Head coach Mickey Donovan is pleased to announce three exceptional football players from Crane, Texas have committed to the Concordia Stingers.
Linebacker/running back Gunner Tatum, linebacker/returner Tyler Sutherland and tight end Cody Stephens will join the Stingers at training camp in August. All three played at Crane high school where the Golden Cranes posted a 10-2 win-loss record in 2013.
“I’m very excited to add these three very talented athletes to our 2013 recruiting class,” said Donovan. “I know they are going to be great additions to the Stinger family.
“I want to thank Andrew Sutherland, our assistant coach and program operations manager for the work he’s done recruiting in Texas. He has been instrumental in finding great players and introducing the Concordia Stingers to them.”
Tatum, who checks in at six feet, 215 pounds, was the leading tackler on the Golden Cranes with 91 solos tackles and 18 assists in 12 games.
At running back, he carried the ball 226 times for 2165 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 100 yards and two TDs.
He is a first team all-state running back and the district defensive MVP. He runs a 4.6 40-yard dash and has a max bench press of 345 pounds.
Tyler Sutherland is a versatile athlete who played outside linebacker, running back, receiver and returned kicks. In 11 games he had 1221 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns. He also picked up 58 solo tackles, nine assists and forced four forced fumbles.
At five foot 11 and 185 pounds he runs a 4.5 40 and is also an accomplished track and field athlete. Sutherland was all-district in 2013 at running back, linebacker and returner. He was honorable mention all-state at linebacker.
Cody Stephens is an all-district tight end who checks in at six foot two, 230 pounds. In 10 games he caught 14 passes for 245 yards and four majors. He also suited up at linebacker. He spent three seasons with the Crane varsity baseball team.
Crane’s population is 3,996 (2000 census). It is located 375 miles west of Dallas. It is an oil boom town dating from the 1920s and is still in the centre of a prominent oil-producing region.
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