By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The word diverse immediately comes to mind when looking at Washburn University's 32-member football recruiting class, announced Wednesday.
Washburn Rural star linebacker Ty Weber, a consensus all-stater and two-time TopSports.news Shawnee County defensive player of the year, signed with Washburn University on Wednesday. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural standout receiver Amr Sabbarini (23) has signed a letter of intent with Washburn University. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park senior Mackey James, named the Meadowlark Conference defensive player of the year as a senior, has signed a letter of intent with Washburn University. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake standout receiver Troy Heiman (11) signed a letter of intent with Washburn University on Wednesday. [File photo/TSN]
The class includes 12 Kansans, including Shawnee County senior stars Amy Sabbarini and Ty Weber of Washburn Rural, Highland Park's Mackey James and Silver Lake's Troy Heiman.
But the class also includes players from four other states, including a whopping seven players from both Georgia and Missouri, four from Texas and two from Arizona.
"One of our coaches, Malen Luke, has had connections for years in Georgia and we've had a few years of it already and then it really seemed to work well this year,'' said Washburn coach Craig Schurig, whose team is coming off a 7-4 season. "Those kids are very well coached, just like they are around here, and they feel comfortable coming here so it seems like it's a really good setup for us.''
There's also diversity among position groups, with 11 players projected as wide receivers, seven as linemen, five defensive backs, three running backs, three quarterbacks, two linebackers and one player listed as an athlete.
"We went after a lot of skill this year as far as power group and skill group,'' Schurig said. "We've had a lot of signings in the skill group over the last two years as kids have graduated -- a lot of D-backs and receivers, and obviously quarterback. We have our quarterback (Kellen Simoncic) back, but we lose our backup quarterback (Jared Taylor) so we wanted to sign some good quarterbacks and we did.
"It's probably as diverse from areas as we've had. It's a little bigger signing class than typical because we had such a big senior class. We had a lot of six-year seniors last year so we had 22 seniors and we had a couple of more guys that aren't coming back for their sixth fall so we have about 25 kids that are no longer going to play next year. So we needed to re-load in some respects and this class should do that.''
Washburn recruiting capsules:
Chase Allen-Jackman • 6-3, 190, wide receiver • Fayette, Missouri / Fayette High School
As a senior Allen-Jackman was a unanimous all-state selection at wide receiver after recording 1,038 yards and 12 touchdowns on 75 receptions, earning all-league offensive player of the year honors. Allen-Jackman was also named unanimous first-team all-district at wide receiver and unanimous first-team all-league safety and first-team returner … as a junior he was a third-team all-state selection at defensive end, a first-team all-league pick at defensive end and a third-team selection at wide receiver, recording 29 catches and 453 yards and four touchdowns in eight games … a first-team all-district pick at defensive end as a sophomore … son of Tim Jackman and Valerie Gaines, five brothers, Jonathan, Carlton, Collin, Chris and Ckhai … his father played basketball at Central Methodist … anticipated major is business management.
Jamir Beckom • 6-0, 185, defensive back • Dacula, Georgia / North Gwinnett High School
A four-year member of the North Gwinnett High School squad … son of James and Tessa … a brother Demetric … anticipated major is business.
D.J. Bell • 5-11, 170, running back • Alma, Georgia / Pierce County High School
Rushed for 1,361 yards as a senior on 156 carries, averaging 170.1 yards per game … had seven 100-plus rushing games, scoring 22 touchdowns and rushed for more than 5,000 yards in his prep career. Bell was named to the Georgia Public Broadcasting All-State All-Stars team … son of Noah Bell … anticipated major is business.
Jaiden Bender • 6-4, 200, defensive dnd • Eudora / Eudora High School
Participated in track and field in addition to football … son of Laura Chaney … anticipated major is sports management.
Nate Chandler • 5-11, 185, linebacker • Abilene / Manhattan High School
Won a state championship as a senior at Manhattan High School with a 13-0 record … guardian is Brynna Gill … two brothers, Nehemiah and Blake … anticipated major is sports performance.
Daniel Chavez • 6-4, 225, defensive end • Atlanta, Georgia / Chamblee High School
An all-state honorable mention selection and all-region pick in football as a senior … as a junior he was named the defensive lineman of the year and was named all-county and all-state honorable mention in soccer as a junior … a sister Karina … anticipated major is business.
