Arizona Christian Head Coach Donnie Yantis had to put the pedal to the medal to hire a staff and get out and recruit in less than two months before National Signing Day.
That hard work all came to fruition on Wednesday as the Firestorm football program signed 64 players to their program going into their first year of existence.
“We have just submerged ourselves in this university and it’s mission,” Yantis said. “Hiring the coaches, reaching out to the high school coaches and players, doing a ton of visits here on campus and just show them the vision of this university and what we are about to do. Which is build a champion.”
Yantis is getting their vision out there. Building a championship, non-division I program in Arizona and giving players from all over the state who might not have thought playing the sport they love at the next level was possible. He mentions the state in just a short time frame has embraced them and what they are looking to accomplish.
“I think Arizona has embraced us,” Yantis mentioned. “Knowing what we are about. The coaches I’ve hired are, most of which were high school coaches here in the valley are well respected. And the university is well respected.”
“I think we are making a name for ourselves,” he added.
Of the 64 signed, 26 of them are players transferring from other schools or from junior colleges which Yantis expects to help them compete at a high level off the bat. Plus he landed high school players. He is particularly excited about a quarterback he has coming in.
“Nick Henderson is a great quarterback out of Joy Christian High School,” Yantis said. “We think he is like a little Johnny Manziel. He is a heck of a player and we are excited about him.”
“There are 64 who are signing, so I can’t really point out one as I can many as there are just so many of them,” he mentioned.
While 64 have signed, the ultimate goal is to bring in 85 to 100 players before next season. So many more are expected to join the Firestorm by the time the team begins what Coach Yantis calls, “more like a camp” style of spring practice coming up in April.
Below is a slideshow to get to know most of the players Arizona Christian signed on Signing Day.
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Jared Cohen
A born and bred Arizonan, Jared has had great passion for the hometown teams all his life. He now channel's that passion into covering the pro, college and high school teams around the state as a Multimedia Reporter for Sports360AZ.