Kahok alumni football players headed to play in college this fall
by Mark Jurgena
With the fall sports season about to begin, it seems appropriate to look at the Collinsville High School football alumni that have chosen to go on to college and play football.
Collinsville football coach Colton Rhodes indicated the Kahoks have five players headed for intercollegiate gridirons this fall.
Darren Pennell will head to play NCAA Division II football in Lebanon at McKendree University.
Pennell had a stellar senior season after getting moved to quarterback following a great junior year as a standout wide receiver and defensive back for CHS.
He was named to the IHSFCA Class 7A all-state team this season after leading the Kahoks in passing and rushing. He also was fifth on the team in tackles from his defensive back spot.
Pennell was 156-for-267 for 2,158 yards passing with 20 TDs and nine interceptions. He rushed for 692 yards on 111 carries with nine TDs.
Defensively he had 23 solo tackles and 28 assists for 51 total tackles. He compiled one tackle for loss and picked off one pass.
He was also on the Academic all-state team.
After his junior season, Pennell was named to the IHSFCA Class 7A all-state team in the honorable mention category.
“As far as I can tell from everybody I’ve talked to up there he’s been doing a great job in summer workouts and may not even redshirt his freshman year we’ll see,” said Rhodes. “He’s just doing exactly what he did here at Collinsville, leading the way and being a team player like he always is.”
“He does stuff on the field that is eye-opening to say the least.”
Pennell has been slated to play safety somewhere on the depth chart for the Bearcats and perhaps some special teams.
Amari Berry is headed to Liberal, Kan. to play linebacker for Bethany College.
The Swedes are an NAIA school that competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
“Amari is a great kid who played football and baseball for us as a senior at Collinsville,” said Rhodes. “He came in and started working immediately. We noticed that work ethic right away and couldn’t keep him off the field. I think that will transfer well for him during his college years.”
He totaled 30 tackles for the season with a season-high seven against Mt. Vernon and six in the second round of the playoffs against New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West).
Darius Williams will go to play safety at Concordia University-Illinois in the Chicago suburb of River Forest.
CU-Illinois is an NCAA Division III school.
“He was a four-year player for us at Collinsville,” began Rhodes. “I’m glad to see him get an opportunity to continue to play in college and really do a good job up in Chicago.”
Williams had 55 tackles last year with his highest total coming against Belleville (Althoff) when he registered 11. He also had two interceptions a season ago.
Isaiah Gordon will be continuing his career at Wisconsin-Platteville as a defensive back at the NCAA Division III level.
“He’s going to play, well they’ve worked him both at corner and as a boundary safety kind of guy so he really isn’t exactly sure where he will fit in,” Rhodes said. “He’s going to continue to work and be a player for them.
“He started for us since he was a sophomore so there’s no doubt in my mind that he will go up there and find some success.”
Gordon had 36 tackles on defense and offensively caught 13 balls for 185 yards and a TD for the Kahoks.
Edwin Kircher will take his talents to Rose-Hulman Institute which is also an NCAA Division III school.
The future guard for Rose-Hulman carried a 4.0 GPA during his time at Collinsville.
“Edwin played guard for us his senior year,” said Rhodes. “He did a great job stepping up and filling when we needed him to and I think he’s going to continue that at Rose-Hulman and continue to get great grades and be a great student as well.”
