Panther Football Adds Four Newcomers to 2019 Recuiting Class
8/2/2019 9:48:00 AM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – UNI head football coach Mark Farley announced the addition of four student-athletes to the 2019 recruiting class, Friday. The group consists of a pair of transfers and two athletes that were originally expected to enroll at Big 10 institutions.
All four student-athletes have been enrolled at UNI and begin practice with the rest of the team Friday afternoon.
The group adds to an already stellar recruiting class that that was ranked as the No. 5 class by Hero Sports after signing day in February.
"Recruiting never stops," Farley said. "Our staff is committed to bringing in the best athletes that we think will help us win. I am fired up for the season to start and for the future of Panther football. These four guys will help us immediately and we are excited to see them start practice today along with the rest of our excellent recruiting class."
Wide receiver Blair Brooks comes to UNI from Iowa Western Community College where he spent his spring semester. He redshirted his freshman season at Iowa. He is a native of Marion Iowa and brings good size for a receiver and a solid frame. His senior year at Marion he caught 42 passes for 592 yard and nine touchdowns. He also had 599 yards and five touchdowns on 39 receptions his junior year. He totaled 16 career touchdowns as a prep with over 100 receptions and 1,300 yards. At UNI, he will add to an already stellar wide receiver corps that figures to be one of the best in the Valley in 2019.
Brooks is joined by transfer safety Spencer Perry who came from South Alabama. Perry prepped at IMG Academy and started his career at Notre Dame before transferring to South Alabama in 2017. After sitting out as required by NCAA transfer rules, he played in eight games in 2018 for the Jaguars, racking up 19 tackles, including 12 solo stops. He had a season-high seven tackles against Appalachian State.
Out of high school, he was ranked as the No. 29-ranked safety by Scout.com, No. 31-ranked safety by ESPN.com, No. 49-ranked safety by 247Sports.com and the No. 43-ranked defensive back by Rivals.com.
Skyler Meyers comes to UNI as a true freshman from fertile Panther recruiting ground Blue Springs, Mo. He originally committed to Wisconsin and participated in summer workouts before coming to Cedar Falls. He was a Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. He earned first-team All-Simone as a senior, tallying 120 tackles, 17 TFLs and three sacks and adding three forced fumbles, an interception and two pass breakups. He was first-team all-district and first-team Kansas City Star All-Metro as a junior and senior He finished his varsity career with 235 tackles, 30 TFLs, 10 sacks, six pass breakups, two interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Like Meyers, Nick McCabe comes to UNI after leaving a school he originally committed to. McCabe earned participated in summer workouts at Minnesota after a stellar career at Caledonia High School in Caledonia, Minn. He was a four-time state champion and led Caledonia with 1,384 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns his senior season. He also racked up 74 tackles and four sacks on defense. He lettered in football, wrestling and track.
He is the cousin of current UNI receivers coach Isaac Fruechte who is also a Caledonia High School graduate.
The Panthers open practice for the 2019 season Friday ahead of the season opener on the road at Iowa State on August 31 at 11 a.m. The home opener is scheduled for September 7 at 4 p.m. against Southern Utah.
All four student-athletes have been enrolled at UNI and begin practice with the rest of the team Friday afternoon.
The group adds to an already stellar recruiting class that that was ranked as the No. 5 class by Hero Sports after signing day in February.
"Recruiting never stops," Farley said. "Our staff is committed to bringing in the best athletes that we think will help us win. I am fired up for the season to start and for the future of Panther football. These four guys will help us immediately and we are excited to see them start practice today along with the rest of our excellent recruiting class."
Wide receiver Blair Brooks comes to UNI from Iowa Western Community College where he spent his spring semester. He redshirted his freshman season at Iowa. He is a native of Marion Iowa and brings good size for a receiver and a solid frame. His senior year at Marion he caught 42 passes for 592 yard and nine touchdowns. He also had 599 yards and five touchdowns on 39 receptions his junior year. He totaled 16 career touchdowns as a prep with over 100 receptions and 1,300 yards. At UNI, he will add to an already stellar wide receiver corps that figures to be one of the best in the Valley in 2019.
Brooks is joined by transfer safety Spencer Perry who came from South Alabama. Perry prepped at IMG Academy and started his career at Notre Dame before transferring to South Alabama in 2017. After sitting out as required by NCAA transfer rules, he played in eight games in 2018 for the Jaguars, racking up 19 tackles, including 12 solo stops. He had a season-high seven tackles against Appalachian State.
Out of high school, he was ranked as the No. 29-ranked safety by Scout.com, No. 31-ranked safety by ESPN.com, No. 49-ranked safety by 247Sports.com and the No. 43-ranked defensive back by Rivals.com.
Skyler Meyers comes to UNI as a true freshman from fertile Panther recruiting ground Blue Springs, Mo. He originally committed to Wisconsin and participated in summer workouts before coming to Cedar Falls. He was a Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. He earned first-team All-Simone as a senior, tallying 120 tackles, 17 TFLs and three sacks and adding three forced fumbles, an interception and two pass breakups. He was first-team all-district and first-team Kansas City Star All-Metro as a junior and senior He finished his varsity career with 235 tackles, 30 TFLs, 10 sacks, six pass breakups, two interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Like Meyers, Nick McCabe comes to UNI after leaving a school he originally committed to. McCabe earned participated in summer workouts at Minnesota after a stellar career at Caledonia High School in Caledonia, Minn. He was a four-time state champion and led Caledonia with 1,384 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns his senior season. He also racked up 74 tackles and four sacks on defense. He lettered in football, wrestling and track.
He is the cousin of current UNI receivers coach Isaac Fruechte who is also a Caledonia High School graduate.
The Panthers open practice for the 2019 season Friday ahead of the season opener on the road at Iowa State on August 31 at 11 a.m. The home opener is scheduled for September 7 at 4 p.m. against Southern Utah.
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