Wednesday, February 4, 2015 is National Signing Day as Fort Hays State head football coach Chris Brown and the Tiger football staff announce signings for the 2015 season. The next Tiger Football recruiting class will be sending in their National Letters of Intent (NLI) throughout the day.
Keep an eye on this page throughout the day for updates on the latest signees. Student-athletes will be added to the list below once their NLI’s have been received by the coaching staff.
A breakdown of the signing class (alphabetically) is below…
(Updated at 1:14 p.m. February 4, 2015)
By Eligibility
High School: 17
Transfer: 3
By State/Country
Kansas: 8
Colorado: 4
Texas: 2
Florida: 2
Oklahoma: 1
Arizona: 1
Nebraska: 1
Canada: 1
By Position
Defense: 12
Offense: 5
Special Teams: 1
Athlete: 2
2015 High School Signees
Layne Bieberle
6-2, 170, WR/DB
Claflin, Kan. (Central Plains HS)
Planned Major: Construction Science
Notes: 2013 First-Team All-League (CPL) selection as a wide receiver, defensive back, punt returner and kick returner … All-District (5) selection in 2013 … Named to Kpreps District 5 All-District Team (2013) … First Team 8-Man All-Class by Topeka Capital Journal (junior year) … Wichita Eagle Varsity Ks.com 8-Man All Class First Team (End) and Honorable Mention (DB) … National Honor Society member … Offensive career stats included 4,927 all-purpose yards, over 2,500 receiving yards, 74 career touchdowns (57 receiving), 118 receptions and a 21.9 yards-per-catch average … Defensively, had 21 interceptions and 300 tackles in his career … Four-year letterwinner in football, basketball and tennis … Lettered three years in powerlifting.
Romello Burke
6-0, 285, OT
Sarasota, Fla. (Booker HS)
Planned Major: Business
Notes: Named Offensive Line MVP at the 2014 Orlando Nike Football Training Camp, competing with several five-star prospects and the nation’s top recruit (Martez Ivey) … Took fourth in regions and second at districts while wrestling his sophomore season … Took second in districts and second in region in weightlifting … Had 55 tackles, 10 sacks, 19 tackles of loss, three forced fumbles and two blocked punts during senior year … Lettered four years in football and three years in wrestling.
Jeron Caraway
6-2, 200, LB/S
Topeka, Kan. (Topeka HS)
Planned Major: Marketing
Notes: Two-time All-League Honorable Mention … Two-time All-Conference (Centennial/6A) … Two-time All-City selection … Had 133 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup in 10 games during his senior season … Four-year letterwinner in football and track/field.
Jose Delgado
5-11, 200, DB
Derby, Kan. (Derby HS)
Planned Major: Sports Medicine
Notes: Two-time all-state first team selection…Two-time all-metro and all-league selection…Selected to compete in the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Zach Duncan
6-0, 260, DL
Oologah, Okla. (Oologah HS)
Planned Major: Political Science
Notes: All-State 4A selection … All-District honoree … All-Conference All-Star by class … First receipient of the All Grind No Shine award at Oologah HS … Three-year letterwinner in football and track and field … Finished 2014 season with 63 tackles, five sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
Ben Ewing
6-1, 220, LB
Olathe, Kan. (Saint Thomas Aquinas HS)
Planned Major: Undecided
Notes: Picked as First Team All-State in 2014, First Team All-Conference (EKL) in 2014 and 2013 … Second Team All-KC-MO Metro Team (2014) … Selected to compete in the Kansas Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl Kansas vs Missouri (KC All-Star Metro Team) … Named team MVP in 2013 … Picked Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2012 … Racked up 93 tackles and a team-high 17 sacks during senior season … Two-time Rocky Mountain National Champ in wrestling … Kansas State Wrestling Champion … Currently 20-0 this season at 220 pounds for Kansas High School Wrestling (ranked No. 1) … Letterwinner in football (three) and wrestling (four).
Tanner Hoekman
6-1, 195, S
Abilene, Kan. (Abilene HS)
Planned Major: Undecided
Notes: Two-time All-State Honorable Mention (2014 and 2013) … All-League (NCKL) as RB and SS in 2014 … Honorable Mention All-Leauge in 2013 … Team Co-MVP in 2014 and Offensive MVP in 2013 … All-League (NCKL) Honorable Mention for Basketball in 2013 … Senior year, rushed for 537 yards and nine touchdowns on 113 carries, had 27 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns in 2014 … For junior year (2013), rushed for 913 yards and 14 touchdowns on 143 carries, caught 18 passes for 452 yards and seven touchdowns … Four-year letterwinner in football, three letters in basketball and two letters in baseball…Brother of former FHSU volleyball player, Tara Hoekman
Hayden Kreutzer
6-0, 177, WR/FS
Hays, Kan. (Hays HS)
Planned Major: Criminal Justice
Notes: Two-time All-State Honorable Mention … Two-time All-WAC (All-Conference) … Voted Hays HS Offensive MVP … Offensively, senior year included 36 receptions, 636 receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns, one passing and one rushing touchdown … Defensively, had 68 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception in 2014 … Letterwinner in football (three years) and track/field (four years).
