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Thursday, February 07, 2008
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Mayfield's Mutterings:
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ISU
Football Inks 22 on National Signing Day
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[February 07, 2008]
NORMAL -- Illinois State head
football coach Denver Johnson announced the newest additions to the
Redbird football team Wednesday, as he formally unveiled the 22-man
recruiting class on National Signing Day at a public event at the
Kaufman Football Building.
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The 22 recruits join Illinois State's three
midyear signees to bring the total number of players in the 2008
recruiting class to 25. According to the star ratings, as designated
by Rivals.com and Scout.com, Illinois State's signing class consists
of a combined 38 stars, including three three-star recruits in Jayme
Comer, Blake Gumm and Dekendrick Moncrief. "We make our own
decisions about kids, but it makes you feel good when other people
like them, too," said Johnson. "We make our own evaluations based
upon our own criteria -- athletic, academic, character and
citizenship, and ultimately, we are going to make a decision based
on our feelings toward a player."
Of the 25 recruits, 13 are slated to be either offensive or
defensive linemen with the Redbirds.
"We knew we needed to address our offensive and defensive lines,"
said Johnson. "Particularly on our offensive line, in some previous
recruiting cycles we had robbed some scholarships there to address
other needs, and we needed to get our numbers and our depth back up.
We also needed to improve ourselves from a talent and depth
perspective at the defensive line, so that was by design."
With the midyear signees, the 2008 ISU recruiting class covers
nine states, but three of the players -- Alex Buck, Austin Davis and
Billy Dickson -- were in the Redbirds' backyard at Normal Community
High School.
[to top of second column]
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"Recruiting is travel and travel is expensive," said Johnson.
"Dr. (Sheahon) Zenger has been very good about providing the
resources for us, and we are fortunate to have an administration
that understands the importance of recruiting. We want to start our
recruiting efforts right here in town, but we will go as far and as
wide as we have to go to find the level of guy who can help us win.
Certainly, we have great local talent in town and in central
Illinois, and we will always look at that first."
Overall, Johnson is extremely pleased with the signing class and
the effort of his staff during the recruiting process.
"I'm thrilled and excited about the young men who have signed up
to join our program," said Johnson. "It turned out to be a little
larger class than what we anticipated, but it is difficult to walk
away from good players. Overall, I'm really satisfied. There are a
lot of kids in this class who turned down some real attractive
opportunities to join our program, and that is always humbling."
[Text from file received from Todd Kober,
assistant athletics director, media relations,
Illinois
State University]
|
2008 Illinois State Football Recruiting Class
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown (Last school) |
Barima Akuoko |
RB |
6-1 |
200 |
Springfield
(Southeast) |
Mario Bailey |
DL |
6-2 |
220 |
Kankakee
(Kankakee) |
Nick Broome |
DL |
6-4 |
240 |
Columbus, Ind.
(East) |
Matt Brown |
QB |
6-4 |
210 |
Marion (Marion) |
Alex Buck |
DB |
6-2 |
183 |
Bloomington
(Normal Comm.) |
Pete Cary |
OL |
6-4 |
270 |
Cincinnati,
Ohio (Turpin) |
Cory Christianson |
OL |
6-2 |
280 |
Apple Valley,
Minn. (Holy Angels) |
Jayme Comer |
LB |
6-2 |
220 |
Brownsburg,
Ind. (Brownsburg) |
Austin Davis |
DB |
6-1 |
195 |
Normal (Normal
Comm.) |
Emanuel Davis |
WR |
6-3 |
196 |
Prattville,
Ala. (Prattville) |
Billy Dickson |
OL |
6-5 |
280 |
Bloomington
(Normal Comm.) |
Reggie Dozier |
DB |
5-9 |
170 |
Prattville,
Ala. (Prattville) |
Blake Gumm |
DL |
6-2 |
305 |
Somerset, Ky.
