Next Level
Quick Hitters: Carus, Keys, Battles receive recruiting interest
by
Marlin Lee,
11/20/2009
-Milwaukee Bradley Tech offensive lineman
Quinton Carus (6-4, 310) is currently hearing from a trio of Division I schools that consists of Minnesota, North Dakota State and Northern Iowa.
While no scholarship offers or preferred walk-on invites have been made just yet, Carus did say Minnesota is showing him the most interest at this time.
“I'm planning on visiting Minnesota,” he added.
Carus was a first-team all-conference selection as a junior last season.
-Germantown offensive lineman/defensive lineman
Bryan Keys (6-2, 252) has an official visit planned with St. Cloud State on December 5th and Minnesota State-Mankato for possibly the first weekend in January.
Keys already holds a scholarship offer from Division II Minnesota-Moorhead and has also drawn interest from Division I-FCS North Dakota State.
Named second-team all-conference as a sophomore and first-team all-conference as a junior on the offensive line, Keys added even more honors to his athletic resume as a senior nabbing first-team all-conference offensive lineman and honorable-mention all-conference defensive lineman laurels.
-Several Division III colleges are showing interest in Brown Deer wide receiver
Antwan Battles (6-2, 171).
“Dubuque has the strongest interest and really wants me to come there,” Battles said. “The coaches have called me a couple of times.”
In addition to the University of Dubuque, Battles has also received looks from Wisconsin Lutheran and UW-Oshkosh.
“Me and a couple of my teammates went to the Wisconsin Lutheran game Saturday because the coach wanted us to come check them out,” he explained.
Battles recently received honorable-mention all-conference recognition.
Esala up to 5 scholarship offers
by
Marlin Lee,
11/19/2009
My how a month can change things.
Just over a month ago Ashland offensive lineman
Aaron Esala (6-4, 305) had plenty of college recruiting interest coming his way, but nothing in terms of official scholarship offers. Fast forward almost exactly a month and Esala has quickly become one of the state's hottest recruits netting five scholarship offers in a relatively short period of time.
First St. Cloud State offered, then Minnesota-Duluth, followed by North Dakota State, and now Division I-FCS North Dakota and Division II Winona State have also tossed their hats into the ring.
“I was at Winona State University on November 7th for an unofficial visit and they offered me a scholarship,” Esala told WSN on Wednesday evening. “Didn't talk any numbers yet, but Coach (A.J.) Blazek did say I am his No. 1 guy.”
Then came the offer from the Fighting Sioux.
“Last night I got a call from Coach (Greg) Breitbach at the University of North Dakota and they offered me a scholarship,” Esala explained. “I'm not sure when, but I'm going to set up an official visit with them.”
The scholarship offers from North Dakota and Winona State weren't the only exciting pieces of news Esala had to share though. It appears a Division I-FBS school is also entering the picture and making a late season push for Esala's services.
“The University of Wyoming called my coach last week and wants some senior film on me,” Esala said. “I know nothing about the school or their football program, but I'm definitely excited about it.”
No stranger to Wisconsin, the University of Wyoming has twice dipped into the Badger State in recent years securing commitments from former Chippewa Falls offensive lineman Nick Brousseau and former Waukesha North quarterback Brian Kuhtz. Both players have since transferred out of the program though with Brousseau now a member of UW-Eau Claire's football team and Kuhtz a student at UW-Whitewater after a brief stop at North Dakota State.
Ranked as the No. 30 overall prospect and No. 6 offensive lineman in the class of 2010 by WSN, Esala was recently named first-team all-conference, Sea Range Conference Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and the Sea Range Conference Player of the Year.
QB/ATH Justin Sinz nets Big Ten scholarship offer
by
Marlin Lee,
11/17/2009
Talk about a great time to be Edgar High School quarterback/athlete
Justin Sinz (6-5, 230). Not only is the star signal caller playing for a WIAA Division 6 state championship on Thursday afternoon, but also a perfect 14-0 record.
Just wait it gets better.
WSN has learned that Sinz recently garnered his first Division I-FBS scholarship offer courtesy of Big Ten Conference member Purdue University.
The offer, Sinz's second, joins one previously extended by Division I-FCS Illinois State. In addition, interest has come from Notre Dame and Wisconsin amongst others.
According to sources, Sinz will take an official visit to Purdue's campus located in West Lafayette, Indiana during the first week in December.
