University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Football Adds 24 To 2017 Roster
2/1/2017 4:45:00 PM | Football
The Panthers 24 newcomers for the 2017 season will add depth and talent to an already stacked 2017 team. Eighteen of UNI's 24 future Panthers are from the state of Iowa, proving even further, that it is a Panther State.
DEFENSE
Jared Brinkman, DL, 6-1, 275 (Iowa City, Iowa/Regina HS)
Jaylen Campbell, DB/LB, 6-1, 192 (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS)
Bryce Flater, LB, 6-1, 215 (Grundy Center, Iowa/Grundy Center HS)
Brock Hadachek, LB, 6-4, 210 (Dysart, Iowa/Union HS)
Chris Kolarevic, LB, 6-1, 220 (Traverse City, Mich./Saint Francis HS)
Nick Simpson, LS, 5-11, 228 (Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic HS)
Kendrick Suntken, LB, 6-2, 240 (Hampton, Iowa/Iowa Central CC/Hampton-Dumont HS)
Riley Van Wyhe, LB, 6-2, 210 (Rock Rapids, Iowa/Central Lyon HS)
OFFENSE
Terrell Carey, WR, 6-2, 195 (Madison, Wis./Madison West HS)
Tayshaun Cooper, WR, 5-11, 180 (Waterloo, Iowa/Waterloo West HS)
Jake Crozier, OL, 6-6, 345 (Harvey, Iowa/Twin Cedars HS)
Jacob Keller, QB, 6-4, 195 (Aurora, Ill./Fenwick HS)
Suni Lane, WR, 6-4, 195 (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf HS)
Jacob Leonard, OL, 6-3, 300 (Peoria, Ariz./Glendale CC/Sunrise Mountain HS)
Nate Murphy, PK, 6-2, 160 (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley HS)
Bedale Naba, FB, 6-0, 265 (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley HS)
Mason Neisen, OL, 6-4, 315 (Denver, Iowa/Denver HS)
Justin Peine, OL, 6-6, 290 (Parker, Kan./Prairie View HS)
Trevor Penning, OL, 6-6, 270 (Clear Lake, Iowa/Newman Catholic HS)
Alphonso Soko, RB, 5-10, 185 (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine HS)
Erik Sorensen, OL, 6-6, 304 (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee HS)
John Sullivan, QB, 6-1, 180 (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton HS)
Isaiah Trousil, ATH, 5-11, 180 (Burlington, Iowa/West Burlington HS)
Matthew Vanderslice, TE, 6-8, 240 (Olathe, Kan./Northwest HS)
John Yount, OL, 6-3, 280 (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial HS)
Jared Brinkman, DL, 6-1, 275 (Iowa City, Iowa/Regina HS)
Letter winner at Iowa City Regina for coach Marv Cook … three-time district MVP … was a two-time Elite all-state selection … named 2016 Defensive Lineman of the Year … was an all-around athlete at Regina, also lettering in wrestling and track and field … was a three-time state qualifier in wrestling, winning the heavyweight state championship in 2016 … placed fifth at state in the 220-pound weight class in 2015 … was a two-time state qualifier in track and field in the shot put … earned second place in the shot put at the state meet in 2016 … was also a Drake Relays qualifier, placing second in 2016 … son of Mike and Carla Brinkman … has one brother, Jake.
Jaylen Campbell, DB/LB, 6-1, 192 (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS)
Lettered in football at Catholic Memorial High School … named the WIAA Sports Athlete of the Year in 2016 by the Journal Sentinal Newspaper … two-time first-team all-state selection as a linebacker … two-time all-region and all-area selection … four-time all-conference honoree, including first-team in 2014 … helped his team to a conference and WIAA state championship as a senior … son of Jeffrey and Pamela Campbell … has four siblings, Jeffrey Jr., DeAngelo, Charisse and Alisse.
Terrell Carey, WR, 6-2, 195 (Madison, Wis./Madison West HS)
Letter winner at Madison West High School … team captain his senior season … first-team all-state in 2016 … two-time all-conference selection for offense … also earned all-conference for special teams and defense in 2016 … all-region and all-area first-team honors as a senior … named the MVP of the All-City Bowl … also lettered in basketball and track and field … was a team captain for basketball his senior year … earned the Links Student Recognition Award in 2015 and 2016 … is an Avid/Tops Student … son of Vincent and Lori Mann Carey … has four siblings, Alysia, Vincent Jr., Terrance and Ciera.
Tayshaun Cooper, WR, 5-11, 180 (Waterloo, Iowa/Waterloo West HS)
Lettered in football at Waterloo West High School for Lonnie Moore … third-team all-state in 2016 … was first-team all-district and all-metro as a senior … selected to play in the Blue & Grey All-American Bowl … also earned a spot at the River Battle Bowl … helped his team to a district championship in 2016 … lettered in track and field … earned all-state honors in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, along with the 4X100 and 4X400 meter relays … son of Rebecca Wright and Dorsie Cooper … has two brothers, Dayshaun Cooper and Mark Crawford … brother, Mark, played football at UNI in 2005.
Jake Crozier, OL, 6-6, 345 (Harvey, Iowa/Twin Cedars HS)
Letter winner at Twin Cedars High School … two-time all-state selection, including to the first-team in 2016 … three-time all-district honoree … two-time District Lineman MVP … selected to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl … academic all-state selection … received the Iowa Bankers Association Student Achievement Award … led the district in sacks in 2016 … also lettered in basketball, track and field and baseball … was a conference champion in the shot put and discus throw … also a state qualifier in track and field … part of the Honor Roll at Twin Cedars High School … son of Gary and Jana Crozier … has two siblings, Alexis Crozier and Seth Poffenburger.
Bryce Flater, LB, 6-1, 215 (Grundy Center, Iowa/Grundy Center HS)
Lettered in football at Grundy Center High School for Brent Thoren … two-time all-state first-team selection … two-time all-district Player of the Year … was the Marshalltown Times Republican all-class area Player of the Year … named the 2016 River Battle Bowl Defensive MVP … was also selected to play for the North squad in the Iowa Shrine Bowl … also lettered in track and field, basketball and baseball … son of Brad and Jennifer Flater … has one sister, Brooke.
Brock Hadachek, LB, 6-4, 210 (Dysart, Iowa/Union HS)
Letter winner at Union High School for coach Joe Hadachek … two-year team captain … earned all-state linebacker in 2016 … selected to the all-district team in 2015 as a utility player … also lettered in track and field … two-time state qualifier … son of Jon and Rene … has two siblings, Jace and Levi.
Jacob Keller, QB, 6-4, 195 (Aurora, Ill./Fenwick HS)
Lettered in football at Fenwick High School … starting quarterback and also a standout basketball player … looking to major in sports management … son of Bryan and Anne.
Chris Kolarevic, LB, 6-1, 220 (Traverse City, Mich./Saint Francis HS)
Lettered in football at Saint Francis High School … team captain … earned all-conference and all-region Dream Team in 2016 … was also selected to the AP and Free Press all-state squads as a senior … led his team to a state semifinal appearance in 2015 and to the quarterfinals in 2016 … son of John and Debbie Kolarevic … has one sibling, Ethan.
Suni Lane, WR, 6-4, 195 (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf HS)
Lettered at Bettendorf High School … ranked as one of the top-35 recruits in the state of Iowa.Â
Jacob Leonard, OL, 6-3, 300 (Peoria, Ariz./Glendale CC/Sunrise Mountain HS)
Prior to UNI, played at Glendale Community College … was a team captain at Sunrise Mountain High School for football … earned first-team all-section, all-district and honorable mention all-state in 2013-14 … was also second-team all-district, all-section in 2014-15 … received the Strongest Player Award in 2014 … also lettered in wrestling, placing fifth at sections in 2014 … holds the school record for bench press (365 pounds) and squats (545 pounds) … was ranked the No. 7 offensive lineman in the state and the No. 25 player overall in Arizona his senior season … son of Jodi and Mark Leonard … has one sibling, Morgan … his mother, Jodi and his grandmother both graduated from UNI.
