UTICA – First-year Utica College football coach Blaise Faggiano recruited in the Central New York region for nine years when he was on staff at St. John Fisher. He is tapped into that same hotbed of talent since his hiring last December, and he is bringing in three talented Chenango County gridders for this upcoming season, and all have a realistic shot at making the varsity squad.

Billy Northey of Sherburne-Earlville, Jeff Champlin of Oxford, and Jesse Prosser of Norwich are among 36 Central New York freshmen who will suit up for the Pioneers. “We’re really excited about football at UC this year,” Faggiano said. “Getting the some of (Chenango County’s) guys, we’re hoping to get some of the local fans to come up to our home games.”

Northey led Chenango County rushers with 1,347 yards last season and had over 2,000 yards rushing in two years at Sherburne-Earlville. Although Northey’s teams won just two games over two seasons, Northey “was all over everyone’s radar” as Faggiano said. “He was one of the best running backs in New York State, and we’re excited to have him,” the coach said. “He will have a good chance to be a varsity player this year, and he has a great work ethic.”