomes you with open arms. I felt like I fit in very well with the new offense, and the location was perfect for me.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “To be honest, since I was six years old, I’ve always wanted to play college football at the highest level. I’ve always loved big games and bright lights, and after my freshman year, I decided that is what I wanted to do with my life, and I committed to it.”
Coach Bret Stover says: “Where do you start when you graduate a three-year starter at quarterback who left Upper Dublin with just about every school record. His ability to lead and his attention to detail as well as his willingness to prepare made everyone around him better. Our favorite joke in our headsets was – ‘What’s the play? We will all know in about three seconds when Colin calls it.’ We said we couldn’t replace Andrew Derr, Ryan Stover, and Mike Slivka, but we did. It’s next man up time, and Colin took time out of his preparation for RU to meet with our upcoming quarterbacks on and off the field to help get them ready for the ’23 season. Colin will make a heck of a coach someday when his playing days are over, but now we are excited to see him excel at RU. I know one thing for sure, no one in the quarterback room will out-prepare him.”
About Colin:
Favorite food: Buffalo Chicken
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite music: “I listen to everything from Lil Baby to The Lumineers.”
Coleman Zamborsky – Ursinus College (Football)
Major: Media & Communications
Reasons for choosing Ursinus: “I felt like being able to play college football at a school with such a great history in their educational system, as well as having such a successful football team. I have had friends and family who have attended Ursinus and loved everything about it. The coaches’ personalities and how easy it was to talk to them made it so much easier.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “My whole life I have been playing football, and I knew I could not stop playing the sport I love. Football, for me, has built so much character and has taught me a lot about myself, and I want to keep growing and learning as a person and continue to play the sport. For the recruiting, I worked out in front of schools and attended various camps and released films throughout the season and after.”
Coach Bret Stover says: “Coleman worked extremely hard last offseason as he made the transition from quarterback to tight end. He spent hours with Colin running routes, and under Coach Schmidt and Coach Roberts, he made himself into a blocker. UC is a good fit for him athletically as well as academically.”
About Coleman:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite movie/TV show: Moneyball/Breaking Bad
Favorite music: Pop and R&B
- Log in to post comments
