NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State football team faces the dilemma of replacing 20 seniors and 11 starters for the 2015 season, but that task became less dauntin Thursday when Redbird football head coach Brock Spack announced the addition of four mid-year transfers from Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs.
Stephen Amoako (DB, Oregon), James Henry (OL, Toledo), David Kenney (DL, Indiana) and Reggie Spearman (LB, Iowa) are the newest additions to the ISU football roster and each will be immediately eligible to play for the Redbirds next season. Each has enrolled in classes and will take the field with their new teammates when spring practices commence in March.
PLAYER BIOGRAPHIES:
Stephen Amoako, 5-11, 185, Jr., DB, Arlington, Texas (Martin HS/ Oregon)
Amoako was a three-year member of the Oregon football team … did not see game action in 2014 … member of the Ducks' practice team in 2013 as a redshirt freshman … did see action in Oregon's 66-3 season-opening win over Nicholls State … redshirted in 2012 … during his prep career, earned second-team all-University Interscholastic League honors and was named a Gatorade National Performer … totaled 20 tackles, five pass deflections and three interceptions during his senior season.
James Henry, 6-8, 295, Jr., OL, Columbus, Ohio (Upper Arlington HS/Toledo)
Henry was a three-year member of the Toledo football team … did not see game action in 2014 … played in two games for the Rockets in 2013 as a redshirt freshman … sat out the 2012 season as a redshirt … earned all-conference, all-district and all-state honors as a senior during prep career ... named to the 2011-12 "All-Muscle Milk" team … as a junior, made all-county and all-conference in football and also earned two letters in basketball.
David Kenney, 6-2, 250, So., DL, Indianapolis, Indiana (Pike HS/Indiana)
Kenney was a two-year member of the Indiana football team and a former teammate of current ISU quarterback Tre Roberson … did not see game action in 2014 … played in seven games as a true freshman in 2013, recording nine tackles with one pass breakup ... recorded five stops in win over Illinois … selected to the 2012 Indianapolis Star Super Team and named Position Award winner (defensive line) at the end of his prep career ... named Indiana Associated Press Class 5A All-State and Indiana Football Coaches Association (IFCA) Top 50 as a senior ... IFCA All-State selection as a junior and senior ... played in the 2013 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl ... tallied 76 tackles, nine sacks, 19.5 tackles-for-loss, 29 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and four pass breakups in his final prep season ... rated the No. 6 prospect in Indiana, the No. 11 weak-side defensive end nationally and the No. 244 prospect overall by Rivals.com coming out of high school.
Reggie Spearman, 6-3, 230, Jr., LB, Chicago, Illinois (Simeon HS/Iowa)
Spearman was a two-year member of the Iowa football team … played in 21 games over those two seasons, with 49 total tackles … played in 12 games as a sophomore in 2014, recording 39 tackles, one sack, two tackles-for-loss and three pass breakups … saw action in 10 games as a true freshman in 2013 and finished the year with 10 tackles … recorded four assisted tackles in a 59-3 win over Western Michigan … named a first-team all-state selection as a senior at Simeon and named to Team USA . . . named first-team all-city and All-Chicago Public League in final prep season as well … helped prep team earn city championship three straight years . . . team won Chicago Prep Bowl at Soldier Field as a senior, posting a combined 21-5 record his last two seasons.
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