NORMAL, Ill. – ISU head coach Brock Spack and his staff announced the 2026 Illinois State football early signing class Wednesday, as 17 student-athletes were added to the roster on National Signing Day.
The group includes eight offensive players and nine defensive standouts. The class is comprised of four defensive linemen, three wide receivers, three defensive backs, two offensive lineman, two linebackers, one quarterback, one running back and one tight end
"We are pleased to add this new group of talented student-athletes to our program," Spack said. "Today's additions to the roster will help fill some holes in our program and add players to our roster that we can develop to become key contributors soon. Our coaching staff worked very hard, especially during the middle of a playoff run, to address our needs and our offensive/defensive splits in what we think is another very balanced early class."
The group comes from all over the country, but the majority come from right in the state of Illinois with eight total. The group also hails from Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana and Arizona. Spack believes this group is a great start to the 2026 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. "With the transfer portal always looming, this process is never-ending and we will remain diligent to bring in players that can help this team win in 2026 and beyond."
2026 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL SIGNING DAY BIOGRAPHIES:
Santino Bernabei | DB | 6-1 | 185 | Park Ridge, Illinois (Maine South HS)
Maine South HS: Two-year starter for head coach Dave Inserra ... named team captain as a senior ... recorded 40 tackles, three interceptions and double digit pass breakups on the year, while earning all-conference honors ... also played wide receiver in the playoffs, on way to helping team to a 10-2 record and a conference title and state quarterfinal appearance ... as a junior, recorded 40 tackles, one interception and 10 pass breakups in nine games ... team won a conference title and had a 7-game win streak at one point.
Personal: Born April 16, 2008 in Chicago ... son of Luigino and Brianna Bernabei ... one of three children ... his grandparents both attended Illinois State ... his grandfather, Brad Monroe, coached football at Illinois State in the early 1980s ... his grandmother, Roberta, played volleyball and softball at North Dakota State.
Jake Cestone | WR | 6-2 | 175 | Addison, Illinois (Nazareth Academy)
Nazareth Academy: Varsity starter at wide receiver for four years for head coach Tim Racki ... ranks 5th all-time in IHSA history in career receiving touchdowns ... as a senior, caught 49 passes for 999 yards with 17 touchdowns ... averaged 76.85 yards per game and 20.81 yards per catch ... named a 2025 CCL/ESCC all-conference honoree and was the Green Division 6A Offensive Player of the Year ... also named an IHSFCA 6A All-State selection at wideout ... as a junior, recorded 52 catches for 978 receiving yards with 16 touchdowns ... averaged 81.5 yards per game and 18.8 yards per catch ... CCL/ESCC All-Conference Honoree ... helped lead team to a third-straight IHSA Class 5A state championship ... during sophomore season, hauled in 52 passes for 896 yards with 12 touchdowns ... had 12 catches for over 100 yards as a freshman.
Personal: Born October 12, 2007 in Elmhurst, Illinois ... son of Mike Cestone and Gina Hill ... one of five children ... his father, Mike, played collegiate football at UW-River Falls and Elmhurst and his mom, Gina, was a member of the Pink Panthers Dance Team at Eastern Illinois ... his brother, Christian, played collegiate football at UW-Whitewater ... member of the honor roll.
Draivyn Colvin | LB | 6-3 | 225 | Kansas City, Missouri (Staley HS)
Staley HS: Four-year starter for head coach Andrew Hudgins ... spent time playing linebacker and running back as a senior ... named a team captain ... earned second-team all-conference honors after rushing for 572 yards on 83 carries for a 6.9 yard per carry average on the year ... as a junior, served as team captain and carried the ball 139 times for 834 yards, averaging 93 yards per game ... earned second-team all-conference honors ... also a standout on the track at Staley, running 10.9 in the 100m dash and qualified for state as a member of the 4x100m relay team.
