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Feb. 1, 2023Feature | Football
Northwest Missouri State football welcomed a signing class of 32 student-athletes Wednesday morning on National Signing Day.
The offensive line saw the largest influx of talent with seven players inked from that position group. The Bearcats also added six defensive linemen and defensive backs, five wide receivers, three tight ends, and one quarterback and running back.
The full audio from today's KXCV-KRNW National Signing Day Show with head football coach Rich Wright is available above.
2023 HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES
Grant Berry 6'4" 230 DL Lincoln, Neb./Southwest
Honorable mention all-state pick as a defensive end … all-Heartland Athletic Conference selection … 2022 All-City pick by Lincoln Journal Star for head coach Andrew Sherman … honor roll student … two-time Lincoln Public Schools Scholar-Athlete recipient … son of Tyler and Valerie Berry.
Caleb Bradley 6'0" 170 DB Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota
Served as team captain at Sarasota High School … selected as his team's defensive MVP … two-time state qualifier in track & field … son of Wretta Bradley and Terry Smith.
Lorenzo Brinkley III 6'1" 280 DL St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood
First-team all-conference player on defensive line … second-team all-district honoree … played for head coach Jeremy Maclin … son of Lorenzo Brinkley Jr. and Candace Brinkley.
Cameron Figgs 6'0" 160 DB Davenport, Iowa/Rock Island
Three-time second-team all-metro pick … played for head coach Ben Hammer as a prep athlete … son of LaVill Figgs and Shanna Smith.
Maximo Filion 6'0" 173 WR Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill
First-team all-district pick … second-team all-conference performer at wide receiver for head coach Andy Sims … DECA all-state honoree … cons of Chastity and Rafael Filion.
Hayden Jay 6'0" 180 QB Shawnee, Kan/Mill Valley
Two-time first-team all-state quarterback … four-time state champion for head coach Joel Applebee … first-team all-conference honoree … 4.0 GPA … 30 ACT … honor roll student … academic letterwinner … member of National Honor Society.
Langden Kitchen 6'7" 250 DL Huntsville, Mo./Westeran
KMZU Class 1 Player of the Year … two-time all-state defensive end … two-time conference defensive player of the year … two-time all-state basketball player … one-time basketball conference player of the year … two-time KRES All-Star for head coach Aaron O'Laughlin … all-state academic honoree …. member of National Honor Society … son of Scott and Wendy Kitchen.
Beau Knobloch 6'4" 263 OL Winterset, Iowa/Winterset
Two-time first-team all-state pick on offensive line for head coach Zach Sweeney … all-state honoree by Des Moines Register … three-year varsity starter … three-time all-district pick … invited to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl … three-year varsity letterwinner in track & field … state qualifier in shot put … varsity all-academic honoree … son of Ryan and Julie Knobloch.
Cooper Loe 6'0" 200 LB Maryville, Mo./Maryville
Earned all-state honors on both offense and defense as a senior for the Spoofhounds and head coach Matt Webb … son of Darin and Lisa Loe … his father, Darin, is the head baseball coach at Northwest … owns his own snow removal and lawn care business in Maryville.
Kaleb McCullough 6'2" 255 OL Humboldt, Iowa/Humboldt
First-team all-state performer on the offensive line … two-time all-district honoree … 3A District 2 offensive line man of the year … played for head coach Derrick Elman … two-time academic all-district selection … son of Sarah and Kevin McCullough.
Michael Murray 5'10" 163 WR Salina, Kan./SE Saline
Class 2A first-team all-state pick at wide receiver for head coach Mitch Gebhardt … Class 3A 100m state runner up … school record holder in the 100m at 10.67 … member of the 2022 Class 3A state championship track & field squad … member of National Honor Society … son of Mike and Cheryl Murray.
John Niesen 6'3" 195 WR Olathe, Kan./St. James Academy
Two-time Class 4A state champion in 2020 and 2021 … two-time all-state pick at wide receiver … all-conference honoree in 2022 for head coach Tom Radke … led the state in receiving in 2021 … served as team captain as a senior … two-time state champion member of the 4x400 relay team in 2021 and 2022 … son of Debra and Gil Niesen.
