Prairie Grove senior Dylan Soehner will sign with Iowa State as part of Signing Day today.
It's the first Wednesday each February that launches a week-long signing period for thousands of future college athletes, with football signees garnering the most attention. Of the seven football signees from Northwest Arkansas pledged to sign letters of intent today, the 6-foot-7, 260-pound Soehner and Fayetteville's Eli Hale (Air Force) are the only ones inking with a Football Bowl Subdivision program.
Signing Day List
The following athletes are scheduled to sign national letters of intent today to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level:
Football
Player^School^College
DJ Borman^Rogers Heritage^St. Mary’s
Andy Mendoza^Rogers Heritage^Central Methodist
Garrett Sheetz^Rogers Heritage^Hendrix
Joel Brackett^Rogers Heritage^Hendrix
Noah Madryga^Rogers Heritage^Luther College
Collin Christian^Rogers Heritage^Arkansas Tech
Dylan Soehner^Prairie Grove^Iowa State
Eli Hale^Fayetteville^Air Force
Tyson Morris^Fayetteville^Central Oklahoma
Kennedy Wade^Fayetteville^Central Oklahoma
Drake Wymer^Fayetteville^Southwest Baptist
Brice Waggle^Farmington^Northeastern State
Colton Parten^Shiloh Christian^Baker University
Kris Green^Siloam Springs^Lyon
Parker Hall^Siloam Springs^Hendrix
Aric Sislo^Siloam Springs^Hendrix
Gus Wright^Siloam Springs^UA-Monticello
Coby Roach^Siloam Springs^Southwestern Assemblies of God
Tyrone Mahone^Bentonville^Central Oklahoma
Steffan Bonilla^Springdale High^Hendrix
Jordan Barlow^Van Buren^Ouachita Baptist University
Jaylynn Dye^Van Buren^Missouri Southern State University
Garrett Collins^Greenwood^Arkansas Tech University
Peyton Noland^Greenwood^Lyons College
Jordan Green^Greenwood^Ft. Scott Community College
Fuller Chandler^Springdale Har-Ber^Henderson State
Drew Dodson^Springdale Har-Ber^Lyon college
Austin Henderson^Springdale Har-Ber ^Missouri State
Soccer
Melanie Matkins^Bentonville^Harding
Anslea Haikey^Bentonville^UCA
Maisey Louree^Rogers High^Benedictine
Elisa Reina^Springdale Har-Ber^Kansas
Cross Country
Aaron Capehart^Siloam Springs^Ecclesia
Elliott Pearson^Siloam Springs^John Brown
Bethany Rodgers^Siloam Springs^Southwest Baptist (Mo.)
Baseball
Adam Scoggins^Springdale Har-Ber^Crowder JC
Michael King^Springdale Har-Ber^Northeastern Oklahoma JC
Brandon Still^Springdale Har-Ber^Kansas City JC
Josh Thompson^Springdale Har-Ber^Evangel University
Dodge Pruitt^Siloam Springs^Oklahoma Wesleyan
Zac Bolstad^Siloam Springs^College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
Division-II Central Oklahoma is expected to sign three local players. Fayetteville receiver Tyson Morris (6-2, 180) and defensive back Kennedy Wade (6-3, 180) will join Bentonville defensive back Tyrone Mahone (6-0, 175) at the school in Edmond, Okla. Another Division-II signee is Farmington quarterback Bryce Waggle (6-3, 195), who will sign with Northeastern Oklahoma State in Tahlequah, Okla.
Three area players will play Division-III football. Rogers Heritage's linebackers Joel Brackett (6-0, 202) and Garrett Sheetz (6-0, 203) are pledged to sign with Hendrix while Fayetteville tight end Drake Wymer will ink with Southwest Baptist in Boliver, Mo.
Soehner pulled the trigger on his pledge after an official visit to Iowa State during the Jan. 15 weekend. Although he could have taken as many as four additional, all-expenses paid official visits, Soehner didn't see any reason to keep flirting with other schools when he already had fallen head over heals for the Cyclones.
Soehner, a tight end, credits the coaching staff, especially his lead recruiter (tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Alex Golesh) who really helped Soehner enjoy the weekend.
"They had a pretty cool thing set up when we got there in the indoor facility," Soehner said. "The lights were off and there were strobe lights and sirens going off. They had all of their current players lined up in kind of a tunnel that we all went through as they were all yelling.
"It was fun to experience something like that."
While NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from commenting publicly on a prospect until after they have signed a national letter of intent, Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier said the Cyclones plan to try Soehner at tight end. During the recruiting process, several schools showed an interest in Soehner as an offensive tackle, but he wanted the opportunity to play tight end in college.
"College coaches are looking for guys who fit their needs and (the Cyclones) are looking for a tight end," Abshier said. "I don't think they intend on redshirting him. They plan on putting him on the field right now."
Abshier said Soehner has all of the qualities college coaches desire in a pass-catching tight end -- and then some. Of course, he has more than enough size and continues to improve his speed. Soehner ran a 4.9 second, 40-yard dash at a Memphis camp this past summer and already appears to be faster as he grows into his frame. Abshier says he has "excellent hands, good grades and the right attitude," as well.
Soehner's signing ceremony is scheduled for 11:25 a.m. in the Prairie Grove cafeteria.
Sports on 02/03/2016