SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State head football coach Casey Woods announced Tuesday (Jan. 20) the addition of 22 mid-year transfers joining the Bears squad for the upcoming 2026 season. The impressive list of new squad members includes 14 FBS transfers, two FCS transfers, three players from the Division II ranks, one NAIA standout and two junior college transfers.
 
"In an era of college football that allows unrestricted movement, we have worked to retain more than 70 returning players and commitments from last year," said Woods. "We also have a chance to celebrate 22 new additions to the Bears family and our campus community." 
 
The transfer list has yielded nine new additions on the offensive side of the ball for the Bears, including three offensive linemen, three wide receivers, a pair of quarterbacks and a running back. There are 12 new Bears on the defensive unit, including five defensive linemen, six defensive backs and a linebacker with one specialist also joining the squad.
 
"What an amazing two weeks for the Missouri State Bears family," said Woods of his first recruiting class in Springfield. "The staff has done an amazing job building relationships with our current team and answering multiple needs in the transfer portal."
 
Missouri State's 22 transfers come from 16 different states, including three from Ohio and two each from Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and Texas. Former Glendale product Kellen Lindstrom (DL) also returns home to Springfield after two years at Tennessee.
 
"Join me in welcoming our Bears back to campus and in also welcoming our newest Bears, covering a wide range of classes, positions and states, including one of Springfield's very own returning home," added Woods. "Join the Climb. Go Bears!"
 
The 22 transfers join a group of 14 high school players who honored their commitment to attend Missouri State from the early signing period in December, bringing the total number of new Bears to 36 for Woods' first season and the university's second season in Conference USA.
 
"In the first year of the new recruiting schedule, it has been an elite performance and allows us to attack this spring with the core of what we will play with next fall. We could not have done it without the tireless efforts everyone involved -- from Campus Life, Academics and Admissions, to our community partners including hotels and restaurants. It truly takes Us ALL!
 
Missouri State's full spring 2026 roster will be posted in the coming weeks. The spring semester transfers include:
 
Henry Belin IV
QB, 6-3, 225, Sr., New York, N.Y. (Cardinal Hayes High / Duke)
A graduate transfer from Duke, Belin appeared in 13 games in his time in Durham with a pair of starts, completing 46-of-82 passes for 540 yards and 5 touchdowns, along witth 92 rushing yards and a score in 218 snaps ... In 2025, he played in 5 games in a reserve role with 22 yards passing and 15 yards rushing vs. No. 11 Illinois (9/6/25) ... In 2024, he saw action in 4 contests, including a start against Ole Miss in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (1/2/25) where he completed 26-of-45 passes for 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns to go with 39 rushing yards on 11 attempts ... Played in 4 games in 2023 with a start in the win over N.C. State (10/14/23) in which he was 4-of-12 for 107 yards and 2 TDs -- including a 69-yard strike -- while rushing for 28 yards on 5 carries ... Also passed for 118 yards in a win over Lafayette (9/9/23) on 8-of-8 passing with a passing TD and a rushing score ... Redshirted as a true freshman in 2022 while playing in one game vs. NC A&T (9/17/22) where he completed 5-of-6 (.833) pass attempts for 43 yards ... Passed for more than 6,000 career yards as a starter for coach C.J. O'Neil at Cardinal Hayes High School in New York City, completing 382-of-627 passes for 55 touchdowns while rushing for 600 yards and 13 scores ... Compiled a 17-11 record as a starter with two state playoff appearances and was the NYCHSFL AAA Championship MVP as a sophomore while earning first-team all-state and all-city honors twice ... A consensus three-star prospect, ESPN rated him as the No. 32 pocket passer nationally in the class of 2022, while Rivals (No. 3) and 247Sports (No. 4) ranked him as one of the top four overall players in New York. 
 
Joel Boamah
DB, 5-11, 180, Jr.,  Newark, N.J. (Hudson Catholic High / Kent State)
Played the past three seasons at Kent State, playing in 10 games in 2025 for the Golden Flashes ... He recorded 9 total tackles as a sophomore with 6 solo stops, 2.0 tackles for loss, an interception, 3 QB hurries and 4 passes defended ...  In 2024, he tallied 8 total tackles with 6 solos as a redshirt freshman, including 4 stops at Pitt (8/31/24) ... Was a standout defensive back and wide receiver at Hudson (N.J.) Catholic High where he led the Hawks to a 7-3 season as a senior (2022) ... He was a two-time all-conference defensive back ... Rated as a three-star propsect by Rivals and On3Sports.
 
