They’ve claimed two straight Ivy titles and have won 15 consecutive Ivy League games dating back to 2008, but Monday is all about the future for the University of Pennsylvania football team with the announcement of the 33 new additions in the Class of 2015.

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“We are really proud of this group. We feel we have another tremendous recruiting class joining the program,” said Penn’s George A. Munger Head Coach of Football, Al Bagnoli. “This is a great credit to our coaching staff for its ability to to bring in such an athletically and academically talented group. We believe these 33 individuals will each become a great addition to our program and the University.”

In Bagnoli’s 19th recruiting class, 18 incoming freshmen will join the offense – five linemen, four wide receivers, four running backs, three tight ends, a quarterback and a fullback – and 12 will become a part of the nation’s No. 4-ranked defensive unit – five defensive backs, three linemen and five linebackers. In addition, with the loss of the school’s all-time leading scorer, Andrew Samson, there are two incoming kickers.

The 33 incoming freshmen hail from a total of 14 different states, led by six apiece from California and Illinois, and two joining the Quakers from the home state of Pennsylvania. Eric Fiore is a local product of Whitehall High School, which may be recognizable for Red and Blue faithful as the same high school of senior All-Ivy honoree Matt Hamscher. Danny Gallagher has the shortest trip to the West Philadelphia campus as a Philadelphia native who attended Chestnut Hill Academy.

In 16 of the previous 18 recruiting classes under Bagnoli – the winningest Ivy League coach of all-time (72.9%) – the unit has left with a minimum of one Ivy League championship ring. The Class of 2013 and 2014 didn’t have to wait long for theirs as they each won the Ivy title just four months after stepping on campus.

The freshmen class has made a considerable impact on the Quakers for the last two seasons en route to back-to-back undefeated Ivy titles - only achieved on two other occasions since the inception of the league. In 2010, freshman Lyle Marsh led the team in rushing and earned All-Ivy honors and Scott Lopano served as the team’s punter throughout the entire championship season. In 2011, freshman quarterback Ryan Becker started twice and played in nine games; Aaron Bailey was one of the team’s top rushers and receivers; Conner Scott finished fourth on the team in receptions and Ryan Mitchell led the team with an average of 31.7 yards per catch.

Penn returns 32 letterwinners for 2011, including nine starters and eight All-Ivy honorees. Three starters will return from the Ivies highest scoring offense, four starters are back from the league’s top-ranked defense, and two of three specialists will return.

For the program that holds the NCAA record for games played, the Quakers will officially begin their 135th season with practice in late August and the first game for the 2011 team will take place on Sept. 17 against Lafayette at Franklin Field. Game times to be announced later this summer.

By University of Pennsylvania Athletic Communications