(Trinity Valley CC) |
*Khenon Hall |
DB |
5-9 |
185 |
Dallas, Texas
(Trinity Valley CC) |
Brian Hehl |
OLB/DE |
6-4 |
250 |
Toledo, Ohio
(Sylvania Northview) |
Jon Ingerman |
OL |
6-8 |
280 |
Springfield,
Ohio (Northeastern) |
Kane Keirnan |
H-Back |
6-3 |
225 |
Glen Ellyn (Glenbard
West) |
Dekendrick Moncrief |
WR |
6-1 |
182 |
Prattville,
Ala. (Prattville) |
*Donl Phelps |
DE |
6-1 |
250 |
San Pablo,
Calif. (City College of S.F.) |
Michael Rhines |
DL |
6-2 |
250 |
Orange, Texas (Blinn
JC) |
*David Robinson |
DB |
6-0 |
200 |
Sanford, Fla.
(Joliet JC) |
Brannon Sanford |
OL |
6-3 |
270 |
Hickory, Ky.
(Graves County) |
Mike Seefeld |
OL |
6-2 |
265 |
Cudahy, Wis.
(Cudahy) |
Brett Werner-Powell |
H-Back |
6-2 |
205 |
Mequon, Wis.
(Homestead) |
Pat Wertz |
DL |
6-4 |
240 |
Orland Hills,
(Andrew) |
*Midyear signees |
Signing Day Biographies |
Barima Akuoko
| RB | 6-1 | 200 | Fr.-HS | Springfield, Ill. (Southeast)
Southeast HS: Four-year varsity letterwinner … 2007 Chicago Tribune
All-State Special Mention … all-conference as a senior … led the
Central State Eight Conference in rushing (988 yards) and scoring
(15 touchdowns) in 2007 … as a senior, had three catches for 90
yards and two touchdowns (team only threw 11 times all season) …
also ranked in the top-10 among conference tacklers (82 tackles,
including 45 solo stops) … coached by Jeff Thomas … also lettered in
basketball, powerlifting and track and field … participated on the
three-year state championship qualifying 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter
relay teams. Data: Born Aug. 17, 1989, in Dallas … son of Joseph
Akuoko … one of six children … intended major is pre-engineering …
also recruited by Michigan State, Northern Illinois and Western
Illinois … pronounced bah-REE-ma ah-COO-ah-COO.
Mario Bailey | DL | 6-2 | 220 | Fr.-HS |
Kankakee, Ill. (Kankakee)
Kankakee HS: Four-year letterwinner and two-year starter …
collected 101 tackles during his senior season and added six
quarterback sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a
linebacker … two-time all-conference and all-area pick … posted 86
tackles and two sacks as a junior … coached by Cornell Middlebrook …
also lettered four years in baseball … member of the honor roll all
four years. Data: Born July 27, 1990, in Kankakee, Ill. … son of
Gifford Bailey and Frances Noble … his uncle, Tyrone Noble, played
football at Michigan … intended major is criminal justice … also
recruited by Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois.
Nick Broome | DL | 6-4 | 240 | Fr.-HS |
Columbus, Ind. (East)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … one-star ranking by
Scout.com. East HS: Four-year letterwinner and three-year starter …
member of the 2007 Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 4A
All-State Team … in 2007, totaled 69 tackles, including 44 solo
stops, and added three quarterback sacks, 11 tackles-for-loss and
two pass breakups … as a junior, the Olympians posted a 12-2 record
and captured their third-straight Hoosier Hills Conference
Championship … during the 2006 season, registered 65 tackles, six
quarterback sacks and nine pass breakups … two-time all-conference
and all-area selection … coached by Bob Gaddis … also lettered four
years in track and field … runs anchor on the 4x100-meter relay
team. Data: Born July 27, 1989, in Columbus, Ind. … son of David and
Jenny Broome … one of three children … intended major is sports
medicine … also recruited by Iowa, Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue,
Vanderbilt, Central Michigan and Northern Illinois … prep teammate
of Illinois State's Drew Kiel … last name pronounced BROOM.