Dylan Brooks
DL, 6-4, 245, Sr., Roanoke, Ala. (Handley High / Kansas)
A highly-touted defensive lineman, Brooks comes to Missouri State after spending the past three seasons (2023-25) at Kansas ... Has missed game action the past two seasons due to an injury, but was a key contributor for the Jayhawks during the 2023 season, seeing action in 7 games with 5 total tackles and a tackle for loss ... Recorded his first solo tackle at KU in season opener vs. Missouri State (9/1/23) and brought down a pair of ball carriers at Nevada (9/16/23) .... Spent the 2021-22 campaigns at Auburn where he redshirted in 2021 with no games played, followed by 9 appearances in 2022 with a fumble recovery at Mississippi State (11/5/22) and a sack against WKU (11/19/22) ... Was an explosive high school defender for coach Larry Strain at Handley High in Roanoke, Ala., where he led the Tigers to a 4A state championship after posting 51 tackles and 5.5 sacks as a senior (2020) ... Earned 4A all-state first-team honors his last two seasons while making the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, the Under Armour All-American Game and a finalist for ASWA State Lineman of the Year ... and Logged 64 tackles and 14.0 tackles for loss his junior season ... Was rated as the No. 3 edge rusher in the nation in the class of 2021 by Rivals and 247Sports and No. 4 by ESPN ... Also ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect from the state of Alabama by ESPN and No. 2 by 247Sports.
 
Markell Chapman
DL, 6-1, 303, Jr., Sumter, S.C. (Lakewood High / Iowa State)
Comes to MSU from Iowa State where he did not play in any games for an 8-4 Cyclones team in 2025 ... Spent two seasons at Highland (Kan.) Community College ... Played in 9 games in 2024 for coach DJ Mayo's Scotties with 14 total stops, 8 solos, 7.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks with a forced fumble ... Had a season-high 3 total tackles at Garden City (11/2/24) with 2 solos and a tackle for loss ... Logged 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble in season opener vs. Monroe University (8/31/24) ... Redshirt in 2023 with no games played ... Prepped at Lakewood High School in Sumter, S.C.
 
Tim Coleman
LS, 5-11, 220, So., Madison, Ala. (James Clemens High / UVA Wise)
Played in 10 games as a true freshman at NCAA Division II UVA Wise in 2025 ... Logged a solo tackle at Catawba (9/13/25) ... Cavaliers were 7-of-9 on field goals, 52-of-53 on extra points and averaged 41.4 yards per punt with no kicks blocked for the season ... Earned a spot on the UVA Wise Dean's List in Fall 2025 semester ... Prepped for coach Chad McGehee at James Clemens High in Madison, Ala. where the Jets were 6-5 in Coleman's senior season (2024).
 
Jambres "Breezy" Dubar
RB, 6-0, 205, Sr., Anna, Texas (Anna High / Boise State)
A transfer from Boise State, Dubar played three seasons with the Broncos ... He saw action in 4 games in 2025 where he averaged 4.0 yards per carry on 3 attempts ... He played in 7 games in 2024, carrying 25 times for 99 yards and 2 TDs, including 9 attempts for 65 yards against Utah State (10/5/24), a TD run at San Jose State (11/16/24) and a game-winning touchdown rush at Wyoming (11/23/24)  .. Saw action in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2023, carrying 62 times for 335 yards and a a pair of TDs, along with 6 receptions for 11 yards, including a season-long 24-yard rush in his debut against UCF (9/9/23) and his first TD against Wyoming (10/28/23) ... He also had 91 rushing yards in win against New Mexico (11/11/23) ... Rushed for 1,619 yards on 198 carries (8.2 ypc) with 19 TDs as a senior at Anna (Texas) High where he also caught 38 passes for 346 yards and 4 TDs ... Had 1,193 rushing yards on 169 attempts with 13 TDs as a junior along with 29 catches for 236 yards and 3 scores ... Surpassed 100 rushing yards 8 times as a junior and 8 more as a senior ... Listed as a four-star prospect per 247Sports and three-star by ESPN and Rivals…Also rated No. 19 nationally at his position per 247Sports, No. 21 per Rivals, and No. 51 per ESPN ... Was also a track standout at Anna High.
 
Witt Edwards
WR, 6-5, 225, So., Fairfax, Okla. (Wagoner High / Vanderbilt)
Transfer from Vanderbilt where he played in one game during his redshirt freshman season (2025) with action in the club's 70-21 home win over Georgia State (9/20/25) ... Redshirted in 2024 at Vandy ... Was a standout two-way player at Wagoner High in Fairfax, Okla., where he played linebacker and tight end for coach Dale Condict ... Helped his team win the Oklahoma 4A state championship in 2022 ... Had offers from Tennessee, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, North Carolina State and Oklahoma State out of high school ... Rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN with three-star accolades from On3Sports and Rivals ... Was a consensus top-10 overall prospect in the state of Oklahoma and one of the top-40 athletes nationally.
 
