There are 24 freshmen and six transfers in the largest Missouri State University football recruit group on record with the commitments received Wednesday by coach Terry Allen and his staff from newcomers for the 2007 season.

 

    The group includes nine Missourians and 21 out-of-state athletes coming from eight different states. The class is evenly divided between offense and defense. On the offensive side, the Bears have added one quarterback, three running backs, three receivers and eight linemen. On defense, there are seven linemen, five linebackers and three defensive backs.

 

    The nine Missourians hail from all parts of the state with the two southwest Missouri headliners including WR Ian Starnes of Springfield Glendale and DE Nick Sanders of Webb City. DL Travis Simmons of Mexico, RB Travis Ribbing of Farmington, OL Charlie Thompson of St. Louis Parkway West, LB Johnny Wacker of Columbia Rock Bridge, OL Brian Young of Lee’s Summit North, LB Tony Randolph of Blue Springs South and DL Andy Ocheltree of Monroe City round out the Missouri contingent joining the Missouri State program.

 

    Transfers already in school at Missouri State at the start of the current spring semester includes SS Kyle Aber from Santa Rosa (Calif.) College, LB Mickey Baker from the University of Akron, OT Kevaughn Brown of Tyler (Texas) Junior College, DE Clayton Dickehut of Garden City (Kan.) Community College, OT Jacob Patton from Trinity Valley (Texas) Junior College and DL Mike Taylor of San Bernardino (Calif.) Junior College. This group has joined the squad for the current offseason conditioning program and will participate in spring football workouts in March and April.

 

    The six recruits from Arkansas include QB Cody Kirby of Rogers, LB David Ingram and OL Nolan Hankins from Springdale Shiloh Christian, OL Jacob Duron from Springdale High, OL Deerick Smith of Batesville and DE Terian Washington of Pine Bluff. The three players from Texas include Arlington Mansfield Summit High teammates WR Brandon Oliver and RB Stephen Johnston whose prep coach was former Bears’ QB Kyle Geller. The recruit group also has two players from California, one from Florida, two from Tennessee, three from Oklahoma and two from Kansas.

 

    Allen and his staff will move into their second season with the Bears in 2007. Missouri State is a member of the Gateway Football Conference.

 

   (Pronunciation notes: Colby Broadnax--BROADnacks; Clayton Dickehut---DICKeehue; Jacob Duron---DOOron; Casey Labrue---luhBROO;

Andy Ocheltree---ohSHELLtree.)

 

         Name                           Pos.       Ht.          Wt.         Yr.          Hometown                 High School                 High School Coach

 

         Kyle Aber                      SS           6-0           185          Jr.            Napa, Calif.                   Vintage High                    Les Franco

                                                Transfer from Santa Rosa College, Santa Rosa, Calif. (Coach Keith Simons)

Aber helped Santa Rosa to two-year 18-4 record with Nor-Cal Conference title and All-Norcal selection as sophomore in 2006; recruited by Cal Poly, Portland State

        

         Mickey Baker                LB           5-11         235          Jr.            Quincy, Fla.                  East Gadsden High         Rodell Thomas

                                                Transfer from U. of Akron, Akron, Ohio (Coach J.D. Brookhart); Dodge City Comm. Coll., Dodge City, Kan. (Coach Marcus Garstecki)

Baker was a first team juco All-American as a freshman at Dodge City and was North Florida Defensive Player of the Year as prep senior at East Gadsden.

 

         Colby Broadnax          DB           6-3           175          Fr.           Memphis, Tenn.           Fairley High                      Rahmann Slocum

Broadnax earned first team all-Memphis selection as he led the city with eight interceptions with two TDs; he was selected for the AXA Liberty All-Star game and also lettered in basketball and track; prep teammate of Adrian Taylor; recruited by Tennessee State, Tennessee-Martin, Central Arkansas, Austin Peay, Toledo, Grambling          

 

         Kevaughn Brown        OT           6’ 4”        320          Jr.            Port Arthur, Texas       Port Arthur High              Dean Colbert                                                                                       Transfer from Tyler Junior College, Tyler, Texas (Coach Jamie Critchlow)

Brown was an all-conference and juco All-American honorable mention pick as sophomore at Tyler; recruited by Baylor, New Mexico, Western Kentucky, Alabama State

 

         Clayton Dickehut        DE           6’ 3”        245          Jr.            Derby, Kan.                   Derby High                       Lucas Aslin

                                                Transfer from Garden City Community College, Garden City, Kan. (Coach J.J. Eckert)

Dickehut helped GCCC to runner-up Jayhawk Conference spot; played in Dixie-Rotary Bowl as freshman; recruited by Sam Houston St., Central Arkansas, Southeast Mo. St.

