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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF head coach Bryan Cunningham and his staff announced the Knights' signing class on Friday afternoon. The 11 newcomers are set to join 12 returners for preseason training on Aug. 10.

"We are extremely happy that our class is complete," head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "We had a number of needs coming into the year and our coaching staff feels like we addressed them all. It is our belief that these incoming players are going to have an immediate impact and help bring our program back to national prominence."

The incoming class is looking to replace the contributions of seniors Hadji Barry and Mason Miller. Barry moved on to Orlando City SC after being selected as the 13th overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.

The Knights look to improve upon a fifth-place finish in The American after going 7-8-2 overall and 3-4-1 in league play.
 

2016 UCF Men's Soccer Signing Class
NamePos.Cl.Hometown / H.S.
Richard AmonM/FFr.Accra, Ghana / Accra Academy
Diego BacellarM/FSr.Governador Valadares, Brazil / Seminole Ridge (Creighton/Monroe)
Nathan BondswellM/FFr.West Bridgford, England / The West Bridgford School
Jesus ColomboFFr.Jacksonville, Fla. / Atlantic Coast
Jonathan DeanMSo.Macon, Ga. / Stratford Academy (Wofford)
Anton DelwerDFr.Gothernburg, Sweden / Katrinelund Elite Sports
Jahvin GordonD/MFr.Miami Beach, Fla. / Miami Beach Senior
Brian JambaMFr.Narooma, Australia / Westfield Sports
Cal JenningsFFr.Roswell, Ga. / Roswell
Neville MorganD/MFr.Savanna-La-Mar, Jamaica / St. Elizabeth Technical
Matt RosenbergGKFr.Manalapan, N.J. / Manalapan
Richard Amon
M/F5-9140Fr.Accra, Ghana / Accra Academy

Prior to UCF:

  • Competed with the Accra Academy coached by Abdulaziz Fatsu
  • Helped Alema Hall to capture the inter halls soccer competition and finished as the top scorer with four goals and one assist
  • Selected as the most promising player in 2014
  • Named the school's most valuable player in 2015
  • Appeared in eight matches during the 2015 campaign and tallied 11 goals and four assists
Diego Bacellar
M/F6-0176Sr.Governador Valadares, Brazil / Seminole Ridge

Prior to UCF:

  • Played in four matches for Creighton in 2015 as the Blue Jays advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight
  • Began collegiate career by playing two seasons at Monroe College, coached by Marcus Dibernardo
  • Made 11 starts as a freshman and paced the NJCAA with 16 assists, while earning All-Region First Team
  • Scored goals with the Mustangs against Westchester (9/26/13) and Bunker Hill (11/11/14)
  • The Mustangs advanced to the 2014 NJCAA Finals after claiming the district and regional championships
Nathan Bondswell
M/F5-8160Fr.West Bridgford, England / The West Bridgford School

Prior to UCF:

  • Competed with the Derby County Youth Academy and won three international tournaments
  • Played three seasons for The West Bridgford School
  • Captured three regional championships
  • Advanced to the round of 32 as a freshman and round of 16 as a sophomore at the national tournament
Jesus Colombo
F6-1165Fr.Jacksonville, Fla. / Atlantic Coast

Prior to UCF:

  • Competed for the JFC Armada, coached by Joey Barett and Pat Cannon, and was a two-time Disney Qualifier Champion
  • Four-year letter winner for head coach Blake Cline at Atlantic Coast High School
  • Four-time All-Gateway Conference First Team member (2012-15)
  • Three-time All-First Coast Conference First Team honoree (2013-15)
  • 2015 Florida Times Union First Team and runner-up for the Player of the Year
  • 2014 Florida Times Union Honorable Mention
  • Captained the Stingrays as a senior, leading them to a 26-2 mark and capturing the district, region and conference championship, while scoring 21 goals and adding 27 assists
  • Scored a career-best 23 goals with 14 assists during junior campaign
  • Netted seven goals and nine assists as a freshman
  • Member of the Cancer Awareness Club at ACHS
Jonathan Dean
M5-8155So.Macon, Ga. / Stratford Academy (Wofford)

Prior to UCF:

