Document text
Crater's Toney signs with SOU MT file photo Crater High running back Scott Toney is among the top players committed to the Raiders. Burly back may replace Yates in Raider backfield By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN ASHLAND -- Southern Oregon Conference rushing champion Scott Toney of Crater High is one of 34 players who have signed letters of commitment to play football for Southern Oregon University. Toney, one of 32 incoming freshmen, is expected to challenge for the starting tailback position vacated by All-American Griff Yates following his senior season last fall. "I feel it's a good place for me to go to college," says Toney of SOU. "I really didn't want to leave the area to go to college and I like the way Southern Oregon plays. "People have compared me a little with Yates, which is an honor. "I'd like to play like him one day, but I don't know if that's possible." SOU head coach Jeff Olson says the Raiders have a bevy of young and talented backs vying for the position. But replacing an NAIA All-American like Yates, who rushed for school records of 4,559 yards and scored 57 touchdowns in four seasons, is unrealistic, he says. Other tailbacks in the freshman recruiting class are Jonathan Spring (5-11, 195 pounds) from Aloha High in Beaverton, Matt See (5-8, 160) out of Bend, Jeremy Boyd (5-9, 170) of South Medford, and Casey Haselbacher (6-1, 195) of Salem Academy. Those backs will join senior Chris Robbins and freshmen redshirts Dusty McGrorty of Warrenton, Sean Johnston of Eagle Point and Adam Fletcher, an all-state tailback from Lake Oswego. "With all of those backs we redshirted from our recruiting class last year, I feel very good about the tailback position," says Olson. "Several of those tailbacks can also play fullback." Toney, a 205-pound power runner with speed who led the SOC in rushing with 953 yards, could be a big part of the Raiders' future, Olson says. Toney won the Southern Oregon Conference shot put title last year and this past winter finished third at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament at 215 pounds. Olson says there are significant similarities between the running styles of Toney and Yates. "They're both big backs with speed," says Olson, who notes Toney is 10 pounds heavier at 205 pounds, but Yates is faster with his break-away speed. Other former Southern Oregon high school players on the recruiting list include offensive lineman Josh Sims (6-0, 265), a freshman from Phoenix High who was a non-playing member of the Shasta College team last fall, and wide receiver Jesse Jones (6-0, 170) of Ashland. The Raiders also signed two former North Medford players who were members of the Black Tornado program in the mid-90s. They are linebacker Tim Mercer (5-9, 205) and defensive back Anthony McCormick (5-9, 180). SOU also successfully recruited linebacker Tyler Milsap (6-3, 190) from Mazama High in Klamath Falls, linebacker Jon Porzio (6-0, 230) of Hidden Valley High in Murphy, and wide receiver Matt Trickey (6-0, 175) of South Medford. McGrorty, the Oregon Class 2A offensive and defensive player of the year as a running back and linebacker, rushed for 2A state records of 2,593 yards and 40 touchdowns during his senior year. Toney says winning the Southern Oregon Conference rushing title in 1999 was the highlight of his high school career. His best game was last fall when he he rushed for 265 yards on 45 carries in Crater's win over Ashland. "I was just running over people," says Toney. "Everything just clicked and we just kept going to me. That was the highlight of what I did in high school. "That's the style of runner I'd like to be in college. I think I can still get bigger and a little faster." Olson says the Raiders went after offensive linemen as the emphasis in the recruiting class. They signed Kevin Knight (6-3, 245) from Robert Service High of Anchorage, Alaska.; Aaron Hayman (6-3, 280) from Willamette High of Eugene; T.J. Woodley (6-2, 270) from Lost River High; Chris Halverson (6-2, 290) of Wasila, Alaska; Curtis Havinear (6-2, 230) of Mountain View High of Bend; Sili Mafua (6-0, 295) of Minden, Nev.; Matt Hibbert (6-2, 250) of Lebanon, and Phoenix's Sims. "He's a tough, hard-working kid," says Olson of Sims. Olson says SOU has a commitment from transfer tight end Jarrod Dillon (6-2, 225), a senior from Healdsburg, Calif. Dillon is a transfer from the University of Oregon. SOU also signed linebacker Brian Whitmire (5-11, 190), a junior transfer from American River Junior College of Sacramento, Calif. Other high school seniors on the SOU recruiting list include Ben Ahn (5-9, 165) of Lihue High of Hawaii; quarterback Nathan Chin (5-10, 180) from Lost River High of Merrill; linebacker Brad Davis (6-4, 220) of Pleasant Hill; linebacker Jordan Franco (5-10, 220) of Tualatin; and defensive lineman Jarett Howels (6-2, 250) of McQueen High of Reno, Nev. Adding to the skill positions as new recruits are wide receiver Jake Kirkwood (6-1, 165) of Olympia, Wash.; slotback Justyn Midanik (5-10, 170) of Bishop Manogue of Reno, Nev.; receiver Bobby Poeltl (5-10, 165) of Lakewood, Wash.; wide receiver Mark Robertson (5-11, 175) of Willamette High of Eugene; defensive lineman J.D. Silvers (6-5, 235) of West Albany; defensive back Roby Westbrook (6-2, 185) of South Albany; and linebacker Seth Wilson (6-0, 240) of Douglas High of Juneau, Alaska. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA