As of 12 p.m. February 7, 2008

February 7, 2008-- Emporia State head football coach Garin Higgins announced the signing of 29 high school players and one transfer to attend ESU and play football for the Hornets.

“We are really pleased with this class,” said Higgins. “It’s the first time we were able to get out as a staff for the entire recruiting process. That made it easier to focus on addressing our needs.”

“Recruiting will not end today,” added Higgins. “We will continue to look for a few players - sometimes you find some hidden gems after signing date.”

HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES
Terry Asante RB 5-8 180 Garland (Texas) South HS
Leading rusher for Garland South HS team that went 10-2...first-team allconference...all-district 11 in Texas Class 5A...averaged 5.8 yards per rush and 9.3 yards per catch.

Bobby Beard DE 6-3 215 Tulsa (Okla.) East Central HS
First-team all-district performer...had 19 tackles for loss including ten sacks.

Austin Benda OL 6-5 290 Edmond (Okla.) Deer Creek HS
Was all-city in Oklahoma City and honorable mention all-state as an offensive lineman.

Malachi Bickle LB 5-11 185 Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West HS
Missouri Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year...had 140 tackles including eight sacks...also had five interceptions.

Travon Brooks LB 6-0 200 Muskogee (Okla.) HS
First-team all-state...forced eight fumbles and recorded five sacks...had 135 total tackles...selected to play in Oklahoma vs. Texas Oil Bowl.

Andrew Buffa LB 6-5 210 Liberty (Mo.) HS
Had seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss among his 85 tackles on the year.

TJ Coulter DB 5-11 170 Putnam City (Okla.) HS
All-Metro Athletics Conference Outstanding wide receiver and defensive back.

Tyler Eckenrode QB 6-1 170 Houston (Texas) The Woodlands HS
Threw for 1,580 yards and 11 touchdowns as he led The Woodlands to their 13th consecutive appearance in the the Texas Class 5A Playoffs...earned honorable mention Academic All-State honors.

Cody Godshall DB 5-9 185 Carbondale (Kan.) Santa Fe Trail HS
All-county safety that also started at quarterback...had 77 tackles with three interceptions and three forced fumbles in only seven games as a senior.

Matt Haberman OL/DL 6-2 260 Great Bend (Kan.) HS
An honorable mention Class 5A performer as a senior...first-team All-WAC...38 pancake blocks on the year.

Derek Lohman DB 6-3 190 Alva (Okla.) HS
Enid News & Eagle 11-man Player of the Year...Oklahoma District 2A-1 Player of the Year...had six interceptions and 58 tackles...also gained 1,221 yards rushing with 23 touchdowns and added 757 yards and nine touchdowns receiving...selected to play in Oklahoma vs. Texas Oil Bowl.

Will Maxwell K 6-2 166 Bixby (Okla.) HS
Second-team all-Oklahoma (All classes) kicker...special teams district MVP...all-Metro in Tulsa...had five field goals of over 40 yards in the last two years...made 16 of 22 field goals as a junior and senior.

Mark Mintken DL 6-4 285 Gretna (Neb.) HS
All-district performer...had 21 tackles with nine for loss, including five sacks...also blocked two PAT.

Josh Moses TE 6-3 270 Broken Arrow (Okla.) HS

Edd Noonan RB 5-7 180 Emporia (Kan.) HS
First-team All-Class 6A...first-team All-Centennial League...Army Iron Man Award winner...over 3000 yards rushing in career...selected to play in Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Jake Perdue DB 5-8 170 Austin (Texas) Vista Ridge HS
Had 65 tackles on the year...blocked three kicks and forced two fumbles.

Reid Petersen OL 6-2 270 Parkville (Mo.) Park Hill South HS
Two-time first-team all-conference pick...all-district selection...grandfather, Howard Petersen was captain of 1954 Hornet football team ...great grandfather Harold Dwelle played for the Hornets in the 1920s.

Matt Perry K 5-9 170 Jenks (Okla.) HS
Led Oklahoma Class 6A in PAT kicking, going 66 of 68...was two for three on field goals with a long of 40 yards as a senior...had 65 touchbacks on 82 kick-offs.

Brandon Smith DB 5-11 190 Brenham (Texas) HS
Had three interceptions and 55 tackles...registered three sacks and nine tackles for loss...also had 20 catches for 284 yards and three touchdowns and 55 rushes for 306 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Sheldon Smith QB 6-1 200 Oklahoma City (Okla.) Douglass HS
Oklahoma Class 4A District-1 Quarterback of the Year...Conference Offensive Player of the Year...selected to play in Jim Thorpe All-Star Game.

Xavier Smith RB 6-0 180 Hempstead (Texas) HS
District MVP as a senior...Texas state champion in 400m relay and 1600m relay...high jumped 6-8 as a sophomore.

Stanton St. Clair WR 6-0 185 Armore (Okla.) HS
First-team all-state receiver...District 5A-1 Outstanding receiver...had 43 catches for 635 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior...also averaged 26.2 yards per kick return.

Trey Stead OL 6-3 275 Bixby (Okla.) HS
All-district lineman for two-time state runners-up in Oklahoma.

Heath Thompson DB 6-0 185 Bixby (Okla.) HS
First-team all-district defensive back...had 27 pass break-ups and two interceptions for the Oklahoma Class 5A state runners-up.

Drew Turner DB 6-0 180 Goddard (Kan.) HS
Was a second team All-Ark Valley/Chisholm Trail League defensive back...uncle, Andy Bantz was an All-MIAA receiver for ESU in 1992.

Lance Uhles OL 6-3 255 Norman (Okla.) North HS
All-district and all-conference performer...starting tackle for four years with a district championship his senior year...has a one star rating as an offensive guard by Rivals.com...father, Ric Uhles was the starting center for
the 1985 National Champion Oklahoma Sooners.

Nick Watson DE 6-5 200 Kansas City (Kan.) Piper HS
First-team All-Kaw Valley League defensive end...had three sacks and 48 tackles on the year.

Adam VandeVelde WR 5-10 170 St. Mary’s (Kan.) HS
First-team All-Mid-East League quarterback and defensive back...All-Class 2A quarterback and defensive back...selected to play in Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Andrew Zumwalde OL 6-5 250 Tulsa (Okla.) Union HS

Transfers
Danny McEvoy WR 6-4 210 Leavenworth (Kan.) Immaculata HS/Hutchinson CC
Second-team All-Jayhawk Conference honors at Hutchinson CC...45 receptions for the Blue Dragons...holds Immaculata HS records for single season and career receptions, touchdown receptions and receiving yards.

2008 Emporia State Football Recruiting Class
By State
Oklahoma 14
Kansas 6
Texas 5
Missouri 3
Nebraska 1
By Position
Offensive Line 6*
Defensive Back 6
Defensive Line 4*
Runningback 3
Linebacker 3
Wide Receiver 3
Quarterback 2
Kicker 2
Tight End 1
*One player listed as both offensive and defensive line
Two of the signees have been selected for the Kansas Shrine Bowl.