John Pargo Jr. 5'10" 174 DB Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep
First-team all-metro pick at defensive back for head coach Tim Johnk … all-state team captain … second-team all-metro as a junior … second-team all-state honoree … honor roll student … most improved student award … son of John Pargo Sr.
Jordan Pigram 6'3" 265 DL Jonesboro, Ark./Nettleton
Two-time all-state player at Nettleton High School for head coach Steven Hampton … two-time all-conference selection … earned Best Defensive Lineman Award … son of James and Latonya Pigram.
Te'Shaun Porter 5'10" 198 RB Omaha, Neb./Omaha North
Second-leading rusher in the state in Class A … first-team all-metro pick … first-team all super state honoree for head coach Larry Martin … first-team all-Lincoln Journal Star … son of Alonzo Tapp, Kelii Tapp and Terrence Porter.
Cole Reilly 6'1" 215 LB Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Lutheran
All-state honorable mention selection at linebacker for head coach Greg Nelson … two-time all-conference and all-district pick … academic all-state honoree … honor roll student … member of National Honor Society … son of John and Kelli Reilly.
JJ Rodriguez 6'4" 265 OL St. Robert, Mo./Waynesville
All-district pick at Waynesville High School … son of Jon and Yvonne Rodriguez.
Gatlin Samuel 6'2" 225 TE Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley
Honorable mention all-state tight end for head coach Allen Terrell … first-team all-EKL … honor roll student … son of Luke and Janelle Samuel.
Khamari Smith 6'2" 310 OL St. Louis, Mo./Webster Groves
First-team all-conference pick on the offensive line … played for head coach Conner White … son of Ebony Smith and Tydrell Stevens.
Wade Spencer 6'2" 220 DL Kansas City, Mo./St. James Academy
Named the 2021 Class 4A defensive player of the year … two-time first-team all-EKL … all-state pick for head coach Tom Radke … all-class Kansas Top-11 team … son of Chris and Laurie Spencer.
Jayven Stallings 6'3" 185 WR Kansas City, Mo./Staley
Two-time first-team all-district honoree … first-team all-conference pick for head coach Steve Rampy … Metro Sports Kansas City Wide Receiver of the Year finalist … son of Samantha Nelson and Jamien Stallings.
Jacob Stockard 6'4" 231 DL Kansas City, Mo./Liberty North
Second-team all-state pick on the defensive line … first-team all-district and all-conference performer for head coach Andy Lierman … son of Jeffrey and Heather Stockard.
Ethan Stuhr 6'3" 210 LB Springfield, Neb./Gretna
All-state linebacker for head coach Mike Kayl … member of a district and state championship squad as a junior … state runner-up as a senior … member of National Honor Society … son of David and Kimberly Stuhr.
Michael Tillman 5'10" 184 DB St. Louis, Mo./East St. Louis
Played for head coach Darren Sunkett at East St. Louis High School … son of Naphtali Tillman and Michael Tillman Sr.
Ryan Walters 6'0" 191 WR Eldora, Iowa/South Hardin
Two-time all-state wide receiver for head coach Nick Eller … 2021 KMA State Wide Receiver of the year in Class 1A … three-time all-district pick at wide receiver … top-15 all-time in the state of Iowa in receptions … holds six school records in football … honor roll student … three-time academic all-district honoree … Iowa Football Coaches Association all-state academic pick … son of Charles and Julie Walters.
Pierce Wand 6'4" 230 OL Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill
Second-team all-conference honoree for head coach Andy Sims … four-time academic all-state selection … son of Seth and Beth Wand … father, Seth, played at Northwest and was a third-round draft pick by the Houston Texans in the 2003 NFL Draft.
Charlie Wehner 6'5" 274 OL Lee's Summit, Mo./Blue Springs South
Played at Blue Springs South High School for head coach Alan Wilmes … son of Ryan Wehner and Kristina Wolfe … step parents are Amy Moddesette and Greg Wolfe.
Holden Zigmant 5'9" 173 DB Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley
First-team all-state selection at defensive back … four-time state champion for head coach Joel Applebee … Class 5A defensive player of the year finalist … KSC safety of the year … honor roll student … son of Jeff and Andi Zigmant.
