A total of seven Lakota West student athletes signed and had their letters of intent faxed to colleges on National Signing Day Wednesday.
“When you have these kids signing out, what a great opportunity for their lives and I am not talking about football. They have all been given an opportunity to give themselves such a step up in life,” Lakota West head coach Larry Cox said.
“Today is about winning and they won through their academics and their athletics. They have proven themselves worthy to the level, which is one step away from the pros, to play football again. How can you not be excited about that?”
Headlining the 2012 Lakota West class of seniors was Indiana University signee Dawson Fletcher, who verbally committed to IU prior to this fall’s high school season.
Fellow senior defensive players lineman Blake Bell (California University of Penn.), linebacker Jordan Darland (Olivet Nazarene University), linebacker Cole Stalker (University of Findlay) will also continue their football careers at the next level.
- Video highlights of Lakota West S Dawson Fletcher
- Video highlights of Lakota West DE Blake Bell
- Video highlights of Lakota West LB Jordan Darland
- Video highlights of Lakota West LB Cole Stalker
- Video highlights of Lakota West DL/OL Beau Odom
- Video highlights of Lakota West WR Bubba Williams
- Video highlights of Lakota West WR Kayaune Ross
- Video highlights of Lakota West RB Marcus Davis
Offensively, lineman Beau Odom (Georgetown College), wide receiver Bubba Williams (photo – Lindsey Wilson College) and wide receiver Kayaune Ross (Fort Scott Community College) will also play football in college.
The 6-foot-3 200-pound Ross provided matchup problems for other teams in the Greater Miami Conference in 2011, averaging 25.6 yards per catch. Overall, Ross finished with 14 catches for 358 yards and six touchdowns. For his play, Ross was named second team all-GMC and earned him attention from many Division I scouts, according to Cox.
“Fort Scott is in the Kansas JUCOs, which is the toughest in the nation,” Cox said. “They will sign out 10-to-12 Division I players per year. He has a great opportunity and he is very humble and grateful for it.”
This week, two former Fort Scott players who went on to sign with the University of South Florida, will be playing in the Super Bowl. Both players, linebacker Jacquian Williams (78 total tackles in 2011 as a rookie) and Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (86 total tackles, 16.5 sacks in 2011), are key contributors on the New York Giants’ defense.
In addition to the signees, according to Cox, Lakota West senior running back Marcus Davis will be a preferred walk-on or possibly a greyshirt at Murray State University. Davis rushed for 1,118 yards in the fall and is third in school history in career rushing yards.
(WestChesterBuzz.com will post a separate story on Dawson Fletcher soon with comments from the IU coaching staff)
Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |
