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Two Mustangs who have run together since third grade are now set on a collision course.
And it was of their own doing.
McDonald County football standouts Chance Buttram and Daniel Sumler signed national letters of intent Wednesday afternoon to continue their careers at the collegiate level.
Buttram signed to play wide receiver at MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Buttram is listed at 6-feet-2 and 200 pounds. He was a member of the Neosho Daily News All-Area first team as a wide receiver in 2011. Buttram was a four-year letterman and also earned all-district accolades and was named to the KURM Dream Team.
Buttram chose Mid-America over several schools including Southwest Baptist, Missouri Southern and Evangel.
“I am really excited about the chance to continue my football career at MidAmerica Nazarene,” Buttram said. “I am excited to play against two of my former teammates, Daniel Sumler and Nick Wolfe, at Baker.”
The senior receiver looks forward to college but, he understands that means his time to enjoy being a carefree high school student is coming to an end.
“I am excited about getting away from a small town and making new friends in college,” Buttram said. “I think this will make the rest of the year actually go faster though because I only have so much time left here. I will miss my mom and dad when I leave and the atmosphere in this school.”
McDonald County football coach Chris Gwartney raved about Buttram’s athleticism and the flexibility he has to do different things on the football field.
“MidAmerica is getting a very versatile player, the most versatile player we’ve got,” Gwartney said. “He has lined up for us at receiver, tight end, defensive end, inside linebacker, outside linebacker, he punts for us and kicked extra points and kickoffs for us. Chance is such a talented athlete and there are a lot of things that he can do.”
Sumler, an offensive lineman, signed his letter with Baker University. There he will join his former Mustangs teammate Zack Wolfe, a 2010 signee.
Sumler is a four-year letterman who has started for three years on the offensive line at McDonald County. Sumler was an NDN All-Area selection and was on the honorable mention all-district list in 2011.
“It means a lot to me to have this opportunity,” Sumler said. “I’ve always wanted to (play college football) and having the chance to do it excites me. I am ready to get to it.”
Two Mustangs who have run together since third grade are now set on a collision course.
And it was of their own doing.
McDonald County football standouts Chance Buttram and Daniel Sumler signed national letters of intent Wednesday afternoon to continue their careers at the collegiate level.
Buttram signed to play wide receiver at MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Buttram is listed at 6-feet-2 and 200 pounds. He was a member of the Neosho Daily News All-Area first team as a wide receiver in 2011. Buttram was a four-year letterman and also earned all-district accolades and was named to the KURM Dream Team.
Buttram chose Mid-America over several schools including Southwest Baptist, Missouri Southern and Evangel.
“I am really excited about the chance to continue my football career at MidAmerica Nazarene,” Buttram said. “I am excited to play against two of my former teammates, Daniel Sumler and Nick Wolfe, at Baker.”
The senior receiver looks forward to college but, he understands that means his time to enjoy being a carefree high school student is coming to an end.
“I am excited about getting away from a small town and making new friends in college,” Buttram said. “I think this will make the rest of the year actually go faster though because I only have so much time left here. I will miss my mom and dad when I leave and the atmosphere in this school.”
McDonald County football coach Chris Gwartney raved about Buttram’s athleticism and the flexibility he has to do different things on the football field.
“MidAmerica is getting a very versatile player, the most versatile player we’ve got,” Gwartney said. “He has lined up for us at receiver, tight end, defensive end, inside linebacker, outside linebacker, he punts for us and kicked extra points and kickoffs for us. Chance is such a talented athlete and there are a lot of things that he can do.”
Sumler, an offensive lineman, signed his letter with Baker University. There he will join his former Mustangs teammate Zack Wolfe, a 2010 signee.
Sumler is a four-year letterman who has started for three years on the offensive line at McDonald County. Sumler was an NDN All-Area selection and was on the honorable mention all-district list in 2011.
“It means a lot to me to have this opportunity,” Sumler said. “I’ve always wanted to (play college football) and having the chance to do it excites me. I am ready to get to it.”
For Sumler, the big appeal from Baker was the doors that the university opens for his future.
“I look forward to the opportunities I have there,” Sumler said. “I know that going to Baker, I will have a very good chance to get on with their coaching staff and that’s what I want to do.”
Sumler chose Baker over Central Methodist.
Gwartney was thrilled to see a player like Sumler get the opportunity to continue his football career after high school.
“Daniel is not a very big kid and he is a young man with a quiet personality,” Gwartney said. “But he wants to excel and it shows when he practices. Daniel works extremely hard and was our best offensive lineman. He knows what everyone else is supposed to be doing and he gets them in the right place. He may not be the biggest, but nobody works harder than he does.”
The first opportunity that Sumler and Buttram will have to square off on the field will be Sept. 29 in Olathe, Kan.
