Sioux Center, Iowa — The Dordt Defender football program has announced its first recruit commitments for the 2021-22 school year. 29 individuals make up the initial list of recruits planning to join a football program that was 7-3 this season and has won 22 games the last three seasons.
“Getting to national signing day is quite a process for our staff and for the young men who decide to make Dordt their home. We work hard to find world-class teammates, who care about academics, play great football, and who will thrive in a Christ-centered university. This signing class is made up of those kind of guys,” said Dordt football coach Joel Penner. “While this recruiting class is not completed yet, this list of prospects is made up of guys who know what they want and have conviction about the Defender Way and the pursuit of Industry Standard football. Dordt University will always attract students nationally, but it’s notable to consider how many regional prospects continue to see what’s unique about Dordt and buy in to our brand of football here at Dordt University.”
Area Recruits are:
Bo Byl is a senior at Unity Christian High School (Iowa). He’s listed as a 6-4, 200 pound tight end who earned all-district football honors in 2021 after averaging 14.2 yards per catch and he scored four touchdowns. He also earned academic all-state accolades this fall and was an all-conference pick in basketball as a junior. Byl plans to study business at Dordt and is the son of Dan and Missy Byl of Sioux Center, Iowa.
Connor Dodd is a senior at Hartley Melvin Sanborn High School (Iowa) and is listed 5-10, 162 pounds and played cornerback and running back. Dodd ran and caught passes for 3,631 yards during his high school career and scored 42 touchdowns and 16 two-point conversions. He had six interceptions on defense and was in on 91 tackles. Dodd claimed first-team all-state honors at running back and was a two-time all-district selection while also being named an academic all-district selection two times. Dodd was an academic all-state selection as a senior and served as team captain for the Hawks the last two seasons. Dodd led the state in Class A with 2,155 all-purpose yards and ran for a school record 300 yards in the opening round of the post-season. Dodd ran track for Hartley Melvin Sanborn and qualified for the state meet in the 100, 200, 4×100 and 4×200. He’s the son of Chris and Tammy Dodd of Hartley, Iowa and plans to study business.
Ethan Hooyer is a student at Sioux Center High School (Iowa) and played both offensive and defensive line in high school. He was named first-team all-district and all-state the last two seasons and was a second-team all-district selection as a sophomore. Hooyer had 25 tackles in 2021 and is 6-3, 285 pounds. Ethan is the son of Phil and Judy Hooyer and he plans to study engineering.
Lyle Moore is a senior at George Little Rock High School (Iowa) and is listed as a 6-1, 235 pound center, defensive and fullback. He had 44 tackles this season with two sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss and was a first-team all-district honors on defense last fall for Central Lyon George Little Rock. He plans to study criminal justice at Dordt and is the son of Lyle and Dorinda Moore of George, Iowa.
Zachery Rozeboom is a senior at Sioux Center High School (Iowa) where he played linebacker and quarterback. Rozeboom passed for 1,354 yards with 12 passing touchdowns in 2021. He ran for 548 yards on two touchdowns and earned all-district honors twice during his career. In 2020 he passed for 604 yards and seven touchdowns and ran for 978 yards and 11 touchdowns. Rozeboom is also a two-time all-conference honoree in wrestling and he is listed 6-1, 195 pounds. Zachery is the son of Travis and Amy Rozeboom of Sioux Center, Iowa. He plans to study health and human performance.
Brett Schouten is a senior at Sioux Center High School (Iowa) and is a 6-3, 165 pound wide receiver. Schouten caught 38 passes for 654 yards and six touchdowns and had an interception for a touchdown return on defense. Schouten was a first-team all-district selection in 2021 and helped Sioux Center to a state playoff berth. Brett is the son of Rick and Jill Schouten of Sioux Center, Iowa. He plans to enter the pre-law program at Dordt.
Cael Schulte is a student at Central Lyon High School and played offensive tackle for the Lions. He’s listed 6-4, 225 pounds and earned first-team all-district honors twice and helped the Lions to a 7-4 record this season and a state runner-up finish in 2020. Cael is the son of Nate and Amy Schulte of Rock Rapids, Iowa. He plans to study engineering.
Jordan Van Veldhuizen is a senior at West Lyon High School (Iowa) where he has been the kicker the last three seasons for the Wildcats. Van Veldhuizen is 123-144 during his career on point after tries and has a long field goal of 32 yards. Van Veldhuizen was a first-team all-district selection in 2021 and was the kicker for state champion, state runner-up and a state quarterfinalist teams during his career. Jordan is the son of Anita and Denny Van Veldhuizen of Alvord, Iowa. He plans to study computer science.
