La Grande, Ore – Head Football Coach Ian Shields and the Mountie Football coaching staff have been busy in their first full season of recruiting. The staff is excited to announce 43 new signees for the 2007 season.
In their first year in La Grande, Coach Shields and his staff got off to a great start with a record of 6-5 in the always tough Frontier Conference. The staff spent the season trying to get its current players to adapt to a new way of doing things on and off of the field. At the same time they were obviously busy preparing for the future.
According to Shields they addressed some key needs with this class, “We obviously signed a large number of kids. We needed to add some depth with this class to give our program some stability.” “The other thing we addressed was our team speed. We got significantly faster across the board but particularly in the skill positions. There are some extraordinarily talented players in this class that will help our program take the next step.”
Coach Shields gives the bulk of the credit to his assistant coaches, “We had a great plan. Coach Camp was our recruiting coordinator. He along with Coach Ena, Coach Mahon, Coach Green and Coach Lovitt all did a fabulous job in this recruiting process. If the kids can come in here and continue what they have done in high school it should be a real special class.”
Shields went on to say, "I am very proud of this group and the quality of student-athlete we are attracting to EOU. It is a team effort that would not have happened without the unwaivering support of our entire athletic department. Admissions, financial aid and all of our outstanding faculty played an important role in this process."
(Below are brief biographical sketches on the student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent by Eastern Oregon University Football by Friday (4/6/07)
Marc-Avery Airhart
Freshman, LB, 6, 215
Renton, Wash (John F. Kennedy HS)
High School Awards: 2006 Team Captain, Defensive MVP, Best Hitter, Played in the East-West All-Star Game, 1st Team All-League
Nicholas Allen
Freshman, O/D Lineman, 5'9, 280
Meridian, Idaho (Meridian HS)
High School Awards: 3 year starter, First Team All-League, 2nd Team All-State, 5A State Champs in 2006
Kent Bernard
Freshman, O/D Lineman, 6'3, 230
Kuna, Idaho (Kuna HS)
High School Awards: 2005 Offensive Lineman of the Year, 1st Team All-League Offensive Line, 2006 1st Team All-League Definsive Line, Defensive POY, 1st Team All-League Offensive Line, Honorable Mention All-State Offensive Line, 1st Team All-State Definsive Line
Steven Berndt
Freshman, DB, 5'10, 165
Waipahu, Hawaii (Waipahu HS)
High School Awards: 2006 Honor Roll, Team Captain, Honorable Mention All-League
Joseph Budge
Freshman, LB, 6'1, 190
Nooksack Valley, Wash (Nooksack Valley HS)
High School Awards: 2005 1st Team All-League Linebacker, 2006 1st Team All-League Linebacker, Kicker, Team Defensive POY (2005-2006)
Colman Currie
Freshman, OL, 6'4, 265
Bend, Ore (Mountain View HS)
High School Awards: 2006 Team Most Inspirational, 2nd Team All-League Definsive End, Honorable Mention All-League Tight End
Travis Daniels
Freshman, WR/DB, 5'9, 165
Honolulu, Hawaii (Radford, HS)
High School Awards: 1st Team All-OIA West DB
Jason Dronen
Freshman, LB, 5'11, 205
Vancouver, Wash (Skyview HS)
High School Awards: 2006 2nd Team All-League Linebacker
Justin Elliott
Freshman, O/D Lineman, 6'0, 230
Meridian, Idaho (Meridian HS)
High School Awards: 2006 Mountie Big Man Camp MVP,1st Team All-League, 1st Team All-State
Shawn Flanagan
Junior, O Lineman, 6'5, 305
Pendleton, Ore (University of Oregon)
High School Awards: All-State Offensive and Defensive Lineman at Pendleton HS, 1st Team All-IMC both offense and defense, Team Defensive MVP, holds school weightlifting records, 440 bench/330 power clean/620 squat, SuperPrep and PrepStar magazine All-Region, 11 sacks and 50 tackles as senior.
