Ichabod head football coach Craig Schurig has announced 25 soon-to-be Washburn student athletes who will join the Ichabods for the 2008 football season after signing National Letter of Intents.
"Our coaches did an outstanding job bringing in the top players in the region," Schurig said. "We did very well in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska areas hitting the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas along with Omaha and Lincoln metro areas in Nebraska. We addressed needs on both sides of the ball. The quality of offensive linemen, defensive backs and linebackers will allow for some outstanding competition in fall camp for playing time. This class is one of the most talented group of student athletes we have signed in our six years at Washburn."
The Ichabods finished the 2007 season No. 24 in the nation and reached the NCAA Playoffs for the second time in three years.

Signees as of Feb. 6 at 2:39 p.m.

LaMarcus Betts
6-0 • 208 • Freshman • Strong Safety
Memphis, Tenn./Melrose High School
Background: Voted teams most valuable defensive player for football and for soccer.
Personal: Born May 20, 1990 … son of Jemi Johnson and Ariba Betts … father Jemi played basketball at Washburn from 1992-95.

Jared Brill
6-1 • 175 • Freshman • Quarterback
Elkhorn, Neb./Elkhorn High School
Background: Named first team all-district as a junior defensive back with six interceptions … earned first team all-district, first team all-area and first team all-state honors as a senior … at quarterback after passing for 1,594 yards completing 88 of 155 attempts with a school-record 23 touchdown passes … a three-year letterwinner and first team all-district selection in basketball.
Personal: Born Jan. 23, 1990 … son of Jason and Nancy Brill … undecided on anticipated major … older brother Jordan was a four-year quarterback for the Ichabods completing is career in 2007 as Washburn's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

Jake Cervantes
6-1 • 270 • Freshman • Defensive Tackle
Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Northeast High School
Background: Named all-city as a senior and earned honorable mention all-city honors as a junior … a two-time captain.
Personal: Born Jan. 29, 1990 … son of Michelle Cervantes … undecided on anticipated major.

Jon Clark
6-2 • 190 • Freshman • Strong Safety
St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central High School
Background: Named second team all-state at defensive back as a junior … also named first team all-district and all-league … a first team all-league and all-district pick as a senior … named team's defensive player of the year as a junior and senior … part of 2006 district champion in football and third place team in baseball in 2006.
Personal: Born March 9, 1989 … son of Christine Clark … undecided on anticipated major.

Josh Copp
6-4 • 210 • Freshman • Defensive End
Louisburg, Kan./Blue Valley West High School
Background: A first team all-EKL selection earning defensive player of the year honors … a first team Sun County pick as well as Sun County Defensive Player of the Year … a first team all-state selection … first team all-metro, first team all-Metro Sports and the Metro Sports Defensive Player of the Year …  a first team all-Johnson County selection and MVP of the state championship football game … a member of the 2007 6A state basketball champions and 2007 5A state football champions.
Personal: Born Jan. 15, 1990 … son of Dwight and Sally Coop … anticipated major is criminal justice.

Garrett Cummings
6-0 • 235 • Freshman • Kicker
Topeka, Kan./Silver Lake High School
Background: As a sophomore, was named second team all-Mid East league and honorable mention all-state … as a junior in 2006, he earned first team all-Mid East league honors and was an honorable mention all-state selection … as a senior, named all-state class 3A and was a pre-season top 50 pick by Rivals.com.
Personal: Born Feb. 4, 1990 … son of Marty and Denise Cummings … anticipated major is education.

Steve Dieckhaus
6-2 • 265 • Freshman • Offensive Line
St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central High School
Background: A first team all-league selection on both offensive and defensive lines as a senior … an honorable mention all-metro pick as a senior … named first team all-league, first team all-district and third team all-state as a junior.
Personal: Born June 22, 1990 … son of Sam and Cindy Dieckhaus … undecided on anticipated major.

Pierre Desir
6-2 • 178 • Freshman • Defensive Back/Returner
St. Peter's, Mo./Francis Howell Central High School
Background: Averaged 37.8 yards per attempt on kickoff returns as a senior … named all-state at defensive back as a senior … a first team all-league selection as a junior and senior … an all-metro pick at defensive back … named special teams player of the year as a senior … averaged 8.9 yards per punt return as a senior … named No. 17 in the nation by CSTV's Tom Lemming in the "athlete" position rankings.
Personal: Born Sept. 8, 1990 … son of Wilfrid and Marie Desir … anticipated major is business management.

