MONMOUTH, Ore.—The Western Oregon University football team announced Wednesday that a total of 32 high school and transfer players have signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Wolves next season.
 
WOU head coach Arne Ferguson, who is entering his 15th year at the helm of the Wolves, looks forward to the ready-to-play talent that the 2019 recruitment process has brought to Monmouth.

"Our staff has worked extremely hard to bring this group together," said Ferguson. "They have spent countless days covering all of the northwest looking for players that are mentally and physically tough as well as guys that love to play football."

Lauded as one of the best classes in the program's history, this year's group is compromised of 15 Oregon recruits, nine from California, seven from Washington and one from Arizona. Five separate positions pulled in at least four recruits this year for WOU, led by the six-man class of offensive linemen. The WOU defensive backs, quarterbacks and linebackers will all see five new faces join their positional groupings next fall as well.

Recognizing local talent and keeping them close to home has paid off for the program as they scored two of the top graduating players in the mid-valley. 

Quarterback Levi Nielsen chose Western Oregon after visits to multiple Division I programs. The All-State honoree out of Silverton High School will be one of two former Foxes heading to WOU.

Making the trip south to join Nielsen on offense will be Scappoose's Gavin Larson. An All-State wide receiver, Larson's 6'5" frame will help spread an already potent Western Oregon offense.

The WOU defensive line was shored up with two top recruits from the state of Oregon. Lebanon High School's Corbin Anderson will be joining the Wolves' ranks after being named All-State on defensive line this fall. Anderson, standing 6'3" 240 pounds, was named the Mid-Willamette Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 to close out an impressive high school career.

Joining Anderson on the line will be two-time Tri-Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Jackson Simmons. Another formidable frame, Simmons measures in at 6'4", 262 pounds. Adding to the metro area's defensive presence is defensive back Germaine Flentroy out of Central Catholic in Portland.

"I thought the coaching staff did a great job of putting together our recruiting class," said recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach Josh Manning. "We found some good size and work ethic this season. We're all very excited to get these student-athletes on campus and get to work."

This year's class is also an academically focused group of players. Of the 32 signees, 20 boast a 3.0 GPA or above including six players above the 3.5 threshold.

"The biggest goal is to find guys that really enjoy the grind and the perseverance it takes to compete at this level," added Ferguson. "We feel these players will come in and help us be successful right away during what will be a very tough 2019 schedule."

The Wolves will play an 11-game schedule in 2019, including five meetings with teams from the Lone Star Conference. WOU opens up play Sept. 5 on the road at Angelo State.
 

