By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
At a December press conference, new Pittsburg State head football coach Tim Beck said he will expanded the Gorillas’ recruiting base.
But Beck and his staff certainly haven’t discarded talent in the immediate area. Beck’s first recruiting class, announced on Wednesday, includes Tank Burns from Columbus, Jacob Fry and Matt Tyree from Riverton and Austin Riggs from St. Mary’s-Colgan.
“I think Tank Burns is the best player in southeast Kansas, and we got him to commit fairly early,” Beck said Wednesday afternoon. “We have high expectations for him, and as a defensive lineman, he has a chance to do things fairly early for us.
“Jacob Fry and Matt Tyree are both all-staters who had very good high school careers. We feel fortunate to add them to our team.
“Austin Riggs has been hampered a little bit over the last couple of years with injuries. We’re really excited about the speed he can bring to us maybe as a running back or possibly a receiver. He’s probably the fastest guy around.”
Burns, a three-time all-state selection, had 74 tackles and 5.5 quarterbacks his senior year at Columbus.
“I looked over some junior colleges, but after going to Pitt State and seeing what they were all about and everything they do, it was an obvious choice for me,” Burns said. “The tradition ... the coaching staff really made me feel comfortable with what I was doing.”
Fry and Tyree also earned first team all-state recognition their senior seasons. Fry also started on defense for the Rams and had 13 tackles for loss among 71 tackles. Tyree averaged 8.7 yards per carry while rushing for 1,434 yards and 21 touchdowns last fall.
“Through high school I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Fry said. “But as it got closer to the end, it became more and more close to Pitt. I’ve always wanted to wear the red and gold.
“It’s close to home. I didn’t have to be close to home, but it’s a good program, good coaches, good tradition and close to home. That’s just an added bonus.”
After deciding to come to Pittsburg State, Fry became a recruiter for the Gorillas.
“I committed before Matt did,” Fry said. :”But I called him up on a Sunday evening and I said ‘Matt, I want you to come with me.’ Then he started really considering it, and I gave him (assistant) Coach (Larry) Garman’s number, and he called him and talked about it and made the decision.”
“It gave me an extra push,” Tyree said. “I was looking at MSSU (Missouri Southern). Pittsburg State showed more interest in me during the season.
“They have a pretty solid tradition. I grew up watching them play. I just like the atmosphere there.”
Riggs had 77 carries for 627 yards and 10 touchdowns and averaged 22.7 yards on punt returns during his injury-plagued senior season.
In southwest Missouri, the Gorillas signed Carl Junction running back Zach Waranch, who averaged 130 yards and 18 points per game, and Joplin receiver-kick returner Gates Sanders.
Beck’s inaugural recruiting class includes 27 high school players and 21 transfers from junior colleges or four-year colleges. The transfers include hometown products C.J. Fondren, a wide receiver from Pittsburg High and Fort Scott Community College, and offensive linemen Robby Castagno (Independence CC) and Jeremiah Fleming (Fort Scott) from St. Mary’s-Colgan. The Gorillas also landed former area linemen Cody Moore (Columbus) from Fort Scott CC and Mark Chestnut (Miami, Okla.) from Oklahoma State where he was a backup last season.
“We had a lot of transfers who wanted to come and try it out,” Beck said. “We have a good group of offensive and defensive linemen where we lost a lot of players. Normally we’re not going to bring in that many transfers, but because we were so depleted, we were able to bring a a few more.
“No. 1 priority was offensive linemen and defensive linemen, with defensive linemen being first. Offensively we only bring back two guys with much game experience. We’re really a young football team, and we’re no different than anyone else. We’re building our program around the offensive and defensive lines.”
PSU signees
High School Signees
Anthony Abenoja, QB, 6-3, 210, Blue Valley
Avery Adair, De, 6-5, 210, Raytown
Matthew Anderson, DL, 6-3, 305, Sand Springs (Okla.) Charles Page
Tanner Bailey, QB, 6-2, 205, Winfield
Dalton Beeler, OL, 6-3, 290, Alva (Okla.)
Eric Brantley, LB, 5-10, 185, Raytown South
Taylor “Tank” Burns, DL,6-2, 250, Columbus
Gregory DeLozier, LB, 6-2, 215, Claremore (Okla.) Sequoyah
Tyler Disney, S, 6-0, 200, Blue Valley
Matt Erbert, OL-DL, 6-4, 285, Ellis (Kan.)
Jacob Fry, OL-DL, 5-11, 300, Riverton
Aries Herrion, CB, 5-9, 180, Tulsa Booker T. Washington
Cale Karrigan, OL, 6-5, 280, Paola
Lane Letchworth II, TE-WR, 6-4, 210, Blue Springs
Adam Olsen, S, 6-2, 190, Shawnee Mission South
Austin Riggs, RB, 5-10, 180, St. Mary’s-Colgan
Colt Rogers, RB, 5-7, 155, Smith Center
Gates Sanders, WR, 5-10, 165, Joplin
Dallas Shalz, DE, 6-2, 230, Kansas City Bishop Ward
Ethan Simpson, DE, 6-3, 240, Claremore
Tyler Smith, OL, 6-3, 290, Sand Springs Charles Page
Dennis Tanner, QB, 6-3, 170, Raytown South
Kyler Thompson, LB, 6-2, 220, Iola
Michael Thompson, WR-LB, 6-0, 185, Bartlesville (Okla.)
Matt Tyree, RB-LB, 5-7, 175, Riverton
Oliver Venegas, OL, 6-3, 265, Olathe North
Zach Waranch, RB, 5-8, 185, Carl Junction
Junior College, College Transfers
Calin Archer, OL, 6-3, 290, jr., Hutchinson CC
Nathan Beachner, WR, 6-0, 180, soph., Labette CC
Robby Castagno, OL, 6-5, 355, jr., Independence CC
Matt Chanay, TE, 6-2, 215, soph., Independence CC
Mark Chestnut, OL, 6-2, 290, sr., Oklahoma State
Kendall Davis, CB, 5-9, 160, jr., Hutchinson CC
Antonio Dowdy, S, 6-1, 210, fr., Wichita State
Jeremiah Fleming, OL, 6-1, 260, soph., Fort Scott CC
C.J. Fondren, WR, 6-4, 299, jr., Fort Scott CC
Will Grissom, DE, 6-4, 255, fr., Hutchinson CC
Ty Henry, OL, 6-3, 280, jr., Butler County CC
Xavier Jackson, DE, 6-2, 250, jr., Dodge City CC
Tyler Lawrence, QB, 6-2, 215, jr., Kansas
Cody Moore, OL, 6-0, 285, jr., Fort Scott CC
Mike Noble, TE, 6-2, 225, jr., Dodge City CC
Sam Norris, S, 6-0, 185, jr., Hutchinson CC
Josh Nunu, DL, 6-2, 265, jr., Diablo Valley (Calif.)
Paul Robinson, CB, 5-10, 175, jr., Dodge City CC
Anthony Sanchez, WR, 6-0, 180, jr., Coffeyville CC
Jared Vinoverski, WR, 6-2, 205, fr., Drake
Justin Woods, RB, 5-9, 185, jr., Fort Scott CC
