By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's football team put together an outstanding 9-3 season last fall while advancing to the NCAA national playoffs.
In announcing Washburn's 2022 recruiting class on Wednesday, coach Craig Schurig said that success opened some recruiting doors for the Ichabods, who announced the signing of 24 high school players.
"I think with some of the guys it really helped open the door and they said, 'Hey this is a team we can with and go to the national playoffs and things like that,' '' Schurig said. "So I think that was an advantage.''
Washburn signed players from six states, including 10 Kansans and four Topekans.
"We try to recruit the state very hard, obviously,'' Schurig said. "Usually you're on those guys early. You see them in camps and you're very well-versed with them.''
Washburn football coach Craig Schurig announced a 24-player signing class on Wednesday, including players from six states. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights offensive lineman Orrin Busenitz, who has been selected to play in the 2022 Kansas Shrine Bowl, was one of three T-Birds and four city products to sign with Washburn University on Wednesday. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights products Dawson Block (5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back/long snapper), Orrin Busenitz (6-2, 290 offensive lineman) and Ja'Leveyn January (5-11, 175 defensive back) all signed with the Ichabods along with Seaman placekicker Gavin Wilhelm (6-5, 165).
The Ichabods also signed several area standouts, including Riley County receiver Trey Harmison (6-1, 175), Lawrence safety Avion Nelson (6-2, 195), Wabaunsee quarterback Cade Oliver (6-2, 190) and Holton punter Jake Zeller (6-1, 170).
Washburn signed five players out of Georgia, four from Missouri, two from Texas and Ohio and one from Nebraska.
"We probably have more out of state guys than we've had in a while,'' Schurig said. "Some of that I think had to do with our indoor facility. We have some dual (athletes). Some of the guys will probably double up (in football and track and field) and we tried to use that indoor to its best recruiting advantage that we could.
"I like the overall athleticism of the class.''
The Ichabods signed six players who are projected as linebackers and six as defensive backs along with four wide receivers, three offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, one quarterback, one punter and one placekicker.
"Probably the biggest thing with this class is (it's) more skill guys or speed guys than we've had in the past,'' Schurig said. "Line of scrimmage guys we signed a few really good ones but it wasn't in numbers.
"We really tried to add to our depth secondary-wise and linebacker-wise. We had quite a few seniors at the linebacker position and some guys over the last couple of years in the secondary.''
Washburn football signing capsules:
JOSIAH BIVENS
6-1, 205 linebacker
Douglasville, Ga. / New Manchester High School
Named first-team all-region at linebacker and was team's defensive most valuable player as a senior … anticipated major is business management or African American studies.
DAWSON BLOCK
5-10, 190 defensive back/long snapper
Shawnee Heights High School
A second-team All-United Kansas Conference selection at linebacker as s senior … also competed in wrestling and track … son of Steven and Robin Block … a brother, David … a sister, Delany … anticipated major is criminal justice.
ORRIN BUSENITZ
6-2, 290 offensive line
Shawnee Heights High School
A Kansas Shrine Bowl selection after earning first-team all-state honors from the KFCA … a first-team all-county and first-team All-United Kansas Conference pick as a senior … earned second-team all-league honors as a junior and was honorable mention all-league as a sophomore … son of Rocky and Jenessa … brothers Chase, Parker and Quinn … a sister Aubrey … anticipated major is education or business.
KENNY CARGILL
6-5, 235 defensive end
Wildwood, Mo. / Lafayette High School
A first-team all-league pick on the defensive line and was an all-district selection by the MFCA starting on both th offense and defensive lines as a senior … as a junior he was an all-league selection on the defensive line … son of Scott and Cathy Cargill … a sister, Jess … anticipated major is business.
JAYLON DAVIS
6-0, 195 defensive back
Houston, Texas / Sterling High School
A second-team all-district selection at quarterback … will also participate in track and field at Washburn … anticipated major is business management.
