Complete Release in .pdf

February 4, 2009-- Emporia State head football coach Garin Higgins announced the signing of 25 high school players to attend ESU and play football for the Hornets. Four transfers that are already enrolled and taking classes at ESU were also released.

“I think we really addressed most of the needs we identified going into recruiting,” said Higgins. “We were able to get a jump on this class last spring when we were able to bring a lot of these guys in as juniors.”

The high school class includes the 68th best high school cornerback in the nation - rivals.com three star recruit Julian Dozier and rivals.com two-star receiver James Kelly.

The Hornets also picked up two players that have been selected for 2009 Kansas Shrine Bowl - Josh Klumpe of Olpe HS and Nick Johansen of Bishop Carroll HS.

"On paper this is a very athletic group," said Higgins. "We're very excited about our local signees."

HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES

Kenneth Bronson • QB • 6-0 • 170 • Reading, Kan. • Northern Heights HS

Two-time All-Flint Hills League performer...twice earned honorable mention all-state honors...threw for 2,531 yards and rushed for 520 yards with 26 touchdowns as a senior.

Reggie Carroll • OL • 6-3 • 260 • Tyler, Texas • John Tyler HS

All-District performer.

Ronny Chalk • RB • 5-9 • 180 • Big Sandy, Texas • Big Sandy HS

Named First-Team All-District running back...earned honorable mention All-East Texas...gained over 1,000 yards rushing as a senior...first cousin is Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith.

Julian Dozier • DB • 5-9 • 175 • Round Rock, Texas • Stony Point HS

Rated the 68th best cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com...a three-star rating from Rivals...All-District performer as corner back and return specialist...had 63 tackles, four interceptions and 14 pass break-ups as a senior...also had two kick return touchdowns.

Jake Farley • OL • 6-4 • 226 • Carrollton, Texas • Hebron HS

First-Team All-District selection at center.

Znick Ferrell • LB • 6-0 • 215 • Sand Springs, Okla. • Page HS

Named district Ironman Player of the Year...all-state pick by the Daily Oklahoman...had 82 tackles as a senior...state champion wrestler his junior year.

Stephen Goughan • OL • 6-2 • 265 • Carrollton, Texas • Hebron HS

Two-time All-District performer for Bi-District Champions.

Dakota Hagler • DL • 6-0 • 276 • Gilmer, Texas • Gilmer HS

Was a three-time First-Team All-District pick...started on offense as a sophomore and senior and was a defensive starter his junior year...named First-Team All-State as a senior...had 110 pancake blocks as a senior.

 

Dakota Harris • QB • 5-11 • 211 • Prague, Okla. • Prague HS

Named all-conference and offensive player of the year...passed for 2,022 yards and rushed for 1,080 yards as a senior...responsible for 32 touchdowns...led Oklahoma Class 2A in rushing with 1,670 yards and was responsible for 52 touchdowns as a junior...also passed for 2,311 yards as a junior.

Garrett Higgins • DE • 6-1 • 210 • Cheney, Kan. • Cheney HS

Two-time All-Central Plains League on offensive and defensive line...named to the Hutchinson News All-Area team.

Charleston Johnson • QB • 5-11 • 175 • Mesquite, Texas • North HS

Named All-District after throwing for 1,294 yards and 18 touchdowns in only year as starting quarterback.

Nick Johansen • WR • 6-4 • 180 • Wichita, Kan. • Bishop Carroll HS

First-team All-City League receiver...all-state selection...had 69 catches for 1,062 yards as a senior...selected to play in Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Corey Johnson • ATH • 6-0 • 190 • San Antonio, Texas • East Central HS

Unanimous First-Team All-District performer...All-City cornerback...has run 38.7 in 300m intermediate hurdles and 21.8 in 200m.

James Kelly • WR • 6-2 • 200 • Flower Mound, Texas • Flower Mound HS

A two-star rated recruit by Rivals.com...two-time First-Team All-District performer...had 45 catches for 688 yards and five touchdowns as a senior.

