MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois University Football received 18 signed commitments for the upcoming 2010 season. The announcement came during head coach Mark Hendrickson's Wednesday (Feb. 3) press conference.
The Leathernecks addressed needs on both sides of the line, signing six offensive linemen and five defensive linemen. Western also focused on the secondary and offensive backfield. According to Hendrickson, these are areas that incoming student-athletes could challenge for playing time right away.
"We signed six offensive linemen, five on the defensive line, four defensive backs and two running backs. Of the 17 signees at these four positions, 10 are transfers - more specifically student-athletes we believe can have an impact next fall," said Hendrickson.
Hendrickson, announcing his inaugural signing class, signed eight players from California Junior Colleges and four high school student-athletes from Illinois.
"We are very excited about our signing of 18 new Leathernecks. We had four positions we focused on, and the coaching staff did an excellent job of filling those specific needs," stated Hendrickson. "Our recruiting base will always be the high schools of Illinois. We're proud to be signing four outstanding student-athletes from our home state. Overall, we are very pleased with the outcome we had today."
Western Illinois Football 2010 Signing Class
Kyle Caldwell * (6-4, 255, OL) * Capistrano Valley, Calif. (Capistrano Valley/Saddleback JC)
AT SADDLEBACK COLLEGE: Played two years for the Gauchos... earned Second Team All-Conference accolades last season... recorded game action in all 11 contests last fall... played in eight games his freshman year... helped Saddleback to a 9-2 mark last season... offense averaged 370 yards and 37.5 points per game... HIGH SCHOOL: Participated in the North vs. South Orange County All-Star game... named Second Team All-Conference... lettered in football (3) and track (1)... played for coach Charles Beihn... PERSONAL: Born November 29, 1989... No. 1 sports highlight was playing in the North vs. South All-Star game... his coach Jackie Slater has been a major influence, "He has completely changed the way I play."... enjoys spending time with friends and the beach... son of Kevin Caldwell and Judy Etherton... MAJOR: Criminal Justice
Bryan Carroll * (6-3, 260, OL) * O'Fallon, Mo. (Ft. Zumwalt West)
Lettered in football and basketball... First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District his final two years... earned First Team All-State honors last fall and was a Second Team pick following his junior year... Second Team All-Metro Area... three-time Academic All-Conference selection... played for coach Paul Day... team won consecutive conference championships (2007-08) and won the 2007 District title... PERSONAL: Born May 16, 1992 in St. Louis... No. 1 sports highlight was winning the school's first-ever playoff game in 2008 following a win over DeSmet... his dad has been a major influence, "He is constantly pushing me to do my best."... enjoys sports, weightlifting and camping... favorite professional teams are the St. Louis Cardinals and Rams... favorite musician is Lil' Wayne... son of Patrick Carroll and Diane Carroll.
Gerald Crisp * (6-3, 330, OL) * Las Vegas, Nevada (Centennial/Orange Coast College)
AT ORANGE COAST COLLEGE: Two-year starter... coaches tabbed him as one of the most explosive lineman to play at the College... impressive weight room stats of benching 225 pounds 31 times... HIGH SCHOOL: Named First Team All-State by the Nevada Prep Report... First Team All-Southern Nevada on offense and defense... earned First Team All-League honors on both sides of the ball... selected to play in the Nevada North-South All-Star game as both an offensive and defensive lineman... lettered three years in football.
Sam Current * (6-2, 265, DL) * Middletown, Ohio (Middletown)
Three year starter for Middletown... First Team All-Conference... Honorable Mention All-District... First Team All-Area... chosen to play in the East-West All-Star game... during his senior year recorded 55 tackles (25 solos), 7.0 tackles for a loss and five sacks... finished with 35 tackles and three sacks his junior year... 27 tackles and a sack as a sophomore... last fall helped Middletown to a 10-2 record and semifinal appearance in the Division-1 Regional.
