National Signing Day Coverage: Gorillas Get Eight Signees

Santino Bernal February 5, 2021 @ 11:55 AM

A new group of home grown talent is ready to step into the jungle and join the traditional Division II powerhouse Pittsburg State Gorillas. Here are the eight players that inked letters of intent with Pitt State. Dallas Bond Dallas Bond 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Tonganoxie | 2021 State KS – Tonganoxie, 6’4”, 220, TE Bond has all the physical tools to compete for playing time day one on campus. The two-time All Stater hauled in 39 catches for 542 yards, and 12 touchdowns in his senior year. He’s a tight-end that can go up for one-on-one jump balls, and he is a physical blocker in the run game. Ty Gates Ty Gates 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Frontenac | 2021 State KS – Frontenac, 6’1”, 180, ATH Gates signed to play cornerback for the Gorillas, but there is the possibility of moving him around because of his athleticism. He has good hands as a receiver, and he has a long frame to be a solid corner. Not only that, but Gates is also good about high pointing the football and causing pass break-ups. Graham Hough Graham Hough 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Lawrence | 2021 State KS – Lawrence, 5’11, 190, RB/ATH Hough was the thunder to ’s lighting in the Lawrence High backfield. He would create running lanes as a fullback, and he would run through defenders when he touched the ball. He’s signed as an athlete, so expect for Hough to be used in multiple ways by the Gorillas. Kolten Jegen – Mill Valley, 6’0”, 220, LB The Gorillas are adding a leader and a winner to their line-backing corps with Jegen. The two-time State Champion piled up 103 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles in his final season. He’s a hard-hitting linebacker that has good field vision. The Gorillas will love his physicality. Janko Kalan Janko Kalan 5'11" | 160 lbs | K St. Mary's Colgan | 2021 State KS – St. Mary’s Colgan, 5’11”, 160, K Kalan will be staying home in Pittsburg with his signing to the Gorillas. His leg was busy in 2020. Kalan booted six kickoffs for touchbacks, 3 punts downed inside the 20 yard-line, and he converted 34 extra points and five field-goals. His leg will be a solid addition to Pitt’s specials teams. Kannon Keller Kannon Keller 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB St. Mary's Colgan | 2021 State KS – St. Mary’s Colgan, 6’2”, 220, LB Keller is another local Pittsburg, Ks. product that signed with Pitt State. He delivered some big hits in 2020; while racking up 59 total tackles, six being for a loss, and one sack. Keller shows good awareness of the field, and he has the ability to come off the edge as a defensive-end as well. Carter Stanchfield Carter Stanchfield 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Paola | 2021 State KS – Paola, 6’3”, 280, OL Stanchfield will be a very nice addition to the Gorilla’s offensive-line. Stanchfield was a member of the 4A All-State Team, and he received an invitation to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. The Gorillas are getting a strong and explosive tackle in Stanchfield. Ely Wilcox Ely Wilcox 6'5" | 220 lbs | LB Augusta | 2021 State KS – Augusta, 6’5”, 215, LB The Gorillas top off their home grown talent by adding another great linebacker. Wilcox is a very athletic player that can cause disruption at his outside-linebacker position. The 4A All-Stater will make an extremely talented line-backing trio with Jegen and Keller.