Five Abilene High athletes moving onto college football programs
Mike Fullen played football at Angelo State, but he didn’t use his position as Abilene High’s head football coach to do any extra lobbying for the Rams with his players.
Jayson Henley and Kwame Collins both chose the Division II San Angelo school on their own.
Henley didn’t even know Fullen played for the Rams until Friday.
Collins, though, admitted Fullen and fellow ASU alums James Williamson and Del Van Cox offerred advice.
“They told me the best places to eat,” Collins said. “That was it, really.”
Two senior defensive backs were among five AHS football players who were part of a college signing ceremony on Friday at the AHS field house turf room. Noah Hatcher, a senior defensive back/running back, will go to ASU’s Lone Star Conference rival – Midwestern State. Tim Outlaw and Kenneth Johnson will both stay closer to home. Outlaw, a senior receiver, will attend Division III Hardin-Simmons, while Johnson, a senior linebacker, will play at McMurry.
Fullen, who was a linebacker at ASU, playing his final season in 1992, was thrilled to see two of his Eagles choose the Rams.
“I was elated when they decided they were going to go there,” Fullen said. “It’s been several years since we’ve had anybody go to Angelo State. We’ve got several alums – myself, Coach (James) Williamson, Coach (Brad) Harman and Coach Cox – who all played at Angelo State. So, to have a couple of your athletes go down there makes you proud.”
Fullen didn’t have to make a pitch for ASU to Collins or Henley. Both fell in love with the program on their own.
“They have a great program,” Collins said. “The atmosphere – the coaches, the teachers, the players, everybody – welcomed us. It just felt like home, and it’s not very far from home. It was really a no-brainer.”
Henley echoed the same sentiments, and he likes the fact Collins is going, too, along with Kevion Williams, who Henley said will be a student coach for the Rams. He has other high school friends going to ASU, too.
“It feels good to know that I have basically family going with me,” Henley said.
They’ll get a chance to play against Hatcher, who opted to go north and play for the Mustangs in Wichita Falls.
“It’s going to be fun,” Collins said. “We’ve talked about this a lot. So, we were prepared for this.”
Hatcher said he expects both Henley and Collins to do great things at ASU.
“I know they’ll be some dogs over there,” Hatcher said. “They’re going to be great over there. They’re going to do great things.”
Hatcher said he liked the MSU coaching staff and thought the Mustang program would be a good fit.
Angelo State went 12-1 last season, including 9-0 in LSC play. The Rams were ranked No. 2 in the nation when they bowed out against Colorado School of Mines 42-24 in the national quarterfinals of the DII playoffs in San Angelo.
Midwestern went 6-5 overall and 5-4 in conference. ASU beat the Mustangs 37-19 in the regular-season finale.
Closer to home
Outlaw chose one of the top programs in Division III. HSU went 9-2 last season, including 7-1 in American Southwest Conference play. The lone conference loss came against DIII power Mary Hardin-Baylor.
“It’s close here,” Outlaw said. “I have family here in Abilene. I just love the school, love to play football there.”
Johnson also decided to stick close to home but chose HSU’s crosstown rival – McMurry. The War Hawks were 1-9 last season, including 1-8 in ASC action.
McMurry hasn’t had a winning season since going 8-3 in 2012.
“I loved the energy there,” Johnson said. “It’s so much fun. I just know it’s going to be great. I know they’re not the best team, but we’ll make it work.”
Johnson said he also likes staying in his hometown.
“My mom doesn’t have to go far, and I get to play in town,” Johnson added.
HSU and McMurry will be conference rivals for one more season. McMurry will begin playing in the DIII Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2024.
Outlaw is looking forward to playing against Johnson and the War Hawks.
“That’s probably going to be the best part,” Outlaw said. “Me and him, we’re very competitive already. We’re very, very competitive. It’s going to be fun to play against him.”
Fullen is happy to see five of his players moving on – whether they chose ASU or not.
“I’m proud, because I know all these guys will represent our program well,” Fullen said. “Four of them were captains for us. Noah was a two-year captain. So, it’s good to see good guys who do it right and work hard get the opportunity.”
The signing ceremony was scheduled for National Signing Day on Wednesday, but it was postponed because of an ice storm that hit the city Monday. Cooper will have its signing ceremony on Monday, while Wylie has rescheduled its ceremony for Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Five Abilene High athletes sign with college football programs