Viewed as an “athlete,” Sinz could potentially play a number of positions, most notably tight end, while at the college level. Illinois State has even discussed the possibility of him staying at quarterback.
Recently named the Marawood Conference Back of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection at quarterback, defensive back and kicker, Sinz appears to be a virtual lock for WFCA first-team all-state honors when they're released.
A four-year starter, Sinz is one of the winningest quarterbacks in state football history with a career record of 45-5 (.900) heading into Thursday's state title game.
Be sure to check back in here at WSN following the WIAA state championships when we'll have more on Sinz's latest scholarship offer.
Recruiting taking off for 2011's Degner and Phillips
by
Marlin Lee,
11/16/2009
-There must be something special about the No. 77 jersey at Catholic Memorial High School. A couple of years ago the number belonged to class of 2008 offensive lineman/defensive lineman Jake Reynolds, who garnered a scholarship offer from Hawaii and a preferred walk-on invitation from the University of Wisconsin, and now class of 2011 offensive lineman/defensive lineman
Zack Degner (6-2, 275) wears the jersey and he too is a Division I prospect.
As the old saying goes though, clothes don't make the man.
Degner has done plenty of work on his own to help grab the attention of college coaches with offseason stops at the National Underclassmen Combine in Minneapolis, National Underclassmen Combine in Des Moines and Football University in Minneapolis during the spring months.
In the summer, he attended one-day camps at Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Ball State and Northern Iowa.
All that offseason work combined with a successful junior season seem to be paying off with over 20 Division I schools having already made contact with Degner.
The list includes weekly letters and e-mails from Northwestern, Indiana, Louisville, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Maryland, Oregon and Illinois State.
Northwestern even invited Degner to attend their game against Miami (Ohio).
In addition, contact and film requests have been made by Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa State, Duke, Ball State, Akron, Hawaii, Wyoming, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and North Dakota.
Look for Degner to build upon that early recruiting interest this offseason before heading into his final season in that No. 77 jersey.
Degner recorded a 5.28-second 40-yard dash, 5.05-second shuttle, 25-inch vertical jump, 91-inch broad jump and bench pressed 185-pounds 17 times at the NUC in Des Moines.
He also recorded a 5.27-second 40-yard dash, 5.63-second shuttle, 22.5-inch vertical jump, 89-inch broad jump and bench pressed 185-pounds 22 times at the NUC in Minneapolis.
-Another class of 2011 prospect getting a lot of attention early on in the recruiting process is Homestead defensive end
Donte' Phillips (6-3, 250).
Recruiting interest has already come from the likes of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan State, Iowa State, Syracuse, Virginia, Washington State, Maryland, Duke, Louisville, Western Michigan, North Dakota State, North Dakota and Winona State.
It seems the early favorite in all of this is the University of Michigan, whom Phillips grew up idolizing.
“Last weekend I took an unofficial visit to Michigan for the Purdue game. The next weekend, I visited Wisconsin for their game versus Michigan. Both visits went very well,” Phillips said. “On November 21st, I plan on visiting Ann Arbor again for the Ohio State rivalry game.”
While looks from Division I programs are certainly newsworthy events, they aren't the only honors Phillips has received as of late.
“I have been invited to the U.S. Army National Combine in San Antonio which I will attend,” Phillips said. “I have also been invited by 365 Sports to represent the USA by being a member of the team when they compete in the Trans Pacific Australia Cup Tournament in Sydney, which is being held this summer. I will not attend this, but it is an honor to be considered for it.”
It's still early, but Phillips has all the makings of a top 10 prospect from the state's class of 2011. Stay tuned to see if he's the next great college prospect out of Homestead.
Severin selects UW-Oshkosh
by
Marlin Lee,
11/15/2009
After 20 previously known verbal commitments made at the Division I-FBS and Division I-FCS levels, the state of Wisconsin finally has its first known commitment to a Division III school thanks to Muskego offensive lineman
Chris Severin (6-3, 270) and his recent selection of UW-Oshkosh.
“I committed to UW-Oshkosh today,” Severin told WSN on Friday evening. “I had a long meeting with Coach (Pat) Cerroni yesterday at school and that is when I decided.”
Severin chose the Titans over interest from St. Cloud State, Bemidji State, UW-La Crosse, University of Dubuque, Hope College and Coe College.
“I like the area, coaching staff and the players on the team,” Severin said of his decision. “I know it's a good fit for me and I'm looking forward to the next four years.”
A multi-sport athlete, Severin participates in football, skiing and track for the Muskego Warriors.