National Signing Day: 2015 football class pulls from nine different states
SEWARD, Neb. – The arrival of the 2015 National Signing Day brings a group of 26 new student-athletes (full list below) on board the Concordia University football program. Three have already enrolled at Concordia. The other 23 are set to join the Bulldogs this fall.
While not yet complete, the 2015 class includes athletes from nine different states. Eight hail from Texas, seven are Nebraskans, four will arrive via Colorado, two call California home and one apiece come from five additional states.
“We’re always looking for guys who want to work hard, are tough and love football,” head coach Vance Winter said. “We think we have found guys who are the right fits for us. We have a lot of talent coming back and we want to add to that. We have a few instant impact guys and some others who I think can develop into great players.”
Concordia’s pipeline to The Lone Star State is alive and well. The Bulldogs are already stocked with standout skill players from Texas. Potential 2015 skill position starters in quarterback TJ Austin (Angleton), running back Bryce Collins (Boerne) and receivers Jared Garcia (Humble) and Logan Otte (Katy) all hail from Texas.
Winter and his staff have succeeded at locating explosive football players from Texas.
“We’ve done a good job developing contacts down there,” Winter said. “Also, guys are coming up here and having a good experience. I think that’s a big part of it. We’ve had great help from the high school coaches down there. We’ve been able to get some really good players from Texas. I think that’s going to continue. Texas is one of our primary areas, especially around Houston and San Antonio.”
Three of the additions from Texas are current seniors at Manvel High School. That crop includes electrifying running back Qyalan Clay, a 5-foot-9 native of Manvel with exciting potential.
There’s also local flavor with Lincoln Christian High School defensive lineman Taylor Hanson being one of the standouts among the seven newcomers from The Cornhusker State. At 6-4, 270 pounds, Hanson already possesses ideal size.
Concordia’s 2015 class will report to fall camp along with returning players this coming August. Winter will get a first look at next season’s team during upcoming spring practice.
2015 Concordia football recruiting class
John Alexander
LB | 6-0 | 230 | Pearland, Texas | Dawson HS
Take from coaches: Big, physical ILB from a great high school program.
Cameron Batts
LB | 5-10 | 185 | Pearland, Texas | Manvel HS
Take from coaches: Run and hit linebacker. High energy player.
Vincent Beasley
WR | 6-0 | 180 | Manvel, Texas | Manvel HS
Take from coaches: Strong, physical player. Great addition to our receiver group.
Coby Cassidy
RB | 5-10 | 180 | Burwell, Neb. | Burwell HS
Take from coaches: Tough, hard-nosed guy. Will develop.
Austin Cavaliere
RB | 5-10 | 180 | Parker, Colo. | Chaparral HS
Take from coaches: High upside. Injured most of senior year. Best football is head of him.
Qyalan Clay
RB | 5-9 | 165 | Manvel, Texas | Manvel HS
Take from coaches: Potential to be one of the most explosive players in the GPAC.
Russell Denny
DL | 6-2 | 205 | Aurora, Colo. | Eagle Crest HS
Take from coaches: Played interior DL in high school. Will move to an edge DL spot at Concordia.
Marcus Eickmann
RB | 6-0 | 205 | Diller, Neb. | Diller-Odell HS
Take from coaches: Good athlete. Will have to find his best position fit.
Camren Fraser
OL | 6-1 | 250 | Boise, Idaho | Mountain View HS
Take from coaches: All-state player in Idaho. Nasty, tough O-lineman. Has a chance to have a big impact.
Kalen Garrett
DL | 6-0 | 215 | Doniphan, Neb. | Doniphan-Trumbull HS
Take from coaches: High motor, high energy player.
Kordell Glause
DB | 5-11 | 180 | Palmer, Neb. | Fort Hays State
Take from coaches: Enrolled for spring semester. Tremendous worker and effort guy.
Kerry Grigsby
DL | 6-4 | 230 | San Diego, Calif. | Grossmont CC
Take from coaches: Long, athletic pass rusher. Should have a big impact.
Chris Gutierrez
LB | 5-11 | 200 | San Antonio, Texas | St. Anthony HS
Take from coaches: Athletic, physical linebacker. Will develop.
Michael Hansen
WR | 6-1 | 180 | South Sioux City, Neb. | South Sioux City HS
Take from coaches: Well-rounded athlete. Intelligent football player.
Taylor Hanson
DL | 6-4 | 270 | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Christian HS
Take from coaches: Great size and athleticism, high potential.
Austin Himschoot
DB | 5-9 | 160 | Hardy, Ark. | Highland HS
Take from coaches: High energy, explosive player. Coached by former Bulldog, Will Cox.
Jhovani Houseman
DB | Mission, Texas | McAllen Memorial HS
Take from coaches: Already enrolled at Concordia. Working hard and competing in the weight room.
Zachary Kennedy
OL | 6-4 | 270 | Glendale, Ariz. | Cactus HS
Take from coaches: Big frame, great athlete at O-line. Has a chance to compete at tackle right away.
Stuart Kolpin
TE | 6-2 | 205 | Overland Park, Kan. | Blue Valley HS
Take from coaches: High ceiling athlete. Has a great frame and will gain size and strength.
Adam McShane
OL | 6-1 | 235 | Blaine, Wash. | Blaine HS
Take from coaches: Athletic pulling guard. Will fit our offense well.
Feno Pearson
DL | 6-1 | 220 | Austin, Texas | Lake Travis HS
Take from coaches: Big-time playmaker form a championship high school program. Coached by former Bulldog Jake Griedl.
Jacob Rath
OL | 5-10 | 260 | Randolph, Neb. | Randolph HS
Take from coaches: Versatile O-lineman. Great kid who will develop.
Mathew Romero
OL | 5-11 | 250 | Centennial, Colo. | Eagle Crest HS
Take from coaches: Athletic O-lineman. Originally recruited for class of 2014.
Evrett Shaw
OL | 6-0 | 260 | Centennial, Colo. | Eagle Crest HS
Take from coaches: Played high level football in high school. Tough, strong player.
Erik Small
RB | 6-1 | 230 | Anaheim, Calif. | Fullerton JC
Take from coaches: Old school, physical fullback. Played a similar system at one of the top JC programs in the country.
Colby Trahan
WR | 6-2 | 185 | Pearland, Texas | Dawson HS
Take from coaches: Enrolled for the spring. Adds another weapon at the receiver position.