CHADRON –The Chadron State College 2013 football recruit class is the largest in school history: 65 and counting.
The Eagles had 41 high school seniors sign and return National Letters of Intent and Institutional Letters of Intent last Wednesday, the first day they could sign, and have received letters from 24 more since then. CSC has also added 9 transfers to the squad.
Four of the latest 24 are Nebraskans, including one from the Panhandle: Tanner Wintholz of Sidney. The others are Russell Beard of Ashland, Caleb Lundgren of Kearney and Devin Hernandez-Cronk of Ord.
Colorado provides 10 including 4 from Colorado Springs…Ed Thomas, Josh Gerstenberg, Draper Sullivan, and Evan Strauss…and 2 each from Aurora…Matt Barden and Kyle Mudick…and Fort Morgan…Cody Davis and James Martens. The others are Cameron Glon of Littleton and Josh Johnson of Stratton.
Five more signees are from California. They are Stockton teammates Ricky Hodges and Andre Lindsey, Herman Harris of Modesto, Muleck Henderson of West Covina and Tavis Guerra of Whittier.
Two new recruits are from Arizona – Nick Colgate of Nogales and Jack Dobyns of Tucson – while Dan Probst of Green River, Wyo., Garrett Patterson of Jenks, Okla., and Isaiah Galvan of Edinburgh, Texas, complete the group of 24.
The signing Class of 2013 now has 17 Nebraskans…6 from the Panhandle…20 from Colorado…9 from California…6 from Wyoming…and 5 are from Texas. Minnesota and Arizona are each home to a pair of new Eagles, with one player each from Oklahoma, Florida, Kansas, and Indiana.
Ten of them are tentatively slated to play offense, with 12 on defense and two kickers or punters. That brings the total for the Class of 2013 recruits to 31 on defense, 28 on offense, and 4 kickers.
Information about the recent signees follows.
Cameron Glon, IR, 6-2, 200 (Littleton, Colo./Heritage)
Had 428 receiving yards and four TDs at Heritage High in 2012 … Also added 20 total tackles.
Dan Probst, LB, 6-0, 201 (Green River, Wyo./Green River)
Named to the Casper Star-Tribune Third Team at linebacker … Had 101 tackles in just nine games … A two-time all-state selection … Also blocked two kicks.
Devin Hernandez-Cronk, DE, 6-3, 245 (Ord, Neb./Ord)
An honorable mention Class C-1 selection from Ord High by the Omaha World-Herald and Huskerland Prep.
Ed Thomas, LB, 6-2, 210 (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain)
Had two fumble recoveries and averaged over four yards a carry at Cheyenne Mountain.
Garrett Patterson, IR, 6-2, 210 (Jenks, Okla./Jenks)
A tight end at powerhouse Jenks High, which finished as the 27th ranked team nationally … He primarily blocked for the Trojans but did finish with 61 receiving yards and two TDs in 2012.
Herman Harris, S, 6-1, 180 (Modesto, Calif./Thomas Downey)
Another good-sized defensive back … He finished 2012 with 41 tackles and six interceptions … Named all-league.
Isaiah Galvan, DT, 6-3, 270 (Edinburg, Texas/Edinburg)
A two-year varsity starter who finished 2012 with 69 total tackles and forced two fumbles … Also had five sacks and 10 tackles for loss … Also competes in track and field and baseball.
Jack Dobyns, IR, 6-4, 215 (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic)
Had six catches for 64 yards and one TD in 2012 … Started three years.
Josh Gerstenberg, P, 6-1, 165 (Colorado Springs, Colo./Classical Academy)
A punter from Colorado Springs who had a long punt of 53 yards in 2012.
Josh Johnson, DE, 6-0, 240 (Stratton, Colo./Stratton)
Had 33 tackles for Stratton on the defensive line in 2012.
Matt Barden, OG, 6-4, 260 (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail)
An offensive line prospect from Cherokee Trail High in Colorado … Was a team captain in 2012 … A two-time all-league left tackle as a junior and senior … Also a first team all-state and first team All-Colorado selection as a senior … Will also play long snapper.
Muleck Henderson, CB, 5-11, 175 (West Covina, Calif./West Covina)
An All-CIF selection for the back-to-back state CIF champions at West Covina … He was also named all-league.
Tanner Wintholz, DE, 6-2, 230 (Sidney, Neb./Sidney)
A standout for the Red Raiders of Sidney … He was the team’s third-leading tackler with 60 total tackles and earned honorable mention all-conference.
Tavis Guerra, P/K, 6-0, 185 (Whittier, Calif./La Serna)
A talented punter and kicker from California … In 2012, he made 10 field goals, with a long of 50 … He also booted 52 of 57 PAT kicks for La Serna, which finished the season with a 12-2 record … Also averaged 37.6 yards per punt.
Cody Davis, CB, 5-7, 140 (Fort Morgan, Colo./Fort Morgan)
The Colorado 7 Player of the Year in 2012 and a first team all-state selection … Had a tremendous 2012 season where he rushed for 430 yards, added 13 receptions for 313 yards and had 60 tackles, five interceptions and blocked a field goal … His high school teammate, James Martens, also inked with CSC.
Evan Strauss, RB, 5-10, 200 (Colorado Springs, Colo./Coronado)
Played linebacker and fullback at Coronado High in 2012 … Finished with 37 total tackles and added an interception.
James Martens, S, 5-10, 175 (Fort Morgan, Colo./Fort Morgan)
Joins high school teammate, Cody Davis, at Chadron State … Threw for 542 yards and eight touchdowns, while rushing for 304 yards and seven more scores … Also had 75 total tackles and a sack.
Kyle Mudick, IR, 6-2, 220 (Aurora, Colo./Aurora)
Played center at Rangeview High but will be utilized as a blocking inside receiver at Chadron State.
Russell Beard, LB, 6-0, 200 (Ashland, Neb./Ashland-Greenwood)
A good-sized linebacker who was the Bluejays’ leading tackler with 107 total stops.
Ricky Hodges, S, 5-10, 175 (Stockton, Calif./A.A. Stagg)
Had over 140 tackles his senior season and finished with over 400 in his career … Played linebacker in high school but will be a safety at Chadron State.
Andre Lindsey, WR, 6-3, 183 (Stockton, Calif./A.A. Stagg)
A tall wide receiver with plenty of talent … Finished 2012 with 49 catches for 1,031 yards and 15 touchdowns … He averaged over 20 yards a reception and added 11 carries for 99 yards and two TDs … Following his senior season he earned his team’s most valuable player award … In 2011, he had 28 receptions for 378 yards and two TDs … He was named to the MaxPreps 2012 All-Sac-Joaquin Section Football Team.
Caleb Lundgren, RB, 5-10, 180 (Kearney, Neb./Kearney)
An honorable mention all-state selection by all three major Nebraska publications at Kearney Senior High in 2012 … Also named all-area and was an all-state academic choice.
Nick Colgate, RB, 5-10, 180 (Nogales, Ariz./Nogales)
Played all over the field for Nogales High … He played at running back, safety, long snapper and returned punts … Had 78 tackles and 11 interceptions.
Draper Sullivan, OT, 6-4, 265 (Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer)
Another Colorado Springs product … Played on the offensive and defensive lines at Palmer High … Named the most improved player in 2011 and also earned a team MVP award … Also competed in wrestling and the throwing events in track and field.