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SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State head football coach Dave Steckel announced Wednesday his final list of 2019 football commitments and National Letter of Intent signees.
 
Steckel, who begins his fifth season with the Bears, received commitments from 21 newcomers in the early signing period in December, and added six new players to the recruiting class Wednesday.
 
"I'm very excited at this time of year," said Steckel. "Through countless hours of evaluation and recruiting, our staff has assembled a strong class that meets the current and future needs of Missouri State football. I can't thank our coaches, their families, and the entire Missouri State community for their unwavering commitment to our program."
 
In sum, the 2019 class includes 21 incoming freshmen and six transfers. The new Bears are comprised of 13 offensive players, 12 defensive players and a pair of specialists. Most notably, the 2019 class includes eight new offensive linemen and five defensive linemen, along with four linebackers and three defensive backs.
 
The 2019 Missouri State signing class summary is below, followed by brief capsules on each player:
 

Player	Pos	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown (High School | Previous School)
Jadan Abdallah*	RB	6-0	215	Fr.	The Colony, Texas (The Colony High)
Daniel Allen*	OL	6-5	290	Jr.	Miami, Okla. (Miami High | Northeastern Okla. A&M College)
Ty Baker*	QB	6-2	195	Fr.	Blue Springs, Mo. (Fort Osage High)
Ethan Barnett*	OL	6-7	270	Fr.	Hudson, Ill. (Normal West High)
Caden Bolz	LS	6-0	230	Fr.	Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West High)
Carson Buddemeyer*	TE	6-2	225	Fr.	St. Louis, Mo. (CBC High)
Grant Burkett	P	6-1	175	Fr.	Joplin, Mo. (Webb City High)
Baylor Christy*	OL	6-7	298	Fr.	Okmulgee, Okla. (Beggs High)
Lucas Eatman*	LB	6-3	208	Fr.	San Antonio, Texas (Reagan High)
DJ Frost	WR	6-1	200	RFr.	Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs South High | Air Force)
Hunter Garrison*	TE	6-5	239	Fr.	Mayview, Mo. (Odessa High)
Zane Hekking	OL	6-5	310	Jr.	Chandler, Ariz. (McClintock High | Glendale Ariz. CC)
Jaylen Henderson*	CB	6-1	170	Fr.	Paris, Texas (Paris High)
Chase Hutchison*	OL	6-3	290	Fr.	Raymore, Mo. (Raymore-Peculiar High)
Levi Marshall*	LB	6-1	220	Fr.	Apollo Beach, Fla. (East Bay High)
Kelvyn Mason*	CB	6-0	175	Fr.	Independence, Mo. (William Chrisman High)
Nick Nielsen*	OL	6-5	255	Fr.	Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville High)
Anthony Payne*	DE	6-2	255	Jr.	Kansas City, Mo. (Raymore-Peculiar High | Kansas State)
Michael Pope*	DE	6-3	219	Fr.	Edmond, Okla. (Santa Fe High)
Arin Reynolds	OL	6-4	315	Jr.	Newport, Ky. (Newport High | Independence (Kan.) CC
Jake Swope*	OL	6-7	255	Fr.	West Plains, Mo. (West Plains High)
Will Taylor*	DE	6-3	267	Fr.	Oklahoma City, Okla. (Putnam City North High)
Justin Wardlaw*	DT	6-4	270	Fr.	Yukon, Okla. (Mustang High)
Greg Washington*	S	6-0	178	Fr.	Fort Smith, Ark. (Northside High)
Jalen Williams	DE	6-4	225	Fr.	Overland Park, Kan. (Bishop Miege High)
Tylar Wiltz*	LB	6-1	215	Jr.	Breaux Bridge, La. (Breaux Bridge High | Independence (Kan.) CC)
Von Young*	LB	6-0	205	Fr.	Buckner, Mo. (Fort Osage High)