Justice Littrell
6-0, 205, LB
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Doherty HS)
Planned Major: Justice Studies
Notes: Two-time First Team All-State Selection (2014 and 2013) … Three-time All-Conference First Team selection (2014, 2013 and 2012) … Three-time All-Area First Team selection (2014, 2013 and 2012) … Voted 5A MVP … Finished senior season with 113 tackles, four sacks, 759 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns … Lettered three years in football, wrestling and track/field.
Sam Long
6-3, 270, OL
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pine Creek HS)
Planned Major: Business
Notes: Named First Team All-State by Denver Post, Gazette Telegraph in 2014 … Two-time All-Conference First Team (2014 and 2013) … First Team All-Area (Gazette Telegraph) in 2014 … Participated in All-State Game (2015) … Participated in Down Under Bowl, held in Australia/Hawaii … Member of 2014 and 2013 State Championship teams and 2011 State Runner-Ups … Lettered four years in football.
Shannon Long
6-1, 190, S
Denver, Colo. (East HS)
Planned Major: Business
Notes: Two-time First Team All-Conference selection (2014 and 2013) … Recipient of school’s 2014 Iron Man Award … Picked up 76 tackles, three sacks, nine pass breakups, two defensive touchdowns and one fumble recovery in senior season … Two-year letterwinner in football, lettered once in basketball and track/field.
Bryce Lyons
6-0, 140, K
McCook, Neb. (McCook HS)
Planned Major: Undecided
Notes: Two-time First Team Super State Kicker (Omaha World-Herald, Herald and Lincoln Journal Star) … Two-time First Team All-State Class B selection … Two-time All-Conference and District performer … Two-time First Team Huskerland Prep selection … Holds state record with 13 made field goals in a season … Finished his career hitting 23 of 27 field goals with nine over 40 yards (long of 50) … Three-time Football and track/field letterwinner, earned two letters in baseball.
Sheldon Schmidt
6-3, 230, DL
La Crosse, Kan. (La Crosse HS)
Planned Major: Human Resources or Construction Management
Notes: K-Preps.com All-State (2-1A) … All-District (CPL) First Team as DE and Second Team as RB … Hays Daily Top 11 selection … Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital Journal First Team selection as DE … PIcked to KFBCA All-State Team (2-1A) … KansasSports.com 2-1A Defensive Player of the Year … Participated in Kansas Shrine Bowl … Four-year letterwinner in football, basketball and track/field.
Kiel Simas
6-0, 240, DL
McKinney, Texas (Boyd HS)
Planned Major: History
Notes: First Team All-District in 2013 and 2014, Second Team All-District in 2012 … Second Team All-Region selection in 2013 … Finished fifth in wrestling for junior season, currently ranked third in wrestling as a senior … Three-year letterwinner in football … Four-year letterwinner in wrestling … Racked up 194 tackles, eight saces, 50 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career.
Sakima “KT” Smeby
6-1, 205, S
Ft. Worth, Texas (Keller Central HS)
Planned Major: Undecided
Notes: Two-time All-District RB … Seven-time MaxPreps Player of the Week … Won “Thunderbolt” award at Keller Central HS as team’s top offensive back … Rushed for 1,545 yards and 20 touchdowns in career … Two-time letterwinner in football and track/field.
Charles Tigner
5-9, 185, RB
Fountain, Colo. (Fountain-Fort Carson HS)
Planned Major: Sports Medicine
Notes: Three-time All-Conference honoree … Two-time Gazette Telegraph All-Area selection … 5A Track State Champion Over 1,000 all-purpose yards every season, led team with 32 receptions and 400 receiving yards in 2014 … Three-year letterwinner in football and track/field
Kolt Trachsel
5-11 / 190 / S
Goodland, Kan. (Goodland HS)
Planned Major: Health and Human Performance
Notes: 4A All-State Honorable Mention QB and DB (2014) … First Team All-League (GWAC) as All-Purpose Player, Honorable Mention as DB in senior season … All-League (GWAC) Honorable Mention as WR and DB in 2013 … National Honor Society Member and named to Principal’s Honor Roll … Ranked 10th in Kansas for total yardage (any division) … In nine games, had 1,667 passing yards and 706 rushing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, seven rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown on offense and had three interceptions, 34 tackles and one fumble recovery on defense … Three-year letterwinner in football and basketball, one letter in track/field.
2015 Transfer Signees
Andrew Flory
6-1, 185, WR, Sr.
Miramar, Fla. (Central Michigan)
Planned Major: Sport Management
Notes: In 2013, played in 12 games and made five starts, while ranking second on the team in receptions (32) and receiving yards (384)…In 2012, played in 12 games and made one start, while averaging 20.0 yards per reception with 17 catches for 340 yards…Redshirted in 2011.
Nathan Shepherd
6-5, 305, DL, So.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Simon Fraser University)
Planned Major: Political Science
Notes: In 2012, recorded 20 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, and 2.5 sacks…Redshirted in 2011.
TJ Thomas
5-11, 210, RB, Jr.
Mesa, Ariz. (Fresno State)
Planned Major: Psychology
Notes: Played in 11 of 14 games in 2014, carrying the ball 11 times for 71 yards with 1 TD…In 2013, carried the ball 17 times for 69 yards…Recorded seven tackles as a special teamer over two seasons…Redshirted in 2012.