Loveland, Ohio Kicker Matt Eltringham headed to Hillsdale

With four year starter and All American Mark Petro vacating the kicking duties, one had to figure the Charger football staff would include a replacement candidate in the mix of signings this past week.

Not yet appearing on the official Hillsdale College list, but featured at LovelandMagazine.com is kicker Matt Eltringham from Loveland HS in Loveland, Ohio.

Matt Eltringham résumé - More at ActiveRecruiting.com
2 year varsity letter winner
2010 - 3 of 4 FG and 31 of 34 extra points
Finished 3rd in recent National Kicking Combine
All FAVC Academic Team
3.9 GPA and plans to study business

America's Greatest High School Athlete Jim Ryun to speak at Hillsdale on February 14

Courtesy of Hillsdale College

Great Week for Jared Veldheer, Great Week for Hillsdale and D2

Almost every article that came out of El Paso, TX this past week in regards to the Texas Vs. The Nation Challenge seemed to find at least a little space to mention Hillsdale College's Jared Veldheer.

They all talked about his natural size, great athleticism, and the fact that he was more than holding his own in individual drills. 6-8, 321, and a sub-5 40 yard dash will jump out at anybody and it was natural that Veldheer would garner some intrigue. Add in the fact that he is coming out of a 1300 student school and it is a natural story.

A story like that usually runs its course after day 1 or 2, but Jared Veldheer kept his name in the news all week, drew special attention during the game, and wound up keeping his name in the mix through all of the wrap-ups.

CBS Sports' Chad Reuter wrote on Saturday night, "Small-school tackles performed well throughout the week and the Nation's Jared Veldheer (Hillsdale College) looked like the same athletic, powerful lineman he did all week in practice, taking quick ends around the pocket and adjusting well to an inside spin move by quick Junior Galette (Stillman College). Veldheer blocked on kickoff return coverage."

This kind of consistency out of Hillsdale's best pro prospect since Chester Marcol will only bolster Jared's draft stock. All signs point to a similar performance at this month's NFL Combine.

Not only did the Jared Veldheer brand gain some much deserved publicity this week, so did the Hillsdale College football brand...as well as Division II football in whole. At no point did Jared or other D2 stars like Kelton Tindal of Newberry and West Texas AM's J'Marcus Webb look like they didn't belong with the so-called "big boys".

I was IMing on Facebook with D2football.com editor Brandon Meisner toward the end of the game and we were discussing how much Hillsdale was getting mentioned as well as D2football.com. That stuff really matters these days. If you don't think so, look at the class of recruits Grand Valley and Northwest Missouri State just signed, enhanced by playing two straight weeks on national TV.

So...to you Jared, great week of work! Not only have you helped to solidify your professional opportunities, but you are doing a bundle for Charger football and D2 football as well. Keep it up!

(Photo by Mary Veldheer)

A Closer Look: Brett Miller, WR, Scottsdale Christian HS, Arizona

2nd Team All-Arizona (1A-3A) Wide Receiver Brett Miller brings his game to The Dale.

Sporting News: Prospect Profile

The Sporting News takes in depth look at Jared Veldheer.

Click image to read full article.

Hillsdale continues to add recruits

Hillsdale College has updated its list of incoming football players with 6 additions to the one published last evening.

WR Jacob Ackerman, 5-7, 160, Linden HS, MI
QB Drew Collins, 5-10, 170, Adrian HS, MI
TE/LB Scott Hough, 6-2, 210, Jackson Lumen Christi HS, MI
RB Alexander Koski, 5-8, 176, Grosse Pointe South HS, MI
WR Brett Miller, 5-11, 165, Scottsdale Christian Academy, AZ
DE Joseph Snyder, 6-0, 225, Detroit Catholic Central HS, South Lyon, MI

Adrian QB makes Hillsdale late choice

Excerpt from Adrian Telegram, Brian Calloway

(Drew) Collins decided Tuesday night to attend Hillsdale over Fairmont State (W. Va.). He will join the Chargers as strictly a quarterback.

“It was tough because I built such a good relationship with the quarterback coach at Fairmont,” said Collins, who threw for 1,484 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 1,173 yards and 16 scores while guiding Adrian to an 10-2 mark this season. “I met him at the Michigan camp and it was hard not to go there. The big thing was the school was six hours away. Hillsdale is 30 minutes away and all my friends and family can watch.”

Hillsdale had its best record in 17 years with its 10-3 mark last fall and reached the Division II playoffs for the first time in school history.

Collins, who went 17-5 as Adrian’s starting quarterback and was the county Offensive Player of the Year each of the past two seasons, is one of two quarterbacks the Chargers signed. He said having former Adrian teammate Nick Galvan also at Hillsdale helped with his decision.

“I called Nick (Tuesday) and he’s been great through the process,” Collins said. “He came and saw me when I was on my visit. It’s nice to have someone that I know and that will help make me better.”

Galvan, a defensive back, was a key contributor to the Chargers defense as a freshman last fall and finished fourth on the team with 69 tackles.

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