Tech football signs 30 players in 2015 class

HOUGHTON — Head football coach Tom Kearly today announced that 30 student-athletes will join his team and attend Michigan Tech starting fall 2015.

Tech’s incoming class includes 14 offensive players, 15 defensive players and a kicker. Of the 30 student-athletes, there are 24 from Michigan (including eight from the Upper Peninsula), four from Wisconsin and one each from Florida and Illinois.

“Our staff did a great job getting young people here to help us compete in the GLIAC,” said Kearly, who begins his 10th season as the Huskies’ head coach. “They really put the work into identifying top student-athetes.

“Any time you have a recruiting class, you want to fill every position. I think we did that this year with an emphasis on addressing our secondary and linebacker positions.”

Michigan Tech is coming off one of the best seasons in school history in 2014 with a 9-2 record and the program’s second-ever berth into the NCAA Playoffs. The Huskies have strung together five straight winning seasons with a 37-15 record since 2010.

Listed below are the 30 student-athletes that will attend Michigan Tech and play football this fall. A brief biography on each is also available.

Notes: The current team has been conditioning and lifting weights since returning from the semester break. Spring practices for Michigan Tech will begin late March, with the annual spring game to be played at Sherman Field on April 19 at 1 p.m.
2015 Michigan Tech Football Recruits

Michael Betz WR 6-2 170 Howell, Mich.
Played at Howell High School … Twice named conference all-academic team … Played wide receiver and defensive back … Also participated in basketball, where he helped Howell to state quarterfinal appearance … Plans to major in business administration.

Logan Brunette OL 6-4 250 Green Bay, Wis.
Played at Bay Port High School … Earned All-Fox River Classic Conference honors as a senior … Member of team that advanced to the state semifinals … Helped team to 440 yards per game average and a state record 580 points … Also participated in track … Plans to major in engineering.

Ethan Campbell DB 5-10 190 Acme, Mich.
Played at Traverse City Central High School … Named all-state honorable mention and all-district dream team in 2014 … Was selected to All-Big North Conference as a running back … Also participated in baseball and basketball … Was an all-conference outfielder in baseball, helping team to 2014 regional quarterfinal … Plans to major in sports and fitness management.

Jimmie Cannon DL 6-4 190 Detroit, Mich.
Played at Renaissance High School … Named to all-city team … Helped team to state playoff appearances in 2013 and 2014 …Also participated in basketball and track … Plans to major in pre-law social sciences.

Brad Causley WR 6-2 180 Cedarville, Mich.
Played at Cedarville High School … Named to Upper Peninsula Dream Team as a defensive back and was the 2014 Bridge Alliance Conference Player of the Year … Earned all-conference first team honors as both a wide receiver and defensive back … Helped team to state runner-up finish in 2014 … Was selected for the 2015 UP All-Star Game … Also participated in basketball and golf, where he was all-conference first team in both sports … Helped basketball team to state semifinals in 2013-14 … Plans to major in construction management.

Austin Chmura K 5-11 180 Holly, Mich.
Played at Holly High School … Named academic all-state and first-team all-conference … Was team’s defensive and special teams MVP … Made 80 percent of field goals under 40 yards … Also participated in soccer, where he was an all-district first team defender, and track, where he was part of two all-conference relay teams … Owns a 4.0 GPA … Plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Ben Collaer LB 6-0 210 Houghton, Mich.
Played at Houghton High School … Named to UP Dream Team in 2013 and All-UP Class ABC Team in 2014 … Two-time All-Western Peninsula Athletic Conference honoree … Helped team to 2013 state playoff appearance … Also participated in basketball and track … Was a UP finalist in the discus in track … Helped basketball team to regional final in 2012-13 … Member of National Honor Society … Plans to major in biomedical engineering.

Jordan Ferguson FB 6-1 230 Alpena, Mich.
Played at Alpena High School … Earned all-state honorable mention … Was the Alpena News Player of the Year in 2014 … Set Alpena’s single-season rushing record … Named all-conference first team each of his final two seasons … Also participated in track … Plans to major in business administration.

