Football announces 2010 recruiting class

2/11/2010 4:36:37 PM

By: Justin Wollard, Media Relations Director

UPDATE: March 31, 2010
BOLIVAR, Mo. -- SBU Bearcat football has announced that 62 players have signed letters of intent to play for the Bearcats in the 2010 season.

“We went into the 2010 recruiting season with a very specific plan," said SBU head coach Keith Allen. "We were looking to add student-athletes with great character that play with a high motor and could contribute right away. We had immediate needs at the offensive line, wide receiver, defensive line and the secondary positions. I believe we addressed those needs with this recruiting class and added needed depth at all positions."

Allen added that after a winning season this year, they were able to recruit players that they weren't able to recruit before. "Our coaching staff did a great job recruiting and I applaud their hard work and effort. I also appreciate all the support and help our athletic administration, faculty and staff gave us in recruiting such a strong class. I know our fans will see the difference and be excited this fall.”

The Bearcats open their 2010 season on Saturday, August 28 in Bolivar against the Central Missouri Mules. Last year, SBU earned their first winning season since 2001 by winning six of their last seven games to finish at 6-5.

The following players have signed national or institutional letters of intent:

**2010 SBU Football Signing Class**
Name	Pos.	Hgt.	Wgt.	Hometown	High School / Previous
Spring transfers
Darrin Allen	WR	6-2	180	New Orleans, LA	St. Augustine HS/Tyler JC
Corey Woods	OL	6-4	300	Paris TX	North Lamar HS/Cisco College
Fall signees
Garrick Allen	LB/RB	5-11	190	Las Vegas, NV	Shadow Ridge HS
Felipe Ayala	DL	5-9	305	Bolivar, MO	Bolivar HS
Brock Baker	OL	6-1	250	Willard, MO	Willard HS
Jorge Batres	K	6-0	180	Dallas, TX	Skyline HS
Ryan Bazan	K/P	5-8	175	Grand Prairie, TX	South Grand Prairie HS
Nathaniel Belak	FB	6-0	200	Jarrettsville, MD	North Hartford HS
Ethan Beisner	DL	6-0	220	Nevada, MO	Nevada HS
Curtis Calvin	WR	6-1	185	Love Park, IL	Thornridge HS/Rock Valley CC
Nathaniel Calvin	DE	6-3	200	Marine, IL	Triad HS
Jordan Cowan	LB	5-10	215	Watts, OK	Colcord HS
Chris Culbreth	RB	5-8	180	St. Petersburg, FL	Northside Christian HS
Cody Cutting	OL	6-4	250	Keller, TX	Central HS
Alex Demczak	QB	6-2	195	Springfield, IL	Pleasant Plains HS
Nathan Emily	DB	5-7	170	Independence, MO	Fort Osage HS
Darryl Ford	QB	6-1	190	Springfield, TN	Springfield HS
Afton Foster	OL	6-3	310	Del City, OK	Destiny Christian HS
Phillip Garza	DT	6-3	275	Lithia Springs, GA	Landmark Christian HS
Travis Gregory	QB			Malden, MO	Malden HS
Ryan Hallemeier	RB	6-0	170	Buffalo, MO	Buffalo HS
Tyler Halterman	S/LB	6-2	205	Springfield, MO	Kickapoo HS
Evan Hardman	TE	5-11	195	Ojai, CA	Nordhoff HS
Derek Harman	K/P	6-1	195	Salina, KS	Salina South HS
Trevor Harrison	WR	6-1	175	Slidell, LA	Northshore HS
John Harwell	OL	6-3	275	Royse, TX	Lakeview Centennial HS
Chris Hawkins	DB	6-0	200	Atlanta, GA	Stephenson HS
Jesse Hill	OL/DL	6-3	265	King City, MO	King City HS
Neil Issa	LB	6-1	220	Des Moines, IA	East HS/Ellsworth CC
Marshall Johns	LB	5-10	190	Mtn. Grove, MO	Mountain Grove HS
James Kendall	LB	5-10	200	Aurora, MO	Aurora HS
Andrew Kocurek	K	5-8	185	Aledo, TX	Aledo HS
Tashon Latimore	DE	6-1	250	St. Louis, MO	Gateway Tech HS
Derwyn Lauderdale	WR	5-10	165	Houston, TX	Bellaire HS
Brett Light	OL	6-4	295	Lebanon, MO	Lebanon HS
Matt Lorenz	TE	6-4	200	Morris, OK	Morris HS
Chuck Mason	WR	6-3	200	St. Louis, MO	Wesclin HS/Rock Valley CC
Jarred Moylan	QB	6-3	175	Eastland, TX	Eastland HS
Chris Muhammad	SS	6-1	205	Chicago, IL	Thornridge HS/Rock Valley CC
Jarvis Neal	RB	5-6	190	Atascocita, TX	Atascocita HS
Jeremy Noland	RB	5-11	200	Maysville, MO	Maysville HS
Johnny Onoh	OL/DL	6-0	220	Branson, MO	Branson HS
Sam Padgett	LB	6-0	195	Fair Grove, MO	Fair Grove HS
Keaton Patterson	OLB	6-0	185	Ozark, MO	Ozark HS
Stanfred Philpot	CB	5-11	195	Newman, GA	E. Coweta HS/Ellsworth CC
Jarvis Pierce	DE	6-4	235	Charlotte, NC	Independence HS/Ellsworth CC
Quantel Pikes	WR	5-8	165	Okmulgee, OK	Morris HS
Tyler Ramsey	ATH	6-0	200	Pea Ridge, AR	Pea Ridge HS
Elix Rome	RB	6-0	205	Katy, TX	Seven Lakes HS
Paul Rosa	DL	6-4	285	Merrillville, IN	Merrillville HS / North Dakota State College of Science
Corey Rutledge	LB	5-10	205	Mtn. View, MO	MV-Liberty HS
Eli Samek	LB	6-0	200	Bolivar, MO	Bolivar HS
Shaquille Scharkley	RB	5-10	186	Nashville, TN	Hunters Lane HS
Samuel Sievers	LB	5-8	185	Alton, IL	Alton HS
Ezra Smith	LB	6-2	225	Seaside, CA	Seaside HS / Monterey Peninsula College / University of Hawaii
Marcus Sullivan	WR	6-0	175	Omaha, NE	Benson HS/Iowa Western CC
Ivory Watson	OL	6-3	304	Memphis, TN	Ridgeway HS / Cisco JC
Rodney Watson	CB	6-0	185	Rockwall, TX	Rockwall HS
Sydney Wiggs	OL	6-4	263	Stockbridge, GA	Heritage HS
Curtis Williams	CB	5-7	155	Grand Praire, TX	Mansfield Timberview HS
Shawn Wilson	WR	6-1	185	Cabool, MO	Cabool HS

