TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State head football coach J.J. Eckert and his staff have announced the addition of 39 student-athletes for the 2022 signing day.

"This class addresses some very important areas for us on the football field," said Eckert.   "The group as a whole is made up of a bunch of high-character young men who are great competitors.  Extremely pleased with the staff for all the hard work they did to make this happen and so thankful for everyone that helped along the way.  We are looking forward to getting this class on campus and continuing to build this program in the right direction."

This year's incoming recruiting class has student-athletes coming in from six different states – Oklahoma (23), Texas (6), Arkansas (6), Louisiana (2), Kansas (1), and Missouri (1).

Dominic Alexander
Longview, Texas // Spring Hill HS // DB // 185 // 6-2

Cayson Badley 
Ponca City, Okla. // Ponca City HS // OL // 307 // 6-4 

High School – Four year letterwiner … played left and right tackle, and center … competed in shot put and discus … wrestled in the 285 weight class. 

Personal – Son of Casey and Heather … has two sisters, Paetyn and Leryn, and one brother, Brytton … lists beating Enid HS as greatest sports moment. 

Will Bergner
Marlow, Okla. // Marlow HS // WR // 175 // 6-1

High School – Four year letterwinner … multi-tool player playing defensive back, wide receiver, and was a long snapper … OCA All-State and All-Star selection … led team with 1,000 receiving yards with 15 touchdowns in 2021 while leading Marlow to a 15-0 season and a 2A State Championship … All-District Offensive Player of the Year … All-Area First Team at Wide Reciever … All-Area Defensive Back and Newcomer of the Year … also played baseball and basketball … All-Area infield selection … Stephens County all-tournament team … Lions Club Student of the Week ... FCA leadership team for three years.

Personal – Son of Janet and Terry … has two brothers Wakley and Wyatt … his brother Wyatt played baseball at Northwestern Oklahoma and his brother Wakley played baseball at Labette CC …  lists greatest sports moment as winning the state championship this year and getting two hits off of the number three MLB draft pick last year in the state semifinals game.

Devin Blayney
Lee's Summit, Mo. // Lee's Summit North HS // WR // 175 // 5-10

High School - Letterwinner in football and baseball ... broke three school records, receiving touchdowns in a game, receiving touchdowns in a season, and receiving touchdowns in a career ... All-Metro First Team ... All-Conference First Team ... Taylor Award Runner Up ... HyVee Athlete of the Week ... helped lead Lee's Summit to a 11-2 record in 2021 and a third place in state ... member of three academic honor rolls ... All-Conference selection in baseball playing outfield and shortstop.

Personal - Son of Amy and Robert ... has one sister, Isabelle ... born in St. Louis, Mo. ... lists greatest sports moment as catching the game winning touchdown on fourth down with under two minutes left to beat rivals, Blues Springs HS in 2020.

Gabe Brown
Sand Springs, Okla. // Charles Page HS // LB // 220 // 6-1

High School – All-State selection … was involved in 69 tackles with 11.5 for losses and five sacks plus a fumble return for a TD in 2021.

Personal – Son of Tiffany and Jermaine … first name is pronounced GUH-ay-buh

Kaizen Burrows 
Mabank, Texas // Mabank HS // LB // 205 // 6-1 

High School – Three year letterwiner … two-time First Team All-District selection at defensive end … competed in track and powerlifting … played baseball for one season.

Personal – Son of Josh and Lisa Burrows … has three brothers, Kane, Kohl, and Knox … name is pronounced K-Zen … lists getting to play last game with guys he has played with since seven has greatest sports moment. 

Elijah Clouse 
Pocola, Okla. // Pocola HS // DL // 250 // 5-10

High School – First Team All-District at Nose Guard and was an Honorable Mention selection on the Defensive Line … Second Team All-District in 2019 … placed third in regional powerlifting.

Personal – Son of Elisha Oglesby and Nick Clouse … born in Hot Springs, Ark. 

Juwan Dancy
Midwest City, Okla. // Midwest City HS // DB // 165 // 6-2

High School – Reached the state semifinals in 2020 with a 10-3 record … played free safety, cornerback, tight end, and wide receiver during his time at Midwest City HS … played baseball has an outfielder and also pitched … 4.0 Jacket Recipient for having a 4.0 GPA in all four years of high school  … Freshman Scholar-Athlete Award … Outstanding Sophomore Boy of the year Award … Junior Scholar-Athlete Award … Friday Night Rivals Scholar-Athlete of the Week … National Honor Society Member.

