CHADRON, Neb. — The focus was on defense among the 24 high school seniors who signed with Chadron State College on Wednesday.
"We are very excited about the young men who have committed to Chadron State. We feel that they are great athletes along with being exceptional students and citizens," offensive coordinator Chris Stein said. "This is an important time in the history of Chadron State football and all of these young men are happy to be a part of it."
Nine of those who signed are defensive backs, five are linebackers and four are defensive linemen. The remaining five are comprised of four receivers and one offensive lineman.
Seven players are from Nebraska. They are Trey Allison of Gordon, Buomkuouth Lual of Grand Island, Sawyer Burke of Brady, Frantzlee LeCrete of Lewellen (Garden County High), Wade Reeves of Chadron, Eric Vejvoda of Ralston and Parker Young of Hershey.
Six are from Colorado and five each are from California and Louisiana.
The Rocky Mountain recruits are Marcus Brown of Colorado Springs, Austin Gutierrez of Longmont, Dalton Hall and Jordan King of Fredrick, Timmy Ornelas of Fort Lupton and Sergi Ruiz of Firestone.
The California natives joining CSC are Maurice Boyd, Brian Wood and Ryan Wood of Stockton, Isaac Griffen of San Diego and Marcus Phillips of La Mesa.
The Louisiana recruits include Tre Brown, Courtland Joshua and Cortez Mitchell all of Donaldsonville, D'Vonnte Matthews of Jeanerette and Treston Decoud of Mandeville.
Also joining the Eagles is Jamel Gilliam from Fayetteville, Ga.
The Eagles, who finished the 2011 season with a 6-5 record and a 6-3 mark in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, return 60 letter winners and 17 starters. Since 2000, Chadron State has won or shared the RMAC title five times. No other school in the conference has more than three championships during that stretch.
Trey Allison, Gordon-Rushville, LB, 6-0, 215. Maurice Boyd, AA Stagg (Calif.) HS, DB, 5-11, 170. Tre Brown, Donaldsonville (La.) HS, DB, 5-9, 185. Sawyer Burke, Brady, DB, 6-2, 175. Treston Decoud, Lakeshore (La.) HS, DB, 6-2, 190. Jamel Gilliam, Sandy Creek (Ga.) HS, DB, 5-9, 175. Isaac Griffin, Mission Bay (Calif.) HS, LB, 6-0, 225. Austin Gutierrez, Skyline (Colo.) HS, IR, 6-0, 200. Dalton Hall, Fredrick (Colo.) HS, LB/RB, 6-0, 175. Courtland Joshua, Donaldsonville (La.) HS, LB, 6-0, 215. Jordan King, Fredrick (Colo.) HS, LB, 6-2, 215. Frantzlee LaCrete, Garden County, DL, 6-2, 250. Buomkuoth Lual, Grand Island, DL, 6-3, 220. D'Vonnte Matthews, Jeanerette (La.) HS, DL, 6-1, 305. Cortez Mitchell, Donaldsonville (La.) HS, DB, 5-8, 160. Timmy Ornelas, Fort Lupton (Colo.) HS, OL, 6-1, 250. Marcus Phillips, Helix Charter (Calif.) HS, CB, 6-1, 175. Wade Reeves, Chadron, IR, 6-3, 200. Sergi Ruiz, Fredrick (Colo.) HS, DL, 6-1, 265. Eric Vejvoda, Ralston, LB, 6-1, 205. Brian Wood, AA Stagg (Calif.), HS, DB, 6-1, 170. Ryan Wood, AA Stagg (Calif.) High, DB, 6-2, 175. Parker Young, Hershey, IR, 6-2, 220.
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