FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Head Coach Jerome Souers and the Northern Arizona football team have added 23 new Lumberjacks this afternoon on National Signing Day. Out of the group, 20 of those players signed National Letters of Intent, while another three have accepted admission into NAU and have signed commitments to join the team in the fall. Twelve out of the signees hail from the state of Arizona.
“I know that our staff is extremely excited about this 2016 class,” Souers said. “We identified some positions of need and there’s no doubt in our mind that we were able to find some outstanding student-athletes. Our priority is always going to be recruiting the state of Arizona and I think we’ve proven once again that a lot of the very best Arizona has to offer ends up with a Lumberjack jersey on.”
NAU continues to prove that it likes to keep guys in-state and this year isn’t any different. The Lumberjacks were able to ink another solid Arizona class with some of the state’s top players making their way to Flagstaff in the fall.
Grabbing All-State recognition and joining the Lumberjacks are Centennial H.S. offensive lineman Steven Bailey, Estrella Foothills HS running back Joe Logan, and Ironwood Ridge HS offensive lineman Chase Laurita.
Continuing with a powerful presence at the line, the Lumberjacks tabbed Horizon HS offensive lineman Luke Rudolph. Add to that tight end Zach Simmons, from Salem Hills HS in Utah, who played his first-three years of high school ball at Mingus Union in Cottonwood.
Switch to the defensive side of the ball and NAU has signed Red Mountain HS safety Desi Ethridge, Apollo HS defensive end Carson Taylor, and junior college transfer linebacker Byron Evans from Glendale CC via Phoenix Christian HS.
A pair of specialists joins the class for NAU with Nogales HS kicker/punter Luis Aguilar and Agua Fria HS kicker/punter Griffin Roehler closing out the in-state signees.
The Lumberjacks’ ability to bring guys over from California was shown once again. Particularly in the area of San Diego, NAU tabbed the No. 2 running back in the state in Nate Stinson from Helix Charter HS. The pipeline in San Diego grows with the signing of San Diego HS cornerback Ju’Shawnte Spann and Mission Bay HS cornerback Myles Dumas. Expanding outside the city limits of S.D. and into the of Inland Empire, NAU inked Rancho Cucamonga HS athlete Aaron Manning and Colony HS cornerback Khalil Dorsey. Safety Brandon Worthy from Orange Coast College by the way of Vista Murrieta HS signed with NAU as a midyear transfer. Valley Christian HS safety Jairus Woodson and Bishop Alemany HS wide receiver Marcel Myers wrap up a stellar California class.
“Our staff then was able to identify some truly special players from the state of California that really round our class out to be one of the most talented we’ve ever had,” Souers said. “The number of All-State players that we have is phenomenal and we truly believe that a lot of these guys will provide an instant impact for us next season.”
Tight end Roland Chavez gives NAU a recruit out of New Mexico via Clovis HS, while defensive tackle Junior Olie transfers to NAU from Tyler JC (Texas).
Chaparral HS wide receiver Ryan Bright, Prescott HS tight end Derek Knotek, and Etiwanda HS safety Kendall Greer have all accepted offers to join NAU’s roster.
“The amount of support we get from our administration when it comes to the resources we have in recruiting is unrivaled at the FCS level,” said Souers. “The excitement surrounding the program right now is at an all-time high and we can’t wait to see what the 2016 season brings.”
NAU opens the 2016 schedule on the road at Arizona State University on Sept. 3. Before then, catch a sneak peek of the Lumberjacks at their annual spring game on April 23.
