Staff Sports Writer for VYPE Media-Houston
SHSU Alum (Class of 2022)
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Concordia Lutheran's Tanner Huckfelt
TAKING OWNERSHIP: Huckfelt the undisputed leader of 'Sader Football
CONCORDIA LUTHERAN’S FOOTBALL PROGRAM ENJOYED ARGUABLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SEASON THE PROGRAM HAS SEEN IN RECENT YEARS IN 2023, HAVING WON THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF GAME WITHIN TAPPS-DI.
With dual-threat superstar Lou Lamar having since moved on to Dartmouth, it will now be up to the incoming senior class to fill in the gaps.
Enter Tanner Huckfelt.
“I know my role and what I need to do in that position,” he said. “The coaches have laid the groundwork for me to succeed. It’s going to be fun to fill the shoes of the people who have graduated and to help leave a legacy with our senior class.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
As the Crusaders signal-caller, it is only natural that he takes on the role of a leader, which is something he’s strived for since joining the program.
Consequently, the work he’s put in on the field and at camps has garnered attention from college recruiters.
Most recently, Huckfelt finally got his first offer to play D1 college football, when he got the call from Butler in May.
“I wasn’t even ready for it,” said Huckfelt. “I was just at my house and the quarterback coach from Butler (Eddie Schott), who I talk with all the time, told me that he and the staff were looking over my film and that they wanted to offer me.
I ran right to my Dad’s office and we started talking over everything. It was kind of surreal and it still hasn’t quite hit me yet, that I got my first offer. Knowing that I’ll have a place to play Division-I football, wherever it might be, is a great feeling. I’m just going to keep working like I have been, to prove to other schools what my team and I are capable of.”
'Working’ is putting it lightly.
Over the Summer, Huckfelt will have attended camps with some of the premier D1 college programs such as Houston, Texas State, Lamar, Iowa State, Houston Christian, SFA, Davidson, and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, which should only improve his chances of picking up more offers.
However, once the new school year begins, he will come back to Concordia Lutheran to help guide the Crusaders back to the postseason.
After transferring from Magnolia West his freshman year, Huckfelt knew that he found a place to call home.
2023-24 Concordia Lutheran FootballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“When I was thinking about enrolling, it all started when my Dad and I talked with coach (Willie) Amendola,” he said. “He explained what Concordia Lutheran was all about and what opportunities it could provide me, and from then on, my family and I were bought in.
School-wise, all the staff and students are welcoming and I’ve gone on to make new friends because of it. Regarding the football program, the coaches are with us every step of the way, but they also allow us to be a player-led group and take ownership of everything. Overall, the experience has helped me to find a family away from home.”
The ‘one family’ mentality that Concordia prides itself on, certainly allowed Huckfelt to thrive.
As he enters his final year with the school, it should be made perfectly clear that he will have left his mark.
Lake Creek's Eli Morcos
REIGN CANE: Lake Creek’s Morcos commits to Tulsa ahead of senior year
While it may often take some time for an individual to be noticed in the high school football recruiting game, that hasn’t been the case for Lake Creek’s Eli Morcos.
Following years of training, preparation, and producing some admirable results, the incoming senior quarterback has racked up a bevy of noteworthy offers throughout his career – particularly from programs such as UTEP, Sam Houston State, Houston Christian, ULL, and Navy.
However, after his most recent official visit, Morcos ultimately made his decision to commit to Tulsa on Monday.
“It felt right,” he said. “I had been praying about it for a while, and I just felt like God spoke to my heart, telling me that Tulsa was the place I needed to be. Also, I really enjoyed the coaching staff – coach (Corey) Dennis and coach (Kevin) Wilson.
They’re very intelligent, offensive-minded guys who can produce NFL quarterbacks. Regarding the city itself, I enjoyed it a lot. The environment was great, the players were great, and I just felt like that was home.”
As he approaches the final campaign in his high school career, it’s given Morcos the opportunity to reminisce about where it all began.
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
“I’ve always grown up in the sport, dating back to when I was three or four,” said Morcos. “A big part of my journey, I think, was impacted by my brother who’s four years older than me. Growing up, I would go play tackle football with him and his friends, which helped me to be built tough and it’s stuck with me up to this point.”
It would appear that this particular upbringing has paid dividends for the Lions signal-caller, who is coming off a stellar performance in 2023, in which he accumulated over 1,500 yards through the air, with 18 passing touchdowns, and 11 more on the ground.
Collectively, Lake Creek (12-1) went undefeated through the regular season, which carried over into the playoffs, before being edged out by the eventual UIL-5A-II state champs Port Neches-Groves (30-27) in the Regional Quarterfinals.
Now that he has secured his future playing career, Morcos has a one-track mind for the upcoming Fall.
“It’s time to go get it done,” he said. “Last year I was still going through the whole recruitment process, which put a little bit more pressure on my shoulders. But, now the mindset is to just go win and have fun. It’s going to be the last time I’ll be on the same field with my friends, so I’m hoping to make it count.
Obviously, I want to stay consistent and be a leader for the guys around me since I’m going to be one of the oldest of the group. So, I intend to make this season enjoyable for myself and my teammates – to be an uplifting spirit so they can take on what seniors leave when all is said and done.”
Given that the vast majority of last year’s roster will be returning for head coach Pat Kennedy, which includes the soon-to-be Tulsa Hurricane, fans should expect more of the same success in 2024, if not greater.