 

Josh Klumpe • TE • 6-3 • 215 • Olpe, Kan. • Olpe HS

Named Third-Team All-Kansas, All-Class by the Wichita Eagle...All-State performer at tight end...All-Lyon County League selection...named All-Area by the Emporia Gazette...selected to play in Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Ryan Louia • DL • 6-3 • 240 • Burlington, Kan. • Burlington HS

Was a two-time First-Team All-Tri-Valley League defensive lineman...all-state selection as a senior and junior.

Michael Luthi • LB • 6-1 • 200 • Madison, Kan. • Madison HS

Named First-Team All-State by Topeka Capital Journal...was the Emporia Gazette Area Player of the Year...was the Southeast Kansas Eight Man Player of the Year according to sek-sports.com.

Stephen Mason • OL • 6-4 • 280 • Lawrence, Kan. • Lawrence HS

All-Sunflower League offensive lineman...Lawrence Journal World All-Area selection.

Aaron Mathews • TE • 6-2 • 250 • McKinney, Texas • North HS

Named First-Team All-District performer...had 30 catches for 350 yards and a touchdown.

Dalton Piske • WR • 5-11 • 180 • Fairfield, Texas • Fairfield HS

Four-time All-District selection...was the district offensive MVP as a junior...named all-state as a senior.

Luke Rampy • WR • 5-9 • 174 • Overland Park, Kan. • Blue Valley HS

Named First-Team All-State by Topeka Capital Journal...First-Team All-Eastern Kansas League...all-Metro by Kansas City Star and MetroSports...had 89 career catches for 1,440 yards and 15 touchdowns...younger brother of Hornet quarterback Zach Rampy.

Ashton Reichmann • LB • 5-11 • 210 • Maize, Kan. • Maize HS

First-Team All-Class 6A...two-time All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League selection...had 126 tackles as a senior.

Trey Rodgers • OL • 6-4 • 275 • Collinsville, Okla. • Collinsville HS

All-District right tackle...three year starter.

Brett Russell • TE • 6-3 • 260 • Crandall, Texas • Crandall HS

Two-time All-District player...had 41 catches for 457 yards and five touchdowns...placed seventh in Texas State Championships in the shot put.

Adam Schlitz • ATH • 6-4 • 220 • Ponca City, Okla. • Ponca City HS  

Was an Oklahoma Coaches Association Class 6A All-Star...had over 1,500 passing yards, 500 rushing yards and 150 receiving yards on offense...responsible for 23 touchdowns...had 42 tackles and three interceptions as free safety.

TRANSFERS
Chivas Belton • DL • 6-0 • 295 • Houston, Texas
Texas Southern/Klein Forest HS
Played in three games for Texas Southern last season... two-time First-Team All-District selection at Klein Forest HS...led team with 22 tackles for loss.

Eric Brown • OL • 6-4 • 285 • Council Grove, Kan. 
Independence CC/Council Grove HS
Was an All-Jayhawk Conference center for Independence CC...was a First-Team All-Flint Hills League selection at Council Grove HS.

John Buckman • OL • 6-8 • 335 • Garnett, Kan. 
Miami (Ohio)/Coffeyville CC/Anderson County HS
Redshirted one year at Miami (Ohio)...played two years at offensive tackle for Coffeyville CC...helped the Red Ravens to a 9-3 record and Region 6 Championship in 2005...helped Coffeyville to a 10-2 mark and No. 3 national ranking in 2004...honored as a Second-Team All-Jayhawk Conference pick...was a two-star recruit out of high school by rivals.com...hasn't played since 2006 and will have two years of eligibility.

Jarryd Horn • LB • 6-1 • 205 • Muskogee, Okla.
Missouri State/Muskogee HS
Played in nine games at Missouri State...District Defensive Player of the Year and first team all-state in 2006...recorded 172 tackles and eight sacks as a senior...received an invitation to the Oil Bowl all-star contest.