By: DANA BECKER, The Messenger Sports Reporter

http://www.messengernews.net/sports/local-sports/2019/02/montalto-tritons-reveal-recruiting-class/

Once all the paperwork was finished, Iowa Central football head coach Jesse Montalto could relax — at least for a short time.

Montalto and the Tritons revealed their 2019 recruiting class during a special signing day event held at Willow Ridge Golf Course earlier this week.

The group includes 13 players from the state of Iowa, 13 from out of state and five transfers.

"It's a year-long process for all of us involved," Montalto said. "A lot of work is put into this by the coaches, the admissions department and the administration.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone for everything that you do."

Last year, Iowa Central went 8-4, capping the year ranked in the Top-15 after a 34-20 victory over Monroe in the Graphic Edge Bowl. They defeated three ranked teams to close out the season.

Montalto discussed all of the incoming recruits, including the transfers that include quarterbacks Arthur Brantley IV and DJ Irons.

Brantley, who played at Div. II Northwood University, was a standout in Florida as a prep. Irons, meanwhile, comes from Eastern Kentucky after being named the Georgia Offensive Player of the Year.

"Arthur reminds me of (Baltimore Ravens quarterback) Lamar Jackson," Montalto said. "He makes you miss and is just extremely athletic.

"DJ played for a nationally ranked team in high school and beat five other ranked teams. He always has a smile on his face, is a happy kid and just a freak athlete."

After sending quarterback Blake Dever to North Alabama, Montalto called his current group "as good as we've ever been heading into the spring."

Kurt Taylor is another transfer who will compete for carries in a loaded backfield. Taylor was at Michigan last fall after a standout career in Georgia.

"Kurt is a really good, humble kid," Montalto said. "Typically with (FBS transfers) you get a kid with a sense of entitlement. He's not that kid. He wants to prove he can play at the highest level and is out-working everybody in the weight room."

Reuben Unije is an offensive lineman who played at Illinois and Jyvon Brown is a wide receiver from UMass. Unije is 6-foot-6 and over 300 pounds, while Brown is 6-foor-4 and played quarterback in high school.

A pair of Bettendorf players in wide receiver Brandan Tillman and linebacker Rocky Schoenfelder. Tillman earned first team all-state honors, as did Schoenfelder, who had 27 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.

Some other signees who earned all-state status include Anthony Berry from Urbandale, Andrew Saunders of Nevada, Clayton Kempf from Williamsburg, Kong Neyail of Grand View Christian, Romello Gray from Ankeny and Stephon Field of Des Moines East.

"Those Iowa kids are the foundation for our program," Montalto said. "We hit the state hard and were able to get some last-minute kids we didn't think we would."

Montalto called Kendrell Scurry the "crown jewel of our class." Scurry is a 6-foot-3 wide receiver from Tennessee who held almost 20 Div. I offers from schools such as Miami and Oregon. He finished his senior year with 42 receptions for 817 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Kingston McKinstry is a defensive back from Ohio who had a handful of Div. I offers, as did linebacker Malik Adams.

Iowa Central had six players transfer for FCS programs, five move to FBS and 14 more head to scholarship-level teams. Ten more are set to transfer after the upcoming semester.

"That's what it's all about," Montalto said. "Getting guys to move on to the next level is so important and really helps with getting the interest of new kids."

The Tritons open the 2019 season at Butler before hosting Iowa Western.

2019 IOWA CENTRAL FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS

Iowa players

Anthony Berry, Urbandale, OL; Andrew Saunders, Nevada, WR; Avry Bonacci, West Des Moines Valley, LB; Brandan Tillman, Bettendorf, WR; Bryant Barrier, Tri-Center, LB; Clayton Kempf, Williamsburg, OL; Jalen Long, Des Moines East, WR; Kong Neyail, Grand View Christian, WR; Marcus Lee, Carroll, LB; Richard Rodriguez, Spencer, OL; Rocky Schoenfelder, Bettendorf, LB; Romello Gray, Ankeny, DL; Stephon Field, Des Moines East, WR.

Out-of-state players

Elijah Heatherston, North Oakdale, Minn., OL; Jacquice Baylock, Lynwood, Ill., WR; Jadon Washington, Minnetonka, Minn., RB; Jakob Bradford, Brooklyn Center, Minn., OL; Keegan Trost, Kanakee, Ill., OL; Kendrell Scurry, Spring Hill, Tenn., WR; Kingston McKinstry, Grove City, Ohio, DB.

Malik Adams, Marietta, Ga.,; Myles Youngblood, Fort Pierce, Fla., WR; Raheem Brown, Brooklyn Center, Minn., DB; Stanley Cross, Nashville, Tenn., DB; Syer Watson, St. Louis, DB; Travon Swanigan, East Hazel Crest, Ill., WR.

Transfers

Arthur Brantley IV, Sarasota, Fla., QB; DJ Irons, Lawrenceville, Ga., QB; Kurt Taylor, Covington, Ga., RB; Reuben Unije, Atlanta, OL; Jyvon Brown, Irvington, N.J., WR.