Evansville players to close high school careers together at UW‑Oshkosh
Two recent Evansville graduates will finish their high school football careers together Saturday in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All‑Star Game at Titan Stadium on the University of Wisconsin‑Oshkosh campus.
Lincoln Keller, the Blue Devils’ leading rusher, and lineman Tanner Zastoupil will both take part in the matchup that typically showcases top talent from across the state.
- Keller rushed for 1,356 yards and scored 18 rushing touchdowns this season, accounting for nearly 60% of Evansville’s rushing total.
- Zastoupil, listed at 6‑4, 260 pounds, drew attention from college coaches and had originally committed to Minnesota‑Duluth before changing plans.
"I’m super excited. It’s a great experience," Keller said of the all‑star game.
For Keller, the game caps a season in which he was the primary workhorse in Evansville’s running attack. He plans to continue his education at the University of Wisconsin‑La Crosse and study finance.
Zastoupil’s path is different. He told coaches he has stepped away from competitive football for now and is focusing on other goals, including military service and coaching. He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin‑Whitewater and major in business management. He will undergo shoulder surgery this season and serve as a manager for the Warhawks program while he decides whether to return to play in the future.
"I would say I kind of lost my heart for football a little bit," Zastoupil said. "Once I realized college is a good thing, I decided on college. Then I realized the national guard — you can go to college and be in the military. So that fit well."
The game represents a final on‑field reunion for the teammates who grew up playing together. For local fans, it is also a reminder of the role high school athletics plays in preparing student‑athletes for college and, in some cases, military service or coaching careers.
| Player | Next step | Key stat or note |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Keller | UW‑La Crosse, finance | 1,356 rushing yards; 18 TDs |
| Tanner Zastoupil | UW‑Whitewater, business management; National Guard | 6‑4, 260; shoulder surgery, team manager |
As Keller heads to a Division III program to pursue his academic and athletic goals, and Zastoupil shifts toward college, military training and potential coaching, both players reflect the varied trajectories of Evansville athletes after high school. Their appearances in the WFCA game add to a tradition of area players competing on a broader stage and provide recruiting and development context for coaches across Vanderburgh County and the region.
