ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Meeting the need for both impact players and depth, Augustana head football coach Steve Bell feels that his staff has hit both standards in the first full recruiting class of his tenure. With over 55 student-athletes committed to joining the surging Viking program, Bell feels this class has met the needs of the Viking program moving forward.
 
The second-year head coach credited the hard work of his assistants for addressing areas of need with this year's group, calling it "a building block for future success." While excited about the quality and quantity across the entire class, he pointed to additions on the defensive line and in the receiving corps as highlights.
 
Bell was also pleased with the acceptance he and his staff received from the high schools of targeted athletes, which he said will help create "great rapport and build relationships."
 
The cultivation of local talent is another aspect that has Bell excited. "We hit the local area hard and did well within the Quad-City area. Getting into Iowa was huge."
 
Here is an alphabetical listing of the commitments that the Vikings have received thus far:
 
Bryson Adcock, 6' 1", 165, DB-WR, North Liberty, Iowa (Iowa City West HS)  
Adcock was a four-year letter winner at West. As a senior, he led the Coach Garrett Hartwig's Trojans with 38 solo tackles, while assisting on an additional 40 stops. He was in on seven tackles for loss and had two interceptions and two forced fumbles. On offense, he caught four passes for 30 yards. As a junior, he was in on 40 tackles, including 23 solo stops.
 
Andrew Anderson, 6' 4", 250, OL-DL, Marengo, Ill. (Marengo HS)
Anderson earned four varsity letters for Coach Matthew Lynch at Marengo. As a senior, he was a unanimous All-Big Northern Conference East selection for an Indian outfit that went 12-1, won a BNC championship and reached the IHSA Class 4A semifinals. He helped pave the way for an offense that produced an average of nearly 420 total yards and 40 points per game.
 
Alex Avalos, 6' 1", 155, SS-WR, Burbank, Ill. (Reavis HS)
Avalos helped the Rams to a combined record of 17-5 the last two seasons and back-to-back IHSA Class 7A playoff appearances. As a senior, he was a team captain and All-South Suburban Conference selection. He recorded 31 tackles—including four for loss—and one interception. On offense, he had 135 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
 
Skye Behrends, 6' 2", 185, LB-TE, Tiskilwa, Ill. (Princeton HS)
Behrends was a two-year letter winner for Coach Jesse Snyder at Princeton and is this year's LaSalle News Tribune Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named first team All-Area by the Bureau County Republican and first team All-Three Rivers Conference. He led the Tigers in tackles this year with 106, including 12 for loss and four sacks. He also led the area with four interceptions—one of which he returned for a touchdown. On offense, he had 14 catches for 143 yards and one touchdown for a Princeton outfit that finished 11-1 and reached the IHSA Class 3A quarterfinals.
 
Riley Biggs, 5' 10", 210, DE-LB-FB, Bettendorf, Iowa (Bettendorf HS)
Biggs was a first team Class 4A All-State selection by the Iowa Newspaper Association this year. He was also named first team All-Metro by the Quad-City Times and first team all-district. He captained Coach Aaron Wiley's Bulldogs to a 12-1 record and a state semifinal appearance. He finished the year with 31 solo tackles and 19 assists. He led Bettendorf in tackles for loss (17 solo, two assisted) and sacks (eight) and tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries.
 
Alec Bozarth, 5' 10", 200, RB-WR-QB-SS-P, Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community HS)
Bozarth was a four-year letter winner and three-time first team All-Big 12 selection at running back. He rushed for 1,038 yards and 19 touchdowns this year on 178 carries. In addition to being named first team all-conference for the third time, he earned first team All-Area honors from the Pantagraph for the second year in a row. He finished his career with 4,133 yards from scrimmage and 64 touchdowns.
 
Niko Bryant, 6', 215, FB, Greenwood Village, Colo. (Cherry Creek HS)
Bryant was a two-year letter winner for Coach Dave Logan at Cherry Creek. He helped the Bruins to a 21-6 record during that time, including an 11-3 mark and a CHSAA Class 5A state championship during his junior year. As a senior, he caught four passes for 27 yards for Cherry Creek's 10-3 state semifinalist and won the team's Iron Man Award for the third year in a row.
 
