NORMAL, Ill. – ISU head coach Brock Spack and his staff announced the 2022 Illinois State football early signing class Wednesday, as 13 student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent on National Signing Day and one junior college transfer was added to the roster.
The group includes five defensive players, seven offensive standouts and two listed as athletes.
"We hit on some pretty good offensive players that we think will add some needed size up front and speed on that side of the ball," Spack stated. "We also addressed some key depth spots on defense including the defensive line and added a pair of quality safeties in this class. Overall, I feel like we got better in crucial spots and feel good about where we are at right now."
The class comes from all over, but the majority come from right in the state of Illinois with six total. Three each from hail from neighboring Wisconsin and Indiana, with one player each from Minnesota and Ohio.
Spack believes this group is a great start to the 2022 class, which will become complete with the February signing period.
"We will continue to look for impact players in this next phase as we carry over to the February signing period," Spack continued. "It's a juggling act when you add in looking for players in the transfer portal, but we know which areas we are still looking to improve and are in great shape with these early signees today."
2022 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL SIGNING DAY BIOGRAPHIES:
Jake Anderson | DE | 6-5 | 240 | Davis, Illinois (Durand HS)
Durand HS: Played two varsity seasons for head coach Tyler Hoffman … posted 70 tackles, 5 tackles-for-loss and led the conference with eight sacks as a senior … earned all-conference honors and was voted a team captain … helped lead team to an undefeated regular season and the school's first conference title … also recognized as an academic all-state selection … as a junior, earned all-conference honors as well … also competed in basketball and track … finished 10th in the state in the discus as a junior.
Personal: Born July 23, 2004 in Freeport, Illinois … son of Cory and Kara Anderson ... oldest of seven children… four-year member of the honor roll … his mother, Kara, played basketball collegiately at Rock Valley College.
Dallas Brown | DB | 6-1 | 190 | Fairview Heights, Illinois (East St. Louis HS)
East Saint Louis HS: Played three varsity seasons for head coach Darren Sunkett … recorded 83 total tackles, two interceptions and forced two fumbles during senior season … named a First-Team All-Metro East selection and all-conference and all-area pick as well … helped team to a second-place finish in the state championship and a No. 35 national ranking … tallied three interceptions as a junior, while helping team to a No. 17 national ranking at one point.
Personal: Born January 29, 2004 in East Saint Louis, Illinois … son of Charles and Kesu Brown ... youngest of three children … his older brother, Iverson, is a starting safety for the Redbirds.
Mark 'MJ' Cannon Jr. | DB | 6-3 | 200 | Skokie, Illinois (Evanston Township HS)
Evanston Township HS: Played four varsity seasons for head coach Mike Burzawa … named a team captain as a senior … earned all-conference honors and helped team to the state playoffs … earned all-state and all-conference honors as a junior, helping team to the state playoffs … recorded a season-high six interceptions during sophomore season.
Personal: Born April 26, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois … son of Mark Cannon and Melissa Whyms ... has an older sister, Chelsea.
David Connors Jr. | WR | 6-3 | 185 | Brooklyn Center, Minnesota (Robbinsdale Cooper HS)
Robbinsdale Cooper HS: Started three years at the varsity level for head coaches Willie Howard and Tony Patterson … recorded 44 receptions for 981 yards with 13 touchdowns during senior season … averaged 22.3 yards per catch and over 81 yards per game … named to the all-district team as its MVP and earned academic all-district honors … helped team to a section championship … also competed in basketball and track & field during prep career.
Personal: Born April 1, 2004 in Spirit Lake, Iowa … son of David Connors and Josie Krivolary ... one of five children … his father, David Sr., played football at SMSU … member of the honor roll.
Rylan Crawford | ATH | 6-3 | 190 | Leo, Indiana (Leo HS)
Leo HS: Started three years at the varsity level for head coach Jared Sander … earned all-state honors and was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior … recorded six catches for 73 yards on offense, while adding 26 tackles and four interceptions on defense … also returned seven kickoffs for 146 yards … helped team to back-to-back conference titles … recorded 22 catches for 410 yards with five touchdowns as a junior on the offensive side of the ball as a junior … tallied 26 tackles and five interceptions on defense, including two pick sixes … earned all-state honors and first-team all-conference honors at safety … recorded 26 tackles and two interceptions as a sophomore.
Personal: Born February 17, 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana … son of Brad and Melissa Crawford ... oldest of three children.
Greg Galloway | DL | 6-2 | 255 | Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (Oconomowoc HS)
Oconomowoc HS: Started three years on varsity for head coach Sal Logue … recorded 70 total tackles, including 36 solo stops … also tallied three sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss … earned first-team all-conference honors in final prep season while helping the team to a playoff appearance … during junior season, tallied 57 tackles, two sacks and forced three fumbles … earned first-team all-conference honors and was named a scholar-athlete pick … also a standout on the basketball court, starting all four years.
Personal: Born September 30, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois … son of David and Lisa Galloway ... youngest of three children … four-year scholar-athlete team selection and member of the honor roll and National Honor Society.
Jordan Greuel | OL | 6-4 | 260 | Greendale, Wisconsin (Greendale HS)
Greendale HS: Started three years at the varsity level for head coaches Stolz and Murray … earned first-team all-conference honors as junior and senior on the offensive line … helped team to an undefeated record in junior season … also played two years of basketball at Greendale.
Personal: Born September 1, 2004 in Greendale, Wisconsin … son of Denise Greuel ... member of the honor roll.