Nate Murphy, PK, 6-2, 160 (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley HS)
Letter winner at Valley High School for Gary Swenson … helped his team to a conference championship, eventually advancing to the state quarterfinals … was 4-for-4 from field goal range his senior season, also hitting in a career-long 49-yarder … son of Craig and Shaunda Murphy … has one brother, Carl … both parents are graduates of UNI.
Bedale Naba, FB, 6-0, 265 (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley HS)
Lettered in football at Valley High School … first-team all-state and all-conference as a senior … two-time all-district selection … led his team in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss in 2016 … has been selected to play in the Shrine Bowl … also lettered in track and field … state meet and Drake Relays qualifier in the shot put and discus … placed third in the discus and fifth in the shot put at the state meet as a junior … son of Rachel and Lamoussa Naba … has three siblings, Inejah, Zemira and Ramez.
Mason Neisen, OL, 6-4, 315 (Denver, Iowa/Denver HS)
Lettered at Denver High School … two-time INA, Iowa Preps/Rivals and Des Moines Register all-state … selected to the Northwest Iowa Elite Offense first-team in 2016 and 2017 … was the District Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2017 … finalist for the Lineman of the Year by Iowa Preps/Rivals … two-time Elite Offense Iowa Preps/Rivals selection … was also all-district in 2015 and 2016 … three-time all-academic selection … was third-team Elite Offense by Iowa Preps/Rivals in 2016 along with junior all-state first team … son of Sara and Kevin Neisen … has one sister, Madison.
Justin Peine, OL, 6-6, 290 (Parker, Kan./Prairie View HS)
Letter winner at Prairie View High School for coach Doug Whitcraft … named Sports In Kansas Top-100 football players in the state and to the Top-25 Linemen to Watch list … selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl in July … two-time all-conference for offensive and defensive line … was Linn County News all-county first-team and Miami County Republic tri-county spotlight team in 2016 … selected to the Topeka Capital Journal all-Kansas first-team as a senior, also earning honorable mention as a junior … named to the KPREPs 4A-Div II Kansas State All-Star Team … also lettered in basketball and track and field … was a state qualifier in the discus as a sophomore … President of the Cadmus 4-H Club … junior advisor for Prairie View FFA … son of Robert and Joann Peine … has two brothers, Trint and Chaylin.
Trevor Penning, OL, 6-6, 270 (Clear Lake, Iowa/Newman Catholic HS)
Lettered in football at Newman Catholic High School … team captain … earned first-team all-district … all-area selection … invited to play in the River Battle Bowl … helped his team to a 6-3 record in 2016 … also lettered in basketball and track and field … son of Jeff and Teresa Penning … has two siblings, Jared and Stephanie.
Nick Simpson, LS, 5-11, 228 (Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic HS)
Letter winner at Dowling Catholic High School for Tom Wilson … helped his team to three state championships … also lettered in track and field, throwing the shot put and discus … son of Marty and Denise Simpson … has one brother, Trent, who started at long snapper for the Panthers from 2013-16.
Alphonso Soko, RB, 5-10, 185 (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine HS)
Lettered in football at Muscatine High School for coach Jake Mueller … brought in 2,420 yards of total offense and 35 touchdowns in just 16 career varsity games at Muscatine … two-time all-state selection … ran for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior … accumulated 1,090 offensive yards and 11 total touchdowns in 2016 … also earned first-team all-district in 2016 … son of Gus and Nataline.
Erik Sorensen, OL, 6-6, 304 (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee HS)
Lettered in football at Waukee High School for coach Scott Carlson … team captain … was a two-time all-district selection … earned INA all-state offensive line … played for Team Iowa in the River Battle Bowl as a senior … named academic all-state … also lettered in track and field … earned all-academic honors at Waukee … son of Brad and Laurie Sorensen … has two siblings, Kyle and Emilie.