Jalile Elliott
DB, 6-3, 230, So., Greensboro, N.C. (James B. Dudley High / Barton (N.C.) College)
A transfer from Division II Barton (N.C.) College, he racked up 20 total tackles in 10 appearances as a true freshman for coach Chip Hester's Bulldogs in 2025 ... His freshman stat line also included 7 solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a QB hurry ... Logged a season-high 4 stops vs. Chowan (10/18/25) with a half sack ... He also had offers from Arkansas State, Western Kentucky, Southern Miss and others.
 
Sebastian Espinoza
OL, 6-6, 300, Jr., Mt. Washington, Ky. (Bullitt East High/ Coffeyville (Kan.) CC)
A standout offensive lineman, Espinoza comes to Springfield after a year at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College ... He helped lead coach Nick Dobler's Red Ravens to a 7-3 season in 2025 while earning All-KJCCC honorable mention laurels ... Coffeyville finished 17th nationally in passing yards per game (210.3), 17th in scoring (302), and 24th in total offense (343.2) ... Spent the 2023-24 seasons at Youngstown State ... Played in one game for the Penguins in 2024 after redshirted in 2023 ... Prepped at Bullitt East High in Washington, Ky., where he was a 6A all-state selection for coach Keegan Kendrick ... Helped lead his team to a 14-1 record and 6A state title his senior year in 2022.
 
George "Geo" Jallah
DB, 6-2, 184, Sr., Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Kearsage (N.H.) High / Benedict (S.C.) College)
Jallah comes to Missouri State after two seasons at Division II Benedict (S.C.) College ... Played in 13 games in 2025, recording 26 total tackles (14 solos) with an interception and 4 pass defenses for a 10-3 playoff squad ... Played in 10 games in 2024 with 29 total stops (14 solos), an interception and a pair of pass breakups ... Played his freshman season at Louisburg (NJCAA).
 
Joel Kpassou
DB, 5-10, 170, Sr., Cleveland, Ohio (Solon High / Duquesne)
Was a key part of a 7-5 Duquesne squad in 2025 for coach Jerry Schmitt, playing in all 12 games and racking up 42 total tackles with 28 solos, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup ... He also averaged 30.7 yards on 6 kickoff returns, including a 94-yard TD return vs. Saint Francis (10/11/25) ... Notched season-high 7 tackles at Wagner (10/25/25) with 5 solos ... Kpassou spent two seasons at Division II Findlay (Ohio) University, appearing in 18 games from 2023-24 ... Made 7 starts in 2024 with 20 tackles, including a 79-yard fumble return for a TD against Truman State ... Averaged 19.1 yards per return as true freshman in 2023 ... Was a two-time all-state selection at Solon High in Cleveland, Ohio, earning Greater Cleveland Conference Player of the Year in 2022.
 
King Large
OL, 6-4, 316, So., Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco High / SMU)
Large spent the past two seasons at SMU ... He played in two ball games for 9-4 Mustangs in 2025, including the season opener vs. East Texas A&M (11/22/25) ... Coach Rhett Lashlee's Mustangs were 9-4 in Large's redshirt freshman season ... Played in one game in 2024, making his collegiate debut against Houston Christian (8/31/24) for an 11-3 SMU team that played in the ACC Championship game and the College Football Playoff ... Was a three-time all-state offensive lineman at St. John Bosco High in California where he was part of a 13-1 CIF Southern Section championship team in 2022 as a junior and Trinity League championship team in 2023 as a senior ... Had offers from Oregon, Cal, USF, Colorado State and others ... Rated a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, Rivals, On3, and ESPN.
 
Kellen Lindstrom
DL, 6-5, 240, So., Springfield, Mo. (Glendale High / Tennessee)
A former Glendale Falcon, Lindstrom has spent the past two seasons at Tennessee ... Played in 3 games as a redshirt freshman in 2025 for the Vols, posting a pair of tackles ... Tennessee was 8-5 and played in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl ... In 2024, Lindstrom made the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll after playing in 3 games to earn a redshirt season ... Logged 4 tackles against Kent State (9/14/24) with 2 solos in 19 snaps ... Was part of four straight state playoff runs for coach Joel Heman at Glendale, including third-round advancement in 2020 and 2021 ... Earned Class 5 all-state and all-district first-team honors as a senior (2023), in addition to All-Ozarks Conference and all-region distinction after logging 109 tackles, 23.0 tackles for loss and 13 sacks ... Posted 73 total tackles as a junior while earning all-district laurels ... Registered 90 tackles as a sophomore while earning all-conference distinction ... Chose Tennessee over 26 other Division I offers ... Was rated a four-star recruit by On3 and Rivals and a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN … Was also a consensus top-10 prospect in the state of Missouri as well as a national top-50 edge/defensive end prospect by by Rivals (No. 14) and On3 (No. 29).
 
