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LSC teams load up on county talent
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A pair of Lone Star Conference football programs added some Sequoyah County talent on Wednesday morning during National Signing Day.
Northeastern State University collected the signatures of Vian running back Dylan Taylor and Gore offensive lineman Ethan James, while Vian kicker Chris Peoples signed a letter of intent to play for Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
James was the first to sign on Wednesday, choosing the RiverHawks over Southeastern and Missouri Southern.
Gore head coach Brandon Ellis said the 6-foot-5, 270-pound James was a key figure in the Pirates’ success.
“Ethan was a team leader for us. He was a three-year starter and was basically the anchor on the line offensively and defensively,” said Ellis. “He was a great role model to the kids and he helped us to three-straight playoff appearances. When we needed yardage, we ran behind him. He also became a big threat on the defensive side of the ball. It’s always good when the other team has to use two offensive linemen to take him down. He created a lot of double teams and opened things up for our other players.”
James said NSU is looking at using him as an offensive tackle, so his days on defense are over. He said he likes playing on both sides of the ball but it will be easier to concentrate on playing one position in college.
James, who also starts at center for Gore’s 12th-ranked basketball team, will play for Oklahoma in the Oil Bowl football game this summer before going up to Tahlequah.
He said NSU’s close location was a factor in his decision to play for the RiverHawks.
“My friends, my mom and dad and my coaches can come watch me play,” said James, who plans on majoring in education and becoming a coach someday.
James and Taylor were opponents on the basketball court Tuesday night when Gore defeated Vian, but they will be teaming up on the football field at NSU.
Taylor, a speedy running back who gained nearly 3,000 yards in two seasons at Vian, caught the attention of the NSU staff during a football camp.
He averaged just over 10 yards per carry as a junior while piling up 1,922 yards and 36 touchdowns. Taylor battled injuries as a senior, but still managed to run for 20 touchdowns and 966 yards in limited action.
“I wasn’t satisfied with it at all,” Taylor said of his 2009 season..
He’s looking forward to showing what he can do when fully healthy and Vian head coach Brandon Tyler believes Taylor will be a success.
“He was right at 1,000 yards but was banged up this year. He had some knee injuries and never could quite get over them and show what he can do,” said Tyler. “He’s going to be all healed up and Northeastern is getting a great football player. I think Dylan will go up there and help their program. He’s been a great asset to us the last two years. He’s a great kid, a joy to be around, and he’s going to be missed.”
The Wolverines will also miss Peoples, who is taking his kicking skills down to Durant to play for Southeastern.
Peoples kicked his way into the national record book and finished his career in the top-10 all-time for extra points and total points.
As a senior, he converted 44 of 48 extra points and 5 of 8 field goals with a long of 40 yards. Peoples put almost 60 percent of his kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks and his leg strength impressed the Southeastern coaches. He also averaged 40.2 yards per punt.
“You can’t say enough about what Chris has done for us in the last four years,” said Tyler. “He’s definitely been a big plus. Chris is an extremely hard worker and he’s made himself into a great kicker. He’s definitely been rewarded today by signing with Southeastern and getting a chance to continue his career.”
Peoples said the hard work isn’t over yet.
“I need to work on getting stronger, getting in the weight room and putting on more muscle. And my accuracy too,” said Peoples.
The kicker was also recruited by NSU, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Arkansas Tech. He’s considering walking on to the baseball team at Southeastern and plans on majoring in education.
NSU and Southeastern both compete in the North Division of the Lone Star Conference. The RiverHawks went 2-9 last season, while the Savage Storm posted a 7-4 mark and finished second in the division.
James and Taylor are two of 27 players signed by NSU on Wednesday. The RiverHawks signed 18 incoming freshmen plus nine transfers, including former Wagoner linebacker Gus Jones from the University of Oklahoma.
Southeastern signed 40 players in all, 33 of which were high schoolers. The Savage Storm also brought in seven mid-year transfers for
Northeastern State University collected the signatures of Vian running back Dylan Taylor and Gore offensive lineman Ethan James, while Vian kicker Chris Peoples signed a letter of intent to play for Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
James was the first to sign on Wednesday, choosing the RiverHawks over Southeastern and Missouri Southern.
Gore head coach Brandon Ellis said the 6-foot-5, 270-pound James was a key figure in the Pirates’ success.
“Ethan was a team leader for us. He was a three-year starter and was basically the anchor on the line offensively and defensively,” said Ellis. “He was a great role model to the kids and he helped us to three-straight playoff appearances. When we needed yardage, we ran behind him. He also became a big threat on the defensive side of the ball. It’s always good when the other team has to use two offensive linemen to take him down. He created a lot of double teams and opened things up for our other players.”
James said NSU is looking at using him as an offensive tackle, so his days on defense are over. He said he likes playing on both sides of the ball but it will be easier to concentrate on playing one position in college.
James, who also starts at center for Gore’s 12th-ranked basketball team, will play for Oklahoma in the Oil Bowl football game this summer before going up to Tahlequah.
He said NSU’s close location was a factor in his decision to play for the RiverHawks.
“My friends, my mom and dad and my coaches can come watch me play,” said James, who plans on majoring in education and becoming a coach someday.
James and Taylor were opponents on the basketball court Tuesday night when Gore defeated Vian, but they will be teaming up on the football field at NSU.
Taylor, a speedy running back who gained nearly 3,000 yards in two seasons at Vian, caught the attention of the NSU staff during a football camp.
He averaged just over 10 yards per carry as a junior while piling up 1,922 yards and 36 touchdowns. Taylor battled injuries as a senior, but still managed to run for 20 touchdowns and 966 yards in limited action.
“I wasn’t satisfied with it at all,” Taylor said of his 2009 season..
He’s looking forward to showing what he can do when fully healthy and Vian head coach Brandon Tyler believes Taylor will be a success.
“He was right at 1,000 yards but was banged up this year. He had some knee injuries and never could quite get over them and show what he can do,” said Tyler. “He’s going to be all healed up and Northeastern is getting a great football player. I think Dylan will go up there and help their program. He’s been a great asset to us the last two years. He’s a great kid, a joy to be around, and he’s going to be missed.”
The Wolverines will also miss Peoples, who is taking his kicking skills down to Durant to play for Southeastern.
Peoples kicked his way into the national record book and finished his career in the top-10 all-time for extra points and total points.
As a senior, he converted 44 of 48 extra points and 5 of 8 field goals with a long of 40 yards. Peoples put almost 60 percent of his kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks and his leg strength impressed the Southeastern coaches. He also averaged 40.2 yards per punt.
“You can’t say enough about what Chris has done for us in the last four years,” said Tyler. “He’s definitely been a big plus. Chris is an extremely hard worker and he’s made himself into a great kicker. He’s definitely been rewarded today by signing with Southeastern and getting a chance to continue his career.”
Peoples said the hard work isn’t over yet.
“I need to work on getting stronger, getting in the weight room and putting on more muscle. And my accuracy too,” said Peoples.
The kicker was also recruited by NSU, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Arkansas Tech. He’s considering walking on to the baseball team at Southeastern and plans on majoring in education.
NSU and Southeastern both compete in the North Division of the Lone Star Conference. The RiverHawks went 2-9 last season, while the Savage Storm posted a 7-4 mark and finished second in the division.
James and Taylor are two of 27 players signed by NSU on Wednesday. The RiverHawks signed 18 incoming freshmen plus nine transfers, including former Wagoner linebacker Gus Jones from the University of Oklahoma.
Southeastern signed 40 players in all, 33 of which were high schoolers. The Savage Storm also brought in seven mid-year transfers for
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