Personal: Born August 14, 2007 in St. Joseph, Missouri ... Son of Donald and Nicoln Cannon ... his father Robert Colvin, competed collegiate sports at St. Ambrose, and his brother, Clayton, played at Highland ... member of the A+ program.
Josh Crandall | DL | 6-4 | 260 | Oregon, Illinois (Oregon HS)
Oregon HS: Three-year starter for head coach Broc Kundert ... named a team captain and was a first-team all-conference defensive lineman as a senior ... helped team to a playoff appearance in final prep season ... as a junior, earned first-team all-conference honors as a tight end, while serving as a team captain ... led team to the playoffs that season as well ... earned second-team all-conference honors on the defensive line during sophomore campaign ... also competed in basketball, baseball and wrestling at Oregon HS.
Personal: Born June 14, 2006 in Rockford, Illinois ... son of Kip and Nancy Crandall ... youngest of four children ... nine of his family members, including his grandparents, all attended Illinois State ... his father, Kip, competed in wrestling and football collegiately at Millikin ... two-time student of the quarter ... member of the National Honor Society ... multiple time honor roll member ... Senior of Distinction and Premier Scholar at Oregon ... Big Northern Conference Scholar Athlete.
Andrew Knight II | QB | 6-0 | 170 | Sterling Heights, Illinois (Martin Luther King Jr. HS)
Martin Luther King Jr. HS: Played one varsity season at Martin Luther King for head coach Terel Patrick, after transferring from Stevenson High School playing under head coach Justin Newcomb ... as a senior, earned MHSFCA All-Region team honors and was also named an all-city selection while helping MLK to a district championship ... passed for 2,137 yards and 21 touchdowns, while rushing for 601 yards and seven scores on the ground in final prep season ... posted a 68 percent completion percentage ... as a junior at Stevenson, threw for 1,307 yards and rushed for 366 yards, with 13 combined touchdowns ... during sophomore campaign, tallied 2,076 all-purpose yards and 24 touchdowns, while completing 64 percent of his passes ... also accounted for 14 total touchdowns as a freshman ... while at Stevenson, was also a standout on the track and was a member of the bowling team.
Personal: Born January 5, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan ... son of Andrew and Tanesha Knight ... oldest of two children.
Chase Markowicz | WR | 6-2 | 175 | New Lenox, Illinois (Lincoln-Way West HS)
Lincoln-Way West HS: Three-year varsity player for head coach Luke Lokanc ... two-way starter as a senior as a wide receiver and defensive back ... earned all-conference honors in final prep season ... earned all-conference honors as a two-way player as a junior as well ... also a standout on the track at West, as a two-time state qualifier ... in addition to football and track, also compete in lacrosse.
Personal: Born March 9, 2008 in New Lenox, Illinois ... son of Jason and Kelley Markowicz ... has a younger sister, Kynzi ... his mother, Kelly, is an ISU grad ... his father, Jason, played collegiate football at Saint Xavier.
Mezziahs McDaniel | OL | 6-4 | 300 | Indianapolis, Indiana (Brownsburg HS)
Brownsburg HS: Two-year starter for head coach John Hart ... helped lead team to back-to-back state titles, while earning all-state honors as both a senior and junior ... also competed in rugby at Brownsburg, helping the team to a state championship as a junior.
Personal: Born January 5, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana ... son of Brandon McDaniel ... one of two children.
Diesel McFadden | LB | 6-1 | 235 | Chicago, Illinois (William Howard Taft HS)
William Howard Taft HS: Four-year letterwinner for head coach Zachary Elder ... two-way player for Taft, playing linebacker and as a running back ... recorded nine tackles and 2 TFLs on the defensive side in just five games played as a senior ... also carried the ball 67 times for 431 yards and three touchdowns to earn all-conference honors ... as a junior, tallied 69 tackles, seven sacks and 15 TFLs on the defensive side ... had 31 carries for 270 yards and three touchdown ... earned all-conference and first-team all-city honors on way to being named an all-state honorable mention selection ... helped led team to a 6-game winning streak and an appearance in the IHSA state playoffs ... as a sophomore, was credited with 43 tackles, six sacks and 19 tackles-for-loss on way to all-conference honors and 2nd team all-city plaudits ... as a freshman scored twice on the ground and had 25 tackles on defense, while team was runner up to the city championship ... also a three-year starter on the basketball court.
