WMU News

WMU announces 16 football recruits

February 3, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- Head football coach Gary Darnell has announced the signing of 16 high school players to national letters of intent for Western Michigan University. Six are from Michigan while seven other future Broncos are from Illinois, two come from Florida and one from Ohio.

Named to various all-state teams were offensive linemen Ed Boness (Morris, Ill.), Jon Garcia (Sturgis) and Mike Kosiak (Oak Forest, Ill./Orland Park Carl Sandburg), quarterback Jonathan Drach (St. Charles, Ill.); wide receivers Brandon Johnson (Joliet, Ill./Providence Catholic), Kendrick Moseley (Pahokee, Fla.) and Antonio Thomas (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central); tight end Anthony Kiner (Tinley Park, Ill.), running back Phillip Reed (Broadview, Ill./Nazareth Academy), punter Matt Steffen (Wooster, Ohio/Waynedale), and defensive tackle Chad Wangerin (Caledonia).

Boness, Drach and Kiner will play in the Illinois All-Star game. Thomas' team won the 1998 Florida 4A state championship while outside linebacker Curtis Crossley's (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara) squad was runner-up for the 4A crown in Illinois.

"We feel that this was a breakthrough year for us in that we competed against schools that we hadn't recruited against before and were able to get some of those players," said Darnell, who has directed the Broncos to a 15-7 record over the last two years. "This included schools from the Big Ten, Big 12, Western Athletic Conference and Conference USA.

"This class gives us depth for a smooth transition in the future when our top level players finish their careers," added Darnell. "For instance, we recruited four offensive linemen to replace the four offensive linemen we'll lose this year. The players in this class are less likely to be immediate impact players, but will be impact players when their time comes up."

Jason Babin, defensive line, 6-4, 240, Paw Paw, Mich.
Ed Boness, offensive line, 6-5, 290, Morris, Ill.
Curtis Crossley, outside linebacker, 6-3, 210, Kankakee, Ill. (Bishop McNamara)
Jonathan Drach, quarterback, 6-5, 205, St. Charles, Ill.
Jon Garcia, tackle, 6-6, 333, Sturgis, Mich.
Brandon Johnson, wide receiver, 6-4, 185, Joliet, Ill. (Providence Catholic)
Anthony Kiner, tight end, 6-6, 235, Tinley Park, Ill.
Mike Kosiak, offensive line, 6-6, 309, Oak Forest, Ill. (Orland Park Carl Sandburg)
Kendrick Moseley, wide receiver, 6-2, 175, Pahokee, Fla.
Charles-Robert Moultry, offensive line, 6-6, 315, Mt. Clemens, Mich. (Grosse Pointe University Liggett)
Joshua Nycz, quarterback, 6-5, 210, Eastpointe, Mich. (East Detroit)
Phillip Reed, running back, 6-0, 190, Broadview, Ill. (Nazareth Academy)
Sam Reynolds, defensive back, 6-1, 185, Detroit, Mich. (Northwestern)
Matt Steffen, punter, 6-0, 240, Wooster, Ohio (Waynedale)
Antonio Thomas, wide receiver, 6-5, 198, Belle Glade, Fla. (Glades Central)
Chad Wangerin, defensive tackle, 6-5, 300, Caledonia, Mich.

JASON BABIN, Defensive LineÐ6-4, 240, Paw Paw, Mich... all-conference first-team as a junior, averaging over 22 tackles... sustained a broken leg in 1998 season opener... placed third in state wrestling competition in 1998 and won conference title his freshman year... won his first 27 matches of 1998-99... first Paw Paw grappler to get 100 career wins... holds school marks for career pins and fastest fall (five
seconds).

ED BONESS, Offensive LineÐ6-5, 290, Morris, Ill... first-team All-State by the Chicago Tribune and ranked among state's top 25 by the Chicago Sun-Times... picked for state All-Star game... ranked as No. 3 line prospect in Midwest by Chris Poole service... three-year starter and letterman... team captain and "most valuable" lineman... honor roll student.

CURTIS CROSSLEY, Outside LinebackerÐ6-3, 210, Kankakee, Ill. (Bishop McNamara)... all-area and All-Chicago Metropolitan Conference in 1998 as team was runner-up for Illinois Class 4A championship honors... "most improved" in basketball as a junior and named to all-tourney team at 1999 Kankakee Holiday Tournament... his 1997 basketball team reached state's sweet 16... qualified for 1998 state track meet in 4x100 relay... freshman class vice president... honor roll student.

JONATHAN DRACH, QuarterbackÐ6-5, 205, St. Charles, Ill... All-State Class 6A first-team player and academic selection by Illinois High School Coaches Association and will play in 1999 state East-West All-Star game... All-State special mention by Chicago Sun-Times and Champaign News-Gazette... "offensive player of the year" in Upstate Eight Conference, unanimous all-conference and all-conference academic... completed 88 of 157 passes for 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns... ran 78 times for another 250 yards and seven TDs... team captain... also all-conference and all-area in 1997... competed in track and basketball... honor roll student with a 4.53 average on a 5.00 scale.

