Football | 2/1/2012 10:14:00 AM
Recruits Highlight Video
February 1, 2012--Emporia State head football coach Garin Higgins announced the signing of 28 high school players to attend ESU and play football for the Hornets. Four transfers have also joined the class.
"It's a big class this year," said Higgins. "I think we filled our needs and at the same time signed the best athletes we could at those positions."
ESU will host the Hornet Football Forecast Bash on Thursday, February 2 at Coaches Sports Bar and Grill. The event will begin with a social hour at 6:30 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
Thadd Barker • TE/HB • 6-4 • 185
Lebo, Kan. • Lebo HS
An honorable mention All-state performer...named first-team All-Area by the Emporia Gazette...is undecided on a major...was coached by Troy MacArthur.
Josh Brown • K • 5-9 • 180
Piedmont, Okla. • Piedmont HS
Was District Special Teams Player of the Year for Class 1-4A...plans to major in business...was coached by Craig Church.
Antonio Brown • RB • 5-11 • 185
St. Louis, Mo. • Christian Brothers HS
A first-team All-State selection...scored 46 touchdowns and rushed for over 2600 yards combined as a junior and senior...had four games with over 200 yards rushing as a senior...is undecided on a major...was coached by Scott Pingel.
Anthony Buffalomeat • WR • 6-2 • 180
Lawrence, Kan. • Lawrence HS
A first-team All-Sunflower League selection at receiver and second-team pick as a punter...earned honorable mention all-state honors as a senior...had 49 receptions for 609 yards and five touchdowns as a senior...averaged 41.4 yards per punt...plans on majoring in business administration...coached by Dirk Wedd.
Cole Cantrell • WR • 6-2 • 190
Frisco, Texas • Centennial HS
An All-District selection at tight end for Frisco-Centennial HS...had 61 catches for 700 yards and seven touchdowns in his career...plans to major in kinesiology...was coached by Mark Howard.
Kavaski Ervin • WR • 5-9 • 180
Mesquite, Texas • Mesquite HS
A second-team All-State selection for Mesquite HS...plans to major in criminal justice...coached by Robbie Robinson.
Mitchell Foote • WR • 6-3 • 185
Enid, Okla. • Enid HS
A first-team All-State selection that is Enid HS's all-time leader with 102 receptions for 1,552 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career...he had 49 catches for 760 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior...is undecided on a major...was coached by Tommy Parker.
Derrick Gifford • RB • 5-9 • 180
Emporia, Kan. • Emporia HS
A first-team All-Centennial League pick...honorable mention all-state...had 1,675 yards rushing with 22 touchdowns for the Spartans as they won the district and regional championships...will play in the 2012 Kansas Shrine Bowl at Welch Stadium...plans to major in business...coached by Dustin Delaney.
Brandon Goodman • LB • 5-10 • 205
Paola, Kan. • Paola HS
A first-team All-State selection from the Kansas Football Coaches Association, Topeka Capital Journal and Wichita Eagle...had 150 tackles his senior year for the Panthers...was a Bobby Bell Award finalist and on the All-Simone team in the Kansas City Metro area...will play in the 2012 Kansas Shrine Bowl at Welch Stadium...is undecided on a major...was coached by Mike Dumpert.
Beau Jenkins • OL • 6-3 • 300
Corsicana, Texas • Mildred HS
A first-team All-State Class 2A...was named second-team All-Class All-Area by the Dallas Morning News...played left tackle and allowed no sacks in 290 passing attempts his senior year...plans to major in business...coached by Patrick Harvell.
Corben Jones • QB • 6-1 • 190
Yukon, Okla. • Yukon HS
An all-state performer and District Offensive Player of the Year....had 1,999 passing yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior...passed for over 7,000 yards in his career and led Yukon to a 16-6 record his final two years as a starter...plans to major in physical education...was coached by Todd Wilson.
James Junious • DE • 6-1 • 230
Arlington, Texas • Lamar HS
A second-team All-District pick at defensive end and an Academic All-State selection...is undecided on a major...coached by Trent Fuller.
Collin Kile • QB • 5-11 • 175
Madison, Kan. • Madison HS
An All-Lyon County League performer for Madison HS...threw for 2,634 yards and 42 touchdowns with 847 rushing yards as a senior...is undecided on a major...coached by Fred McClain.
J.P. Lohrentz • WR • 6-1 • 185
Buhler, Kan. • Buhler HS
A first-team All-State Class 4A selection...earned first-team All-AVCTL selection at receiver and defensive back...had 28 receptions for 826 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior...Buhler HS was 23-2 his last two years...plans to major in pre-physical therapy...coached by Steve Warner.
