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Atwater commits to Wyoming

Hovpensports.com Publisher

Wichita Heights quarterback T.J. Atwater finished the season as a first team All-GWAL defensive back while leading his team to a 9-0 regular season record, losing only to Hutchinson in the state playoffs. A dangerous kickoff and punt returnee, Atwater was also selected to the offensive team as an honorable mention quarterback. With speed to burn, Atwater has been offered, and verbally committed to the University of Wyoming for next season.

"Wyoming has been interested throughout the season as have K-State, and Missouri and several other schools," T.J.’s father Terry said during a phone interview Wednesday night. "Wyoming has contacted him after every game. He is going mainly as a defensive back and a kickoff and punt return specialist."

"He liked coach Bryan Applewhite real well who is the main recruiter out there he has been working with and he is real excited about both the football program and their business management program at the school.

Heights, coached by Rick Wheeler, finished the season with a 10-1 record, and will no doubt be ranked in the top five teams in 6A when the season is over.

Having already passed his College Entrance Exam, Atwater is currently registered and qualified through the NCAA Clearinghouse. He is also a 2004 Football Leadership Award Winner.

The speedy senior returned three punts and four kickoffs for touchdowns in his senior season, while throwing six touchdown passes on a team which had the top running back in the Wichita City League, Gary Chandler who ran for 1905 yards this season on the ground.

The last Heights player to commit to Division 1 football is sophomore starting end Xzavie Jackson who plays for Missouri.

Atwater has scheduled a visit on Dec. 3.

HSP Football All-State team, 2004

Hovpen

Speed at the corners with Wichita Heights Gary Chandler and Fort Scott’s Garrison Overstakealong with future Jayhawk Darrell Stuckey of Kansas City Washington and Conway Springs quarterback and defensive back Matt Wykes along with Chandler's teammate T.J. Atwater. Chandler could have been listed as a running back as he is one of the top rushers in the state, but is more widely recruited for his defensive skills, as is Wykes. Atwater has verbally committed to Wyoming as a defensive back and kick returner.

November 26, 2004
50 Days of Football Recruiting: Kansas

Brentt Eads StudentSports.com Publisher

 

Top 50 KANSAS senior football players

• T.J. Atwater (Wichita Heights Wichita KS) WR/DB 5-10 175
• Clinton Barley (Wichita Heights Wichita KS) DL 6-3 280
• Mark Behncke (Leavenworth Leavenworth KS) OL 6-2 265
• Caleb Blakesley (Ottawa Ottawa KS) DL/OL 6-5 270
• Adam Booth (Leavenworth Leavenworth KS) QB/Ath 6-2 210
• Mack Brown (North Shawnee Mission KS) QB 6-3 205
• Gary Chandler (Wichita Heights Wichita KS) RB/DB 6-0 185
• Jeff Colter (Lawrence Lawrence KS) RB/DB 5-7 160
• Chad Cross (North Shawnee Mission KS) LB 6-0 180
• Michael Drake (Wichita Collegiate Wichita KS) RB
• Brant Dumford (East Wichita KS) TE/DE 6-4 220
• Josh Duvall (Blue Valley Northwest Overland Park KS) LB 6-3 215
• Brody Eldridge (Prairie View La Cygne KS) DE 6-5 225
• Scott Evans (Andover Andover KS) DB 5-11 188
• Dwight Fly (Leavenworth Leavenworth KS) OL/DL 6-2 247
• Jacob Gonzales (Garden City Garden City KS) RB/DE 6-0 195
• Jason Gragg (Salina Central Salina KS) OL-DL 6-4 275
• Dominique Grayson (North Shawnee Mission KS) TE 6-4 190
• Ian Handshy (Lawrence Lawrence KS) RB 6-1 190
• Thomas Hutton (Wichita Collegiate Wichita KS) OL 6-4 293
• Andre Jones (East Olathe KS) RB/DB 6-1 175
• Christian McDonald (Bonner Springs Bonner Springs KS) LB/FB 6-2 215
• Kerry Meier (Pittsburg Pittsburg KS) QB 6-3 192
• Raymond Mitchell (North Wichita KS) RB
• Bryce Morris (South Olathe KS) WR 6-2 195
• Ryan Mortimer (Minneapolis Minneapolis KS) RB 5-8 160
• Adam Myer (North Shawnee Mission KS) OL 6-5 270
• Garrison Overstake (Fort Scott Fort Scott KS) RB/DB 5-9 170
• Austin Panter (Kensington Kensington KS) LB/FB 6-2 210
• Steve Petty (South Wichita KS) DB/RB
• Dante Rodgers (Northwest Wichita KS) QB/DB
• Josh Rogers (Newton Newton KS) RB/DB
• Naji Shinskia (Highland Park Topeka KS) RB/DB
• Darren Siewart (Conway Springs Conway Springs KS) RB 6-1 210
• Caleb Smith (Garden City Garden City KS) QB 6-3 200
• Adam Sokolowski (Washburn Rural Topeka KS) K/P
• Trevor Stewart (Circle Towanda KS) OL 6-7 315
• Nick Stringer (Hayden Topeka KS) OL 6-6 260
• Darrell Stuckey (Washington Kansas City KS) DB 6-1 180
• Justin Taylor (Derby Derby KS) RB 5-10 185
• Brian Thies (Blue Valley Northwest Overland Park KS) DB 5-11 190
• Dale Vogel (Marion Marion KS) OL 6-3 256
• Adam Welty (Newton Newton KS) OL 6-6 270
• Travis Wike (Wichita Collegiate Wichita KS) TE/DE 6-4 245

November 28, 2004
Kansas athlete heads for the mountain

Jeremy Crabtree Rivals100.com

One of Kansas’ best pure athletes is heading to the Mountain West. Wichita ( Kan.) Heights two-star athlete T.J. Atwater has committed to Wyoming, according to an e-mail received from the Atwater family.

“He made a verbal commitment to play football for Wyoming next season,” the e-mail said. “He was also recruited by Tulsa and Southwest Missouri State. He’s going to take an official visit there on December 3.”

Atwater , who is 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, earned all-state honors as a senior after leading his team to the state playoffs.

"T.J. won't play quarterback in college," Heights coach Rick Wheeler said. "He'll probably be a receiver or a defensive back. But that may not be what's best for Heights. He basically said, 'I'll do whatever you tell me.' "