Football | 2/4/2015 2:13:00 PM
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 4) — A talented group of 19 Washington State high school seniors have signed either a National Letters of Intent or a Letter of Acceptance to attend and play football for Central Washington University beginning in 2015.
"I'm very please with my second recruiting class," said CWU head coach
Ian Shoemaker. "We filled some areas where we thought we had needs and also brought in some guys will compete for playing time, in the years ahead, where we're already pretty strong."
The 2015 CWU recruiting class includes two players each from Camas High School and Chiawana High School, in Pasco. Of the 19, six were recruited as defensive backs, five as defensive lineman, along with two offensive lineman, two wide receivers and one player each at linebacker, tight end, quarterback and as an athlete. One of the defensive backs, Marcus Johnson, from Lincoln High School, in Tacoma, was coached there by CWU Athletic Hall of Fame member, and former National Football League quarterback, Jon Kitna.
Shoemaker added, "Along with being top-notch players, they are good students and high quality people. That's our goal, to continue to build this program with the right kids, allowing us to win the right way, as we continue our tradition of success here."
| Name | Pos. | Ht | Wt | Hometown (High School) |
| Marcus Atafua | DL | 6'2" | 275 | Auburn, WA (Auburn Riverside H.S.) |
| Tyler Dionne | TE | 6'4" | 242 | Vancouver, WA (Union H.S.) |
| Tevin Gray | DB | 5'10" | 192 | Lake Stevens, WA (Lake Stevens H.S.) |
| William Greer | DL | 6'1" | 220 | Tacoma, WA (Wilson H.S.) |
| Tarik Hagen | DB | 6'2" | 205 | Enumclaw, WA (Enumclaw H.S.) |
| Tyler Haggen | OL | 6'4" | 263 | Bellingham, WA (Sehome, H.S.) |
| Jonathan Hillel | QB | 6'2" | 177 | Snoqualmie, WA (Mount Si H.S.) |
| Marcus Johnson | DB | 6'0" | 200 | Tacoma, WA (Lincoln H.S.) |
| Bryan Kelly | DB | 6'0" | 190 | Washougal, WA (Camas H.S.) |
| Eric Ledesma | LB | 6'0" | 225 | Poulsbo, WA (Central Kitsap H.S.) |
| Juan Noyola | DL | 6'3" | 260 | Pasco, WA (Chiawana H.S.) |
| Kyler Ooley | WR | 5'10" | 150 | Tacoma, WA (Rogers H.S.) |
| Christian Penny | DL | 6'5" | 255 | Pasco, WA (Chiawana H.S.) |
| Lucas Petersen | DB | 6'4" | 200 | Lynden, WA (Lynden H.S.) |
| Zachary Price | DL | 6'1" | 280 | Spokane, WA (Shadle Park H.S.) |
| Chase Resch | DB | 5'10" | 165 | Wenatchee, WA (Wenatchee H.S.) |
| Christian Stafford | WR | 6'3" | 195 | Federal Way, WA (Todd Beamer H.S.) |
| Jacob Ta'Ase | ATH | 5'11 | 170 | Seattle, WA (Ballard H.S.) |
| Alex Walker | OL | 6'4" | 265 | Camas, WA (Camas H.S.) |
(Click player name to see video highlights)
Marcus Atafua (DL, 6-2, 275, Auburn, Wash., Riverside H.S.), who was his high school's offensive and defensive player of the year.
Tyler Dionne (TE, 6-4, 242, Vancouver, Wash., Union H.S.), who was named by the Tacoma News Tribune to the all-state 1st team as its punter.
Tevin Gray (DB, 5-10, 192, Lake Stevens, Wash., Lake Stevens H.S.), who was selected to attend the US Army All American Combine.
William Greer (6-1, 220, Tacoma, Wash., Wilson H.S.), who was selected as an outside linebacker for the 2014 USA Football national team.
Tarik Hagen (DB, 6-2, 205, Enumclaw, Wash., Enumclaw H.S.), who was an All-South Puget Sound League (SPSL) selection in both football and track.
Tyler Haggen (OL, 6-4, 263, Bellingham, Wash., Sehome H.S.), who was named by the Bellingham Herald as an all-county first team defensive lineman.
Jonathan Hillel (QB, 6-2, 177, North Bend, Wash., Mount Si H.S.), who led the KingCo in total offense in 2014 with 2,070 combined yards.
Marcus Johnson (DB, 6-0, 200, Tacoma, Wash., Lincoln H.S.), who was coached in high school by CWU Athletic Hall of Fame member, and former National Football League quarterback, Jon Kitna.
Bryan Kelly (DB, 6-0, 190, Washougal, Wash., Camas H.S.), who was named to the All-Greater St. Helen's League as a first team running back.
Eric Ledesma (LB, 6-0, 225, Poulsbo, Wash., Central Kitsap H.S.), who is a two-time All-West Sound linebacker.
Juan Noyola (DL, 6-3, 260, Pasco, Wash., Chiawana H.S.), who was named the Mid-Columbia Conference's co-Outstanding Defensive Player this past season.
Kyler Ooley (WR, 5-10, 150, Tacoma, Wash., Rogers H.S.), who was named to the AP 4A all-state second team at wide receiver.
Christian Penny (DL, 6-5, 255, Pasco, Wash., Chiawana H.S.), who was named to the AP 4A all-state second team on the defensive line.
Lucas Petersen (DB, 6-4, 200, Lynden, Wash., Lynden H.S.), who has been selected to play in the upcoming Earl Barden state high school All-Star game.
Zachary Price (DL, 6-1, 280, Spokane, Wash., Shadle Park H.S.), who was an All-USA Inland Northwest first team defensive lineman.
Chase Resch (DB, 5-10, 165, Wenatchee, Wash., Wenatchee H.S.), who was named the Columbia Basin Big 9 League MVP in 2014.
Christian Stafford (WR, 6-3, 195, Federal Way, Wash., Todd Beamer H.S.), who was an All-SPSL first team wide receiver.
Jacob Ta'ase (ATH, 5-11, 170, Seattle, Wash., Ballard H.S.), who was the 2014 Metro-Valley Division Offensive MVP.
Alex Walker (OL, 6-4, 265, Camas, Wash., Camas H.S.), who was named to the AP 4A all-state second team offensive line.
CWU concluded the 2014 campaign on a three-game winning streak, ending Shoemaker's first year at the helm with a 7-4 record, 4-2 and tied for second in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.