JOSH GRANT
6-2, 170 defensive back
Powder Springs, Ga. / McEachern High School
A first-team all-region selection at defensive back after recording 43 solo tackles with four interceptions and two forced fumbles as a senior … son of Scott and Monica Stafford … brothers Elijah, Saveion and Samir … anticipated major is business with concentration in entrepreneurship.
TREY HARMISON
6-1, 175 wide receiver
Riley / Riley County High School
An all-state, all-league and all-district selection as a senior, earning Kansas Top 100 honors and was selected for the Kansas Shrine Bowl after gaining 1,410 yards on offense with 22 touchdowns … as a junior he was an all-state, all-league, all-district pick in football and an all-league selection in basketball … as a sophomore he was an all-state, all-league, all-district pick in football and an all-state selection in basketball … an all-league selection as a freshman in baseball … son of Jay and Dunia Harmison … brothers, Garrett and Eli … a sister, Marley … his father played baseball at Washburn and Bethany and mother played basketball at Bethany … brother Garrett played basketball at Manhattan Christian … anticipated major is nursing.
JAKOBE HARMON
6-3, 280 offensive line
Lithonia, Ga. / Holy Innocents Episcopal School
A first-team all-region selection and first-team private/all-state school selection as a senior … a first-team all-region pick as a junior and a second-team all-region pick as a sophomore … son of Selma Wiggleton … a sister, Tiffany … majoring in nursing.
JULIUS JACKSON
6-1, 175 wide receiver
Toledo, Ohio / St. John's Jesuit
A third-team all-state selection as well a first-team all-district and all-state as a senior … a first-team all-league and all-district pick as a junior … son of Jolene and Jamar Winston … brothers Mali, Jacques, William, Dominique … sisters Jocelynn and Kennedy … anticipated major engineering.
JA'LAVEYN JANUARY
5-11, 175 defensive back
Shawnee Heights High School
Will also participate in track and field at Washburn … a first-team all-league defense as a senior and was a second-team all-league selection as a junior at outside linebacker and also earned all-city honors in track … son of John January … anticipated major is finance.
ELIJAH LEE
6-2, 180 safety
Huber Heights, Ohio / Wayne High School
A second-team all-league selection with 45 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass break ups … son of Eakia and Quincy … step-son of Haneefah and La'Keata … a sister Quinnisha … anticipated major is early childhood education.
MASON LEVIN
5-11, 190 linebacker
Goddard / Eisenhower High School
Team captain as a senior … finished fifth at the state wrestling meet as a junior … son of Spencer and Amanda Levin … sisters, Kaylee and Mckenna … his father played football at Kansas State … majoring in exercise science.
LJ MINNER Jr.
6-0, 200 linebacker
Ferguson, Mo. / Westminster Christian Academy
Will also compete in track and field at Washburn … a second team all-state running back as a senior … as a freshman an all-league running back and placed eighth in the state as a freshman in the discus … son of Larry and Simone Minner … three brothers, Ramone, Armond and Dra … a sister, Adrianna … anticipated major is business.
AVION NELSON
6-2, 195 safety
Lawrence /Lawrence High School
A second team all-league pick as a senior as well as all-state honorable mention … as a junior he placed eighth in the triple jump and long jump … as a freshman he was eighth in the long jump at the state meet … son of Mark Nelson and Lisa Hatter … two sisters, Markisha and Emily and a brother, Andrew … anticipated major athletic training.
LUCAS OITKER
6-0 / 205 / Linebacker
Kansas City, Mo. / Park Hill South HS
A first-team all-league and second team all-district selection gaining more than 1,000 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns … a second team all-league pick and state wrestling qualifier in wrestling as a junior earning honorable mention honors at tight end … a first team all-league pick in wresting as a sophomore … son of Steve and Rachel Oitker … two sisters, Stevie and Naomi … anticipated major is criminal justice.
