Four Wolverines Sign Letters of Intent

There were 165 Atlanta-area football standouts at Andretti Indoor Karting in Roswell on Wednesday to participate in a large press conference on National Signing Day.

Four Woodstock football players signed to play football at the college level.

Tanner Skogen

Back in November, Woodstock was one of four Region 5-AAAAA teams that qualified for the playoffs and a big reason for that was three-year starting running back Tanner Skogen.

Skogen finished his senior year with 1,015 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, including five in one game back in early October. The 5-foot-11-inch hard-nosed back is now headed for Furman and the very competitive Southern Conference. The Paladins – who compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly 1-AA) – already have 12 conference titles and a national championship under their belt, but they've been struggling lately.

"They have great tradition," says Skogen, who obviously did his homework on the Paladin football program. "But they've been down for a couple years. I'm hoping that while I'm there, we can bring them back."

Although Furman redshirts most of their freshman, Skogen says if he has a good camp, he might end up seeing some playing time."The coaches said they're not going to automatically redshirt me because I'm a freshman, they said the best player is going to play."

Corey Santiago

In 2010, the Woodstock defense was a force. The Wolverines pitched two shutouts and held four other opponents to under 14 points – including Class-AAAAA state semifinalist Collins Hill, who the Wolverines held to a single touchdown.

A key part of the team's defense was safety Corey Santiago. The Cherokee County Gridiron Club was so impressed with Santiago's season that they named him their defensive back of the year.

The 5-foot-11-inch safety will continue his football career next fall at Charleston Southern, where's it's nice and warm.

"I like the weather [in Charleston]," says Santiago. "I wasn't going anywhere up north because I can't stand the cold."

On the football side of things, Santiago expects to get some playing time next season, "They play with three safeties and a nickel back, and I've been told they're hurting for those, so it's looking good for possible playing time next year." 

Charleston Southern is an FCS school competes in the Big South Conference. They finished their 2010 season with a record of 3-8. 

Kevin Bolak and Alex Kops

In two seasons as the starting quarterback at Woodstock, Kevin Bolak led the Wolverines to two playoff berths. Next season, the signal caller will take his talents to the next level when he heads for Oskaloosa, Iowa and William Penn University.

In 2010, the Statesmen – who compete at the NAIA level -- won their first league crown since 1976. "The program is headed in the right direction and I really feel like I can come in and help it out," the former Wolverine QB says.

Bolak's reasons for heading to Iowa are simple, "It's football, it's a free education, plus I have my good buddy coming with me," he says, referring to Woodstock teammate Alex Kops, who is also headed for WPU.

Kops, a defensive back, hopes that he and Bolak can help the Statesmen program reach new heights, "Hopefully we'll be in the hunt for a national championship while Kevin and I are here."

Although Bolak expects to be redshirted next season, Kops is hoping to get on the field next fall, "They have two graduating defensive backs, so hopefully I'm in the hunt for a some playing time."