Wes Molina • OL • 6-4 • 290
Lake Worth, Texas • Lake Worth HS
An all-district offensive tackle for the Bullfrogs...plans to major in sports medicine...was coached by Tal Sanders
Derron Reddick • RB • 5-11 • 185
Council Grove, Kan. • Council Grove HS
A first-team All-State kick returner and honorable mention running back... gained 1,695 rushing yards and over 500 return yards as a senior...had three kick return touchdowns...is undecided on a major...coached by Jim Collins.
Reese Richards • TE/HB • 6-2 • 245
Azle, Texas • Azle HS
Team MVP that earned second-team All-District honors at both tight end and defensive end...is undecided on a major...coached by Devon Dorris.
Dewayne Sanford • WR • 6-3 • 200
Lawton, Okla. • MacArthur HS
An All-District selection at wide receiver...is undecided on a major...was coached by Brett Manning.
Kole Schankie • WR • 6-1 • 185
Madison, Kan. • Madison HS
A two-time all-state selection for Madison HS...was the two-time Emporia Gazette Area Player of the Year...had 5,152 yards rushing and 122 touchdowns and had 29 receptions for 529 yards in his career for two time state champion Bulldogs...is undecided on a major...was coached by Fred McClain.
C.J. Smith • DL • 6-0 • 230
Midwest City, Okla. • Midwest City HS
An All-State performer by The Daily Oklahoman...plans to major in physical education...coached by Steve Huff.
Bubba Smith • LB • 6-2 • 215
Madison, Kan. • Madison HS
Earned All-State honors for the two-time state champion Bulldogs...was a first-team All-Lyon County League selection...is undecided on a major...coached by Fred McClain.
Jarrett Stastny • OL • 6-4 • 290
Sanger, Texas • Sanger HS
A first-team All-District and honorable mention All-State selection at left tackle for a 9-2 Sanger HS team...plans to major in education...was coached by Chuck Galbreath..
Jarett Strode • CB • 5-11 •175
St. Charles, Mo. • Francis Howell HS
An all-district performer...had 41 tackles, 31 unassisted, with two interceptions and seven pass break ups as a senior...plans to major in physical education...was coached by Brian Koch.
Jason Tetuan • LB • 6-1 • 190
Topeka, Kan. • Hayden HS
An honorable mention All-State selection...earned second-team All-Centennial League honors on offense and defense for the Wildcats...brother John was an All-American baseball player at Wichita State, brother Jesse was a member of the 2003 Big 12 Champion Kansas State football team and brother Jarod was an All-MIAA performer for Washburn in 2007...plans to major in engineering...was coached by Bill Arnold.
Nick Vega • DL • 6-2 • 245
Emporia, Kan. • Emporia HS
Missed four games due to an injury...had 33 tackles and 2.5 sacks in seven games...plans to major in business...coached by Dustin Delaney.
Cody Weston • OL • 6-3 • 275
Wichita, Kan. • Maize South HS
A Kansas Football Coaches Association All-State pick...first-team All-AVCTL selection on both the offensive and defensive lines...will play in the 2012 Kansas Shrine Bowl at Welch Stadium...plans to major in education...was coached by Brent Pfeifer.
Brent Wilson • QB • 6-0 • 180
Ponca City, Okla. • Ponca City HS
An Oklahoma Coaches Association All-Star Class 6A quarterback...holds 13 Ponca City HS records...passed for 6,167 yards and 61 touchdowns in his career...went for 2,747 yards and 28 passing touchdowns as a senior while gaining 612 yards with five touchdowns on the ground...plans to major in pre-physical therapy...was coached by Robert Fry.
Justin Wilson • DL • 6-0 • 330
Luther, Okla. • Luther HS
Was The Daily Oklahoman's Little All-City Defensive Player of the Year...had 65 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks...was Oklahoma State Champion in powerlifting...also played tight end and was the team's kicker...is undecided on a major...coached by Scott O'Hara.
Transfers
Clayton Brown • OL • 6-7 • 305
Braymer, Mo. • Iowa Central CC
Played one year at Iowa Central CC after redshirting at Coffeyville CC...will have three years left at ESU...was an all-state performer for Braymer HS.
Gary Fortune • CB • 6-0 • 158
Indian Head, Md. • Ohio Univ.
Played at Ohio University...will have two years left at ESU...was a Rivals three star rated recruit from Lackey HS in Indian Head, Md.
Ben Fulghum • OL • 6-3 • 295
Andover, Kan. • Butler CC • Southeast Missouri State
Played in three games at Southeast Missouri State last season after earning first-team All-Jayhawk honors at Butler CC...first-team All-State selection for Andover Central HS.
Cole Ingram • OL • 6-4 • 295
Baldwin City, Kan. • Ft. Scott CC
Played two years at Ft. Scott CC...played high school ball at Baldwin City HS.
