Holmes holds his own at the Combine

Hillsdale's Andre Holmes had his moment on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf Sunday and turned in a couple of the better performances of the day. A 10 foot 10 inch broad jump was the 3rd best recorded amongst wide receivers and his 3 cone drill time hit the board at NFL.com as a top performer as well.

Check the spreadsheet below to see how Holmes' measurables stacked up against the rest. Speaking of measurables, at 6-4 3/4, he was the 2nd tallest WR at the event.

Reno recruit can kick

I was making my routine check of the Hillsdale incoming freshman list and noticed three new names today.

After immediately beginning to "Google" these guys, the first link for 6-3 169 Eric Johnson from Galena HS in Reno, NV looked very promising.

"Athlete of the Week
ERIC JOHNSON Galena, Football, Senior. Johnson scored all 30 points for the Grizzlies in their upset of Douglas on Friday. The receiver/kicker had three touchdown catches, three extra points and three field goals, including a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter."

While Colin McGreevy was nearly perfect on extra points, he didn't show that kind of range and it would be nice to have someone at least handle kickoffs that can put it in the endzone once in a while.

Also added to the list this week are South Bend (IN) Marian QB-DB Thomas Marian and 6-4 270 OL Robert Pfeiffer from Toledo St. Francis.

Watch Andre Holmes perform at the NFL Combine Online

NFL.com will stream the 2011 Combine live from Indianapolis at NFL.com .

Hillsdale's Andre Holmes will begin with the 40 yard dash at 9:00 AM on Sunday, followed by the rest of the measurable drills and the position drills.

Hillsdale welcomes next wave of recruits

As is typical, Hillsdale has added another set of players to its initial signing day class for the upcoming 2011 season.

The following players bring the incoming freshman class to 21.

Alex Fogt, 6-0 220, HB/LB, Anna, OH
Noah Hiser, 6-2 175, WR, Dexter, MI
Aaron Price, 6-4 234, DL, Newark Catholic HS, Newark, OH
Caleb Sunblad, 5-11 185, DB, Caro, MI
Trevor Tidswell, 6-0 170, WR, Spring Lake, MI

The Huge Show: Jared Veldheer Interview

Bill Simonson from WBBL's "The Huge Show" interviews Hillsdale Charger and Oakland Raider Jared Veldheer.

Jared and Huge talk about the rookie season, the off-season, and training with Troy Weatherhead.

Click to Listen.

Collegian: NFL looking at holmes, Weatherhead

Nathan McClallen
Thursday February 10, 2011

In the weeks since going to their second straight Division II playoff game, Hillsdale College's football seniors have gone many different directions. A few graduated in December, others are cruising through their last semester, and two are working out every morning in pursuit of a career in the NFL.

Two Charger seniors were invited to play in post-season all-star games this year, and both have continued to receive attention from the highest levels of competition.

Senior quarterback Troy Weatherhead competed in the Cactus Bowl on Jan. 7, a game highlighting the best players of Division II. Only two quarterbacks made each team's roster.

Senior wide receiver Andre Holmes played in the Texas vs. The Nation game Saturday, a game that featured players from Division I schools such as Ohio State University and Wisconsin University. He started for The Nation and caught both passes thrown his way. Currently, Holmes is in Tampa Bay, training for the NFL Combine on Feb. 24.

Weatherhead said although there were a lot of good players in the Cactus Bowl, he felt like he belonged.

"To be honest, I felt like I was the best [quarterback] down there, when it came to staying in the pocket and throwing," he said.

Full Story

Hillsdale.edu: Trio of Chargers named honorable mention All-American by D2football.com

Hillsdale College Release

February 1, 2011 - Three members of the 2010 Hillsdale College football team were named honorable mention All-American by D2football.com. The website released its list late Monday night.

D2football.com is considered the premier entity covering Division II football, and Hillsdale College was well-represented on its All-American list.

Sophomore RB Joe Glendening, senior WR Andre Holmes and senior QB Troy Weatherhead were each named to the honorable mention list by the website. It is the second All-American honor for Weatherhead, while Glendening and Holmes each earned that recognition for the first time.

Weatherhead was previously named honorable mention All-American by the Don Hansen Football Gazette.