Complete List of Signees Below
Luis Aguilar K/P 6-1 190 Nogales, Ariz. (Nogales HS)
Steven Bailey OL 6-3 305 Litchfield Park, Ariz. (Centennial HS)
Ryan Bright WR 6-5 190 Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral HS)
Roland Chavez TE 6-3 215 Clovis, N.M. (Clovis HS)
Khalil Dorsey CB 5-9 170 Ontario, Calif. (Colony HS)
Myles Dumas CB 6-1 175 San Diego, Calif. (Mission Bay HS)
Desi Ethridge S 5-11 190 Mesa, Ariz. (Red Mountain HS)
Byron Evans LB 6-1 235 Phoenix, Ariz. (Glendale CC/Phoenix Christian HS)
Kendall Greer S 5-10 175 Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Etiwanda HS)
Derek Knotek TE 6-3 225 Prescott, Ariz. (Prescott HS)
Chase Laurita OL 6-3 245 Oro Valley, Ariz. (Ironwood Ridge HS)
Joe Logan RB 5-11 200 Buckeye, Ariz. (Estrella Foothills HS)
Aaron Manning ATH 5-8 185 Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Rancho Cucamonga HS)
Marcel Myers WR 6-2 185 Los Angeles, Calif. (Bishop Alemany HS)
Junior Olie DT 6-1 295 Watauga, Texas (Tyler JC/Euless Trinity HS)
Griffin Roehler K/P 5-11 205 Litchfield Park, Ariz. (Agua Fria HS)
Luke Rudolph OL 6-4 275 Scottsdale, Ariz. (Horizon HS)
Zach Simmons TE 6-4 225 Salem, Utah (Salem Hills HS)
Ju’Shawnte Spann CB 6-1 180 San Diego, Calif. (San Diego HS)
Nate Stinson RB 5-7 185 San Diego, Calif. (Helix HS)
Carson Taylor DE 6-2 215 Glendale, Ariz. (Apollo HS)
Jairus Woodson S 6-0 180 Pleasanton, Calif. (Valley Christian HS)
Brandon Worthy S 5-10 190 Murrieta, Calif. (Orange Coast College/Vista Murrieta HS)
High School: Competed at Estrella Foothills High School under coach Lamar Early…Rushed for over 5,500 yards during his career and recorded 85 touchdowns…Was named the Friday Night Fever Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Section, First Team All-Division, Arizona Top 25, First Team All-Arizona, Division Player of the Year, Small School Player of the Year, and The Arizona Republic Player of the Year…Helped lead his team to the playoffs all four years…Also competed in basketball where team was the section champs…In track & field, he set the 100-meter and 4×100 school records.
Personal: Born Joe Mikale Logan on January 21, 1998…Son of Cicely Cohen…Has two brothers, Michael and Marc, and two sisters, Dezire and Anya.
High School: Competed at Apollo High School under coach Zach Threadgill…Was named the Division II Defensive Player of the Year…Set the career sacks record at Apollo…Helped team advance to the Division II State Playoffs…Also competed in basketball…In the classroom was named to the honor roll.
Personal: Born Carson Charles Taylor on February 13, 1998…Son of Kristin Taylor…Has an older brother, Carlos, and three sisters, Sierra, Taylor, and Makenna.
“Carson is an extremely athletic defensive end that shows great potential as an edge pass rusher. He has good length and can really run. He was very productive during his senior year and we love his ability to finish plays in space. He plays the game with great energy, effort, and passion. He has also been a very dependable young man who has excelled in the classroom.” – Defensive Line Coach Travis Baker
Watch Carson’s Highlight Video
High School: Competed at Horizon High School under coach Kris Heavner…Was named the team’s MVP…Earned First Team All-District and All-State honors…Picked up All-State honorable mention accolades…Helped team advance to the playoffs twice…Three-time All-State academic team honorable mention…A member of the student advisory committee.
Personal: Born Luke Thomas Rudolph on October 31, 1997…Son of Scott and Jodi Rudolph…Has two brothers, Brett and Jay, and a sister, Kate.
“It’s not very often that an offensive lineman is named the MVP of his football team. However, that’s exactly what happened to Luke Rudolph this past year at Horizon High School in Scottsdale. Luke is an extremely athletic offensive lineman who played on both sides of the ball and dominated even though his team didn’t have great success in his senior year. Luke’s rare combination of size and flexibility make him a perfect fit for the NAU Offense. Combine him with the other two commits up front and this NAU class of offensive lineman is as good as any in recent memory for the Lumberjacks. What makes it even better is they all come from the great state of Arizona.” – Offensive Line Coach Tim Davis
High School: Competed at Nogales High School under coach Kevin Kuhm for two years…Earned All-State honors as a kicker and All-Conference honors as a punter…Connected on every single PAT during his career…Competed in soccer for four years where he earned MVP honors…Also played baseball and golf…In the classroom was named to the principal’s list and honor roll.
