February 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky will soon get two of DeKalb County High School Football’s finest!
Seniors Shadie Rankhorn and Ean Jones, both offensive and defensive linemen for the Tigers, signed letters of intent Friday at DCHS to join the Blue Raider program this fall. Both Rankhorn and Jones, who will be graduating from DCHS in May, were joined at the signing by family members and coaches.
“I went to visit there over the summer, and I just liked the coaches and the program,” said Rankhorn when asked why he settled on Lindsey Wilson.
“Its an amazing atmosphere being up there,” added Jones in explaining why he chose the Blue Raiders. “The coaches came in and talked to us. We all had a good time,” he said.
“Shadie was a really good football player for us,” said DCHS Tiger Coach Steve Trapp. “Going into his junior year, I sat him down and asked if he had any interest in playing college football because he would be the first-person college coaches would ask about when they looked at our roster or if they just saw us walk out onto the field. Shadie has the size to do it and to be that big of a guy he can move really well. As long as he continues the work ethic that he showed for us these last couple of years I think he will have a really successful college career,” said Coach Trapp.
Rankhorn earned All Region 2nd Team honors for the 2022 season.
Jones was named the Region’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for the 2022 campaign and received the team ‘s Offensive Lineman of the Year honor at the Tiger football banquet last month along with the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award.
“I have told a lot of college coaches about Ean,” said Coach Trapp. “He is an undersized guy. He doesn’t have that size like Shadie does but I did tell every college coach I spoke to that he was our dog. You put a helmet on Ean and he has a different mentality about him. He plays football the way it is supposed to be played and if you are playing against him you probably don’t like him too much. As an offensive lineman and a defensive lineman for us, he did a great job and pretty much played all spots up front. They (Lindsey Wilson) are probably looking for him to play center or potentially guard on the offensive line and Shadie will probably play at guard or tackle for them. I think its good that these guys get to go together. Lindsey Wilson is a place that has had a hand full of our players over the last few years and it is the one school ever since I have been a coach here, that has physically stepped foot in here and asked about our guys and I have made sure I let them know that too. They understand what kind of guys we have. I am appreciative of the work these guys (Rankhorn and Jones) have put in and for Lindsey Wilson in acknowledging that. I am really excited for these two young men in continuing their football careers,” added Coach Trapp.
Jones said his plans are to earn a business degree at Lindsey Wilson and possibly one day start an auto mechanic repair shop here. His favorite moments being a Tiger include receiving the Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award in January and the team beating the Smith County Owls 17-14 at Carthage on a last second field goal last August.
Rankhorn said he hasn’t decided yet on a college course of study but may pursue a business career path with an eye on possibly starting a furniture store someday. His high school football career highlight was as a freshman in 2019 when the team defeated Marshall County on the road to advance to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. He also ranks the last second win at Smith County this past year as one of his favorite moments as well.
Lindsey Wilson College is a private four-year college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school currently offers associate degrees in 10 areas of study, bachelor’s degrees in 26 areas of study with Minors in 20 areas, and master’s degrees in counseling and human development, Education, and interactive design. Lindsey Wilson is a member of the Mid-South Conference of the NAIA.