BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo head football coach Jim Hofher has added a pair of recruits to the 2002 Bulls' recruiting class. Ananias Boyd (Hampton, VA/Bethel HS) and Rickey Bethel (Lantana, FL/Santaluces HS) have both signed to continue their football and academic

Jim Hofher

endeavors this fall and bring the number of recruits expected to report in August for fall drills to 25.

Boyd, 5-9, 210, excelled as both a running back and defensive back at Bethel High, the alma mater of NBA Most Valuable Player Allen Iverson, earning four letters on the gridiron and serving as captain as a senior. An All-District selection his final three seasons, he scored 23 touchdowns in his career, including 15 trips to paydirt as a senior for coach Tracy Parker.

Bethel, 5-11, 180, earned first-team All-Florida honors as an "athlete" (he played both quarterback and defensive back) at the highest level of football in the state while starting all four years at Santaluces HS near Palm Beach. He also was voted as MVP of the prestigious Outback Steakhouse Senior Game by snaring a pair of interceptions in the game. A four-year starter, Bethel was twice a captain, leading his team to a 34-12 record during that time.

He registered 12 career interceptions and led his team to the state playoffs three times, including a pair of district championships. An All-Area selection by both the Sun-Sentinal and the Palm Beach Post, Bethel totalled over 2,000 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns his senior season as a quarterback. He projects to be a defensive back with the Bulls.

"Both of these players bring terrific athleticism to our program and continue to make us a faster team," said Hofher. "Both played football with and against extremely strong competition and have also played a tremendous amount of football prior to their college careers. We are happy to add them to a recruiting class that we are very excited to begin work with this fall."

The Bulls will close their spring practices with the annual Blue/White Scrimmage on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 pm at UB Stadium. The scrimmage is open to the public.