Submitted photo – Del Norte seniors Sam Schauerman, left, and Konner Price after signing their letters of intent to play at CR.

By Ray Hamill — When College of the Redwoods football returns this coming fall, there’s going to be a sizable Del Norte Warriors contingent on the roster.

Recently, seniors Sam Schauerman and Konner Price joined former Del Norte teammates Tanner Forkner, Kaleb Price and Levi Cox Cooley in committing to play for the Corsairs, signing their letters of intent at Del Norte High School.

All five of these players played a huge role for the Warriors in recent years, including the team’s historic march to a state championship game in 2019, and all five are expected to have an immediate impact for the Corsairs.

CR head coach Jason White has made a commitment to bring more local players on board at the local community college, and it appears as if the Warriors are destined to be a big part of that.

“I mean, what don’t you like about Del Norte players,” said White, whose brother Nick is the head coach at Del Norte. “They’re physical. Sam Schauerman was MVP of the (Big 5) and he’s going to play on the D-line and we expect him to be dominant force.

“And Konner Price will play offensive line, and both of these guys are going to be right in the mix with everybody else we’re bringing in.”

Having so many of his Del Norte teammates at CR was one of the main reasons Schauerman chose to play for the Corsairs, along with the proximity to home.

“I’m excited to play with dudes I’ve put work in with since I was 8,” the Del Norte senior said. “I think, with who we have going there, we’ll be a really competitive team with good coaching. So I’m pretty ecstatic on how this season will go.”

Schauerman dominated on both lines at the high school level, ever since breaking into the starting lineup as a sophomore, and in addition to being named Big 5 co-MVP lineman in 2021, he was also the Humboldt Sports Defensive Player of the Year.

The three-time Big 5 All-League First Team selection finished the 2021 season with 56 tackles — including an incredible 33 tackles for a loss — as well as 13 sacks.

Submitted photo

And he says he will always remember the camaraderie in the locker room from his time playing for the Warriors.

“My best memories are definitely the ones in the locker room before and after games, and even before practice,” he said. “That’s definitely where the camaraderie is built. The hype, and everyone being excited and pumped up, it was the best.”

And he’s determined to take full advantage of the opportunity at the next level.

“I definitely think I’ll compete at a competitive level with everyone,” he said. “I’m putting work in the offseason to up my endurance so I can be 100 percent every play.”