NORMAL, Ill. – ISU head coach Brock Spack and his staff announced additions to the 2025 Illinois State football signing class on Wednesday, as 13 student-athletes were added to the roster for the upcoming season. These additions are combined with the 18 previously announced in December to form the total class of 31 new Redbird student-athletes for 2025.
The latest group of additions include nine transfers and four high school standouts. The breakdown includes three offensive lineman, two defensive linemen, two defensive backs, one quarterback, one tight end, one running back, one wide receiver, one longsnapper and one placekicker.
"We are excited to add this new group of talented student-athletes to our program along with our previous group added in December," Spack said. "They will continue to help fill some holes in our program and will round out our roster with players that can contribute. Our coaching staff worked very hard to address our needs both in December and in February and paid close attention to our offensive/defensive splits in what we think is a very balanced 2025 class."
Of the newest Redbirds, nine are originally from the state of Illinois with one player each from Alabama, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.
Spack believes this group caps off a solid 2025 class, with all of the transfers and two of the freshmen already on campus taking classes.
"We feel very good about this group but will stay vigilant in our recruiting efforts in the upcoming portal window to continue to better our team," Spack continued. "Our goal is to bring in players that can help this team win in 2025 and we will now shift focus to the class of 2026."
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.
Ian Willis | WR | 5-9 | 170 | Naperville, Illinois (St. Francis HS)
St. Francis HS: Four-year letterwinner for head coach Bob McMillen at St. Francis … recorded 647 receiving yards on 57 catches with four touchdowns as a senior … earned all-state honorable mention honors, as well as all-area and all-conference honors … helped lead team to the IHSA state semifinals as a team captain and MVP … as a junior, helped team to a 10-3 record and the state playoff semifinals, after recording 1,180 yards and 18 touchdowns … also earned all-conference honors as a freshman and sophomore at St. Francis.
Personal: Born Sept. 30, 2006, in Hinsdale, Illinois … son of James and Erika Willis … one of three children.
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.
Cooper Kmet | QB | 6-2 | 180 | Barrington, Ill. (St. Viator HS)
St. Viator HS: Three-year starter for head coach Dave Archibald … started nine games a senior, throwing for over 3,000 yards with 28 touchdown passes … also rushed for over 300 yards and three touchdowns … scored seven touchdowns in a game to set a new school single-game record … earned all-area and all-conference honors as a captain in final season … as a junior, threw for over 2,900 yards and 23 touchdowns in nine starting assignments … earned all-state, all-area and all-conference honors while helping team to the second round of the IHSA playoffs for the first time in 10 years … as a sophomore, tallied 650 passing yards and five touchdowns, wile running for 125 yards and a score in four starts … helped team to first playoff appearance in 10 years.
Personal: Born Oct. 6, 2006 in Barrington, Illinois … son of Frank and Kandace Kmet … one of four siblings … his older brother, Cole, played football at Notre Dame and plays for the Chicago Bears … brother Casey also played baseball at Notre Dame … his father, Frank, played football at Purdue and later in the NFL.
Dominic McKibbin | DL | 6-4 | 305 | Normal, Illinois (Central Catholic HS)
Central Catholic HS: Three-year starter for head coach Kevin Braucht … played in 10 games as a senior, recording eight tackles for loss, five sacks and tallied 29 total tackles … earned first-team all-state honors on the offensive and defensive lines … was selected to the News Gazette's All-Illinois Honorable Mention team while taking home all-conference honors on both sides of the football … was a Pantagraph all-area selection, while helping Central Catholic to a 9-0 conference record and a state playoff quarterfinal appearance … also earned all-conference and all-area honors as a junior while helping the team to the playoffs … also compete in track & field during prep career.
Personal: Born Jan. 23, 2006 in Bloomington, Illinois … son of Ed and Jennifer McKibbin … oldest of three children … member of the National Honor Society.
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.
Bryce Waszczyk | LS | 5-11 | 205 | Park Ridge, Illinois (Maine South HS)
Maine South HS: Two year starter at longsnapper for head coach Dave Inserra … played in 12 games as a senior, recording four tackles on the year while not being credited with a bad snap all season … earned CSL scholar-athlete honors as a team captain while helping team to a first-place conference finish and a spot in the IHSA playoffs … played in 12 games as a junior, with three tackles and an unblemished snapping record … was pulled up to varsity late in sophomore season to longsnap … also competed in wrestling and track at Maine South.
Personal: Born June 25, 2007 in Chicago … son of Eryk Waszczyk and Jennifer Gauss … has a younger sister, Julia.
2025 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL TRANSFER BIOGRAPHIES:
Logan Brasfield | OL | 6-3 | 300 | Yorkville, Illinois (Yorkville HS / Coastal Carolina)
At Coastal Carolina: Redshirted in 2024.
Yorkville HS: Rated a three-star recruit at offensive guard for the Class of 2024 by On3 and 247Sports … ranked as a two-star recruit at linebacker for the Class of 2024 by Rivals … rated the No. 50-best prospect in the state of Illinois for the Class of 2024 by On3 … ranked as the No. 56-best prospect in the state of Illinois for the Class of 2024 by 247Sports … helped lead Yorkville to a conference championship and a 7A IHSA appearance under head coach Dan McGuire … chose Coastal Carolina over Ball State, Eastern Illinois, Kent State, Marshall, Northern Iowa, and Wyoming.
