Eight Added to ISU Football Roster

Jan. 15, 2008

NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State head football coach Denver Johnson announced eight roster additions Tuesday, including national letter of intent (NLI) signings by junior-college products Khenon Hall, Doni Phelps and David Robinson.

"Coming off last year, we felt like we needed to make some major improvements on the defensive side of the ball," Johnson said. "We feel like by adding a defensive lineman and two players in the secondary, we have addressed that need. We will continue to improve ourselves in the February signing as well."

In addition to signing Hall, a defensive back from Trinity Valley Community College; Phelps, a defensive end from City College of San Francisco; and Robinson, a defensive back from Joliet Junior College; Johnson and his staff added Nick Bledsoe (OL), Jake Detmers (LB), Dean Eastman (WR), Philip Murphy (LB) and Shaun Ratay (QB) to the Redbird roster.

On the heels of capturing the 2007 California Junior College State Championship and being crowned the 2007 National Junior College Champions by J.C. Grid-Wire magazine, Phelps looks to bring his championship experience to Illinois State. Phelps, at 6-foot-1, 250 pounds, has two years of eligibility remaining with ISU. The two-time first-team all-conference selection was also recruited by Oregon State, Toledo and Sacramento State. He finished the 2007 season with 59 tackles, 12 quarterback sacks and 13 quarterback hurries.

"We were looking for an up-the-field, get-after-the-quarterback type guy and we feel that Doni brings those types of abilities." Johnson said. "He brings a high-motor and we are looking forward to getting him acclimated to our system."

Hall, a two-star recruit according to Rivals.com, was the second-leading tackler on Trinity Valley last season. He finished with 70 tackles, including a team-best 66 solo efforts, and added four tackles-for-loss and a quarterback sack. The product of South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, Hall was also recruited by California, Ole Miss, North Texas, Stephen F. Austin, TCU and Tulsa. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Hall enters Illinois State as a junior.

A former prep teammate of current Redbirds Jason Tate and Bert Whigham, Robinson joins the ISU roster after a two-year stint at Joliet Junior College. The 6-foot, 200-pound safety earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IV Second Team honors as a sophomore. He was out of football last season, finishing up coursework for his associate's degree.

"Robinson is going to be an inverted safety-type player for us, and he does have some size and thickness," Johnson said. "They both have hitting ability and the one thing that attracted us to both these kids was that they were both violent on film. They each created impact and as we try to add depth and quality to our secondary, both of these guys fit in rather nicely."

Bledsoe is the only addition who was previously attending Illinois State. Originally a part of the Redbird track and field program, the 6-foot-1, 290-pound offensive lineman has decided to return to football. He was a two-time all-conference selection at Wheeling High School and will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Ratay, a transfer from Northern Illinois, was an all-state quarterback at Geneva High School. He passed for 2,007 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior and carries a 6-foot-7, 215-pound frame. Ratay will have four years of eligibility remaining. The Redbirds also added a transfer linebacker from Quincy University. Detmers, a Normal Community High School product, played in all 11 games at Quincy and ranked tied for third on the Hawk roster with 52 tackles. He was a part of the Ironmen state championship team in 2006 as a prep, and ended his high school career with 89 tackles as a senior. Detmers, who will have three years to play, will have to sit out the 2008 season to satisfy the NCAA residency rules.

Eastman, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound wide receiver, played last fall at Army Prep after a stellar high school career at Eureka High School. With the Hornets, Eastman hauled in 45 catches for 903 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior. Another high school product added to the roster was Murphy, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker from Monticello High School. Murphy did not play as a senior, due to injury, but was a two-time all-conference selection and racked up 120 tackles and six quarterback sacks as a junior.

"The Illinois State football program has become very attractive," Johnson said. "We are attracting guys who are looking for an opportunity to play an exciting style of football. When you look at some of the guys who are electing to come to Illinois State, over other opportunities, it really speaks well of both our institution and program. We are really excited to add these calibers of guy into our program. Each has a huge upside."

Johnson and his staff will expand their roster again on Feb. 6, on national signing day.

NEWCOMER BIOGRAPHIES:

Nick Bledsoe | OL | 6-1 | 290 | Fr.-RS | Wheeling, Ill. (Wheeling)
2007: Member of the Illinois State track and field team. Wheeling HS: A two-time all-conference selection at left guard ... named all-state and all-area as a senior ... a three-year starter with 27 starting assignments ... coached by Dave Dunbar ... also lettered in wrestling, track and field and basketball. Data: Born Dec. 11, 1988, in Des Plaines, Ill. ... son of Rosa Bledsoe ... has a younger brother, Lucas ... intended major is physical education.

Jake Detmers | LB | 6-4 | 220 | So.-TR | Normal, Ill. (Normal Community/Quincy)
Will have to sit out the 2008 season, due to NCAA residency rules. Quincy: Played in all 11 games and ranked third on the team with 53 tackles, including 33 solo efforts ... also added a pass breakup and an assisted tackle-for-loss ... coached by Bill Terlisner. Normal Community HS: Member of the 2006 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 6A State Champions, as the Ironmen posted a perfect 14-0 mark ... as a senior, registered 89 total tackles, eight quarterback sacks and three interceptions ... in 2006, named second-team all-state, first-team all-area, first-team all-conference and first-team all-intercity ... as a junior, posted 72 tackles and six interceptions, while earning second-team all-intercity honors ... coached by Hud Venerable. Data: Born Oct. 12, 1988, in Normal, Ill. ... son of Mike and Gina Detmers ... his mother, Gina, graduated from Illinois State ... has an older brother, Joshua ... intended major is exercise science.

