Football | 2/3/2016 9:21:00 AM
February 3, 2016--(As of 10:15 a.m.) Emporia State head football coach Garin Higgins announced the signing of 17 high school players to attend Emporia State and play football for the Hornets. Six transfers have also joined the class.
"With our early recruiting efforts from the spring, we were able to make up for any time we might have lost due to our deep playoff run," said Higgins. "We have a good group of players returning so we can concentrate more on quality than quantity."
Three of the high school signees will get to take the field earlier than their teammates this season as members of the Kansas Shrine Bowl team. Welch Stadium will be the host of the 2016 game on July 30.
Six states are represented in the class as the Hornet coaching staff was able to take advantage of Emporia State's MSEP and NEARR programs for special tuition rates. Seven of the 17 highs choolers are from Kansas followed by four Oklahomans, two each from Missouri and Texas and one each from Michigan and Illinois. Including the transfers ten of the 23 man class are native Kansans.
"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 recruiting never stops and we will probably add a few more before training camp starts."
The Hornets were 11-3 on the season and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals for the first time in school history. Emporia State is set to return 14 starters, seven on offense and seven on defense, along with all of their specialists next year.
This list includes scholarship players only at this time. Preferred walk-ons will be added beginning tomorrow as they are officially admitted to Emporia State.
High School Signees
Cole Baird DB 6' 0 180 Silver Lake, Kan. Silver Lake HS
A first team All-Class 3A selection...had 65 tackles and two interceptions for the Eagles as a senior...selected to play in 2016 Kansas Shrine Bowl in Emporia...coached by CJ Hamilton.
Tyler Banta OL 6'4 295 Oklahoma City, Okla. Carl Albert HS
A first-team Class 5A OCA All-Star...selected to play in OCA All-State game...was Carl Albert HS Lineman of the Year...coached by Gary Rose.
Patrick Briningstool QB 6'0 200Clinton Township, Mich. Chippewa Valley HS
A first-team All-Metro District and all-conference performer...honorable mention all-state...threw for over 4,300 yards in his career with 52 touchdowns at Chippewa Valley HS...coached by Scott Merchant.
Randall Friday LB 6'1 200 Fort Worth, Texas Fossil Ridge HS
A two star recruit on Rivals and 247 Sports...second-team All-District selection as a junior and senior...was all-state academic pick as well for Fossil Ridge HS...coached by Tony Baccarini.
Klayton Goering LB 6'2 210 McPherson, Kan. McPherson HS
A first-team KFBCA Division 4A-I all-state pick for McPherson HS...coached by Jace Pavlovich.
Dyllan Haworth DT 6'1 290 Weatherford, Okla. Weatherford HS
A first-team Class 4A All-Star on the offensive line...named an honorable mention all-state selection on defense at Weatherford HS by the Daily Oklahoman...also plans to compete in track & field at Emporia State...coached by Woody Roof.
Wyatt Malcom OL 6'4 300 Columbia, Ill. Westminster Christian HS
A first-team all-conference and all-district selection at Westminster Christian HS...coached by Cory Snyder.
Jace McDown LB 6'0 215 Columbus, Kan. Columbus HS
A Kansas Top 11 pick and Offensive Player of the Year in Class 4A-II... had 228 carries for 2,667 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns as he led Columbus HS to the Class 4A-II semifinals and an 11-1 record. He also had 121 tackles....had 5,512 yards and 72 touchdowns on offense and recorded 401 tackles on defense in his career...selected to play in 2016 Kansas Shrine Bowl in Emporia...coached by Dan Grundy.
Noah Prater DE 6'3 240 McKinney, Texas McKinney Boyd HS
A two-time All-District 6-6A pick as a junior and senior at McKinney Boyd HS...coached by Don Drake.
Kyle Rinck DB 6'3 190 Independence, Kan. Independence HS
An honorable mention all-state performer for Independence HS...coached by Chip Sherman.
