FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - Wednesday, February 7, 2024 is National Signing Day as Fort Hays State head football coach Chris Brown and the Tiger football coaching staff announce signings for the 2024 season. The next Tiger Football recruiting class will be sending in their National Letters of Intent (NLI) throughout the day.
Keep an eye on this page for updates on the latest signees. Student-athletes will be added to the list below once their NLI's have been received. Information on each player will be available below as it comes available.
Updated at 2:55 p.m. on 2/7/2024
Cody Abston, DT, 6-2, 250, Tuttle, Okla., Tuttle HS
Tuttle HS: All-district first team selection…State finalist in wrestling and two-time state qualifier…Recorded 70 tackles with one interception and three sacks.
Malik Bah, RB, 5-8, 180, Hays, Kan., Hays HS
Hays HS: All-state first team selection in Kansas Class 5A at running back…Ran for 1,279 yards with 13 touchdowns.
Kolton Coleman, WR, 6-1, 175, Mesa, Ariz., Perry HS
Perry HS: Finished senior year with 674 receiving yards on 34 catches with 13 touchdowns…All-conference honorable mention selection.
Tristen Davidson, TE, 6-3, 215, Kingman, Kan., Kingman HS
Kingman HS: All-state first team selection as a senior at tight end and all-state first team selection as a junior at defensive end…Selection to the Kansas Shrine Bowl…Two-time all-league first team selection…Named District Defensive MVP…Served as team captain.
Spencer Dohm, LB, 5-10, 215, Shawnee, Kan., St. James Academy
St. James Academy: Member of two state championship teams…Two-time all-state first team selection…Two-time all-conference selection.
Joseph Doston, DE, 6-2, 230, Tampa, Fla., Middleton HS
Middleton HS: Hillsborough County All-Star Game Defensive MVP.
Edward Farleykendrick, WR, 6-0, 165, Florida City, Fla., South Dade HS
Ladainian Ferrell, WR, 5-8, 160, Tampa, Fla., Gaither HS
Gaither HS: Two-time all-conference first team selection…Finished prep career with 2,781 total yards, 137 receptions, and 14 touchdowns.
Donavin Hardaway, DB, 5-11, 190, Broken Arrow, Okla., Broken Arrow HS
Caiden Hoffman, DL, 6-2, 305, Hoisington, Kan., Hoisington HS
Hoisington HS: Two-time all-state first team selection…Three-time all-state selection overall…As a senior selected to the Kansas Shrine Bowl, Top 11 All-Western Kansas Team…Named the John Zook Awardwinner for the top lineman in Western Kansas…Three-time all-league selection.
Wyatt Holland, LB, 5-10, 180, Louisburg, Kan., Louisburg HS
Louisburg HS: As a senior recorded 90 tackles with five tackles for loss and one interception.
Isaiah Holthaus, TE, 6-2, 205, Tonganoxie, Kan., Tonganoxie HS
Tonganoxie HS: Two-time all-state selection as a wide receiver…Two-time all-league selection…Holds school records for receiving yards and catches…Three-time state placer in the long jump for track and field.
Mason Hogan, OL, 6-4, 275, Plainville, Kan., Plainville HS
Plainville HS: All-state first team offensive lineman…Two-time all-league selection…Selected to the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Exodus Johnson, DL, 6-3, 230, Aurora, Colo., Cherry Creek HS
Cherry Creek HS: All-conference first team selection…Member of state championship team.
Jackson Kerchal, DE, 6-2, 210, Benkelman, Neb., Dundy County Stratton HS
Dundy County Stratton HS: Three-time all-state selection…All-state first team selection in basketball…Recorded 295 career tackles with 34.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and one interception.
Connor Laxson, OL, 6-2, 275, Colorado Springs, Colo., Pine Creek HS
Pine Creek HS: Two-time all-state selection…Two-time all-conference selection…Two-time academic all-state selection.
Karter Lee, WR, 5-11, 170, Kearney, Neb., Kearney HS
Kearney HS: Two-time all-state selection at wide receiver…Two-time all-conference selection…Academic all-conference selection…Also competed in basketball and baseball…As a senior recorded 42 receptions for 719 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Ziah Matos, OL, 6-5, 290, Tampa, Fla., Tampa Catholic HS
Tampa Catholic HS: Selected to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game…Earned his team's most improved award as a junior.
Matthew McBride, DB, 6-1, 175, Fort Worth, Texas, Everman HS
Everman HS: All-district first team selection at defensive back…Named team's Defensive Back of the Year…Recorded 41 tackles and two interceptions as a senior.
