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Nine Chiefs make college choices official
The recruiting process has come to an end for nine members of the Class 3A state champion Keokuk Chiefs.
Making their decisions official this week were: Kyler Barnes, Alex Edler, Trevor Galbreath, Logan Granera, James Hurt, Cole Lockwood, Paul Money, Mike Neuendorf and James Vandenberg. Their choices range from NCAA Division I, Division II and two top junior college programs.
James Vandenberg
The Iowa Class 3A Player of the Year was one of 24 recruits to sign with the University of Iowa Wednesday.
Vandenberg, who made his verbal committment on Dec. 6, signed his letter of intent Wednesday morning.
“It's great to get all of this over with and actually begin being a Hawkeye,” Vandenberg said. “I'm very happy with the decision I chose.”
Vandenberg received his first NCAA Division I offer from the University of Nebraska, but Iowa was the top choice on his list.
“It's a long process, but it's definitely enjoyable,” Vandenberg said. “To be able to go through it with all these guys was just as fun to see them get recruited. When the time came that I got the scholarship from Iowa, I knew that was the place I wanted to go.”
Vandenberg heads to Iowa with impressive credentials. He holds 12 different Iowa high school passing records, including career passing yards (7,709), touchdown passes (93), single season passing yards (3,729 as a senior) and single season touchdown passes (49 as a senior).
Vandenberg was one of three quarterbacks to sign with Iowa. The Hawkeyes also signed David Blackwell (Pompano Beach, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons), who might also see reps at wide receiver, and John Wienke (Tuscola, Ill./Tuscola).
“We wanted to definitely sign one (quarterback) and it was just the way things worked out,” Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz said on the official Web-site for the University of Iowa football team. “James Vandenberg had a great career in the state of Iowa. We were just so impressed with him as the season went on and his leadership abilities and the way he directed his team.
“John Wienke is a young man we had a lot of love for. We're very, very appreciative of getting a committment from him, too. Both these kids are tremendous young leaders and tremendous quarterbacks. David Blackwell is a guy we think has a lot of upside at that position.”
Vandenberg doesn't mind the extra competition at the quarterback position.
“The one thing I really liked about Iowa is they are going to give you your fair shake,” Vandenberg said. “As a competitor that's all you really want. As long as you are going to get your fair shot, that's what I was looking for and Iowa is going to provide that.”
Mike Neuendorf
The college decision came down to the end for Mike Neuendorf, but one of the top NCAA Division II programs came up with an offer the Keokuk lineman couldn't refuse.
Neuendorf will play at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He was one of 22 players who signed with the Mavericks Wednesday.
“They came up really big with their offer,” Neuendorf said. “I had an unofficial and an official visit there, and I loved the facilities and I loved the coaching staff.
Neuendorf chose Nebraska-Omaha over Missouri Western State.
“I went on an official visit to Missouri Western State,” Neuendorf said. “They made me a decent offer, but when I went on my official visit to Omaha, they doubled the offer. I couldn't turn it down.”
Neuendorf is going to a program that went undefeated during the regular season and was ranked as high as No. 1 in one of the various polls. The Mavericks lost in the second round of the playoffs to finish 10-1 on the season.
“They are an up-and-coming NCAA Division II team,” Neuendorf said. “They are moving into a new conference, and I'm confident they will be a great Division II team next year.”
That conference is the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Neuendorf will get the chance to play against two of his former high school teammates during his college years. Logan Granera and James Hurt signed to play at Truman State University.
Neuendorf, who played on both sides of the ball in high school, will play defense at Nebraska-Omaha.
“They recruited me for defensive tackle,” Neuendorf said. “My playing time will be based on how I show up and perform at camp. If I prove I can beat out the others at my position, than I will have the position.”
Logan Granera, James Hurt
Together, Logan Granera and James Hurt punished defenses by making catch after catch the last three years at Keokuk. The two are looking for the same kind of success at the next level.
The two Iowa Newspaper first team all-state wide receivers signed with Truman State University, an NCAA Division II program in Kirksville, Mo.
Granera was the first to give a verbal commitment to Truman State. He chose the Bulldogs over Grinnell College.
“I was really considering Grinnell,” Granera said. “They were with me a lot of the way through the recruiting process, and it was hard to say no, but I had to go with the better offer.
“I went on my official (to Truman State), and I really liked the facilities, and I really liked the coaches,” Granera said. “I felt it was a place I really fit in and could do well. It was a pretty easy decision for me.”
Granera finished his varsity career at Keokuk with 132 receptions and 15 touchdowns. He had 69 receptions for 1,002 yards during his senior season.
Hurt took a little longer to weigh all of his options before deciding to join Granera at Truman State.