* December signee
 
Jadan Abdallah (RB, 6-0, 215, Fr., The Colony, Texas, The Colony High)
  Was a three-year starter for coach Rudy Rangel's Bears at The Colony (Texas) High ... Abdallah was ranked as the No. 17 running back in the state of Texas ... Helped lead The Colony to a 9-2 ledger and Class 5A-5 conference and district titles his senior year ... Carried 163 times for 1,034 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2018 with 1,098 all-purpose yards  ... Earned all-district first-team honors his last three seasons, including laurels at the defensive end his sophomore year ... Scored 13 touchdowns his junior year, carrying 178 times for 1,090 yards with 1,212 all-purpose yards ... Logged 72 tackles, 11 sacks and 9 tackles for loss his sophomore season with 4 forced fumbles.
 
Daniel Allen (OL, 6-5, 290, Jr., Miami, Okla., Miami High, Northeastern Okla. A&M College)
  Was a second-team all-conference pick in 2018 for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in his hometown of Miami, Okla. … Was part of a 9-3 conference championship team his freshman season at NEO A&M ... As a high school standout at Miami High, he earned all-state and all-conference laurels for coach James Cheatham's Wardogs ... Was named outstanding offensive lineman of the year for the Verdigris Valley Conference as a senior in 2016 ... Also competed in track in high school as a standout shot put specialist.
 
Ty Baker (QB, 6-2, 195, Fr., Blue Springs, Mo., Fort Osage High)
   Pro style QB who was a three-year starter for coach Brock Bolt at Fort Osage High in Independence, Mo. … Helped the Indians to a 9-5 campaign in 2018 after passing for 1,774 yards on 120-of-218 attempts for 14 TDs ... Also rushed for 8 touchdowns as a senior ... Completed 125-of-239 passes for 1,859 yards and 16 touchdowns in 12 games as a junior ... In his sophomore year, Baker played in 11 games and completed 86-of-185 passes for 1,194 yards and 7 touchdowns ... Also played basketball at Fort Osage.
 
Ethan Barnett (OL, 6-7, 270, Fr., Hudson, Ill., Normal West High)
  Barnett was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at Normal (Ill.) West High and was instrumental in a 10-2 run for coach Nathan Fincham's Wildcats in 2018 ... Was a Big 12 Conference honorable mention selection at left tackle for a 6A playoff squad his senior year ...
Earned IHSA Scholar-Athlete and Big 12 Conference Scholar-Athlete distinction three seasons ... Was part of 6A playoff runs his junior and senior seasons ... Also plays baseball at Normal West.
 
Caden Bolz (LS, 6-0, 230, Fr., Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley West High)
  A dynamic long snapper and four-year varsity starter at Blue Valley West High in Overland Park, Kan., Bolz was team captain for coach Josh Koerkenmeyer's Jaguars in 2018 … Earned honorable mention All-EKL honors as a senior as well as Special Teams Player of the Year … Set school squat record at 555 pounds … Also wrestled and threw discus and shot put and Blue Valley West.
 
Carson Buddemeyer (TE, 6-2, 225, Fr., St. Louis, Mo., CBC High)
  A standout athlete from St. Louis CBC High, Buddemeyer started the last two seasons for coach Scott Pingel, helping the Cadets to back-to-back Missouri Class 6 titles ... CBC was 37-4 in his three varsity seasons with three trips to the state semifinals and two appearances in the state title game ... Had 29 catches for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2018 while earning all-district and second-team all-conference honors ... Logged 24 receptions for 242 yards and four TDs as a junior with all-district and All-MCC first-team laurels to his credit.
 
Grant Burkett (P, 6-1, 175, Fr., Joplin, Mo., Webb City High)
  Was a three-year starting punter for coach John Roderique at Webb City (Mo.) High where he was part of the 2017 Class 4 state championship run and three district championship teams ... Averaged 40.9 yards per punt as a senior to help him earn second-team all-state honors ... Averaged 38.9 yards per punt as a junior ... Was 7-of-8 on extra points his last two seasons ... Earned all-district, all-conference and all-region honors in 2017 and 2018, while earning all-region honorable mention as a sophomore ... Cardinals were 51-6 during his high school career, including a 28-1 run his last two campaigns.
 
