NORMAL, Ill. – ISU head coach Brock Spack and his staff announced the 2024 Illinois State football early signing class Wednesday, as 23 student-athletes were added to the roster on National Signing Day.
The group includes 13 offensive players and 10 defensive standouts. The class is comprised of four offensive linemen, wide receivers, and defensive backs, three defensive linemen and linebackers, two tight ends and quarterbacks and one running back.
"We are excited to add this new group of talented student-athletes to our program," Spack said. "Today's group of additions will be a great step in rounding out our roster with players that can contribute immediately and others that will be key depth and developmental athletes moving forward. We feel like it's a very balanced class, when you look at the offensive/defensive splits and the skill position players and will address some holes for us."
The class comes from all over the country, but the majority come from right in the state of Illinois with 11 total. The group also hails from Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Arizona and Colorado.
Spack believes this group is a great start to the 2024 class, which will become complete with the February signing period.
"We will continue to look for more impact players in this next phase as we carry over to the February signing period," Spack continued. "It's a constant juggling act when you add in looking for players in the transfer portal, but we know there are still players out there that can help this team next year."
2024 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL SIGNING DAY BIOGRAPHIES:
Wyatt Boals | DL | 6-3 | 285 | Middlebury, Indiana (Northridge HS)
Middlebury HS: Three-year varsity starter … played both offensive and defensive line, starting both ways as a senior … ranked No. 14 in the state of Indiana at defensive line and No. 50 overall … helped lead team to a sectional title as a junior and to the state playoffs as a sophomore ... also competed in baseball and wrestling.
Personal: Son of Rudy and Amanda Boals … has a younger sister, Ava … earned academic all-state honors during prep career.
Ben Cooper | LB | 6-1 | 205 | Des Plaines, Illinois (Maine West HS)
Maine West HS: Three-year varsity starter for head coach George Klupchak … split time on offense and defense in final two seasons at Maine West … earned all-state and all-area honors as a senior, after recording 302 yards and two touchdowns receiving on offense while recording 57 tackles and an interception on defense … as a team captain, earned all-conference plaudits and was named the CSL North Defensive Player of the Year while helping team to a 9-0 undefeated regular season … as a junior, earned all-area honorable mention honors as team captain while leading the team to the playoffs for the just the 7th time in school history … tallied 15 receptions for 248 yards and two touchdowns on offense, while tallying 78 tackles and eight tackles for loss on defense that season … as a sophomore, recorded 29 tackles and four tackles for loss in first varsity campaign … also played baseball for our seasons at Maine West.
Personal: Son of Chris and Joy Cooper … one of four children … his father, Chris, played volleyball at Ball State and his mother, Joy, played volleyball at UIC … also earned academic all-state honors during prep career.
Aidan Crews | DB | 6-0 | 190 | Wildwood, Missouri (Eureka HS)
Eureka HS: Four-year player for head coach Jacob Sumner … missed five games as a senior due to injury, but still recorded 68 total tackles and two interceptions on the season … named a team captain and second-team all-state defensive back … first-team all-district selection while helping team to a district title … as a junior, earned all-district and all-conference honors while only allowing three catches to receivers all season … also ran track at Eureka, finishing 10th at state in the 200m dash … two-time all-state qualifier on the track and school record holder in the 4x200m relay.
Personal: Son of Gregory and Hilary Crews … has a brother, Ethan … his grandfather, Dan Bruening, played football and ran track at Illinois State … his mother, Hilary, ran track at Indiana and his father, Gregory, played football at Southeast Missouri State.
Doreon Dubose | DB | 5-11 | 165 | St. Louis, Missouri (Christian Brothers College HS)
Christian Brothers College HS: Played four seasons for head coach Scott Pingel … two-time state champion … ranked as the No. 16 recruit on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area's top senior college football prospects … as a junior, recorded 51 total tackles last season, 34 of which were of the solo variety and five were for loss … rambled 85 yards after a missed field goal attempt in a 42-7 win over Marquette in the District 1 championship game … was a key cog in a secondary that allowed one touchdown or less in five games … made five tackles in a 35-28 overtime win over Lee's Summit North in the 2022 Class 6 state championship game … also a member of the track and field team and finished sixth in the 400 meters at the state meet as a junior … played basketball as a senior as well.
Personal: Son of Deon Dubose and Stacey Wright … has three siblings, Ebony, Everest and Diamond.
Ben Harman | DL | 6-6 | 245 | Stoughton, Wisconsin (Stoughton HS)
Stoughton HS: Standout defensive lineman for head coach Jason Becker … named Defensive Lineman of the Year for the Badger Small Conference as a senior … helped team to a division 3 level 4 runner up finish … recorded 84 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 13 sacks on the season … also forced three fumbles on the year.
Personal: Son of Jesse and Lisa Harman … one of four children … his father, Jesse, played football at Iowa.
