February 5, 2015--Emporia State head football coach Garin Higgins announced the signing of 18 high school players to attend Emporia State and play football for the Hornets. Four transfers have also joined the class.

"We've signed big classes the last two years and didn't have a lot of seniors last year so we didn't have a lot of room to sign a bunch of kids," said Higgins. "We were able to concentrate on fewer numbers and allowed us to bring in some really high quality kids."

The Hornets continued their work in the state of Oklahoma with nine of the 18 high schoolers coming from the Sooner State.

"Our coaches hard work, the support of Emporia State faculty and staff, the Emporia community  and our success on the field has really helped us put an outstanding class together," said Higgins. "Of course we are always looking for players and will probably add a few more before training camp starts."

Included in the list are preferred walk-ons that have all been admitted to Emporia State.

As of 3:00 p.m. on Feb. 9
High School Signees
Tre'Vaun Ammons • DE/LB • 6-4 • 210
Omaha, Neb. • Omaha North HS
A second-team All-Metro selection for Omaha North HS...had 93 tackles as a senior..son of Felicia Adams and step father James Adams...coached by Larry Martin...plans on majoring in engineering or physical therapy at Emporia State.

Estevan Arana • OL • 6-5 • 280
Enid, Okla. • Enid HS
A three-year letterwinner for Enid HS that earned all-conference, all-district and all-state honors on the offensive line...is a two star recruit by Scout.com..son of Maria Arana and Sigifredo Arana...coached by Steve Chard...is undecided on a major at Emporia State.

Darric Cashier • LB • 6-0 • 200
Carbondale, Kan. • Santa Fe Trail HS
First-team all-Class 4A linebacker by the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital Journal for Santa Fe Trail HS...all-area performer by the Lawrence Journal World...had 139 tackles on the season...coached by Jason Duncan...is undecided on a major at Emporia State.

Roscoe Gatewood • DB • 5-9 • 195
Midwest City, Okla. • Midwest City HS
All-state performer as a senior defensive back for Midwest City HS...three-year starter that recorded over 300 career tackles..a three-time state qualifier in powerlifting...son of Carlzetta Hill...coached by Darrel Hall...plans to major in sports medicine or business at Emporia State.

Dillon Lohr • DB • 6-1• 205
Midwest City, Okla. • Carl Albert HS
All-state and all-city performer and district offensive player of the year for Carl Albert HS...had 172 carries for 1,299 yards and 15 touchdowns but is a two star recruit by scout.com at defensive back...son of Carolyn and Dennis Lohr...coached by Gary Rose...plans to major business at Emporia State.

Jackson Maase • DE • 6-3 • 240
Overland Park, Kan. • Blue Valley HS
Named second-team All-Eastern Kansas League as a junior when he helped lead Blue Valley HS to the Class 5A State championship...missed several games as a senior due to an injury...is a two-star recruit on Rivals.com...son of Shauna and Hannon Maase...coached by Eric Driskell...plans to major  in biology or business administration at Emporia State.

David Parker • WR • 6-0 • 160
Mustang, Okla. • Mustang HS
Received all-conference and all-district honors for Mustang HS...had 49 receptions for 861 yards and nine touchdowns..son of Tony and Vikki Parker...coached by Jeremy Dombek...is undecided on a major at Emporia State.

Kirvin Parks • WR • 5-11 • 165
McKinney, Texas • McKinney North HS
A two-time all-district performer for McKinney North HS...went 11-3 and won district championship as a senior...had 50 catches for 763 yards and 11 touchdowns...son of Sandra and Reggie Morgan...coached by Mike Fecci...plans to major  in pre-engineering at Emporia State.

Camren Proby • DL • 6-1 • 260
Oklahoma City, Okla. • Casady HS
Name all-Southwest Prep Conference (includes schools from Oklahoma and Texas) defensive lineman as a senior...honorable mention Little All-City by the Daily Oklahoman...son of Demetrius Proby and Pamela Jefferson...coached by Koby Scoville...is undecided on a major at Emporia State.

Jordan Reed • WR • 6-1 • 165
Edmond, Okla. • Edmond Memorial HS
An all-city and all-league wide receiver for Edmond Memorial HS...had 35 catches for 954 yards and scored 11 touchdowns...placed third at Oklahoma Class 6A State Championships in 200m as a junior with time of 21.78...son of Lisa and Jerome Reed...coached by Justin Meredith...plans to major  in pre-engineering at Emporia State.

