Cats announce three mid-year signings

The Kansas State football program and head coach Ron Prince announced the addition of three highly-rated junior college prospects Wednesday, including a pair of Rivals Top-100 performers.

Alesana Alesana (Malie, Western Samoa), Gary Chandler (Wichita, Kan.) and Eldridge Sims (Compton, Calif.) have each signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play for the Wildcats, Prince said. The trio of December junior college graduates is slated to enroll at K-State in January and participate in spring drills.

Chandler, a defensive back from Coffeyville (Kan.) College and the No. 5 overall junior college prospect in the nation according to Rivals, originally signed with Kansas State in February of 2005 on the heels of a standout senior season at Wichita Heights High School.

While at Coffeyville, Chandler was considered the top player in the Jayhawk Conference. A two-time first team All-KJCCC selection and a 2006 NJCAA All-American, Chandler collected 134 tackles, three interceptions and forced three fumbles during his junior college career.

A key member of one of the top JuCo defensive units in the nation, Chandler helped lead the Red Ravens to a combined 16-7 record, two postseason bowl appearances and the 2005 Region VI title.

As a prep, Chandler gained over 1900 yards and scored 28 touchdowns as a running back during his senior year at Heights, earning 6A all-state as well as Kansas Top-11 honors from both the Topeka Capital-Journal and the Wichita Eagle.

A massive offensive lineman from the City College of San Francisco and a four-star prospect by Scout.com, Alesana grew up playing rugby in his native Western Samoa, but has flourished in the American game since arriving in the United State in 2004. A key member of one of the California Community College system's most potent offenses, Alesana earned first team all-state honors from the coaches association in 2006 and helped the Rams compile an 18-3 record during his two seasons in the City by the Bay.

While a starter at CCSF, Alesana anchored an offensive line that helped the Rams average over 430 yards and 35 points per game. CCSF also won back-to-back Nor Cal titles and was the 2006 state runner-up during his career.

Sims, a steady pass blocker from Compton College, is rated as the No. 96 junior college prospect in the country and is coming off a standout sophomore season. He possesses a lean frame and very quick feet for his size and could challenge for playing time right away.

Sims chose Kansas State over offers from Florida State, Iowa State and San Diego State.

Kansas State Mid-Year School Signees (3)

Name Pos Ht Wt *Elg. Hometown (Previous School)

Alesana Alesana OL 6-6 318 Jr. Malie, Western Samoa (CC of San Francisco)

Gary Chandler DB 6-0 180 Jr. Wichita, Kan. (Coffeyville [Kan.] College)

Eldridge Sims OL 6-6 288 Jr. Compton, Calif. (Compton College)

*Elg. – Expected year of athletic eligibility for 2007 football season

K-STATE FOOTBALL – EARLY SIGNING PERIOD PLAYER PROFILES

Alesana Alesana

Offensive Lineman

6-6, 318

Malie, Western Samoa (CC of San Francisco)

Quickly: A mammoth offensive lineman who played for one of the top offenses in the California Community College system… Earned four-stars from Scout.com, which rates him as one of the top tackles in the class of 2007… Received three-stars from Rivals.com… Has adjusted quickly to American football after growing up as a rugby player in Western Samoa.

City College of San Francisco: A 2006 first team California all-state selection by the coaches association… Helped lead CCSF to an 18-3 record and a pair of Nor Cal championships during his two seasons with the Rams… Helped CCSF to a 10-2 mark in 2006 and a berth in the state title game… Key component of an offensive unit that averaged 35.1 points and 453.6 yards per game during the 2006 regular season, while giving up less than 2.5 sacks per game… Overall, CCSF averaged 409 yards per game in 2006 and 440 yards per game in 2005… Paved the way for quarterback Zac Lee to finish third in the state in total offense (309.0 yards per game)… Joined the CCSF program in 2004 as a grayshirt.

High School: A native of Western Samoa, who grew up playing rugby… Attended Samoa College, a high school in Western Samoa… Graduated from high school in 1998.

Personal: Alesana Alesana was born Dec. 10, 1979, in Western Samoa… Hails from the village of Malie, which is located on the outskirts of nation's capital, Apia… Is undecided on a major.

Recruiting: Selected K-State over offers from Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Kentucky and Washington State.

Gary Chandler

Defensive Back

6-0, 180

Wichita, Kan. (Coffeyville CC)

Quickly: An extremely athletic defensive back who figures to push for immediate playing time… Considered to be one of the top junior college defensive backs in the country and the top player in the Kansas JuCo ranks… Rated as the No. 5 overall junior college prospect in the nation… Received four stars from both Rivals.com and Scout.com.

Coffeyville CC: A 2006 first team NJCAA All-American and two time first team All-Jayhawk Conference defensive back… Helped Coffeyville to a No. 13 final ranking, a 7-4 record and a berth in the Top of the Mountain Bowl… Recorded 70 total tackles during the regular season, including 29 unassisted stops, while forcing three fumbles… Part of a defensive unit that finished 2006 ranked 12th nationally in pass defense (103.3 ypg) and 16th in total defense (227.2 ypg)… The Red Ravens defense also finished first in the NJCAA Region VI rankings in scoring defense, allowing just 12.6 points per game… Helped lead Coffeyville to a No. 9 national ranking, a 9-3 record, a NJCAA Region VI title title and a berth in the Sea Island Bowl as a freshman in 2005… Collected 64 tackles, including two for losses… Also had three interceptions and forced a fumble as a freshman.

Wichita Heights HS: Helped Heights to a 10-1 record in 2004, its best ever... Rushed for 1,905 yards on 260 carries (7.3 ypc), with 28 touchdowns at running back... Gained over 200 yards in four straight games, with five 200-plus outings... May have had best offensive game of the season against Emporia with six touchdowns... Recorded 98 tackles, including 57 solo stops, with nine tackles for losses on defense... Named Class 6A all-state by the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital-Journal as a defensive back... Was also a member of both papers' 2004 top-11 all-class teams… Participated in the 2005 East-West Shrine game… Began his prep career at Wichita East before transferring to Heights after his junior season... Rushed for 1600 yards as a junior in 2003 at East... Earned all-league honors as a defensive back and was an honorable mention all-state selection... Played quarterback and defensive back as a freshman and sophomore at East... Coached by Rick Wheeler at Heights... Also lettered in basketball and played for East's state title team.

Personal: Gary Jermaine Chandler was born Oct. 31, 1986, in Wichita, Kan... Parents are Gary Chandler and Kathy Delt... Has two brothers, Brian (25) and Chris (11)... Comes from an athletic family as father Gary played at Tulsa, uncle, Vic, lettered as a defensive end at K-State from 1974-76 and uncle, Dewayne, was an All-Big Eight tight end at Kansas in 1992... Is undecided on a major.

Recruiting: Originally signed with the Wildcats out of high school as part of K-State's February 2005 class… Chose Kansas State over offers from Arkansas, Louisville, Iowa State and Missouri.

Eldridge Sims

Offensive Lineman

6-6, 288

Compton, Calif. (Compton College)

Quickly: A lean offensive line prospect with quick feet… Ranked as the No. 96 junior college player in the nation by Rivals.com… Listed as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com.

Compton College: Helped lead the Tartars to back-to-back 6-4 records… 2006 Compton offense averaged 217 yards per game, with 150 of those yards coming through the air… Helped freshman quarterback Kyle Parrish nearly reach the 1,500-yard mark in passing during the 2006 campaign while tallying seven TDs… Head coach was Angelo Jackson.

Recruiting: Selected K-State over offers from Florida State, San Diego State and Iowa State.