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown	High School	Previous School
Corbin Anderson	DL	6-3	240	FR	Lebanon, Ore.	Lebanon
2018 OR Class 5A All-State First Team DL, 2018 OR Class 5A All-State Honorable Mention OL, 2018 OR Mid-Willamette Conference Defensive Player of the Year, 2018 OR Mid-Williamette All-League First Team OL, 2018 OR Mid-Willamette All-League First Team DL, 2017 OR Class 5A All-State First Team DL, 2017 OR Mid-Willamette All-League First Team DL, 2017 OR Mid-Willamette All-League Honorable Mention OT
Patrick Antone	OL	6-2	271	FR	Springfield, OR	Thurston
2018 Oregon HS Football State Champion, 2018 OR Class 5A All-State Second Team OL, 2018 OR Class 5A District 2 Midwestern All-League First Team OG, 2017 OR Midwestern All-League Second Team OG, 2017 OR Midwestern All-League Honorable Mention DL
Ian Bannister	DB	6-0	174	FR	Pendleton, Ore.	Pendleton
2018 OR Class 5A All-State Second Team DB, 2018 OR Class 5A Special District 1 All-League Second Team DB, 2017 OR Class 5A Special District 1 All-League Second Team DB
Tristan Bennett	LB	6-1	230	FR	Rockaway Beach, Ore.	Neah-Kah-Nie
2018 OR Northwest League Defensive Player of the Year, 2018 OR Northwest All-League First Team LB, 2016 OR Northwest All-League First Team DL, 2016 OR Northwest All-League First Team OL
Miles Cooney	LB	6-2	222	FR	University Place, Wash.	Curtis
2018 WA Class 4A SPSL All-League First Team LB, 2017 WA Class 4A SPSL All-League First Team LB, Curtis HS Football Career Leader in Tackles, Curtis HS Football Season Leader in Tackles, Curtis HS Football Game Leader in Tackles
Blake Davis	WR	5-11	160	FR	Pendleton, Ore.	Pendleton
2018 OR Class 5A All-State Second Team WR, 2018 OR Class 5A Special District 1 All-League First Team WR, 2018 OR Class 5A Special District 1 All-League KR/PR, 2017 OR Class 5A Special District 1 All-League Honorable Mention WR
Adonis Dennis	RB/WR	5-10	185	FR	Vacaville, Calif.	Will C. Wood
2018 CA Monticello Empire League All-League First Team RB
Arell Dixon	OL	6-3	292	FR	Portland, Ore.	Jefferson
2018 OR PIL All-League Second Team OT
Tyler Durbin	LB	6-0	250	FR	Prosser, Wash.	Prosser
2018 WA CWAC South All-League First Team ILB, 2017 WA CWAC South All-League First Team TE, 2017 WA CWAC South All-League First Team DE
Javon Felton	DB	5-7	170	FR	Sacramento, Calif.	Sacramento
2019 CA Optimist All-Star Game South Team RB, 2018 CA CAL All-League First Team, 2018 St. Hope CAL All-League Honors Recognition
Germaine Flentroy	DB	6-0	190	FR	Portland, Ore.	Central Catholic
2018 OR Mt. Hood Conference All-League Honorable Mention LB, 2018 Central Catholic HS Team Captain
Kaleo Garrigan	WR	6-1	186	JR	Petaluma, Calif.	Casa Grande	Humboldt State
2018 All-GNAC Honorable Mention WR, 2017 CA All-Empire WR, 2017 All-Empire Offensive POTY
Jhalen Grayer	QB	6-2	179	FR	Vacaville, Calif.	Will C. Wood
2018 CA Monticello Empire League Co-Back of the Year, 2018 CA Monticello Empire League All-League First Team QB
Keating Hinkley	OL	6-4	346	FR	Portland, Ore.	Wilson
2018 OR PIL Class 5A Special District 1 All-League Second Team OL, 2018 OR PIL Class 5A Special District 1 All-League Second Team, 4x Scholar Athlete, 3x Team Captain, "Big Man on Campus" (Best OL/DL) Award Winner
Caden Hinton	QB	6-2	183	FR	Lancaster, Calif.	Antelope Valley
2018 CA Golden All-League First Team QB, 2017 CA Golden All-League First Team QB, 2016 CA HDL MVP, Antelope Valley HS Football Career Leader in Passing Yards & TDs, 2x CA Golden League Discus Champion & CIF Qualifier
Nate Hughes	QB	6-1	170	FR	Spanaway, Wash.	Bethel
2018 WA 3A All-State First Team QB, 2017 WA 3A Pierce County League Offensive Player of the Year
