EMPORIA STATE FOOTBALL SIGNING DAY CENTRAL

Football | 2/5/2020 9:29:00 AM

February 5, 2020-Emporia State football coach Garin Higgins has announced the signing of a total of 31 high school players to attend Emporia State and play football for the Hornets.

The list includes 16 Kansas natives, ten from Oklahoma, three from Missouri, and two from Colorado. The Hornets picked up six linebackers, five receivers, four defensive linemen, four offensive linemen, four safeties, two corner backs, two running backs, two athletes, one S-back, and one quarterback.

The Hornets are set to return a total of 15 starters with eight returners on offense and seven on defense. 

2020 Hornet Football Signees
Heath Baker • 6'3 • 250 • DE    
Atchison HS • Atchison, KS
Two-time First-Team All-League... honorable mention All-State...coached by Jim Smith...is undecided on a major...son of Heath and Bridgett Baker.

David Brown • 6'1 • 175 • WR    
Blue Valley West HS • Overland Park, KS
First-Team All-State...two time First-Team All-EKL...won three championships at 2019 KSHSAA Class 6A State Championships...coached by former Hornet Josh Koerkenmeier...plans to major in biology...son of Walter and Debby Brown...father Walter Brown played for the Hornets.

Cael Budke • 6'0 • 185 • ATH
Chase County HS • Elmdale, KS
Honorable mention All-State linebacker...coached by Derick Budke...plans to major in earth science...son of Derick and Tiffany Budke.

Isaiah Butler • 6'0 • 170 • CB    
Yukon HS • Yukon, OK
First-Team All-District...Third-Team Oklahoma All-State...coached by Jeremy Reed...plans to major in physical education/coaching... guardians are Calvin and Salena Woods.

Sherman Deaton • 6'5 • 285 • OT    
Fountain HS • Fountain, CO
Two time second-team All Conference...First-Team Colorado All State...coached by Jake Novotny...is undecided on a major...son of Troy and Judy Deaton.

Zach Dortch Jr.  • 6'0 • 190 • ATH    
Putnam City North HS • Oklahoma City, OK
6A-2 Conference Player of the Year...First-Team All-Big 10 Conference...coached by Ryan Laverty...plans to major in business...son of Zachary and Hope Dortch.

Rafe Goucher • 6'1 • 285 • DL    
El Reno HS • El Reno, OK
5A District 1 Defensive Player of the Year...Oklahoma All-State Defensive Lineman...coached by Chuck Atchison...plans to major in education...son of Matt and Lanae Goucher.

Cameron Gunville • 6'0  • 190 • RB    
Seminole HS • Seminole, OK
Shawnee News Star Preps Player of the Year...Oklahoma All State...coached by Mike Snyder...plans to major in chemistry or biology...son of Olie and Antonia Gunville.

Carlos Guzman • 6'4 • 290 • OT    
Bear Creek HS • Denver, CO
First-Team All-Conference...Bear Creek HS Offensive MVP...coached by Zach Morris...plans to major in architecture...son of Vanessa Guzman.

Peyton Henry • 5'10  • 205 • RB    
Andover HS • Andover, KS
Two time All-AVCTL-II...honorable mention All-State...coached by former Hornet Cade Armstrong...plans to major in computer science...son of Jason and Janel Henry...uncle Steve Henry played for the Hornets and is in the ESU Athletic Hall of Honor.

Kobe Holley • 6'0 • 190 • S    
Stillwater HS • Stillwater, OK
6A-II Oklahoma All-State...6A-II All-Conference District 1...Conference Defensive Player of the Year...Oklahoma All State game selection...coached by Tucker Barnard...plans to major in physical education...son of Clarence and Vanessa Holley.

Josh Hull • 6'5 • 260 • OT    
Humboldt HS • Humboldt, KS
Two-time First-Team Kansas All State Offensive Line...KFBCA First-Team All-State...Sport in Kansas Top 100...coached by Logan Wyrick...plans to major in education...son of Leland and Mona Hull...mother Mona (Scanlon) Hull played basketball for the Lady Hornets.

Lavon Jones • 6'0 • 210 • LB    
Desmet Jesuit HS • St. Louis, MO
First-Team All-Conference...First-Team All-District...coached by Robert Steeples...plans to major in business...son of Karrie Kenney.

Zion Jones • 5'11 • 170 • WR    
Wichita Northwest HS • Wichita, KS
Two-time All-City League...two-time Kansas All-State selection...coached by Steve Martin...plans to major in business...son of Shannon Black.