Personal: Born February 28, 2008 in Fayetteville, Arkansas ... son of Darren McFadden and Kerri Billups ... has six siblings ... his father, Darren, played collegiate football at Arkansas and later played in the NFL for 10 seasons with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys ... his uncle, Kevin Williams, also played in the NFL and his cousins, Kyle and Javaris Williams, each played college football as well ... two-time member of the honor roll and two-time principal's award honoree.
Kevin Michaelsen | DL | 6-5 | 240 | Chicago, Illinois (St. Patrick HS)
St. Patrick HS: Three-year varsity starter for head coach Tom Zibikowski ... earned all-conference honors as a team captain as a senior while helping team to the second round of the IHSA state playoffs ... named an all-conference honorable mention selection as a team captain as a junior.
Personal: Born November 19, 2007 in Chicago ... son of Meghan Michaelsen ... earned first-team all-academic honors as a senior and was a two-time second-team all-academic selection.Â
Nick Ori | DB | 6-2 | 210 | Lake Bluff, Illinois (Libertyville HS)
Libertyville HS: Played final season at Libertyville for head coach Tim Budge, after beginning career at Wauconda HS ... led the conference in interceptions as a senior with four to go along with 30 tackles and three forced fumbles ... also credited with two TFLs in final prep campaign and averaged 16.3 Â yards per catch as a receiver with two touchdowns ... helped lead team to an 8-3 record as a sophomore, while recording 15 tackles on defense ... scored a pair of touchdown on the offensive side of the ball, while averaging 14.3 yards per catch ... as a sophomore led the conference in interceptions and tackles by a defensive back ... finished sophomore campaign with four interceptions and 30 tackles ... also competed in basketball at Wauconda.
Personal: Born September 14, 2007 in Chicago ... son of Michael and Tara Ori ... one of four children ... his father is an Illinois State alum ... his mother, Tara, was a fencer at Northwestern during her collegiate career.
Hudson Samolinski | DL | 6-3 | 280 | Winneconne, Wisconsin (Winneconne HS)
Winneconne HS: Three-year starter for coaches Nate Ryf and Ryan Krings ... recorded 76 tackles, including 34 solo stops, two sacks and 19 TFLs as a senior, while being named a unanimous first-team selection on both the offensive line and defensive line ... earned all-region honors on both sides of the line as well and was an honorable mention all-state large school selection on the OL/DL ... helped lead team to the D4 State Championship with a perfect 14-0 record ... also named a second-team selection at punter ... as a junior, tallied 73 tackles, two sacks and 13.5 TFLs on way to earning first-team all-conference honors on OL/DL ... team finished as state runner-up with a 12-1 record ... in addition to football, is also a standout in track as a thrower, with a career best throw of 190'4" in the discus and 57'4" in the shot put ... in addition, spent one season as part of the powerlifting team at Winneconne.
Personal: Born April 1, 2008 in Neenah, Wisconsin ... son of Ben and Sarah Samolinski ... oldest of three children ... his father, Ben, played football collegiately at UW-Platteville ... member of the honor roll and projects to graduate summa cum laude.
Quentin Skillings | RB | 6-0 | 195 | Gilbert, Arizona (Williams Field HS)
Williams Field HS: Four-year letterwinner for head coach Steve Campbell ... scored 13 touchdowns as a senior, on way to being named a first-team all-conference and all region selection ... as a junior, scored 15 touchdowns while earning second-team all region honors and helping team to the state playoffs ... also made playoff appearances in his first two varsity seasons.