John Sullivan, QB, 6-1, 180 (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton HS)
Letter winner from Clinton High School … two-time all-district selection … all-state second-team honoree as a quarterback in 2016 … District Offensive MVP and District Punter of the Year as a senior … named to the Iowa Preps/Rivals Elite second-team as a quarterback in 2016 … all-area and all-metro in 2016 … also named the All-Area Player of the Year by the Clinton Herald as a senior … led the state in completion percentage (64%), yards (2,597) and touchdowns (26) in 2016 … named all-metro and all-area as a junior … currently holds 12 school records at Clinton High School … is just the 13th player in class 4A history to throw for over 5,000 career yards … son of Dan and Julie Sullivan … has two siblings, Colin and Jordan.
Kendrick Suntken, LB, 6-2, 240 (Hampton, Iowa/Iowa Central CC/Hampton-Dumont HS)
Prior to UNI, played at Iowa Central Community College for coach Kevin Twait … was a team captain as a sophomore at Iowa Central … two-time all-region selection … lettered in football at Hampton-Dumont High School for Jerry Shaffrath … was a two-time all-district and all-state selection in high school … team captain in 2013 … earned all-area by the Globe Gazette in 2014 … played in the Iowa Shrine Bowl on the North squad … also lettered in track and field and wrestling … was a conference champion in the 220-pound weight division in 2015, also placing third and second at the state tournament as a junior and senior … son of Jon and Tami Suntken … has three siblings, Katelyn, Kellen and Kirsten.
Isaiah Trousil, ATH, 5-11, 180 (Burlington, Iowa/West Burlington HS)
Lettered in football at West Burlington High School … three-time all-district selection, including first-team honors in 2014 and 2015 … first-team all-Hawkeye in 2014 … averaged 6.5 yards per carry during his high school career … also lettered in track and field … holds the school and state meet record in the 100 and 200 meter dashes … helped his 4X100 and 4X200 meter relay teams to school and state meet records … was named the Boys State Track Pizza Ranch MVP in both 2015 and 2016 … son of Andrea and Ronnie Stewart … has one sister, Iliyah.
Matthew Vanderslice, TE, 6-8, 240 (Olathe, Kan./Northwest HS)
Letter winner at Olathe Northwest High School for coach Chip Sherman … second-team All-Sunflower League his senior season … named one of the top-25 tight ends in the state in 2016 … also lettered in basketball as a junior and senior … son of Rick and Bev Vanderslice … has two brothers, Jake and Zach.
Riley Van Wyhe, LB, 6-2, 210 (Rock Rapids, Iowa/Central Lyon HS)
Letter winner at Central Lyon High School … team captain as a senior … two-time all-district selection … broke the school record for single-season receptions and receiving yards as a junior before switching to linebacker … was named to the all-NWI review team in 2016 … also lettered in baseball, basketball and track and field… was a three-time all-conference first-team selection in baseball, earning all-state as a junior … was a team captain for his basketball team as a senior … earned second-team all-conference as a junior and all-sub state team in basketball along with second-team all-state … currently 100 points away from 1,000 career points … state qualifier in track and field in the 100 meter dash … helped his 4X100 meter relay team to a fifth place finish in 2015 and fourth place finish in 2016 … earned Des Moines Register all-state as a sprinter … is a member of the National Honor Society … son of Greg and Michelle Van Wyhe … has two siblings, Rex and Regan.
John Yount, OL, 6-3, 280 (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial HS)
Lettered in football at Ankeny Centennial High School for Jerry and Ryan Pezzetti … team captain his senior season … two-time all-district … named to the INA and Des Moines Register all-state first-teams … earned a spot at the River Battle Bowl … son of Deanna and David Yount … has three siblings, Jenna, Jackie and Julia … father, David, played at UNI as a defensive lineman in 1982.
Players Mentioned