Personal: Born Luis Norberto Aguilar on March 19, 1998…Son of Victor and Roxanna Aguilar…Has an older brother, Victor.
“You don’t see recruits coming out of Nogales often, but that’s just where NAU found one of our incoming kickers. Luis played at Nogales High School where he was 70/70 on all PAT attempts for his career and 8/11 on field goal attempts. He also had a 39.3 punt average in his senior season. Replacing All-American Ryan Hawkins will be extremely difficult for the Lumberjacks, but with the two talented kickers we’re bringing in, the future looks bright.” – Head Coach Jerome Souers
High School: Competed at Ironwood Ridge High School under coach Matthew Johnson…Was a two-time All-State, All-Southern Arizona, All-City, and All-Section honoree…Team was the 2014 and 2015 Section Champions…Also competed in wrestling and track & field.
Personal: Born Chase Angelo Laurita on March 2, 1997…Son of Albert and Lori Laurita…Has a younger brother, Deacon…Father Albert played football at Oklahoma…Uncles John and Steve played football at Colorado State and Air Force.
“Athletic, tough, and intelligent. Those are the three things NAU Football looks for in their offensive linemen, and while Chase has all three components it’s hard not to focus on his athleticism. Chase was an All-State selection on the defensive line for Ironwood Ridge High School in Tucson. He was a star on both sides of the ball for the Nighthawks, but we believe he has the potential to be an outstanding offensive tackle for the Lumberjacks. His father Al played on the offensive line at the University of Oklahoma where he played under legendary coach Barry Switzer and won a National Championship. We all hope that National Championships run in the family for Chase and as we all know championship teams start up front.” – Offensive Line Coach Tim Davis
Prior to NAU: Played for one season at Orange Coast College under coach Kevin Emerson…Earned All-Conference accolades with the Pirates.
High School: Competed at Vista Murrieta for coach Coley Candaele…Earned All-League, All-CIF, All-Inland, and All-State honors…Competed in the IE Classic for the Inland-Empire All-Stars versus the Orange County All-Stars.
Personal: Born Brandon Charles Worthy on November 1, 1996…Son of Tim and Michele Worthy…Has an older brother, Cameron, and a younger brother, Cole.
“Brandon was a mid-year transfer from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif. Originally from Vista Murrieta High School in California, Brandon is a versatile defensive back who will most likely be competing for a spot at the Nickel position on the defensive side of the ball. Totaling over 100 tackles in his senior year in high school followed by a stellar year for the Pirates, we’re hoping Brandon can bring immediate depth to the Nickel position.” – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Andy Thompson
Watch Brandon’s Highlight Video
High School: Competed at Clovis High School under coach Eric Rounhaus for three years…Caught 18 catches for six touchdowns his senior year…Picked up First Team All-State honors and was named the team’s MVP…His freshmen year he received the Leon Williams Award for his athletic and academic achievements…Helped team to a top four seed in the playoffs…Was invited to play in the New Mexico All-Star game…Also competed in basketball and track & field.
“Roland is the first commitment for the Lumberjacks out of the state of New Mexico in over 10 years. His commitment is an endorsement to the growing reach of the NAU football program in recruiting. Playing in a predominantly rushing offense, Roland was able to become a complete tight end. He was rewarded as an All-State selection for New Mexico. However, what most people don’t know about Roland is just how fast and athletic he truly is. That makes him a complete player at the tight end position and definitely somebody to look for in the immediate future.” – Tight Ends Coach Craig Knoth
Watch Roland’s Highlight Video
High School: Competed at Red Mountain High School under coach Ron Wisniewski…Earned First Team All-State honors…Was named defensive back of the year…Also competed in basketball…A member of the student council.
Personal: Born Desmond LaMonte’ Ethridge on June 10, 1997…Son of Jennifer McKenzie.
