Eleven Peoria-area football players recruited to Monmouth

Release Date: May 20, 2005

MONMOUTH, Ill. --- Monmouth College football coach Steve Bell has announced the plans of 11 Peoria-area athletes to join the Fighting Scots this fall. They include Pekin’s Cody O’Brien, Ben Donovan, Matt McCabe and Dan Pollman; Richwoods’ Marc Artozqui and Cole Norman; Notre Dame’s Sean Gillen; Princeville’s Robert Garcia and Billy Shaw; Limestone’s Dane Malmberg; and Farmington’s Eric Rose.

Bell, entering his sixth year at Monmouth, has recruited the Peoria area hard in the past, but this year he will have enough for an entire starting lineup.

“We feel great about our recruiting in the Peoria-area this year,” said Bell. “We have made a strong effort to recruit Peoria in the past few years and it is definitely paying off for our program. This year is no exception with this incoming class.”

From Pekin, O’Brien, a former captain for the Dragons, will patrol the defensive line while McCabe will add depth to the Scots’ linebacker corps. Donovan and Pollman will handle the ball at running back and wide receiver, respectively.

Richwoods’ Artozqui, a member the Peoria Journal Star Large School All-Star Football Team, will use his versatility at linebacker, while Norman, will play defensive back.

Gillen will clear the way out of the backfield at fullback for the Scots, who posted a 9-1 mark last season and have a 33-17 record under Bell.

Garcia, a three-time All-Lincoln Trail Conference selection for the Princes, is one of two quarterbacks in this year’s announced class, while Shaw will join five other newcomers in the defensive backfield.

Malmberg joined Artozqui on the Journal Star All-Star Team and will play on the defensive line. Bell is looking forward to watching Malmberg display the athleticism that produced a 95-yard interception return and will help him as a thrower for the track team.

Rose, an All-Olympic Conference Honorable Mention selection and three-sport athlete for the Farmers, could one day line up alongside McCabe and Artozqui for an all Peoria-area linebacking corps.

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