UB Football Announces Initial 2026 Signing Class
12/3/2025 12:07:00 PM | Football
BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo football head coach Pete Lembo announced the initial signees for the 2026 recruiting class on the first day of the National Signing Period on Wednesday. The initial 20-member signing class consists of seven offensive players and 12 defensive players and a special teamer.
The class is comprised of four linebackers, three offensive linemen, three edges, two safeties, two defensive tackles, a cornerback, a quarterback, a running back, a wide receiver, a tight end and a long snapper. The newest class comes to UB from 10 different states, including Ohio (5), Pennsylvania (3), New Jersey (3), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (2), New York, Indiana, Michigan, Florida and Virginia.
"We are very excited to welcome this great group of young men and their wonderful families to the UB community," Lembo said. "This is a fabulous group of passionate players with great personalities. They will fit in very well with our returning players. We are excited to work with them in 2026 and beyond."
Eleven of the initial 20-member class will enroll at UB in January.
More signees are expected in the future.
The initial members of the 2026 signing class:
*Will enroll in January
Mid-Year Enrollees
Aiden Anderson
Edge
Freshman
6-2, 240
Orlando, FL/Edgewater
Edge from Florida who played at Edgewater High School… had 52 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 12 sacks his senior season.
Marco Cate
Offensive Line
Freshman
6-4, 295
Carmel, IN/The Hun School
Offensive lineman from Indiana who played at the Hun School in New Jersey… named first-team All-State… named All-New Jersey Prep First Team… also played lacrosse in high school.
Cam Davis
Offensive Line
Freshman
6-5, 280
Newark, OH/Newark
Offensive lineman from Ohio who played Newark High School… All-Conference selection… allowed only two sacks his senior season… also played lacrosse for the Wildcats.
Chase Enlow
Running Back
Freshman
5-10, 190
Manalapan, NJ/The Hun School
Physical running back from The Hun School in New Jersey… named All-League and All-State in 2023 after rushing for 1,193 yards and totaling 1,930 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns… averaged 8.7 yards per carry his senior season.
Malachi Ervin
Edge
Freshman
6-4, 230
Pickerington, OH/Pickerington North
Edge from Ohio where he played at Pickering North High School… first-team All-Conference selection… All-District selection… was the defensive line MVP at the 2025 Under Armour Next Football Camp.
Jack Garbolino
Linebacker
Freshman
6-2, 210
North Brunswick, NJ/The Hun School
Linebacker from New Jersey where he played at The Hun School… had 85 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks his senior season… an All-Conference selection.
Matthew Heininger
Linebacker
Freshman
6-2, 220
Rochester, NY/Brighton
Linebacker from Brighton High School in New York… named the 2025 Class A Co-Defensive Player of the Year… helped the Bruins win the 2025 Section V title and he was named the game's MVP… younger brother of current UB offensive lineman Alex Heininger.
Na'Rod Jarvis
Linebacker
Freshman
6-3, 215
Chesapeake, VA/Oscar F. Smith
Linebacker from Oscar F. Smith High School in Virginia… helped lead the Tigers to a 2025 Region Championship.
Preston Lunsford
Edge
Freshman
6-3, 230
Newark, OH/Newark
Edge from Ohio where he played a Newark High School… four-year starter and two-year team captain… had a school-record 17.5 sacks his senior season… led all of Ohio Division I High School in sacks… named first-team All-Conference and named the Newark Advocate Defensive Player of the Year.
Tim Schwerha
Long Snapper
Freshman
6-1, 240
Pittsburgh, PA/Belle Vernon
Long snapper from Pittsburgh who played at Belle Vernon High School… had a strong showing at the Kohl's Spring Eastern Showcase.
Anwar Witherspoon, Jr.
Linebacker
Freshman
6-2, 220
Edison, NJ/St. Thomas Aquinas
Linebacker from New Jersey who played at St. Thomas Aquinas… earned All-State honors… named first-team All-Division... had 115 tackles and eight tackles for loss as a senior… also played tight end and had 37 receptions for 552 yards and nine touchdowns.
Aaron Clark
Wide Receiver
Freshman
6-1, 185
Philadelphia, PA/Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Wide Receiver from Philadelphia who played at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy… an All-State and All-League selection… had 46 catches for 1,057 yards and 15 touchdowns… helped lead the Blue Devils to a league championship.
Dylan Cleary
Safety
Freshman
6-0, 193
Ellicott City, MD/Our Lady of Good Counsel
Safety from Maryland who played at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School… first-team All-Conference selection… had 50 tackles and three interceptions his senior season.
Jamarcus Jones
Cornerback
Freshman
6-0, 170
Columbus, OH/Harvest Prep
Cornerback from Ohio who played at Harvest Prep… first-team All-District selection… had seven interceptions on the season and added 1,000 yards as a receiver.