“Desi is another Arizona high school prospect for the Lumberjacks and like the others he was an All-State selection at safety. His punishing tackling became known throughout the entire state and it seemed every week Desi would add another victim to his highlight reel of jaw-dropping tackles. Another quality that the coaches love about Desi is his natural leadership skills and we believe Desi will be punishing ball carriers for a long time in the Skydome.” – Safeties Coach David Reeves
High School: Competed at Bishop Alemany under coach Dean Herrington…Named a two-time All-CIF honoree…Was named the offensive player of the year…In the classroom earned academic scholar recognition…Also competed in track & field picking up All-Academic honors.
Personal: Born Marcel Rau’mon Myers Jr. on June 7, 1998…Son of Tikco Dixon and Marcel Myers…Has a brother, Redric, and four sisters, Kyara, Kyli, Paige, and Peyton.
“Marcel was an impressive two-way player for Bishop Alemany this past season and brings the type of physical play that we look for in our wide receivers. Marcel has great top-end speed that he got from his mother Tikco Dixon, who was a world-class sprinter at the University of Oregon. Marcel plays with a fire and passion that will make him an impact player for his team on offense, defense, and special teams. With a room full of talent, the NAU wide receivers got even better with Marcel joining the “Playmakers.” – Wide Receivers Coach Aaron Pflugrad
Watch Marcel’s Highlight Video
High School: Competed at Mission Bay High School under coach Willie Matson…Prior to MBHS, played at Helix High School…Earned First Team All-League honors…Team went 10-3 in 2015 as the CIF Runners-Up…Was credited with six interceptions and 45 tackles…Also competed in baseball and track & field…A member of the honor roll.
Personal: Born Myles Alexander Dumas on January 29, 1998…Son of Alexander and Lisa Dumas…Has one brother, Grant, and two sisters, Shannon and Alies…Cousin Brittani plays for the NAU women’s basketball team.
High School: Competed at Salem Hills High School under coach Joel Higginson…Prior to SHHS, competed at Mingus Union High School…Named an AIA Division III All-Conference Honorable Mention…Was a Utah Athletic Association Academic All-American nominee…National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete nominee…Dr. Chase Coy Scholar-Athlete…Also competed in basketball and track & field…A member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Zachary Raymond Simmons on June 6, 1997…Son of Mark and Lori Simmons; both NAU alums…Has two brothers, Luke and Kyle.
“Zach is a local product originally recruited out of Mingus High School in Cottonwood. However, after his family moved to Utah, Zach finished his high school football career for Salem Hills. Zach has the size and strength to set the edge of the NAU offense. He will follow in the footsteps of many tight ends before him that carried the physical torch for the NAU attack.” – Tight Ends Coach Craig Knoth
High School: Competed at Rancho Cucamonga High School under coach Nick Biaz…Earned First Team All-CIF, First Team All-League, and First Team All-Inland Valley honors.
Personal: Born Aaron Manning on March 18, 1998…Son of Artuz and Alanna Manning…Has one brother, Artuz, and two sisters, Shalise and Shanise…Brother Artuz plays football at Portland State.
“Aaron is a player in the same mold as Kendyl Taylor and will be the next player the Lumberjacks used in that “Utility” role. Aaron is a multi-talented guy who can play a lot of positions on the offensive side of the ball. Aaron was an All-CIF First Team Selection with over 2,300 all-purpose yards and 27 total touchdowns. He’ll most likely begin his career at wide receiver, but don’t be surprised to see Aaron line up everywhere for NAU before his time at NAU is done.” – Running Backs Coach Jimmy Beal
High School: Competed at Helix Charter High School under coach Troy Starr…Named the 2013 offensive rookie of the year…Was a three-time First Team Offense All-CIF San Diego Selection…Earned All-Academic Team honors three times…Selected as the 2015 San Diego Section Offensive Player of the Year…2015 Silver Pigskin Player of the Year Runner-Up…Registered over 3,800 rushing yards, rushed for 60 touchdowns, and caught five touchdown passes…Also competed in track & field, qualifying for the state meet in the 100-meter dash in 2014 and 2015…A member of the 4×100-meter relay team that qualified for the state meet.