Matt Brown | QB | 6-4 | 210 | Fr.-HS |
Marion, Ill. (Marion)
One-star ranking by Scout.com. Marion HS: Three-year varsity
starter … during his career, passed for 6,001 yards and 57
touchdowns … Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA)
Class 5A First-Team All-State honoree … 2007 Southern Illinoisan
Football Player of the Year … 2007 Chicago Tribune All-State Special
Mention … led the Wildcats to back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2006
and 2007 … as a senior, set school records with 2,936 passing yards
and 34 touchdowns … completed 241-of-388 passes and threw only eight
interceptions during the 2007 season … two-time first-team
all-conference selection … twice named to the Associated Press
All-Southern Illinois team … named honorable mention all-state as a
junior … during his junior season, passed for 2,256 yards and 17
touchdowns, while completing 64 percent of his passes … started four
games as a sophomore and passed for more than 836 yards and five
touchdowns … coached by Kerry Martin. Data: Born Aug. 15, 1990, in
Carbondale, Ill. … son of Melvin and Ruth Brown … has an older
sister, Meggan … his father, Melvin, played football at
Southern Illinois … intended major is unknown … also recruited by
Illinois, Missouri, Purdue, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois and
Youngstown State.
Alex Buck | DB | 6-2 | 183 | Fr.-HS |
Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community)
Normal Community HS: A three-year starter, who hauled in 21
career interceptions, which is the seventh-highest total in the
state of Illinois all-time … named to the Bloomington Pantagraph's
2007 All-Area Team … the 2007 Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of
the Year and the 2007 team most valuable player … 2007 Illinois High
School Football Coaches Association Class 6A All-State selection …
tallied six interceptions as a senior, after totaling seven his
junior season … as a sophomore, collected eight picks … the
Ironmen compiled a 38-3 varsity record during his three seasons as a
starter, and won the 2006 Illinois High School Association (IHSA)
Class 6A State Championship … coached by Hud Venerable … lettered
four years in baseball and three years in basketball. Data: Born
Oct. 25, 1989, in Murphysboro, Ill. … son of Richard and Rose Buck …
his father, Richard, played football at Monmouth College … intended
major is computer engineering or business … one of four children …
former prep teammate of fellow ISU signees Austin Davis and Billy
Dickson and current Redbirds Michael Cross, Jake Detmers and Marcus
King … also recruited by Augustana.
Pete Cary | OL | 6-4 | 270 | Fr.-HS |
Cincinnati, Ohio (Turpin)
Turpin HS: 2007 Associated Press All-Southwest Ohio District II
Second Team … 2007 first-team Fort Ancient Valley Conference …
played in the East versus West All-Star game … a finalist for the
Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year … named second-team all-conference
as a junior … in 2007, the Spartans posted a 12-1 record, falling
short in a one-point game to the eventual state champions … the
Spartans were 12-2 in 2006, and were defeated by the eventual state
champions in the semifinals … coached by Rob Stall … also lettered
in basketball. Data: Born Aug. 13, 1989, in Cincinnati … son of Jim
and Eileen Cary … youngest of three children … his brother, Pat,
played basketball at Northern Kentucky … major is undecided … also
recruited by Indiana State, Eastern Kentucky and Dayton.
Cory Christianson | OL | 6-2 | 280 |
Fr.-HS | Apple Valley, Minn. (Holy Angels)
Two-star ranking by Scout.com. Holy Angels HS: Three-year starter
… named honorable mention on the 2007 Minnesota Associated Press
All-State Prep Football Team … first-team All-Missota Conference as
a senior, after earning honorable mention honors as a junior …
third-team all-metro honoree as a junior … as a sophomore, the Stars
finished as the state runner-up with a 9-5 overall record … coached
by Mike Smalley. Data: Born July 31, 1989, in Edna, Minn. … son of
Steve and Deb Christianson … has a younger brother, Michael …
intended major is sports medicine or business administration … also
recruited by Minnesota, Illinois, Northern Illinois, Wyoming, UNLV
and Northern Iowa.
