Coach Shields Announces 2007 Recruiting Class
4.06.07
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 |
Athletics Office, Quinn 126
One University Boulevard
La Grande, OR 97850-2899
Phone: 541-962-3364
email: athletic@eou.edu