Personal: Born Nathan Damajh Stinson on August 17, 1997…Son of Charles and Alysia…Has a younger sister, Raven…Cousin Donnell Tolliver plays football at UC Davis.
“One word will describe Nate Stinson…ELECTRIC. Standing at 5-foot-6 he was overlooked by many FBS programs, but there’s no denying that “The Terminator” will have an immediate impact on the NAU program next season. With the ability to run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash he could already be the fastest player in the Big Sky Conference. He was the San Diego High School Offensive Player of the year. He rushed for 1,700 yards with 31 touchdowns. More impressively he finished with an average of 10 yards per carry on the season. Every time the ball is in his hands be prepared to hold your breath, because you never quite know what he could do next.” – Running Backs Coach Jimmy Beal
High School: Competed at Agua Fria High School under coach Tony Cluff…Earned First Team All-Division III Section honors as a kicker three times…Named to the AZ Central All-Division III First Team…Received All-Division III Second Team honors as a long snapper…Was named an All-Division III Second Team kicker honoree by 24/7 Sports…Broke the record for career PATs (99) and field goals (20)…Set the 4A record for PATs in a game (12) and a season (47). Also competed in soccer.
Personal: Born Griffin Michael Roehler on October 30, 1997…Son of Dennis and Andrea Roehler…Has two brothers, Austin and Dillon…Cousin, Jason Murrietta, played football at NAU from 2003-06, leading NAU a Big Sky Championship and its first FCS Playoff win…In the classroom, was named to the honor roll.
“Another Arizona native was found when we got a commit from Griffin. Griffin had a star-studded career at Agua Fria High School in Avondale. Known more as a “Power” kicker, Griffin had over 65 percent of his kickoffs last season result in touchbacks and his longest made field goal in a game last year was 50 yards. With that kind of leg the Lumberjacks don’t expect to be defending many kick returns in the Skydome.” – Head Coach Jerome Souers
Watch Griffin’s Highlight Video
Prior to NAU: Played at Tyler Junior College for two years under coach Danny Palmer…Picked up All-Conference honors…Was named the team captain…Tallied 57 tackles and six sacks…Helped his team to the playoffs both seasons…Earned Dean’s List honors.
High School: Competed at Euless Trinity High School under coach Steve Lineweaver…Earned All-District and All-State honors.
Personal: Born Hafoka Viliami Olie on August 24, 1995…Son of Hafoka and Lola Olie…Has four brothers, Mino, Viliami, Paul, and Hengi, and one sister, Moana…Brother, Hengi, played football at Sam Houston State.
“Junior will be a great addition to our defensive line group in several ways. On the field he is an explosive football player. His contact skills are impressive. He has the ability to affect the balance of the blocker with his punch. He sheds blocks and makes plays. Off the field he is a very family-oriented young man who will be a great teammate and member of our community.” – Defensive Line Coach Travis Baker
High School: Competed at San Diego High School under coach Charles James…Prior to SDHS, competed for three years at Morse High School…Earned First Team All-Central League honors…Played in the Spanos Classic All-Star game.
Personal: Born Ju’Shawnte Ke’Mon Spann on July 9, 1998…Son of Sheryl Morris…Has a brother, Anthony, and two sisters, Aminah and KeAjaneah.
Watch Ju’Shawnte’s Highlight Video
High School: Competed at Valley Christian High School under coach Justin Lowell…His senior year caught 49 passes for 1,195 yards…Was named a two-time All-League honoree…Earned All-Conference honors, along with being named the team’s MVP…Set school records for most interceptions, touchdowns, receiving yards, and yards after catch in a season…Helped team advance to the championship game in 2014 and the semifinals in 2015…Also competed in basketball and track & field…In the classroom was named to the honor roll.
Personal: Born Jairus James Woodson on February 23, 1998…Son of Rod and Nickie Woodson…Has a brother, Demetrius, and three sisters, Marikah, Tia, and Nemiah…Father Rod, a 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee played 17 seasons in the National Football League, while winning a Super Bowl ring and being named to the Pro Bowl 11 times…He’s currently an assistant defensive backs coach for the Oakland Raiders…Brother Demitrius played football at Idaho, while sister Marikah played basketball at San Jose State.
