NORMAL, Ill. – ISU head coach Brock Spack and his staff announced the 2025 Illinois State football early signing class Wednesday, as 18 student-athletes were added to the roster on National Signing Day.
The group includes nine offensive players, nine defensive standouts and a placekicker. The class is comprised of five defensive backs, four wide receivers, two offensive linemen, two linebackers, a defensive lineman, a quarterback, a tight end, a running back and a receiver.
"We are excited to add this new group of talented student-athletes to our program," Spack said. "Today's additions will help fill some holes in our program and will round out our roster with players that can contribute immediately. Several others in this class will be key depth pieces for us and developmental student-athletes moving forward. Our coaching staff worked very hard to address our needs and paid close attention to our offensive/defensive splits in what we think is a very balanced early class."
The group comes from all over the country, but the majority come from right in the state of Illinois with 10 total. The group also hails from Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, and Ohio.
Spack believes this group is a great start to the 2025 class, which will become complete with the February signing period.
"As always, will continue to look for more impact players in this next phase as we carry over to the February signing period," Spack continued. "With the transfer portal being what it is, this process is a constant juggling act, and we will continue to stay diligent and try to bring in players that can help this team win in 2025."
2025 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL SIGNING DAY BIOGRAPHIES:
Caiden Abbs | OL | 6-3 | 295 | Fort Wayne, Indiana (Carroll HS)
Carroll HS: Three-year varsity starter for head coach Doug Dinan ... helped lead team to a sectional and conference title as a senior ... ranked as a top 20 OL in the state of Indiana and as the No. 5 player in Northeast Indiana ... garnered first-team all-conference honors as well as all-state plaudits as a captain ... during junior season, named an IFCA Junior All-State selection and all-conference at tackle ... team also won conference titles in sophomore and freshman seasons ... also competed in basketball and baseball at Carroll HS.
Personal: Born Aug. 1, 2006, in Fort Wayne, Indiana ... son of Troy and Julie Abbs ... oldest of three siblings ... his father, Troy, played football at Hanover College and his uncle, Trevor, played football at Indiana ... member of the National Honor Society.
Rico Clay | DB | 6-3 | 190 | Quincy, Illinois (Quincy HS)
Quincy HS: Two-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Rick Little ... helped lead team to an 11-1 record and state playoff appearance ... earned first-team all-conference honors on both offense and defense ... recorded 46 tackles, three interceptions, and was credited with a sack and two forced fumbles as a senior ... during junior season, team was 11-1 and finished the year in the state playoffs ... tallied 32 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and five interceptions ... returned three of those interceptions for touchdowns on way to earning first-team all-conference honors on defense ... named the team's most improved player.
Personal: Born Dec. 19, 2006, in Quincy, Illinois ... son of Rico Clay Sr. and Dee Clay ... one of two children ... his cousin, Shae Tipsord, ran track at Illinois State.
Dereon Crowe | LB | 6-1 | 215 | Owensboro, Kentucky (Owensboro Catholic HS)
Owensboro Catholic HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Jay Fallin ... helped lead team to a state championship in final prep season ... as a senior, recorded 40 receptions for 700 yards with 20 touchdown receptions ... also recorded 60 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and two interceptions on defense ... as a junior, earned all-area honors as a linebacker while helping lead team to a state class 5A No. 3 overall ranking.
Personal: Born April 13, 2007, in Owensboro, Kentucky ... son of Willie McKenzie and Kanesha Crowe.
Mar'Quan Gary | WR | 6-0 | 170 | Bloomington, Illinois (Normal Community HS)
Normal Community HS: Four-year letterwinner for head coach Jason Drengwitz … awaiting additional bio information.
Personal: Born Nov. 9, 2006, in Bloomington, Illinois ... one of two siblings.
Ju'Maria Hamilton | DB | 6-1 | 175 | Birmingham, Alabama (Fairfield Prep HS)
Fairfield Prep HS: Awaiting additional bio information.
Javien Jackson | DB | 6-1 | 180 | Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton HS)
Princeton HS: Finished his prep career at Princeton for head coach Andre Parker ... as a senior, recorded 47 tackles and was credited with four pass breakups and an interception ... helped team to a conference championship and to two wins in the playoffs ... as a junior, earned first-team all-conference honors on defense and was named the conference kick returner of the year while playing at Walnut Hills ... has also competed in basketball and track & field during his prep career.