 

         Jacob Duron                OL           6’ 5”        295          Fr.           Springdale, Ark.           Springdale High              Kevin Johnson

Duron sparked Springdale to a 14-0, state title team in 2005; all-conference pick in 2006; recruited by Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kansas, Central Arkansas

 

         Nolan Hankins             OL           6’ 6”        330          Fr.           Springdale, Ark.           Shiloh Christian Acad.   Josh Floyd

Hankins helped his team to undefeated state title with all-league, all-state and AP Super Team spots in 2006; recruited by Kansas, Kansas State, Tulsa

 

         Jarryd Horn                  LB           6’ 1”        205          Fr.           Muskogee, Okla.          Muskogee High               Matt Hennessey

Horn led MHS to 6A state semifinals; 2006 District 6A-4 Defensive Player Of the Year, 1st team all-state, 172 tackles, 8 sacks; recruited by Air Force, Tulsa, Central Arkansas

 

         David Ingram               LB           6’ 2”        220          Fr.           Springdale, Ark.           Shiloh Christian Acad.   Josh Floyd

Ingram joined Hankins on state champs with all-conference, all-state, AP Super Team honors; recruited by Illinois State, Central Arkansas, Missouri Southern

 

         Stephen Johnston      RB           5’ 11”      205          Fr.           Arlington, Texas          Mansfield Summit High  Kyle Geller

Johnston North Texas top 50 recruit with all-state honors; 800 yds. rushing, 200 receiving; track standout; recruited by Purdue, Wyoming, Air Force, New Mexico St., La. Tech        

 

         Cody Kirby                   QB          5’ 11”      200          Fr.           Rogers, Ark.                 Rogers High                     Ronnie Peacock

Kirby was Arkansas Democrat and Hooten’s 7A Offensive Player of Year, all-state pick; Max Emfinger All-American Selection, 3,500 passing yards, 800 rushing yards, 34 TD passes; 18 rushing TDs; recruited by Central Arkansas, Arkansas, Louisiana-Lafayette

 

         Casey Labrue               OL           6’ 5”        265          Fr.           Enid, Okla.                    Enid High                         Tom Coble

Labrue led Enid to state 6A runner-up spot; first team all-district; recruited by Rice, Northern Iowa

 

         Andy Ocheltree           DL           6’ 3”        265          Fr.           Monroe City, Mo.         Monroe City High            Tony DeGrove

Ocheltree was all-conference, all-district, all-state pick with 125 tackles, 17 sacks; finalist for Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year; recruited by Missouri Western             

 

         Brandon Oliver            WR/RB    5’ 11”      185          Fr.           Arlington, Texas          Mansfield Summit High  Kyle Geller

Oliver North Texas top 50 recruit, all-district; 500 yds. rushing, 500 receiving), kick returner; track standout; recruited by Washington St., Buffalo, Louisiana-Lafayette, La. Tech        

 

         Jacob Patton               OT           6’ 5”        295          Jr.            Carrollton, Texas         Hebron High                    Brian Brazil

                                                Transfer from Trinity Valley Community College, Athens, Texas (Coach Mark Sartain)

Patton all conference, 2nd team juco All-American; recruited by North Texas, Iowa State, Stephen F Austin, Louisiana Tech

 

         Travis Ribbing             RB           5’ 11”      190          Fr.           Farmington, Mo.          Farmington High             Todd Vaughn

Ribbing all-state, all-conference, all-region, Conference Player of Year, 28 rushing TDs; 2,443 total yds., 34 TDs for 11-2 team; recruited by Southern Illinois, Southeast Mo. St.

