(Wayne, NE) Wayne State College head football coach Dan McLaughlin announced today that 27 student athletes have signed national letters of intent and/or written offers of admission and financial aid to attend Wayne State College and continue their football careers with the Wildcats. The 2010 recruiting class includes 25 high school recruits and two transfers. 20 of the 25 high school signees are from Nebraska with five from Iowa. The Wildcats signed nine offensive linemen followed by six defensive linemen, five wide receivers, four linebackers, one tight end, one quarterback and one running back.

“This is the largest signing class in the five years that I have been here,” said Coach McLaughlin. “Our focus this year was to sign offensive line prospects because we only signed two last year and I feel our hard work was rewarded with the signing of nine new offensive linemen. On the offensive side of the ball, we also added a quarterback, running back, tight end and five wide receivers. We also bolstered our defense by signing six new defensive linemen and four linebackers and we signed some quality kids from northeast Nebraska.”

Wayne State College is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the 14-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wildcats posted an 8-3 record in the 2009 season, going 7-3 in the NSIC to finish in a tie for third place overall. WSC graduated 16 seniors from the 2009 squad.

The following is a list of players who have signed national letters of intent with Wayne State College:

Nebraska signees

Zac Bierman Wide Receiver 6-3, 190 Battle Creek, Nebraska (Battle Creek HS)

Bierman was an All Mid States Conference selection in football as a junior and senior at Battle Creek HS, helping the Braves reach the Class C1 State football playoffs…is a multi-sport standout at Battle Creek High School, starting three seasons in football, four years in track and field and two years in basketball.

Michael Bohn Offensive Line 6-3, 250 Ravenna, Nebraska (Ravenna HS)

Bohn was a Class C2 All State selection at offensive line by the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star as a senior, helping Bluejays to an 8-2 record and the second round of the Class C2 football playoffs…was a three year starter in football and four year letter winner and starter in track and field…earned Academic All-State honors three seasons and was a three-time All-District pick.

Cody Calhoun Wide Receiver 6-2, 185 Maxwell, Nebraska (Maxwell HS)

Calhoun is multi-sport standout from Maxwell HS, starting four years in football and track and field and three years in basketball…set a new Class D1 playoff record this season with 214 yards receiving vs. Elwood…helped team to 7-3 record and Class D1 playoffs second round…named Class D1 All-State as a linebacker by Omaha World Herald and as a punter by the Lincoln Journal Star as a senior…was named the North Platte Telegraph Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and Offensive Player of the Year as a junior…had 79 catches for 1,122 yards and 18 TD’s as a junior, helping team reach semifinals for first time in school history.

Jared Curry Linebacker 6-1, 190 Ponca, Nebraska (Ponca HS)

Curry rushed for 2,304 yards last season while helping Ponca to a 13-0 record and the Class C2 State Championship…was named honorary captain of the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star C2 All-State Teams as a senior…rushed for 4,421 yards in high school career with single game school record of 317 yards and five touchdowns…earned All-State and All-District honors in football as a junior and senior and was All Lewis and Clark Conference in basketball last two seasons…also excels in basketball and track and field – is the defending Class C High Jump champion after winning during junior season clearing 6’7”.

Jon Griebe Defensive Line 6-2, 240 Waverly, Nebraska (Waverly HS)

Griebe was named First Team Class B All-State by the Omaha World Herald as a defensive lineman and First Team Class B All State as an offensive lineman by the Lincoln Journal Star…helped Waverly HS to a 9-2 record and the Class B playoffs last season…three year starter in football and track and field…earned All-District honors as a sophomore and All-Conference honors as a junior.

Austin Heesacker Offensive Line 6-3, 270 Gretna, Nebraska (Gretna HS)

Helped Gretna to back-to-back Class B playoff appearances as a junior and senior, earning All-District and honorable mention All Eastern Midlands Conference honors…was the fourth leading tackler for Gretna during senior season.

Nathan Janke Offensive Line 6-5, 315 Winside, Nebraska (Winside HS)

Helped Winside to a 6-3 record during senior season and a Class D1 playoff appearance with a district title…led Winside in tackles during junior season and finished career with 159 tackles while helping Winside reach playoffs all four seasons…earned All District honors as a junior and senior in football and was All Lewis and Clark Conference basketball selection as a sophomore…was a state qualifier in both shot put and discus in track and field last season as a junior.