Mark Helm | OL | 6-5 | 260 | Springfield, Illinois (Glenwood HS)
Glenwood HS: Four-year player for head coach David Hay … named a team captain as a senior … earned all-conference and all-state honors for Glenwood in final prep season … helped team advance to the quarterfinals of the IHSA playoffs, eventually falling to Washington … also a wrestling state qualifier.
Personal: Son of Stephen and Christy Helm … one of five siblings … played alongside twin brothers, Johnny and David at Glenwood … older brother, Daniel, played football at Duke and later in the NFL and USFL … older sister, Sarah, swam at Alabama.
Quentin Johnson | WR | 6-2 | 180 | Dayton, Ohio (Trotwood Madison HS)
Trotwood Madison HS: Varsity player for head coach Jeff Graham … in the past two seasons, has helped lead the program to a 16-8 record and two state playoff appearances … tallied 53 catches for 806 yards and 10 touchdowns in final two prep seasons … also a standout on the track, running 7.1 in the 60m and 10.88 in the 100m.
Personal: Son of Quincy Johnson Sr. and Vaniqua Johnson … has an older brother, Quincy Jr. … his older brother played football at Sienna Heights.
Matt Lawson | RB | 5-10 | 190 | Hoffman Estates, Illinois (Hoffman Estates HS)
Hoffman Estates HS: Played final season of prep football at Hoffman Estates, after playing first three seasons for Elgin … finished his career with 2,743 all-purpose yards … three-time all-conference performer at running back and two-time all-area selection … tallied over 800 all-purpose yards as a senior, with 14 total touchdowns … helped lead team to the IHSA state playoffs in final season.Â
Personal: Son of Boevi and Gege Lawson.
Kaden Lehew | DB | 6-3 | 190 | Arlington, Texas (Grace Prep Academy)
Grace Prep Academy: Started four years for head coach Chad Pegues … tied the school record with 16 total touchdowns as a senior … earned district MVP honors and all-state mention as a wide receiver and defensive back … recorded 16 total touchdowns as a junior, on way to being named all-state at two positions … helped lead team to a district championship and an undefeated regular season as a sophomore … also played basketball for Grace Prep.Â
Personal: Son of Tony and Christy Lehew … one of five children … his father, Tony, played basketball at John Brown … earned academic all-state honors every year of high school career … also a member of the high honor roll.
Luke Mailander | WR | 5-11 | 175 | Elmhurst, Illinois (York Community HS)
York Community HS: Played for head coach Mike Fitzgerald … had a breakout senior season, hauling in 69 catches for 1373 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns … each of those marks set school records … earned honorable mention all-state honors and was named the conference player of the year as a senior … helped team to a pair of 11 wins seasons and appearances in the IHSA playoffs … also ran track at York.Â
Personal: Son of Nate and Carrie Mailander … oldest of two children … his father, Nate, played collegiate soccer at Drake.
Dexter Niekamp | LB | 6-3 | 225 | Normal, Illinois (Normal Community HS)
Normal Community HS: Played three varsity seasons for head coach Jason Drengwitz … as a senior, helped lead the Ironmen to a conference championship and to the IHSA state playoff semifinals as a team captain … earned IHSA all-state honors at linebacker … named Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the WEEK 25 Sports Prep Rally Big School Football Player of the Year … also earned all-area and academic all-state honors … as a junior, earned all-conference and all-area honors … also played basketball and baseball at NCHS.
Personal: Son of Travis and Tracy Niekamp … one of three children … his brother, Tye, is a linebacker for the Redbirds and his father, Travis, is ISU's defensive coordinator … Travis played at Illinois State before beginning coaching career.
Beckham Pellant | QB | 6-0 | 195 | Chandler, Arizona (Hamilton HS)
Hamilton HS: Played final three seasons at Hamilton for head coach Mike Zdebski … in 14 career varsity games, threw for 3,416 yards while rushing for 427 yards … totaled 38 passing touchdowns, while throwing just four interceptions, and rushed for five career touchdowns … as a senior, earned second-team all-region honors and recorded five single-season school records … helped team to back-to-back appearances in the open division playoffs … as a junior, earned first-team all-region honors at quarterback … also played baseball during prep career.
Personal: Son of Gary and Maren Pellant … oldest of three siblings … his grandfather, Bob Hawkins, played football at Illinois State … his cousin, Griffin Stalfort, played center at Air Force … also a first-team academic all-state selection and National Honor Society member.
CJ Richard Jr. | DB | 6-1 | 180 | Chandler, Arizona (J. Frank Dobie HS)
J. Frank Dobie HS: Played final three seasons for head coach Demond Stafford … earned first-team all-district honors as a senior … finished career with 11 total interceptions … also earned all-district honors as a junior and sophomore … two time team captain … also a standout on the track, as an all-area qualifier.
