Football | 2/4/2012 2:22:00 PM
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson football team added 17 transfers this semester. These student-athletes come from a variety of states including Wisconsin and Texas.
“These are some of the most athletic young men that I’ve been around,” said Interim head football coach Mike Silva. “I’m real excited to see what these guys can do on the field.”
The 17 spring transfers are: Jordan Sklba (Milwaukee, Wisc.), Nate Tia (Campbell, Calif.), Shawn Holmes Jr. (Campbell, Calif.), Jarel Connie (Edmond, Okla.), Deon Shorter (Fontana, Calif.), Logan Lijon (San Jose, Calif.), Trent Hart (East Palo Alto, Calif.), Jarvis Pigue (Tutwiler, Miss.), Kenny Braden (Riverside, Calif.), Yharmin Butler (Inglewood, Calif.), Chris Barnes (Los Angeles, Calif.), Chris Ellison Jr. (Red Oak, Texas), Deonte Walker (Los Angeles, Calif.), D’Andre Sampson (San Diego, Calif.), Ste’fon Walker (Mendenhall, Miss.), D’Anthony Tabb (Houston, Texas), Joe Sumpter (Downs, Kan.)
McPherson Football 2012-13 Spring Transfer List
Deonte Walker (6-0, 255 lbs., DT, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif./Los Angeles Southwest College)
Walker, a 6-0 defensive tackle comes into the Bulldogs football roster to beef up the defensive front. He joins MC after spending the past two years at Los Angeles Southwest College. Walker graduated high school from George Washington Prep HS in 2010.
While attending college, Walker played for head coach Henry Washington and had two sacks and 17 tackles.
Walker is the son of Cindy Dickerson. He has yet to declare a major.
Chris Ellison, Jr. (6-4, 235 lbs., DE, Jr., Red Oak, Texas/Tyler Junior College)
Ellison Jr. is a 6-4 defensive end from Red Oak, Texas and Red Oak High School. He recorded 25 sacks and was an All-District defensive end in both the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 seasons. Ellison Jr. was also selected as the Dallas Metroplex Player of The Week during his high school career.
After graduating high school, Ellison Jr. went to Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. He spent two years there under head coach Danny Palmer.
Chris Ellison Sr. and Sherry Lewis are the parents of Chris, Jr. He is plans on getting his degree in criminal justice.
D'Anthony Tabb (5-11, 210 lbs., RB, Jr., Houston, Texas/Grand View University)
Tabb, a 5-11 running back, travels to McPherson, Kansas from his hometown of Houston, Texas. He has spent a few semesters up in Des Moines, Iowa playing for the Vikings of Grand View University.
Tabb graduated high school from Pasadena High School in Pasadena, Texas. While there, he had 125 carries for 1,100 yards and 13 total touchdowns under Coach Wes Bryant. He also earned the honor of being on the 2
nd team All-District for the Eagles.
Tabb is the son of Stephanie Tabb and plans on majoring in kinesiology at McPherson.
Joseph Sumpter (5-7,160 lbs., CB, So., Downs, Kan./Osborne High School)
Sumpter, a 5-7 cornerback from Downs, Kansas, joins the Bulldog secondary this spring. He is a graduate from Osborne High School in Osborne, Kansas.
While playing for Collen Riner at Osborne High, Sumpter was a member of the All-State defensive team. He also was a member of National Honors Society. Sumpter was a two-sport athlete and was the 2010 2A Track and Field champion in the 300m high hurdles.
Sumpter’s brother Jacob played for the football team of Southwestern College but Joseph, or Joe Joe as some of his friends call him, came to McPherson College for their Teacher Education program.
Jeff and Susie Sumpter are the parents of Sumpter.
Jordan Sklba (5-11, 210 lbs., FS, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis./Arizona Western College)
Sklba is a 5-11 free safety from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Whitefish Bay High School in Milwaukee. Sklba was nominated to be on his conferences all-area team.
After high school, Sklba went to Arizona Western College in San Luis, Arizona. He played free safety for head coach Tom Minnick and was named to the All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference team.
Sklba is the son of Paul and Gail Sklba. He is currently undecided on a major.
