Originally published February 2, 2011 at 9:45 PM | Page modified February 3, 2011 at 12:16 PM

Bellevue High sends three players to Division I football teams

Bellevue defensive back/linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren (Hawaii), lineman Marcus Henry (Boise State) and linebacker Elan Richard (Idaho) all signed letters of intent Wednesday.

By Mason Kelley

Seattle Times staff reporter

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Bellevue defensive back Kendrick Van Ackeren

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BELLEVUE — Over the past decade, the Bellevue High School football program has been the most dominant in the state, winning eight of the last 10 Class 3A titles, including the last three.

But, despite all the success, the Wolverines accomplished something new on signing day. According to coach Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue is sending three seniors to Division I programs in the same year for the first time during his tenure as the school's coach.

Defensive back/linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren (Hawaii), lineman Marcus Henry (Boise State) and linebacker Elan Richard (Idaho) all signed letters of intent Wednesday.

"To me it's a really big accomplishment, because this was supposed to be our down year," said Van Ackeren, wearing his title rings from 2008 and '09. "We weren't supposed to have as many guys. But to come out with three D-I players, that's a big accomplishment."

Both Van Ackeren and Henry received late interest from Washington, but decided to stick with their original commitments.

"I'm really happy everything is over with," Henry said.

"Recruiting is really stressful, especially when UW came into the game, but I'm just really happy right now it's done and over with."

Richard picked up the Idaho offer during a recent recruiting trip to Portland State.

"Oh, man, my head was spinning 100 miles an hour," said Richard, who also wore championship rings. "It feels great for me. I felt like I was overlooked the whole season and, pretty much, didn't get a chance. My window was closing pretty quickly. Then toward the end of the recruiting (period) I picked up a scholarship.

"It feels pretty good."

Mason Kelley: 206-464-8277 or mkelley@seattletimes.com


State of Washington signees
The following Washington high-school football players signed with FBS or Big Sky schools (Eastern Washington players are not included here, but are listed on Page C8).
Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	High school (city)	College
Derek Berry	LB	6-5	215	Curtis (University Place)	Idaho State
Zack Berg	LB	6-1	202	Edmonds-Woodway	Wyoming
Dexter Charles	OL	6-5	270	Stanwood	Washington
Kellen Clute	TE	6-5	220	Mount Spokane	Oregon State
Odin Coe	DL	6-3	260	Camas	Montana State
Connor Cree	DE	6-4	230	Skyline (Sammamish)	Washington
Joe Dahl	OL	6-4	235	University (Spokane)	Montana
Rahmel Dockery	DB/WR	5-11	165	Curtis (University Place)	Washington State
Cornelius Edison	OL	6-3	260	Curtis (University Place)	Portland State
Jarett Finau	TE/LB	6-3	235	Juanita (Kirkland)	Washington
Ellis Henderson	DB/WR	6-0	170	Skyview (Vancouver)	Hawaii
Marcus Henry	OL	6-4	275	Bellevue	Boise State
Max Hersey	LB	6-3	240	Curtis (University Place)	Washington State
Charlie Hopkins	DE	6-6	240	Gonzaga Prep (Spokane)	Stanford
David Jones	WR	6-1	195	Kent-Meridian	Portland State
Jamaal Jones	WR	6-2	180	Graham- Kapowsin	Washington
Jared Klingenberg	TE	6-4	240	Cedarcrest (Duvall)	Idaho
Alec Martin	OL	6-5	245	Wenatchee	Air Force
Cameron McKernan	RB	5-10	204	Kentridge	Idaho
Addison Owen	LB	6-2	206	Camas	Montana
Tana Pritchard	LB	6-4	205	Clover Park (Lakewood)	Washington State
Elan Richard	LB	6-2	200	Bellevue	Idaho
Bishop Sankey	RB	5-10	190	Gonzaga Prep (Spokane)	Washington
Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TE	6-7	253	Gig Harbor	Washington
Danny Shelton	DT	6-3	285	Auburn	Washington
Sadat Sulley	DE	6-2	235	Spanaway Lake	Portland State
Daniel Sullivan	K	5-10	180	Jackson (Mill Creek)	Wyoming
Tani Tupou	DE/DT	6-3	265	Archbishop Murphy (Everett)	Washington
Kendrick Van Ackeren	DB	6-2	185	Bellevue	Hawaii
Alphonse Wade	RB	5-11	185	Auburn	Air Force
Kasen Williams	WR	6-2	200	Skyline (Sammamish)	Washington