CADE OLIVER
6-2, 190 quarterback
Maple Hill / Wabaunsee High School
Named a finalist for the SIK 1A Offensive Player of the Year earning first-team all-state honors and all-area honors after recording 2,179 total yards with 32 total touchdowns as a senior … as a junior he was an honorable mention all-state selection earning all-area honors after gaining 2,104 total yards with 25 total touchdowns and was also an honorable mention all-league pick … as a sophomore he gained 857 total yards scoring 13 touchdowns earning all-area honors and honorable mention all-league basketball accolades … an all-area quarterback as a freshman passing for 677 yards and nine touchdowns … finished career with school records in passing yards, passing touchdowns, touchdowns in a season, game and career accumulating 5,781 total yards and 79 career touchdowns … son of Jason and Kelly Oliver … a sister, Abby, who is currently on the Ichabod women's basketball team … a brother, Eli … anticipated major is business.
JAMARCUS PIPER
6-2, 220 linebacker
Lancaster, Texas / Lancaster High School
A first team all-district selection earning All-American honors as a senior … also picked up all-district honors his junior, sophomore and freshman seasons … son of Katherine Brooks and Joseph Leftridge … two brothers, Kam and Josiah … anticipated major is psychology.
CADEN RHAMY
6-2, 230 linebacker
Paola / Paola High School
Will also participate in track and field at Washburn … an all-state selection in football and an all-league selection at linebacker and fullback as a senior … as a junior he finished fourth in state in the shot put and fifth in the state in the discus … son of Jason Rhamy and Cari Teter … a sister, Camryn … a brother, Landen … anticipated major is business … his father played football at Graceland.
LINCOLN SPROUSE
6-4, 170 wide receiver
Lee's Summit, Mo. / Summit Christian Academy
Named first-team all-district and all-league at wide receiver as well as earning team MVP honors and was named team captain … as a junior he was a first team all-league receiver and a second-team all-district selection … his sophomore season he was named first-team all-league and all-district at wide receiver … also played basketball … son of Rodger and Erin Sprouse … two brothers, Camden and Grayson … a sister, Payton … his brother, Grayson is a current member of the Ichabod football team and his dad played football at Truman State … anticipated major is business.
ARMANI TOOKES
5-8, 165 wide receiver
Fairburn, Ga. / Langston Hughes High School
As a senior he recorded 1,000 all-purpose yards and was a first-team all-region selection … also a first-team all-region selection his sophomore and junior seasons … son of Jolithia Griffin … anticipated major is education.
GAVIN WILHELM
6-5, 165 placekicker
Seaman High School
Will also golf at Washburn … a second-team all-county and honorable mention all-5A and all-league as placekicker … also a first-team all-league and all-city selection in soccer his senior season … as a junior he was honorable mention all-league in soccer and a first-team all-city and second-team all-league pick in golf … his sophomore season he was an all-league honorable mention selection … son of Glendon and Sara … a sister Kinley … anticipated major is business/finance.
GAVIN WILBUR
5-10, 240 defensive lineman
Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln Northeast High School
A three-time captain and a two-time all-city and all-conference selection … earned all-state honorable mention honors as a junior and all-state and super state honors as a senior … recorded 42 tackles with seven sacks as a senior and 50 tackles with three forced fumbles as a junior … son of Jason and Carie Wilbur … two sisters, Addison and Ava … a brother, Luke … his father played football at Doane … anticipated major is history education.
AIDAN WILLIAMS
6-5, 250 offensive lineman
Acworth, Ga. / North Cobb High School
An all-region selection as a senior on the offensive line … son of Antoine and Neisha Williams … a brother, Nicholas … anticipated major is criminal justice.
JAKE ZELLER
6-1, 170 punter
Holton / Holton High School
A first-team all-league and honorable mention all-state selection at punter, earning first-team honorable mention all-league honors as a defensive back his senior year … an all-league punter as a junior and honorable mention all-league at defensive back … earned all-league honors at punter as a sophomore … son of Josh and April Zeller … a sister, Addison … a brother, Austin … anticipated major is business.