Nathan Tia (6-2, 305 lbs., DT, Jr., Campbell, Calif. / DeAnza College)
Tia joins Walker as the defensive tackle joining the Bulldogs roster this spring. He is a graduate of Metro Adult Ed Program High School in San Jose, California and is a three-time letter winner.
A first-team member of his conference each year of high school, Tia accumulated over six sacks and over 40 tackles, 15 for a loss, per season. After graduating, he moved on to Cupertino, California where he played two years for Coach Dan Atencio at DeAnza College. Tia recorded 16 sacks and 55 tackles, 30 of a loss, over that span.
Twice named the defensive line MVP at DeAnza and first team All-Golden Gate Conference, Tia also excelled in the classroom. He was on the DeAnza Honor Roll.
Tia is the son of Butch Tia and Leticia Hererra. He plans on pursuing a degree in Secondary Education.
Yharmin Butler (6-3, 220 lbs., DE, Jr., Inglewood, Calif. / Los Angeles Southwest College)
Butler, a 6-3 defensive end, adds some more depth to the defensive line. He graduated from Morningside High School in 2010 after racking up 45 tackles.
Post high school, Butler, or YB as some call him, enrolled in Los Angeles Southwest College which he attended for two years. He was under the direction of Henry Washington while he was a Cougar.
He is the son of Yahne Butler-DuQuesnay and his major is undecided.
Jarel Connie (6-0, 205 lbs., DE, Fr., Edmond, Okla. / Daegu American High School)
Connie, a 6-0 defensive end from Edmond, Oklahoma, joins the McPherson Bulldogs after graduating from Daegu American High School in Taegu, Texas.
A team leader in sacks, Connie was Defensive Line Player of the Year in 2010. He also played fullback his senior season and rushed for over 600 yards on just 34 carries.
Gretchen and Brian Connie are the parents of Jarel. He is planning on majoring in criminal justice at McPherson.
Kenny Braden (6-2, 245 lbs., OLB, Jr., Riverside, Calif. /Chaffey College)
Braden, 6-2 outside linebacker, transfers to McPherson College after spending two years at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California. While being a Panther at Chaffey College, he was under the guidance of Carl Beach
Braden was a 3-time letter winner at Patriot High School in Riverside, California. During his time there, he played running back, linebacker and strong safety. As a running back, Braden rushed for 1,100 yards, was first team of his league and Offensive Player of the Year. He was also selected to be a Riverside All-American and an Island Empire All-American.
Braden is the son Leslie and Kenny Braden Sr. Braden plans on getting his degree in criminal justice.
Christopher Barnes (6-0, 225 lbs., MLB, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif. / Santa Monica College)
Barnes, who is a 6-0 middle linebacker, lettered in three seasons St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. He was coached by Kiki Mendoza and earned the honor of being team captain as well as being selected to the second team California Interscholastic Federation.
After he graduated high school, Barnes went on to Santa Monica College where he was voted captain again. He also was a Scholar Athlete and made the Deans List.
Barnes is the son of Marcus Barnes. He plans on studying psychology while attending MC.
D’Andre Sampson (6-2, 195 lbs., RB/FS, Jr., San Diego, Calif. /Mesa College)
Sampson, 6-2 running back and free safety, is a junior from San Diego, California. He travels to McPherson after spending the 2010-2011 season at Mesa College where he played for Henry Browne as a free safety. During his career there, Sampson had 47 tackles, 17 pass deflections and one interception.
Before he became a college student, Sampson was a Trojan at Castle Park High School. He had 3,000 all-purpose yards while playing running back for Coach Paul Van Nostrand.
Sampson is the son of Karen and Demarco Sampson. He is going to be majoring in performing arts.
Jarvis Pigue (6-0, 185 lbs., WR, Jr., Tutwiler, Miss. / Coahoma Community College)
Pigue, a 6-0 wide receiver, grew up in Tutwiler, Mississippi and attended West Tallahatchie High School in Webb, Mississippi. There he played both quarterback and running back on offense. He was also a defensive back and returned both kicks and punts. Pigue was All-State and All-District in each of his four years of high school.
After he finished high school, Pigue went to Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Mississippi. There, he switched positions to wide receiver under Coach Horton.
Bobbie and Lona Bell Pigue are the parents of Pigue. He has yet to declare a major.