“It was very tough,” Hurt said of the decision process. “There are a lot of opportunities and choices you have. At the end, Truman had the best offer, and I think I made the right choice.”
Hurt was a two-time all-state selection and finishes his high school career with the most touchdown receptions in 3A. He is also third all-time in touchdown receptions in all Iowa classes for a season (19), career (37) and fourth in career receiving yards (2,756).
Last season, Hurt caught 79 passes for 1,318 yards. He scored a touchdown in every game and had a touchdown in 18 of the final 19 games he played over the last two seasons.
Hurt decided to take the scholarship offer instead of walking on at an NCAA Division I program.
“If I wouldn't have chosen Truman, I probably would have walked on at Iowa, but I decided to take the scholarship and go to Truman,” Hurt said.
Truman State finished 6-5 a year ago, but what attracted both receivers to the program was the offense the Bulldogs' use.
“It's very similar to what we did here,” Granera said. “They run the spread. Their offensive coordinator is really high on passing. It really fits well to how I would like to play.”
It also helps having someone you've known and played with in high school attend the same school in college.
“It's going to be fun,” Hurt said. “I have a feeling its going to be special just like high school. We're going to go out there and line up together and make plays.”
Kyler Barnes, Trevor Galbreath, Cole Lockwood, Paul Money
Four of the nine who made their college choices known this week will play at one of the top junior college programs in the state.
Kyler Barnes, Trevor Galbreath, Cole Lockwood and Paul Money will play at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.
“We're all going to room together, so it should be an easy transition to college,” Lockwood said. “That will make it more fun and more comfortable for all of us.”
The Tritons have won back-to-back Midwest Football Conference championships. Over the last 10 years, Iowa Central is 88-30 overall, 62-18 in conference, has won 10 conference championships and made eight bowl apperances.
“It's a nice place, and they have a winning tradition,” Barnes said. “I like to win.”
This past season, Iowa Central finished 9-2 overall and won the Graphic Edge Bowl.
The decision to play at Iowa Central was an easy one for Barnes, Galbreath and Money.
“It was a pretty easy decision,” Barnes said. “I'm happy with the decision. It was a junior college, and that was where I wanted to go.”
“Iowa Central was really the only college I went to look at,” Galbreath said. “They had a nice campus, and they have a winning program. It's going to be good going into an enviroment I'm used to.”
“This was the first school I went to visit, and I liked it,” Money added. It's away from here, and my friends are going here, which will make the situation easier.”
Lockwood based his decision on a chance to start for a program right away.
“My decision was between Iowa Central and Northwest Missouri State,” Lockwood said. “I chose Iowa Central because there's a chance I wouldn't start my first couple of years at Northwest. I would start right away at a junior college. This was I could play right away now, and then keep my options open. There is still a chance to play for a school like Northwest once I'm done here.”
Barnes, Lockwood and Money will all play on the defensive side of the ball.
Barnes is looking at playing a position similar to the one he played his senior season at Keokuk.
“They have one position kind of like what I played this year,” Barnes said. “It's a safety, but you play against the run too. That's probably what I'll play, but the coach said I could try for any position I wanted.”
Lockwood, a first team all-state selection on defense this season, will battle for a linebacker spot.
“Last year we ran a 3-5 (at Keokuk), but before that we ran a 4-4,” Lockwood said. “That's what they'll run there, so it is something I am kind of used to.”
The biggest adjustment may have to be made by Money.
“I'm not exactly sure what I'll play yet,” Money said. “I guess in college I'll have to be a little bit taller to play on the defensive line. I'm only 5-10, so I might try linebacker.”
Galbreath will be a part of an offense that averaged 29 points a game last season, but the Tritons did most of their damage running the football. Iowa Central led the Midwest Football Conference rushing the football.
Galbreath caught 33 passes in his senior season and finished with 75 receptions for his career.
Alex Edler
Another Keokuk football player chose the junior college rout.
Alex Edler will play against former teammates Kyler Barnes, Trevor Galbreath, Cole Lockwood and Paul Money in the Midwest Football Conference as a member of the Ellsworth Community College Panthers at Iowa Falls.
“Ellsworth seems like a good community,” Edler said. “They are small, and they are good about promoting football players to bigger schools. They were big on family and winning football games.”
Edler chose over Ellsworth over some larger institutes.
“I was looking at Western Illinois and a couple of bigger schools, but Ellsworth interested me right away. I visited Ellsworth a couple of times. I got to visit with their football players, and it just seemed like the place to be.”
Edler is joining a program that is trying to recapture its past glory. Ellsworth just hired alum Michael Virden a week ago to coach the team. Virden was the quarterback on the 1987 national championship team and the 1988 national runner-up team.
Last season, Ellsworth was 4-5 overalland 3-5 in the conference.