SPRING TRANSFERS

Darrin "DA" Allen HIGHLIGHTS
New Orleans, LA
WR | 6-2 | 180 | Senior
High School: Saint Augustine High School
Previous College: Tyler Junior College
Head Coach: Tyrone Payne
Planned College Major: Mass Communications
Coach Keith Allen: “We had a lot of skill to replace this past season due to graduation and we feel that we upgraded the wideout position with DA. His skill will allow him to come in and compete for a job day one. His experience on and off the field will be heavily relied on to be an immediate leader.”

Corey Woods HIGHLIGHTS
Paris, TX
OL | 6-4 | 300 | JR
High School : North Lamar
Previous College: Cisco College
Head Coach : Tommy Felty
Notes: Also participated in track, power lifting and basketball.
Coach Allen: “Corey was a versatile player at Cisco. His size and strength allowed him to physically dominant opponents, but it was his athleticism that stood out to us. Corey will be an instrumental part of our offensive line. Being able to play both guard and tackle we expect him to start right away.”

FALL SIGNEES

Garrick Allen
Las Vegas, NV
LB/RB | 5-11 | 190 | FR
High School: Shadow Ridge High School
Head Coach: Gabe Gledhill
Planned College Major: Undecided
Coach Allen: “Due to Garrick's versatility, he will have a good opportunity to compete at multiple positions. We believe that he will develop into a solid player for us. Look for Garrick to have a bright future here at SBU.”

Felipe Ayala
Bolivar, MO
DL | 5-9 | 305 | FR
High School: Bolivar High School
Head Coach: Lance Roweton
Coach Allen: “Felipe is another local product that will provide added depth to our defensive line. We expect him to grow into a solid player in the next few years. It's always a positive for us to get Bolivar talent.”

Brock Baker
Willard, MO
OL | 6-1 | 250 | FR
High School: Willard High School
Head Coach: Brock Roweton
Coach Allen: “We are excited at the opportunity get a player like Brock. It is great for us that he is right down the road in Willard, which allows him to start early in the learning process from high school to college.”

Jorge Batres
Dallas, TX
K | 6-0 | 180 | FR
High School: Skyline High School
Head Coach: Reginald Samples
Coach Allen: “Jorge has a strong leg and good frame to continue developing his leg strength. We wanted to bring competition to our kicking game and Jorge is going have a chance to be a part of that competition this fall. It will be a battle.”

Ryan Bazan HIGHLIGHTS
Grand Prairie, TX
PK/P | 5-8 | 175 | FR
High School: South Grand Prairie High School
Head Coach: David Fisher
Planned College Major: Criminal Justice
Notes: 2009 kicking stats – Extra points: 81/84, FGs: 10/11 with a long of 53, 101 points; Average kickoff distance 65.3 yards.
Coach Allen: “When we set out for a kicker this year we wanted someone we knew was going to compete. Ryan is a very competitive kid that we expect to fight for a starting kicking position this fall. We expect his hard work and dedication to recover from the injury that held him out this year. He is a great kid with tremendous spirit and that is what we look for here at SBU.”

Ethan Beisner
Nevada, MO
DL | 6-0 | 220 | FR
High School: Nevada High School
Head Coach: Jay Fleeman
Planned College Major: Education / business
Notes: Also played basketball, golf, baseball
Coach Allen: “Ethan is a local athlete that we expect to see develop into a good player. He is a great student-athlete that works hard every day to improve both on the field and in the classroom.”

Nathaniel Belak
Jarrettsville, MD
FB | 6-0 | 200 | FR
High School: North Harford High School
Head Coach: Paul Bassler
Coach Allen: “Nathaniel is a rangy kid that we expect to fill out into a solid player for us. His frame has us excited about the possibilities. With added weight and strength he can have the opportunity to be a force at the defensive end spot in the years to come.”

Curtis Calvin
Love Park, IL
WR | 6-1 | 185 | JR
High School: Thornridge High School / Rock Valley Community College
Head Coach: Jeremy Warren
Notes: Honorable Mention All-Conference, Led team in catches and yards.
Coach Allen: “Curtis was the leading receiver on his team and we see him continuing that success for us this fall. He has the ability to make sure catches and gain solid yards after contact which allows him to create. We set out to find guys that will compete for the ball in the air and we feel very confident that Curtis will be able to do that for us giving him the opportunity to compete for a starting job.”

Nathaniel Calvin
Marine, IL
DE | 6-3 | 235 | FR
High School: Triad High School
Head Coach: Paul Bassler
Coach Allen: “Nathaniel is a rangy kid that we expect to fill out into a solid player for us. His frame has us excited about the possibilities. With added weight and strength, he can have the opportunity to be a force at the defensive end spot in the years to come.”

Jordan Cowan
Watts, OK
LB | 5-10 | 215 | FR
High School: Colcord High School
Head Coach: Bud Simmons
Coach Allen: “Jordan is a great young man that will be a positive influence in our program. Jordan helped lead Colcord to a winning record this last year. With our strength program we see him being able to develop into a nice addition to our linebacker corps.”

Chris Culbreth
St. Petersburg, FL
RB | 5-8 | 180 | FR
High School: Northside Christian High School
Head Coach: Andre Dobson
Planned College Major: Pre-Medicine
Notes: #1 running back in Pinellas County with 1,624 and 20 touchdowns. 1st Team All-Bay Conference. Nominated for District 14 Player of the year. Pinellas County All-Star.
Coach Allen: “We feel like we got a steal getting the #1 running back in the Tampa/ St. Pete region. We feel like Chris can be an impact player for us right away. His work ethic in high school will transfer into a great college player.”

Cody Cutting HIGHLIGHTS
Keller, TX
OL | 6-4 | 250 | FR
High School: Central High School
Head Coach: Bart Helsley
Planned College Major: Physical Education/ physical therapy
Notes: Second Team All-District, team captain
Coach Allen: “With losing three seniors on the offensive live this year we set out looking for the best high school talent. Cody helps us fill that need at offensive line. Cody was an intricate part of building a tradition at Central with his work ethic and character. I expect to see him have a great chance to help us this fall.”

Alex Demczak HIGHLIGHTS
Springfield, IL
QB | 6-2 | 195 | FR
High School: Pleasant Plains High School
Head Coach: Joe Oller
Planned College Major: Education/ Business
Notes: Second Team All-Conference quarterback
Coach Allen: “Alex is a good athlete that will help us at the quarterback position. On his visit he portrayed the type of person that we want in our program. He is a versatile athlete that will allow him play other positions as well.”

Nathan Emily
Independence, MO
DB | 5-7 | 170 | FR
High School: Fort Osage High School
Head Coach: Ryan Schartz
Coach Allen: “Nathan is a high motor kid that works hard. We look for him to mature and develop into the type of player that will produce for us. He should be a solid addition to our program.”

Darryl Ford
Springfield, TN
QB | 6-1 | 190 | FR
High School: Springfield High School
Head Coach: Kelly Myers
Coach Allen: “In our offensive scheme, we have to have an athlete trigger man at the QB position. Darryl's dual threat potential gives us the opportunity to create multiple threats for defenses. Darryl will have a great opportunity to learn and mentor from our QB now and look to compete to lead the Bearcats in the future.”

Afton Foster HIGHLIGHTS
Del City, OK
OL | 6-3 | 310 | FR
High School: Destiny Christian High School
Head Coach: Rusty Stone
Planned College Major: Engineering
Coach Allen: “You can never have enough lineman at this level or any level of football and we felt like we got a two for one with Afton. He is a young man that will give us some added depth at the offensive or defensive line this fall. He is a great Christian young man that will grow both physically and spiritually here at SBU.”

Phillip Garza
Lithia Springs, GA
DT | 6-3 | 275 | FR
High School: Landmark Christian School
Head Coach: Kenny Dallas
Notes: First Team All-Region D-Line, D-Line Region Runner-Up, Team Leadership Award, Football co-captain, Also wrestles and is team captain of wrestling, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 blocked punt, 30 tackles
Coach Allen: “Phillip is a big strong physical defensive tackle that has a back ground in wrestling which has proved to be a positive influence in his game. He plays with great leverage and gets good push to create havoc in the backfield. His size and strength will give him a distinct advantage coming in this fall. We expect him to push for a rotation spot in his first year.”

Travis Gregory
Malden, MO
QB | FR
High School: Malden High School
Head Coach: Gary Blaylock
Coach Allen: “Travis is a southeast Missouri athlete that will be a good addition to our team. He is a solid player that will build up adequately with our strength program. We expect him to work hard from day one.”

Ryan Hallemeier
Buffalo, MO
RB | 6-0 | 170 | FR
High School: Buffalo High School
Head Coach: Ed Hula
Coach Allen: “Ryan is another solid player that was in our backyard from Buffalo. We were able to see him in camp and throughout the year and felt he would fit into our scheme. With his hard work and dedication, Ryan should grow into the player we see him being.”

Tyler Halterman
Springfield, MO
SS/OLB | 6-2 | 205 | FR
High School: Kickapoo High School
Head Coach: Kuper Kreul
Planned College Major: Pre-Medicine
Coach Allen: “Tyler is a great local talent that will fit in nicely to our program. Traditionally Kickapoo has had a very successful program and under coach Kreul, Tyler understands what it takes to succeed. We look for him to have a solid future here.”

Evan Hardman
Ojai, CA
TE | 5-11 | 195 | FR
High School : Nordhoff High School
Head Coach : Tony Henney
Coach Allen:”We feel that Evan will be a great addition to our program. His diligence to work hard and get better on and off the field will give him a great opportunity to grow as a player and person for the Bearcat program.”

Derek Harman HIGHLIGHTS
Salina, KS
PK/P | 6-1 | 195 | FR
High School: Salina South High School
Head Coach: Sam Sellers
Planned College Major: Physical Education
Notes: First Team All-County, First Team All-League, First Team All-State, First Team All-County Decade Team. 9/9 field goals with a long of 43. Punting average of 38.6.
Also participated in basketball and track & field.
Coach Allen: “We were very excited get a player like Derek. He comes from a very good program that has a lot of tradition at Salina South. We expect him to bring that type of winning tradition to SBU. Derek will have a great opportunity to come in and compete right away at the punting and kicking duties for us.”

Trevor Harrison
Slidell, LA
WR | 6-1 | 175 | FR
High School: Northshore High School
Head Coach: Mike Bourg
Planned College Major: Secondary Education
Coach Allen: “Trevor is an explosive athlete and has the ability to stretch the field vertically but also has the size to make the big catch over the middle. He is a kid of high character and disciplined work ethic which is exactly what we want in our athletes. Trevor will have a tremendous future here with the Bearcat program.”

John Harwell
Royse, TX
OL | 6-3 | 275 | FR
High School: Lakeview Centennial High School
Head Coach: Don Willis
Coach Allen: “John is another example of extending the family. His older brother Cecil has been with us for two years now and we look for the type of work ethic that he has to translate in John as well. His size and strength will allow him to compete at this level and continue to develop into a fine player for us.”

Chris Hawkins
Atlanta, GA
DB | 6-0 | 200 | FR
High School: Stephenson High School
Head Coach: Ronald Gartrell
Coach Allen: “When you think ideal safety you think of someone that will be a ball hawk and someone that can run down hill and fill the alley. Chris is an unbelievable athlete that has the ability to do both of these very well. He is a young man that we expect to step up and play in the secondary for us immediately.”

Jesse Hill
King City, MO
OL/DL | 6-3 | 265 | FR
High School: King City High School
Head Coach: Anthony Hays
Coach Allen: “Jesse is a big-bodied kid that we liked from day one. He is a guy that came down for a game and saw our style of play and knew he would fit. With our coaches and program, we look for Jesse to really increase his size and strength which will allow him to compete in the coming years.”

Neil Issa
Des Moines, IA
LB | 6-1 | 220 | JR
High School: East High School / Ellsworth Community College
Head Coach: Mike Virden
Notes: Second in the nation with 141 total tackles
Coach Allen: “Neil has a nose for the football which was evident in his performance this year being the second-leading tackler in the nation for junior college athletes. He has the athletic ability to make plays early and often in any game. After the graduation of our linebacker corps, we had to find someone who was game tested and ready to step in right away. Neil should have no problem being that guy for us. Expect him to compete for the leading tackler in D-II as well.”

Marshall Johns
Mountain Grove, MO
LB | 5-10 | 190 | FR
High School: Mountain Grove High School
Head Coach: Steve Ary
Planned College Major: undecided
Notes: Also participated in track.
Coach Allen: “Marshall is a student of the game of football. Marshall has the ability to be a coach on the field with his diligent work ethic and approach on the field. He is a great character kid that we are excited to have join our team.”

James Kendall
Aurora, MO
LB | 5-10 | 200 | FR
High School: Aurora High School
Head Coach: Rick Scholten (SBU Alumni)
Planned College Major: Kinesiology / Physical Education
Coach Allen: “James is another athlete from Aurora that we are excited to have on our team this fall. I can't wait to see what he will be able to do for the Bearcats in the future.”

Andrew Kocurek
Aledo, TX
K | 5-8 | 185 | FR
High School: Aledo High School
Head Coach: Tim Buchanan
Notes: 4A Division II state champions ... First team All-District ... All-Parker County kicker
Coach Allen: “Andrew was a solid kicker in high school. We expect him to compete for the starting spot and we're excited to get a quality player from Aledo.”

Tashon Latimore
St. Louis, MO
DE | 6-1 | 250 | FR
High School: Gateway Tech
Head Coach: Melvin Walls
Coach Allen: “Tashon is a hard-nosed kid that from St. Louis that has good size and will be a fine addition to our program. He has good football instincts and will pursue the ball. We look for Tashon to excel in the coming years.”

Derwyn Lauderdale HIGHLIGHTS
Houston, TX
WR | 5-10 | 165 | FR
High School: Bellaire High School
Head Coach: Trey Herrmann
Notes: Unanimous First Team All-District Back-to-Back. Offense MVP and Team MVP. Junior Stats - 42 Catches/ 986 Yards and 8 TD's. Senior Stats – 42 Catches/ 680 Yards and 7 touchdowns.
Coach Allen: “We recruit Houston for one reason, to find athletes and this year was no exception. Derwyn is exactly the type of athlete we were hoping to pull out of the talent rich greater Houston area. He is a young man that we are excited about joining our wide receiver corps. His skills to make people miss and create lead us to believe that he will contribute right away.”

Brett Light
Lebanon, MO
OL | 6-4 | 295 | FR
High School: Lebanon High School
Head Coach: Will Christian
Planned College Major: Business
Coach Allen: “Missouri is full of talented lineman that can help build a team into having a winning tradition. Brett is a perfect example of this and he will help us at the offensive line. We expect great things from him.”

Matt Lorenz
Morris, OK
TE | 6-4 | 200 | FR
High School: Morris High School
Head Coach: Larry Crenshaw
Coach Allen: “Matt has a nice frame to add weight and we see him growing into the type of player we need at the tight end position. He is an athletic kid that with added size will compete for playing time. Look for good things from him in the future.”

Chuck Mason
St. Louis, MO
WR | 6-3 | 200 | JR
High School: Wesclin High School / Rock Valley Community College
Head Coach: Jeremy Warren
Notes: First Team All-Conference, Offensive MVP of Team, received the team's Academic Award
Coach Allen: “Chuck is a playmaker. He led his team in touchdowns catches last year and we look for that to translate into points for us this fall. When the ball is in the air he is the type of guy that attacks it and comes down with it. That is our mentality on offense and we expect him to makes those types of plays for us. Chuck should compete for one of the starting spots for us.”

Jarred Moylan
Eastland, TX
QB | 6-3 | 175 | FR
High School: Eastland H.S.
Head Coach: Brian Hulett
Planned College Major: Accounting / Mathematics
Notes: Texas Player Of Week, Abilene Reporter News Big Country Player Of Week (twice), Built Ford Tough Texas Player Of Week, District MVP, K-Texas News Big Country Small School Player Of The Year, Texas Class 2A Honorable Mention All-State quarterback. 3151 Yards Passing 37 TDs, 855 Yards Rushing 17 TDs
Coach Allen: “Our goal this recruiting season was to find a great dual threat QB to be the predecessor to our quarterback now. This was completed with the addition of Jarred. His high school success earned Big Country Offensive POY where he led Eastland to being one of the top offenses in West Texas. He is a perfect fit for the SBU program since he played in a system closely related to ours. The learning curve will be minimal. He is a kid of extremely high character and is also a great student on and off the field. Jarred will have a great opportunity to lead the Bearcat offense for a long time to come.”

Chris Muhammad HIGHLIGHTS
Chicago, IL
SS | 6-1 | 205 | JR
High School : Thornridge High School
Previous College: Rock Valley College
Head Coach : Ken Konopasek
Planned College Major: Psychology
Notes: Honorable Mention All-Area / All-Conference. Team MVP four years. Defensive Player of the Year for three years. Offensive Player of the Year for four years. Senior year: 1,200 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns; 75 tackles and nine interceptions.
Coach Allen: “When you recruit junior college athletes, you have to find the guys ready to lead and be difference makers. Chris is no exception to this rule. His incredible athletic ability and ferocious competitive drive will truly be a valued asset to our program. We expect Chris will be a big part of our secondary this fall. He is a head hunter on the field and a great young man of character off the field.”

Jarvis Neal
Atascocita, TX
RB | 5-6 | 190 | FR
High School: Atascocita High School
Head Coach: Dean Colbert
Planned College Major: Undecided
Coach Allen: “Jarvis is another example of the talent level in the greater Houston area. He is a powerful runner and will bring a different perspective to that position for us. Expect to see Jarvis in the years to come.”

Jeremy Noland
Maysville, MO
RB | 5-11 | 200 | FR
High School: Maysville High School
Head Coach: Greg O'Connor
Coach Allen: “Jeremy is a talented athlete that can contribute both offensively and defensively. His hard work and dedication should pay off in our program and allow him to expand his game overall.”

