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Chiefs sign OL Jah Reid to three-year extension

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riggertChiefsBy Marc Sessler, NFL.com

The Kansas City Chiefs are keeping Jah Reid around for the long haul.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that the team has given the offensive lineman a three-year contract extension that will keep Reid around through the 2018 season, according to a source informed of the deal. Rapoport adds the contract is worth $10.2 million overall and can possibly reach $12 million.

Reid has made eight starts at right tackle this season and currently ranks as the 59th best player at his position, per Pro Football Focus. It’s hardly been a campaign of brilliance by the former Ravens blocker, but he gives Kansas City a depth injection and someone they can trust to fill in as needed.

Playing his best game of the year in a Week 12 win over the Bills, Reid has graded out negatively by Pro Football Focus’ metrics in all of his seven other starts.

Still, the Chiefs see something to like in the fifth-year blocker and made that clear with their wallet Thursday. It will be a merry Christmas in the Reid household.

Mizzou signs junior college OL Tyler Howell to letter of intent

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riggertMissouriCOLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football head coach Barry Odom announced Wednesday  that Tyler Howell (Olathe, Kan.) has signed his letter of intent to join Mizzou’s program for the 2016 season. Howell, a 6-8, 300-pound offensive lineman, joins Mizzou after a successful career at Butler Community College where he most recently played in 2014. He will be eligible for the 2016 season.

Howell is a big-bodied offensive tackle with tremendous size and length combined with good quickness and footwork. He was a First Team Junior College All-American and rated as the 37th-best junior college prospect by ESPN and the fifth-best junior college offensive lineman in the 2015 class. Rivals and 247 Sports rated him as a three-star prospect and Rivals ranked him as the No. 43 junior college prospect in the nation and the eighth-best offensive lineman in the 2015 junior college class.

Howell helped guide Butler to an 8-3 record in 2014, while working across an offensive line that was paramount in helping gain more than 5,000 yards of total offense. He chose Mizzou over offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky and Penn State among others.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Boone scores 27 as Missouri State beats Oral Roberts 85-66

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riggertMSUSPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Camyn Boone scored 27 points and added seven rebounds to help lead Missouri State to an 85-66 win over Oral Roberts on Wednesday night.

Boone hit 9 of 14 shots from the field and 9 of 12 at the free throw line. Dorrian Williams added 14 points, seven boards, and five assists and Dequon Miller had 11 points for Missouri State (4-6), which has won three of four after starting the season 1-5.

The Bears shot 53.3 percent from the field while holding Oral Roberts to 35.9 percent.

Missouri State opened on an 18-2 run and led 45-22 at the half. A Jalen Bradley jumper for the Golden Eagles (8-4) trimmed their deficit 56-45 with 11 minutes left. But Missouri State answered with a 12-3 run to extend the lead back to 20 (68-48).

Obi Emegano scored 18 points for Oral Roberts.

— Associated Press —

Four Wildcats earn All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press

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riggertKansasStateMANHATTAN, Kan. – Paced by sophomore defensive tackle Will Geary on the first team, Kansas State had four football players named to the Associated Press All-Big 12 teams, the organization announced Wednesday.

Geary was named a first team defensive tackle by the AP after earning honorable mention accolades from the league’s coaches. Junior fullback Glenn Gronkowski (listed as a tight end), senior offensive lineman Cody Whitehair and senior kick returner Morgan Burns (listed as an all-purpose player) were each named to the second team. It was Gronkowski’s first All-Big 12 honor this postseason, while Whitehair and Burns were each on the coaches’ first team.

A former walk-on from Topeka, Kansas, Geary registered 45 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He started every game for the Wildcats, including the Oklahoma game when he recorded a career-best eight tackles, three TFLs and two sacks.

He also forced and recovered a fumble at Texas Tech, but his biggest contribution this season may have been a strip against Iowa State. With the Wildcats trailing by seven with less than two minutes remaining, Geary stripped a Cyclone running back and K-State tied the game on the ensuing drive. K-State went on to win the game, the first of three-straight victories to close out the season and obtain bowl eligibility for a sixth-straight season.