Ryan Davis * (5-11, 175, DB) * Elk Grove, Calif. (Franklin/American River JC)
AT AMERICAN RIVER CC: Played two years at American River... earned All-Mid Empire Conference honors... of his 33 tackles, 30 were solo stops in 10 games played... second on the team with two interceptions... team-leading 14 pass break-ups... made five solo stops against Fresno... season-high nine tackles in the win over Sierra... recorded six pass break-ups versus Mendocino... four tackles and two pass break-ups against Siskiyous... made six tackles, two interceptions and three PBUs in the season finale against Sacramento... HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered twice in football... started on offense (wide receiver) and defense (safety) his senior year... recorded 11 receptions for 212 yards while defensively finished with 88 tackles and four interceptions... set Franklin HS record making 22 tackles in a game... earned First Team All-Conference honors on defense following his senior year... member of the Honor Roll all four years... PERSONAL: Born December 2, 1990... his father Michael played college football at Cincinnati... son of Michael and Michelle Davis... MAJOR: Communications
Delector Durley, Jr. * (6-2, 245, DL) * Detroit, Mich. (Detroit King)
Played all four years on the varsity football team... named to the 2009 All-Detroit Metro team... voted team captain... helped MLK HS win the 2007 state championship... team won city championship three years and twice finished as league champion... recorded 46 solo tackles his senior year, 21 assisted stops and 13.5 tackles for a loss (including 7.5 sacks)... played for coach Dale Harvel... PERSONAL: Born July 9, 1992... his father has been a major influence, "Being a single parent, he has been supporting me from day one and teaching me to be a humble man and athlete."... most admires his high school coach Dale Harvel, "For his ability to bring out the best in me and his knowledge of the game of football."... enjoys sports and video games... favorite professional teams are the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants... favorite musician is Shai... son of Delecter Durley... MAJOR: Athletic Training
Keith Enderlein * (6-1, 215, DB) * Calaveras, Calif. (Calaveras/Delta College)
Played two years at San Joaquin Delta College and will have two years of eligibility remaining... joined the Leathernecks in January and will participate in spring drills... AT DELTA COLLEGE: Made 49 tackles last season helping team to 5-5 record... recorded season-high 11 stops with two interceptions against College of the Sequoias... made team-leading nine tackles against Reedley... had eight stops and an interception against then top-ranked Butte... six stops, including a sack, one interception and two pass break-ups against Sacramento City... seven tackles in the finale against West Hills... five tackles against Fresno City.
Bryce Flowers * (5-10, 185, RB) * Pittsburg, Calif. (Pittsburg/Army Prep)
Joined the Leatherneck program in January and will have four years of eligibility remaining...AT ARMY (WEST POINT) PREP: Rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns (including 51-yard run) during win over Stevens Tech... also returned a kick 73 yards for a touchdown in the game, accumulating 305 all-purpose yards... returned a kickoff 85 yards for a TD and also recorded a 5-yard scoring run against Milford Academy... had touchdown runs of six and 53 yards against Hudson Valley JC and caught a 14-yard TD pass... HIGH SCHOOL: Rushed for 1,021 yards on 155 carries (6.9 ypc) and 10 touchdowns during his senior year... had three games where he rushed for two touchdowns... five times rushed for 100-plus yards, including a season-high 187 yards in the season finale against San Ramon Valley HS... caught 15 passes totaling 178 yards and two scores... recorded a three TD effort against Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Darryl Hughes * (6-1, 175, DB) * Castro Valley, Calif. (Brenkwitz /Chabot College)
AT CHABOT COLLEGE: Earned All-Golden Gate Conference honors last year... team finished 5-5 last year... played in nine games... made 30 tackles (23 solos)... led the team with four interceptions (tied 13th in the Northern California Football Association) and six pass break-ups... interception in the season-opener against West Valley... interception and PBU against Foothill... four solo tackles and an INT against Modesto... season-high eight tackles (shared team-lead) and broke up three passes in win over Los Medanos... followed with another eight tackle performance the next game against Cabrillo, in addition to his interception and two PBU... during his freshman year finished with 16 stops and picked off three passes... HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Hayward HS and finished at Brenkwitz HS... helped Hayward win the 2007 NCS championship... played for coach Casey Moreno... PERSONAL: Born March 30, 1989 in San Francisco, California... his No. 1 sports highlight was when he tipped an interception to himself... his family has been a major influence... most admires all his coaches, "They are good people."... enjoys eating, relaxing, watching TV, video games, music and sports... lists all Bay Area teams as his favorite... fan of all music... son of Darryl Hughes and Sui Anoai... MAJOR: Undecided
Darryl (DJ) Johnson * (6-2, 225, DL) * Bellflower, Calif. (Long Beach Poly/Cerritos College)
AT CERRITOS COLLEGE: Helped Cerritos to a 9-2 mark last fall... recorded 19 tackles in eight games played... 6.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks... registered six quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles... HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his senior year with 64 tackles, including 11 sacks totaling 73 yards... helped his team to a 13-1 record and Southern Section championship... played on a defense that allowed just over eight points per game... recorded at least three tackles every game his senior year... season-high 10 tackles against Carson, including five sacks.