Jayme Comer | LB | 6-2 | 220 | Fr.-HS |
Brownsburg, Ind. (Brownsburg)
Three-star ranking by Scout.com … rated No. 36 nationally among
middle linebackers by Scout.com. Brownsburg HS: Three-year
starter … totaled a school-record 314 tackles in his career,
including 210 solo stops, and added 32 tackles for loss, 26
quarterback hurries, two quarterback sacks, 17 pass breakups, two
interceptions, four forced fumbles and two blocked punts … as a
senior, collected 106 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss and an
interception … three-time Indiana Football Coaches Association
All-State selection … two-time Associated Press First-Team All-State
selection … named to the Bloomington Herald's Top-33 list and
All-State Team … twice named to the Indianapolis Star's Metro West
First Team and Super First Team … three-time all-conference
selection and BHS Defensive Player of the Year … twice named to the
Hendricks County Elite-11 … Scout.com Linebacker Most Valuable
Player and named to the all-combine team at the Chicago combine in
May 2007 … coached by his father, Brett Comer. Data: Born Oct. 9,
1989, in Indianapolis … son of Brett and Angee Comer … has a younger
sister, Kayle … his aunt, Amy Brauman, and his uncle, Richard
Thomas, each graduated and played basketball at Illinois State …
another aunt, Abbe Brauman, played basketball at Indiana State …
intended major is criminal justice … also recruited by Air Force,
Army, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Northwestern, Purdue and
Wyoming.
Austin Davis | DB | 6-1 | 195 | Fr.-HS |
Normal, Ill. (Normal Community)
Two-star ranking by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. Normal
Community HS: Three-year starter … named all-state by Rivals.com as
a senior … named to the Bloomington Pantagraph's 2007 All-Area Team
… received honorable mention all-state honors from the Champaign
News-Gazette … posted 77 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble
recoveries as a senior … as a part-time offensive player, totaled
400 yards rushing with 10 touchdowns, while averaging 6.6 yards per
carry his senior season … as a junior, collected 61 tackles,
including 21 solo stops, and three interceptions … as a sophomore,
rushed for 1,162 yards on 237 attempts … the Ironmen compiled a 38-3
varsity record during his three seasons as a starter, and won the
2006 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 6A State
Championship … coached by Hud Venerable … also lettered in track and
field. Data: Born Oct. 6, 1989, in Normal, Ill. … son of Josh Davis
and Amanda Nagy … major is undecided … Illinois State alumnae in his
family include a pair of grandmothers and an aunt … also recruited
by Wyoming, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Ball State,
Northern Illinois and Eastern Illinois … former prep teammate of
fellow ISU signees Alex Buck and Billy Dickson and current Redbirds
Michael Cross, Jake Detmers and Marcus King.
Emanuel Davis | WR | 6-3 | 196 | Fr.-HS |
Prattville, Ala. (Prattville)
One-star ranking by Scout.com. Prattville HS: Member of
back-to-back Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class
6A State Championship teams … as a senior, was the Lions' leading
receiver with 26 catches for 469 yards and six touchdowns … the
Lions finished 2007 with a 15-0 mark and finished the season ranked
No. 2 nationally by USA Today … coached by Bill Clark … played two
seasons at Prattville after beginning his high school career at John
F. Kennedy High School in New Orleans, the same high school that
current ISU basketball player Anthony Slack attended. Data:
Born March 2, 1989, in New Orleans … son of Susie Davis … major is
undecided … also recruited by Memphis and Houston … former prep
teammate of fellow ISU signees Reggie Dozier and Dekendrick Moncrief,
who are the first Redbirds to hail from the state of Alabama since
Bryan McCarthy (1979).
