Football notes: Change of heart for Sacred Heart

Andrew O'Neill wasn't seriously considering Sacred Heart University.

But an old teammate and a new friend changed his mind.

O'Neill, a senior at Washington Township who was a first-team All-South Jersey selection by The Inquirer as an all-purpose offensive player, committed to Sacred Heart on a football scholarship earlier this week.

O'Neill also had an offer from Wagner.

He made his decision after visits to Wagner and Sacred Heart the last two weekends.

"It just felt like the right place for me," O'Neill said of Sacred Heart.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound O'Neill scored 21 touchdowns despite missing parts of three games with injuries.

O'Neill ran for 484 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 45 passes for 615 yards and seven TDs. He also had a punt return and kickoff return for touchdowns.

He said he was recruited by Sacred Heart as a slot receiver/scatback. He said his offer was for full tuition with an opportunity to earn additional scholarship money during his career.

O'Neill said he was influenced by former Washington Township player Robert Dim, now a senior at Sacred Heart.

O'Neill also heard from Rancocas Valley defensive back Alec Finelli, who committed to Sacred Heart last week. The two became friends after attending a camp at Colgate last summer.

"He was telling me to go up there with him," O'Neill said. "Now, we'll probably room together."

Sacred Heart, in Fairfield, Conn., is an NCAA Division I program at the FCS (I-AA) level. The Pioneers compete in the Northeast Conference with programs such as Robert Morris, Wagner, and Bryant.

Ellis to Florida Atlantic. Holy Spirit senior defensive tackle Ray Ellis, who had around 15 offers, has decided to attend Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla.

Ellis, who lives in Egg Harbor, said the weather in Florida and proximity to the beach were factors in his decision.

"I picked FAU because of the great atmosphere," Ellis said. "It's close to the beach, which is similar to my home in South Jersey. The campus is absolutely beautiful."

Ellis, who led Holy Spirit to an 11-1 record and the Non-Public 2 state final, also visited Bowling Green and Delaware.

Florida Atlantic is in Conference USA along with programs such as East Carolina, Marshall, Rice, and Southern Mississippi.

Ellis said he liked that Florida Atlantic will open its 2014 season with games against Nebraska (Aug. 30) and Alabama (Sept. 6).

"The football program is not shying away from competition," he said. "That's appealing to me."

Still undecided. Timber Creek senior offensive lineman Lamont Bradford is expected to make a college decision Monday.

Bradford committed to Connecticut in September. But the Huskies made a coaching change during the season, firing Paul Pasqualoni and recently hiring former Notre Dame assistant Bob Diaco as coach.

Timber Creek coach Rob Hinson said Bradford will visit Delaware State this weekend. He is expected to decide between Connecticut and Delaware State.

Big-time offers. Timber Creek's Cameron Chambers and Kareem Ali continue to pick up offers from some of the best programs in the country.

Chambers, a sophomore wide receiver, this past week gained offers from Ohio State, South Carolina, and Syracuse.

Ali, a junior defensive back, this week received offers from Syracuse and Purdue.

This and that. Shawnee senior Mike Caffrey, a two-time, first-team All-South Jersey pick, likely will decide between Rhode Island and Miami, Renegades coach Tim Gushue said. Caffrey likely will be a preferred walk-on at either school. . . . Rancocas Valley defensive end Tyler Schneider is seriously considering Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn., Red Devils coach Dan Haussman said. . . . Winslow Township lineman Greg Munford plans to sign with Stillman College, a Division II program in Tuscaloosa, Ala.