Hayden Clark • 6-0, 205, quarterback • Gwinnett, Georgia / Mill Creek High School
Helped lead Mill Creek to Class 7A state championship, breaking 12 school records and earning first-team all-county honors after throwing for 2,334 yards and 25 touchdowns while rushing for 363 yards and three more scores … a three-year starter on varsity and winner of Elite 11 Golden Arm Award … son of Don and Karen Clark … a sister, Ashlyn … anticipated major computer information science.
Elijah Clarke-Boyd • 6-2, 240, defensive end • Junction City / Junction City High School
A first-team All-Centennial League and all-state honorable mention selection as a senior and a junior … a first-team all-league pick as a sophomore and also lettered in track and basketball … a member of the National Honor Society … son of Marcus Boyd and Kareena Clarke … anticipated major is political science and pre-engineering.
Zach Cook • 6-8, 285, offensive line • Phoenix, Arizona / Cesar Chavez High School
Named first-team all-region on both the offensive and defensive lines as a senior and was a second-team all-region selection on the defensive line as a junior … son of Jason Cook … anticipated major is business or engineering.
Tylan Crochett • 5-11, 185, wide receiver • Forney, Texas / North Forney High School
Played at North Forney High School … anticipated major is business.
Najee Ellies • 5-10, 170, wide receiver • Arlington, Texas / Northeastern Oklahoma A&M / Timberview High School
A spring semester transfer already enrolled in classes at Washburn … had 14 catches for 229 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and added six kickoff returns for 89 yards and six punt returns for 73 yards … as a freshman he had three catches for 23 yards appearing in seven games … an integrated studies major.
Jaquarius Evans • 6-0, 160, safety • Dublin, Georgia / Dublin High School
An all-state honorable mention pick as a senior and named the region's Class 2A athlete of the year after rushing for 788 yards and 12 touchdowns while recording 40 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception … also a first-team all-region pick in soccer … as a junior he was all-region honorable mention, passing for 620 yards and eight touchdowns … had 39 solo tackles and 28 assisted tackles with an interception as a sophomore … won a state championship as a freshman going 14-1 … son of Christopher Darrisaw and Angela Richardson … a sister, Ar'Monie … a brother, Jaques, who plays football at Western Kentucky … sister Jaquavia a cheerleader at Savannah State … anticipated major is exercise science.
Devean Frazier • 6-5, 240, defensive end • Kansas City, Missouri / Center High School
Will also compete in track and field at Washburn … a second-team all-state selection in football as a senior … as a junior he was the league champion in the shot put and was a first-team all-league selection on the defensive line and a second-team pick on the offensive line … as a sophomore he was a second-team all-league pick and the district shot put champion … son of Amy Frazier and stepfather Ray Dickerson … undecided on major.
Marlon Gant, Jr. • 6-0, 200, safety • Kansas City, Missouri / Oak Park High School
As a senior he had 10 touchdowns on 64 carries for 354 yards while recording 50 tackles with two sacks and an interception for a touchdown … his junior season he had 51 carries for 279 yards and four scores to go along with 46 catches for 474 yards and tied the school record with a 99-yard kickoff return … as a sophomore he had 533 yards on 100 carries and seven touchdowns with 26 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns … son of Marlon Gant and Davida Washington … anticipated major is business.
Kale Hammerschmidt • 5-9, 175, safety • Eudora / Eudora High School
As a senior he was an all-state selection while also earning all-league and all-area honors at safety … as a junior Hammereschmidt earned all-state, all-league and all-area honors … an all-state, all-league and all-area pick as a safety as a sophomore … also a state qualifier in the triple jump, lettering in basketball and track … son of Dain and Katie Hammerschmidt … anticipated major is business management or engineering.
Troy Heiman • 6-3, 175, wide receiver • Silver Lake / Silver Lake High School
An all-league and all-state honorable mention selection in football as a senior and earned all-league honorable mention and all-state honors as a junior while also picking up all-league and all-state honorable mention honor in basketball … a member of the National Honor Society and an Academic All-League selection … son of James and Amy Heiman … two sisters, Paige and Rachel … a brother, Wyatt … Rachel competed and Wyatt competes at Washburn in track and field … his father played basketball at Cloud County Community College … anticipated major is business.