Billy Dickson | OL | 6-5 | 280 | Fr.-HS |
Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community)
Normal Community HS: A four-year letterwinner and two-year
varsity starter … 2007 Illinois High School Football Coaches
Association Class 6A All-State selection … 2007 Big 12 Conference
Offensive Player of the Year … Bloomington Pantagraph First-Team
All-Area selection … 2007 Chicago Tribune All-State Special Mention
honoree … the Ironmen compiled a 26-1 varsity record during his two
seasons as a starter, and won the 2006 Illinois High School
Association (IHSA) Class 6A State Championship … coached by Hud
Venerable … also lettered four years in basketball. Data: Born
Oct. 26, 1990, in Starkville, Miss. … son of Billy and Shandra
Dickson … intended major is business administration … also recruited
by Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Ball State, Northern Illinois
and Eastern Illinois … former prep teammate of fellow ISU signees
Alex Buck and Austin Davis and current Redbirds Michael Cross, Jake
Detmers and Marcus King.
[to top of second column in this section] |
Reggie Dozier | DB | 5-9 | 170 | Fr.-HS |
Prattville, Ala. (Prattville)
Prattville HS: As a senior, played in seven games and posted 16
tackles, two quarterback sacks, three interceptions and five blocked
punts … during his junior season, registered 53 tackles, including
37 solo stops, three quarterback sacks, four interceptions and three
blocked punts … member of back-to-back Alabama High School Athletic
Association (AHSAA) Class 6A State Championship teams … the Lions
finished 2007 with a 15-0 mark and finished the season ranked No. 2
nationally by USA Today … coached by Bill Clark … member of the
honor roll. Data: Born Feb. 2, 1990, in Montgomery, Ala. … son of
Reginald Dozier Sr. and Melissa Pickett … intended major is pre-law
… also recruited by Northern Illinois and Alabama State … former
prep teammate of fellow ISU signees Emanuel Davis and Dekendrick
Moncrief, who are the first Redbirds to hail from the state of
Alabama since Bryan McCarthy (1979).
Blake Gumm | DL | 6-2 | 290 | Jr.-TR |
Somerset, Ky. (Pulaski County/Trinity Valley CC)
A three-star recruit according to both Rivals.com and Scout.com.
Trinity Valley CC: participated in the Triumphant Sport's Bowl
Junior College All-Star Game … as a freshman, posted 70 tackles,
nine sacks and two forced fumbles … 2006 and 2007 Southwest Junior
College Football Conference Honorable Mention selection … coached by
Brad Smiley. Pulaksi County: 2005 Kentucky High School All-State
First-Team selection as a linebacker … posted 79 tackles as a junior
… coached by John Hines. Data: Born June 17, 1987, in Somerset, Ky.
… son of Breaker and Juli Smith and Bobby Gumm … one of six children
… plans to major in communications … also recruited by Arizona,
Oklahoma, Kentucky, Marshall, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Oregon, New
Mexico, Iowa State, Texas A&M, Utah, Florida International,
Louisiana-Lafayette, North Texas and Western Kentucky.
Brian Hehl | OLB/DE | 6-4 | 250 | Fr.-HS |
Toledo, Ohio (Sylvania Northview)
Sylvania Northview HS: Three-year starter, who led the team in
tackles each season … owns the school tackling record with 414
career tackles … posted 151 tackles, including 81 solo stops, as a
senior … during the 2007 season, also registered 45 tackles for
loss, 30 quarterback hurries, five quarterback sacks, four pass
breakups, five forced fumbles and two blocked kicks … 2007
Associated Press Division II All-Ohio First-Team honoree … 2007 Ohio
High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division II All-District
First-Team selection … 2007 Toledo Blade First-Team honoree …
two-time All-Northern Lakes League First-Team honoree … named to the
All-NLL Second Team in 2005 … coached by Mike Rodgers … also
lettered two years in track and field. Data: Born Nov. 8, 1989, in
Toledo, Ohio … son of Tim and Kathy Hehl and Anna and Rob King … one
of four children … his stepfather, Rob, played football and wrestled
at Davidson … major is undecided … also recruited by Southern
Illinois and Eastern Illinois … last name pronounced HAIL.