Gavin Larson	WR	6-5	184	FR	Scappoose, Ore.	Scappoose
2018 OR Class 5A All-State Honorable Mention DL, 2018 OR Class 5A Special District 1 All-League First Team DL
Dominique Loggins	RB	5-11	178	FR	Tualatin, Ore.	Tualatin
2018 OR Three Rivers All-League Second Team RB, 2018 Oregon Lineman Challenge 40-Yard-Dash Record Holder
Andre Martinez	WR	5-7	161	FR	Lake Oswego, Ore.	Lakeridge
2018 OR Class 6A All-State Honorable Mention WR, 2018 OR Three Rivers All-League First Tean WR, 2018 OR Three Rivers All-League Second Team KR, 2017 OR Three Rivers All-League Honorable Mention WR
Kincade McFarlane	LB	6-2	219	FR	Federal Way, Wash.	Todd Beamer
2018 WA NPSL Mountain All-League First Team LB, 2017 WA 4A NPSL Cascade Defensive MVP, 2017 WA 4A NPSL Cascade All-League First Team LB
Josh McKey	OL	6-3	325	FR	Brentwood, Calif.	Liberty
2018 "San Francisco Chronicle" All-Metro First Team OL, 2018 CA BVAL Unanimous All-League First Team OL, 2018 CA "NorCalPreps" All-NorCal Second Team OL, 2017 CA BVAL All-League Second Team OL
Levi Nielsen	QB	6-4	200	FR	Silverton, Ore.	Silverton
2018 OR Class 5A All-State Honorable Mention QB, 2018 OR Mid-Willamette All-League First Team QB, 2017 OR Mid-Willamette All-League Honorable Mention QB
Caleb Parrott	OL	6-4	282	FR	Prineville, Ore.	Crook County
2018 OR Class 5A Special District 2 All-League Second Team OT, 2017 OR Tri-Valley All-League First Team OT, 2016 OR Tri-Valley All-League Second Team OC
William Perry	OL	6-2	280	FR	Silverton, Ore.	Silverton
2017 2nd Team All-Conference OL, 2018 Silverton HS Team Captain
Ethan Price	LB	6-1	200	FR	Crescent City, Calif.	Del Norte
2018 CA Humboldt-Del Norte All-League First Team ATH, 2018 Del Norte High School White Star Award, 4x Scholar Athlete, 2x All-County (2016 & 2018)
Anthony Reyes	K	5-9	192	SR	Queen Creek, Ariz.	Dobson	Dixie State
2015 AZ Dobson High School Team Captain
Jordan Santos	DL	6-3	300	FR	Vacaville, Calif.	Vacaville
2018 CA Monticello Empire League All-League First Team DT, 2018 CA "Daily Republic" All-Region First Team DT, 2018 CA "Daily Republic" All-City First Team DT
Jackson Simmons	DL	6-4	262	FR	Gladstone, Ore.	Gladstone
2018 OR Tri-Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, 2018 OR Class 4A All-State First Team OL, 2018 OR Class 4A All-State First Team DL, 2017 OR Tri-Valley All-League Second Team DL, 2016 OR Tri-Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, 2016 OR Tri-Valley All-League First Team DL
Phoenix Smith	TE	6-3	230	FR	Stockton, Calif.	Stagg
2018 CA San Joaquin All-League First Team TE, 2018 Coaches Award Winner
Eugene Tilei	DB	6-1	203	FR	Federal Way, Wash.	Federal Way
2018 WA NPSL Valley All-League Second Team WR, 2017 WA NPSL Olympic Offensive MVP, 2017 WA 4A NPSL Olympic All-League Second Team WR, 3x Samoan Arts & Academics Competition (SAAC)
Aaron Tulloch	LB	6-2	240	FR	Kent, Wash.	Kent-Merdian
2018 WA NPSL Sound Division Defensive Back (LB) of the Year, 2018 WA NPSL Sound All-League First Team LB, 2018 WA NPSL Sound #5 All-State Game Nominee
Gannon Winker	QB	6-6	182	FR	Bainbridge Island, Wash.	Bainbridge
2018 WA Metro 3A Valley Division All-League First Team QB, 2017 WA Metro 3A Valley Division All-League Second Team QB
Sean Bodi	WR	6-1	170	FR	Stayton, Ore.	Stayton
Will DeLoretto	K	5-7	195	FR	Salem, Ore.	Sprague
Taylor Goins	DL	6-1	295	FR	Bellevue, Wash.	Bellevue
Jagger Hogan	LB	6-3	220	FR	Klamath Falls, Ore.	Klamath Union
Slater Macko	DL	6-0	250	FR	Snoqualmie, Wash.	Mount Si
Mason Smiens	DB	6-5	180	FR	Scappoose, Ore.	Scappoose
Keith Smith, Jr.	WR	5-11	190	FR	Stockton, Calif.	Stagg
Matthew Utu	DL	6-1	250	FR	Enumclaw, Wash.	Enumclaw