Mike McDonald, DB, 6-2, 170, Fort Myers, Fla., South Fort Myers HS
South Fort Myers HS: Selected to play in FACA All-Star Game…FACA All-Region First Team and Fort Myers News-Press All-Area selection…All-state selection…Finished senior season with 42 tackles, 6 interceptions, 17 pass breakups, 704 all-purpose yards, and 5 touchdowns.
Noah McDoulett, TE, 6-5, 215, Tuttle, Okla., Tuttle HS
Tuttle HS: As a senior recorded 45 receptions for 783 yards and five touchdowns…Recorded 67 tackles and four interceptions defensively.Mt. Pleasant HS: All-district first team selection at quarterback…Academic all-state selection…Two-time academic all-district selection…Threw for 2,500 yards as a senior with 22 touchdowns…Threw for over 1,800 yards as a junior…Two-time all-district selection in baseball.
Mason McMinn, QB, 6-1, 175, Mount Pleasant, Texas, Mount Pleasant HS
William (Hunter) Mowery, WR, 6-1, 190, Salina, Kan., Salina Central HS
Salina Central HS: All-state and all-league first team selection at wide receiver…Selected to the Kansas Shrine Bowl…Named team MVP as a senior…Owns school records in receptions, receiving touchdowns, and single-season receiving yards.
Chris Peterson, WR, 6-2, 195, Orlando, Fla., Evans HS
Evans HS: Rushed for 1,361 yards with 15 touchdowns and passed for 1,121 yards with six touchdowns as a senior…District champion in the 400-hurdles in track and field.
Dammion Singleton, DB, 6-3, 180, Sandy, Utah, Alta HS
Alta HS: Competed in football and track and field.
Rashead Staton, OL, 6-3, 285, Jonesboro, Ark., Jonesboro HS
Jonesboro HS: All-conference first team selection…Selected as an AHSCA All-Star.
Kooper Tichenor, OL, 6-2, 300, Holcomb, Kan., Holcomb HS
Holcomb HS: Two-time all-state first team selection as an offensive lineman…Three-time all-league selection…All-state selection in baseball.
Brady VanDonge, QB, 5-10, 180, Basehor, Kan., Basehor-Linwood HS
Basehor-Linwood HS: Two-time all-state honorable mention selection…4A Small Class Player of the Year finalist…Threw for over 3,800 yards in his prep career and ran for over 400 yards, finishing with 34 passing touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns…All-state honorable mention in baseball…BLHS Football Family Award twice and BLHS Hardest Worker Award.
Jakyran (Kyran) Whitfield, DB, 6-0, 175, Broken Bow, Okla., Broken Bow HS
Broken Bow HS: All-district selection…Competed in football, basketball, and track and field.
Tyrek Winthrop, DE, 6-3, 200, Tarpon Springs, Fla., Tarpon Springs HS
Tarpon Springs HS: All-conference first team selection on the defensive line…Earned Defensive MVP of the Pinellas County All-Start Game…Had 112 tackles, 29 sacks, and two interceptions in his prep career.
Transfers
Diego Barroso, DL, 6-2, 260, Mesa, Ariz., Mesa HS, Adams State
Adams State: Appeared in one game during the 2022 season, recording three tackles.Gila River Junior College: Spent one season at Gila River.
Kevin Frazier, LB, 6-1, 220, Chicago, Ill., Brother Rice HS, Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas: Redshirted his first year and did not appear in any games in 2023.
Shadryon Blanka, LB, 6-1, 215, St. Francis, Kan., St. Francis HS, Kansas State
Kansas State: Redshirted his first year and did not appear in any games in 2023.
St. Francis HS: Recorded 272 tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks over three seasons…Helped his team to a state championship game appearance…Named the 2020 8-Man Division II Offensive Player of the Year by both Wichita Eagle and Sports in Kansas after rushing for 2,280 yards and 35 touchdowns…Leading rusher in Kansas and ranked No. 2 nationally in 8-man football…All-state first team and named to Top 33 players in the state of Kansas in 2020…All-state selection both offensively and defensively…Placed third in the state as a wrestler at his respective weight class.
Michael Chavez, DB, 5-11, 200, Folsom, Calif., Folsom HS, American River College
American River College: Recorded 71 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 interception in 2023Colorado Mesa: Played in five games during the 2022 season and recorded 27 tackles with two pass breakups.
Wyoming: Redshirted a year.
Folsom HS: All-league first team selection…Named team's utility player of the year.
Deshawn Williams, OL, 6-6, 310, St. Louis, Mo., Iowa Western CC
Iowa Western CC: Spent the 2023 season at Iowa Western Community College.