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Superb NW Football Gems Power Up Big Sky As Walk On Stars

Tonight is the night we begin to see the move of the “Walk Ons”. Those top tier guys who are fed up with waiting and have enough confidence in themselves and the schools they are pledging to for a bold move.

Superb NW Football Gems Power Up Big Sky As Walk On Stars

Tonight is the night we begin to see the move of the “Walk Ons”.  Those top tier guys who are fed up with waiting and have enough confidence in themselves and the schools they are pledging to for a bold move.  Being a Preferred Walk On or just Walk On is not much different really other then the word Preferred carries with it the weight that your being specifically asked to pledge at least a year of your life and your money to try and see if you can make it.  Like the Oregon State Coaches put it, “We consider any kid we are going to allow to walk on to be a Preferred athlete.”

Football is super hard in College.  Even harder when the athlete or his parents are going to have to pay to play and likely not see the field anytime early on.  Having said all of that quite a few of our very top tier NW Football Gems are making just that decision.  Two of the kids we have on our Prospect Lists for Washington and who are about as high on that list as one can get are both telling me tonight they are 99% off the board.

 

Coleton Collins of Lakeside (SPOKANE - WA) was terrific at WR and showed why a big kid who can move is a hot prospect.

Coleton Collins of Lakeside (SPOKANE – WA) was terrific at WR and showed why a big kid who can move is a hot prospect.

“I am going to attend Idaho State as a Preferred Walk on and could not be more excited,” said Coleton Collins of Lakeside in Washington.  “Coach Kramer asked me to trust him and believe in him.  If I go up there and develop and play hard as well as pull the grades and all of that I will be given a scholarship for at least 3 years.  I know nothing is guaranteed but I also know I can play Division 1 and can help the team succeed.”

We are talking about 6’4″- 210 lbs of top tier athlete right here.  Great hands at he receiver slot and wide enough and fast enough to grow into an explosive TE or H-Back and if not there a good option at Outside Linebacker.  We know what a Big Sky athlete looks like.  This is guy is one of them.   A substantial kid in our view with way above average athleticism which he proved as the MVP at camps and a guy who dominated his Senior Year.  Idaho State still does not really realize the Cooper Kupp like kid they are getting; but they will.

Coleton continued, “There just were no scholarships to give.  So I am going to go earn one.  Bottom line is I loved the school, the coaches, and the facilities so I am 99% this is the place I am going.”

That is a great outcome for him and the Bengals.

Further West at Lakewood High School is the home of the ultimate interior beast of the 2014 Class; or at least one of them.  Dylan Donohue landed on our radar as a Junior in the Summer of 2012 as he mauled several D-1 Commits at the Trench Camp in Portland, Oregon.  Nothing complicated about the 290 pounder.  Just nasty sweaty whoop ass.  And he does it down in and down out.  While an Injury hampered him for a while during that stretch he came back and ruled the grid iron in 2013.  No one really likes to take on Dylan because it is a job down in and down out.  So tonight we had to smile the the 6’1″ Defensive Tackle called to say he was walk on to EWU.

“I am going to walk on at EWU as a preferred walk on.  And I am so happy to be going there,” said Donohue.

Why EWU?

“The coaches for one, but its because of the family atmosphere that they have built there and I really feel like its a good fit for me. Between the Summer camps and the open house I attended it always felt like I was at home.”    

Dylan Donohue of Lakewood HS is a top D-line prospect  at 6'1"- 280 lbs and is a monster on the field.  Tonight he is pledging to EWU as a Preferred Walk on!

Dylan Donohue of Lakewood HS is a top D-line prospect at 6’1″- 280 lbs and is a monster on the field. Tonight he is pledging to EWU as a Preferred Walk on!

 

These two tough top tier recruits might be watching Top kids around them land scholarships but there will be n pity party.  They are charging ahead an going after that Brass Ring on their own terms.  We love it.  Several times this last two months we have run stories about kids doing just this and not “settling” ..not having regrets later.  There will be no lingering questions for Coleton Collins and Dylan Donohue next year or the year after.  If they have the goods they will earn a scholarship and play.  If they come up short they both can drop down a level or two and play and earn some scholarship money at a different school.

We are proud of all the kids of the NW.  These two are part of the evolving story of how it all works.  Any of the rest of you athletes have news contact me at 503-799-8383 or email dirkknudsen@gmail.com!

Way to go Guys!

I am the Founder of the Northwest Prep Report. For 17 years I have led the way to the best of my ability to promote the best talent from the Pacific NW free of charge. It is my pleasure to continue to serve High School athletes from all over the Pacific NW and beyond. Formerly with Rivals.com my sites have now crossed over 8,000 stories, 7 MILLION Video Views, and 15,000 regular followers. Together with the best football people in the USA we pursue excellence for our NW athletes.

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  1. Dana Donohue

    January 30, 2014 at 7:48 am

    As always a great story Dirk! Just wanted to note that there wasn\’t an injury for Dylan, just had to have a deviated septum corrected. Thank you so much for your continued support of all of these young men. Priceless!

  2. cassandra main

    January 31, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    Congrats to both of these fine young men. it has been a joy to watch them play. Hopefully You will be writing about my son soon.. I wish both boys the best of luck. Keep focused on your goals and stay safe.

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