Cassidy Doneff
6-0 • 183 • Sophomore • Wide Receiver
Calgary, Alberta, Canada/University of Calgary/Cochrane High School
Background: A transfer from the University of Calgary … had 186 receptions for the Calgary Colts … at Cochrane High School, finished as school's all-time leading receiver with 128 receptions … also career leader with 32 touchdown receptions.
Personal: Born July 14, 1986 … son of Murray and Carol Doneff … undecided on anticipated major … cousin Wes Walz plays in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota Wild.

Steven Dudley
6-0 • 170 • Freshman • Athlete
Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South High School
Background: An honorable mention all-conference pick at free safety as a junior and senior … also played quarterback for the Panthers.
Personal: Born Oct. 30, 1989 … son of Warren and Pam Dudley … anticipated major is business management.

Brian Folkerts
6-4 • 260 • Freshman • Offensive/Defensive Lineman
Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central High School
Background: Listed among the area's top 30 recruits by the St. Louis Post Dispatch … a three-year letterman … voted first team all-league as a senior … also received honorable mention all-metro honors and was named team captain … as a junior, earned second team all-conference honors … as a sophomore, was a starter on both offense and defense … recorded 46 tackles and five sacks as a senior … a two-time lettermen in wrestling … an Eagle Scout.
Personal: Born Jan. 30, 1990 … son of Tim and Margie Folkerts … anticipated major is engineering.

Carlos Gallegos
6-0 • 185 • Freshman • Wide Receiver
Royse City, Texas/Royse City High School
Background: A two-time class 3A all-state selection at wide receiver … named district 10 3A offensive most valuable player as a senior … a 2007 academic all-state pick … a three-time all-district wide receiver … recorded 138 receptions for 2,541 yards and 29 touchdown receptions … a two-time Greenville Herald Dream Team selection … a 2006 Dallas Morning News all-area pick … a three-time all-district pitcher … will also play baseball at Washburn.
Personal: Born Sept. 28, 1989 … son of Carlos Gallegos and Elva Aranda … anticipated major is business.

Tyler Hill
6-0 • 186 • Freshman • Cornerback
Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit High School
Background: A three-time letterwinner in track and in football … started 30 games at defensive back … a unanimous first team all-league pick at defensive back … named all-district … a 2007 participant in the Nike football camp … as a senior, recorded 64 tackles … a 2007 all-conference pick in the long jump.
Personal: Born Feb. 8, 1990 … son of Stephen and Robin Hill … undecided on antipated major … his father Stephen played football and ran track at Northwest Missouri.

Michael “Bear” Hollins
5-11 • 190 • Freshman • Linebacker
Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill High School
Background: Named the Buck Buchanan Award winner as the outstanding linebacker in  the Kansas City Metro Area … an all-league pick three seasons … a two-year all-state and all-metro pick … named one of top 15 players in the metro area … a two-year captain … recorded 30 career tackles for loss … a student council public relations officer … a two-year all-district charity participant with the Relay for Life.
Personal: Born Oct. 23, 1989 … son of Michael Hollins and Sandra Adero … anticipated major is biology/pre-med.

Payton Iverson
6-3 • 200 • Freshman • Linebacker
Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln North Star High School
Background: Recorded more than 300 tackles in his high school career … a three-time all-city selection … also earned all-league honors two seasons … led the league in tackles three seasons … a state track qualifier in the 200m- and 800m dash.
Personal: Born on Jan. 22, 1990 … son of Ronald and Cathy Iverson … anticipated major is pre-engineering … brother of Ichabod sophomore quarterback Jake Iverson.

Andrew Lichter
6-1 • 220 • Freshman • Defensive End/Tight End
Topeka, Kan/Seaman High School
Background: A 2006 first team all-league pick at defensive end and at tight end … a first team all-city selection on defense as a junior and second team all-city choice on offense … in 2007 as a senior, named first team all-city defense and second team all-league offense … a first team all-league and all-city pick on defense … named all-city Top 11 and a Class 5A all-State selection … named Army Iron Man of the Week … received academic letter … a member of the 4.0 honor roll, National Honor Society and a Kansas Honors Scholar.
Personal: Born June 6, 1989 … son of Lynn and Kyle Lichter … anticipated major is engineering … father Lynn played baseball at Kansas State.

