Sports : \'Extremely excited, incredibly blessed:\' Wiley makes VS history with KSU offer

“Something special has taken place here and we want you to be... a very special part of a very special football program.”

With those words, Kansas State University Coach Bill Snyder made Drew Wiley the first Vinton-Shellsburg football player to ever be offered a Division 1 full-ride football scholarship.

After waiting for a while to make sure it was the right decision, Wiley, the son of Todd and Denise Wiley, accepted the offer.

“I am verbally committed, and will sign on National Signing Day in February,” said Wiley, who announced his choice via twitter, saying he is “extremely excited and incredibly blessed” to announce his decision and thanked his family, friends and coaches.

“It's been a fun process,” he said.

The Viking senior will play defensive tackle for the Wildcats. He plays both offensive and defensive line for the Vikings and was named to the Class 3A 2nd Team All-State Team as a junior.

Wiley also received an offer from South Dakota, and had visited a few other colleges before deciding on K-State. The four-year FFA member and current FFA President will major in animal science. He said both the Ag program and football program at KSU were the main reasons for his choice.

While many VS players have gone on to play college football, Wiley is the first Viking to be offered a Division 1 full-ride scholarship.

Both his high school coaches and future college mentors praise Wiley's work ethic and athleticism.

“Drew is a kid who has all the physical tools obviously,” says Andrew May, who coached Wiley his sophomore and junior seasons. “He also does the simple things lot of kids don't do. He has rarely missed workouts and even then it was because he was involved in other events.”

As a sophomore, Wiley earned a starting spot on the line. Seniors Warren Rouse, Eric Studer and Stevie Henry took him under their wing, and taught him the basics and the importance of the weight room, says May. Wiley recently set the VS weight room squat record.

“Drew is very big and very explosive,” says May. “When he was a sophomore had one of the best vertical jumps and his agility time was one of the best. Also, we ran a pretty complex offense and Drew always graded out the highest for doing assignments and doing them well – he always knew what his assignment was and was able to do it.”

May said there is another thing that VS coaches noticed about Wiley while watching game film: He was as fast at the end of each game as he was on the first snap; a tribute to his strength and conditioning commitments.

“Drew really bought into our system and into staying in shape year-round ready to be for the fall,” says May.

VS assistant football coach Aric Chvala agrees.

"I am very happy for Drew," says Chvala. This is a great opportunity for him and I know that he will make the most of it. I am also very proud of Drew, because there have been students before that are similar in stature that for one reason or another didn't get the chance that Drew is getting, Drew is constantly challenging himself to improve in everything, and when you combine that mentality with some physical gifts you have the potential for something very special."

At Kansas State, the online publication devoted to Football says of Wiley: "At 6'4 and 290 lbs, Wiley is a force to be reckoned with due to sheer size as well as his quickness. Wiley played well as a nose guard and was credited with over three sacks last year, very solid for a position that is primarily blocking so the linebackers can get the tackles. Not only was Wiley a second team all-state defensive lineman in Class 3A, he had 60.5 tackles and led his team in sacks with three on the season. With his obvious agility at nose guard, Wiley will have the opportunity to work with some very talented coaches that can help Wiley get to the next level of play

“He's the kind of kid that's so fun to coach and anyone who has the chance to work with him will really enjoy it,” says May.