“The program has been pretty good,” Edler said. “They've had a couple of national championships., and they have had some pretty good football teams over the years.”
Making their decisions official this week were: Kyler Barnes, Alex Edler, Trevor Galbreath, Logan Granera, James Hurt, Cole Lockwood, Paul Money, Mike Neuendorf and James Vandenberg. Their choices range from NCAA Division I, Division II and two top junior college programs.
James Vandenberg
The Iowa Class 3A Player of the Year was one of 24 recruits to sign with the University of Iowa Wednesday.
Vandenberg, who made his verbal committment on Dec. 6, signed his letter of intent Wednesday morning.
“It's great to get all of this over with and actually begin being a Hawkeye,” Vandenberg said. “I'm very happy with the decision I chose.”
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“It's a long process, but it's definitely enjoyable,” Vandenberg said. “To be able to go through it with all these guys was just as fun to see them get recruited. When the time came that I got the scholarship from Iowa, I knew that was the place I wanted to go.”
Vandenberg heads to Iowa with impressive credentials. He holds 12 different Iowa high school passing records, including career passing yards (7,709), touchdown passes (93), single season passing yards (3,729 as a senior) and single season touchdown passes (49 as a senior).
Vandenberg was one of three quarterbacks to sign with Iowa. The Hawkeyes also signed David Blackwell (Pompano Beach, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons), who might also see reps at wide receiver, and John Wienke (Tuscola, Ill./Tuscola).
“We wanted to definitely sign one (quarterback) and it was just the way things worked out,” Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz said on the official Web-site for the University of Iowa football team. “James Vandenberg had a great career in the state of Iowa. We were just so impressed with him as the season went on and his leadership abilities and the way he directed his team.
“John Wienke is a young man we had a lot of love for. We're very, very appreciative of getting a committment from him, too. Both these kids are tremendous young leaders and tremendous quarterbacks. David Blackwell is a guy we think has a lot of upside at that position.”
Vandenberg doesn't mind the extra competition at the quarterback position.
“The one thing I really liked about Iowa is they are going to give you your fair shake,” Vandenberg said. “As a competitor that's all you really want. As long as you are going to get your fair shot, that's what I was looking for and Iowa is going to provide that.”
Mike Neuendorf
The college decision came down to the end for Mike Neuendorf, but one of the top NCAA Division II programs came up with an offer the Keokuk lineman couldn't refuse.
Neuendorf will play at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He was one of 22 players who signed with the Mavericks Wednesday.
“They came up really big with their offer,” Neuendorf said. “I had an unofficial and an official visit there, and I loved the facilities and I loved the coaching staff.
Neuendorf chose Nebraska-Omaha over Missouri Western State.
“I went on an official visit to Missouri Western State,” Neuendorf said. “They made me a decent offer, but when I went on my official visit to Omaha, they doubled the offer. I couldn't turn it down.”
Neuendorf is going to a program that went undefeated during the regular season and was ranked as high as No. 1 in one of the various polls. The Mavericks lost in the second round of the playoffs to finish 10-1 on the season.
“They are an up-and-coming NCAA Division II team,” Neuendorf said. “They are moving into a new conference, and I'm confident they will be a great Division II team next year.”
That conference is the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Neuendorf will get the chance to play against two of his former high school teammates during his college years. Logan Granera and James Hurt signed to play at Truman State University.
Neuendorf, who played on both sides of the ball in high school, will play defense at Nebraska-Omaha.
“They recruited me for defensive tackle,” Neuendorf said. “My playing time will be based on how I show up and perform at camp. If I prove I can beat out the others at my position, than I will have the position.”
Logan Granera, James Hurt
Together, Logan Granera and James Hurt punished defenses by making catch after catch the last three years at Keokuk. The two are looking for the same kind of success at the next level.
The two Iowa Newspaper first team all-state wide receivers signed with Truman State University, an NCAA Division II program in Kirksville, Mo.
Granera was the first to give a verbal commitment to Truman State. He chose the Bulldogs over Grinnell College.
“I was really considering Grinnell,” Granera said. “They were with me a lot of the way through the recruiting process, and it was hard to say no, but I had to go with the better offer.
“I went on my official (to Truman State), and I really liked the facilities, and I really liked the coaches,” Granera said. “I felt it was a place I really fit in and could do well. It was a pretty easy decision for me.”
Granera finished his varsity career at Keokuk with 132 receptions and 15 touchdowns. He had 69 receptions for 1,002 yards during his senior season.
Hurt took a little longer to weigh all of his options before deciding to join Granera at Truman State.
“It was very tough,” Hurt said of the decision process. “There are a lot of opportunities and choices you have. At the end, Truman had the best offer, and I think I made the right choice.”