The Chargers' starting quarterback for three seasons, Weatherhead finished 2010 as the GLIAC Player of the Year and the NCAA Division II leader in passing efficiency. He also set an all-division record for pass completion percentage in a single season (76.9), and led the GLIAC in completions (279) and passing yards (3,215). He finished his career as Hillsdale College's all-time leader in career completions, attempts, yards and touchdown passes.

Glendening enjoyed a spectacular first season as the starting running back for the Chargers, earning First-Team All-GLIAC accolades. He set a single-season school record with 312 rushing attempts, and led the conference with 1,485 rushing yards, and scored 15 touchdowns.

Holmes made a big name for himself on the nationwide stage in 2010, finishing with 104 catches for 1,368 yards and 11 touchdowns. His receptions and receiving yards were both single-season school records. He was also named First-Team All-GLIAC, and has been invited to the NFL Combine later this month, as well as the NFLPA Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game, scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 5.

All three players were key components to Hillsdale's 9-3 season in 2010. The Chargers were co-champions of the GLIAC South Division, and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second year in a row.

MLive.com: Catholic Central grad Tom Korte heads to Italy for 'adventure' and one 'last football tour'

Published: Wednesday, February 09, 2011, 11:00 AM
Greg Johnson | The Grand Rapids Press By Greg Johnson | The Grand Rapids Press

Tom Korte, the former Catholic Central and Hillsdale College football star who was among the final cuts in the 2009 training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers, surprised even himself when he agreed to play professional football for one year in Italy.

"It thought playing football was behind me," said Korte who left Grand Rapids on Tuesday to join the Italian Football League’s Milano Seamen in Milan, Italy.

He plans to play one season as one of three American players allowed per team. He will receive an apartment, flights to and from Italy and transportation in Milan along with $1,500 per month for the season.

Milano is the defending champion of the College League.

After being cut by the Steelers, Korte said he figured his football career was over and he began to concentrate on a career in dentistry.

Korte, the son of Grandville endodontist Paul Korte, has been accepted to dental school in the fall at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.

"That was my goal, and it’s why I put football away, to concentrate on that," he said. "I still have that goal in place. I will be back for school. I’m just going to do this while I wait for dental school to start. When you love the game, you know, it’s just hard to say no."

Full Story

Holmes has 2 catches in All Star Game

For the second year in a row, amongst the Clemson, Auburn, Miami, and North Carolina helmets, there was a Hillsdale College Charger football helmet in the starting line up of the Texas vs. The Nation game.

Hillsdale WR Andre Holmes got the nod from head coach Jerry Glanville and started for The Nation team. While trading reps with a number of other wide-outs, Holmes caught both passes thrown to him including one across the middle that showed he wasn't afraid to take a hit.

Next up for Holmes is the NFL Combine that begins on February 24.

Holmes takes center stage at NFLPA game today from San Antonio

With the Texas vs. the Nation game occupying the same week as the Super Bowl and Snow-ma-geddon, news out of San Antonio hasn't been nearly as prevalent as other years leading up to the college All-Star game.

Despite all of those factors, Hillsdale College all-time leading receiver Andre Holmes' week of practice has taken him from the GLIAC and Division II football radars and onto mainstream conversations about NFL Draft hopefuls.

It is 'Dre's size and separation abilities that have most scouts taking notes. A reporter from The Sporting News wrote this about him earlier in the week. "Although he dropped four passes Tuesday, he definitely showed he has the size and athleticism NFL teams want. Despite the drops, he generally did a very good job of reaching out and plucking the ball away from his body. He caught high passes well."

Game time today is 2:00 PM EST from the Alamo Dome in San Antonio. Watch it live on CBS College Sports.

Official Football Signing Day list from Hillsdale College

Here is the first full look at the 2011 freshman football class for Hillsdale College.