“As you can see with this 2016 class a main focus for us was to add a lot more speed to the roster. We accomplished that mission again with Jairus. He was a standout player on both sides of the ball for Valley Christian High School. Not only did Jairus have nine interceptions last season, but he also totaled 26 combined touchdowns in his senior season with 21 touchdown receptions, two touchdown rushes, two interception returns for scores, and one punt return touchdown. When you hear he’s the son of NFL Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, his versatility as a football player starts to make more sense. There’s no question Jairus will be flying around in the NAU defense in no time.” – Safeties Coach David Reeves
High School: Competed at Colony High School under coach Steve Randal…Was named the defensive player of the year…Helped team win the CIF Central Division…Also competed in track & field all four years, where he broke the long jump record (23-2 ½ in).
Personal: Born Khalil Isaiah Dorsey on March 31, 1998…Son of Tommie and Lucy Dorsey…Has a brother, Tommie…Cousin Brittni plays on the NAU volleyball team.
“When you think of the NAU defensive backs over the past several seasons, we always had a guy that was a true “Ball-Hawk” and the Lumberjacks have another one in Khalil. A great all-around talent from Ontario, Calif., Khalil totaled 18 career interceptions in two seasons on varsity at Colony High School. He also totaled over 1,600 all-purpose yards with eight touchdowns as a wide receiver, running back, and return man in his senior year. Once Khalil puts down the pads, he’s also a well-accomplished track athlete that plans to join the NAU Track & Field team in the spring time. It will be exciting to see where Khalil ends up utilizing his multiple talents in NAU’s talented secondary.” – Cornerbacks Coach Cha’pelle Brown
Watch Khalil’s Highlight Video
High School: Competed at Centennial High School under coach Richard Taylor…Named the top offensive lineman in the state of Arizona…Ranked as the No. 1 center in Arizona by Scout.com…Was a two-time First Team All-State, All-Section, and All-District honoree…Named to the All-Division Arizona First Team…Voted as the MVP for the offensive line by his teammates twice…Helped lead team to back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015…Participated in the U.S. Army National Combine…Invited to participate in the Blue-Grey All-American game.
Personal: Born Steven William Bailey on Oct. 10, 1998…Son of Geoffrey and Caren Bailey…Has an older sister, Sarah.
“Steven is another one of the best the state of Arizona has to offer. Steven was an All-State selection and won back-to-back state titles at Centennial High School in Peoria. Steven had multiple division-one offers, but chose NAU to be his new home. There was no question the 2016 signing class for the NAU offense was going to be focused on a new wave of offensive linemen. Steven is one of three in-state offensive linemen who will be the future up front for NAU’s offensive attack. Not only is his physical play hard to miss, but we hope that his leadership qualities that helped lead his high school team to multiple titles will end with the same result for the Lumberjacks.” – Offensive Line Coach Tim Davis
Watch Steven’s Highlight Video
Prior to NAU: Competed at Glendale Community College for two seasons under coach Mickey Bell…Was a second team All-ACCAC after leading the Gauchos with 128 tackles.
High School: Competed at Phoenix Christian High School…Prior to PCHS, he played at Mountain Pointe…Earned All-State honors.
Personal: Born Byron Evans II August 30, 1996…Son of Byron and Alba Evans…Has two sisters, Brykara and Brielle…Father Byron, played in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles for eight seasons after a star-studded career at the University of Arizona.
“Byron brings much needed experience to a linebacker group that while talented will have plenty of youth in the 2016 season. He joins the Lumberjacks from Glendale Community College after completing two very successful seasons with the Gauchos. Byron is an outstanding athlete that has the talent to be on the field for all three downs and will wreak havoc from sideline to sideline. His father, Byron Sr., played football at Arizona followed by several seasons in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles as a member of the “Gang Green” defense. There’s no doubt that Byron will add an immediate impact to the NAU Defense next season.” – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Andy Thompson
Press release courtesy of Northern Arizona Athletics. All Rights Reserved.
