HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University head men's soccer coach Stu Riddle has announced the 2018 recruiting class. Wes Collins, Justin Earle, Will Hunt, Sam Mason, Caden McCullough, Connor Probert, Sam Slocum, and Alex Willis are all set to join the Norse in the fall. 
 
"I am absolutely delighted with the class my staff and I have been able to assemble," said Riddle. "We have put a lot of time and effort into securing this group and feel like we have added some very talented young players and some very experienced high-level transfers that will transform our squad."
 
Wes Collins
 
Collins is a 6-1 center back from Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio. Collins was a four-year varsity letter winner, and was named his team's MVP, first team all-conference and second team all-state in 2017. He was also a team captain in 2016 and 2017. He plays for the Ohio Premier club under head coach Travis Wall, where he helped his team to the Ohio South State Cup Championship and a national appearance.   
 
Coach Riddle on Collins: "Wes (along with Sam Slocum and Sam Mason) will join us after an exceptional club career at Ohio Premier. He has a very big upside and the potential to become a very good Division I defender when he adjusts to the speed of play and the higher level of opponent."
 

Justin Earle
 
Earle is a 6-1 defender from Stittsville, Ontario, Canada. He played last season at Syracuse University, appearing in five matches and making three starts. He helped the team to a 2-0 shutout win over Colgate on Sept. 25. He also made starts against Akron and NC State.  Prior to Syracuse, Earle played for Ottawa Fury FC.
 
Coach Riddle on Earle: "To have a player who has started matches in the ACC join us as a redshirt sophomore is a real big pick up for this program. In Justin we are getting a composed-in-possession player with an excellent passing range and a defender who rarely gets beaten on the ground or in the air. Like the other transfers, he is chomping at the bit to help this program compete at the highest levels, and he has the ability to help us get there."
 

Will Hunt
 
Hunt is a 5-10 midfielder from Auckland, New Zealand. Hunt most recently played for Fort Wayne. He started in 16 of the 17 matches he played in, recording two assists. Prior to his time at Fort Wayne, he attended Auckland Grammar School, where he was named a team captain and Footballer of the Year. Hunt was also the first player in 15 years at the school to have 75 caps.
 
Coach Riddle on Hunt: "Will brings a great deal of experience, having been a two-year Division I starter at his previous institution. He terrorized us on the wing last year when we played Fort Wayne, and I fully expect he will do exactly that and more to teams in the Horizon League over the next two seasons. He is reenergized and determined to make a huge success of his time with us, and I know he will do just that."
 

Sam Mason
Mason is a 6-0 midfielder out of Big Walnut High School in Sunbury, Ohio. Mason has also played for the Ohio Premier club under coach Travis Wall. Mason was named first team all-conference in high school and helped his club team to six Ohio South State Cup Championships, a 2016 Midwest Regional Championship, a 2016 United States Youth Soccer National Semifinal appearance, and an appearance at the 2017 United States Youth Soccer Nationals.
 
Coach Riddle on Mason: "Sam is a terrific footballer with an incredible range of passing. He has the ability to unlock defenses with a variety of passes, and our forwards will absolutely love having Sam feed them the ball. Once Sam learns the intricacies of being a college soccer player, I'm certain he will play a large role in this team's success."
 
 
Caden McCullough
 
McCullough is a 6-5 goalkeeper from Evansville, Indiana. He is a transfer from Drake University. Last season, he started all 19 games for the Bulldogs and led the team in minutes played with 1,766. McCullough had 82 saves and a .707 save percentage in his first collegiate season. He was named the MVC Defender of the Week on Oct. 31.
 
Coach Riddle on McCullough: "For us to be able to pick up a Division I starting goalkeeper that will challenge Jim Barkei for the starting role is just terrific. Caden is a big lad and a top shot stopper who has been well coached his whole life. He is ready to grab this new challenge by the scruff of the neck and make the absolute most of it, and I am very pleased he is joining us at NKU."
 
 
Connor Probert
 
Probert joined the team in January, as a transfer from the University of Kentucky. He started 15 matches last season for the Wildcats, recording a goal and two assists. Probert also helped the program earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament where he scored against Louisville in 2016. He has represented New Zealand at the international level, and has made appearances at the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile and the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
 
Coach Riddle on Connor Probert: "We have been fortunate to have Connor join us this spring, which has allowed him to integrate with his new teammates and has certainly helped with his adjustment period. From what we have seen, he's everything we hoped we were going to get – a wide attacking threat who looks dangerous every time he's on the ball. I know he will be a huge cog in our wheel this fall and beyond and opposition defenses will have trouble dealing with him."
 
 
Sam Slocum
 
Slocum is a 5-10 right back who played at Westerville Central High School in Westerville, Ohio. Slocum was named his team's MVP in 2017, and earned all-conference honors in 2016 and 2017. He had six goals and 10 assists in his senior season, helping the team to an 11-4-6 record. Slocum also plays with the Ohio Premier club.
 
Coach Riddle on Slocum: "We were extremely surprised to see a player of Sam's caliber at our prospect camp and knew right away that he would be the perfect fit for NKU. He's extremely fit, athletic, aggressive, and on the front foot in attack from the fullback position, and I have very high hopes for him at NKU."
 
 
 
Alex Willis
 
Willis joins NKU from Charlton Athletic Football Club in London, England, where he plays as a center forward. Over the past two seasons, he has appeared in 62 matches, helping the team to a 39-16-6 record. In those contests, he has recorded 42 goals and 16 assists. From the U-8 to U-23 levels, Willis has scored more than 500 goals. He has helped his current squad to the 2015-16 National Category 2 Championship and the 2016-17 National Category 2 Semifinals. On May 4, 2018, Willis collected two assists as Charlton defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 to win the Professional Development League 2 National Championship. Willis was reportedly scouted by Premier League club Everton earlier this year, before deciding that NKU would be his destination of choice.
 
Coach Riddle on Willis: "We literally scoured the globe to be able to find a striker of Alex's prominence, and I am absolutely delighted that Norse fans will get to see him play for our side this fall and beyond. I fully expect him to come in and hit the ground running and be someone who will turn heads with his statistics right away. To score over 500 goals during a 12-year period with a club like Charlton Athletic is mind-blowing, and I am excited to see him score many more in an NKU shirt."
 

2018 Recruiting Class
Wes Collins – Center Back | Olentangy Liberty High School – Powell, Ohio (Ohio Premier)
Justin Earle – Defender | Stittsville, Ontario (Syracuse University)
Will Hunt – Midfielder | Auckland, New Zealand (Fort Wayne)
Sam Mason – Midfielder | Big Walnut High School – Sunbury, Ohio (Ohio Premier) 
Caden McCullough – Goalkeeper | Evansville, Ind. (Drake University)
Connor Probert – Midfielder | Mount Maunganui, New Zealand | (University of Kentucky)
Sam Slocum – Right Back | Westerville Central High School – Westerville, Ohio (Ohio Premier)
Alex Willis – Forward | Faversham, England (Charlton Athletic Football Club)
 
"The players and staff are all very excited to meet again in the fall," said Riddle. "While we know there will be an adjustment period for everyone involved, we are cautiously optimistic about what this group of talented and experienced incomers can do with what we know is a hungry and ambitious group of returning players."