Personal – Son of Angie and Juan … has one sister, Dasia … lists greeted sports moment was during his Junior Year of high school against Noble High School where he ran back a 70-yard touchdown interception before halftime … first name is pronounced JA-juan.

Chase Edwards 
Stillwater, Okla. // Stillwater HS // K // 165 // 5-9

High School – Played as a left back in soccer and was a punter in football … All-Conference football selection in 2021 going 48-49 in PATs, reached the state semifinals with a 9-3 record.

Personal – Son of Wes and Angie Edwards … has one sister, Addie … lists hitting an extra point to tie the game at Deer Creek at the end of regulation and going on to win in overtime as greatest sports moment. 

Damon Hinchey 
Norman, Okla. // Norman North HS // DL // 255 // 6-4 

High School – Named Norman north Ironman of the Year … All-Conference selection … played offensive and defensive sides of the line at tackle, guard, end, and tackle. 

Personal – Son of Misty and Richard … has one brother, Landon, and one sister, London … grandmother is Deborah Kinsey … lists his greatest sporting achievements as his first start at defensive end and getting a sack against at rival school. 

Cannon Howard
Collinsville, Okla. // Collinsville HS // OL // 277 // 6-2

High School – Four year letterwinner on the offensive line .. won state in 2021 with a 14-0 record … reached state semifinals in 2018 and 2020 with a 12-1 record … qualified for state playoffs in 2019 on an 8-3 record.

Personal – Son of Tara and Justin … has two sisters, Lily and Ashlyn. 

Dyshaun Grigsby 
Greenville, Texas // Greenville HS // DL // 270 / 6-1 

Personal – Son of Donyelle Phillips and Billy Grigsby … first name is pronounced as Dye-shaun.

Glenny Jones
Tulsa, Okla. // Jenks HS // WR // 170 // 5-7

High School – Four year letterwinner for Jenks HS … played as a receiver and a corner as a senior making 42 receptions for 723 yards and had seven touchdowns … made 15 tackles and a pair of interceptions … had 82 receptions for 1,683 yards with 15 touchdowns in his Jenks career … also ran track with a 60m time at 7.12. 

Personal – Son of Glen Jones and has one brother, Cory … lists greatest sports moment as scoring two touchdowns against Broken Arrow in the first two possessions of the game.

Darryl Kattich
Cedarville, Ark. // Cedarville HS // RB 

High School - Multiple All-State, All-Area and All-Conference awards ... 3A Defensive Player of the Year Finalist ... holds the school record with 2,125 rushing yards during the 2021 season with 19 touchdowns ... All-Star Game selection ...  All-Scholar Athlete ... 2020 Bubba Noakes award finalist ... Farm Bureau 3A defensive of the year finalist ... Ortho Arkansas Prime Time Player of the Year ... led state in rushing yards in 2019 with 1,518 and had 18 touchdowns ... finished his career with 5,690 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns ... member of the Cedarville team that was tied for the most wins in school history, first home playoff win since 1999 ... also played basketball and baseball. 

Personal - Son of Angela and Mark ... has one sister, Chanel, and five brothers, Matthew, Jacob, Jonathon, Dakota, Grayson ... Jess Kattich is his grandfather ... his sister Chanel plays at the University of the Ozarks ...  greatest sports moment was hurdling a kid freshman year and the play went viral then also doing it again against Charleston my junior year proving it was supposed to happen.

Derek Larison
Riverton, Kan. // Riverton HS // LB // 215 // 6-0

High School – Two Time All-State, All-District, and All-Conference selection during his junior and senior years … was named All-Eastern State and All-Area … helped lead Riverton HS to an 8-3 record in 2021 winning District, Bi-District, Regional, and was Sectional Runner Up … First Place State Powerlifting Champion in 2021 and was an All-Time Record Holder … All-State selection in track and field, Javelin Champion, and was eighth place in State in the Javelin … member of the Riverton HS Honor Roll and National Honors Society … FFA National Proficiency Award Finalist.

Personal – Son of Tammy and Jacob … has one brother, Tyler. 

Tyler Lorenzen 
Moore, Okla. // Moore HS // DL // 225 // 6-3

High School – First team All-District and All-Conference in 2021 … help lead Moore to a 7-3 record and a city championship breaking the Moore War steak … earned the Big Lew Memorial Scholarship … competed in track events in the discus and shot put … finished seven in the discus at state. 

Personal – Son of Susan and Harry … has one sister, Lauren Pruiti … lists being Westmoore HS during his senior year has greatest sporting achievement. 

James Maguire
Piedmont, Okla. // Piedmont HS // DL // 270 // 6-2

High School – Four year letter winner playing defensive tackle … All-District selection … played in the state playoffs three times … All-District wrestler and State Qualifier.