        

         Mikel Ruder                  DL           6’ 5”        265          Fr.           Lawrence, Kan.            Freestate High                Bob Lisher

Ruder took FHS to best record in school history, state semifinals; led team in tackles 2 years; all-conference offense/defense; recruited by UNI, Southern Ill., Wyoming, Tulsa

 

         Nick Sanders                DE           6’ 2”        245          Fr.           Webb City, Mo.             Webb City High               John Roderique

Sanders two-time first team all-state, Conference Defensive Player of Year; recruited by Southern Illinois, Pittsburg State, Southeast Missouri State

 

         Travis Simmons          DL           6’ 2”        280          Fr.           Mexico, Mo.                  Mexico High                     Bernie Rothrock

Simmons all-conference, all-district, all-state; 74 tackles, 25 loss, team’s defensive MVP; recruited by Wofford, Missouri Western

 

         Deerick Smith              OL           6’ 3”        270          Fr.           Batesville, Ark.             Batesville High                Dave King

Smith all-conference, all-state pick invited to Arkansas All-Star game; recruited by Arkansas Tech, Central Arkansas

 

         Ian Starnes                   WR          6’ 5”        210          Fr.           Springfield, Mo.           Glendale High                  Gary Hurst

Starnes all-district, all-conference, all-Ozarks; Springfield Player of Year, Max Emfinger All American; 1,600 yds. passing, 1,100 rushing, 26 TDs; recruited by Cent. Ark., Rhode Island

 

         Jimmie Strong             CB           5’ 10”      175          Fr.           Texarkana, Texas         Texas High                       Barry Norton

Strong runs 4.3-second 40-yards; recruited by:  Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Central Arkansas

 

         Mike Taylor                   DL           6’ 4”        295          Jr.            Colton, Calif.                Colton High                     Harold Strauss

                                                Transfer from San Bernardino Junior College, San Bernardino, Calif. (Coach Pat Meech)

Taylor all-conference, 2nd team all-state; recruited by:  Illinois State, Colorado, Northern Arizona, Southeast Missouri State

 

         Adrian Taylor               WR          6’ 3”        160          Fr.           Memphis, Tenn.           Fairley High                      Rahmann Slocum

Taylor Memphis all-city pick; 23 catches, 536 yds, 8 TDs as senior; named to AXA Liberty Bowl All-Star game; lettered in basketball, and track; recruited by Memphis, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Toledo, Tennessee Martin, Grambling

 

         Charlie Thompson      OL           6’ 5”        240          Fr.           St. Louis, Mo.               Parkway West High         Mike Roth

Thompson Parkway North team captain, all-conference, all-metro; recruited by Western Illinois

 

         Johnny Wacker            LB           6’ 1”        230          Fr.           Columbia, Mo.              Rock Bridge High            A.J. Ofodile

Wacker all-district, all-state, 3-year starter; topped 100 tackles twice; Rock Bridge 9-1 in 2006; shot putter in track; recruited by Tulsa, Akron, Southeast Missouri State

 

         Kingjack Washington RB           5’ 9”        165          Fr.           Owasso, Okla.              Owasso High                   Kirk Frederick

Washington took team to 6A state semifinals; 1st team all-state; 2,133 yds. rushing led Oklahoma 6A, 26 TDs, District 6A-4 Offensive Player of Year, Tulsa Ford Player of Year Runner-Up; recruited by Tulsa, Northern Iowa, Illinois State

 

         Terian Washington     DE           6’ 4”        230          Fr.           Pine Bluff, Ark.             Pine Bluff High                Rick Hart

Washington all-city pick; three-year DEnd starter; 6 sacks as senior. nephew of 13-year NFL veteran Monte Coleman; recruited by Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Central Arkansas

 

         Bryan Young                OL           6’ 3”        305          Fr.           Lee’s Summit, Mo.       North High                       Harold Wambsgans

Young North HS OLine standout; hard worker with excellent size and footwork; excellent student who plans to major in hospitality & restaurant administration

 

         Tony Randolph           LB           5’ 11”      195          Fr.           Blue Springs, Mo.        South High                       Greg Oder

Randolph helped lead 13-0 South team to Class 5 state title as running back/linebacker; led 13-0 Jaguars in rushing and scoring; sprinter in track