FORMER HORNET STANDOUTS MAKING THE BEST OF IT
It has not been a walk in the park this college football season with COVID-19 ravaging the world, but there is something positive to report as former Hornet footballers are turning heads on the gridiron.
Former FC quarterback Ladarius Skelton (FC in 2017) has been simply outstanding for the University of Southern football squad. Heading into his senior season later this spring, Skelton has already earned many accolades. He was twice named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week (2019), the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week (2019), twice named the BOXTOROW National Player of the Week (2018), was named the 45th Annual Bayou Classic Most Valuable Player (2018), and was the 46th Annual Bayou Classic Most Valuable Player (2019).
Making an impact in the PAC-12 Conference for the UCLA Bruins, linebacker Caleb Johnson (FC in 2018) has helped the team to a 3-2 record thus far. He currently is second on the team in tackles with 29 (16 solo) and leads the Bruins in sacks (4.5). Johnson also has an interception and a fumble recovery. He was recently featured in an LA Times article. Read it here.
Safety Troy Lefeged (FC in 2018) made an immediate impact last season for the Utah State football team playing in every game while totaling 104 tackles (44 solo). Lefeged played in two games this season (13 tackles) before opting to enter the transfer portal. He is a hard-hitting, magnet-to-the-ball, type of player. Any team that picks him up is getting a serious contender.
Defensive end Joey Noble (FC in 2018) has played in six games for the Lobos of New Mexico and is third on the team in tackles with 36 (17 solo). He led the charge against Nevada in week 3 with a team-high 10 tackles. The following week against Air Force, Joey racked up 11 tackles. On the season, Noble has two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. In 2019, Joey was named to the Mountain West All-Academic team.
In his first season with the Utah State Aggies, Xavion Steele (FC in 2019) has been shinning on the Special Teams unit and rotating in at the cornerback position. A crafty defender, Steele has been paying his dues with 3 solo tackles in 6 games played.
Wideout Robert Downs (FC in 2018) is getting ready to play his senior season for the New Mexico State Aggies this coming spring. Last season, Robert caught 22 passes for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns in 11 games played.
A serious receiving threat ready to take an opponent deep, Rob Johnson (FC in 2017) has played in four games for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers catching 5 passes for 29 yards.
Offensive lineman TJ Storment (FC in 2018) has started that last six games for the TCU Horned Frogs. The team has won four out of their last five games (5-4 overall record) beating Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas, and Oklahoma State. Storment will help TCU close out the 2020 season at home against Louisiana Tech this weekend.
We wish all of our Hornets, past and present, a healthy and prosperous new year! Once a Hornet, Always a Hornet!
Where Players from the 2019 Hornet Football Team Signed
Lucky Avinger / RB / San Diego State
Glenn Bernard / OL / Northern Colorado
Cooper Callis / QB / Southwest Baptist
Quinn Commans / QB / Moorhead State
Jamal Dorsey /DL/ Langston
Keon Fogg / WR / Southern
Alan Giron / DB / Southwest Minnesota State
Khrishtjan Frrokaj / QB / Eastern Illinois
Jacob Jones / DB / Idaho State
Luca Luft /TE / Eastern Michigan
Spencer Owens / TE / Western Kentucky
Kailan Noseff / WR / Incarnate Word
Trevor Pulsifer / OL / Missouri Southern
Hunter Rison WR / Grand Valley State
Xavion Steele / DB / Utah State
Josh Tarango / DL/ Ball State
Ronnie Velasquez /LB / Ottawa
Reggie Whitfield / DB / Robert Morris