Kenan Holmes • 5-9, 170, Athlete • Suwannee, Georgia / North Gwinnett High School
A first-team all-county kick returner as a senior by the Touchdown Club of Gwinnett… son of Michael and Brenda Holmes … anticipated major is kinesiology.
Keller Hurla • 6-1, 180, Quarterback • Maple Hill / St. Marys High School
As a senior he passed for 2,656 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 1,272 yards and 25 touchdowns, earning Top 11 All-Class, first-team all-state, first-team all-league and an invitation to the Kansas Shrine Bowl … as a junior he threw for 1,581 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 490 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning first-team all-league and all-state honorable mention … was a first-team all-state selection in basketball and a first-team all-league pick in basketball after averaging 19.5 points and helping team to state runner-up finish as a junior … as a sophomore he passed for 747 yards and nine touchdowns rushing for 319 yards and a touchdown and earned first-team all-league and third-team all-state honors in basketball after averaging 14.5 points … a member of the National Honor Society and the senior class president … son of Adam and Crystal Hurla … a brother, Jace … a sister, Isabel … anticipated major is business management.
Mackey James • 5-9, 235, fullback • Topeka / Highland Park High School
A second-team all-state selection and was named the defensive player of the year in the Meadowlark Conference … James helped lead the Scots to a breakout 6-3 season as a senior. ... a member of the National Honor Society … son of Morris James, Jr., and Jenny Pappas … anticipated major is marketing or computer science.
Al-Mani Jimerson • 6-2, 280, defensive line • St. Louis, Missouri / McCluer High School
As a senior he was a first-team all-state, all-league and all-metro selection and as a junior he was a first-team all-league and second team all-district pick … a first-team all-league pick as a sophomore … son of Aileen Jimerson … a brother, Alex'za … anticipated major is criminal justice or psychology.
Andre Johnson • 6-1, 210, defensive end • Dallas, Texas / Lake Highlands High School
A member of the Wildcats football team … son of Andre Johnson and Jillian Kelly … anticipated major is kinesiology.
Triston Johnson • 6-0, 185, wide receiver • Fort Worth, Texas / Birdville High School
A first-team all-district pick as a senior and a three-year letterwinner … son of Brandon Johnson and Tameka Orr … anticipated major is business marketing.
Silas Jones • 6-0, 185, wide receiver • Norton / Norton Community High School
An all-state and all-league selection as a senior and second-team pick at linebacker … his junior season he was all-league, earning second-team linebacker and punter and honorable mention as a placekicker and running back earning all-state honors and second-team honorable mention honors from Sports In Kansas … as a sophomore he was all-league earning second-team placekicker honors and honorable mention at linebacker and had 13 tackles on varsity as a freshman … son of Bill and Amye Jones … two brothers, Eli and Levi … anticipated major is secondary education.
Eddie McLaughlin • 5-10, 175, wide receiver • Leavenworth / Leavenworth High School
As a senior he was named the United Kansas Conference Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,365 yards and 14 touchdowns and passing for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns.… son of Johnny Sr., and Nery McLaughlin … three brothers, Santi, Lewis and Johnny … his brother Lewis ran track and field at Emporia State … anticipated major is business.
Jay'Len Rushing • 5-9, 215, running back • Chandler, Arizona / Mountain Pointe High School
Named the Player of the Year after rushing for 1,137 yards and adding five receptions for 103 yards en route to all-state honors … also named all-region and all-city as well as team MVP … a first-team all-region pick as a junior after rushing for 688 yards on 107 carries … rushed for 1,057 yards as a freshman on 87 carries, tying the school's single-game yardage record … son of Brandon and Diandra … step-parents Preston and Vanessa … brothers, Jamar, Kayden, Zach and Brandon … sisters, Alaya, Ailani, Amari and Kaleigh … anticipated major is computer science.
Amr Sabbarini • 6-0, 185, wide receiver • Topeka / Washburn Rural High School
Had 29 catches and seven touchdowns collecting more than 400 yards while receiving earning All-Centennial League and All-Shawnee County honors at wide receiver as a senior … his junior year he had 37 catches for 500 yards and seven scores, earning second-team all-state honors with all-county and all-league honors … a starter on varsity as a sophomore he had more than 20 catches and three touchdowns … a Kansas scholar recipient … son of Mark and Abby Sabbarini … anticipated major is business.
