ABILENE – ACU?head football coach Chris Thomsen and his coaching staff set out this recruiting season to address a few short-term needs and add solid players for long-term stability. Wednesday morning Thomsen said they were able to accomplish both goals with the signing and transfer class that he announced.
The Wildcats’ head coach said his sixth recruiting class has a chance to be a “really good group,” and that he’s anxious to get them on campus this summer to truly see what they’ve been able to land this recruiting season. Thomsen announced Wednesday that the Wildcats have added 15 high school players and two junior college transfers to a team that returns nine offensive starters, eight defensive starters, both kicking specialists and 46 lettermen from a team that finished 9-4 last year and reached the playoffs for the fourth straight season (reaching the second round of the NCAA?Division II?playoffs).
“Overall we got most of our recruiting needs addressed,” Thomsen said. “We set out with a goal of addressing both our short-term and long-term needs. We’ve still got some work to do before the summer, but we feel like we’ve brought in what could be a really good group.”
Both transfers are already on campus in running back Josh Morgan (Pasadena City Community College) and offensive lineman Dyland Blount (Kilgore College). In two seasons at Pasadena City, Morgan ran for 1,215 yards and scored seven touchdowns while catching 45 passes for 392 yards and a pair of scores. Blount, meanwhile, played both guard and tackle for Kilgore, but will probably play a guard spot for the Wildcats.
“With Dyland, we needed to add some offensive line help after losing two starters there (left tackle Tony Washington and right guard Levi Wolfe),” Thomsen said. “Dyland is a tough football player with good athleticism. He’s got everything we look for in an offensive lineman.
The Wildcats signed three offensive linemen and six defensive linemen from the high school ranks in an attempt, Thomsen said, to address long-term needs at both positions. ACU will lose two starting offensive linemen and two defensive tackles after the 2010 season, requiring they have players ready to step in and contribute by 2011.
One player, however, who could contribute in 2010 is offensive tackle Logan Hoppenrath from Fort Worth Brewer High School. Hoppenrath was a
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Area Top 50 player. At 6-4, 290 pounds, Hoppenrath has the frame and the athleticism?ACU coaches look for in their offensive linemen.
“Logan’s a kid who could come in here this summer and factor into the offensive tackle rotation as a freshman,” Thomsen said. “He’s a really good athlete with a good frame; we’re really pleased to be able to get him here.”
The other offensive linemen the Wildcats signed were Nathan Chance (Grandview) and Rafael Gallo (Katy Mayde Creek).
On the defensive line, the Wildcats signed Stephenville standout T.R. Varnado as well as Paul Ellis (Dallas Skyline) Brandon Dornak (Conroe Oakridge), Kevin Coldewey (Monahans), Stephen Joiner (Midland Lee) and Ezra Robertson (Forney).
“With both Mike and Marvin Jones being seniors next season we needed to fill some spots on the defensive line, and we like the guys we’ve added there,” Thomsen said. “Varnado reminds me a lot of (all-Lone Star Conference nose tackle) Jacob Passmore. He’s a big, strong kid that will only get bigger, and he’ll be a factor.”
Overall, Thomsen – who said the Wildcats still aren’t finished adding players – is happy with the players were able to add to their team on Wednesday.
“We still have some recruiting to do this spring and summer at the junior college level and working on some other transfer players, but I like where we are right now,” he said. “Our coaches did a great job again this season going out all over the state and talking to hundreds of kids. They did a great job identifying our needs and going out and getting kids that we believe will fill those spots on our team.”
HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown / High School |
| Zack Agnew |
Ath. |
6-3 |
205 |
Vernon / Northside HS |
| Brandon Bowles |
LB |
5-11 |
240 |
Dallas / Skyline HS |
| Tee Bracy |
WR |
5-10 |
190 |
Fort Bend / Hightower HS |
| Sheldon Catley |
DB |
6-1 |
190 |
Austin / Bowie HS |
| Nathan Chance |
OL |
6-4 |
250 |
Grandview / Grandview HS |
| Kevin Coldewey |
DE |
6-4 |
215 |
Monahans / Monahans HS |
| Brandon Dornak |
DE |
6-4 |
250 |
Conroe / Oakridge HS |
| Paul Ellis |
DL |
6-1 |
255 |
Dallas / Skyline HS |
| Rafael Gallo |
OL |
6-2 |
285 |
Katy / Mayde Creek HS |
| Logan Hoppenrath |
OL |
6-4 |
290 |
Fort Worth / Boswell HS |
| Stephen Joiner |
DE |
6-3 |
220 |
Midland / Lee HS |
| Angel Lopez |
DB |
5-10 |
190 |
San Antonio / MacArthur HS |
| Alex Perotti |
LB |
6-4 |
205 |
San Antonio / Texas Military Inst. |
| Chris Rhoten |
WR |
5-11 |
190 |
Canyon / Canyon HS |
| Nick Richardson |
LB |
6-2 |
205 |
Waco / Waco HS |
| Ezra Robertson |
DT |
6-0 |
270 |
Forney / Forney HS |
| T.R. Varnado |
DT |
6-0 |
290 |
Stephenville / Stephenville HS |
| Ashton Williams |
TE |
6-4 |
240 |
Plano / Plano HS |
JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFERS
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Class |
Hometown / Previous School |
| Dyland Blount |
OL |
6-2 |
285 |
jr |
Houston / Kilgore College |
| Josh Morgan |
RB |
5-10 |
225 |
jr |
Encino, Calif. / Pasadena City CC |