Chadron State signs 15 recruits

Fifteen high school seniors have signed National Letters of Intent to play football for Chadron State College beginning in the fall of 2009, CSC head coach Bill O’Boyle announced on Wednesday.
“I think it’s another outstanding class,” O’Boyle said. “We’ve filled in the spots we were really concentrating on. The recruiting process is far from over, though, and so we’re going to keep at it.”
As of Wednesday, the first-day list includes 15 players, including seven from Nebraska, three from Colorado, two each from South Dakota and Wyoming, and one from Kansas.
More players are expected to sign later this week.
Those players getting their letters of intent to the CSC athletic office Wednesday are Black Bock of Niwot, Colo., Jens Johnson, Jonn McLain and Travis Reeves all of Chadron, Bryant Miller of Bayard, Cameron Stewart of Eaton, Colo., Clint Sasse and DJ Toczek of Bennett County (S.D.), Kyle Stuchlik of Pierce, Michael Ziola of Columbus, Tim Herman of Crete, Matt Craft of Basin, Wyo., Neil Novak of Rock Springs, Wyo., and Talon Roggasch of Frisco, Colo.
By position, the Eagles received commitments from three wide receivers, two defensive backs, two offensive linemen, two linebackers, one defensive tackle, one athlete, one quarterback, one safety, one defensive end and one placekicker.
The Eagles, back-to-back-to-back champions in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and winners of 35 games the past three seasons, will welcome back 11 starters, plus their kicker and punter, and 55 letter winners in 2009.
Profiles of the players who have signed letters of intent follow.
Blake Bock, defensive tackle, 6-0, 230 pounds (Niwot, Colo./Niwot High)
A good-sized defensive tackle who made 34 tackles and one sack while helping lead Niwot to a 6-4 record in 2008 … A Daily Camera honorable mention selection and a second team defensive selection for the 2008 Times-Call All-Area Football Team.
Matt Craft, defensive back, 6-2, 185 pounds (Basin, Wyo./Riverside High)
A multi-threat player who is comfortable at a variety of positions … He averaged 164.7 all-purpose yards to lead Wyoming’s 2A Class … On offense, he rushed for 680 yards and nine touchdowns … He also passed for 750 yards and seven touchdowns … A two-time selection to the 2A all-state team … In one game last season, he ran for 298 yards and had 414 all-purpose yards … Also led 2A in tackle points, recording 205 … Added five interceptions … Recorded 49 tackle points in one game.
Tim Herman, offensive line, 6-4, 300 pounds (Crete, Neb./Crete High)
A big offensive lineman who was a member of back-to-back state championship teams at Crete High in 2006-07 … A Class B Huskerland Prep Report First Team offensive lineman in 2008. 
Jens Johnson, offensive line, 6-2, 230 pounds (Chadron, Neb./Chadron High)
Was a starting offensive lineman for state semifinalist Chadron High until he suffered a knee injury during the 2008 season … Earned all-Western Conference honors as a sophomore and junior … Was named Star-Herald honorable mention … Plans to major in pre-medicine at CSC. 
Nathaniel Martens, athlete, 6-1, 200 pounds (Newton, Kan./Newton High)
Another talented football player who could help the Eagles in a number of ways … Played quarterback in high school but comes to CSC as an athlete … He was named the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division II offensive player of the year for the 2008 season … He rushed for 1,087 yards and passed for 1,210 yards … He added 15 rushing touchdowns and 12  through the air while leading the Railers to a 6-3 record … He was also an Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League first team selection … His brother, Branden, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound junior offensive lineman, transferred to CSC in January.  
Jonn McLain, quarterback, 5-11, 180 pounds (Chadron, Neb./Chadron High)
His older brother Joe is an all-time CSC great football player and Jonn seems poised to carry on that tradition … Joe was 38-4 as a starter at CSC and helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA D-II playoffs the last three years … Jonn started at Chadron High the past two seasons and wrapped up one of the most impressive prep careers the school has ever seen … Completed 146 of 234 passes for 2,303 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading Chadron High to the Class C-1 state semifinals … His 146 completions is a Class C-1 record … Accumulated 2,655 yards of total offense and was named to a bevy of all-star teams … He was the Star-Herald All-Region Football Player of the Year, the Omaha World-Herald Class C-1 honorary captain and the Huskerland Prep C-1 Player of the Year … Also named first team Class C-1 and second team all-class all-state by the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. 