Baylor Christy (OL, 6-7, 298, Fr., Okmulgee, Okla., Beggs High)
  A standout left tackle, Christy led Beggs High to back-to-back Oklahoma state runner-up finishes for coach David Tennison ... Demons were 13-2 each of the past two seasons ... Earned Class 2A second-team all-state honors in 2018 as well as Tulsa World all-region distinction ... Earned Bob Hurley Offensive Lineman of the Week laurels in week 10 of his senior year ... Was part of back-to-back district and regional championship runs.
 
Lucas Eatman (LB, 6-3, 208, Fr., San Antonio, Texas, Reagan High)
  Was a Class 6A all-conference selection as a senior at Reagan High in San Antonio, Texas, for coach Lyndon Hamilton ... Ranked as No. 13 prospect in San Antonio after posting 55 tackles and a sack as a senior ... His Rattler teams at Reagan High were 27-7 in his three varsity seasons ... Earned all-district honors three years and was part of three playoff squads and one district championship (2016) ... Father Irv Eatman was a 13-year veteran of the NFL after a college career at UCLA ... Chose Missouri State over SMU and others.
 
DJ Frost (WR, 6-1, 200, RFr., Blue Springs, Mo., Blue Springs South High, Air Force)
  A transfer from Air Force, Frost comes from a long line of Missouri State athletes, including father Damon who played football for the Bears from 1989-92 ... Redshirted at Air Force in 2018 under coach Troy Calhoun ... Earned all-state and all-conference honorable mention honors in 2016 and 2017 for coach Jon Oyler at Blue Springs (Mo.) South High ... Was part of a 15-0 Class 6 state championship team his sophomore year ... His mother, Brooke, also ran cross country at MSU, while his sister Darian is a senior on the MSU softball team ... Also played basketball and ran track at Blue Springs South.
 
Hunter Garrison (TE, 6-5, 239, Fr., Mayview, Mo., Odessa High)
  Was a four-year starter for coach Mark Thomas at Odessa (Mo.) High where he helped lead the Bulldogs to a 12-1 district and conference championship campaign in 2018 ... Earned MRVC West all-conference distinction his last two seasons and was a first-team all-state tight end in 2018 and second team in 2017 ... Earned all-district laurels as a junior and senior ... Also plays basketball at Odessa.
 
Zane Hekking (OL, 6-5, 310, Jr., Chandler, Ariz., McClintock High, Glendale (Ariz.) CC)
  Started the last two seasons at Glendale (Ariz.) Community College for coach Michael Bell's Gauchos ... Was also a two-year starter in high school at McClintock (Ariz.) High, where he was team captain for coach Spencer Waggoner ... Earned 5A all-state honorable mention distinction as a senior in 2016 as well as first-team all-region honors.
 
Jaylen Henderson (CB, 6-1, 170, Fr., Paris, Texas, Paris High)
  Henderson was a three-year starter for coach Steven Hornenberger at Paris (Texas) High ... Earned All-RRC first-team distinction as a senior ... One of just 96 players selected in the state of Texas to play in the Showcase All-Star football game in San Antonio in January ... Helped the Wildcats to a 4A playoff appearance in 2018 and had an 84-yard interception return in win over Kennedale ... Both parents played Division I athletics with farther, Marcus, playing football at Stephen F. Austin, and mother, Melissa, playing basketball at Texas A&M.
 
Chase Hutchison (OL, 6-3, 290, Fr., Raymore, Mo., Raymore-Peculiar High)
  Hutchison was a three-year starter on the offensive line for coach Tom Kruse at Raymore-Peculiar High ... Earned Kansas City Suburban Gold all-conference honors three straight seasons ... Was a Missouri Class 6 second-team all-state pick as a senior in 2018, while also earning all-district, and all-county distinction ... Was part of a 6-5 run by the Panthers his sophomore season ... Also played baseball early in his high school career.
 
Levi Marshall (LB, 6-1, 220, Fr., Apollo Beach, Fla., East Bay High)
  Marshall was a two-time all-conference linebacker selection for coach Frank LaRosa at East Bay (Fla.) High ... Was a two-year starter for the Indians ... Was part of a 7-4 campaign in 2018 as a senior ... Also competed in multiple track events at East Bay, including sprints, high jump and shot put.
 
Kelvyn Mason (CB, 6-0, 175, Fr., Independence, Mo., William Chrisman High)
  Was a four-year starter at William Chrisman High in Independence, Mo., where he earned all-state distinction for coach Matthew Perry in 2017 and 2018 ... Was team captain the last three years and earned KC Metro Suburban White first-team all-conference honors four years ... Was also team captain and an all-district selection three times ... Notched 8 interceptions as a sophomore and a junior while leading the Bears to an 8-2 ledger his sophomore season ... Also plays high school basketball.
 
Nick Nielsen (OL, 6-5, 255, Fr., Lewisville, Texas, Lewisville High)
  A two-year starter at Lewisville (Texas) High where he helped coach Mike Odie's squad to a 9-4 record in 2019 ... Was a two-time 6-6A all-district performer for the Fighting Farmers ... Helped lead team to 2018 Texas playoff appearance ... Runs a 4.9 40-yard dash and squats 455 pounds ... Star-Telegram listed him as one of the best underrated players in the 2018 senior class in the Dallas area.
 
Anthony Payne (DE, 6-2, 255, Jr., Kansas City, Mo., Raymore-Peculiar High, Kansas State)
  Transfer from Kansas State who played the last two seasons for coach Bill Snyder in Manhattan, Kan. ... Played vs. UTSA (9/15/18) in his only appearance in 2018 ... Redshirted in 2017 ... Played high school ball for Raymore-Peculiar High under head coach Tom Kruse ...  Recorded 80 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, eight sacks and forced three fumbles as a senior in 2016 ... Was the top high school recruit out of Missouri and nation's 13th-best strongside DE in 2017 by 247Sports ... Also rated the 53rd-best overall defensive end by ESPN... A two-time first team all-state and all-district performer, he was also named to the USA TODAY Sports/American Family Insurance All-USA Missouri team ... Selected to play in the Blue-Gray All-American Bowl ... Earned all-metro honors from the Kansas City Star as a senior ... A member of the 2016 All-Simone Team and Buck Buchanan Memorial Award finalist as one of the top players in the Kansas City metro area ... Posted 61 tackles, 12.0 TFLs and 4.0 sacks as a junior at Ray-Pec.
 
Michael Pope (DE, 6-3, 219, Fr., Edmond, Okla., Santa Fe High)
  Pope was a three-year starter for coach Kyle White at Santa Fe High in Edmond, Okla. ... Was part of a 7-4 Wolves squad his senior season, earning 6A1 all-district and all-conference first-team laurels ... Brought down 57 ball carriers in 2018 with 4 sacks and 6 hurries ... Logged 38 tackles his junior season ... His father, Myron, played football at Alabama.
 
Arin Reynolds (OL, 6-4, 315, Jr., Newport, Ky., Newport High, Independence (Kan.) CC)
  A transfer from Independence (Kan.), where he was a starting offensive tackle for the Pirates of coach Jason Brown … Was part of an 8-2 campaign and conference title his freshman season at Indy and earned all-conference laurels … Played high school career at Newport (Ky.) High where the Wildcats were 15-6 with him as a starter … Anchored the offensive and defensive line as a senior in 2015 for coach Tim Viox … Team advanced to 2A quarterfinals his junior season … Also played basketball in high school.
 