Jon Ingerman | OL | 6-8 | 280 | Fr.-HS |
Springfield, Ohio (Northeastern)
A one-star rating by Scout.com. Northeastern HS: 2007 Associated
Press All-Southwest Ohio District IV Second Team … the Jets averaged
274 yards rushing per contest in 2007 … first-team all-conference as
a senior and second-team all-league as a junior … first-team
all-county in 2007 … second-team all-county in 2006 … coached by
Scott Rolf … also lettered in basketball … his biggest sports thrill
was breaking a backboard in basketball … averaging 13 points and
seven rebounds per game this season in basketball. Data: Born Nov.
8, 1989, in Springfield, Ohio … son of Jeff and Anita Powell … one
of five children … major is undecided … also recruited by Miami
(Ohio), Akron, Cincinnati and Western Michigan.
Kane Keirnan | H-Back | 6-3 | 225 | Fr.-HS
| Glen Ellyn, Ill. (Glenbard West)
One-star rating by Scout.com. Glenbard West HS: Three-year
varsity starter … in 2007, totaled 1,100 rushing yards and 15
touchdowns, while posting 18 catches for 308 yards and two
touchdowns … named all-area and all-conference as a senior … also
named academic all-conference in 2007 … as a junior, passed for
1,280 yards and eight touchdowns on 81-for-136 passing, while
rushing for 650 yards and six touchdowns on 70 carries … coached by
Chad Hetlet … also lettered in basketball and track and field. Data:
Born Sept. 20, 1989, in Chicago … son of Kane and Heather Keirnan …
has two younger sisters, Samantha and Abigail … his father, Kane,
played baseball at Saint Xavier … intended major is business … also
recruited by Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Miami (Ohio),
Northern Illinois, Brown and Western Illinois.
Dekendrick Moncrief | WR | 6-1 | 182 |
Fr.-HS | Prattville, Ala. (Prattville)
A three-star recruit according to both Rivals.com and Scout.com …
ranked as the No. 29 prospect in the state of Alabama by Rivals.com
… ranked as the No. 78 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com.
Prattville HS: Four-year varsity letterwinner with a 58-2 overall
record in high school … the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game Most
Valuable Player with six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown … as a
senior, posted 33 catches for 433 yards and five touchdowns … as a
junior, caught 51 passes for 1,001 yards and 18 touchdowns … in
2006, returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown, his only return
of the season … member of back-to-back Alabama High School Athletic
Association (AHSAA) Class 6A State Championship teams … the Lions
finished 2007 with a 15-0 mark and finished the season ranked No. 2
nationally by USA Today … named to the all-metro and all-county
teams twice … earned honorable mention all-state honors in 2006 …
began his high school career as a quarterback … coached by Bill
Clark … member of the honor roll. Data: Born Dec. 18, 1988, in
Prattville, Ala. … son of Derrick and Erica Moncrief … oldest of
three children … cousin of Roman Harper, who played at Alabama and
is currently with the New Orleans Saints … intended major is
business administration … also recruited by Auburn, Clemson,
Louisville, Memphis, Ole Miss, UAB, South Carolina and Iowa State …
former prep teammate of fellow ISU signees Emanuel Davis and Reggie
Dozier, who are the first Redbirds to hail from the state of Alabama
since Bryan McCarthy (1979).
Michael Rhines | DL | 6-2 | 250 | Jr.-TR |
Orange, Texas (Little Cypress-Mauriceville/Blinn JC)
Blinn JC: In 2007, collected 31 tackles, including eight
quarterback sacks and three tackles-for-loss … earned honorable
mention all-conference honors as a sophomore … notched 18 tackles
and four quarterback sacks as a freshman … in 2006, the Buccaneers
won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
National Championship with a 12-0 record, including a 19-6 victory
over Pearl River Community College in the Pilgrim's Pride Bowl
Classic. Little Cypress-Mauriceville HS: 2004 Associated Press Class
4A All-State Honorable Mention … posted 89 tackles, nine quarterback
sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions as a senior
linebacker … 2003 and 2004 First-Team All-District 20-4A ... 2004
Southeast Texas Player of the Year … coached by David Williams …
also lettered in powerlifting … member of the honor roll. Data: Born
April 16, 1987, in Orange, Texas … son of Michael and Jeanne Rhines
… one of four children … intended major is criminal justice … also
recruited by Middle Tennessee State and Louisiana-Lafayette.
