Much like everything else that Lindenwood head football coach Patrick Ross has touched in the last couple of years, the 2005 LU recruiting season has turned up gold for the Lions.
Using the success of a storybook championship season last fall as a springboard, the Lions posted a list this afternoon of newcomers which will impact the landscape of the Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2005 – and beyond.
A pair of new quarterbacks headline the group, and they should provide intense competition, with incumbent sophomore-to-be Brent Hodgkiss, for the spot vacated by departed senior Emiliano Salazar.
Junior college transfer Preston Maloney (6’2, 180 – Santa Barbara City College) is already on campus, and standout prep signal caller Ben Kisner (6’1, 180 – William Chrisman HS, Independence, MO) will join the Lion fold in August.
“Obviously, that’s going to be a critical position for us to replace in 2005, and we think all three of those guys are championship quarterbacks,” said Ross. “Kisner and Hodgkiss are very similar in that they are outstanding athletes, and Preston gives us a player with the experience and skills to provide that competition in the spring.”
Kisner will have some nice targets to throw to in his class, as the Lions landed a pair of highly-decorated All-State picks at wide receiver. Caruthersville product Plessie Ellitt, a 6’0, 195-pounder, was a two-time All-State selection, and is regarded as one of the top all-around athletes in southeast Missouri. Montgomery County star Matt Hans (6’0, 175) led the state with 87 receptions as a senior.
Over on the defensive side, the Lions are excited about a couple of All-Staters who could be patrolling the middle of the field in St. Charles in the near future. Blue Springs South star Tyler Millay (6’3, 185) will play free safety for LU, and South Harrison linebacker Logen Wright (6’3, 215) is one of the best small school players in the state
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“One of the things we’ve talked about is recruiting guys who have that ranginess and overall athletic ability,” said Ross. “Both Tyler and Logan are excellent athletes who are going to be cornerstones of this program.”
Ross and his staff also worked the winter transfer circuit with huge success, also. Seven transfers from the talented California JC ranks are already in winter workouts with the Lions, providing additional competition in an already-loaded program. One interesting newcomer is Florida native Bobby Mason, who transferred from Urbana (Ohio) University after a standout freshman season there in 2004 - the 5’10, 180-pounder was named an NAIA first team All-American as a return specialist, and he has already been impressive in his short time as a Lion.
In addition to Maloney and Mason, Lion coaches are very excited about linebacker Sam Searson (6’2, 195 - Palomar JC) and two-time All-Mission Conference defensive end Tony Ete’aki (6’0, 245 - Santa Ana JC), both of whom will strengthen a 2005 Lion defense which should be one of the best in the country.
Preston Maloney Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara City College 6’2 180 QB
Tim Houston Waynesville, MO Waynesville HS 6’2 190 WR 1st team All-Ozark Conference
Billy Farris California, MO California HS 6’5 270 OL 1st team All-State Class 2
Bobby Mason Edgewater, FL Urbana (Ohio) University 5’10 180 WR 1st team NAIA All-American
Travis Drake Lee’s Summit, MO Lee’s Summit HS 6’3 230 DE 2nd team All-Suburban Big 7
Charles Yundt Pawnee, OK Pawnee HS 6’1 280 OL 1st team All-Area, All-District
Plessie Ellitt Caruthersville, MO Caruthersville HS 6’0 195 WR 1st team All-State Class 2
Chris Badorek Newport Beach, CA Santa Ana JC 6’4 337 OL
Mitch Smith Salt Lake City, UT Saddleback JC 6’6 265 OL
Justin Hidritch Washington, MO Washington HS 6’0 225 DE 1st team All-State Class 5
Scott Tallant Waynesville, MO Waynesville HS 6’4 210 QB 2nd team All-Ozark Conference
Matt Hans Jonesburg, MO Montgomery County HS 6’0 175 WR 1st team All-State Class 2
Justin Skaggs Union, MO Union HS 6’3 185 RB 1st team All-Four Rivers Conf.
Dustin Ostman St. Charles, MO Iowa Wesleyan College 6’1 260 OL HM All-MSFA Midwest
Sam Searson Carlsbad, CA Palomar JC 6’2 195 LB
Liam Andrews Maryland Heights, MO Parkway North HS 6’0 215 DE 3rd team All-State Class 4
Jeff Edinger St. Louis, MO Parkway North HS 6’3 190 QB
Russell Miller Malden, MO Malden HS 6’2 270 OL 1st team All-SEMO South
Ryan Potter Salisbury, MO Salisbury HS 6’3 215 DE 2nd team All-State Class 1
Daniel Rivera Bethalto, IL Civic Memorial HS 6’2 280 DT 1st team All-State IHSFCA
Logen Wright New Hampton, MO South Harrison HS 6’3 215 LB 1st team All-State Class 2
Ben Kisner Independence, MO William Chrisman HS 6’1 180 QB 1st team All-State Class 5
Tyler Millay Blue Springs, MO Blue Springs South HS 6’3 185 FS 1st team All-State Class 6
Tony Ete’aki Garden Grove, CA Santa Ana JC 6’0 245 DE 1st team All-Mission Conf.
Donnell Johnson Santa Ana, CA Santa Ana JC 5’7 160 SB
Adam Cecil Caruthersville, MO Caruthersville HS 5’7 170 RB 1st team All-State Class 2
Mike Murphy St. Louis, MO Ladue-Horton Watkins HS 6’2 265 OL
Austin Bortle St. Charles, MO St. Charles HS 6’1 205 RB 1st team All-GAC North Conf.
Brett Ballmann Washington, MO Washington HS 6’3 185 QB 1st team All-GAC South Conf.
Matt Resquer Santa Ana, CA Santa Ana JC 5’9 171 CB 2nd team All-Mission Conf.
Billy Ray Uren Jackson, MO Jackson HS 6’5 240 TE 1st team All-SEMO North
David Strapp Daytona Beach, FL Mainland HS 6’2 185 CB
David Fuit Daytona Beach, FL Mainland HS 6’2 195 LB
Eric Ksiazkiewicz O’Fallon, IL Iowa Wesleyan College 5’8 188 RB