Kamuela Foki
Freshman, LB/DB/FB, 5'10, 200
Kapolei, Hawaii (Kapolei HS)
High School Awards: 2006 1st Team All-League , 2007 All-State 2nd Team SS, All-Star West (RB/SS), Team Most Improved Linebacker, Iron Man Award (playing both ways)
Eric Forney
Freshman, QB/FB/LB/DB, 6'0, 205
San Diego, Cali (Helix HS)
High School Awards: All Grossmont 2nd Team, 1st Team All-East County, 1st Team All League, Team MVP, Team Captain, Grossmont South League MVP
Jeff Gates
Freshman, RB, 5'10, 190
Hoquiam, Wash (Hoquiam HS)
High School Awards: 2006 Conference POY, Honorable Mention All-State, All-Time Leading Rusher at Hoquiam HS
Jake Harley
Freshman, LB/FB/SB, 6'0, 182
Boise, Idaho (Boise HS)
High School Awards: 2006 Team Captain, Team MVP
Trevor Harmon
Freshman, LB, 6'0, 220
Centralia, Wash (Centralia HS)
High School Awards: 4 year Honor Roll, 2006 2nd Team All-League / All Area
Matt Hughes
Freshman, O/L Lineman, 6'2, 255
Boise, Idaho (Centennial HS)
High School Awards: 2006 2nd Team All-League
Jordyn Jackson
Sophomore, SB, 5'10, 193
Vancouver, Wash (Western Washington / Clark CC)
High School Awards: Junior season 1st Team All-Region, 1st Team All-State, Senior season 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-Region, State POY
Marcos Jimenez
Freshman, QB/DB, 5'10, 170
Wahluke, Wash ( Wahluke HS)
High School Awards: 2006 2nd Team All-State DB, Honorable Mention All-State QB, League MVP, Team MVP
Reece Johnson
Freshman, DB, 5'10, 165
Boise, Idaho (Centennial HS)
High School Awards: 3 year letterman, Outstanding Defensive Back at the Mountain High School I-84 Football Camp
Noah Knoblauch
Freshman, DL, 6'0, 280
Puyallup, Wash (Sumner HS)
High School Awards: 2005 2nd Team All-League Defense, 2006 1st Team All-League Defense, Team Captain, 1st Team All-League
Garrett Later
Freshman, O/D Lineman, 6'0, 235
Hermiston, Ore (Hermiston HS)
High School Awards: Team Best Lineman Award, 1st Team All-League, Honorable Mention All-State Definsive Lineman
Lynn Mallory
Freshman, OL/DL/LB, 6'2, 225
Hauser, Idaho (Lakeland HS)
High School Awards: 4 Year Honor Roll Student, Math / Speech Team Member, 2006 Team Captain, 2nd Team All-League Linebacker, 2nd Team All-League Offensive Line
Blaine Marples
Freshman, O/D Lineman, 6'2, 240
Fruitland, Idaho (Fruitland HS)
High School Awards: 1st Team All-State Offensive Lineman, 2nd Team All-State Defensive Lineman, 1st Team All-Argus Offensive & Defensive Lineman
Kirk Miller
Freshman, WR/DB, 6'0, 165
Kuna, Idaho (Kuna HS)
High School Awards: 2004 2nd Team All-League Defensive Back, 2005 All-Academic Award, 1st Team All-League Defensive Back, 2006, All-Academic Award, 1st Team All-League Wide Reciver, 2nd Team All-League Defensive Back, 1st Team All-State WR, Honor Roll, Played in the Shrine Game
Matt Morse
Freshman, WR, 6'5, 220
Orting, Wash (Sumner HS)
High School Awards: 1st Team All-League WR, Team Most Improved
Brad Padayao
Freshman, QB, 5'10, 195
Kapolei, Hawaii (Kapolei HS)
High School Awards: 2006 OIA Red West POY, All-State Football
Neil Paguyo
Freshman, DB, 6'0, 160
Waipahu, Hawaii (Waipahu HS)
High School Awards: 2006 OIA 1st Team All-League, Honorable Mention All-State
Michael "Shane" Palmer
Freshman, O/D Lineman, 6'0, 260
Middleton, Idaho (Middleton HS)
High School Awards: Distinquished Character Award, Honor Roll, 2005 Team Defensive MVP, 2nd Team All-League, Team Offensive MVP, 1st Team All-League, 2nd Team All-State, Lineman of the Year
Larry Raynes
Junior, D Lineman, 6'3, 265
Elma, Wash (Eastern Washington University / College of the Siskiyous)
Awards: 1st Team All-State OL/DL, All-Conference OL/DL at Elma HS, 2004 letterman at EWU on the defensive line.