Chad Koch Running Back 6-0, 205 Hartington, Nebraska (Cedar Catholic HS)

Koch was a four year starter in football and wrestling and a three year letter winner in track and field at Hartington Cedar Catholic HS…rushed for 2,475 yards and scored 36 TD’s in his senior season while leading Trojans to a 10-3 record and the Class C2 runner up spot…finished high school career with 5,847 rushing yards with 77 total TD’s…was selected honorary captain of Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star Class C2 All-State Teams and was captain of the Norfolk Daily News Class C Elite Eight as a senior…holds Class C2 state playoff record for rushing yards in a season with 883 set last fall.

Jacob Ledgerwood Defensive Line 6-2, 235 Lincoln, Nebraska (Southeast HS)

Ledgerwood was a First Team All Nebraska Defensive Line selection as a senior by the Omaha World Herald while also earning Class A All-State First Team honors from the World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star…credited with 97 total tackles and 45 solo stops while blocking four kicks with two fumble recoveries in senior season, helping Lincoln Southeast HS to a 9-2 record and the Class A quarterfinals.

Curtis Leick Linebacker 6-0, 220 Fremont, Nebraska (Fremont HS)

Leick (pronounced like) is a three year starter in football, wrestling and track and field at Fremont High School…holds school records for tackles in a season and career…earned All Heartland Conference honors in football as a junior and senior and was named All-Area captain in senior season…also excels in track and field, placing fifth last season as a junior in the Class A Discus (151’ 6”).

Nate Most Quarterback 6-0, 205 Giltner, Nebraska (Giltner HS)

Most finished his high school career with an Eight-Man state record 7,835 yards and 108 TD’s…led Giltner High School to the Class D1 championship game this season with 2,925 passing yards and 52 touchdowns…finished 2009 with 11-2 record and Class D1 runner up finish…was selected honorary captain of Class D1 All-State Teams by Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star…named First Team All-Nebraska Offense by Omaha World Herald and Second Team Super State Defensive Back by Lincoln Journal Star…holds nine Nebraska high school football records including career completions with 536…helped Giltner to a fourth place finish in the 2009 Class D1 State Basketball Tournament and holds school record in discus (142’ 11”)...also excels in classroom, earning Academic All-State honors in football, basketball and track and field.

Chad Rokahr Defensive Line Ewing, Nebraska (Ewing HS)

Rokahr was named Class D2 All State defensive lineman by Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star after helping Ewing Tigers to an 11-1 record and the Class D2 semifinals of the football playoffs during senior season…also named to the Norfolk Daily News Class D Elite Eight Third Team and named to the All Huskerland First Team Offense/Defense…helped Ewing to a 12-1 record and Class D2 state title as a junior…finished high school career with 300 tackles, averaging 11.5 tackles per game...also started two years in basketball and three years in track and field.

Alex Rybak Defensive Line 5-11, 260 Malcolm, Nebraska (Malcolm HS)

Rybak received Class C2 All State honors as a defensive lineman by the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star after helping Malcolm High School to a 6-3 record and a berth in the Class C2 playoffs…had 78 tackles, one interception return for a touchdown and three blocked kicks last season…was a three year starter in football and four year starter in track and field.

Johnny Saunders Wide Receiver 6-4, 200 Laurel, Nebraska (Laurel-Concord HS)

Saunders is a three year starter in football, two year starter in basketball and four year starter in track and field at Laurel-Concord HS…had 887 yards receiving and 14 TD’s as a senior, helping Bears to 5-4 record and Class C2 playoff berth…was an All-District and All-Area selection in football as a junior and senior, adding eight TD catches during junior season…also helped Laurel-Concord to sixth place finish in Class C Boys Track last spring as a junior.

Brent Schlote Offensive Line 6-4, 280 Battle Creek, Nebraska (Battle Creek HS)

Schlote was selected to the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star Class C1 All-State Teams and was named to the Norfolk Daily News Class C Elite Eight squad while helping Braves reach the Class C1 playoffs last season…was a three year starter in football and also started in basketball this season for Battle Creek HS…earned All-District and All-Area honors as a senior in football…placed fifth in Class B Shot Put at last spring’s state track meet (53’ 4 ¼”).

Jake Spanjers Defensive Line 6-1, 250 York, Nebraska (York HS)

Spanjers is a four year starter in football and track and field at York High School…was an honorable mention All-District selection and won defensive lineman award…excels in track and field, qualifying for Class B State Meet in discus while helping York HS win back-to-back district track titles…older brother Andrew was four year letter winner at WSC from 2003-06 and was starting defensive lineman.