Trent Rietzke • RB • 5-7 • 160
Kensington, Kan. • Thunder Ridge HS
K-Preps eight-man all-state performer at running back for Thunder Ridge HS...coached by Jerry Voorhees...is undecided on a major at Emporia State.

Branson Straessle • DB • 6-2 • 185
Glenpool, Okla. • Glenpool HS
All-conference defensive back for Glenpool HS...had 75 tackles, three interceptions including one returned for a touchown as a senior...played in only seven games due to an injury...son of Brian and Heather Straessle...coached by Steve Edwards...is undecided on a major at Emporia State.

Seth Surface • ATH • 6-2 • 175
Perry, Kan. • Perry-Lecompton HS
First-team All-Big 7 Conference at quarterback for Perry-Lecompton HS...had over 2100 yards of total offense and 26 total touchdowns...son of Jason and Lisa Surface...coached by Mike Paramore...is undecided on a major at Emporia State.

Nathan Thompson • OL • 6-3 • 295
Blue Springs, Mo. • Blue Springs South HS
An all-conference performer on the offensive line for Blue Springs South HS...allowed just one sack in 17 career starts...had 20 pancake blocks as a senior...son of Andrea Rodgers and Brad Thompson...coached by Greg Oder...is undecided on a major at Emporia State.

T'Quan Wallace • QB • 6-0 • 170
Oklahoma City, Okla. • Casady Prep
Three year starter at quarterback for Casdy Prep...completed 52 of 99 passes for 1,146 yards and 14 touchdowns in six games before suffering season ending injury...also scored five times on the ground...son of Wendell and Kitty Wallace...coached by Koby Scoville...is undecided on a major at Emporia State.
 
Brance Watts • OL • 6-2 • 260
Sanger, Texas • Sanger HS
First-team All-District and honorable mention all-state in class 4A for Sanger HS...led the team to a 9-3 record as a senior and was a four-time letterwinner on the offensive line..son of Brad and Jennifer Watts...coached by Adam Shaw...plans to major in business at Emporia State.

Stephen Williams • OL • 6-7 • 275
St. Louis, Mo. • Clayton HS
First-team all-conference performer on the offensive line for Clayton HS...was a four-year letter winner earning honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore and second-team honors as a junior...son of Billie and Tony Thurmond...coached by Scott Weissman...plans on majoring in secondary education at Emporia State.

Gary Woods II • DB • 6-0 • 200
Oklahoma City, Okla. • Casady Prep School
Two-time all-Southwest Prep Conference (includes schools from Oklahoma and Texas) selection...named second-team Little All-City by the Daily Oklahoman...three uncles played in the NFL Rashaun Woods, D'Juan Woods and Donovan Woods..son of Gary and Laschelle Woods...coached by Koby Scoville...plans to major in accounting at Emporia State.


Transfers
Larenz Abston • DL • 6-2 • 285
Des Moines, Iowa • Roosevelt HS/Ellsworth CC
Had 35 tackles and an interception from his defensive end position at Ellsworth CC last season...is majoring in criminal justice at Emporia State.

Andrew Lillich • OL • 6-4 • 310
Bashor, Kan • Basehor-Linwood HS/Butler CC
Redshirted at Butler CC last season and will have four years of eligibility at Emporia State...was a first-team all-Kaw Valley League pick for Basehor-Linwood HS...is majoring in communications at Emporia State.
    
Thomas O'Grady • OL • 6-2 • 305
Topeka, Kan • Hayden HS/Emporia State/Butler CC
Played at Butler CC last season after redshirting at Emporia State in 2013...was a first-team All-Topeka pick and second-team All-Centennial League selection for Hayden HS...is majoring in communications at Emporia State.
    
Morris Williams II • WR • 5-9 • 160
Nashville, Tenn. • Hillsboro HS/Kilgore CC
Had 30 receptions for 509 yards and five touchdowns for Kilgore College in 2013...was at Memphis in 2014 but did not play...is majoring in computer information systems at Emporia State.


2015 Hornet Football Dates to Remember
March 11    Spring Ball Starts
April 18    Spring Game
April 30    Night of Champions Lift-A-Thon
Sept. 3    Season Opener at Missouri Southern
Sept. 10    Home Opener vs. Central Missouri