The Olpe and Madison football teams had two of their best seasons in school history this past season, and Northern Heights had its most decorated passer in school history.
On Wednesday, the Emporia State football team made sure to benefit from the top talent at the local schools. Olpe tight end Josh Klumpe, Madison’s Michael Luthi and Northern Heights quarterback Kenneth Bronson all signed to play with the Hornets.
“I thought this was a great year for local talent and I think that we signed three of the best kids in the area,” ESU coach Garin Higgins said. “I think you always want to keep your local talent close to home, and we’re excited about them wanting to be a part of our football program.”
The Hornets beat out several Kansas junior colleges for the services of Luthi and Bronson, and they beat out Pittsburg State for Klumpe.
“I felt the people were more welcoming to me personally,” Klumpe said. “I felt comfortable with the coaches and they made it feel like home, and it’s close to home and I don’t have to get too far away. It’s a good school and I’m really interested in getting into the academics part.”
Klumpe starred at defensive end and tight end at Olpe, and he could play either position at Emporia State, but he will start as a tight end.
“We’re recruiting him as a tight end, but he’s a kid that has a lot of versatility to him,” Higgins said. “He is very athletic for as big a frame as he has.
“The thing about watching him this year during the football season is he would line up at tight end, but he would also line up at the inside slot. So you could see him run routes out in space. He’s got good hands. He plays basketball so we’ve seen the athletic ability. He’s got good feet. He’s just one of those kids that’s very versatile. He can play a lot of positions, but we like him at tight end.”
Luthi could also end up at a number of different positions. He will start out at linebacker, and along with Klumpe, Luthi could either redshirt or play next season.
“He’s a big-bodied kid,” Higgins said. “Right now his lower body is big and he’s got room to put on another 10 to 15 pounds. He runs really well. He played running back, so you know he’s physical. He’s just a good, athletic kid. You look at him out there on the basketball court and you can tell he’s got some skill to him.”
Higgins’ honesty was a big selling point for Luthi.
“I like their program,” he said. “I like their coaches. They’re all young with lots of energy, and I felt like when I talked to them I was getting the real deal and I was going to get a chance to play there. It felt good.”
Bronson did not need much of a sales pitch, because he has wanted to play for Emporia State since he became a football fan. He started receiving interest from several junior colleges this fall, but once Emporia State entered the equation, it was an easy choice.
“After visiting Emporia State, it felt like I was going to be more part of a team, not just play for two years and then move on,” Bronson said. “I actually felt like I was going to be part of something. I love the coaching staff. I think a lot of Coach Higgins. He seems like a pretty good guy. And I’ve always wanted to play in Welch Stadium since I moved down here and been interested in football, so I’m excited about it.”
Bronson is one of two quarterbacks in the recruiting class, and he will redshirt next season to try to put weight on his 155-pound frame.
Bronson played in a spread offense at Heights similar to what ESU runs, and Higgins sees potential in Bronson’s ability to operate the spread.
“Look at his stats,” Higgins said. “His stats are unbelievable. He’s been in a spread offense that’s similar to what we do. I know there is probably a comfort factor there.”
Klumpe, Luthi and Bronson were the three area players that Higgins and his staff went after this year, and they could not only help Emporia State on the field, but also in the future recruitment of other area players.
“You don’t want to lose your players that are local,” Higgins said. “You don’t want them to go to some other school.”