Personal: Born April 15, 2007, in Cincinnati, Ohio ... son of Jonathan and Christin Jackson ... oldest of four siblings.
Mattox Kelly | DL | 6-5 | 235 | Florence, Kentucky (Beechwood HS)
Beechwood HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Jay Volker ... helped team to a Region 2A title as a senior, while earning all-Northern Kentucky honors and all-state honors ... led the team in sacks and tackles for loss and ranked top 10 in the class 2A in sacks ... ranked second on the team in sacks as a junior, while helping the team advance to the state semifinals and a region championship ... also a standout on the basketball court at Beechwood.
Personal: Born Sept. 13, 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia ... son of Matt and Megan Kelly ... has a younger sister, Emme ... member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and the honor roll.
Chase Kwiatkowski | QB | 6-2 | 205 | Dyer, Indiana (St. Laurence HS)
St. Laurence HS: Played final season of football at St. Laurence for head coach Adam Nissen ... ranked as a 3-star recruit and the No. 4 quarterback in the state ... played in nine games, with 1,123 passing yards and over 700 rushing yards ... averaged 200 yards per game while being selected as a team captain ... helped team to a conference runner up finish and a regional championship .... as a junior, tallied over 1,300 passing yards and 400 plus rushing yards ... as a sophomore threw for 675 yards and ran for over 300 ... also ran track at Lake Central HS.
Personal: Born Sept. 11, 2006, in Munster, Indiana ... son of Keith and Holly Kwiatkowski ... has two siblings ... is an eight-time academic letter earner and academic all-state selection ... named student of the month three times during prep career.
Tyler Lofton | RB | 5-10 | 200 | Crete, Illinois (Brother Rice HS)
Brother Rice HS: Awaiting additional bio information.
Cooper Monk | OL | 6-6 | 260 | Manteno, Illinois (Manteno HS)
Manteno HS: Three-year varsity starter for head coach RJ Haines ... helped team to a playoff appearance as a senior, while earning all-conference and all-state honorable mention honors ... named the most outstanding athlete for football and was a team captain ... academic all-state selection ... as a junior, earned academic all-conference honors ... also played basketball at Manteno, helping team to a conference title and a regional championship as a junior.
Personal: Born Oct. 10, 2006, in Kankakee, Illinois ... son of Andy and Jenny Monk ... youngest of three siblings ... his father, Andy, played baseball collegiately and his mother, Jenny, played collegiate basketball ... his older siblings were both collegiate athletes as well ... member of the National Honor Society.
Wyatt Mueller | DB | 6-2 | 195 | Quincy, Illinois (Quincy Notre Dame HS)
Quincy Notre Dame HS: Three-year varsity starter for head coach Jack Cornell ... earned All-State Honorable Mention honors as a defensive back while helping lead team to a conference title and state playoff appearance ... played in 12 games in final prep season, recording 79 tackles and six interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown ... tallied over 1,000 all-purpose yards on offense, with 15 total touchdowns ... as a junior played in six games after missing time due to injury ... tallied 57 tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles as a team captain ... in first varsity season as a sophomore, played in 10 games with 52 tackles and two interceptions ... also recorded 192 kickoff return yards.
Personal: Born Dec. 14, 2006, in Quincy, Illinois ... son of Matt and Sarah Mueller ... oldest of three siblings ... member of the National Honor Society and the honor roll.
Jack Oliver | DB | 6-3 | 170 | Cincinnati, Ohio (Winton Woods HS)
Winton Woods HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Chad Murphy ... helped team to a conference runner up finish and a No. 6 ranking in Division I ... recorded over 20 receptions for 200 plus yards on the year ... also competed in track and field.
Personal: Born Sept. 5, 2007, in Cincinnati, Ohio ... son of Santana Johnson and Shani Hines ... one of three children ... his cousin, Jamal Hines, played football at Toledo and his other cousin, George Fant, played professionally for the Seattle Seahawks ... member of the academic honor roll.
Luke Olson | WR | 6-3 | 205 | Chicago, Illinois (Notre Dame College Prep)
Notre Dame College Prep: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Mike Hennessey ... earned a 3-star ranking from 24/7 Sports ... was team captain and tournament MVP for the Top Gun 7 on 7 squad.