Keenan Schartz • 5-11, 170, wide receiver • Manhattan / Manhattan High School
A Kansas Shrine Bowl selection after passing for 1,501 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushing for 1,232 yards and 20 touchdowns whilhelping Manhattan to the 6A state championship as a senior … also named the first-team all-state by the KFBCA and Wichita Eagle and was named the Centennial League's Offensive Player of the Year and all-league with Sports In Kansas Top 11 honors and first-team all-state honors … as a junior he was an all-state honorable mention selection after passing for 700 yards and rushing for 926 yards and 16 total touchdowns and a regional football championship and a 6A runner up finish in baseball … an all-league honorable mention selection in baseball … baseball team was fourth at the state tournament as a sophomore winning the district championship … son of Joe and Kitra Schartz … two sisters, Kira and Keylee … father played football at Washburn and is in the Washburn Athletic Hall of Fame … mother played tennis at Washburn … anticipated major is business.
Maury Sullivan • 6-2, 180, wide receiver • St. Louis, Missouri / Normandy High School
Named offensive player of the year as a senior after recording 22 total touchdowns and was a first-team all-league pick as a junior … son of Marcus Sullivan and Yoland Goodrich … three brothers, Marcus, Marquis and La'ron … anticipated major is kinesiology.
Sam Van Dyne • 6-3, 205, quarterback • Liberty, Missouri / Liberty North High School
As a senior he was a Simone Award Finalist and earned all-state, all-state, all-league recognition and named the league offensive player of the year after accounting for 2,700 yards with 31 touchdowns completing 62 percent of his passes … as a junior he was all-state, all-district and was named the league's offensive player of the year and a Simone Award Finalist after gaining 2,150 yards with 22 total touchdowns and a 65 percent completion rate … threw for four touchdowns as a sophomore and 450 yards … overall helped team to two state semifinals and a state championship game … a three-time academic all-state selection and the class valedictorian … son of Kim and Scott Carlos … two brothers, Jake and Mack … a sister, Maddi … brother Jake plays football at Oregon … anticipated major is finance.
Nate Walls • 5-10, 165, wide receiver • Kansas City, Missouri / Platte County High School
A second team all-conference pick at running back who had five-straight 100-yard games … an honorable mention all-league pick as a junior … son of Mike and Laurie Walls … a sister, Allison, who played soccer at Drake … his father played football at William Jewell … anticipated major is business.
Ty Weber • 6-3, 230, linebacker • Topeka / Washburn Rural High School
Named the 6A Defensive Player of the Year by Sports In Kansas also earned SIK, KFBCA first-team all-state honors and was a Top 11 pick by Sports In Kansas the KFBCA and was named the Centennial League's Defensive Player of the Year as well as first-team all-league, the Shawnee County Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-county as a senior after recording 134 total tackles with 82 solo stops, 19 tackles for loss with two sacks, an interception, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … selected to the Kansas Shrine Bowl and the Blue/Grey All-American game, finishing his career as Washburn Rural's all-time leader in tackles and tackles for loss … as a junior he had 106 tackles with 63 solo stops and seven tackles for loss and two forced fumbles and was named first-team all-state by SIK as well as first-team all-league and all-county and the Shawnee County Defensive Player of the Year by Topsports.news and was an first-team all-state designated hitter in baseball … his sophomore season he recorded 116 tackles with 72 solo stops, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks en route to first-team all-city and all-league as well as Topeka Top 11 and was honorable mention all-state … as a freshman he recorded 61 tackles with 41 solo stops, seven tackles for loss with three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles recoding school record for most tackles as a freshman earning honorable mention all-city and all-league honors … a member of the National Honor Society … son of Billy and Abby Weber … two brothers, Easton and Bo … a sister, Sierra … brother Bo played football at Pittsburg State … brother Easton played soccer at Baker … father played football at Southwestern … anticipated major is business.
Jaquez White • 6-0, 170, defensive back • Blackshear, Georgia / Pierce County High School
Will also compete in track and field at Washburn … a first-team all-region selection at wide receiver and an all-state pick at defensive back as a senior … as a junior he was a second-team all-region pick at defensive back and was the 300m hurdles state runner-up while earning first-team all-region honors in basketball … football team won state championship as a sophomore … son of Penny White … three sisters, Crystal, Jada and Jasmine … three brothers, Vince, Deyontae and Ketrone … anticipated major is business and cosmetology.
