Live in the San Diego area long enough, and you will eventually find a favorite spot to grab a California burrito. For Anthony Ferrelli, it's Roberto's, adjacent to the picturesque Ponto Beach. 

San Diego County isn't just a great place to catch some waves or to dine on authentic Mexican cuisine; it's also long been home to outstanding prep football for several generations, producing standouts including Junior Seau, Ricky Williams, and Reggie Bush. 

One high school has an especially impressive presence around college football in 2025 that includes Ferrelli, the captain of FCS playoff hopeful Stony Brook. 

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Alumni of Carlsbad High School, located in the northwest part of the county about 30 miles from downtown, include Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, the All-Coastal Athletic Association honoree Ferrelli, and Ferrelli's brother, Luke, a linebacker at Cal. 

Lancers football has a fraternity spread across the nation, which Ferrelli said stays in regular contact through text to keep one another apprised of their college experiences. 

And that close-knit sense of community extends beyond the players, as Ferrelli realizes through the sheer volume of ticket requests for Stony Brook's 2025 season opener on Aug. 28 at San Diego State. 

"It's probably 30 tickets or something like that," Ferrelli said. "And I think I need probably about 10 or 12 more."

The rush of family and friends looking to support Ferrelli and his Seawolves teammates at Snapdragon Stadium is understandable. Stony Brook does not often make it to the West, with games against Air Force in 2018, Utah State in 2019, and Oregon in 2021 the most recent exceptions. 

"It's really cool for him to get back," said Stony Brook coach Billy Cosh. "Anthony will have family, high school friends there, and he deserves that, to get to play on that stage."

San Diego State marks the first California-based program to host the Seawolves, though the Aztecs have faced CAA competition in the last decade, hosting Towson in 2021 and New Hampshire in 2016. 

Coach Sean Lewis is also familiar with Stony Brook and all the Seawolves accomplished in the CAA, breaking out last season as FCS Playoffs contenders. 

"Their staff really did a heckuva job last year, flipping [the record] from 0-10 to 8-4, [Cosh] earning FCS Coach of the Year honors," Lewis said. 

Indeed, Stony Brook's reversal from a winless 2023 to a CAA championship and playoff contention emerged as one of last season's best stories in all of college football. 

Lewis also noted the vital role Ferrelli played in that turnaround, which bares out in the linebacker's numbers. 

He racked up 84 tackles, second on the squad; produced 5.5 tackles for loss; broke up three passes; and made 1.5 sacks with three quarterback hurries. 

"Anthony can blitz on certain coverages, we can have him cover different players [against the pass,] and can have him fit certain gaps on the run defense," said Ferrelli. "It comes down to, obviously, he's very talented and instinctual, but he's also very intelligent and loves football." 

All are traits that separate Ferrelli as the heart of a defense that ranked among the nation's best in creating takeaways. The Seawolves generated 26 in 2024, eighth-most in the FCS.

Stony Brook also ranked top 25 nationally for team sacks with 30. Returning Ferrelli along with preseason All-CAA defensive end Rodney Faulk, who finished last season producing 4.5 sacks, and linebacker AJ Roberts, who forced a fumble and picked off a pass, the Seawolves should continue to get to opposing quarterbacks and create takeaways just as effectively in 2025. 

Ferrelli's also integral in ensuring the level of production the breakout 2024 Stony Brook defense established remains the program standard for years to come. 

Of all the qualities that Cosh pointed to as defining Ferrelli's impact, the Seawolves coach was most adamant about the SoCal native's embrace of team. 

"We have a freshman linebacker on our roster who's really, really talented but had questions. He was going to Ferrelli for answers," Cosh said. "Anthony took him under his wing, and that's really cool to see."  

Such a dynamic isn't unique, either. Cosh said Ferrelli's election to team captain reflects the respect the linebacker has earned within the team, which in turn is a testament to the respect Ferrelli gives. 

Building such bonds, Ferrelli said, fueled Stony Brook's turnaround from the depths of 2023 to the successes of 2024. 

"The team in years past, when we weren't very good, kind of fell apart," Ferrelli explained. "Then coach Cosh and his staff came in, and I knew pretty early on that they were building something brand new, something that was going to turn a lot of heads right away.

"I knew we were going to exceed expectations," he added. "It was just a matter of going out on the field and doing it." 

Expectations have flipped thanks to Ferrelli and his running mates, with Stony Brook taking a No. 24 ranking to San Diego State. But Cosh said the same intensity to improve remains as a result of the Seawolves missing last year's FCS Playoffs. 

Stony Brook improved to 8-2 when it wrested the Golden Apple away from rival UAlbany on Nov. 9. With two more games to play, another win would almost assuredly guarantee the Seawolves a place in their first postseason since 2018. 

"When you look at the last quarter of the New Hampshire game," Ferrelli said, pointing to the 31-30 loss on Nov. 16 in the Seawolves were outscored, 21-7 in the final period. "And the entire Monmouth game [a 55-47 loss on Nov. 23], the season would have been a lot different. 

"Even though it was good, it could have been great," he added. "Just taking that one extra step in everything that we do, whether it's in class or team meetings and obviously on the field, is just vital. I think we've done a great job this offseason."

Ferrelli gets to show off all that Stony Brook has done in the offseason to a partisan crowd. If the Seawolves can take that next step to a CAA championship, perhaps a return visit to Ponto Beach for a California burrito will be in order. 

How To Watch Stony Brook Football In 2025

FloCollege is the home of CAA Football, and all Stony Brook Seawolves home games and conference games* will be aired on FloCollege. All times are in Eastern Time. 