La'Shavion Brown | DB | 6-2 | 205 | Fairhope, Alabama (Fairhope HS / Hutchinson CC)
At Hutchinson Community College: Played two seasons at Hutchinson CC, seeing action in a total of 11 games while recording 16 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss.
Victor Dawson | RB | 5-11 | 225 | Akron, Ohio (Hoban HS / Cincinnati)
At Cincinnati: Saw action in 11 games in 2024 … collected 63 rushing yards on seven carries … broke through for a 47-yard run in the season opener against Towson … also logged carries against Miami (Ohio), Houston, and Texas Tech … was a valuable member of the scout team in 2023, but did not appear in any games.
At Merrimack: Transferred to Cincinnati from FCS member Merrimack … played two seasons there, earning 2022 FCS Freshman All-America honors after rushing for 744 yards and 10 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman.
Chris Hill Jr. | OL | 6-3 | 290 | Braidwood, Illinois (Reed Custer HS / Millikin)
At Millikin: Three-year contributor at Millikin … started all 10 games on offensive line in 2023 … earned 2023 CCIW Academic All-Conference honors … played in eight games at center with six starts in 2022.
Christian Lorenzo | DL | 6-3Â Â Â | 285 | DeKalb, Illinois (DeKalb HS / Georgia State)
At Georgia State: Appeared in 10 games for the Panthers after transferring from Illinois in 2024 … finished the season with 17 total tackles, including multiple in each of the last four games of the season ... recovered his first career fumble in the team's victory at Texas State … recorded a season-high four tackles against Old Dominion … originally started career at Illinois and redshirted in 2022, but did not see action.
DeKalb HS: Played for head coach Derek Schneeman at DeKalb … two-star recruit by 247Sports … position ranks: #324 (247) … state ranks: #82 (247) … three-time All-DuPage Valley Conference … Blue-Grey All-American Bowl invitation …  also played basketball in high school … offers included Eastern Illinois, Murray State, and Northern IllinoisÂ
Personal: Born April 23, 2004 … son of Ken and Renee Lorenzo … has three brothers, DJ, Aayden, and Cam, and one sister, Natallia.
Matt Maldonado | K | 6-2 | 200 | Montgomery, Illinois (Yorkville HS / Murray State)
At Murray State: Did not see game action in 2024 … appeared in 10 games for the Racers in 2023 … led the Racers in scoring with 41 points (7 FG & 20 PAT) … was 20-of-20 in PATs and made 7-of-8 field goal attempts … made career-long field goal, a 44-yard effort against Southern Illinois … had one kickoff for 65 yards and a touchback.
At Wisconsin-Whitewater: Transferred to Murray State from Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2022 … in his freshman season at UWW, earned All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors … ranked 18th in NCAA Division III in field goal percentage (.750) and 26th in field goals per game (0.92) … converted 53-of-57 extra points in 2021 … kicked off 84 times for an average of 59 yards and 12 touchbacks and punted 24 times for an average of 37.58 yards … career-long field goal was 49 yards in 2021 against Wisconsin-La Crosse … made another field goal of 45 yards against Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Jack McGarry | OL | 6-3 | 280 | Oak Brook, Illinois (Hinsdale Central HS / Missouri)
At Missouri: Did not make an appearance in three seasons at Mizzou (2022-24) … received a redshirt in his first season with the Tigers.
Personal: Son of John and Sharon McGarry … born July 22, 2004 ... Father played in the NFL for the Packers.
Shadwel Nkuba II | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS / Louisiana)
At Louisiana: Saw action in four games in 2024 … appeared in all 13 games for Louisiana as a reserve member of the secondary in 2023 … recorded 13 tackles on the season with 11 solo stops ... broke up five passes - all in the final three games of the season ... had a season-high four stops in games against UAB (Sept. 16) and Troy (Nov. 18) ... broke up season-best three pass attempts against Troy ... added a pair of solo stops in his Louisiana debut against Northwestern State (Sept. 2) ... added tackles in a win at South Alabama (Oct. 28).
Caleb Schmitz | TE | 6-3 | 235 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Warwick HS / Cincinnati)
At Cincinnati: Did not see game action in 2024 … was a 2023 CSC Academic All-District selection and Big 12 Fall All-Academic Team member … appeared in 11 straight games in 2023, after not playing in the season opener … earned his first career start in the season finale against Kansas … recorded his first career reception at Oklahoma State, hauling in a four-yard pass … appeared in one game in 2022 against Kennesaw State … made collegiate debut against Tulane in 2021, his only appearance, earning a redshirt.
At Warwick HS: Prepped for Coach Bob Locker … 247Sports ranked him among the Top-30 players in Pennsylvania and a composite three-star prospect ... named to PennLive's All-PA high school football team as an athlete ... publication listed him as one of the most versatile players in Pennsylvania ... hauled in 43 catches for 788 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver while recording 32 tackles and helping lead Warwick to an 8-1 record in 2020 ... took home Section 2 All-Star Team Honors as WR of the Year, DB of the Year and outstanding back of the year ... named to the Lancaster-Lebanon Football All-Academic Team for a GPA between 3.75 and 4.00.
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