Gronkowski started all 12 games, recording five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown while rushing 11 times for 45 yards and another score. He recorded a 31-yard reception and scored his first-career rushing touchdown at Kansas a week after throwing a touchdown pass to fellow fullback Winston Dimel in K-State’s win over Iowa State.

A native of Abilene, Kansas, Whitehair played in all 51 games over the last four years with 50 starts. Regarded as one of the most versatile offensive linemen in the league, Whitehair has started at both guard and tackle, including the last two years at left tackle.

Burns tied the school and Big 12 single-season records for kickoff-return touchdowns with four, including three over the final four weeks of the regular season. The 2015 Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, Burns enters the bowl season ranked second nationally with a 33.8-yard kickoff return average, while he has 1,047 total kickoff-return yards this season to sit just 81 yards shy of breaking the single-season mark.

A product of Wichita, Kansas, Burns has been named a First Team All-American kick returner by USA TODAY Sports, CBS Sports and FOX Sports, while he was a second-team pick by Sporting News and the Associated Press in addition to earning honorable mention accolades by Sports Illustrated.

Kansas State will ride a three-game winning streak into the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Arkansas on January 2, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. It is the 19th bowl game in school history and 17th time under Hall of Fame head coach Bill Snyder. The game kicks off at 2:20 p.m.

— KSU Athletics —

Kansas football signs three on mid-year signing day

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riggertKULAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football head coach David Beaty got an early start on the 2016 Jayhawk signing class as he announced that three student-athletes signed letters of intent Wednesday on the first day of the mid-year signing period.

Beaty welcomed defensive tackles DeeIsaac Davis (Highland Community College) and Isi Holani (Riverside City College) and athlete Stephan Robinson (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) to the Jayhawk program as mid-year signees.

“We are very excited to be adding DeeIsaac, Isi and Stephan to our program,” Beaty said. “It is our goal to build Kansas football by addressing our biggest needs and at the same time finding the right people who fit the profile of who we want to be Jayhawks. All three of these guys help us accomplish that.”

All three signees are expected to report in January and enroll in classes full-time, while preparing for the spring football schedule. The trio is the first of a 2016 signing class that will be solidified in early February.

The trio of mid-year signees hail from three different states in Kansas, Oklahoma and Hawaii. Davis and Holani will arrive for spring football as juniors, while Robinson will have three years of eligibility as a Jayhawk.

“These student-athletes address our immediate needs,” said Beaty. “Having the opportunity to get these guys on campus in January was huge for our program moving forward and then also knowing we would have Stephan for three years was an added bonus.”

DeeISAAC DAVIS
Defensive Tackle 6-3 290 Jr.
Wichita, Kan. (Andover/Highland)

Highland Community College (2015): Played one season at Highland Community College for head coach Aaron Arnold… ESPN’s No. 12 junior college defensive tackle… A three-star prospect according to ESPN.com and 247Sports.com… Registered 82 tackles, including 5.0 sacks at HCC in 2015… Had three games with 10 or more stops, including a career-best 13 tackles against Butler Community College… Credited with 3.0 sacks versus Garden City Community College… Earned honorable mention Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference All-Conference honors.

Eastern Arizona College (2014): Spent his freshman season at Eastern Arizona College… Tallied 71 tackles in 11 games in 2014… Collected 2.5 sacks at EAC while playing for John O’Mera.

Andover High School: Played for head coach Mike Lee at Andover High School… Helped lead AHS to a district championship in 2012… Earned honorable mention Class 5A All-State honors from the Topeka Capital-Journal following his senior season… Named all-conference as a senior and was selected to play in the 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Personal: Son of Cecilia Wambugu-Davis and the late Dee Davis… Plans to major in sports marketing… Has two sisters, Kelly and Elizabeth… DeeIsaac is pronounced Dee-Isaac.

ISI HOLANI
Defensive Tackle 6-3 300 Jr.
Hilo Hawaii (Hilo/Riverside City)

Riverside City College (2015): Spent his sophomore season at Riverside City College suiting up for head coach Tom Craft… ESPN’s No. 15 junior college defensive tackle… A three-star prospect according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com… Helped lead the Tigers to an 8-3 mark in 2015… Recorded 26 total tackles, including 4.5 TFLs… Also credited with a fumble recovery in 2015… Helped lead RCC to the 2015 National Central League title, while advancing to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern California Regional Championships.