Qur'an McNeill
Quarterback
Freshman
6-3, 190
Boston, MA/Milton Academy
Dual-threat quarterback from Milton Academy in Massachusetts… helped lead the Mustangs to a New England Championship in 2025… threw for 1,963 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 220 yards and four scores his senior season.
Will Reed
Defensive Tackle
Freshman
6-3, 260
Oak Park, MI/Oak Park
Defensive tackle from Michigan where he played at Oak Park High School… an All-Region selection.
Royce Rogers
Defensive Tackle
Freshman
6-1, 270
Springfield, OH/Springfield
Defensive tackle from Ohio where he played at Springfield High School… named the 2025 GWOC Defensive Player of the Year… first-team All-Conference and All-District selection… had 80 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss his senior season… helped lead the Spartans to a conference championship.
TJ Sabatucci
Tight End
Freshman
6-3, 235
Pittsburgh, PA/Canon McMillan
Tight end from Pittsburgh who played at Canon McMillan High School… a three-time All-Conference selection… named to the 2025 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 22… had a 205-yard, three touchdown receiving game against Hempfield his senior season… also was a disruptive defensive end of the Big Macs.
Mike Whalen
Offensive Line
Freshman
6-4, 295
Natick, MA/Natick
Offensive lineman from Massachusetts who played at Natick High School… two-time conference all-star… also a standout wrestler at Natick.
Bryce Williams
Safety/Nickel
Freshman
6-0, 190
Venice, FL/Pennington School
Safety from Florida who played his high school ball at the Pennington School in New Jersey… A two-time All-New Jersey Prep Football Team selection… All-League selection.
The class is comprised of four linebackers, three offensive linemen, three edges, two safeties, two defensive tackles, a cornerback, a quarterback, a running back, a wide receiver, a tight end and a long snapper. The newest class comes to UB from 10 different states, including Ohio (5), Pennsylvania (3), New Jersey (3), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (2), New York, Indiana, Michigan, Florida and Virginia.
"We are very excited to welcome this great group of young men and their wonderful families to the UB community," Lembo said. "This is a fabulous group of passionate players with great personalities. They will fit in very well with our returning players. We are excited to work with them in 2026 and beyond."
Eleven of the initial 20-member class will enroll at UB in January.
More signees are expected in the future.
The initial members of the 2026 signing class:
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/Previous School |
| Aiden Anderson* | Edge | 6-2 | 240 | Orlando, FL/Edgewater HS |
| Marco Cate* | OL | 6-4 | 295 | Carmel, IN/The Hun School |
| Aaron Clark | WR | 6-1 | 185 | Philadelphia, PA/Springfield Chestnut Hill Academy |
| Dylan Cleary | S | 6-0 | 193 | Ellicott City, MD/Our Lady of Good Counsel HS |
| Cam Davis* | OL | 6-5 | 280 | Newark, OH/Newark HS |
| Chase Enlow* | RB | 5-10 | 190 | Manalapan, NJ/The Hun School |
| Malachi Ervin* | Edge | 6-4 | 230 | Pickerington, OH/Pickerington North HS |
| Jack Garbolino* | LB | 6-2 | 210 | North Brunswick NJ/The Hun School |
| Matthew Heininger* | LB | 6-2 | 220 | Rochester, NY/Brighton |
| Na'Rod Jarvis* | LB | 6-3 | 215 | Chesapeake, VA/Oscar F. Smith HS |
| Jamarcus Jones | CB | 6-0 | 170 | Columbus, OH/Harvest Prep |
| Preston Lunsford* | Edge | 6-3 | 230 | Newark, OH/Newark |
| Qur'an McNeill | QB | 6-3 | 190 | Boston, MA/Milton Academy |
| Will Reed | DT | 6-3 | 260 | Warren, MI/Oak Park HS |
| Royce Rogers | DT | 6-1 | 270 | Springfield, OH/Springfield HS |
| TJ Sabatucci | TE | 6-3 | 225 | Canon McMillan HS |
| Tim Schwerha* | LS | 6-1 | 240 | Pittsburgh, PA/Belle Vernon HS |
| Mike Whalen | OL | 6-4 | 295 | Natick, MA/Natick HS |
| Bryce Williams | S/Nick | 6-0 | 190 | Venice, FL/Pennington School |
| Anwar Witherspoon, Jr.* | LB | 6-2 | 220 | Edison, NJ/St. Thomas Aquinas HS |
*Will enroll in January
Mid-Year Enrollees
Aiden Anderson
Edge
Freshman
6-2, 240
Orlando, FL/Edgewater
Edge from Florida who played at Edgewater High School… had 52 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 12 sacks his senior season.
Marco Cate
Offensive Line
Freshman
6-4, 295
Carmel, IN/The Hun School
Offensive lineman from Indiana who played at the Hun School in New Jersey… named first-team All-State… named All-New Jersey Prep First Team… also played lacrosse in high school.