Adam Stark Wide Receiver 6-1, 175 Elkhorn, Nebraska (Elkhorn HS)

Stark is a two-year starter in football and four year starter in track and field at Elkhorn High School…had seven TD receptions and two punt returns for TD’s in senior season, helping Elkhorn to a 9-3 record and the Class A semifinals…earned All Eastern Midlands Conference honors as a junior and senior in football…also excels in track and field, placing third in the Class A 400 meters last spring in a time of 49.70 seconds.

Joe Trouba Tight End 6-6, 220 Omaha, Nebraska (Creighton Prep HS)

Earned Second Team All-Metro Conference honors at tight end for Omaha Creighton Prep as a senior, making 14 catches for 432 yards and seven touchdowns…helped Creighton Prep to 7-3 record and Class A playoff berth…also received honorable mention Class A All-State and All District honors.

Abram Walker Offensive Line Omaha, Nebraska (Omaha North HS)

Walker was named Class A All-State honorable mention by the Omaha World Herald after helping Omaha North to a 7-3 record last season and a berth in the Class A playoffs…earned Second Team All-Metro Conference honors and was All-District after recording 29 tackles with 20 solo stops during senior season.

Jake Wright Linebacker 6-2, 225 North Platte, Nebraska (North Platte HS)

Wright is a two year starter in football and led North Plate HS in tackles during his junior and senior season…received All Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference honors as a junior and senior to go with Academic All-State accolades…had 192 tackles in career, averaging just over 10 tackles per game the last two seasons…Jake Wright is a cousin of current Wildcat offensive lineman Brad Wright from Ewing.

Iowa signees

Tyler Arlen Offensive Line 6-2, 220 Cascade, Iowa (Cascade HS)

Arlen helped Cascade High School to a 9-2 record in senior season and a berth in the Iowa Class 2A playoffs…earned First Team All-Area and All-District honors…was a three year starter in football and four year starter in track and field...Cascade posted records of 8-2 in Arlen’s junior season and 7-3 in sophomore season…older sister Ashley is member of Wildcat women’s basketball team.

Nick Monzu Linebacker 6-0, 195 Missouri Valley, Iowa (Missouri Valley HS)

Monzu is a multi-sport standout at Missouri Valley HS, starting four seasons in football and track and field, three in baseball and two in basketball…helped Missouri Valley reach the Iowa Class 2A State Playoffs as a junior and senior and was selected to play in the 2010 Iowa Shrine Bowl…was a three-time Class 2A All-State selection in football and a four-time All-District choice…holds numerous school records, including career TD’s (40), most yards in a single season (1,509), most career yards (4,108), most rushing TD’s (35) and most career tackles (343).

Derek Sevener Offensive Line 6-6, 255 Council Bluffs, Iowa (Lewis Central HS)

Sevener was a three year letter winner in football, track and field and baseball at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs…started three years in baseball and two years in track and field.

Jeff Van Den Top Defensive Line 6-6, 230 Hull, Iowa (Boyden Hull-Rock Valley HS)

Two year starter and three year letter winner in football, helping Boyden Hull-Rock Valley to a 13-1 record and a runner up finish in Iowa Class 2A last season as a senior…earned First Team All-State honors from the Des Moines Register, Iowa Newspaper Association and Sioux City Journal to go with All-Northwest Iowa and All-District honors…also started in basketball and is a four year starter on the golf team.

Jordan Youngman Offensive Line 6-4, 285 Pella, Iowa (Pella Community HS)

Youngman was a two year starter and three year letter winner at Pella Community HS, helping team to a 10-4 record and the schools’ first ever trip to the Class 3A State Championship game…named First Team All-State by Iowapreps.com and Second Team All State by the Iowa Newspaper Association as a senior to go with All-District honors…was a Second Team All-District selection as a junior, helping Pella to a 12-1 record and Iowa 3A State Semi-final appearance.

Junior College signees

Keith Bieber Offensive Line/Center 6-1, 270 Fairview, Montana (North Dakota State College of Science)

Starting center in 2009 for North Dakota State College of Science team that reached the West Division championship game of the Midwest Football Conference…named First Team Midwest Football Conference All-Conference in 2009…has two years of eligibility with the Wildcats.

Tommy Warren Wide Receiver 5-11, 180 Omaha, Nebraska (Northwest Missouri State)

Omaha North graduate Tommy Warren transfers to Wayne State after playing two seasons at Northwest Missouri State…had eight catches for 59 yards in two seasons with Bearcats…earned All-State Second Team honors and was an Omaha World Herald All-Metro defensive back in high school at Omaha North…also excelled in track and field, running on state champion 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 meter relay teams.