February 7, 2003
GREENVILLE -- Furman men's soccer head coach Doug Allison announced the signing of five recruits to national letters-of-intent on Friday. In addition two transfers will join the program in 2003 as well.
Furman's 2003 freshman class is highlighted by one member of the United States Under-17 National Team and two others who are Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region Team members.
Furman's incoming class includes Bryan Amos (Plano, Texas), Noah Grams (Waukesha, Wisc.), Jordan Mann (Prarie Village, Kansas), Ryan Nazar (Louisville, Ky.), and Eric Vogl (Jefferson, N.C.). Mark Futrell (Sugarland, Texas) comes to Furman after one year at St. John's, while Nick LeBlanc (Lafayette, La.) is transferring from Auburn-Montgomery.
"This should be a solid recruiting class to fill some key needs," said Furman head coach Doug Allison. "I look forward to seeing how they develop over the next four seasons."
Eric Vogl has been a member of the U.S. Under-17 National Team for the past two seasons where he attended the Edison Academic Center in Bradenton, Fla. Vogl, a defender, currently lives in Jefferson, N.C., where he is completing his degree requirements from the Edison Academic Center. Vogl is originally from Fayetteville, Ga., where he was a member of the Georgia ODP Team. He is currently a member of the Region III ODP squad.
Bryan Amos is a goalkeeper from Plano, Texas. Amos attends Plano High School and is a member of the Solar Club team. He has been the Region III goalkeeper since 1999 and is on the North Texas ODP team.
Ryan Nazar is a forward from Louisville, Ky., where he attends Louisville Collegiate. He is a member of the Javanon Club team.
Noah Grams is a defender from Waukesha, Wisc., where he attends Waukesha West. He is a member of the Brookfield Lightning and is on the Region II and Wisconsin ODP teams.
Jordan Mann, of Prarie Village, Kansas, attends Shawnee Mission East High School. A midfielder, Mann plays for the Kansas City Legends and is a member of the Kansas ODP squad.
Mark Futrell spent the 2002 season at St. John's University and comes to Furman as a sophomore. Futrell is a midfielder/defender from Sugarland, Texas. He plays for the Houston Texans club team and was a member of the Region III and South Texas ODP teams.
Nick LeBlanc comes to Furman as a junior from Auburn-Montgomery where he helped lead AUM to the 2001 NAIA National Championship Game and to the 2002 NAIA National Semifinals. He is from Lafayette, La., where he attended Lafayette High School.
Furman returns eight starters from a team that finished the season with a 19-3-1 overall record, including a third round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Furman set two new NCAA Division I records in 2002 as it extended its Southern Conference unbeaten streak to 43 matches and as it recorded 11 straight shutouts from October 9 through November 27, going 1,129 minutes without allowing a goal.
Bryan Amos
Mark Futrell
Noah Grams
Nick LeBlanc
Jordan Mann
Ryan Nazar
Eric Vogl