Dean Eastman | WR | 6-4 | 195 | Fr.-HS | Eureka, Ill. (Eureka/Army Prep)
Army Prep: Started six of 10 games ... collected 34 catches for 520 yards and eight touchdowns. Eureka HS: As a senior, posted 45 catches for 903 yards and 13 touchdowns ... owns the school record for receptions and receiving yards in a game with 12 catches for 256 yards versus Rantoul in 2006 ... a first-team All-Corn Belt Conference selection ... played in the Illinois Coaches Association Shrine All-Star Game ... Chicago Tribune All-State Honorable Mention ... Peoria Journal Star First Team All-Area ... Champaign News Gazette Second Team All-State ... Illinois Coaches Association All-State Honorable Mention ... notched a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Bloomington Central Catholic in 2006 ... coached by Kurt Barth ... also lettered in basketball three years and track and field four years ... an all-conference basketball selection two years ... a four-time all-conference selection in track and field ... part of the 4x400 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state championship relay team in 2007. Data: Born on May 23, 1988 in Peoria, Ill. ... son of Dale and Shari Eastman ... has an older brother, Derek, and an older sister, Sarah ... intended major is business.

Khenon Hall | DB | 5-9 | 185 | Jr.-TR | Dallas, Texas (South Oak Cliff/Trinity Valley CC)
Trinity Valley CC: Rated a two-star junior college recruit by Rivals.com ... ranked second on the team in 2007 with 70 tackles, including a team-high 66 solo stops, in eight games of action ... added four tackles for loss and a quarterback sack ... named 2006 All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference Honorable Mention team... as a freshman, collected 10 tackles in three games played ... also posted a tackle-for-loss, a quarterback sack and a forced fumble ... coached by Brad Smiley. South Oak Cliff HS: Named to the 2005 All-District 13-4A First Team as a linebacker ... coached by J.B. Wallace. Data: Born March 12, 1988, in Dallas ... son of Herbert Burkley ... intended major is communications ... also recruited by California, Ole Miss, North Texas, Stephen F. Austin, TCU and Tulsa.

Philip Murphy | LB | 6-2 | 205 | Fr.-HS | Monticello, Ill. (Monticello)
Monticello HS: Missed his senior season due to injury ... as a junior, posted 120 tackles and six quarterback sacks, while also rushing for 700 yards ... two-time all-conference and all-area selection ... collected 100 tackles and 500 yards rushing as a sophomore ... coached by John Beccue ... also lettered in wrestling, baseball and track and field. Data: Born Sept. 3, 1989, in Champaign, Ill. ... son of James and Linda Murphy ... youngest of five children ... intended major is physical therapy ... his second cousin is Sean Considine of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Doni Phelps | DE | 6-1 | 250 | Jr.-TR | San Pablo, Calif. (Albany/City College of San Francisco)
City College of San Francisco: Two-time first-team all-conference selection ... led the Rams to a 2007 California Junior College State Championship with a 31-28 win over Mount San Antonio College ... the Rams were tabbed the 2007 National Junior College Champions by J.C. Grid-Wire magazine ... collected four sacks in the state semifinal game versus Sierra College ... finished his sophomore season with 59 tackles (26 solo), 12 sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups ... as a freshman, posted 23 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, two sacks and recovered three fumbles ... in 2006, the Rams finished runner-up for the junior college state championship ... coached by George Rush. 2005 at Oregon: Redshirted. Albany HS: Two-time first-team all-league selection on both offense and defense ... coached by Dan Shaugnessy. Data: Born July 27, 1987, in Berkeley, Calif. ... son of Juan and Shirley Phelps ... has an older brother, Aaron ... intended major is political science ... also recruited by Oregon State, Toledo and Sacramento State.

Shaun Ratay | QB | 6-7 | 215 | Fr.-RS | Geneva, Ill. (Geneva/Northern Illinois)
2007 at Northern Illinois: Redshirted ... coached by Joe Novak. Geneva HS: A two-year starter, who was all-state his senior year ... passed for 2,007 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior ... also rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns in 2006 ... two-time all-conference and twice named all-area ... league's player of the year as a senior ... led the Vikings to an 11-2 record and a trip to the Illinois High School Association Class 6A semifinals in 2006 ... coached by Rob Wicinski. Data: Born Nov. 23, 1988, in Geneva, Ill. ... son of Mark Ratay and Peggy Kersting ... has a younger brother, Michael ... intended major is business.

David Robinson | DB | 6-0 | 200 | Jr.-TR | Sanford, Fla. (Seminole/Joliet JC)
Joliet JC: Named to the 2006 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IV Second Team as a linebacker ... as a sophomore, played in 10 games and posted 38 tackles, including 28 solo stops ... the Wolves finished the season 7-4 and advanced to the Graphic Edge Bowl ... coached by Tom Minnick. Seminole HS: All-Central Florida selection ... coached by Mick Harris. Data: Born March 6, 1987, in Sanford, Fla. ... son of Larry Robinson ... major is undeclared ... prep teammate of ISU's Bert Whigham and Jason Tate.