Jeff Ford OL 6-2 300 Wausau, Wis.
Played at Newman Catholic High School … Two-time all-conference performer including first team honors as a senior … Named all-region and all-state honorable mention … Helped team to back-to-back playoff appearances … Also participated in basketball and track … Owns school record for shot put and finished third in the event at the 2014 state meet … Plans to major in engineering management and business marketing.

Lee Graff RB 6-0 200 Crystal Falls, Mich.
Played at Forest Park High School … Earned all-state honors in both 2013 and 2014 … Was the Upper Peninsula Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 … Named to UP Dream Team in both 2013 and 2014 …Helped Trojans to state semifinal in 2013 … Was two-time All-Great Western Conference honoree as a linebacker as well … Also participated in basketball and track … Member of National Honor Society … Plans to major in construction management.

Ben Hartley WR 6-1 170 West Branch, Mich.
Played at Ogemaw Heights High School … Selected to Bay City Dream Team … Earned All-Big North Conference Second Team honors as both a quarterback and defensive back and First Team accolades as a punter in 2014 … Was all-conference first team as a junior defensive back … Helped team to district title in 2012 … Also participated in basketball and track and was all-conference in both sports … Finished eighth in the state track meet in the pole vault … Plans to major in pre-physical therapy biological sciences.

Mattias Hoehnen DL 6-4 230 Brookfield, Wis.
Played at Brookfield Central High School … Was all-state honorable mention, all-region and all-conference first team in 2014 … Posted 115 career tackles including 35 for loss and five sacks … Earned all-conference second team honors as a junior … Helped team to playoff appearances in 2013 and 2014 … Also participated in skiing … Plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Brad Huebel RB 5-10 180 Tawas, Mich.
Played at Tawas Area High School … Named all-state honorable mention … Earn Bay City Golden Helmet Award … Helped team to 2014 state playoff appearance … Served as team captain … Also participated in hockey and track … Plans to major in geological engineering.

Shawn Kneeland DB 5-10 170 Grand Rapids, Mich.
Played at Ottawa Hills High School … Named all-conference first team as both a junior and senior … Notched 63 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six interceptions and four defensive touchdowns … Posted 677 yards rushing and nine total TDs on offense … Plans to major in sports and fitness management.

Nathan Kriger DB 6-1 195 Nunica, Mich.
Played at Fruitport High School … Earned all-conference first team honors on both sides of the ball as a senior … Selected to Muskegon Area Dream Team and all-state honorable mention … Was a three-time all-conference pick on defense … Helped team to state playoff berth in 2012 … Also participated in basketball … Plans to major in wildlife ecology and management.

Nate LaJoie DL 6-2 210 Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Played at Sault Area High School … Named to UP Dream Team as a defensive end and was runner-up in UP Defensive Player of the Year voting … Was All-UP as a junior … Helped team to playoff appearances in 2012 and 2013 … Also participated in wrestling and baseball …Was the UP Wrestling Champion in the 215 weight class … Set a school record for pins on the mat … Plans to major in computer science.

Chad Leisenring OL 5-10 265 Escanaba, Mich.
Played at Escanaba High School … Named to UP Dream Team in 2014 … Was Great Northern Conference Co-Lineman of the Year and Detroit News All-State as a senior … Also participated in basketball and tennis … Helped Eskymos to district basketball title in 2013-14 … Is class president … Plans to major in computer science.

Jason Lindbeck OL 6-7 250 Munising, Mich.
Played at Munising High School … Earned All-UP Small School honors in 2014 … Selected as the Mid-Eastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior … Helped team to a state runner-up finish in 2014 and state playoff appearance in 2013 … Also participated in basketball … Member of National Honor Society … Plans to major in civil engineering.