Personal – Son of Frank and Melissa … has two brothers, Sean and Zack … has an uncle who played football at Pittsburg State … lists greatest sports moment becoming the best football team in Piedmont history by making it to the state semifinal game.

Traland McClure 
Conway, Ark. // Conway HS // DB // 170 // 6-2

Personal – Son of Pricilla Mccay and Noland McClure … lists greatest sports moment as having am one-handed interception against Christian Brothers HS. 

Ja'Toney McGhee 
Camden, Ark. // Camden Fairview HS // DB // 210 / 6-0

High School – Three year letterwinner for Camden Fairview … multi-tool player playing as a linebacker, strong safety, and running back … won a conference championship as a senior with Camden Fairview finishing with a 10-2 record. 

Personal – Guardians are Doris and Jerry Banks … son of Michael McGhee and Cisley Jenkins … list greatest sports moments as going 9-1 to win conference for the first time in 5+ years and having 240+ yards against El Dorado and scoring four touchdowns.

Ty McHenry
Sallisaw, Okla. // Sallisaw HS // DL // 240 // 6-4

High School – Three sport letterwinner in baseball, basketball, and football … recorded four sacks and had three touchdowns during a game in 2020. 

Personal – Son of Billy and Patty … has one brother, Trey.

Malik McMurtrey
Tahlequah, Okla. // Tahlequah HS // RB // 190 / 5-10

High School – One of the top running backs in 5A football and ran for 832 yards on 120 carries, had nine rushing touchdowns and caught two touchdown passes during the 2021 season. 

Personal – Guardian is Leslie Johnson … has two sisters, Mercedes Olden and Betty Johnson … born in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jay Mitchell 
Tecumseh, Okla. // Tecumseh HS // OL // 295 // 6-5

High School – Four year letterwinner on the offensive line … reached the first round of the state playoffs twice.

Personal – Son of Angela … has two brothers, Zay and Pro … lists going 7-3 during his sophomore year as greatest sports moment.

Dean Odom
Poteau, Okla. // Poteau HS // TE // 210 // 6-1

High School – District 4a-4 MVP …  River Valley Linebackers All-Stat and All-State selection … won State in 2019 … reached the postseason in football all four years … along with football, he lettered in basketball and track … played center in basketball and was in the high jump in track … competed in powerlifting as a senior.

Personal – Son of Valerie and Mike … has one sister, Morgan … lists making a fourth-down sack in the fourth quarter as greatest sports moment. 

KJ Owens 
Little Rock, Ark. // Joe T. Robinson HS // DB // 185 // 6-0

High School – Played as a wide receiver and defensive back … helped lead Joe T. Robinson to a 4A State Championship … All-State Selection

Personal – Son of Airmeika of Kirby Sr. … has one sister, Kyndall … lists becoming a state champion as his greatest sports moment. 

Demajah Riley
Shreveport, La. // Huntington HS // RB // 175 // 5-8

High School – Multi-tool athlete at Huntington HS … helped lead his team to a 9-3 record and reached the second round of the state playoffs … Marketplace Chevy Player of the Week.

Personal – Son of Dicy Riley and Diamond Hayes … has one sister, De'ajah … lists greatest sport moment was coming back from trailing in regulation and wining in overtime.

Kaiden Roden
Rowlett, Texas // Ford HS // LB // 210 // 6-0 

High School – Team Captain and named District MVP … ranked 12th in his class in GPA … four year letterwinner … played linebacker for four years and fullback for two … rushed for 2,000 yards and had 160 tackles as a senior … regional powerlifter … competed in track and field in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 4x2, 4x1, triple jump, and shot put.

Personal – Son of Keith and Kathy … lists winning an Area Championship and making school history as greatest sports moment. 

Da'Monn Sanders
Tulsa, Okla. // Union HS // TE 

Willie Sanders III 
Bossier City, La. // Airline HS // DL // 235 // 5-10 

High School  – Four year letterwinner … played linebacker and defensive end … reaching the postseason twice at Airline HS … also competed in powerlifting.

Personal – Son of Loretta Jones and Willie Sanders Jr., Jawann Dozier is his stepdad … has two sisters, La'trinity Jones and Serenity Lyons, and one step-brother Jayden Jones … lists winning a district championship and running a fake punt in his final high school game as greatest sports moments. 

Lequinetin Searcy 
Daingerfield, Texas // Daingerfield HS // DL // 270 // 6-3 

High School – Four year football letterwinner … Second Team All-State selection on the Defensive Line … First Team All-District … named Defensive Lineman of the year as a senior … went the state playoff all four years at Daingerfield HS … was pulled up to play varsity during his freshman season … went to regionals in the shot put in track … also played basketball.