Johnny Onoh
Branson, MO
OL/DL | 6-0 | 220 | FR
High School: Branson High School
Head Coach: Steve Hancock
Notes: All-State offensive lineman, First Team All-Conference offensive lineman, Second Team All Conference defensive lineman
Coach Allen: “Johnny was a standout lineman for Branson this last fall earning All-State honors for offensive line. He comes from an outstanding Branson program that is led by coach Steve Hancock. With that we see Johnny coming in and understanding what it takes to be a college football player. He will add needed depth for either of our linemen corps.”

Sam Padgett
Fair Grove, MO
LB | 6-0 | 195 | FR
High School: Fair Grove High School
Head Coach: Jason O'Neal
Notes: First Team All-Conference Linebacker
Coach Allen: “Sam has been coached by one of our own the past few years in coach O'Neal and his performance on the field had shown that. Sam is a hardnosed linebacker who has a nose for the ball which earned him honors last season. With our strength program and staff, Sam should fill out nicely and help lead us in the future.”

Keaton Patterson HIGHLIGHTS
Ozark, MO
OLB | 6-0 | 185 | FR
High School: Ozark High School
Head Coach: Chris Allison
Planned College Major: Education
Notes: Also participated in wrestling.
Coach Allen: “You build family with family. Keaton is the son of ex-SBU great Kevin Patterson. We loved the opportunity to recruit an alumni son and we were excited that Keaton was interested in us. He is a very gifted athlete that we expect to help us in many roles this fall. Coach Allison has built a great winning tradition and foundation for his athlete and we look for Keaton to carry that into his college career.”

Stanfred Philpot
Newman, GA
CB | 5-11 | 195 | JR
High School : East Coweta High School / Ellsworth Community College
Head Coach : Mike Virden
Planned College Major : Sports Psychology
Coach Allen: “Stanfred is a physical corner with great ball skills. His awareness on the field allows him to be in a position to make plays. He will pursue the ball from anywhere on the field showing us the type of hustle he is committed to. He is a great example on and off the field which will bring added leadership to our program. We expect Stanfred to be a shutdown corner that will solidify our secondary.”

Jarvis Pierce
Charlotte, NC
DE | 6-4 | 235 | JR
High School: Independence High School
Previous Colleges: Highland CC / Ellsworth Community College
Previous Head Coach: Mike Virden
Coach Allen: “Jarvis comes to us fresh off a Graphic Edge Bowl victory while at Ellsworth C.C. His relentless pass rush and strong work ethic have us very excited about the endless possibilities that await Jarvis while at SBU. While at ECC, Jarvis was a part of one the top defenses this year in JUCO. He is a great defensive end that should lead us in a successful direction this fall.”

Quantel Pikes
Okmulgee, OK
WR | 5-8 | 165 | FR
High School : Morris High School
Head Coach : Larry Crenshaw
Coach Allen: “Oklahoma is my home state and any time we find talent and fits the SBU way, we jump at the opportunity to take it. Quantel is no exception to that. He is a gifted athlete and can make plays on a regular basis and we look for him to do the same for us this fall.”

Tyler Ramsey
Pea Ridge, AR
ATH | 6-0 | 200 | FR
High School: Pea Ridge High School
Head Coach: Tony Travis
Coach Allen: “Tyler is a versatile athlete that can play multiple positions. He is a hard working kid that with our staff and program should develop into a solid player in the future. Once we get to camp we will have a better idea where he will best fit our team.”

Elix Rome HIGHLIGHTS
Katy, TX
RB | 6-0 | 205 | FR
High School: Seven Lakes High School
Head Coach: Kevin O' Keefe
Notes: First Team All-District.
Coach Allen: “Elix is another great example of the talent in the greater Houston area coming from Katy, TX. He is strong running back that will give the power back that we were looking for this fall. His addition will give us valued depth at that position, we fully expect him to compete this fall.”

Paul Rosa
Merrillville, IN
DL | 6-4 | 285 | JR
High School: Merrillville High School / North Dakota State College of Science
Head Coach: Chuck Parsons
Planned College Major: Criminal Justice
Coach Allen: “Paul is a dominant player in the middle. Our defensive scheme allows our lineman to not only keep guys off the second level but also to make plays up front. Paul is one of those guys that can plug the middle and create a pass rush. His presence in the middle will add another dynamic to our defense. We look for him to be an impact guy for us.”

