Nate Collier, Josh Harris and Cody Reynolds signed national letters of intent Tuesday to attend Ridgewater College.
Nate Collier, with his mother, Jarvis Collier and CHS Head Football Coach John Blaylock / Photo by Roger Starkey
Josh Harris, with father Carl Edmunds left and grandfather Bernard Harris right. Standing, left to right, are April Edmunds, mother, Evelyn Edmunds, grandmother and John Blaylock, CHS head football coach / Photo by Roger Starkey
Cody Reynolds with mother, Kelly seated to his left and father, Craig to his right. Standing, left to right: Donna Reynolds, grandmother, Charlie Reynolds, brother, William Reynolds, grandfather and John Blaylock, CHS head football coach / Photo by Roger Starkey
Ridgewater is a junior college in Willmar, Minn. The Warriors went 5-4 last year in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference.
The trio of recruits all called Ridgewater a great opportunity for them. Collier and Davis both chose the school for the academic opportunity it provided, as well as a chance to continue their football careers.
Collier, a 2nd team All-Southwestern Conference defensive lineman in 2013 said the coaches have promised that all freshman will be given an equal opportunity to start.
“If you have an opportunity like that, you will work hard,” Collier said. “If you work hard, you can go to a four-year school, and get a scholarship. What they offered was too good to pass up.”
Collier’s mother, Jarvis, is happy that her son has the opportunity to go to school and continue playing football, even if she is not thrilled that he will be doing so a 10-hour drive from home.
“He’s been close to me since he was a little baby,” Jarvis said. “He’s been my little sidekick.”
Reynolds, who received the best defensive player of the year award for the Kahoks in 2013, is looking to the future with his college selection. “This is a good first step in a new chapter in my life,” Reynolds said. Reynolds parents, Kelly and Craig said they are proud of their son, but it will not be easy having him so far away from home.
Harris is a two-year letter winner for the Kahoks, starting 18 games at offensive tackle. Harris’ mother, April Edmunds, said Harris’ signing the letter of intent was a proud moment, but not necessarily because he is going to continue his football career.
“We wanted to instill in him that secondary education is a priority,” The SIU Carbondale graduate said. “I didn’t want to push it, but I will use what tools I can, which, in this case is football.”
Harris’ grandmother, Evelyn, indirectly took credit for her grandson’s football success when she claimed to be at least partially responsible for his 6-foot-5, 255-pound frame.
“I fed him Malt-O-Meal in the biggest bowl I could find when he was a baby. He would eat it all and tear the high-chair up if I was a minute late with it,” Evelyn said. “That might be why he is so tall.”