Marek Thompson DT 6'4 295 Osceola, Mo. Osceola HS
A two-time first-team All-State pick and unanimous selection as a senior...was a Missouri state finalist for the Wendy's HS Heisman...holds Osceola HS records in shot at 48-03 and discus at 161-00 and plans on competing in track & field for the Hornets ...coached by Paul Carney.
Austin Unterreiner OL 6'4 280 O'Fallon, Mo. Francis Howell HS
A first-team all-conference and second-team all-district performer for Francis Howell HS...coached by Bryan Koch.
Sean Talley WR 6'0 180 Oklahoma City, Okla. Del City HS
An all-district and all-conference selection for Del City HS...coached by Nick Warehime.
Zac Cahill WR 6'1 180 Olathe, Kan. Olathe East HS
A first-team All-Sunflower League performer as a senior after earning second-team honors as a junior...member of Olathe East HS 4x400m relay team that won state championship...plans to compete in track & field for the Hornets as well...coached by Jesse Owen.
Max Wariboko DB 5'10 180 Oklahoma City, Okla. Casady Prep School
A Rivals two star and 247 Sports three star recruit...first-team all-Southwest Prep Conference (includes schools from Oklahoma and Texas) selection at Casady Prep...Daily Oklahoma Top 30 pick...coached by Koby Skoville.
Mark Golubski DE 6'3 230 Kansas City, Kan. Bishop Miege HS
A second-team All-Eastern Kansas League for Bishop Miege HS...member of two-time Kansas Class 4A-I state champions...coached by Jon Holmes.
Will Mengarelli LB 5'10 205 Pittsburg, Kan. Pittsburg HS
A first-team All-Class 5A selection for the Purple Dragons...selected to play in 2016 Kansas Shrine Bowl in Emporia...coached by Tom Nickelson.
TRANSFERS
Cole Cruz OL 6'0 295 Hutchinson, Kan. Dodge City CC
Will be a junior for the Hornets...a two-time honorable mention All-Jayhawk performer at center for the co-KJCCC Champion Conqs...was an all-league selection for Hutchinson HS.
Ferrando Joseph DB 6'0 180 Corrinth, Texas Lousiana Monroe
Will be a junior for the Hornets...played in 19 games over two years with 17 total tackles for the Warhawks...earned first team all-district and second team all-area honors as a wide receiver during his senior season for Lake Dallas HS...Also had 20 tackles and two interceptions at cornerback...garnered first team all-district and all-area honors at safety during his junior season.
Louis Dailey WR 5'11 180 South Grand Prarie, Texas Kilgore CC
Will be a junior for the Hornets...played in ten games with 36 receptions for 502 yards and six touchdowns in 2014 for Kilgore CC...had seven catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner in 37-31 win over Navarro.
Collin Frickey DE 6'2 250 Clearwater, Kan. Butler CC/Murray State
Will be a junior for the Hornets...played in six games for the Racers at Murray State...played one year at Butler CC and had 44 tackles in ten games...had two sacks for 12 yards of loss and six tackles-for-loss for a total of 21 yards... was a three-time AVCTL selection at tight end for Clearwater HS including, first team in 2013, and a two-time selection at defensive end, with a first team nod in 2013
Ugonna Nwarie DE 6'3 255 Arlington, Texas Trinity Valley CC
Will be a junior for the Hornets...played in 21 games in two years at Trinity Valley CC and had 33 tackles with five sacks and two forced fumbles...prepped at Mansfield Timberview HS in Arlington, Texas.
Logan Thompson LB 6'3 230 Sedgwick, Kan. Kansas State
Will be a junior for the Hornets...played in five games for Kansas State, with three tackles on special teams...had two solo stops against Iowa State...named a First Team All-Kansas 4A linebacker by VarsityKansas.com... helped the Cardinals earn back-to-back league, district and bi-district championships...recorded over 2,900 total yards and 36 total touchdowns in 12 games as a senior...a first-team all-league linebacker as a junior and senior...an honorable mention all-state linebacker and quarterback as a junior...selected to play in the 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl
