PARKLAND – The Pacific Lutheran football program will welcome 46 new student-athletes from seven states this fall as the Lutes look to build on their streak of five straight winning seasons in the fall.
"This incoming class of student-athletes is a very talented and special group of young men," PLU head coach Scott Westering said. "We are so excited to have them and their families join our EMAL Football Family."
A total of 34 in-state recruits lead the way, while four new Lutes hail from Oregon, four more from California and one each from Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota and Montana. PLU has won at least seven games in each of the last three seasons and advanced to the NCAA Division III National Playoffs in 2012 and 2013. Last season, PLU climbed as high as No. 14 in the national rankings before finishing third in the Northwest Conference with a 5-2 record to go with a 7-2 overall mark.
"Graduating so many seniors this past year will give a number of these kids a chance to possibly contribute on the field very early in their careers," Westering said.
Numerous Lute newcomers have previous ties to the program through family connections or former teammates, continuing the legacy of PLU Football. Linebacker Christian Riddall joins PLU from Nikiski High School in Alaska and is the son of 2014 PLU Athletics Hall of Fame linebacker Ted Riddall. Christian is a multiple-time all-state performer and Player fo the Year at outside linebacker. Meanwhile, Olympia High School first-team all-league defensive back Carson Barnett joins the PLU squad as the son of another PLU great, Chad Barnett. Barnett's Olympia High School teammate Matt Anthony will also join the PLU team after earning all-league and all-state honors as a linebacker. Puyallup High School wide receiver Brady Winter is also continuing a legacy at PLU, as both Anthony and Winter will be joining their brothers as Lute football players. That will bring the sets of brothers playing at PLU in the Westering era to well over 60.
Here's a quick glance at some of the other top new Lutes:
Quarterback: Cole Chandler competed in the Oregon State High School All-Star Game on June 20 after leading Silverton High School to the 5A State Championship game. He was named league Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-state and also served as a team captain on Silverton's 2015 state champion basketball team. Meanwhile, Trevor Asbjornsen is a first-team all-conference selection from Graham-Kapowsin High School and played in the Washington State High School All-State game. Walker LaVoy comes to PLU from Big Timber, Mont., where he was a two-time all-conference and all-state selection. Nolan Hoover also joins the squad from Hazen High School.
Running Back: Ethan McElderry earned team Offensive Player of the Year and second-team all-league honors at Bonney Lake High School. Elijah Clayton played for Renton High School, where he earned all-conference honors on both sides of the ball, including first-team recognition at running back. TJ Morris was the 2B State Player of the Year at Okanagan High School and was named first-team all-conference and Player of the Year on both offense and defense. Anthony Louthan comes to PLU from Montesano High School, where he played in the Washington State High School All-State game and is an offensive all-league MVP as well as an all-state punter. Jared Boerner comes to PLU from Peninsula High School.
Wide Receiver: Logan Munson was a first-team all-league and first-team all-state performer at Oregon's Silverton High School alongside quarterback recruit Chandler. Tanner Zuber comes to PLU from Klahowya High School, where he was a first-team all-conference and first-team all-state performer. Ed Ware earned all-state honors at Capital Christian High School in California, while Austen Kindle transfers to PLU from Menlo College and Isaac Noles transfers from University of Oregon. Matt Ogard also joins the team at wide receiver from Bellarmine Prep.
Offensive/Defensive Linemen: Snohomish High School's Alex Fairhurst earned first-team all-conference recognition and was also a state champion wrestler. Nate Jarvis was named Lineman of the Year and earned first-team recognition on both offense and defense for Liberty High School. Jordan Zimmerman earned first-team all-conference at Bonney Lake, while Kiyrie Simons was "the top player on an always-strong Lakes High School team," according to PLU assistant head coach and director of recruiting Jud Keim. Simons earned all-conference honors on both offense and defense. Ty'Resse Lucero earned first-team all-league honors on offense and defense at Fife High School, while Mookie Hunkin joins the squad from Spanaway Lake High School. Garrett Johnson comes to PLU from Mount Vernon High School, while Colten Whiting comes from Arvada High School in Colorado and Zach Willis joins from Hanford High School.
Linebackers: Nick Farman comes to PLU from Sumner High School, where he was a two-time all-league first-teamer and an all-state selection. Luis Gomez comes from California, where he attended Capital Christian High School, while Parker Trewet comes from Hazen High School.
Defensive Backs: Jacob Johnson earned first-team all-conference honors at Capital High School, while Hina Aliu was an all-conference honoree at Santana High School in California. Levi Alton was named to the all-league squad at Peninsula High School. Jayvon Foster joins PLU from Mount Rainier High School. while Tyler Lee comes from Bellarmine Prep and Bryce Messner comes from Woodinville High School.
Other new Lutes include running back Nathan Angevine from Port Angeles High School and long snapper Mac Butler from Gig Harbor High School. Shea Carroll played both running back and defensive back at Ballard HIgh School, while Joey Kane is a quarterback from West Seattle High School. Michael Langner comes in as a quarterback/wide receiver from Elmira High School in Oregon, while Nathan Macleod played linebacker at Mount Tahoma High School. Alex Romero played both wide receiver and defensive back at AG West Black Hills. Wide receiver Joe Stilnovich joins PLU from Bellarmine Prep, and kicker Annika Smith-Ortiz comes to PLU from Edina High School in Minnesota.
"We are extremely excited about the depth and quality of people this class represents: outstanding student-athletes who look forward to joining our uniquely different football program," Keim said. "While they will all hit the ground running as athletes, just as importantly they understand through the recruiting process the PLU 'More Than Champions' spirit of the headlong pursuit of excellence and a heart to serve others."
All of the recruits will join the program in the fall as PLU looks ahead to the first game on the 2015 schedule. PLU opens the season on the road, taking on West Coast rival California Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, Calif., on Sept. 12. The Lutes' home opener will be two weeks later against Trinity at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.
"We'd like to thank the PLU Admissions and Financial Aid staff in particular for all their hard work along the path for these student-athletes and their decisions. This is a competitive process, and director of admission Melody Ferguson and her staff were Big Time as this journey unfolded."