Jake Swope (OL, 6-7, 255, Fr., West Plains, Mo., West Plains High)
  Swope was a Missouri first-team all-state offensive lineman for coach Steve Avy's Zizzers in 2018 ... Helped West Plains to a 12-1 season, district championship and Ozark Conference title as a senior ... Also earned all-conference, all-district and all-region distinction his senior year with academic all-state honorable mention honors ... Also plays high school basketball ... His mother, Melinda Bingham Swope, played volleyball at Missouri State.
 
Will Taylor (DE, 6-3, 267, Fr., Oklahoma City, Okla., Putnam City North High)
  Taylor was a three-year defensive starter for coach Ryan Laverty at Putnam City North High in Oklahoma City ... Helped lead Panthers to an 8-3 record in 2018 as a senior ... Ranked No. 24 on The Oklahoman's list of the top 30 players in the state in 2018 ... Was All Big City Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 ... Also named to The Oklahoman's 6A All-State list ... Ranked as the No. 3 linebacker in Oklahoma by OKPreps ... Started every game at DE as a sophomore.
 
Justin Wardlaw (DT, 6-4, 270, Fr., Yukon, Okla., Mustang High)
  Three-year starter for coach Jeremy Dombek at Mustang (Okla.) High ... Had 65 tackles and 13 for a loss with 4 sacks and 2 interceptions as a senior for a 5-6 squad in 2018 ... Punted all four years for the Broncos ... Also threw the shot put and discus in high school ... Chose Missouri State over Army.
 
Greg Washington (S, 6-0, 178, Fr., Fort Smith, Ark., Northside High)
  Was a two-year letterman for coach Mike Falleur at Fort Smith (Ark.) Northside High ... Led team to an 8-4 campaign and 7A state semifinal run his senior year ... Had 167 tackles with 89 solos and 9 tackles for loss as an all-conference standout his senior year ... Had 137 tackles his junior year with 63 solos and 13 tackles for loss in another 7A Central all-conference campaign ... Team advanced to state quarterfinals his sophomore and junior seasons ... Also ran track as a jumper and sprinter and played one season of basketball for the Grizzlies.
 
Jalen Williams (DE, 6-4, 225, Fr., Overland Park, Kan., Bishop Miege High)
  Four-year starter for coach Jon Holmes at Bishop Miege High in Kansas ... Stags were 49-3 in his four seasons, all state champions, at Bishop Miege ... Racked up 13.0 sacks as a senior, which ranked fourth in the state … Was a first-team all-state and first-team Eastern Kansas League standout in 2017 and 2018 ... Was named Kansas small-class Defensive Player of the Year as a senior by 810 Varsity and was a 4A Defensive Player of the Year finalist by Sports in Kansas … Earned honorable mention all-state and all-conference honors as a sophomore.
 
Tylar Wiltz (LB, 6-1, 215, Jr., Breaux Bridge, La., Breaux Bridge High, Independence (Kan.) CC)
  Wiltz is a transfer from Independence (Kan.) Community College where he brought down 46 ball carriers in 2018 as a starting linebacker for coach Jason Brown ... Spent the 2017 season at Southern Arkansas University for coach Trent Figg ... Attended Breaux Bridge (La.) High School where he was a three-sport standout ... Earned all-state and first-team all-district honors his senior year in 2016 ... Was also all-district as a junior ... Excelled in basketball and track at Breaux Bridge, helping his Tigers to a district basketball title as a junior.
 
Von Young (LB, 6-0, 205, Fr., Buckner, Mo., Fort Osage High)
  Three-year starter for coach Brock Bolt at Fort Osage High in Independence, Mo. ... Earned all-state, All-Simone and Examiner Defensive Player of the Year laurels in 2018 after bringing down 108 ball carriers with 12 tackles for loss and 4 interceptions ... Part of 9-5 run and state runner-up finish by Indians in 2018 ... Earned all-district, all-conference and all-area honors three years ... Had 106 tackles as a junior with 13 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions ... Was in on 107 stops and 14 tackles for loss his sophomore year ... Indians won Class 5 state title his freshman year in 2015 with a 13-1 run ... Also plays baseball at Fort Osage.