Personal: Son of Charles Richard Sr. and Cheneika Brooks.
2024 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL TRANSFER BIOGRAPHIES:
Mitch Bartol | TE | 6-3 | 255 | Kimberly, Wisconsin (Kimberly HS / Western Michigan)
At Western Michigan: Three-time Academic All-MAC team selection (2021-23) … saw action in 12 games in 2023 at tight end for the Broncos … also played in career-high 12 games in 2022 … participated in seven games, mostly on special teams in 2021 … played in four games as a freshman in 2020 ... made a pair of kickoff returns totaling 12 yards.
At Kimberly HS: Lettered three years for head coach Steve Jones ... a three-star prospect by ESPN.com and 247Sports.com ... listed as the No. 14 prospect in Wisconsin by ESPN.com and 247Sports.com ... ranked as the No. 33 H-tight end nationally by ESPN.com and the No. 93 tight end nationally by 247Sports.com ... two-time first team All-Valley Football Association Northern Division honoree and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) All-Region selection ... earned honorable mention WFCA All-State Large Schools Team accolades after final season ... received WFCA Academic All-State honors as a senior ... helped the Papermakers to a trio of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division 1 state semifinal appearances, winning the title as a sophomore, taking second as a junior and falling in the semifinals as a senior ... during senior season, caught eight passes for 100 yards ... as a junior, hauled in 15 passes for 200 yards and six touchdowns ... against Fond du Lac in the WIAA Division 1 state semifinal game on November 10, 2018, caught the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime, allowing Kimberly to advance to its sixth straight state title game ... also a four-year member of the basketball and track & field programs, qualifying for the state track & field championship in the discus and helping the Papermakers to the 2019 Fox Valley Association team title.
Personal: Son of Sheila and Dave Bartol.Â
JJ Guedet | OL | 6-8 | 315 | Washington, Illinois (Washington Community HS / Minnesota)
At Minnesota: Three-time Academic All-Big Ten (2021-23) selection with the Gophers … saw action in 10 career games on the offensive line, with five appearances in 2022 … saw action in three games as a sophomore in 2021, making his season debut at Colorado … competed against Nebraska … played in one game as a redshirt freshman in 2020 and did not allow a sack as Minnesota rushed for 206 yards and passed for 181 yards.
Washington Community HS: Enrolled at Minnesota in January 2019 … coached by Illinois State alum Darrell Crouch … consensus three-star recruit … No. 49 ranked offensive tackle by 247Sports composite rankings and No. 9 ranked recruit in Illinois by Rivals …earned IHSA All-State honors in 2018 and was named to the Rivals/EDGYTIM 20th annual All-State Team … led the Panthers to an 11-1 record and a No. 1 state ranking … received 2017 Journal Star Large-School Football All-Area honors and Mid-Illini All-Conference in 2018 and 2017 … two-time Illinois Academic All-State honoree.
Personal: Son of Jesse and Grace Guedet … has one brother, Ty, and two sisters, Natalie and Dani … father, Jesse, played at Taylor University.
Xavier Loyd | WR | 6-2 | 195 | Blue Springs, Missouri (Blue Springs HS / Kansas State)
At Kansas State: Played in eight games in 2023, catching one pass for 16 yards … saw time as a reserve wide receiver against Missouri and Texas in 2022 … redshirted in 2021.
Blue Springs HS: Played at Blue Springs under head coach David White ... totaled 40 catches for 556 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior, earning first team all-conference and all-district honors.
Personal: Son of Kalvin Loyd and Mona James ... has two siblings.
Jake Rubley | QB | 6-3 | 220 | Highlands Ranch, Colorado (Highlands Ranch HS / Kansas State)
At Kansas State: Saw action in two games in 2023, competing against Houston and Baylor …  2022 First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection … played in four games that season, throwing for 42 yards on 4-of-5 aim in addition to rushing six times for two yards... was perfect on all four pass attempts against South Dakota, including an 18-yarder… redshirted in 2021.
Highlands Ranch HS: Played his first three years under head coach and father T.J. Rubley... rated as the 25th-best overall prospect in the Class of 2021 by ESPN, while the organization also rated him the third-best pocket passer in the class and the top overall prospect in the state of Iowa, where he played as a senior... regarded as the 12th-best pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2021 by Rivals, while 247Sports rated him No. 22 ... threw for 3,892 yards and 39 touchdowns to go along with 269 rushing yards and seven scores during his career at Highlands Ranch ... named to the 2020 Sports Illustrated All-America preseason watch list ... earned honorable mention all-state honors as a junior... played two games as a senior at Valley High School in Des Moines, Iowa, under head coach Gary Swenson ... threw for 356 yards and a touchdown on 33-of-57 attempts for the Tigers ... also competed in track.