Max Maloney DL 6-2 205 Iron River, Mich.
Played at West Iron County High School … Earned Detroit Free Press All-State honors as a senior … Named to the UP Dream Team and was the UP Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 … Named to All-Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Team in 2013 and 2014 …Helped team to West PAC titles in 2013-14 … Also participated in hockey, golf and tennis … Was the 2013 UP Doubles Champion in tennis … Member of National Honor Society … Plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Brandon Oja DB 6-0 195 St. Ignace, Mich.
Played at St. Ignace LaSalle High School … Named All-Ski Valley Conference Second Team as both a junior and senior running back … Helped team to state semifinals in 2011 and district title in 2013 … Also participated in track, basketball, baseball and wrestling … Was a member of the 2014 UP Championship track team and the championship squad in the 400-meter relay … Earned all-conference honors in baseball … Plans to major in forestry.

Atakan Pekpolat OL 6-0 240 Libertyville, Ill.
Played at Libertyville High School … Named academic all-conference in both 2013-14 … Helped offense rush for 3,000 yards and 45 touchdowns … Was part of a state semifinalist in 2014 … Also participated in track … Plans to major in electrical engineering.

Joe Platz LB 6-1 205 Oakland Twp., Mich.
Played at Stoney Creek High School … Earned Detroit Free Press and Associated Press All-State First Team honors … Was an all-county dream team selection and first team all-conference linebacker … Posted 112 tackles as a senior … Named all-conference and all-county as a junior … Selected four times as a scholar-athlete … Also participated in basketball and baseball … Member of National Honor Society … Is younger brother of current Tech wide receiver George Platz … Plans to major in accounting.

Andrew Rose RB 6-0 190 De Pere, Wis.
Played at De Pere High School … Named to All-Fox River Classic Conference First Team and all-area second team in 2014 … Averaged 8.9 yards per carry … Also participated in track and basketball … Was All-FRCC First Team as a sprinter in track … Plans to major in engineering.

Marshael Ryan LB 6-1 225 Linden, Mich.
Played at Linden High School … Was a three-time all-conference tight end and two-time all-conference linebacker … Earned all-league first team honors as a senior linebacker … Helped team to playoff berths each of his three years … Also participated in baseball … Ranks third academically in his class … Member of National Honor Society … Plans to major in biomedical engineering.

Seth Tice OL 6-2 275 Traverse City, Mich.
Played at Traverse City Central High School … Earned all-state first team accolades in 2013 … Twice named All-Big North Conference First Team and all-region first team … Helped team to playoff appearances in 2012 and 2014 … Also participated in baseball and track … Plans to major in mechanical engineering technology.

Travis Tidwell DB 6-0 180 Detroit, Mich.
Played at Renaissance High School … Named Detroit Free Press All-State in both 2013-14 … Selected to All-Metro Detroit Team as a junior and senior … Led his team in interceptions and pass breakups … Helped team to state playoff appearances each of his last two years … Also participated in track … Plans to major in marketing.

Glacier Wallington DB 5-10 170 Metamora, Mich.
Played at Oxford High School … Earned all-conference honors four straight years … Named all-state honorable mention in both 2013 and 2014 … Selected as team MVP three years … Helped team to four consecutive playoff appearances including a regional title in 2013 … Also participated in track and basketball … Plans to major in civil engineering.

Tyrik Wicks DB 5-10 180 Mt. Morris, Mich.
Played at Hill-McCloy High School … Earned all-conference honors as a senior playing both wide receiver and defensive back … Had 18 catches for 313 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 256 yards and four TDs … Notched 38 total tackles with an interception and five pass breakups … Also participated in track … Plans to major in chemical engineering.

Marvin Wright LB 6-0 200 Lansing, Mich.
Played at Everett High School … Named to all-conference team each of his final two seasons … Selected as all-area honorable mention … Was a three-time academic all-conference honoree … Also participated in basketball … Member of National Honor Society … Plans to major in exercise science.

Garrett Young QB 6-0 185 Tampa, Fla.
Played at Cambridge Christian High School … Was the Florida Division 2A Player of the Year Runner-Up in 2014 … Named to all-state second team … Helped team to back-to-back Bay Conference titles in 2012 and 2013 … Threw for 61 touchdowns and 5,451 yards in his career … Posted 44 total touchdowns in 2014 with 27 passing and 17 rushing as a senior … Also participated in basketball, earning all-conference honors twice … Plans to major in business administration.

(Information Courtesy of MTU Athletics)