May 22, 2025
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Nodaway Valley's Corder is a future Charger

By KALEB CARTER
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Nodaway Valley senior Jared Corder, front and center, signed his letter-of-intent Wednesday to compete in football and track and field at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City. At left front from left to right are family, sister Alexis and parents Jason and Angie Williams. at back are current Nodaway Valley track coach Darrell Burmeister, Briar Cliff assistant track coach Reggie Miller and Briar Cliff football coach Dennis Wagner. (CNA photo)

GREENFIELD — One of the top 400 and 800 runners across all of Class 1A in Iowa has made a choice where to further his athletic and academic careers.

Jared Corder, Nodaway Valley's top sprinter in several track events, will head up to Sioux City this upcoming fall to run track and play football for the NAIA's Briar Cliff Chargers.

The school hosted a signing ceremony alongside family and coaches for the Wolverine senior in the high school gymnasium that featured first-year Chargers head football coach Dennis Wagner and BCU assistant track coach Reggie Miller.

"I just thought it was a chance to build something good at Briar Cliff," Corder said about his choice. "I know they haven't done very well in football, so hoping I can help build on that.”

Corder's attitude as a multi-sport athlete has been to "tell myself that you can do more than you're capable of doing."

The versatility of the Wolverine senior excites Miller, who has helped lead a several strong relays in the 4x400 and 4x800.

Corder owns the third-best time in 400 meter dash in 1A this season, 51.33 seconds.

His time of 2:02.63 is third in the 800 meter run as well.

Corder reached out to Miller first after considering Morningside for school for several months.

"We’ve had some kids in this area that have come in not quite where Jared is at time-wise but not far behind and have run exceptional for us, Miler said. I think with Jared’s work ethic and the talent that he is, I think he can do exactly what they’re doing.”

As for football, Corder may very well play both sides of the ball or try his hand in special teams. Wagner, who became head coach in February, has been using his recruiting time to find most athletic athletes possible.

The senior led the Wolverines in receving, 463 yards on 37 receptions for six touchdowns, and rushing yards, 333 on 6.4 yards per carry and a score. Corder registered 40 tackles and intercepted a pass on defense.

Corder fits the mold.

"We’re not really recruiting guys specifically by position, we’re just trying to find the best layers that are out there," Wagner said. "Once he gets on campus, we’ll find the spot that he fits on the team the best. Might be situation where he has to play both sides of the ball and help us out as a freshman either side, but he has an ability to play in the secondary as well as wide receiver.”

Wagner has been a head coach in track at the collegiate level and has witnessed his daughter compete collegiate in track and field, so Corder and his future coaches feel comfortable with the multi-sport arrangement.

Corder could be a gamebreaker for the Chargers.

"He’s as strong at the beginning of the game as he is at the end of the game," Wagner said. "He’s not going to break into the open in the beginning and make touchdowns that he won’t make in the second half. He’s a strong guy being a track runner with that base.”

For now, Corder will turn his attention toward what is immediately ahead of him.

"This season," Corder notes with conviction; "I’m just trying to get to Drake and trying to win state."

Corder noted that while he's unsure of what he wants to pursue in school yet, computer science interests him.