Justin D’Agostino, LB 5-11 214, Livonia, MI - Detroit Catholic Central - VIDEO

Nick Chapel, WR 5-10 170, Fort Wayne, IN - Bishop Luers - VIDEO

David Galginaitis, DL 6-1 234, Colgate, WI - Germantown - VIDEO

John Haley, WR 6-3 184, Grand Rapids Catholic Central

David Horton, QB/DB 6-0 163, Suttons Bay, MI - VIDEO

Justice Karmie, OL 6-3 254, Uniontown, OH, Lake HS - VIDEO

CJ Mifsud, QB 6-3 176, Dearborn, MI

Tim Moinet, DB 6-2 181, St. Johns, MI - VIDEO

Daniel Pittman, DB 5-11 174, Grand Rapids West Catholic - VIDEO

Colin Remtema, LB 6-0 190, Rockford, MI

Jacob Richter, QB 6-2 216, Louisville, KY, - Christian Academy - VIDEO

Curtis Smith, DL 6-3 238, Holland, MI - West Ottawa

Kegan Smith, WR 6-4 215, Gladwin, MI - VIDEO

Roger Stewart, DL 6-4 290, White Pigeon, MI

Matt Van Opstall, OL 6-6 220, Jenison, MI

Wade Wood, TB 5-11 198, Goodrich, MI - VIDEO

If you have a link for a video not included, please email: Chargerblue@gmail.com

Hillsdale's Mudd back in the NFL as Eagles Line Coach

Indianapolis Star - Original Article

(Hillsdale College All-American and All Pro lineman) Howard Mudd’s retirement was brief.

The long-time offensive line coach with the Indianapolis Colts, who retired from the NFL following the 2009 season, has accepted a similar position with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the team’s website.

Mudd, who turns 69 next month, had directed the Colts’ offensive line for 12 years before announcing his retirement that became effective after the 2009 season. He has been an NFL assistant since 1974.

“Very smart and has clearly got the experience to probably be the best offensive line coach this league has seen,’’ Colts’ offensive tackle Ryan Diem said in a story posted on the Eagles’ website.

“He definitely brings some flavor ... and he’s a special guy,’’ added Colts’ Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday.

Add Gladwin's Kegan Smith to the Hillsdale list of Signees

Midland Daily News - Original Post

Gladwin's Kegan Smith to play at Hillsdale

Another area player, Gladwin's Kegan Smith, has signed with Hillsdale, another GLIAC football program.

Last fall, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Smith set single-season Gladwin records for receptions (53), receiving yards (829), and touchdown catches (11); and also set the record for most catches in a game (13).

He finished with 14 total TDs (receiving, rushing and defense), after playing at quarterback the previous year as a junior.

"When we moved him to wide receiver, that opened up all kinds of avenues for our team," said Gladwin coach Josh Shattuck. "He shattered every record we have."

First Five Players officially sign with Hillsdale

Here are the first five players officially to sign and fax National Letters of Intent.

Justice Karmie OL 6-3 254 lbs. Uniontown, Ohio/Lake High School

Daniel Pittman DB 5-11 174 lbs. Grand Rapids, Mich./West Catholic High School

Jacob Richter QB 6-2 216 lbs. Louisville, Ky./Christian Academy

Matthew VanOpstall OL 6-4 290 lbs. Jenison, Mich./Jenison High School

Wade Wood TB 5-11 198 lbs. Goodrich, Mich./Goodrich High School

Recent Charger Assistant with deep Hillsdale College ties passes Away

Usually the first Wednesday in February is an exciting day with all kinds of recruiting news filtering in as Hillsdale signs its first wave of football recruits.

Today still will provide plenty of action, but it is getting going on a somber note. I just learned that former H-backs and Tight Ends coach Al Dawson passed away unexpectedly on Monday.

Dawson last coached at Hillsdale in 2006 but remained close to the staff and had deep Charger football roots. Al's younger brother Eric is a 1993 grad and won an MIFC championship as an offensive lineman in 1992. Al's two nephews Brad Rumsey and Chet Crowley are recent Charger football players and their families have been deeply involved with supporting the program for the last 10 years.

Thoughts, prayers, and condolences to all of the players who knew and played for Coach Dawson, his family, and friends.

Here is a link to an obituary posted at Mlive.com.

6' 3" Kentucky QB commits to the Chargers

Jacob Richter from Christian Academy of Louisville (KY) has given his verbal commitment to play football at Hillsdale College in the Fall.

As a senior Richter tallied 29 touchdowns, threw for 1700 yards and ran for another grand in a run-oriented offense. Richter worked primarily out of the triple-option, pistol, and spread throughout his career.



Check out JacobRichter.us.