Trenton Hart (6-1, 200 lbs., WR, Jr., East Palo Alto, Calif./Foothill College)
Hart, a 6-1 wide receiver, is a native of East Palo Alto, California. There he attended Palo Alto High School and was a two year letter winner for head coach Earl Hansen. He played on both sides of the ball, playing wide receiver on offense and defensive back on defense.
In his senior season at Palo Alto High School, grabbed 20 catches for 400 yards, and had 45 tackles and three interceptions, three forced fumbles, three sacks and eight PBU's in nine games as his team won a De-Anza division Championship, Central Coast Section Open Division Championship, Northern California DII championship and received an invite to the 2006 state bowl championship games. After the season, Hart was selected to play for the 33rd annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star game, as one of the top defensive backs in the area.
Hart comes to McPherson after two seasons at Foothill College where he played wide receiver and also returned kicks. He had over 1,000 all-purpose yards with 40 catches for more than 500 yards and on 16 kick returns recorded over 500 yards. Those kick return numbers put him third in the state with a 30.2 average. Hart also had two interceptions and 19 tackles in three games on defense.
While attending Foothill College, he was also a good student and was named a Scholar Athlete with his 3.37 GPA.
Hart is the son of Alisa Newson. He is planning on majoring in psychology at McPherson College.
Logan Lijon (6-4, 290 lbs., OT, Jr., San Jose, Calif. /De Anza)
Lijon is a 6-4 offensive tackle from San Jose, California and Del Mar High School. He was coached by Eric Buran and was named to the Central Coast Section first team and he was the Blossom Valley Athletic League Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2007. He also was invited to the Santa Clara County All-Star game in 2008 and only gave up one sack that year.
After graduating high school, Lijon went to De Anza College in Cupertino, California where he played for two seasons under Dan Antencio. He played both left and right tackle and was honorable mention in 2008 and second team in 2009 for his conference.
Lijon is the son of Traci B. Lijon. He intends to pursue a degree in kinesiology.
Deon Shorter (5-9, 185 lbs., SS, Jr., Pasadena, Calif. / Mt. San Antonio College)
Shorter, a 5-9 strong safety, joins the McPherson Bulldog team after spending the past couple of seasons playing for the Mounties of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California. Shorter played safety for Coach Bobby Jastrab and recorded 126 tackles, six of them for a loss, as well as two forced fumbles and two sacks. He received the most improved and the special teams awards.
Before Shorter went to Mt. San Antonio College, he was enrolled in John Muir High School in Pasadena, California. As a student there, Shorter had three forced fumbles and148 tackles, eight for a loss. He was voted the most inspirational on his team.
Shorter is the son of Trish and Deon Shorter and plans on majoring in communications.
Ste’fon Walker (6-0, 190 lbs., WR/FS, So, Mendenhall, Miss. /Copiah-Lincoln Community College)
Walker is a 6-0 wide receiver and free safety from Mendenhall, Mississippi. He most recently played for Coach Davis at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. There he played wide receiver and was selected to be a MACJC All-Star in 2011.
He attended Mendenhall High School where he played for head coach Chris Peterson. While playing for Coach Peterson, Walker was honorable mention in his league for the position free safety in 2009. He was also listed as one of the top six free safeties in his 4A region.
Ricky and Felicia Walker are his parents. Walker is going to be a biology major at McPherson College.
Shawn Holmes Jr. (6-4, 300 lbs., OL, Jr., Campbell, Calif. /De Anza College)
Holmes Jr. is a 6-4 offensive lineman from Campbell, California. He went to high school in Stockton, California where Steve Jackson was his coach. Holmes Jr. was part of the 2005 Valley Oak League championship team and was All-Section first team. He also got voted to be the captain of the football and wrestling teams.
De Anza College in Cupertino, California was where Holmes Jr. spent the first couple of year in his collegiate career. While there, he was named to the first team All-Golden Gate Conference and was part of the 2008 Golden Gate Conference Championship team. And in 2010, Holmes Jr. again belonged to the Golden Gate Conference championship team. He was also selected to the first team All-Golden Gate Conference and All-State Section 3.
Shawn Sr. and Mele Holmes are his parents. Holmes Jr. is going to pursue a degree in criminal justice.
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