Personal: Born March 27, 2006, in Chicago ... Son of Eric and Christy Olson ... youngest of three siblings ... his mother graduated from ISU ... his father, Eric, played collegiate football at North Park and his grandfather, Richard, played football at Idaho State ... member of the National Honor Society and three-time IHSA Scholar Athlete.
Travis Stamm | WR | 6-2 | 170 | Willow Springs, Illinois (Lyons Township HS)
Lyons Township HS: Four-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Jon Beutjer ... was a two-way starter at wide receiver and cornerback as a senior ... earned first-team all-state honors and all-conference plaudits while helping team to an 11-1 overall record and an outright conference championship ... recorded 601 yards on 41 receptions with seven touchdowns in final season ... had eight catches for 159 yards and three touchdowns to set a school single game record ... scored four touchdowns and recorded three interceptions in a second round playoff game ... tallied 25 tackles and eight interceptions on defense in final season ... as a junior, earned all-conference honors wile tallying 789 yards and nine touchdowns as a wideout ... had 15 receptions in a game against Glenbard West and three touchdowns against Hinsdale Central ... recorded 643 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore, while helping team to a state quarterfinal appearance.
Personal: Born Nov. 12, 2006, in Willow Springs, Illinois ... son of Jeff and Cindy Stamm ... has a younger brother, Tyler ... his aunt, Vicki, played basketball at North Central ... member of the honor roll every semester of prep career.
Jamaricus Thomas | LB | 6-3 | 220 | Birmingham, Alabama (Pinson Valley HS)
Pinson Valley HS: Played three seasons for head coach James Thompson … Awaiting additional bio information.
Personal: Born Jan. 31, 2007, in Birmingham, Alabama ... son of Randall Peterson and Tyquita Thomas ... one of four siblings.
2025 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL WALK-ON BIOGRAPHIES:
Stevan Gavric | WR | 6-3 | 180 | Libertyville, Illinois (Libertyville HS)
Libertyville HS: Two-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Mike Jones ... tallied 47 receptions for 898 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games as a senior ... helped team to a conference championship and to the state playoffs ... earned first-team all-conference honors ... as a junior, recorded 30 receptions for 497 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 contests ... also competed in basketball and baseball at Libertyville.
Personal: Born Oct. 23, 2006, in Evanston, Illinois ... son of Mane and Daniela Gavric ... one of three siblings ... his father, mane, played baseball for two years at Illinois State ... his older brother, Kristian, plays football at UW-Platteville ... two-time all-academic team honoree and member of the National Honor Society.
Brady Goken | TE | 6-3 | 220 | Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton Warrenville South HS)
Wheaton Warrenville South HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Sean Norris ... recorded 21 receptions for 253 yards as a senior ... averaged 11.6 yards per catch and 24.3 yards per game ... earned Red Grange all-county first team honors and second team all-conference honors ... helped team to back-to-back playoff appearances ... as a junior, played in six games primarily as blocking tight end ... also played basketball at WWS.
Personal: Born May 29, 2006, in Wheaton, Illinois ... son of Jon and Julie Goken ... oldest of four children ... earned academic all-conference honors all four years of prep career ... his parents are both ISU graduates.
Casey Roney | K | 5-11 | 170 | Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton Warrenville South HS)
West Aurora HS: Four-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Nate Eimer ... helped team to a 9-0 regular season finish, a conference title and a playoff berth in final season ... earned all-conference honors on special teams, as well as all-state academic honors ... was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts on the year and was 61-of-64 on point after attempts ... booted 41 touchbacks on kickoffs ... set the school record for PATs and touchbacks in a season and career ... as a junior, was 3-for-6 on field goal attempts, with a long of 39 yards, and was 30-for-31 on PATs ... tallied 31 touchbacks while earning all-conference honors on special teams ... as a sophomore, went 5-for-6 on field goals and was a perfect 18-of-18 on PATs while earning all-conference honors ... also played baseball at West Aurora.
Personal: Born Sept. 29, 2006, in Aurora, Illinois ... son of Patrick and Ingrid Roney ... youngest of three children ... both of his parents attended Illinois State ... maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout entire prep career.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
Â
