NORMAL, Ill.  – ISU head coach Brock Spack and his staff added four new players to the 20 that previously joined the Redbirds in December to complete the incoming 2021 Illinois State football class Wednesday on National Signing Day.
Linebacker Zion Granville (Sugarland, Texas / Fort Bend Christian HS) and Kylan Stevens (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. / St. Thomas Aquinas HS) signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic and academic pursuits at Illinois State. Minnesota transfer defensive lineman Noah Hickcox (Roscoe, Ill. / Boylan Central Catholic HS) and Nebraska-Kearney transfer defensive back Keondre Jackson (Freeport, Ill. / Freeport HS) were also officially announced.
"With the large group we added in December, we didn't have a lot of spots left in this period but had a few spots where we thought we needed some help," Spack said. "We were looking for front-7 type players on defense this time around and I think we signed two great athletes in Zion (outside linebacker) and Kylan (end) to help bolster those positions and with Noah (tackle) we helped solidify the front. Add in Keondre in the secondary and we feel like we were able to balance out the class well."
2021 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL SIGNEE BIOGRAPHIES:
Zion Granville | LB | 6-6 | 205 | Sugarland, Texas (Fort Bend Christian HS)
Fort Bend Christian HS: Was injured the majority of senior season at Fort Bend Christian for head coach Jordan Black … accomplished standout on the basketball court, averaging 10 points, five rebounds and two assists per game as a junior while earning all-district honors … as a sophomore, averaged eight points six rebounds and one assist per game on way to being named a first-team all-district selection … helped team to a state final four appearance as a freshman, averaging seven points, five rebounds and two assist per contest while earning all-district nod … was selected to participate in the first-ever NCAA Basketball Academy and was ranked as a top 100 prospect in the state of Texas.
Personal: Born July 13, 2002 in Houston, Texas … son of Billy and Gretchen Granville ... one of six children … his father, Billy, played football at Duke and later in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans … his mother, Gretchen, played volleyball at NC State … older brother Life plays basketball for Bethel University and sister Zoee plays volleyball at Oklahoma Wesleyan … his grandfather, Hank Guenther, was a football standout at Illinois State from 1965-1970 and his grandmother, Joan, was a cheerleader at ISU … great-grandfather Gilbert Love is an Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame coach … was an academic all-state selection and a member of the honor roll all four years of prep career.
Kylan Stevens | DE | 6-3 | 245 | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
St. Thomas Aquinas HS: Two-year varsity starter for coach Roger Harriott … recorded 31 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks one interception and one fumble recovery in shortened senior season … helped team to back-to-back state championships … as a junior, tallied 15 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … during that season, St. Thomas Aquinas posted an undefeated 15-0 season earning a National Championship … also lettered one season in basketball, averaging 10 points per game and seven rebounds.
Personal: Born January 4, 2003 in Tallahassee, Florida … son of Cornelius Stevens and Falan Goff ... has four younger siblings … his uncle, Stefan Humphries, played college football at Michigan and went on to a five-year NFL career with the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos … his aunt, Shawn Goff, was a basketball standout at Ole Miss … his grandfather, Thornton Humphries, played basketball at Seattle University … member of the honor roll as a senior.
2021 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL TRANSFER BIOGRAPHIES:
Noah Hickcox | DL | 6-4 | 290 | Roscoe, Illinois (Boylan Central Catholic HS / Minnesota)
At Minnesota: Three-time Academic All Big 10 selection … played in seven games in 2020, seeing action on special teams and defense … recorded three tackles on the year, all coming against Purdue … played in in all 13 games in 2019, with one tackle at Rutgers and one against Wisconsin … appeared in four contests in 2018 as a redshirt freshman … notched first collegiate tackle against Purdue and recorded one tackle in the Quick Lane Bowl victory against Georgia Tech … redshirted in 2017.
Boylan Central Catholic HS: Was a four-year starter for head coach John Cacciatore … as a senior, notched 30 tackles and made six sacks as team finished 8-2 … broke up 10 passes, forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles, recorded one safety and returned an interception for a touchdown as well that season … received three stars from Scout and two stars ESPN, Rivals and 247 Sports … Scout tabbed him as the No. 7 defensive end in Illinois, the No. 108 player at his position and the No. 125 recruit in the Midwest … ESPN listed him as the No. 38 player in his state and as the No. 111 prospect at his position … also lettered in swimming and track and field.
Personal: Born June 28, 1999 in Rockford, Illinois … son of Nicole and Luke Hickcox (deceased) ... has an older sister, Brenna … his father, Luke, played football at Rock Valley College.
Keondre Jackson | DB | 6-3 | 195 | Freeport, Illinois (Freeport HS / Nebraska-Kearney)
Freeport HS: Enrolled at Nebraska-Kearney for fall 2020 semester, before entering transfer portal … two-year starter for head coach Anthony Dedmond at Freeport High School … named a first-team all-conference performer as a senior, leading the conference in solo tackles … also received first-team honors as a junior … an accomplished performer on the wrestling mat as well, qualifying for state twice and earning all-conference honors twice … helped Freeport to a conference and regional championship as a senior while ranking fourth in the state individually in his weight class.
Personal: Born May 2, 2002 in Freeport, Illinois … son of Paul Jackson and Alicia Adams ... has three younger siblings … made the Deans List during his prep career.
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