Sam Kachanuk * (6-3, 285, OL) * Havana, Ill. (Havana)
Lettered in football, track and basketball... earned All-Conference honors for both offense and defense his final three years, including First Team honors as a junior and senior... finished as the team's sack leader his final two seasons... offensively recorded 15 pancake blocks his senior year while on defense finished with 103 tackles and 10 sacks... during his junior year had 68 tackles, including 13 sacks, and returned a fumble for a touchdown... standout in track, recording the Havana HS record in the shot put (51-3)... qualified for the state semifinals in the shot put... played for coach Chad Heffren... PERSONAL: Born October 25, 1991 in Peoria... No. 1 sports highlight was his senior year when he recorded a sack, forced a fumble and had a 63-yard touchdown run, along with breaking the school's shot put record... his dad has been a major influence, "No matter what sport or who I was against he would push me to my breaking point and that would make me work harder."... most admires his football coach Chad Heffren, "He's laid back when he needs to be and serious when it's time. He is always there for the players."... enjoys weight lifting, hanging out with friends, riding his Harley and running on fire calls... favorite professional team is the Miami Dolphins... favorite musical group is Metallica... son of John and Jenny Kachanuk... MAJOR: Law Enforcement and Fire Science
Jamal Keaton * (6-4, 310, OL) * Crete, Ill. (King College Prep)
Named First Team All-Public League his junior year... First Team All-Land of Lincoln Conference following his senior year... twice voted team captain... participated in football (two letters), wrestling, track, volleyball, swimming and baseball... three-year starter in football... recorded more than 120 career pancake blocks... finished with 69 knockdowns in 2008... started in the team's two state playoff and six City playoff games, in all 25 career starts... recorded 10 tackles and two sacks during his senior season... helped pave way for 15th-leading rusher in the state who totaled more than 1,500 yards... played for coach Lonnie Williams... PERSONAL: Born September 5, 1991 in Chicago... son of Linda Thomas and Greg Keaton... his brother Brian played football at Elmhurst College... most admires his HS coach Lonnie Williams, "He taught me how to be successful in life, not just football."... favorite professional team is the Chicago Bears... MAJOR: Physics
Alex Martinez * (6-1, 300, DL) * Tarzana, Calif. (El Camino Real/L.A. Pierce College)
Will have two years of eligibility remaining... AT LA PIERCE COLLEGE: Earned First Team All-American Pacific Conference honors by the Southern California Football Association... selected to play in the California JUCO North-South All-Star game... played in all 11 games helping LA Piece advance to the playoffs... finished the year with 39 tackles, 7.0 tackles for a loss, 4.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and a safety... recorded season-high eight tackles, including one for a loss, and a fumble recovery against West Los Angeles... 7-yard sack against Los Angeles Southwest... three tackles, a sack and fumble recovery against East Los Angeles... made seven tackles against Santa Barbara... 2.5 tackles for a loss, including a safety, against Santa Monica... made five stops against top-ranked Mt. San Antonio in the playoffs... HIGH SCHOOL: Earned his first start at the end of his freshman year and started throughout his career... twice named First Team All-Conference, finishing his career with three all-conference honors... played in the West-East All-Star game following his senior year... voted Most Valuable Lineman twice... won the city championship in wrestling his freshman year... during his sophomore year finished third in the shot put at the City championships... played for coach Rick Hyashida and Terry Fischer... PERSONAL: Born July 23, 1989 in Sylmar, California... enjoys art... favorite professional team is the Tennessee Titans... favorite musician is Dr. Dre... son of Aida Calderan.
