The latest additions to the Fort Lewis College football team have a decidedly local flair.
The Skyhawks added Austin McMenimen from Bayfield High School and Branson Mitchell from Mancos High School to the fold recently as the latest pieces of new head coach John L. Smiths recruiting class.
McMenimen, at 6-5, 205 pounds, likely will move elsewhere to play, potentially at tight end. As a tackle and defensive lineman last fall in Class 3A football, McMenimen earned the Western League Lineman of the Year for his work as part of a unit that opened holes for the leagues top running back, TJ Pazell, en route to an 11-1 season for the Wolverines.
Thats some place (tight end) if we have to look in the crystal ball: he can run, hes athletic, and he can block ... so (tight end) might be a consideration for him, Smith said.
Smith said he liked McMenimens build and his quickness.
Hes got a real nice frame on him, and he can run, Smith said. And the way it is today, if you can run and you can block, youre going to hit people, which he does do.
Mitchell played running back and linebacker for the Class 2A Bluejays, and the 6-foot, 200-pounder rushed for 2,152 yards and 18 touchdowns while racking up 185 tackles as Mancos finished 4-5 last fall.
Hes a kid that anytime you play in a smaller league, youd better dominate, Smith said. And he does. He dominates the games regardless of where youre playing him.
Smith said the plan as of now is to start Mitchell on the offensive side of the ball and going from there. He didnt rule out eventually playing the Mancos product on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker, adding that hes got room to add the right kind of heft to his frame.
Hes certainly a kid with a big enough frame on him he could even grow into a linebacker some day, Smith said.
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