Tommy Buckley, 6' 2", 255, OL-DL, Marseilles, Ill. (Ottawa HS)
Buckley was a four-year football letter winner at Ottawa, where he played for Augustana alum Trent Swords. He earned four letters in Swords' Pirate track & field program as well.
 
J.J. Cervino, 6', 175, DB, Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville HS)
Cervino was a two-year letter winner in Coach Mike Jones' Libertyville program. During those two seasons, he helped lead the Wildcats to a 22-5 record and a pair of deep runs in the IHSA Class 7A playoffs. As a senior, he recorded 27 solo tackles, 30 assists and five tackles for loss for a Libertyville squad that went 13-1 and finished as state runner-up in Class 7A. He had 12 pass breakups, an interception and two forced fumbles as well.
 
Jake Chantos, 5' 10", 180, CB, Elburn, Ill. (St. Charles North HS)
Chantos earned six varsity letters in three sports at North. Two of those came in Coach Robert Pomazak's football program; he served as a team captain and earned All-Upstate 8 Conference honors and All-Area recognition from the Kane County Chronicle.
 
Kyle Connor, 6' 3", 220, DE-OT-TE, Bloomington, Ill. (Bloomington Central Catholic HS)
Connor was a two-time first team All-Corn Belt Conference and Pantagraph All-Area selection at Central Catholic. As a senior, he added Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State honorable mention. He earned four varsity letters for Coach Mike Moews' Saints. Playing for a 12-2 Central Catholic squad that reached the IHSA Class 3A state quarterfinals this past fall, Connor led the Saints with 14 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. He recorded 99 total stops, including 61 of the solo variety and 8½ sacks. He recovered a pair of fumbles as well. In addition to earning first team all-conference honors at defensive end, he was also named at offensive tackle after moving there from tight end.
 
James Cousin, 6' 1", 270, OL-DL, Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park & River Forest HS)
Cousin served as a co-captain this season for Coach John Hoerster's Huskies, who finished 9-2 and reached the second round of the IHSA Class 8A playoffs.
 
Brock Danko, 5' 9", 170, RB-DB-KR, Bloomington, Ill. (Tri-Valley HS)
A four-year letter winner for Coach Josh Roop at Tri-Valley, Danko helped the Vikings compile a 43-6 record during that time, including a 14-0 mark and an IHSA Class 2A state championship this year. He was a first team All-Heart of Illinois Conference selection and earned All-Area honorable mention from the Pantagraph. He rushed 121 times for 1,182 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 9.8 yards per carry. He also caught six passes for 149 yards (24.8 per catch) and an addition two scores. On defense, he recorded 25 tackles and one interception.
 
Tom Dolis, 6', 185, WR, Chicago, Ill. (Notre Dame HS)
Dolis was a two-year letter winner for Coach Michael Hennessey at Notre Dame. As a senior, he caught 31 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns for a Don program that went 8-2, shared an East Suburban Catholic Conference championship and made the IHSA Class 8A playoffs. He was an All-ESCC selection and won Notre Dame's Fran Willett Award.
 
Ryan Donovan, 6' 3", 195, WR, Davenport, Iowa (Bettendorf HS)
Donovan lettered each of the past two seasons for Coach Aaron Wiley at Bettendorf, helping the Bulldogs compile a 24-2 record with two Class 4A state semifinal appearances. As a senior, he snared 37 receptions for 593 yards and four touchdowns, all team highs for a 12-1 Bettendorf squad. He earned second team All-District 8 recognition and All-Metro honorable mention from the Quad-City Times.
 
Sam Francis, 5' 11", 195, LB, River Forest, Ill. (Oak Park & River Forest HS)
Francis was a two-year letter winner for Coach John Hoerster at OPRF, helping the Huskies to a 9-2 record and an IHSA Class 8A playoff appearance this year. He recorded 51 tackles and three pass breakups, earning All-West Suburban Conference recognition. Francis' father, Scott, was a four-year football letter winner at Augustana and played on three straight NCAA Division III championship teams from 1983-85.
 
Ryan Ganson, 5' 11", 170, K, Geneseo, Ill. (Geneseo HS)
Ganson was a two-year letter winner for Geneseo and Coach Larry Johnsen, an Augustana alum. The Maple Leafs went 22-3 during those two seasons, including an IHSA state runner-up finish in 2013 and a semifinal appearance in 2014. Ganson scored 58 points as a Maple Leaf senior, with a long field goal of 46 yards and earned Dispatch/Argus All-Metro honorable mention.
 
