MARYVILLE, Mo. - Northwest Missouri State University head football coach
Rich Wright and his staff have announced the addition of 32 student-athletes for the 2023 Bearcat recruiting class.
The signing list includes 29 from high schools and three transfers.
This year's incoming recruiting class has student-athletes from six different states – Missouri (12), Kansas (5), Nebraska (5), Iowa (4), Arkansas (1) and Florida (1).
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
