Axtell enters his second year with the RiverHawks football program after a redshirt year in 2008.

A highly decorated quarterback for the Raiders and coach Joey Florence, Axtell passed for 2,250 yards and 24 touchdowns as a prep senior. He broke the school records for most passing yards in a game, most offensive yards in a game two times. Axtell was a First Team All-District and First Team All-Area selection.