Andrew Kayhill • 6'0 • 175 • CB    
Lee's Summit West HS • Greenwood, MO
Second-Team All-Conference...coached by Vinny Careswell...plans to major in athletic training/coaching...son of Kimberly Kayhill.

Garrick Martin • 6'2 • 175 • S    
Stillwater HS • Stillwater, OK
6A-II All-Conference and All-District...First-Team All-Area...coached by Tucker Barnard...plans to major in finance...son of Clay and Tessa Martin.

Uciph McDaniel • 6'1 • 220 • LB    
Topeka HS • Topeka, KS
First-Team All-State Class 6A ...First-Team All City in Topeka...coached by Walt Alexander...plans to major in sports leadership...son of Octavia Jackson.

Chris McGee • 5'11 • 175 • WR
Lawrence HS • Lawrence, KS
First-Team All-Sunflower League...honorable mention All-State Class 6A...coached by Steve Rampy...plans to major business or kinesiology...son of Kenny and Megan McGee.

Rylan Miller • 6'4 • 250 • DE    
Shawnee Mission North HS • Overland Park, KS
Second Team All-Sunflower League...state qualifier in discus as a junior...coached by former Hornet Zach Rampy...plans to major in business...son of Scott and Stephanie Miller.

Jackson Novacek • 6'2 • 185 • WR
Olathe West HS • Desoto, KS
Honorable mention All-Sunflower League selection...coached by T.J. O'Neil...plans to major in business...son of Jay and Marcia Novacek...father Jay played baseball for the Hornets.

Bo Odom • 6'0 • 190 • S
Ada HS • Ada, OK
District Defensive Player of the Year...Class 5A Oklahoma All-Star...coached by Wade Standley...plans to major in exercise science...son of Bob and Tammy Odom.

David Peters • 6'2 • 185 • LB    
Carl Albert HS • Midwest City, OK
Four-time Oklahoma State Champion...All-District...coached by Mike Corley...plans to major graphic design...son of Victor and Jackie Peters.

Riley Philbern • 6'2 • 300 • OG    
Hoisington HS • Hoisington, KS
First-Team Kansas  All-State Class 2A...Unanimous First-Team All-League...coached by Zach Baird...is undecided on a major...son of April Philbern.

Tee Preisner • 6'1 • 250 • DL    
Northern Heights HS • Allen, KS
First-Team All-State Class 3A as senior after earning honorable mention All-State as a junior...coached by Greg French...plans to major in biology...son of Todd and Lisa Preisner.

Hunter Reed • 5'11 • 180 • LB
Pawhuska HS • Pawhuska, OK
All-state linebacker...district defensive player of the year...top three tackler in Oklahoma his junior and senior year...coached by Matt Hennesy...plans to major in business...son of Jason and Beth Reed.

Chase Ricke • 6'1 • 170 • QB    
Lincoln Christian HS • Tulsa, OK
First-Team All-State...District 3A-3 Player of the Year, 2019 Undefeated State Champion quarterback...coached by Jerry Ricke...plans to major in nursing...son of Jerry and Amber Ricke.

Dylan Roach • 6'0 • 200 • LB    
Blue Valley West HS • Overland Park, KS
Two time All-EKL Honorable Mention...career leading tackler at Blue Valley West HS...coached by former Josh Koerkenmeier...plans to major in business administration...son of Noel and Tracy Roach...father Noel Roach played for the Hornets.

Jaylen Varner • 6'0 • 185 • WR    
Marshall HS • Marshall, MO
Four-time All-Conference...three-time All-District...District MVP...two-time All Dream Team...he spent last year as a preferred walk on at Missouri...coached by Adam Huse...is undecided on a major...son of Jason and Christy Varner.

Jack Wiens • 6'0 • 205 • LB    
Wichita Northwest HS • Andover, KS
First-Team All-City League...Kansas All-State LB...finalist for Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year...coached by Steve Martin...plans to major in nursing...son of Mark and Heather Wiens.

Trey Wright • 6'1 • 190 • S    
Holton HS • Holton, KS
First-Team All-Big 7...honorable mention Kansas All State...coached by Brooks Barta...plans to major in biology/pre-med...son of Shannon and Robyn Wright...father Shannon Wright played for the Hornets.

Tommy Zimmerman • 6'2 • 220 • SB
Blue Valley Southwest HS • Overland Park, KS
First-Team Kansas All State...second-team All-EKL, two-time All-EKL as underclassman...coached by Anthony Orrick...is undecided on a major...son of Brian and Cami Zimmerman.