Personal – Son of Charlotte Grant and Lequinetin Lee … has two brothers, Jaden Askew and Kingston Searcy … lists scoring his first touchdown on a fumble recovery during his senior season as greatest sports moment … first name is pronounced as La-Quin-TIN. 

Dylan Sebock
Midwest City, Okla. // Midwest City HS // DL // 240 // 6-3 

Lane Steele
Washington, Okla. // Washington HS // DB // 175 // 6-2 

High School – State Runners Up in 2020 and 2021 … named a team captain … 2A-District 3 Cornerback of the Year … reached the state quarterfinals in 2018 and 2019 … also played basketball and competed in track … member of the National Honors Society and FCA

Personal – Son of Angela Graham and Todd … has three brothers, Jake, Lucas, and Nate … his brother Lucas plays football at East Central (Okla.) … lists greatest sports moment as catching the game-winning touchdown pass during junior year in the playoffs vs Jones.

Shemmei Stephens 
Seminole, Okla. // Seminole HS // OL // 

High School - State All-Star Selection and All-District Selection ... named Offensive Player of the Week twice ... four year letterwinner ... reached the state playoffs all four seasons at Seminole HS.

Personal - Son of Claud and Kimberly ... has two sisters, Kimbrie and Sierra Scott ... three brothers, Shem'mario Stephenz, Shallomar Stephens, and Juwan Chapman ... uncle to King Chapman and Zy'aire Stephens ... his brother Shem'mario plays basketball at Cameron University ... lists greatest sports moment as laying out three people on one drive. 

Wyatt Stephens 
Celina, Texas // Celina HS // LB // 215 // 6-1

High School – Three year letterwinner football and two year letterwinner in baseball … member of the National Honors Society.

Personal – Son of Kara and Joel .. has one sister, Mckynna … his dad played football at West Texas A&M … lists greatest sports moment as playing in front of his entire town every single Friday.

Blade Todd 
Muskogee, Okla. // Muskogee HS // TE/LS 

High School -  Honorable mention All-District 6 ... AII-2 selection.

Ashton Waller 
Conway, Ark. // Conway HS // DB // 190 // 6-1 

High School – All-State selection in 2021 with 136 tackles, three interceptions, two touchdowns, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries … played outside and middle linebacker, along with safety … 3x Centennial Bank Bowl Champions … reached the state quarterfinals and state semifinals at Conway HS.

Personal – Guardian is Karen Champagne … son of Lindsay Waller … has one sister, Sydney Waller … Heather Jewl is his aunt … lists greatest sports moment is a comeback win against Northside HS with two fourth-down stops and a goal-line stand.

Omarion Warrior
Checotah, Okla. // Checotah HS // OL // 300 // 6-3

High School - Two-time Muskogee Phoenix All-Area team selection, led team in pancakes, graded 82 percent and 87 percent his final two seasons.

Rickie Williams
Texarkana, Ark. // Arkansas HS // DB // 185 // 6-2

High School – Lettered in football and track … won state in track and field.

Personal – Son of Tanesha … has two sisters, Rikkia and Chyna. 

Kyle Wilson 
Marlow, Okla. // Marlow HS // LB // 215 // 6-2

High School – Three sport athlete at Marlow HS …Defensive Player of the Year- Duncan Banner … Class 2A All-Star Team …  Defensive Player of the Year … All-District … won a State Championship in 2021 … recorded 161 Tackles, nine sacks/tackle for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries … had 17 sacks, 108 tackles, three forced fumbles, and an interception during the 2020 season … ranked first his weight class in wrestling … dual State Champions and Team Champions in 2020 and 2021 … placed third as an individual in 2021 with a 31-2 record … played as a catcher in baseball were he finished state runner up twice and was a semifinalist twice. 

Personal – Son of Josh and Kathy Wilson … has one sister, Kenlee … his mom played softball at Central Oklahoma … named Homecoming King … lists catching a touchdown pass in the state championship as greatest sports moment. 

Maximus Wrather 
Yukon, Okla. // Yukon HS // OL // 285 // 6-3

High School – Four year letterwinner … named Player of the Week by Friday Night Rivals … Student-Athlete of the Month by Yukon HS … All-Conference selection in 2021 … reached the state playoffs during his senior year. 

Personal – Son of Libby and Clark Wrather … has two brothers, Mason and Madison … his brother Mason is a student-assistant coach at NSU … his brother Madison was a two-time First Team Academic All-American at NSU in football.