Brannon Sanford | OL | 6-3 | 270 | Fr.-HS |
Hickory, Ky. (Graves County)
One-star rating by Scout.com. Graves County HS: Two-year starter
… 2007 Kentucky All-State First-Team … the first all-state selection
in Graves County High School history … twice named to the Class 2A
All-Western Kentucky Conference team, both on offense and defense …
named to the 2007 Paducah Sun/Pepsi Mid-America 24-man All-Star Team
… ranked sixth among offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (5.37) at
the 2007 Indianapolis Nike Combine … as a senior, the Eagles
averaged 28.5 points per game and more than 200 yards rushing per
contest … coached by Mike Rodgers. Data: Born March, 23, 1989, in
Murray, Ky. … son of Kenny and Tammy Sanford … has a younger
brother, Colby … intended major is business law … also recruited by
Missouri, Illinois, Purdue, Cincinnati, Louisville, Western
Kentucky, Murray State, Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee-Martin.
Mike Seefeld | OL | 6-2 | 265 | Fr.-HS |
Cudahy, Wis. (Cudahy)
Two-star rating by Scout.com. Cudahy HS: Three-year starter …
2007 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State Team honorable
mention selection … two-time first-team all-conference honoree and
named honorable mention all-league in 2005 … coached by Steve Madden
… lettered two years in powerlifting … placed ninth at the 2006
Wisconsin state powerlifting meet … earned high academic honors all
four years. Data: Born Nov. 14, 1989, in Milwaukee … son of Joe and
Krista Seefeld … has a younger sister, Emily … intended major is
education … also recruited by Wisconsin … attended the same high
school as former Redbird Pierre Rembert.
Brett Werner-Powell | H-Back | 6-2 |
205 | Fr.-HS | Mequon, Wis. (Homestead)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Scout.com. Homestead HS: Two-year
varsity starter … the 2007 North Shore Conference Offensive Player
of the Year … as a senior, rushed for 1,637 yards and 24 touchdowns
on 221 carries … 2007 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA)
First-Team All-State selection … Associated Press honorable-mention
all-state selection as a senior … member of the 2007 WFCA All
Southeast Region Team … the Highlanders finished with a 12-2 record
in 2007 and were state runners-up … earned all-suburban honors as a
senior … in 2006, the Highlanders won the Division I Wisconsin State
Championship with a perfect 14-0 record … the leading rusher on the
state championship team with 950 yards and 14 touchdowns on 119
carries … coached by Dave Keel … also lettered in basketball …
member of the honor roll. Data: Born Nov. 9, 1989, in Milwaukee …
son of Brett Powell and Teri Stillman … youngest of three children …
intended major is finance … also recruited by Wisconsin, Northern
Illinois and Western Michigan … attended the same high school as
former Redbird Demetrus Johnson.
Pat Wertz | DL | 6-4 | 240 | Fr.-HS | Orland
Hills, Ill. (Andrew)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … received a one-star
rating by Scout.com. Andrew HS: Two-year varsity starter … Illinois
High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA) First-Team Class
8A All-State selection … 2007 Chicago Tribune All-State Special
Mention honoree … two-time all-conference and all-area selection …
named the 2007 South West Suburban Conference (SWSC) Player of the
Year … as a senior, the Thunderbolts won the SWSC title with an 8-3
record … posted five quarterback sacks, 11 tackles for loss and one
interception as a senior … as a junior, notched eight tackles for
loss, three quarterback sacks and three interceptions, including two
that were returned for a touchdown … coached by Jim Zimmer. Data:
Born Aug. 12, 1990, in Orland Hills, Ill. … son of Bob and Katy
Wertz … intended major is business education … also recruited by
Michigan State, Purdue, Northern Illinois, Air Force, Akron, Army
and Eastern Michigan.
[Text of biographies copied from file received from Todd Kober,
assistant athletics director, media relations,
Illinois
State University]
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