Corey Rutledge
Mountain View, MO
LB | 5-10 | 205 | FR
High School: MV-Liberty High School
Head Coach: Darin Acklin
Coach Allen: “Corey is a Southeast Missouri product that will fill the hole with authority. He is a hard-nosed throwback-type linebacker that we see developing nicely for our program. Corey is an example of the quality that Missouri can produce and we want that on our team.”

Eli Samek
Bolivar, MO
TE/LB | 6-0 | 200 | FR
High School: Bolivar High School
Head Coach: Lance Roweton
Coach Allen: “You have to establish your roots where ever you are and being able to pull Eli from our home town is what we look for. When talent is here, we have to jump at the opportunity and we feel Eli is that guy.”

Shaquille Scharkley
Nashville, TN
RB | 5-10 | 186 | FR
High School: Hunters Lane High School
Head Coach: Richard Campbell
Planned College Major: Undecided
Coach Allen: “Tennessee is a talent-rich state and with our connections there, we are able to find great athletes and Shaquille is another example of that. He is a multi-talented athlete that can do some special things with the ball in his hand. We look for him to develop nicely in our program.”

Samuel Sievers
Alton, IL
LB | 5-8 | 185 | FR
High School: Alton High School
Head Coach: Joe Hook
Notes: All-Conference Honorable Mention
Coach Allen: “Sam is a big time effort kid and works hard on the field. With the weight room and an offseason, he will have a chance to bulk up and grow into a player for us. We look for Sam to work hard everyday.”

Ezra Smith
Seaside, CA
LB | 6-2 | 225 | JR
High School: Seaside High School / Monterey Peninsula College / University of Hawaii
Head Coach: Mike Rasmussen
Coach Allen: “Ezra is a gifted athlete and is not only a big physical presence but a quick and agile one as well. His ability to run downhill and hit someone is only one part of his game; he can also just cover and move sideline to sideline. We look for him to be an impact type player for us this fall.”

Marcus Sullivan
Omaha, NE
WR | 6-0 | 175 | JR
High School: Omaha Benson
Previous College: Iowa Western Community College
Head Coach: Scott Strohmeir
Coach Allen: “Marcus is that type of guy that on the field was just able to make plays and that is why we felt he would be a perfect fit in our system. Marcus is the wideout that can not only catch the ball and make plays but he will and loves to block down field and allow his teammate to make plays as well. He is a young man that is very athletic and can help us at wide receiver.”

Ivory Watson
Memphis, TN
OL | 6-3 | 304 | JR
High School: Ridgeway High School / Cisco Junior College
Head Coach: Scott Taylor
Coach Allen: “Ivory is a very physical and dominating player up front. With the graduation of two seniors on the offensive line we need to bring in seasoned guys that faced top notch competition. Ivory brings the mindset and ability to our oline corp. He plays with a mean streak and likes contact. We expect him to continue that success for us this fall.”

Rodney Watson HIGHLIGHTS
Rockwall, TX
CB | 6-0 | 185 | FR
High School : Rockwall High School
Head Coach : Scott Smith
Notes: 70 tackles, 2 interceptions and 4 pass deflections.
Coach Allen: “We felt like we really needed to upgrade the defensive back position and Rodney is that guy for us. Rodney is a player that we expect to come in and compete immediately at the cornerback position. He is a fierce competitor and we fully expect him to bring that attitude to the Bearcat defense this fall.”

Sydney Wiggs
Stockbridge, GA
OL | 6-4 | 263 | FR
High School: Heritage High School
Head Coach: Chad Frazier
Coach Allen: “Sydney displayed the athletic ability we search for when recruiting high school offensive lineman. He is an agile lineman that can pull, and run with the best of them. He displayed great open field presence with the ability to block down field. He was so athletic that this year, he is the goal keeper for the soccer team as well.”

Curtis Williams
Grand Prairie, TX
WR | 6-1 | 185 | FR
High School: Mansfield Timberview High School
Head Coach: Terry Cron
Coach Allen: “Curtis really is a student of the game. He is always looking for ways to get better. He attended 18 camps over the last year, which paid off for him in his senior season. We look for that type of work ethic to carry over to the Bearcat family.”

Shawn Wilson
Cabool, MO
WR | 6-1 | 185 | FR
High School: Cabool High School
Head Coach: Eric Sloan
Coach Allen: “We are excited to have Shawn on our roster, we expect him to develop into a great player.”

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