David McDaniel * (5-11, 180, DB) * O'Fallon, Ill. (O'Fallon)
Two-year letterwinner in football... earned First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Area accolades following his senior season... during his senior year finished with 60 tackles, five interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles... also blocked a punt and blocked a field goal attempt... ran a fumble back for a touchdown... during his junior year switched from his usual cornerback position and started a game at safety, turning in seven tackles and two fumble recoveries... MAJOR: Sport Management
Caulton Ray * (5-9, 195, RB) * Southfield Mich. (Brother Rice/Michigan State)
Transferred from Michigan State in January and will have three years of eligibility remaining... AT MICHIGAN STATE: Started the first four games of the season and saw action in seven contests... rushed for 156 yards on 40 carries (3.9 ypc)... one rushing TD... carried the ball six times for 11 yards at Illinois... rushed for 23 yards on just three carries (7.7 avg.) and had one reception for 14 yards at Notre Dame... collected 51 yards on the ground on 16 carries against Central Michigan, including his first career TD... in his collegiate debut, led the team with 71 rushing yards on 12 carries against Montana State... redshirted in 2008... HIGH SCHOOL: Rated among the nation's top running backs by Rivals.com (No. 43), Scouts, Inc. (No. 65) and Scout.com (No. 87)... named to PrepStar's All-Midwest Team... ranked among the state's top seniors by Scouts, Inc. (No. 10), Lansing State Journal (No. 14), Rivals.com (No. 17), Detroit Free Press (No. 19), Scout.com (No. 19) and The Detroit News (No. 23)... selected to represent the East in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Game... All-State (Division 2) selection by the Detroit Free Press in 2007... Second Team All-North pick by The Detroit News as a senior... two-year starter for Coach Al Fracassa at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich... rushed 195 times for 1,150 yards (5.9 avg.) and 15 touchdowns as a senior... led the Warriors in all-purpose yards for the second year in a row with 1,265 yards (115 ypg.)... returned five kickoffs for 112 yards (22.4 avg.)... recorded six 100-yard rushing games in 2007... closed out his senior year with three straight 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 200 yards and two scores on 24 attempts versus Adams... scored 13 rushing TDs over the last seven games... carried 23 times for 156 yards and two TDs against St. Mary Prep... rushed for 128 yards and three scores on 14 attempts against University of Detroit Jesuit... gained 1,039 yards on 215 carries and scored 11 TDs as a junior... accounted for a team-best 1,211 all-purpose yards in 2006... returned seven kickoffs for 178 yards (25.4 avg.)... posted four 100-yard rushing games as a junior, including 23 carries for a season-high 161 yards and a TD versus Traverse City West... scored three rushing TDs in the 2006 season finale vs. Ford... PERSONAL: Son of Mildred Ray... born December 20, 1989
Vince Simpson * (6-0, 200, LB) * West Bloomfield, Mich. (West Bloomfield)
Lettered in football twice and once in track... received the school's 'Best Running Back Award'... earned All-Oakland County honors following his senior year... named 'Player of the Week' by the Oakland Athletic Association... received Honorable Mention status on the 'Dream Team'... played for former Detroit Lion Ron Bellamy... finished his senior season with 50 tackles, including five for a loss... rushed 60 times for 601 yards and caught 12 passes for 235 yards... totaled 10 touchdowns... PERSONAL: Born January 28, 1992 in Detroit... No. 1 sports highlight was last fall when on a 12-yard touchdown run he dove over an opponent's head to score... his dad has been a major influence, "He introduced me to the game of football at an early age and he mentored me along the way, helping me improve as an athlete and a person."... most admires Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, "He does not hold back. He lays it all on the line every down and in every game he plays."... enjoys drawing, working out, spending time with friends and going to sporting events... favorite professional team is the New Orleans Saints... favorite musician is Gucci Mane... son of Vincent Sr. and Sharon Simpson... MAJOR: Biology... see Vince Simpson's TV interview
John Sintich * (6-4, 240, OL) * Alsip, Ill. (Marist)
Earned All-Conference and All-Area honors... helped Marist to a Class 8A state runner-up finish and 11-3 record last fall... lettered twice in football... played for coach Pat Dunne... PERSONAL: Born June 24, 1992 in Oak Lawn... No. 1 sports highlight was playing in the state championship... his grandfather, who played high school football with NFL great Dick Butkus, has been a major influence... most admires former Chicago Bears great Walter Payton, "He was an amazing athlete and person."... enjoys working out and video games... favorite professional teams are the Chicago Bears and Blackhawks... favorite music group is the Dave Matthews Band... son of Frank and Kathy Sintich... MAJOR: Education
Brent Turner * (6-3, 265, DL) * Oakland, Calif. (McClymonds/Chabot College)
AT CHABOT COLLEGE: Recorded 40 solo tackles, 15 tackles for a loss and eight sacks in his career... team finished 5-5 last season... had two sacks in the season-opener against West Valley... made five solo tackles, including two sacks, against Redwoods... season-high 11 tackles against Merced, including 1.5 for a loss and forced a fumble... HIGH SCHOOL: First Team All-City on both the offensive and defensive line... named First Team All-Eastbay on both sides of the ball... voted team captain... during high school had 65 solo tackles, 20 TFL, 13 sacks, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, three blocked kicks and registered a touchdown... team won the 2007 and '08 OAL City championship... played for coach Alonzo Carter... PERSONAL: Born June 5, 1990 in Oakland, California... his uncle George has been a major influence, "He got me everything I needed to be successful. He worked out with me every offseason through my career."... most admires Los Angeles Lakers standout Kobe Bryant, "For his work ethic and desire to win."... his cousin Frank Summers played for the Pittsburgh Steelers... favorite professional teams are the Oakland Raiders and LA Lakers... son of Eddie Turner and Bridget Brown... MAJOR: Communications