Hurt was a two-time all-state selection and finishes his high school career with the most touchdown receptions in 3A. He is also third all-time in touchdown receptions in all Iowa classes for a season (19), career (37) and fourth in career receiving yards (2,756).
Last season, Hurt caught 79 passes for 1,318 yards. He scored a touchdown in every game and had a touchdown in 18 of the final 19 games he played over the last two seasons.
Hurt decided to take the scholarship offer instead of walking on at an NCAA Division I program.
“If I wouldn't have chosen Truman, I probably would have walked on at Iowa, but I decided to take the scholarship and go to Truman,” Hurt said.
Truman State finished 6-5 a year ago, but what attracted both receivers to the program was the offense the Bulldogs' use.
“It's very similar to what we did here,” Granera said. “They run the spread. Their offensive coordinator is really high on passing. It really fits well to how I would like to play.”
It also helps having someone you've known and played with in high school attend the same school in college.
“It's going to be fun,” Hurt said. “I have a feeling its going to be special just like high school. We're going to go out there and line up together and make plays.”
Kyler Barnes, Trevor Galbreath, Cole Lockwood, Paul Money
Four of the nine who made their college choices known this week will play at one of the top junior college programs in the state.
Kyler Barnes, Trevor Galbreath, Cole Lockwood and Paul Money will play at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.
“We're all going to room together, so it should be an easy transition to college,” Lockwood said. “That will make it more fun and more comfortable for all of us.”
The Tritons have won back-to-back Midwest Football Conference championships. Over the last 10 years, Iowa Central is 88-30 overall, 62-18 in conference, has won 10 conference championships and made eight bowl apperances.
“It's a nice place, and they have a winning tradition,” Barnes said. “I like to win.”
This past season, Iowa Central finished 9-2 overall and won the Graphic Edge Bowl.
The decision to play at Iowa Central was an easy one for Barnes, Galbreath and Money.
“It was a pretty easy decision,” Barnes said. “I'm happy with the decision. It was a junior college, and that was where I wanted to go.”
“Iowa Central was really the only college I went to look at,” Galbreath said. “They had a nice campus, and they have a winning program. It's going to be good going into an enviroment I'm used to.”
“This was the first school I went to visit, and I liked it,” Money added. It's away from here, and my friends are going here, which will make the situation easier.”
Lockwood based his decision on a chance to start for a program right away.
“My decision was between Iowa Central and Northwest Missouri State,” Lockwood said. “I chose Iowa Central because there's a chance I wouldn't start my first couple of years at Northwest. I would start right away at a junior college. This was I could play right away now, and then keep my options open. There is still a chance to play for a school like Northwest once I'm done here.”
Barnes, Lockwood and Money will all play on the defensive side of the ball.
Barnes is looking at playing a position similar to the one he played his senior season at Keokuk.
“They have one position kind of like what I played this year,” Barnes said. “It's a safety, but you play against the run too. That's probably what I'll play, but the coach said I could try for any position I wanted.”
Lockwood, a first team all-state selection on defense this season, will battle for a linebacker spot.
“Last year we ran a 3-5 (at Keokuk), but before that we ran a 4-4,” Lockwood said. “That's what they'll run there, so it is something I am kind of used to.”
The biggest adjustment may have to be made by Money.
“I'm not exactly sure what I'll play yet,” Money said. “I guess in college I'll have to be a little bit taller to play on the defensive line. I'm only 5-10, so I might try linebacker.”
Galbreath will be a part of an offense that averaged 29 points a game last season, but the Tritons did most of their damage running the football. Iowa Central led the Midwest Football Conference rushing the football.
Galbreath caught 33 passes in his senior season and finished with 75 receptions for his career.
Alex Edler
Another Keokuk football player chose the junior college rout.
Alex Edler will play against former teammates Kyler Barnes, Trevor Galbreath, Cole Lockwood and Paul Money in the Midwest Football Conference as a member of the Ellsworth Community College Panthers at Iowa Falls.
“Ellsworth seems like a good community,” Edler said. “They are small, and they are good about promoting football players to bigger schools. They were big on family and winning football games.”
Edler chose over Ellsworth over some larger institutes.
“I was looking at Western Illinois and a couple of bigger schools, but Ellsworth interested me right away. I visited Ellsworth a couple of times. I got to visit with their football players, and it just seemed like the place to be.”
Edler is joining a program that is trying to recapture its past glory. Ellsworth just hired alum Michael Virden a week ago to coach the team. Virden was the quarterback on the 1987 national championship team and the 1988 national runner-up team.
Last season, Ellsworth was 4-5 overalland 3-5 in the conference.
“The program has been pretty good,” Edler said. “They've had a couple of national championships., and they have had some pretty good football teams over the years.”
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