Reedley College (2014): Played his freshman campaign at Reedley College under head coach Randy Whited… Registered 34 total tackles, including 4.5 sacks, in 2014… Also credited with a forced fumble for the Tigers.

Hilo High School: Earned three letters playing football under head coach Dave Baldwin at Hilo HS… Also participated in basketball and track and field.

Personal: Son of Ane and Keni Holani… Plans to major in sociology… Full name is Tanikena Holani, but prefers to go by Isi… Isi is pronounced IS-see… Holani is pronounced hoe-lawn-ee.

STEPHAN ROBINSON
Athlete 5-11 173 So.
Old, Okla. (Westmoore/NE Oklahoma A&M)

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (2015): Spent one season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M playing for head coach Ryan Held… ESPN’s No. 14 junior college wide receiver… A three-star prospect according to ESPN.com… Hauled in 20 receptions for 192 yards as a freshman at NEO… Played on both sides of the ball, collecting eight tackles in just six games… Also saw action in the return game, registering seven kickoff returns for 116 yards and two punt returns for 12 yards… Overall, ranked fourth on his team with 326 all-purpose yards, despite missing three games with an injury.

Westmoore High School: Attended Westmoore HS in Oklahoma City… Earned all-city honors as a junior and senior, while picking up all-conference and all-district honors as a senior… Played under head coach Adam Gaylor… Collected 519 all-purpose yards, including 344 receiving yards, for the Jags in 2014… Played on both sides of the ball, picking up 36 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions on defense in 2014… Also lettered in track and field at WHS.

Personal: Son of Rolanda Canada and Ken Britton… Plans to major in sports management… Has four siblings: Kendrick Robinson, Isaiah Canada, Kedric Britton and Kensey Britton… His cousin, Daymond Patterson, was a wide receiver and defensive back at KU from 2008-12… Stephan is pronounced Steph-ON.

— KU Athletics —

Missouri’s Beckner, Brady, Fatony earn freshman All-America honors

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riggertMissouriCOLUMBIA, Mo. – A trio of Mizzou Football standouts were named Freshman All-Americans by Sporting News on Wednesday (Dec. 16). DT Terry Beckner, Jr. (East St. Louis, Ill.), DE Walter Brady (Florence, Ala.) and P Corey Fatony (Franklin, Tenn.) were the three Mizzou players selected to the Freshman All-America Team. Mizzou’s three Freshman All-Americans are tied for the most among any team in the nation with Alabama.

Beckner was one of the nation’s most dominant freshmen as a DT before being sidelined by injury on the first play vs. BYU on Nov. 14. In what turned out to be just nine games worth of work, Beckner tallied 27 total tackles (13 solo) while tallying eight tackles-for-loss and three sacks. His eight TFLs were the most among Mizzou interior linemen and he was playing his best football before getting hurt vs. BYU. In the previous four games prior to BYU, Beckner tallied five of his eight TFLs, 18 (10 solo) of his 27 tackles and all three of his sacks. He was one of eight true freshmen to see the field for Mizzou in 2015.

As good as Beckner was along the defensive line, Brady may have been the most productive freshman defensive lineman in the nation in 2015. He tied for the team lead in sacks (seven) and was second on the team with 12.5 tackles for loss with an interception, two pass break-ups, seven quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. His seven sacks led all freshmen nationally and he ranked eighth in the SEC in that category. His 12.5 TFLs ranked 14th in the SEC and no freshman in the SEC had more sacks or TFLs than Brady. He was a Hendricks Award Watch List honoree midway through 2015.

Fatony, who earned the team’s Special Forces Player of the Year, was tremendous as the team’s starting punter. Fatony set the Mizzou single season record with 81 punts, passing a record that had stood at Mizzou since 1995. He was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List and was the Ray Guy National Player of the Week following Mizzou’s game against Florida (Oct. 10) in which he punted nine time while averaging 47.8 yards per punt with a career-long of 61 yards, pinning the Gators inside the 20 four times with three kicks over 50 yards. He finished the season ranked first among freshmen nationally in net punting, averaging 42.9 yards per punt.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest women’s basketball coach Michael Smith announces resignation

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Northwest2013riggertMARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University has announced the resignation of Michael Smith, the head coach of its women’s basketball program, effective immediately, due to personal reasons. Assistant Coach Buck Scheel becomes interim head coach.

