As Thomas More football is just about set to make the transition from NAIA to Division II, they wanted to make sure they found the players that fit their system and help them move forward into a new era with their 2023 recruiting class.
Coach Chris Norwell said they’re waiting on some more additions to finalize their 2023 class, but inked 32 on National Signing Day on Wednesday. Norwell estimates the incoming class will be around 50.
The 2023 class so far consists of players from nine different states that includes the tri-state of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana along with players from Georgia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Virginia and West Virginia.
Six are currently from Kenton, Boone or Campbell County.
“We recruit our backyard really hard,” Norwell said. “Being in northern Kentucky, we’re surrounded by really good high school football.”
The six from the three counties are Cooper’s Jayce Hotchkiss (S, 6-1, 185), Ryle’s Luke Zimmerman (DL, 6-2, 205), Simon Kenton’s Chase Crone (QB, 6-2, 195), Cooper’s Eli White (RB, 6-0, 193), Highlands’ Sam Robinson (LB, 5-10, 190) and Covington Catholic’s Broghan Rust (OL, 6-3, 290).
Crone was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Pioneers and threw for over 8,000 yards in his career. Hotchkiss recorded 26 tackles in his senior season for the Jaguars and had 14 receptions for 228 yards and three touchdowns. White led the Jaguars with 842 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Robinson was the Bluebirds second leading tackler in 2022 and recovered two fumbles along with eight tackles for loss and three sacks. Rust will be part of a incoming versatile offensive line that Norwell is excited about.
“I feel really good about our QBs in this class. We’re excited about the guys we’re bringing in up front. We have a lot of guys on the o-line that are very versatile,” Norwell said. “The thing that really excites me about the class in whole is that a lot of them come from winning programs. Couple kids won state championships last year. When you come from really good high school programs, it transitions really well because the bar has already been set high.”
Starting in 2023, the Saints will play in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. During the two-year provisional period in making the jump to Division II, they’ll be eligible for conference championships and tournaments beginning in the 2023 season. Following the mandatory two-year transition period, the University would then become eligible for NCAA Championships during the 2025-26 year.
Thomas More finished 5-6 in 2022, going 4-4 in the Mid-South Conference. The GMAC includes Ashland, Ohio Dominican, Findlay, Tiffin, Hillsdale, Lake Erie, Northwood, Kentucky Wesleyan and Walsh.
“I feel the biggest thing we did was identifying needs and finding players that fit Thomas More. We have some great things going on at campus, the administration is doing a great job leading us into the future,” Norwell said. “It will be tough to transition early on, we’re not familiar with these other teams, everything will be brand new. It will take a while, but when you recruit guys from winning programs, expectations are high. We’re looking forward to finishing out this year and adding these guys.”
Wednesday’s signees:
Carter Sanders, LB, 6-0, 210, Maysville, KY, Mason County HS
Zion Mason, DB, 5-9, 165, Union, KY, Princeton HS
Theo Davis, OL, 6-4, 215, Wyoming, OH, Wyoming HS
Jayce Hotchkiss, S, 6-1, 185, Union, KY, Cooper HS
Jacob Mullinger, LB, 6-0, 190, Centerville, OH, Centerville HS
Ethan Sweat, LB, 5-11, 200, Cincinnati, OH, Moeller
Luke Zimmerman, DL, 6-2, 205, Union, KY, Ryle HS
Josh Moody, RB, 5-9, 180, Paris, KY, Bourbon County HS
Collin Robinson, OL, 6-1, 285, Fairfield Township, OH, Fairfield HS
Gavin Adkins, DL, 6-1, 245, Huntington, WV, Hungtington HS
Nathaniel Royse, OL, 6-3, 290, Mt. Orab, OH, Western Brown HS
Nasir Shelton, CB, 6-0, 165, Richmond, VA, Monroe College
Jalen Alfonso, DB, 6-0, 175, Radcliff, KY, North Hardin HS
Grant Booth, LB, 6-3, 215, Cincinnati, OH, Taylor HS
Chase Crone, QB, 6-2, 195, Independence, KY, Simon Kenton HS
Nathaniel Dyches, CB, 6-0, 155, Wichita Falls, TX, Rider HS
Eli White, RB, 6-0, 193, Union, KY, Cooper HS
Jackson Trombley, K, 5-10, 190, Piqua, OH, Piqua HS
Jack Fitzgerald, S, 6-1, 185, Louisville, KY, St. Xavier HS
Ty Snyde, RB, 5-11, 225, Cincinnati, OH, Mcnicholas HS
Ethan Gardner, WR, 6-4, 160, Cincinnati, OH, McNicholas HS
Eli Aston, WR, 5-10, 175, Lawrenceburg, IN, East Central HS
Cameron Dunn, WR, 5-10, 170, Lexington, KY, Frederick Douglass HS
Makel Loyd, WR, 6-4, 190, Atlanta, GA, Charles Drew HS
Jaiden Dixon, S, 6-0, 170, Lexington, KY, Frederick Douglass HS
Steve Lawson, DL, 6-1, 260, Lexington, KY, Frederick Douglass HS
Elijah Freeman, DL, 6-3, 215, Lawrenceburg, IN, Lawrenceburg HS
Peyton Johnson, DL, 6-2, 215, Centerville, OH, Centerville HS
Sam Robinson, LB, 5-10, 190, Ft. Thomas, KY, Highlands HS
Broghan Rust, OL, 6-3, 290, Erlanger, KY, Covington Catholic HS
Griffin Scalf, QB, 6-3, 210, Anderson, OH, Anderson HS
Brady Morehead, LB, 5-11, 185, Brookville, IN, Franklin County HS