TRANSFERS/EARLY ENROLLEES
Chas Carlgren 6'3" 250 TE Concordia, Kan./Concordia/Butler CC
Tallied eight receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown at Butler Community College … first-team all-league pick in 2019 as a prep tight end at Concordia High School for head coach Jordan Echer … honorable mention all-state linebacker in 2019 … honorable mention all-state basketball player in 2020 … first-team all-conference pick in baseball in 2021 … first-team all-state baseball honoree in 2018 … son of Jay and Ashley Carlgren.
Tyce Hoover 6'4" 250 TE Manhattan, Kan./Manhattan/Hutchinson CC
Played at Hutchinson Community College this past fall where he saw action in four games … originally attended Butler Community College out of high school … a graduate of Manhattan High School in Manhattan, Kan. … first-team all-state linebacker and an honorable mention all-state tight end … two-time first-team all-conference for head coach Joe Schartz … two-time all-KJCCC tight end.
Austin McKinney 6'2" 205 DB Battle Creek, Mich./Battle Creek Central/Saddleback College
Played this past fall at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., where he was selected as the team's defensive MVP … originally attended Saginaw Valley State University out of high school … a graduate of Battle Creek Central High School in Battle Creek, Mich. … second-team all-conference pick as a prep … state qualifier in the long jump and 200 meters in track & field … son of Angela McKinney and Leroy Gibbs Jr.
Andrew Monsivais 6'0" 270 OL Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny
Third-team all-state pick as a senior at Ankeny High School for head coach Rick Nelson … second-team all-conference honoree as a junior … first-team all-conference pick as a senior … state runner up as a junior … academic all-state honoree … son of John and DeAnna Rice.
2023 HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES
Grant Berry 6'4" 230 DL Lincoln, Neb./Southwest
Caleb Bradley 6'0" 170 DB Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota
Lorenzo Brinkley III 6'1" 280 DL St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood
Cameron Figgs 6'0" 160 DB Davenport, Iowa/Rock Island
Maximo Filion 6'0" 173 WR Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill
Hayden Jay 6'0" 180 QB Shawnee, Kan/Mill Valley
Langden Kitchen 6'7" 250 DL Huntsville, Mo./Westeran
Beau Knobloch 6'4" 263 OL Winterset, Iowa/Winterset
Cooper Loe 6'0" 200 LB Maryville, Mo./Maryville
Kaleb McCullough 6'2" 255 OL Humboldt, Iowa/Humboldt
Michael Murray 5'10" 163 WR Salina, Kan./SE Saline
John Niesen 6'3" 195 WR Olathe, Kan./St. James Academy
John Pargo Jr. 5'10" 174 DB Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep
Jordan Pigram 6'3" 265 DL Jonesboro, Ark./Nettleton
Te'Shaun Porter 5'10" 198 RB Omaha, Neb./Omaha North
Cole Reilly 6'1" 215 LB Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Lutheran
JJ Rodriguez 6'4" 265 OL St. Robert, Mo./Waynesville
Gatlin Samuel 6'2" 225 TE Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley
Khamari Smith 6'2" 310 OL St. Louis, Mo./Webster Groves
Wade Spencer 6'2" 220 DL Kansas City, Mo./St. James Academy
Jayven Stallings 6'3" 185 WR Kansas City, Mo./Staley
Jacob Stockard 6'4" 231 DL Kansas City, Mo./Liberty North
Ethan Stuhr 6'3" 210 LB Springfield, Neb./Gretna
Michael Tillman 5'10" 184 DB St. Louis, Mo./East St. Louis
Ryan Walters 6'0" 191 WR Eldora, Iowa/South Hardin
Pierce Wand 6'4" 230 OL Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill
Charlie Wehner 6'5" 274 OL Lee's Summit, Mo./Blue Springs South
Holden Zigmant 5'9" 173 DB Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley
2023 TRANSFERS/EARLY ENROLLEES
Chas Carlgren 6'3" 250 TE Concordia, Kan./Concordia/Butler CC
Tyce Hoover 6'4" 250 TE Manhattan, Kan./Manhattan/Hutchinson CC
Austin McKinney 6'2" 205 DB Battle Creek, Mich./Battle Creek Central/Saddleback College
Andrew Monsivais 6'0" 270 OL Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny
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