Conque Adds Pair of Defensive Transfers
12/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin head football coach Clint Conque today announced the addition of a pair of defensive junior college transfers. Safety Zack Starnes and defensive tackle Darrell Vanerson will join the SFA roster this winter, adding some depth to the Lumberjack defensive unit.
"We're excited about the addition of both Zack and Darrell as both should make an immediate impact," Conque said. "We lost some key players at those positions, and their experience and maturity will be a big boost defensively. They are both quality young men that will add a physical presence and are the type of players that will help us get back to the FCS playoffs and compete at the national level."
Starnes is a 5-11, 190-pound safety from Woodland Hills, Calif., making the trek to Nacogdoches from Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif. The 2013 Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Starnes was tabbed a JUCO All-American following an impressive career that included nearly 90 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks and five interceptions with a pair of touchdowns.
Starnes was a three year starter at Woodland High School, helping lead the Wolves to a pair of playoff appearances. He received offers from UNLV, Sacramento State, Georgia State and Southeastern Louisiana.
Vanerson is a 6-3, 275-pound defensive tackle out of Wesson, Miss., spending the last two years at Copiah-Lincoln Junior College. In two seasons for the Wolfpack, Vanerson registered 50 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, helping lead Co-Lin to the MACJC state championship game.
Vanerson was a second team all-district selection at Wesson High School. A three-star recruit, he received multiple scholarship offers, including Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, Troy, Western Kentucky, Southeastern Louisiana, Central Arkansas and Northwestern State.
The two will fill a need on the Lumberjack defensive unit, which lost six starters to graduation. Vanerson will team up with seniors Lance Skyler, Donald Bryant and Shayvion Hatten, making the SFA defensive line one of the most experienced in the conference, while Starnes will add experience to an already deep SFA defensive secondary.
The 2015 SFA schedule gets underway Saturday, September 5th when the `Jacks face Tarleton State at Homer Bryce Stadium, leading into a showdown with nationally ranked TCU in Fort Worth on September 12th. Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com for the latest in Lumberjack football news as well as season ticket information for the 2015 season.
Zack Starnes
5-11 • 190 • Junior • Safety
Woodland Hills, Calif. (Woodland H.S./Sierra College)
Prior to SFA: Spent two seasons at Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif. ... 2013 JUCO All-American ... 2013 Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year ... Finished the 2013 season with 55 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions for touchdowns ... Tallied 88 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, five interceptions and 21 pass breakups during his Wolverine career ... Three year letterwinner at Woodland High School ... Helped lead the Wolves to a pair of CIF playoff appearances.
Darrell Vanerson
6-3 • 275 • Junior • Defensive Tackle
Wesson, Miss. (McComb H.S./Copiah-Lincoln J.C.)
Prior to SFA: Spent two seasons at Copiah-Lincoln Junior College in Wesson, Miss. ... Two-year starter that tallied 50 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks for the Wolfpack ... Helped 10th-ranked Co-Lin to the MACJC state championship game, falling to second-ranked East Mississippi ... Three year letterwinner at McComb High School ... Second team all-district selection ... Three-star recruit out of high school.
-SFA-