Noah Hamerlinck, 6' 1", 200, LB-OG, Reynolds, Ill. (Rockridge HS)
Hamerlinck earned three varsity letters for Coach Sam Graves at Rockridge. During that time, he helped the Rockets to a 27-7 record and three straight IHSA Playoff appearances. As a senior, he averaged 10 tackles per game and was a first team All-Lincoln Trail Conference selection at both linebacker and offensive guard. He was an all-area honoree on defense by both the Dispatch/Argus and Quad-City Times and earned All-State honorable mention from the IHSFCA.
 
Jason Hasenberg, 6' 5", 220, TE-WR, Bartlett, Ill. (Bartlett HS)
Hasenberg was three-year starter for Coach Tom Meaney's Hawks. As a senior, he was a first team All-Upstate 8 Conference selection after catching 50 passes for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. Bartlett finished 5-5 and qualified for the IHSA Class 8A playoffs.
 
Dom Haubner, 5' 11", 208, QB-SS, Park Ridge, Ill. (Lake Forest Academy)
Haubner was a two-year letter winner and All-Chicago Catholic League performer for Coach Robin Bowkett at Lake Forest Academy. As a senior captain for the Caxys, he threw for 1,900 yards and 17 touchdowns, earning Pioneer Press All-Area honorable mention in addition to all-conference recognition. As a junior, Haubner completed 42 of 78 passes for 933 yards and 11 touchdowns while being intercepted just once.
 
Devin Haxby, 5' 8", 175, RB-DB, Colona, Ill. (Geneseo HS)
Haxby was a three-year letter winner for Augustana alum and Geneseo Coach Larry Johnsen. He helped the Maple Leafs compile a 34-5 record during that time with three playoff appearances, including a second-place finish in Class 4A in 2013. As a senior, he earned first team All-NIB 12 West honors for a Geneseo outfit that finished 10-2 and reached the IHSA Class 4A quarterfinals. In addition, the Dispatch/Argus named him a first team Metro All-Star and the Quad-City Times named him to its All-Western Illinois second team. On the season, he rushed for 790 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging nearly eight yards per carry.
 
Carter Hewerdine, 5' 10", 180, LB-WR, Corpus Christi, Texas (Calallen HS)
Hewerdine was a first team All-District 30 selection at outside linebacker for Coach Phil Danaher's Wildcats this year. He recorded 56 tackles, three sacks, three pass deflections and three fumble recoveries for a Calallen squad that finished 11-3 and reached the UIL Class 5A state quarterfinals.
 
Xavier Holley, 6' 2", 225, DE, Bettendorf, Iowa (Bettendorf HS)
Holley, whom Bettendorf Coach Aaron Wiley calls "an All-State caliber player," missed his entire senior season with an injury, but was still selected to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic in Cedar Falls, Iowa on July 23, 2016. As a junior, he received All-District 8 honorable mention. He recorded 27 solo tackles and 17 assists for a Bulldog squad that finished 12-1 and reached the Iowa Class 4A semifinals. He was in on 13 tackles for loss and four sacks as well.
 
Mark Isom, 6', 200, DE, Park Forest, Ill. (Rich East HS)
Isom was a four-year football letter winner at Rich East, where he played for Augustana alum Barry Reade. As a senior, he recorded 44 tackles, 14 sacks, two forced fumbles and a safety and earned All-Southland Conference honors.
 
Bobby Jarosz, 5' 8", 180, RB, Mt. Prospect, Ill. (Prospect HS)
Jarosz earned four varsity letters for Coach Mike Sebestyen at Prospect. As a senior, he rushed for 1,228 yards and 15 touchdowns on 210 carries. He was an All-Mid Suburban League selection and was named to the Daily Herald Northwest All-Area team. He was all-area special mention as a junior. On June 18, 2016, he will represent the West in the Illinois Shrine All-Star Game in Bloomington, Illinois.
 