• August 28 - TBA - San Diego State
• September 6 - 6:00 p.m. - Rhode Island - FloCollege
• September 13 - TBA - Fordham - FloCollege
• September 20 - TBA - Lindenwood - ESPN+
• September 27 - TBA - Merrimack - FloCollege
• October 4 - 3:30 p.m. - UAlbany - FloCollege
• October 18 - 1:00 p.m. - Monmouth - FloCollege
• October 25 - 3:30 p.m. - Towson - FloCollege
• November 1 - 1:00 p.m. - Maine - FloCollege
• November 8 - 12:00 p.m. - North Carolina A&T - FloCollege
• November 15 - 1:00 p.m. - Villanova - FloCollege
• November 22 - 12:00 p.m. - Bryant - FloCollege

2024 Stony Brook Football Record

• August 31 - Marshall - L, 3-45
• September 7 - Stonehill - W, 37-10
• September 14 - Fordham - W, 27-21
• September 21 - Campbell - W, 24-17
• September 28 - Morgan State - W, 22-3
• October 5 - Villanova - L, 24-42
• October 19 - Towson - W, 52-24
• October 26 - William & Mary - W, 35-13
• November 2 - Bryant - W, 31-30
• November 9 - UAlbany - W, 24-6
• November 16 - New Hampshire - L, 30-31
• November 23 - Monmouth - L, 47-55

2025 Stony Brook Football Roster

Quarterbacks

• Christopher Arfanis (FR, 5′10″, 175 lb)
• Quinn Boyd (FR, 6′3″, 185 lb)
• Casey Case (SR, 6′6″, 220 lb)
• Drew Guttieri (SR, 6′2″, 205 lb)
• Malachi Marshall (FR, 6′2″, 170 lb) 

Running Backs

• Brandon Boria (SO, 5′8″, 190 lb)
• Shakhi Carson (JR, 5′9″, 190 lb)
• Jayden Cook (SR, 6′0″, 220 lb)
• Roland Dempster (SR, 6′0″, 225 lb)
• Dylan Harris (FR, 5′11″, 200 lb)
• Johnny Martin (SO, 5′10″, 200 lb)
• Jameer Reeder (FR, 5′10″, 180 lb)
• Paul Ronga (FR, 5′9″, 185 lb) 

Wide Receivers

• Rah’Khem El (SO, 5′9″, 165 lb)
• Jayce Freeman (SO, 6′4″, 215 lb)
• Rahmon Hart Jr. (SR, 6′3″, 220 lb)
• Dylan Iorgoveanu (FR, 6′1″, 195 lb)
• Chance Knox (SR, 5′10″, 180 lb)
• Jacque LaPrarie (FR, 6′3″, 210 lb)
• RJ Lamarre (SR, 6′1″, 185 lb)
• Justin Reshard (SO, 5′7″, 165 lb)
• Kevonne Wilder (JR, 5′9″, 160 lb)
• Dez Williams (JR, 6′2″, 215 lb)
• Jasiah Williams (SR, 5′11″, 180 lb) 

Tight Ends

• Jacob Amburn (FR, 6′5″, 240 lb)
• Joseph Badyna (SO, 6′3″, 230 lb)
• Brendan Barry (SO, 6′5″, 230 lb)
• Cole Bunicci (SR, 6′3″, 235 lb)
• Alex Menghi (FR, 6′4″, 220 lb)
• Cal Redman (SR, 6′5″, 255 lb) 

Offensive Linemen

• Charles Allen III (FR, 6′5″, 350 lb)
• Hunter Barlow (SR, 6′3″, 315 lb)
• Ludvig Burell (SR, 6′4″, 295 lb)
• Wyatt Cooper (FR, 6′6″, 235 lb)
• Kevin Garcia (FR, 6′3″, 325 lb)
• James Glamos (SO, 6′7″, 310 lb)
• Matt Grossman (SO, 6′5″, 310 lb)
• Justin Kaye (FR, 6′7″, 310 lb)
• Cooper Lauersen (FR, 6′5″, 280 lb)
• Aaron McDaniels (FR, 6′6″, 280 lb)
• Kollin Melendez (JR, 6′5″, 310 lb)
• Niko Papic (SR, 6′4″, 300 lb)
• Damion Powell (SR, 6′4″, 285 lb)
• Ian Rose (FR, 6′6″, 290 lb)
• Isaiah Sadler (JR, 6′1″, 300 lb)
• Collin Tunc (SR, 6′1″, 290 lb) 

Stony Brook Football Coaching Staff

• Billy Cosh - Head Coach
• Anthony Davis II - Offensive Coordinator & Wide Receivers Coach
• Scott Lewis - Defensive Coordinator & Inside Linebackers Coach
• Kevin Elliott - Special Teams Coordinator & Outside Linebackers Coach
• Adam Lovan - Quarterbacks Coach & Offensive Recruiting Coordinator
• Sean Hammonds - Defensive Line Coach & Defensive Recruiting Coordinator
• Chris Bache - Offensive Line Coach
• Steve Martino - Tight Ends Coach & Run Game Coordinator
• Zuril Hendrick - Cornerbacks Coach
• Damian Mincey - Running Backs Coach
• Jim Nelson - Safeties Coach
• Matt Oehl - Recruiting Coordinator & Director of Player Personnel
• Billy Barber - Director of Football Operations
• Dermot McDonough - Defensive Quality Control (Linebackers)
• Bryan Valenti - Offensive Quality Control (Wide Receivers)
• Sam Howson - Offensive Assistant

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