By BEARCATSPORTS.COM
St. Joseph Post
Northwest Missouri State head football coach Rich Wright announced the addition of 29 student-athletes for the 2021 Bearcat signing class Wednesday.
The list includes 26 high school seniors and three transfers.
This year's incoming recruiting class has student-athletes coming in from six different states – Missouri (9), Kansas (9), Iowa (4), Nebraska (4), Illinois (2) and Texas (1).
2021 BEARCAT FOOTBALL SIGNEE BIOS
Jackson Alexander, WR – Gretna, Nebraska (Gretna HS)
Second-team all-state pick … first-team all-conference honoree for head coach Mike Kayl … member of National Honor Society … son of Jason and Wendy Alexander.
Cooper Berry, DL – Warrensburg, Missouri (Warrensburg HS)
First-team all-district defensive end in 2020 … 2020 Media All-State Team by PrepsKC … first-team all-state in 2019 for head coach Chris Cavanah … first-team all-conference pick as a junior and as a senior … second-team all-state on offensive line in 2018 … helped lead his prep squad to a District 7 championship in 2018 … all-conference basketball and track & field performer … honor roll student … member of National Honor Society … likes to hunt and fish … son of Jerry and Amanda Berry.
Parker Bowen, LB – Raymore, Missouri (Raymore Peculiar HS)
First-team all-state honoree … first-team all-district … first-team all-conference selection for head coach Sean Martin … named Raymore Peculiar HS defensive player of the year with 102 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … son of J.D. and Ashley Bowen.
Andrew Bradley, CB – Overland Park, Kansas (Blue Valley West HS)
First-team all-EKL selection for head coach Josh Koerkenmeier … a member of the state championship 4x100 relay team in the track and field squad … 3.5 GPA … son of Eric Bradley and Kelly Weixeldorfer.
Trey Butcher, OL – Platte City, Missouri (Platte County HS)
Second-team all-state in 2020 … first-team all-district and all-conference pick as a senior for head coach Bill Utz … second-team all-district in 2019 … Silver Key award recipient for scholastic writing … enjoys spikeball, golf, lifting weights, skiing, wakeboarding and video games … son of Scott Butcher and Tanya Butcher.
Baily Darnell, DB – Auburn, Nebraska (Auburn HS/South Dakota State)
Transferred from FCS South Dakota State … redshirted, but played in a reserve role in two games for the Jackrabbits in 2019 ... made collegiate debut in a home game against Drake ... also saw action in a game at Missouri State ... honored as Scout Special Teams Player of the Week leading up to game Youngstown State ... also recognized as team's Scout Defense Player of the Week in preparation for regular season finale at South Dakota … excelled on both sides of the ball at Auburn High School, earning all-state and first-team Super State honors in 2018 for head coach Tony Janssen ... career prep totals included more than 5,000 all-purpose yards and 60 touchdowns ... as a senior, he logged 63 tackles and an interception on defense, while rushing for 1,253 yards and 18 touchdowns ... added 21 receptions, 460 yards and four more scores in the passing game … son of Jess Darnell and Chris Darnell.
Marc Davila Jr., DB – Gurnee, Illinois (Warren Township HS)
Played for Bryan McNulty at Warren Township … also competed in baseball … son of Roxann Seger and Marc Davila Sr.
Mayes Doggan, DB – Bloomington, Illinois (Normal Community HS)
Second-team all-conference … honorable mention all-area for head coach Jason Drengwitz … selected to play in the Illinois Shrine Bowl … also competes in track and field … son of Kevin and LaToya Doggan.
Carter Edwards, LB – St. Louis, Missouri (De Smet Jesuit HS)
Three-year varsity starter for head coach Robert Steeples … served as team captain … 2019 defensive player of the year for the Class 6A state championship squad … Missouri Media first-team all-state pick in 2019 … MaxPreps first-team all-state linebacker in 2019 … all-conference and all-district honoree in 2019 and 2020 … Bobby Christman Memorial Scholarship recipient … all-academic scholar-athlete … son of Scott Edwards and Kelly Edwards.
Benjamin Einess, DL – Peculiar, Missouri (Raymore-Peculiar HS)
Second-team all-state pick as a senior … helped lead his high school team to a Class 6A state title in 2020 … first-team all-conference and all-district pick in 2020 … defensive player of the year in 2020 for head coach Sean Martin… leading tackler … son of Chris and Melissa Einess.
Shane Fredrickson, S – Lee's Summit, Missouri (Lee's Summit West HS)
Three-time first-team all-conference honoree … two-time first-team all-district pick … first-team all-state defensive back for head coach Vincent Careswell … served as team captain … four-time academic letterwinner … honor roll student … also competed in track & field … son of Kara and Sean Fredrickson.