Ethan Jennings, 6' 1", 190, WR-DB, Chicago, Ill. (Notre Dame HS)
Jennings was a two-year letter winner and a first team All-East Suburban Catholic Conference section as a senior for Coach Mike Hennessey's Dons. In addition, he was named Notre Dame's Outstanding Offensive Player this past fall and earned all-area honorable mention from the Pioneer Press. He caught 35 passes for 478 yards and three touchdowns in 2015 and added 82 yards and a touchdown on 11 rushing attempts. He recorded a pair of interceptions as well, helping the Dons to an 8-2 record, an ESCC co-championship and an IHSA Class 8A playoff appearance.
 
Griff Jensen, 5' 10", 195, SS-LB-CB, Evanston, Ill. (Evanston HS)
Jensen was a two-year letter winner for Coach Mike Burzawa's Wildkits. As a senior, he was in on more than 50 tackles, forced one fumble and had four passes defended for ETHS's 6-4 Class 8A playoff qualifier. He earned the team's EFFORT Award.
 
Nick Karis, 5' 11", 180, WR-QB-RB-CB-KR, Northbrook, Ill. (Glenbrook North HS)
Karis was a versatile performer for Coach Bob Pieper at GNHS. He was an All-Central Suburban League selection this year for an 8-2, CSL-champion Spartan outfit and earned all-area honorable mention from the Pioneer Press and Daily North Shore. He rushed for 544 yards and 12 touchdowns on 78 attempts as a senior, an average of 7.0 yards per carry. He also averaged 18.4 yards per reception, with eight catches for 147 yards, and completed 24 of 37 pass attempts (64.9 percent) for 195 yards.
 
Josh Kirshenbaum, 6' 3", 205, QB, Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community HS)
During his senior season of 2014, Kirshenbaum—a three-year letter winner for Coach Wes Temples' Ironmen—led NCHS to an 8-3 record and an undefeated Big 12 conference championship. He threw for 2,450 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for an additional 495 yards and five scores. He was named the Big 12's Co-Offensive Player of the Year and was a first team All-Area selection by the Pantagraph.
 
Brett Lane, 6' 2", 175, WR-CB, Bethalto, Ill. (Civic Memorial HS)
Lane lettered three times in Coach Justin Winslow's football program at Civic Memorial. As a senior, he caught 30 passes for 466 yards and six touchdowns for a 7-3 Eagle squad that reached the IHSA Class 4A playoffs. On defense, he recorded 26 tackles and one interception. He was a first team All-Mississippi Valley Conference selection after leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown grabs. He was also selected to play in this summer's West Central Illinois All-Star Game. As a junior, he caught 40 passes for 661 yards and four touchdowns. He was the conference leader in catches and receiving yards and earned second team All-MVC and Belleville News Democrat All-Area recognition.
 
Jake Maher, 5' 10", 180, RB-KR, Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield South HS)
Maher was a first team All-Southwest Prairie Conference selection and Plainfield South's Offensive MVP as a senior. He rushed for 820 yards and eight touchdowns on 115 carries and caught 22 passes for 180 yards and one score. A team captain, he helped lead Coach Ken Bublitz's Cougars to an IHSA Class 8A playoff appearance and earned All-Area honorable mention from the Joliet Herald-News.
 
Richard Matway, 6' 2", 180, DB-TE-FB, Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield North HS)
Matway was a two-year letter winner for Coach Tim Kane's Tigers. He helped lead Plainfield North to a 6-4 record and an IHSA Class 7A playoff appearance this year. He also earned three varsity letters won the Tiger Award as a sprinter in Coach Tony Hollar's track & field program at North.
 
Ike McGuire, 6' 2", 205, DE, Wonder Lake, Ill. (Marian Central Catholic HS)
McGuire was an All-East Suburban Catholic Conference performer for Coach Mike Maloney's Hurricanes this year. He recorded 40 tackles, including 22 solo stops and six sacks, for a Marian outfit that went 8-3 and reached the second round of the IHSA Class 5A playoffs. As a junior, McGuire was in on 32 tackles, including a team-best 14 for loss.
 
Matt McKay, 6', 275, OL, Chicago, Ill. (Mount Carmel HS)
McKay was a two-year letter winner for Coach Frank Lenti's Caravan. As a senior, he earned All-Chicago Catholic League honors after helping Mount Carmel to a 10-3 record and the program's 14th Prep Bowl championship. He helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 28.7 points per contest this year and put up over 40 points on five occasions, including twice in the postseason.
 