Smith was named the seventh head women’s basketball coach at Northwest in 2013 and led the Bearcats to a 20-43 mark during his tenure.  Northwest Missouri State is 2-8 this season and 0-4 in the MIAA.

Scheel came to Northwest with Smith after three seasons as the top assistant at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo., where the program went 68-28 and advanced to the Region 16 tournament all three years, including a regional championship in 2011. Prior to that, he served as the head women’s basketball coach at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, from 2007 to 2010.

Scheel played junior college basketball at Lincoln School of Commerce, now Kaplan University, in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was a co-captain and was the team’s MVP in 2003. Scheel transferred to Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, where he was a co-captain for two years and helped the team advance to the Midwest Classic Conference championship game.

“We thank Michael for his time at Northwest, and we wish him the best in the future,” Northwest Director of Athletics Mel Tjeerdsma said, adding, “I’m very confident in Coach Scheel as he takes on the responsibilities as our head coach.”

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons move up to No. 16 in latest USA Today WBCA Top 25 poll

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riggertMissouriWesternST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team has moved up one spot in the latest USA Today Sports WBCA Top 25 poll as they are No. 16 this week.

It’s the fourth-straight week the Griffons (9-0, 4-0 MIAA) have appeared in the poll and the third-straight week the team has moved up, beginning at No. 22. This past week the Griffons handed Pittsburg State its first loss of the season and hung on to become just the second team to defeat Missouri Southern in 2015. For her efforts, LaQuinta Jefferson was named MIAA Women’s Basketball Co-Athlete of the Week. It was the second time in three weeks Jefferson received the honor.

Missouri Western is officially off to its best MIAA start since beginning 4-0 in 1997 and its best overall start since the 2001-02 season. The 2006-07 team began the season 10-0 in the MIAA and 21-0 overall but had to vacate all wins that season. The Griffons best MIAA start ever was the 1993-94 team that went 16-0 in MIAA play to claim the first of two-straight regular season MIAA championships. The Griffons followed up the undefeated run with a 15-1 record and regular season MIAA Championship in 1994-95. That team won 10 league games before losing in MIAA play.

This weekend the Griffons have a rare Friday-Sunday swing on the road. Missouri Western visits Lindenwood on Dec. 18 and Lincoln on Dec. 20. After that, the Griffons play four in a row at home, beginning with a non-conference tilt against the University of Saint Mary on New Year’s Eve.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri Western’s Jordan named D2CCA First Team All-American

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MWSUST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western senior defensive back Mike Jordan has added a second All-American award after being named first team Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-American by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America.

It’s Jordan’s first CoSIDA All-American nod after earlier picking up his second AFCA All-American award of his career. The defensive back is also a nominee for the Cliff Harris Award, given to the nation’s top small college defensive player. Jordan also plans on participating in the East-West Shrine game, one of just two Division II student-athletes invited to the event.

Tied for second on MWSU’s all-time career interceptions list with 16, Jordan pulled in five picks his senior year along with 22 passes defended, which was second in the nation after the regular season. The Hazelwood, Missouri native was a three-time first team All-MIAA selection (unanimous in 2015) and an honorable mention pick in 2012 when he was also named the MIAA Freshman of the Year. Last season Jordan was named first team AFCA All-America, first team d2football.com All-American, third team AP Little All-American and honorable mention Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American.

Jordan was one of four MIAA representatives on the first team defense and one of six overall MIAA members to be first team D2CCA All-American. Linebackers Connor Harris (Lindenwood) and Brock Long (Fort Hays) were also named first team along with safety Kevin Berg (Northwest Missouri). Punter Matt Klingler (Lindenwood) and offensive lineman Shane Smith (Northwest Missouri) were the MIAA’s other first team selections.

— MWSU Athletics —

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