Gannon Gragert, TE – Elkhorn, Nebraska (Elkhorn HS)
Captured the 2020 Class B state championship … first-team all-state selection by the Omaha World Herald … first-team super state punter by the Lincoln Journal Star … served as team co-captain for head coach Mark Wortman … first-team all-Eastern Midland Conference as a senior … first-team all-state punter by Omaha World Herald in 2019 … Class A all-state punter by Lincoln Journal Star in 2019 … helped his prep basketball team to the Class A state tournament in 2019-20 … honor roll student … son of Brian and Jenny Gragert.
Marc Gustafson, DL – Marvyille, Missouri (Maryville HS)
First-team all-state as a senior in 2020 for head coach Matt Webb … first-team all-conference in 2020 … first-team all-district selection on offensive and defensive line as a senior … also a member of the Spoofhound boys' basketball team … son of Jon Gustafson, Teresa Gustafson, Amy Farmer and Kyle Farmer.
James Jones Jr., WR – Wharton, Texas (Wharton HS)
All-state wide receiver … second-team all-state returner … two-time first-team all-district selection for head coach Chad Butler … four-year letterwinner in both football and basketball … A & B Honor Roll … son of LaDonna Jones and James Jones Sr.
Keegan Kooi, S – Kansas City, Missouri (Staley HS)
Second-team all-state linebacker … first-team all-district … second-team all-conference … helped lead Staley to a state football championship in 2017 … team captain for head coach Phil Lite … Student Council officer … three-year letterwinner in track and field … interested in golf, fish and customized shoes … son of Kevin and Laura Kooi.
Bryce Krone, LB – Bonner Springs, Kansas (Bonner Springs HS/Missouri Western)
Transferred from Missouri Western after signing with the Griffons in 2020 … all-state running back for head coach Chad Eaddy … all-league linebacker … posted 3.7 GPA … son of Jason and Lisa Krone … his father, Jason, played football at Northwest under head coach Bud Elliott.
Cole Lammel, K/P – Omaha, Nebraska (Millard South HS)
Metro Coaches all-conference kicker of the year in 2019 and 2020 … named to the all-metro offensive team in 2019 and 2020 … Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star Super State second-team honoree in 2020 … Millard South special teams player of the year in 2019 and 2020 for head coach Andy Means … Class A all-state pick in 2019 by the Omaha World Herald … state semifinalists in 2019 and 2020 … academic all-state pick in soccer in 2019 and 2020 … member of National Honor Society … AP Scholar with Honor … son of Tom and Deb Lammel.
Zaden Marroquin, DB – Olathe, Kansas (Olathe East HS)
Honorable mention all-Sunflower League pick for head coach Courtney Porter … National Merit Commended Scholar … also wrestles and plays baseball … son of Emilio Marroquin and Nica Marroquin.
Tre Melby, DE – Logan, Iowa (Logan-Magnolia HS)
District defensive player of the year … district MVP for head coach Matt Straight … first-team all-state defensive end … first-team all-district tight end … first-team all-conference basketball performer … placed second in the state in the discus in 2019 … academic all-conference in football, basketball and baseball … son of Trever Melby and Tabbi Melby.
Evan Mills, OL – Topeka, Kansas (Seaman HS)
Took part in the Blue-Grey All-American (West Team)Named to Eastern Kansas Sports first-team all-defensive squad … all-Centennial and all-City first-team selection on the offensive line as a senior for head coach Glenn O'Neil … named to the Wichita Eagle's 5A all-state honorable mention squad … three-year varsity letterwinner in football and a two-year letterwinner in wrestling … all-city honorable mention offensive lineman as a junior … all-Centennial League honorable mention honors as a junior … 5A state qualifier in wrestling and placed eighth at the state tournament … son of Jason and April Mills.
Clayton Power – DT – Stilwell, Kansas (Blue Valley HS)
Two-time all-state pick … selected to the Kansas Shrine Bowl … first-team all-district pick for head coach Allen Terrell … served as team captain in 2020 … named to the principal's honor roll … runs his own mowing business … enjoys poker, investing and rec basketball … son of Greg Power and Jennifer Power.
Cole Rues – OL – Overland Park, Kansas (Shawnee Mission South HS)
Played at Shawnee Mission South for head coach Brett Oberzan … interested in a business major at Northwest … son of Hannah Rues and Chris Rues.
Chris Ruhnke – QB – Platte City, Missouri (Platte County HS)
Two-time conference player of the year … two-time all-state selection … two-time all-district pick for head coach Bull Utz … Simone Award finalist … member of National Honor Society … enjoys spikeball, golf and video games … son of Branda and Curtis Ruhnke.