Kegan North, 6' 2", 230, LB-TE, Fulton, Ill. (Fulton HS)
A four-year letter winner in Coach Patrick Lower's Steamer program, North was an IHSFCA All-State selection at linebacker this year. He was an All-Three Rivers Athletic Conference selection on both sides of the ball and was named to the all-area teams of the Dispatch/Argus , Quad-City Times and Clinton Herald. He finished the year with 92 tackles, 1½ sacks, a fumble recovery and two touchdowns—one on offense and one on defense. As a junior, He recorded 42 solo tackles and 50 assists and earned all-conference honors at linebacker as well as all-area recognition from the Dispatch/Argus, Quad-City Times, Clinton Herald and Sauk Valley Media.
 
Luke Phelan, 5' 10", 170, DB, Shorewood, Ill. (Joliet Catholic Academy)
Phelan earned a total of seven letters in three sports at JCA, including four in Coach Dan Sharp's football program. He helped lead the Hilltoppers to a combined 36-12 record and four IHSA Class 5A playoff appearances. As a senior, he was an All-East Suburban Catholic Conference selection and earned All-Area special mention from the Joliet Herald-News. He was in on 45 tackles this year—25 solo and 20 assisted. He had two interceptions, seven pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble as well.
 
Will Price, 5' 10", 200, LB, Sparta, Ill. (Sparta HS)
Price earned three varsity letters each in football, wrestling and baseball at Sparta. He was a two-time All-Southern Illinois River to River Conference selection on the gridiron. As a senior, he recorded 126 tackles for Coach Rob Kirk's Bulldogs and was named first team All-Area by the Belleville News-Democrat.
 
Adam Prosser, 6' 2", 285, OL-DL, St. Charles, Ill. (Marmion Academy)
Prosser was a four-year letter winner in Coach Dan Thorpe's Marmion gridiron program. He recorded 36 tackles as a senior, including seven quarterback sacks.
 
Michael Reid, 6', 260, OL-DL, Bloomington, Ill. (Bloomington HS)
Reid was a unanimous All-Big 12 selection and a Pantagraph All-Area performer for Coach Rigo Schmelzer in 2014. He was selected to play in this year's Order of the Eastern Star All-Star Game in June.
 
Luke Sawicki, 6', 205, LB, Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley HS)
Sawicki was a two-year letter winner and team captain for Coach Bill Ellinghaus' Wildcats. He missed his senior season with an injury. As a junior in 2014, an injury limited him to just five games, but he still recorded 45 tackles, two sacks and an interception and for good measure, returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
 
Blayne Schlueter, 6' 2", 210, DT-OG-LB, Quincy, Ill. (Quincy HS)
Schlueter was a three-year letter winner and two-time All-Western Big 6 and Quincy Herald-Whig first team All-Area selection for Coach Rick Little at Quincy. As a senior captain, he was an all-conference and all-area performer on defense. He recorded 90 tackles, including 64 solo stops, seven for loss and 3½ sacks for a Blue Devil outfit that qualified for the IHSA Class 6A playoffs. He was chosen as the team's Defensive MVP and selected to play in the Do or Die Bowl. As a junior, he helped lead Quincy to its first conference title in 40 years and a Class 7A playoff appearance. He was all-conference and all-area at guard, where he helped pave the way for the Big 6's top rushing offense. He was named co-winner of the Dave Happ Award as the Blue Devils' most valuable lineman.
 
Nathan Schoon, 6' 2", 205, TE-DE, Clifton, Ill. (Clifton Central HS)
Schoon was a first team All-Sangamon Valley Conference selection on both sides of the ball this year. On offense, he caught 17 passes for 314 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 23½ tackles, including 3½ sacks. He also had two forced fumbles and an interception. He was a three-year letter winner for Coach Brian Spooner's Comets and was also an All-SVC selection on offense as a junior.
 