Brandon Miller
6-4 • 255 • Freshman • Offensive Line/Defensive End
Rossville, Kan./Rossville High School
Background: Named first team all-Mid-East league on the offensive line as a junior and a senior … named all-league honorable mention defensive line as a junior and senior … a class 3A first team offensive lineman selection as a junior and senior … named Kansas Football Coaches Association 3A all-state team as a senior … a member of the honor roll and high honor roll for four years.
Personal: Born Feb. 16, 1990 … son of Brad and Stephanie Miller … anticipated major is criminal justice.

Vershon Moore
5-9 • 180 • Freshman • Athlete
Spencer, Okla./Midwest City High School
Background: Named offensive player of the year as a junior and senior … an all-league first team quarterback selection … first team all-district selection at quarterback … earned honorable mention all-state honors at quarterback.
Personal: Born Aug. 12, 1990 … son of Jackie Moore … anticipated major is physical education … his uncle Ronald Moore was an all-American at Pittsburg State.

Patrick Myrick
6-3 • 200 • Freshman • Athlete
Greenville, N.C./Fork Union Military Academy
Background: Played both quarterback and free safety and ran track … rushed for 432 yards on 51 carries as a senior with three touchdowns … passed for 553 yards and five touchdowns … had 28 total tackles in nine games as a senior.
Personal: Born Oct. 10, 1989 … son of Willie and Brenda Myrick … undecided on anticipated major.

Zack Puetz
6-3 • 265 • Freshman • Offensive Line
Garden Plain, Kan./Garden Plain High School
Background: An all-league, all-state pick at offensive line … an all-metro selection, first team Elite 11 and second team top 11 pick … a member of the 2008 Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Personal: Born March 22, 1990 … son of Mitchell and Sara Puetz … anticipated major is criminal justice.

Jacob Schierbaum
6-7 • 225 • Freshman • Tight End
Bonner Springs, Mo./Basehor-Linwood High School
Background: A four-year member of the varsity team in both football and basketball … a second team all-league pick on the defensive line … team won conference in 2006 and was bi-district champions in 2007.
Personal: Born Oct. 5, 1989 … son of Jeff and Eydie Schierbaum … anticipated major is education or athletic training.

Greg Schoenberg
5-11 • 230 • Freshman • Linebacker
Ballwin, Mo./Westminster Christian Academy
Background: A second team all-metro pick at linebacker in St. Louis and a second team all-state pick … also named first team all-state place kicker … first team all-league place kicker and linebacker … named league's player of the year.
Personal: Born Sept. 8, 1989 … son of Paul and Crystal Schoenberg … anticipated major is physical education.

Kyle Taaffe
6-3 • 240 • Freshman • Offensive Line
Westminster, Colo./Pomona High School
Background: An honorable mention all-league pick as a junior and first team all-league pick as a senior … named first team all-league in wrestling his junior and senior seasons … also was a thrower on the track team.
Personal: Born April 8, 1990 … son of Chris and Cathy Taaffe … anticipated major is business.

Graham Thurber
6-2 • 235 • Freshman • Defensive End/Offensive Tackle
Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln East High School
Background: Named team captain … started on both offense and defense as well as long snapper … named Class A all-city defensive end by the Lincoln Journal Star … also named all-Heartland Conference defensive end … a class A all-state honorable mention selection … a super state honorable mention selection in baseball as a junior.
Personal: Born May 14, 1990 … son of Michael and Pamela Thurber … anticipated major is business administration.

Eddrick Wiggins
6-0 • 175 • Freshman • Defensive Back
Lubbock, Texas/Frenship High School
Background: A two-time first team all-district selection as a junior and senior … a two-time all-city pick as a junior and senior and a two-time all-South Plains academic honor roll member.
Personal: Born Jan. 31, 1990 … son of Eddie and Bobbie Wiggins … anticipated major is business.