Nile Schuett – DL – Tipton, Iowa (Tipton HS)
First-team all-state pick in 2019 and 2020 … 2020 district defensive player of the year for head coach Mark Langenfeld … first-team all-district pick in 2019 … second-team all-district honoree in 2018 … honorable mention all-district selection in 2017 … served as team captain in football and wrestling … honor roll student … member of National Honor Society … son of Clayton and Jennifer Schuett.
Tyler Strohbeen, OL – Sioux City, Iowa (Bishop Heelan HS/South Dakota State)
Transfer from FCS South Dakota State … played in one game vs. Drake in 2019 as he redshirted … first-team all-Northwest Iowa in high school for head coach Roger Jansen … academic all-district pick … lettered four times and was a two-time first-team all-district selection at Bishop Heelan … son of Erv and Amanda Strohbeen.
Wes Willis – DE – Wellsburg, Iowa (Grundy Center HS)
First-team all-state pick in 2019 and 2020 … all-district MVP in 2020 … served as team captain for head coach Travis Zajac … Iowa Shrine Bowl selection … two-time all-conference basketball performer …. Academic all-state and all-district honoree … member of National Honor Society … active in FCA, FFA and 4H … son of Jesse and Lori Willis.
Cameron Wise – TE – Pomona, Kansas (West Franklin HS)
Two-time all-state selection … first-team all-district performer in 2020 for head coach Nate Teichgraeber … first-team all-league in 2019 … selected to the Kansas Shrine Bowl … honor roll student … son of Shawn and Leslie Wise.
Tank Young, RB – Overland Park, Kansas (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
Four-time all-state selection … two-time Top-11 pick … three-time player of the year honoree for head coach Randy Dreiling … nominated three times for Gatorade Player of the Year … four-time Hy-Vee player of the week recipient … four-year honor roll student … son of Laaron Young and Janeiceasha Johnson.
Luke Zegunis, OL – Olathe, Kansas (Olathe West HS)
Named to Class 6A all-state football squad for head coach T.J. O'Neill … selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl … state wrestling qualifier … academic all-state honoree in wrestling … member of National Honor Society … son of Mike and Nikole Zegunis … brother, Mike, is a sophomore offensive lineman for the Bearcats.
HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES - list
Jackson Alexander, WR – Gretna, Nebraska (Gretna HS)
Cooper Berry, DL – Warrensburg, Missouri (Warrensburg HS)
Parker Bowen, LB – Raymore, Missouri (Raymore Peculiar HS)
Andrew Bradley, CB – Overland Park, Kansas (Blue Valley West HS)
Trey Butcher, OL – Platte City, Missouri (Platte County HS)
Marc Davila Jr., DB – Gurnee, Illinois (Warren Township HS)
Mayes Doggan, DB – Bloomington, Illinois (Normal Community HS)
Carter Edwards, LB – St. Louis, Missouri (De Smet Jesuit HS)
Benjamin Einess, DL – Peculiar, Missouri (Raymore-Peculiar HS)
Shane Fredrickson, S – Lee's Summit, Missouri (Lee's Summit West HS)
Gannon Gragert, TE – Elkhorn, Nebraska (Elkhorn HS)
Marc Gustafson, DL – Marvyille, Missouri (Maryville HS)
James Jones Jr., WR – Wharton, Texas (Wharton HS)
Keegan Kooi, S – Kansas City, Missouri (Staley HS)
Cole Lammel, K/P – Omaha, Nebraska (Millard South HS)
Zaden Marroquin, DB – Olathe, Kansas (Olathe East HS)
Tre Melby, DE – Logan, Iowa (Logan-Magnolia HS)
Evan Mills, OL – Topeka, Kansas (Seaman HS)
Clayton Power – DT – Stilwell, Kansas (Blue Valley HS)
Cole Rues – OL – Overland Park, Kansas (Shawnee Mission South HS)
Chris Ruhnke – QB – Platte City, Missouri (Platte County HS)
Nile Schuett – DL – Tipton, Iowa (Tipton HS)
Wes Willis – DE – Wellsburg, Iowa (Grundy Center HS)
Cameron Wise – TE – Pomona, Kansas (West Franklin HS)
Luke Zegunis, OL – Olathe, Kansas (Olathe West HS)
Tank Young, RB – Overland Park, Kansas (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
TRANSFERS
Baily Darnell, DB – Auburn, Nebraska (Auburn HS/South Dakota State)
Bryce Krone, LB – Bonner Springs, Kansas (Bonner Springs HS/Missouri Western)
Tyler Strohbeen, OL – Sioux City, Iowa (Bishop Heelan HS/South Dakota State)