JON GARCIA, TackleÐ6-6, 333, Sturgis, Mich... 1998 All-State Class B, all-area and All-Twin Valley Conference... school's "top lineman" award winner... conference shot put champion... National Art Honor Society and 10-time honor roll student... member of D.A.R.E. program.

BRANDON JOHNSON, Wide ReceiverÐ6-4, 185, Joliet, Ill. (Providence Catholic)... honorable mention All-State and first-team All-Chicago Catholic League and all-area... four-year starter and three-time team captain... second-team all-area in basketball in 1998... played on AAU basketball teams that won national and state championships... Chicago Catholic League 100-meter dash winner in track.

ANTHONY KINER, Tight EndÐ6-6, 235, Tinley Park, Ill... All-State selection by state coaches association and will play in 1999 Shrine All-Star game... ranked among top 100 in Illinois by Chicago Sun-Times... 1997 and 1998 All-SICA Green all-conference... averaged 18.9 yards on 17 catches as a senior... had a 15.3 average gain on 16 receptions in 1997... 1996, 1997 and 1998 SICA 200- and 500-yard freestyle champion in swimming.

MIKE KOSIAK, Offensive LineÐ6-6, 309, Oak Forest, Ill. (Orland Park Carl Sandburg)... honorable mention All-State by Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and CNN-Sports Illustrated... listed among top 30 preps in Illinois by Sun-Times... Prep Star preseason All-American and among The Sporting News top 200 seniors... named to Outback Illinois All-Star team... two-year regular... has 3.4 academic average.

KENDRICK MOSELEY, Wide ReceiverÐ6-2, 175, Pahokee, Fla... first-team All-State, all-area (West Palm Beach), all-county and all-conference... selected for Outback All-Stars in Palm Beach area... team was Florida 3A state semifinalist... had 49 receptions for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns... also competes in baseball and track... member of school's senior executive board.

CHARLES-ROBERT MOULTRY, Offensive LineÐ6-6, 315, Mt. Clemens, Mich. (Grosse Pointe University Liggett)... All-Metro Conference in 1998 and second-team selection in 1997... latter team won conference championship and qualified for state playoffs... second-team All-State in baseball as 1998 team reached state semi finals... second-team all-conference for basketball, setting school season record for rebounds... selected as Liggett's junior class "athlete of the year" . . . captained all three teams and will have earned four letters in football and basketball and three in baseball... band state solo ensemble I performer and is president of school's athletic counsel... has a 3.04 academic average.

JOSHUA NYCZ, QuarterbackÐ6-5, 210, Eastpointe, Mich. (East Detroit)... Detroit News All-Metro East All-Star selection and first-team All-Macomb County and All-Macomb Area Conference Blue Division in 1998... also all-league in 1997... two-year quarterback starter with 2,400 passing yards and 21 touchdowns and another 600 rushing yards and 15 TDs... threw for 314 yards and four TDs in one game...punted for 40-yard average as a senior... also started as a sophomore and has also worked at tight end, fullback, wide receiver, outside linebacker and defensive end... averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game in basketball as a junior in receiving all-conference and all-county acclaim... pitcher-first baseman-outfielder in baseball... named to all-county academic teams in football and basketball.

PHILLIP REED, Running BackÐ6-0, 195, Broadview, Ill. (Nazareth Academy)... twice honorable mention All-State and MVP of Chicago Private School League... three-years all-league and all-area... team MVP in 1998... had 5,120 career rushing yards and 72 touchdowns...had three separate 1,000-yard campaigns... Shrine All-Star game selection... twice all-conference in basketball.

SAM REYNOLDS, Defensive BackÐ6-1, 185, Detroit, Mich. (Northwestern)... 1998 all-city first-team and honorable mention All-State...team captain... top hitter and Golden Glove Award recipient in baseball... "most valuable" player on both squads.

MATT STEFFEN, PunterÐ6-0, 240, Wooster, Ohio (Waynedale)... All-Ohio Division 5 punter and Northeast Ohio "special teams player of the year"... twice All-Northeast Ohio... averaged 43.7 yards... four-year letterman... team captain and "most valuable" offensive lineman... two-time All-Wayne County Athletic League selection in baseball... finished first in competition for hang time, overall average and distance at Dick Pierce Kicking Camp.

ANTONIO THOMAS, Wide ReceiverÐ6-5, 198, Belle Glade, Fla. (Glades Central)... honorable mention All-State and all-area and first-team all-conference and all-district... selected for Outback All-Stars in Palm Beach area... team won Florida 4A state championship...second-team All-State basketball player in 1998 and also competes in track... nominated for National Honor Society.

CHAD WANGERIN, Defensive TackleÐ6-5, 300, Caledonia, Mich... All-State honorable mention in 1998 and first-team All-Grand Rapids Area and All-OK Gold Conference, earning latter selection as a nose guard, tackle and kicker... ranked 30th among state preps by Detroit Free Press... team MVP and captain... school shot put record holder (52-1) and was all-conference in this event.

Media contact:Daniel Jankowski, 616 387-4138; daniel.jankowski@wmich.edu


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