Woodward-Granger grid star Vermaas to play at Grand View

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Woodward-Granger senior Tanner Vermaas signed a Letter of Intent Thursday to continue his football career at Grand View University. At left is W-G football head coach George Ashman, with Hawk wrestling head coach Dave Smeltzer at right. Standing is W-G Principal and Activities Director Robert Boley.

WOODWARD — A standout on the gridiron and the wrestling mat, it is football that Woodward-Granger senior Tanner Vermaas has decided to devote his energies to as a collegian. On Thursday he made his choice official, signing with Grand View University, where he will play running back.

“It was always important to me to play somewhere close,” the Granger native said. “They are such a good program, winning a national championship a few years ago and always contending for one, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Vermaas is listed a 5-11 and 180 pounds, but played heavier his senior year, which included 1,367 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 221 carries. A workhorse-style back who is not afraid to put run over defenders, Vermaas toted the ball 536 times in his career, finishing with 3,062 yards (a 5.7 ypc clip) and 34 TDs for head coach George Ashman.

The burly back is listed by Grand View as possessing 4.6 second speed in the 40 yard dash, with a maximum bench press of 315 pounds and with 23 reps at 185 pounds in the press.

Blocks from Logan Canova (33) and Austin Scharlau (24) created a seal through which Woodward-Granger tailback Tanner Vermaas (28) would run for a gain of seven yards against Central Decatur this season.

His list of accolades sparkles. He was an INA Third Team All-State running back in 2016 and the 2015 INA All-State Second Team punter. Vermaas was a two-time first team all-district running back after being honorable mention all-district as a sophomore, and was a W-G team captain and both the Hawk MVP and offensive MVP each of the last two seasons.

Ashman has sent a series of Hawk gridders to Simpson College, but Vermaas said he was under no pressure to follow suit.

“Coach was very supportive and encouraged me to do what I felt like doing and not worry about what others said,” Vermaas noted. “I looked at several schools, but I liked coach (Mike) Woodley and everything I saw (at Grand View).”

The son of Jim and Jill Vermaas, Tanner’s older brother Hunter is a 2016 W-G graduate, with sister Maddie to be a freshman at W-G next year.

Woodward-Granger tailback Tanner Vermaas races toward open space off the left end of the line against Des Moines Christian Sept. 30.

In addition to his prowess at running back (and linebacker), Vermaas is also an accomplished wrestler for head coach Dave Smeltzer. He will compete Saturday at a district tourney in Webster City, with a repeat trip to the state tournament at stake.

Vermaas said he would “test the waters” and see if it were possible to both play football and wrestle for the Vikings, but made it clear he would not risk anything interfering with his grid duties.

With a district tournament looming, Vermaas said he was “very relieved” to have his collegiate decision behind him.

“I have been stressing about it for a year,’ he admitted. “It is a relief to finally be over saying where I was going to go. I started out looking for a place I liked and knew would be the right fit for me and I know I have found it.”

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