Personal: Son of John and Jen Skillings ... his father, John, played collegiate football at Cincinnati.
Owen Smith | DL | 6-5 | 250 | Walworth, Wisconsin (Big Foot HS)
Big Foot HS: Four-year varsity player for head coach Tyler Heck ... named a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Region selection at defensive end following senior season ... also named a first-team all-conference performer on the defensive line while serving as team captain ... voted team MVP and earned the top performer award at the UW-River Falls camp ... as a junior, earned all-conference honorable mention honors as a punter and tight end ... also competed in basketball and baseball at Big Foot.
Personal: Born November 5, 2007 in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin ... son of Jesse and Melissa Smith ... his father, Jesse, played collegiate soccer at UW-Whitewater ... four-year honor roll member.
Will Strong | WR | 6-2 | 190 | Tipp City, Ohio (Tippecanoe HS)
Tippecanoe HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Matt Burgbacher ... broke the school record for career receiving yards and set the single-season record with 1,255 receiving yards as a senior ... also had 15 receiving touchdowns in final prep season to earn first-team all-league and all-district honors ... served as team captain while helping lead team to the state semifinals and a league and regional championship ... as a junior, recorded 576 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, while earning second-team all-district honors ... was also a standout on the track at Tippecanoe as he holds the school records in the 100m dash and the long jump ... also member of the school record holding 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams ... all state indoors and outdoors on the track.
Personal: Born August 31, 2007 in Troy, Ohio ... son of Brian and Angie Strong ... has two sisters, Nicole and Megan ... his mother, Angie, played collegiate volleyball at Youngstown State and Toledo.
Devin Viola | DB | 6-0 | 170 | Mukwonago, Wisconsin (Mukwonago HS)
Mukwonago HS: Four-year player for head coach Mike Gnewuch ... earned first-team all-conference and all-region honors as a senior, after recording 46 tackles, two TFLs and 10 pass breakups on the season ... was also credited with an interception while earning all-state honorable mention honors ... helped team to the WIAA state playoffs in final prep season ... as a junior, was a third-team all-conference performer while recording 62 tackles, two interceptions and nine pass breakups ... team won a share of the conference title that year ... also competed in lacrosse and in track, where he was a high school all-American indoors.
Personal: Born September 14, 2007 in Mequon, Wisconsin ... son of Time and Tammy Viola ... has an older brother, Colin.
Alex Wood | TE | 6-5 | 240 | Jefferson City, Missouri (Helias Catholic HS)
Helias Catholic HS: Four-year player for head coach Chris Hentges ... earned second-team all-conference honors as a senior at both tight end and defensive line ... all-district media selection on the defensive line ... recorded 23 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns, while tallying 26 tackles on defense ... helped team to a district, city and conference championships ... as a junior, caught 14 passes for 195 yard sto earn all-media team honors ... team was Class 5 state runner-up ... also a standout on the basketball court, where he's a three-year varsity letterwinner.
Personal: Born August 13, 2007 in Jefferson City, Missouri ... son of Gregory and Tina Wood ... has an older sister, Olivia ... his mother, Tina, played collegiate softball at UCM and his sister played softball in college at William Jewell ... three-time all-academic selection.
2026 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL WALK-ON BIOGRAPHIES:
Zach Poole | OL | 6-6 | 330 | Lincoln, Illinois (Lincoln Community HS)
Lincoln Community HS: Four-year player for head coach Matt Silkowski ... earned the LCHS WC Handlin Senior Lineman Award after being credited with 58 pancake blocks in nine games during senior campaign ... earned Central State 8 all-conference honors as a junior, while playing in all nine games and recording over 40 pancake blocks ... as a sophomore, helped team to its first state playoff berth in 39 years ... played in every game that season, with 35 pancake block ... also competed in wrestling for the Railsplitters.
Personal: Born August 6, 2007 in Pekin, Illinois ... son of Troy and Jennifer Poole ... youngest of three kids ... four-year member of the honor roll.
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