Cam Davis
Offensive Line
Freshman
6-5, 280
Newark, OH/Newark
Offensive lineman from Ohio who played Newark High School… All-Conference selection… allowed only two sacks his senior season… also played lacrosse for the Wildcats.
Chase Enlow
Running Back
Freshman
5-10, 190
Manalapan, NJ/The Hun School
Physical running back from The Hun School in New Jersey… named All-League and All-State in 2023 after rushing for 1,193 yards and totaling 1,930 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns… averaged 8.7 yards per carry his senior season.
Malachi Ervin
Edge
Freshman
6-4, 230
Pickerington, OH/Pickerington North
Edge from Ohio where he played at Pickering North High School… first-team All-Conference selection… All-District selection… was the defensive line MVP at the 2025 Under Armour Next Football Camp.
Jack Garbolino
Linebacker
Freshman
6-2, 210
North Brunswick, NJ/The Hun School
Linebacker from New Jersey where he played at The Hun School… had 85 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks his senior season… an All-Conference selection.
Matthew Heininger
Linebacker
Freshman
6-2, 220
Rochester, NY/Brighton
Linebacker from Brighton High School in New York… named the 2025 Class A Co-Defensive Player of the Year… helped the Bruins win the 2025 Section V title and he was named the game's MVP… younger brother of current UB offensive lineman Alex Heininger.
Na'Rod Jarvis
Linebacker
Freshman
6-3, 215
Chesapeake, VA/Oscar F. Smith
Linebacker from Oscar F. Smith High School in Virginia… helped lead the Tigers to a 2025 Region Championship.
Preston Lunsford
Edge
Freshman
6-3, 230
Newark, OH/Newark
Edge from Ohio where he played a Newark High School… four-year starter and two-year team captain… had a school-record 17.5 sacks his senior season… led all of Ohio Division I High School in sacks… named first-team All-Conference and named the Newark Advocate Defensive Player of the Year.
Tim Schwerha
Long Snapper
Freshman
6-1, 240
Pittsburgh, PA/Belle Vernon
Long snapper from Pittsburgh who played at Belle Vernon High School… had a strong showing at the Kohl's Spring Eastern Showcase.
Anwar Witherspoon, Jr.
Linebacker
Freshman
6-2, 220
Edison, NJ/St. Thomas Aquinas
Linebacker from New Jersey who played at St. Thomas Aquinas… earned All-State honors… named first-team All-Division... had 115 tackles and eight tackles for loss as a senior… also played tight end and had 37 receptions for 552 yards and nine touchdowns.
Aaron Clark
Wide Receiver
Freshman
6-1, 185
Philadelphia, PA/Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Wide Receiver from Philadelphia who played at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy… an All-State and All-League selection… had 46 catches for 1,057 yards and 15 touchdowns… helped lead the Blue Devils to a league championship.
Dylan Cleary
Safety
Freshman
6-0, 193
Ellicott City, MD/Our Lady of Good Counsel
Safety from Maryland who played at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School… first-team All-Conference selection… had 50 tackles and three interceptions his senior season.
Jamarcus Jones
Cornerback
Freshman
6-0, 170
Columbus, OH/Harvest Prep
Cornerback from Ohio who played at Harvest Prep… first-team All-District selection… had seven interceptions on the season and added 1,000 yards as a receiver.
Qur'an McNeill
Quarterback
Freshman
6-3, 190
Boston, MA/Milton Academy
Dual-threat quarterback from Milton Academy in Massachusetts… helped lead the Mustangs to a New England Championship in 2025… threw for 1,963 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 220 yards and four scores his senior season.
Will Reed
Defensive Tackle
Freshman
6-3, 260
Oak Park, MI/Oak Park
Defensive tackle from Michigan where he played at Oak Park High School… an All-Region selection.
Royce Rogers
Defensive Tackle
Freshman
6-1, 270
Springfield, OH/Springfield
Defensive tackle from Ohio where he played at Springfield High School… named the 2025 GWOC Defensive Player of the Year… first-team All-Conference and All-District selection… had 80 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss his senior season… helped lead the Spartans to a conference championship.
TJ Sabatucci
Tight End
Freshman
6-3, 235
Pittsburgh, PA/Canon McMillan
Tight end from Pittsburgh who played at Canon McMillan High School… a three-time All-Conference selection… named to the 2025 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 22… had a 205-yard, three touchdown receiving game against Hempfield his senior season… also was a disruptive defensive end of the Big Macs.
Mike Whalen
Offensive Line
Freshman
6-4, 295
Natick, MA/Natick
Offensive lineman from Massachusetts who played at Natick High School… two-time conference all-star… also a standout wrestler at Natick.
Bryce Williams
Safety/Nickel
Freshman
6-0, 190
Venice, FL/Pennington School
Safety from Florida who played his high school ball at the Pennington School in New Jersey… A two-time All-New Jersey Prep Football Team selection… All-League selection.
Players Mentioned
OL
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