Griffin Schuster, 6', 160, WR-QB-SS-CB-KR, Poplar Grove, Ill. (North Boone HS)
A three-year letter winner on the gridiron, Schuster was a versatile performer for Coach Aaron Sullivan's Vikings. He was a two-time unanimous All-Big Northern Conference selection. As a senior, he accounted for over 1,000 all-purpose yards. He had 250 yards and two touchdowns on 40 rushing attempts, caught 22 passes for 268 yards and four scores and threw for 100 yards and another touchdown. He also had a touchdown each on a punt and kickoff return. He was a first team All-Area selection on defense by the Beloit Daily News. As a junior, he rushed for over 300 yards and had 424 yards and eight touchdowns on 31 receptions. He was named all-area honorable mention on offense.
 
Daniel Tjaden, 6' 2", 230, DE, Bettendorf, Iowa (Assumption HS)
Tjaden was a two-year letter winner for Coach Wade King's Knights and helped Assumption go 9-3 this year and reach the Iowa Class 3A state quarterfinals. He was an INA first team All-State selection at defensive end, as well as first team All-District 5 and Quad-City Times first team All-Metro. In addition, he was selected to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic in Cedar Falls, Iowa on July 23, 2016. He recorded 50 tackles as a senior, including team highs of eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He tied for the team lead with three fumble recoveries. As a junior, he recorded 17 solo tackles and 33 assists, leading the Knights with seven tackles for loss and six sacks. He earned first team all-district recognition and Quad-City Times All-Metro honorable mention.
 
Christian Wey, 6' 1", 190, WR-DB-P, Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community HS)
Wey was a three-year letter winner and starter for Coach Wes Temples at Normal Community. He helped lead the Ironmen to a 27-7 record during his career, including three consecutive Big 12 Conference championships and three straight IHSA playoff appearances. He was an All-Big 12 selection at punter as a senior and was selected to play in the 26th annual Order of the Eastern Star All-Star Game in June.
 
Kelan Whan, 6' 2", 200, DB-QB, Coal Valley, Ill. (Alleman HS)
A three-year letter winner at Alleman, Whan was an IHSFCA Class 4A All-State selection at defensive back this year. He also earned All-Western Big 6, Dispatch/Argus Metro All-Star and Quad-City Times All-Metro honors for Coach Todd Depoorter's Pioneers. He was a repeat selection on the Dispatch/Argus unit. He threw for 530 yards and five touchdowns in 2015 and added 359 yards and nine scores on the ground. He is the grandson of Jack Whan—a member of Augustana's Tribe of Vikings Hall of Fame.
 
Chaz Williams, 6' 5", 230, DE-OT, Princeton, Ill. (Princeton HS)
Williams was a three-year football letter winner for Coach Jesse Snyder at Princeton. As a senior, he earned Class 3A All-State recognition from the IHSFCA. He was named to the all-area teams of the Peoria Journal Star, La Salle News Tribune and Bureau County Republican and was a unanimous first team All-Three Rivers Athletic Conference selection as well. He recorded 54 tackles from his defensive end position, including seven for negative yardage and six sacks. At offensive tackle, he didn't surrender a single sack this season and helped pave the way for an 11-1 Tiger squad that averaged 338.3 yards of total offense per game and reached the IHSA Class 3A state quarterfinals.
 
Andrew Winkelman, 6' 2", 245, OL-LB, South Elgin, Ill. (St. Charles North)
As a senior, Winkelman was named Offensive Lineman of the Year for Coach Robert Pomazak's Stars outfit that went 7-3 overall, 4-2 in the Upstate Eight River Division and reached the IHSA Class 7A playoffs. He earned All-Upstate Eight honorable mention this year and helped pave the way for a St. Charles North offense that averaged 37 points and nearly 400 total yards per game. The Stars' ground game produced almost 200 yards per contest and six yards per carry.
 
Spencer Wood, 6' 3", 210, QB, Aledo, Ill. (Mercer County HS)
Wood twice earned All-Lincoln Trail Conference and Dispatch/Argus Area All-Star recognition. He lettered four times for Coach Nat Zunkel's Golden Eagles and guided them to a 23-10 record and three IHSA playoff appearances in his three seasons as a starter. As a junior, he earned All-State honorable mention from the IHSFCA. As a senior he threw for 1,141 yards and accounted for 11 touchdowns. He finished his career with 4,160 passing yards and a total of 51 passing and rushing touchdowns.