Personal: Son of T.J. and Julie Rubley ... has three siblings, Ryan, Brock and Luke ... father, T.J., played collegiately at Tulsa before being selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1992 NFL Draft ... T.J. ranks fourth in Tulsa history in passing yards, total offense and passing touchdowns for a career, while he was inducted into the Tulsa Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 ... T.J. played in 10 career games with seven starts in two NFL seasons with the Rams and Green Bay Packers ... older brother, Ryan, played football at Tulsa and Augustana.
Brandon Smith | OL | 6-4 | 290 | Indianapolis, Indiana (Decatur Central HS / Western Michigan)
At Western Michigan: Saw action in one game in 2023 … played in three games in 2022 … redshirted in 2021 … played in three games, making collegiate debut at Bowling Green.Â
Decatur Central HS: Played Offensive Line and Left Tackle for Decatur Central High School … one-time All-Conference … one-time All-County … one-time All-State … also played basketball at Decatur Central, being named all-conference twice.
Personal: Son of Jamila … has four siblings, Bre'Ante, JaVeon, Shace, and Tyree.
2024 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL WALK-ON BIOGRAPHIES:
Jack Bochenczak | DL | 6-5 | 200 | New Lenox, Illinois (Providence Catholic HS)
Providence HS: Played three seasons for head coaches Tyler Plantz and Mark Coglianese … missed senior season due to injury … started every game and played nearly every defensive snap at defensive end or defensive tackle as a junior … helped team to a runner-up finish in the IHSA Class 4A playoffs.
Personal: Son of Jim and Nancy Bochenczak … youngest of four siblings … his father, Jim, played football at Elmhurst College and his cousin, Sarah Bailitz, played softball at Dayton … member of the honor roll every semester in high school.
Gavin Camp | WR | 5-11 | 185 | Bloomington, Illinois (Normal Community West HS)
Normal Community West HS: Played three varsity seasons for head coach Nathan Fincham … earned all-state honorable mention honors as a senior, after recording over 500 yards receiving and scoring 10 touchdowns … also rushed for over 400 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground … named a first-team all-conference performer on offense and defense … helped team to the IHSA playoffs and a No. 5 ranking in the state … as a junior, recorded over 500 receiving yards and 200 rushing yards, while tallying four interceptions … earned all-conference honors as a wideout and kick/punt returner … Wildcats won the conference title and made the IHSA state playoffs after a No. 4 ranking.
Personal: Son of Jimmy and Jenny Camp … youngest of three siblings … his older brother, Carson, played football at Sacramento State and South Dakota … older sister, Reganne, played softball at Seton Hall … also earned Big 12 scholar-athlete honors.
Josh Gettemy | LB | 6-2 | 220 | Yorkville, Illinois (Yorkville HS)
Yorkville HS: Two-year starter for head coach Dan McGuire … earned all-conference honors and was named offensive MVP as a senior … selected as a team captain … helped lead team to a conference championship and to the IHSA state playoffs in final prep campaign … helped team to the playoffs as a junior as well.Â
Personal: Son of Ken and Susan Gettemy … youngest of three siblings … his brother, Kyle, played football at Michigan Tech and his uncle, Brian Green, played basketball at Illinois Wesleyan … member of the honor roll and selected as an academic all-conference and all-state selection.
Luke Johnsen | TE | 6-4 | 240 | Geneseo, Illinois (Geneseo HS)
Geneseo HS: Three-year starter for his father and head coach Larry Johnsen Jr. … recorded 15 catches, three of which went for touchdowns, as a senior while earning all-conference and all-area honors … helped team to a second-place finish in the conference and to an IHSA state playoff berth … caught a pair of touchdowns as a junior, while earning all-conference and all-area honors … led team to the playoffs that season as well.
Personal: Son of Larry and Sarah Johnsen … has one sister, Lauren … his father, Larry, played football at Augustana … member of the National Honor Society.
Jace Pankey | OL | 6-3 | 265 | Onarga, Ill. (Iroquois West HS)
Iroquois West HS: Three-year starter for head coaches Jason Thiele and Tim Hamilton … played on both the offensive and defensive lines, earning Iroquois West Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior … also earned Kankakee all-area honors and first-team all-conference honors following senior season where he recorded over 100 tackles and tallied 80 plus pancake blocks … as a junior, recorded 91 tackles and 69 pancake blocks while earning all-area second-team honors …helped lead team the IHSA playoffs for the second straight season … as a sophomore, tallied 30 pancake blocks as team advanced to the second round of the state playoffs … also played basketball and participated in track.
Personal: Son of Jeremy and Trixie Pankey … one of three children … his brother, Ty, played basketball at North Central … his mother, Trixie, and grandmother, Marilyn, both attended Illinois State … member of the honor roll for four years and a member of the National Honor Society.
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