EMPORIA -- Emporia State head football coach Garin Higgins announced the signing of 16 high school players to attend ESU and play football for the Hornets. Seven transfers that are already enrolled and taking classes at ESU were also released.
“We're very happy with our class this year,” said Higgins. “It’s not big in numbers but we only lost 12 seniors off last year’s team. Add to that we’ve had some pretty large classes with good retention in the past and this is about the right size. ”
ESU will host the Hornet Football Forecast Bash on Monday, February 7 at Coaches Sports Bar and Grill. The event will begin with a social hour at 6:00 p.m. with Coach Higgins speaking at 7:00 p.m. Video highlights of the incoming class will be shown on the video screens in the back meeting room of Coaches.
High School
Corben Abila • DB • 6-1 • 200
Weatherford, Texas • Ft. Worth Brewer HS
Was second-team All-District performer at Brewer HS…was a two-time Academic All-District selection…recorded 36 tackles from safety position as a senior.
Monday Akinbode • LB • 5-10 • 220
Round Rock, Texas • Stony Point HS
Earned second-team All-District honors at Stony Point HS…had 52 tackles and four sacks as a senior..Stony Point went 14-1with the only loss in the Texas Class 5A-I State semifinals.
Logan Clothier • WR • 6-3 • 175
Topeka, Kan. • Topeka HS
First-team All-Centennial League and first-team All-City for Topeka HS…had 52 catches for 605 yards and nine touchdowns for the Trojans as a senior…led Topeka HS to back to back winning seasons for the first time in 30 years.
Michael Cole • DB • 5-10 • 178
Oklahoma City, Okla. • Millwood HS
A three-star recruit by Rivals.com with a 5.5 player rating from the service…named Co-Receiver of the year in Oklahoma City Athletic Conference for Millwood HS…had 17 catches for 416 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior.
Marcus Dees • LB • 6-1 • 221
Tulsa, Okla. • East Central HS
Oklahoma Coaches Association All-Class All-State selection for Tulsa East Central HS…District player of the year as he led Cardinals into Oklahoma Class 5A state title game…had 165 tackles and three sacks.
Brandon Gentz • QB/ATH • 6-1 • 170
Emporia, Kan. • Emporia HS
Honorable mention All-Centennial League performer for Emporia HS…had over 1000 yards of total offense as both a junior and senior as he led EHS to the playoffs both years...was 81 of 144 or 1,515 yards with 17 touchdowns passing with 1,442 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing in his career.
Dorsey “DJ” Griffin • RB •6-2 • 225
Arlington, Texas • Juan Seguin HS
Played quarterback at Seguin HS but will likely move to running back for the Hornets…threw for 1,026 yards with six touchdowns and added 373 rushing yards with seven touchdowns.
Colby Hamel • DT • 6-3 • 285
Lakin, Kan. • Lakin HS
First-team All-State Class 3A performer according to Kansas Football Coaches Association for Lakin HS…led Hi-Plains league in tackles with 117 to rank fifth in Kansas Class 4A…also had four sacks, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks.
Kamrhan Jones • LB • 6-0 • 190
Denton, Texas • Guyer HS
Named second-team All-District for Texas Class 5A-II State Runner-up Guyer HS…had 39 tackles on the season…has run a 10.8 in the 100m.
Erik Lothamer • DE • 6-3 • 250
Olathe, Kan. • Olathe South HS
Honorable mention All-Sunflower League selection as a junior and senior for Olathe South HS…averaged over five tackles per game as a defensive lineman.
Jordan McAdoo • OL • 6-4 • 290
Piedmont, Okla. • Piedmont HS
Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Class 4A selection for Piedmont HS.
Ryan Newhouse • DB • 6-2 • 180
Gardner, Kan. • Gardner-Edgerton HS
First-team All-East Kansas League performer for Gardner-Edgerton HS…had 110 tackles, eight pass break ups, two interceptions and a fumble recovery as a senior…Gardner-Edgerton was 21-2 over the last two seasons.
Richard Pickett • DE • 6-1 • 260
McKinney, Texas • Princeton HS
Was a first-team All-District pick for Princeton HS…had 60 tackles as a senior.
Kadeem Satchell • DB • 6-2 • 190
Princeton, Texas • Princeton HS
First-team All-District selection for Princeton HS…had 91 tackles, five interceptions and five sacks last season.
Jor’Don Stephenson • DE • 6-4 • 230
Kansas City, Mo. • Hogan Prep Academy
An honorable mention all-metro selection for Hogan Prep.
Jacob Stone • QB • 6-0 • 190
Fort Worth, Texas • Saginaw Boswell HS
Named Class 4A District 5 Offensive MVP for Saginaw Boswell HS…threw for 3,015 yards and 32 touchdowns with just seven interceptions while rushing for 649 yards and eight touchdowns.
Transfers
Vincent “Ray-Ray” Davis • WR • 6-1 • 205
Monroe, N.C. • Sun Valley HS • Hutchinson CC
Signed with North Carolina out of Sun Valley HS…was a three-star recruit by rivals.com with a 5.6 player rating by the service…had 24 catches for 260 yards and two touchdowns for Hutchinson CC as a freshman in 2009…redshirted for the Blue Dragons in 2010…will have three years of eligibility at ESU.
Garrett Erickson • OL • 6-2 • 295
Bronson, Kan. • Marmaton Valley HS • Ft. Scott CC
Honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference pick for Ft. Scott CC at center…was a unanimous first-team All-Three Rivers League selection for Marmaton Valley HS on both offensive and defensive lines…will have three years of eligibility at ESU.
Craig Gilmore • QB • 6-4 • 190
Chanute, Kan. • Chanute HS • Butler CC
Saw action in four games at quarterback for NJCAA national runner-up Butler CC…was a first-team All-Southeast Kansas League pick for Chanute HS after throwing for 1,750 yards and 21 touchdowns… will have three years of eligibility at ESU.
Kameron Neal • OL • 6-0 • 280
Wichita, Kan. • Wichita Heights HS • Hutchinson CC
Second-team All-Jayhawk Conference selection for Hutchinson CC at guard…honorable mention all-state pick as a senior at Wichita Heights HS…placed sixth at Kansas Class 6A state wrestling meet as a senior for Heights.
Jeff Richards • DB • 6-2 • 190
Del City, Okla. • Del City HS • Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
Had 59 tackles, two interceptions and 11 pass breakups for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Craig Rosenstengle • WR • 6-2 • 200
Lawrence, Kan. • Free State HS • Butler CC
Had seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown for NJCAA national runner-up Butler CC…played quarterback as a senior for Lawrence Free State HS after leading the Firebirds in receiving as a junior with 23 catches for 585 yards and six touchdowns… will have three years of eligibility at ESU.
Matt Weis • TE • 6-4 • 260
Hoxie, Kan. • Hoxie HS • Hutchinson CC
Was second-team All-Jayhawk Conference selection for Hutchinson CC at tight end…had 21 catches for 237 yards and a touchdown for the Blue Dragons.