  • Namd to the All-SoCon Freshman Team following his first season at Wofford College
  • Two-year starter at Stratford Academy
  • Helped lead the team to a 33-4-3 record, earning region and state championships in both the 2012 and 2013 campaigns
  • Served as the team captain in 2013
  • Led the Georgia United, coached by Tony Annan, to the USYA National Championships and helped capture a pair of state championships
  • Also played for Ray Tomlin at NASA
  • All-state selection for Stratford Academy's cross country and track and field teams
  • Member of the Key Club and Pep Club, and volunteered his time at local animal shelters and food banks
Anton Delwer
D/M6-0170Fr.Gothenburg, Sweden / Katrinelund Elite Sports

Prior to UCF:

  • Competed with GAIS U17, U19 and U21 coached by Benjamin Westman
  • Also, trained with LF Elfsborg during youth career
  • Earned one silver (2013) and two bronze (2011, 2014) medals at the Gothia Cup, one of the world's biggest youth tournaments
  • Practiced and scrimmaged with the Superettan Club GAIS
Jahvin Gordon
D/M5-8140Fr.Miami Beach, Fla. / Miami Beach Senior

Prior to UCF:

  • Played for head coach Jimmy Sottter with Plantation FC
  • Advanced to the Disney Tournament Finals
  • Earned a spot as a finalist in the State Cup
Brian Jamba
M5-5150Fr.Narooma, Australia / Westfield Sports

Prior to UCF:

  • Played for coaches Kasey Deruin and Trever Morgan at Westfield Sports High School
  • Captured the 2013 and 2015 Australian All School Boys National Championship
  • Won the Australian National Champions U15's Bill Turner Cup in 2013 and 2014
  • Participated with the Central Coast Mariners Youth Team and Western Sydney Wanderers
  • Helped the Central Coast Mariners, coached by Stu Jacobs, to a fourth-place finish at the National Youth League (2014-15)
Cal Jennings
M/F5-10165Fr.Roswell, Ga. / Roswell

Prior to UCF:

  • Participated with Georgia United, coached by Tony Annan and Dave Smith, for two seasons
  • Competed with the NASA B15 Elite coached by Ray Tomlin
  • Aided NASA to a pair of state championships and an appearance as a national finalist
  • Named the Region III Tournament MVP by scoring 14 goals and three assists in six
  • Earned the top scorer at 2015 nationals with five goals in three matches
  • Played two seasons at Roswell High School, coached by Will Roney
  • Scored 13 goals and added six assists, while earning the team's top scorer and best offensive player honors as a freshman
  • As a junior, earned All-Region First Team and Player of the Year nods, while recording 33 goals and 11 assists in helping the squad advance to the Elite Eight
Neville Morgan
D/M5-10155Fr.Savanna-La-Mar, Jamaica / St. Elizabeth Techncal School

Prior to UCF:

  • Played with St. Elizabeth Technical High School coached by Omar Wedderburn
  • Helped STETHS win the 2015 DaCoata Cup and Bengrais Championship
  • Appeared in the U20 World Cup qualifier for Jamaica
  • Trained with the Jamaican National Team
Matt Rosenberg
GK6-1185Fr.Manalapan, N.J. / Manalapan

Prior to UCF:

  • Tended goal for New York Red Bulls Academy (coached by Simon Nee) in 2016 and secured the Atlantic Conference Championship and a berth in the National Playoff Championship, while posting a 0.75 goals against avg.
  • Participated with Albertson Academy U16 and U18 (coached by Chad Prince) as a starting goalkeeper in the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) and made 33 starts li>
  • Coached by Sam Nellin in the USSDA Players Development Academy (PDA) and finished as the No. 2 team in the nation after capturing the U14 Regional title and reaching the national finals
  • Trained with Glasgow Celtic F.C. in Scotland during freshman and sophomore years
  • Two-year letterwinner in soccer at Manalapan High School coached by John Natoli
  • Posted six shutouts as a sophomore and compiled a 0.3 goals against avg., while aiding MHS to the New Jersey State Group 4 Semifinals after capturing the Class A North Championship and Shore Conference Tournament title
  • Earned four letters in baseball and one in basketball during prep career