Jake Rhodes
Freshman, DB, 6'0, 170
Coeur 'd Alene, Idaho (Coeur d' Alene HS)
High School Awards: 2006 1st Team All-North Idaho, 2nd Team All-State
Torrey Roberts
Freshman, OL/DL, 5'11, 260
Nampa, Idaho (Nampa HS)
High School Awards: 2005 Honarable Mention Offensive Lineman, 2006 1st Team-All Conference Offensive Lineman, Honarable Menion Defensive Lineman, State Wrestling Champion
Shennon Shelton
Freshman, DL/OL, 6'2, 215
Auburn, Wash (Auburn HS)
High School Awards: 2006 Scholar Athlete, 1st Team All-League, All-Area
Alec Simmons
Freshman, WR/SB/DB, 5'8, 185
Sumner, Wa (Sumner HS)
High School Awards: 2005 1st Team All-League WR, 2nd Team All-League DB, 2nd Team All-Area DB, 2006 1st Team All-League RB, 2nd Team All-League DB, All purpose POY, All-Area kick return specialist, Team Captain, Team Offensive POY, Team MVP
Matt Soueira
Freshman, SB/WR, 5'8, 158
Waipahu, Hawaii (Waipahu HS)
High School Awards: 2005 OIA 1st Team Running Back, 2006 OIA 2nd Team Wide Reciever, 3rd Team All-State Utility
DeShawn Smith
Freshman, SB, 5'7, 170
San Jacinto, Cali (San Jacinto HS)
High School Awards: 2005 Team MVP, 2006 1st Team All-CIF, 1st Team All-State, League MVP
Jordan Smith
Freshman, OL/DL, 6'2, 240
Coeur 'd Alene, Idaho (Coeur d' Alene HS)
High School Awards: 2006 2nd Team All-North Idaho
Gavin Smith
Junior, Slot, 5;8 175
Seattle, Wash (Eastern Washington / University of Idaho)
Awards:1st Team All-King Co, 1st team All-State, All-Eastside Player of the Year, WA, State rushing record in championship game/231 yards
Tauese Tapusoa III
Freshman, OL, 6'2, 250
Waialua, Hawaii (Waialua HS)
High School Awards: 2006 Advertiser OIA 2nd Team All-Star, Star Bulletin OIA 2nd Team All-Star
Gil Trejo
Freshman, WR, 6'1, 175
Blackfoot, Idaho (Snake River HS)
High School Awards: Honor Roll, 2006 All-League
Justin Udy
Freshman, QB/DB, 5'10, 170
Genesee, Idaho (Genesee HS)
High School Awards: 2005 1st Team All-State QB / DB, 2006 1A State POY (offense), 1st Team All-State DB, Team won the State Championship
Zachary Wales
Freshman, FB/LB, 6'1, 200
Lompoc, Cali (Lompoc HS)
High School Awards: 2006 2nd Team All-League Fullback, National Honor Roll
Landon Weaver
Freshman, QB/Athlete, 6'0, 180
La Grande, Ore (La Grande HS)
High School Awards: 6 time scholar-athlete award, 2004 2nd Team All-League, 2005 1st Team All-League QB, POY, 2006 1st Team All-League QB / DB, Offensive POY. Honorable Mention All-State QB
Kyle Witty
Freshman, DL, 6'4, 220
La Grande, Ore (La Grande HS)
High School Awards: 1st Team G.O.L Defensive Line, G.O.L. Defensive Player of the Year, All-State, District Champion wrestler 2005 and 2006, 3rd place finish at state as Junior, 6th place as sophomore, State Champion 2007
Billy Zimmerman
Freshman, DL/LB, 6'3, 220
Rainier, Ore (Rainier HS)
High School Awards: 4 Year Letterman, 2005 Honorable Mention All-League, All-Area Defensive Lineman (2003-2005), 2006 1st Team All-League Linebacker, 2nd Team All-Area Tight End, Team Defensive POY (2004-2006), 1st Team All-State Linebacker