Bryant Miller, outside linebacker, 6-0, 200 pounds (Bayard, Neb./Bayard High)
A tough, talented player on both sides of the ball … Accounted for 67 unassisted tackles and assisted on 52 more to rank as one of the top tacklers in Class C-1 … Also played quarterback, throwing for 538 yards and four touchdowns … For the season, he scored eight touchdowns and kicked 27 points … A Star-Herald All-Region Defensive First Team selection … Earned honorable mention from the Lincoln Journal Star and was a District 10 selection. 
Neil Novak, defensive back, 6-0, 190 pounds (Rock Springs, Wyo./Rock Springs High)
A stellar player at Rock Springs High … Named to the Casper Star Tribune Super 25 second team and a second team Class 5A all-state selection … Played a variety of positions in high school but will focus on defense at CSC … Rushed for 384 yards and five touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 302 yards and three more TDs … Averaged 123.8 all-purpose yards a game … Finished with 97 tackle points and also returned punts and kicks. 
Travis Reeves, wide receiver, 5-10, 180 pounds (Chadron, Neb./Chadron High)
One of the biggest playmakers for the Cardinals last season … Ran for 902 yards on 150 carries (6.01 yds/carry) and had 45 receptions for 663 yards and 14 touchdowns … Scored a total of 29 TDs in 2008 … Also had four interceptions and was one of the team leaders in tackles … Was named to the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star Class C-1 First Team defensive teams … Also was a Star-Herald All-Region First Team selection and a District 10 selection. 
Talon Roggasch, inside receiver, 6-1, 200 pounds (Frisco, Colo./Summit High)
A four-year starter at Summit High School where he helped lead his team to a 36-9 record in four seasons and a berth in the 3A quarterfinals last year … Started at quarterback his first two seasons but moved to tailback and receiver as a junior … Named the West Metro League 3A most valuable player and was a 3A West Metro First Team selection at running back and kicker … He was named to the 3A West Metro Second Team as a defensive back … Had a stellar 2008 campaign … Rushed for 673 yards and four touchdowns on 102 carries and hauled in 46 receptions for 818 yards and one TD … Had three games receiving 100 yards or more … He also completed four passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns … Made 49 total tackles and had an interception … Also returned 14 kickoffs for 453 yards, with a long of 98. 
Clint Sasse, safety/tailback, 5-11, 190 pounds (Martin, S.D./Bennett County High)
Did several things well for Bennett County last fall … Ran for 1,275 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns … Also threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns on just seven completions … On special teams he had eight kickoff returns for 364 yards (45.5 average) and one touchdown … Clint also returned six punts for 125 yards (29.2 yards) and a TD … On defense he made 50 total tackles, forced two fumbles, grabbed two interceptions and scored three defensive TDs … Was named the Class 11B All State First Team running back and an Argus Leader Elite 45 Selection … Also selected to the West River All-Conference First Team at running back and linebacker and he was the Sports Buzzard 11B Player of the Year … Was a varsity letter winner all four years of high school. 
Cameron Stewart, inside receiver, 6-3, 210 pounds (Eaton, Colo./Eaton High)
A big, physical athlete who should do well for the Eagles at inside receiver during his career … Was named to the North Metro and Patriot League First Team in 2008. 
Kyle Stuchlik, outside linebacker, 6-0, 195 pounds (Pierce, Neb./Pierce High)
Helped Pierce High School win back-to-back state titles in Class C-1 as a junior and senior … Named to the Omaha World-Herald Class C-1 First Team on the defensive line … Will play linebacker in college … Also earned honorable mention from the Lincoln Journal Star and a district 5 selection. 
DJ Toczek, defensive end, 6-3, 240 pounds (Martin, S.D./Bennett County High)
A four-year starter and three-time all-conference selection … Excelled as a blocker on offense and was the leader of the Warriors’ defense, which yielded just 42 points during its 10 victories last fall … Is an athletic, intelligent player who works hard and is determined to being a college football player … His high school coach said Toczek is capable of playing almost any position except perhaps quarterback and defensive back … Name is pronounced Toe-check.  
Michael Ziola, placekicker, 5-7, 150 pounds (Columbus, Neb./Columbus High)
Played quarterback in high school and was named to the Class B, District 5 First Team but will concentrate on placekicking duties at CSC … Was the second-leading passer in Class B by completing 127 of 242 passes for 1,680 yards and 10 touchdowns … Also one of the top punters in Class B, averaging 36.1 yards a punt … A Class B All-State honorable mention.
Story: courtesy Chadron State athletics.  Listen to Nick Jakusz’ report on local Chadron kids signing on with the Eagles