Star-Journbal Editor
Three standout seniors from one of the greatest football teams in Hillsboro High School history signed scholarships this past week to play college football.
All-state linebacker Lucas Hamm signed with Butler County Community College; Trojan center Alex Nuss signed with Hutchinson Community College; and defensive end Adam Dirks signed with Tabor College to play football and throw the javelin.
For Trojan coach Len Coryea, this past week was an opportunity to pose for signing photos, to reflect on a successful season, and to encourage his players to chase their dreams of playing football on Saturdays.
"Some will make and it some won't make it, but that's the nature of the game," Coryea said. "As I told the kids, if you want to dream and do that, you've got to go for it."
Hillsboro finished its football season with a 9-4 record, including two historic playoff victories, before falling to Garden Plain in the 3A sub-state game.
Lucas Hamm made headlines all season, and wound up being a first team Class 3A pick, and a second team selection on the all-class, all-state team.
At 6-3, 215-pounds, Hamm has the height and speed college football coaches want in a linebacker, and he plans to start adding the beef he needs as soon as basketball season is over.
Hamm turned down offers from nearly all of the KCAC colleges to take the junior college route with the hopes of drawing attention from NCAA Division 1A schools, which are the caliber of teams seen on television.
"My dream has always been to go Division 1 and junior college will open up a lot of opportunities that a four-year couldn't," he said.
A perennial juco power, Butler has been one of the top two or three teams in the nation for several years. All three of the starting linebackers from this past year's Butler team signed scholarships to play D-1.
Starting at Butler will be a big challenge for Hamm, but Coryea is confident he has what it takes, if he can make the team.
"I think Lucas could have gone to Hutch and gotten a lot of playing time," Coryea said. "When you go to Butler, you've got to make the squad, first, because they've got so much talent. They're going to have nine to 12 linebackers coming in, and some of these will be out-of-staters who are going to be very good athletes. But if he makes that team, he's going big time."
Those who've watched Hamm play know that he is up to any challenge on the field. And the college gridiron is the same size as the one he dominated as a high school player.
"You go for your dreams and at least try to make it," Hamm said. "You'll regret it if you don't try."
Dirks is was among the first athletes to sign for new Tabor coach Mike Gottsch, who's looking for standout people to put luster back in the program.
"Adam is a quality person as well as a standout player," Gottsch said. "It excites me to see student athletes of Adam's caliber become a part of the Tabor family. This will definitely be a win-win situation."
Dirks, a rangy, 6-4, 210-pound linebacker and defensive end, received MCAA All-Conference Honorable Mention despite being sidelined with a leg injury for several games last season.
Tabor track coach Dave Kroeker said Dirks will make an immediate impact as a javelin thrower. As a junior, he placed second in the 3A regional meet with a throw of 162 feet 1 inch, and was 11th at state.
"He is a big, strong young man who has huge potential as a college track athlete," Kroeker said. "Adam is also a fine Christian young man who will be an asset spiritually on the team and on our campus."
Coryea is happy that everyone at Tabor is so happy.
"I think it's a great fit for Adam," Coryea said. "He likes this community. And if he wants to play football, I think the KCAC is the best fit for him, and where he needs to play."
If successful at Hutchinson, Nuss has the size to be the first Trojan to sign a D1 scholarship since the 1970s, "when a kid went to K-State as an offensive center," Coryea said.
Nuss was overlooked for post-season honors, but at 6-4 and 230-pounds, the college coaches are hopeful that the big-boned youngster will gain weight and grow into his size 17 shoes.
"Alex is a sleeper," Coryea said, who added post-season honors aren't nearly as important to the college scouts as the players look on film and their potential.
"If they had chosen the all-league line based on position, he would have made it as the center. But what they do is pick players regardless of position, and all of them were offensive tackles."
Nuss says his goal is to become outstanding at long-snapping the ball to punters, and to holders for field goal tries, which is a player that every team needs.
Nuss proved he could snap to under pressure to a shotgun quarterback, and he has the size and temperament to make it as a college center, Coryea added.
"It's not as easy as everybody thinks it is to snap it through your legs," Coryea said. "He'll go there and he'll end with the skills. He's big enough."
Lucas is the son of Jim and Myrna Hamm, Alex is the son of Dale and Becky Nuss, and Adam is the son of Dwight and Carol Dirks.