Christian Keyhea | ATH | 6-2 | 175 | Mt. Zion, Illinois (Mt. Zion HS)
Mt. Zion HS: Played prep career for head coach Patrick Etherton … earned IHSFCA Class 4A All-State honors after catching, after catching 38 passes for 650 yards with nine touchdowns … averaged 17.1 yards per catch and 81.3 yards per game while totaling 15 touchdowns and finishing with 1,130 all-purpose yards … recorded four touchdowns in a win over Taylorville as a senior, with 169 yards and two scores on the ground and six catches for 126 yards and two more touchdowns through the air … posted back-to-back 700-yard seasons on the gridiron as a junior and sophomore for Mt. Zion … also a standout on the track, earning the silver medal in the 100-meter dash as a junior at the IHSA 2A state track meet with a time of 10.9 seconds.
Personal: Born September 4, 2003 in Mt. Zion, Illinois … son of Royce Keyhea and Misty Mochel ... one of three children.
Christian Kirenga | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Kettering, Ohio (Archbishop Alter HS)
Archbishop Alter HS: Started three years at the varsity level for head coach Ed Domsitz … recorded 30 tackles and tallied the most pass breakups in a single season in school history … added an interception on way to being named a top 10 defensive back in the state of Ohio … helped team reach the state playoffs for the 20th straight season … as a junior, led the defensive in tackles and tallied the most breakups … helped team to a regional championship ... also a standout on the track, breaking three school records … member of the record-breaking 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams.
Personal: Born August 24, 2004 in Kettering, Ohio … son of John and Eugenie Kirenga ... one of three children … member of the honor roll.
Lavarion Logan | RB | 5-9 | 190 | Hobart, Indiana (Merrillville HS)
Merrillville HS: Started four years at the varsity level for head coach Bradley Seiss … earned all-conference honors as a senior as a team captain … led the state of Indiana with 2,256 rushing yards and scored 38 touchdowns on the ground … averaged 173.5 yards per game and 7.8 yards per carry on 288 carries … finished Merrillville's 39-7 regional championship win over Penn with 103 yards and three touchdowns to become the school's all-time leading scorer … earned Indiana Football Coaches Association (IFCA) Class 6A Junior All-State honors after compiling 263 carries for 1,627 yards with 25 touchdowns to help the Pirates to a 10-2 record and their second straight Class 6A sectional and regional title … also earned all-conference honors that season.
Personal: Born November 29, 2003 in Chicago … son of Lerertis Logan and Porchia Shipp … one of two children … member of the honor roll.
Kobe Rios | OL | 6-6 | 330 | Rock Island, Illinois (Rock Island HS / Iowa Western CC)
Iowa Western CC: Two-year starter on the offensive line for head coach Scott Strohmeir … helped team to a conference and regional championship in final year, as team advanced to the NJCAA National Championship game. Rock Island HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Ben Hammer … as a senior, helped the Rocks to a berth in the IHSA Class 6A playoffs … earned first-team all-state honors as well as all-metro and all-conference honors in final prep season … earned all-conference and all-metro honors as a junior, after transferring from Alleman where he earned all-conference honors as a sophomore.
Personal: Born September 9, 2000 in Rock Island, Illinois … son of Paul and Michele Rios … one of four children … his aunt, Toni Rios, played softball at Illinois State.
Jack Tippmann | TE | 6-4 | 230 | New Haven, Indiana (Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger HS)
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger HS: Started all four years for head coach Jason Garrett … played both offense and defense, recording eight receptions for 152 yard with three touchdowns as a senior … earned all-state, all-conference and all-area honors in final prep season … also recorded 68 tackles, 23.5 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks on defense … helped lead team to a sectional championship … as a junior, tallied 10 receptions for 291 yards and four touchdowns as a tight end on offense and added 34 tackles and 13 tackles-for-loss on defense … earned all-state, all-area and all-conference honors while helping team to an 11-2 record and a sectional crown … as a sophomore, recorded four receptions for 100 yards with one touchdown … also lettered in basketball and baseball at Bishop Dwenger.
Personal: Born October 4, 2003 in Fort Wayne, Indiana … son of Jack and Rachel Tippmann … one of 10 children … his cousin Hayden Ellinger played college football at Purdue and his other cousin, Joe Tippmann, played football at Wisconsin.
Landon Woodard | OL | 6-5 | 315 | Waukesha, Wisconsin (Waukesha West HS)
Waukesha West HS: Started two years for head coach Steven Rux … earned first-team all-conference honors and all-region honors as a junior … was the top player on the offensive line that helped West average 415 yards per game and 29.4 points per contest … helped team advance to the sectionals as a sophomore … also competed in wrestling and track & field at West.
Personal: Born February 6, 2004 in Waukesha, Wisconsin … son of Josh Delzer and Leslie Woodard … one of three children.
Max Ziebarth | TE | 6-5 | 225 | Hudson, Illinois (Normal West HS)
Normal West HS: Started three years on varsity for head coach Nathan Fincham … named an IHSFCA Class 6A First-Team All-State selection following senior season … also named an All-Big 12 Conference First-Team selection, after recording 29 catches for 461 yards with four touchdowns … averaged 15.9 yards per catch and helped lead team to the state playoffs … caught 16 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns for West in the five-game spring season in 2021, which earned him first-team all-conference honors as a team captain … team qualified for the state playoffs … as a sophomore, tallied 220 yards receiving and scored five touchdowns to earn all-conference honorable mention plaudits … was a two-time IHSA All-State Academic Team selection … also a standout on the basketball court at West, earning all-conference honors.
Personal: Born October 27, 2003 in Bloomington, Illinois … son of Andy and Jill Ziebarth … one of two children … his father, Andy, was a three-time all-conference selection in the 1990's for the Redbirds … his great grandfather, Hank Keiser, was a pitcher for Navy … was a three-time conference scholar-athlete selection.
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