Football: Lemont's Kyle Krull, Brad Uher Sign with Western Illinois University

 senior linebackers Kyle Krull and Brad Uher signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to play football at Western Illinois University, beginning in Fall 2012.

Krull and Uher both have been key contributors to the successful Lemont football program in recent years. Both started in each of the last two seasons, leading the Indians to a 23-2 record, back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles.

Krull (6’1”, 215) spent three seasons on the varsity squad. He totaled 261 tackles (168 solo), including 28 tackles-for-loss. The team’s leading tackler as both a junior and senior, Krull also collected 10 sacks, seven pass break-ups and two interceptions.

The Indians went 33-4 in his career — recording at least 10 wins each year — and captured at least a share of the SSC Blue crown each of his varsity seasons.

Krull twice was named an All-SSC selection, and helped Lemont to two IHSA Class 6A quarterfinal appearances and one semifinal finish. The Indians posted 13 shutouts in his varsity career, and limited more than half of their opponents to fewer than 10 points.

Uher (6’3”, 235) put in two seasons on Lemont’s varsity squad. He totaled 99 tackles (66 solo), including 15 tackles-for-loss. He racked up 14 sacks — ranking among the team’s top two each season — while breaking up six passes, forcing five fumbles, and recovering a fumble. Uher was a two-time All-SSC performer as well.

In 2011, Krull led Lemont with a career-high 102 tackles (61 solo), made five tackles-for-loss, and collected a career-high five sacks. He also made the first two interceptions of his career and forced a fumble.

Uher also reached a career high in tackles in 2011, totaling 50 (33 solo). He was third on the team with nine tackles-for-loss. Uher also paced the Indians with a career-best eight sacks, broke up four passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered a fumble.

Both Krull and Uher repeated as All-SSC linebackers, as Lemont went 12-1 (6-0 SSC Blue) and finished as an IHSA Class 6A semifinalist. The Indians shut out six opponents, and limited eight to fewer than 10 points.

Krull is an honor roll student, and has served on the school’s Athletic Council. Uher also is an honor roll student, and was in the starting line-up for Lemont’s wrestling program when it finished third at the 2010 IHSA Class 2A Dual Team State Finals.

Krull and Uher will play for head coach Mark Hendrickson at Western Illinois, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) institution located in Macomb that competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Leathernecks have a storied football history, having sent many players to continue their careers in the NFL.

Hendrickson has compiled a 15-24 record in parts of four seasons. In his first full
season heading the program, Hendrickson led the Leathernecks to an 8-5 record and an NCAA FCS Playoff appearance in 2010; he was the runner-up for the Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year) that season.