Poteau football duo signs letters of intent on National Signing Day; Werner inks with NSU, while Shankle does so with Fort Hays State

February 7, 2013

PIRATE WALKING THE PLANK TO COLLEGE — Tight end/deep snapper Jay Werner, bottom center, signs a letter to play for Northeastern Oklahoma State University during a ceremony at the high school while his parents, Barb, bottom left, and Greg, Poteau's first-year coach. Also sharing the moment are assistant coaches Mike Odom, back left, and Andy Perdue. PDN photo by David Seeley

With the resurgence of Poteau High School football last season, it should not come as a surprise that a couple of seniors from the winning campaign for the Pirates punched their tickets to the next level.
Tight end/deep snapper Jay Werner and lineman Trevor Shankle signed letters of intent on National Signing Day in a ceremony Wednesday morning at the high school. Werner signed with Northeastern Oklahoma State University in Tahlequah, while Shankle inked with Fort Hays State University, located in Hays, Kan.
“These two guys are going to two schools that are in the best Division II conference (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) in the country — hands down,” said Greg Werner, Poteau's first-year coach. “So, it's an honor for them. They're two very good schools. It's a great honor for them, and a great honor for our football program.”