Skyler Locklear
QB, 5-11, 195, Sr., Clayton, N.C. (Cleveland High / UTEP)
Played in 9 games in 2025, starting the last 7 contests of the year for the Miners ... Racked up 1,418 passing yards (117-for-211) and 13 touchdowns as a fourth-year junior ... Passed for season-high 338 yards in season finale at Delaware (11/29/25) with 4 touchdowns ... Also had 200-yard passing efforts vs. Jax State (11/8/25) and in the win at Sam Houston (10/15/25) with 2 TD passes and 2 rushing scores in each ... In 2024, he started 9 times in 10 appearances with three 200-yard passing games ... Threw for 295 yards on 22-of-29 attempts with a passing, rushing and receiving TD vs. Southern Utah (9/7/24), the first FBS player since 2015 to do so ... Threw for 244 yards at Liberty (9/14/24) ... Racked up 327 passing yards (28-for-33) in double-overtime home win over Kennesaw State (11/9/24) with 4 passing TDs en route to CUSA Offensive Player of the Week and Manning Award Star of the Week laurels ... Also tossed a career-long 69-yard TD pass at New Mexico State (11/30/24) ... Finished sophomore season with 1,583 passing yards (148-of-233) with 10 TDs ... Spent the 2022-23 seasons at FCS Austin Peay where he played in 2 games as a redshirt freshman in 2023 ... Passed for 59 yards, including a 46-yard TD pass at Lindenwood (9/30/23) ... Prepped at Cleveland High in Clayton, N.C. where the Rams were 33-4 in his three seasons as starter, passing for 7,063 career yards, 78 touchdowns and just 18 interceptions in more than 700 attempts (452-of-716) ... Also rushed for 28 career touchdowns and 1,253 yards ... Led Cleveland to 3AA state championship in spring of 2021 as a senior ... Earned 3A-4A all-area honors as a senior while being named to the 2021 Carolina Bowl Showcase.
 
Josh Lukusa
DL, 6-5, 260, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio (Withrow High / Miami (Ohio))
Played in 13 games for a 7-7 Miami (Ohio) squad in 2025 ... Racked up 13 total tackles with 3 solos and a tackle for loss for the RedHawks ... In 2024, he saw action in 13 games with a start ... Racked up 8 total tackles and 3 QB hurries for his sophomore season with 3 total stops vs. Colorado State (12/28/24) in Arizona Bowl ... Participated in 14 games in 2023 as a redshirt freshman with 8 total stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack ... Posted a sack at Miami (Fla.) (9/1/23) in collegiate debut and notched 3 stops at Ball State (11/25/23) ... Redshirted in 2022 with no games played ... Attended Withrow High School in Cincinnati where he tallied 26 total tackles as a senior (2021) for coach Kali Jones with 10.0 sacks ... Earned third-team all-state distinction his junior year.
 
Malachi Madison
DL, 6-3, 290, Jr., Chester, Va. (Thomas Dale High / UMass)
Madison spent the 2025 season at UMass where he logged 9 total tackles for the Minutemen ... He spent the 2022-24 seasons at Virginia Tech where he made a pair of appearances in 2024 with a solo sack in the win at Stanford (10/5/24) and playing time at Miami (Fla.) (9/27/24) ... Did not see any game action for the Hokies in 2023 but recorded a solo tackle vs. Wofford (9/17/22) during his redshirt season ... Played for coach Kevin Tucker at Thomas Dale High School in Virginia where he was selected to the Big River Rivalry All-Star Game and earned all-region honors as a senior (2021) ... Was ranked the No. 31 player in the state of Virginia by 247Sports.
 
Anthony Mattison
DB, 5-8, 190, Jr., Miami, Fla. (Miami Norland High / Dodge City (Kan.) CC)
Mattison comes to Springfield after two standout seasons at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College ... Earned All-KJAC honors as a sophomore in 2025 after bringing down 62 ball carriers with 42 solo stops, 13.0 tackles for loss (55 yards), 4.0 sacks and an interception ... His 13 TFLs ranked in the top 15 in NJCAA ... Played both linebacker and safety for coach Ryan Lusby's Conquistadors while ranking second on the squad and fifth in KJCCC in total tackles and tackles per game (6.2) ... Accounted for 36 total tackles his freshman season (2024) with 21 solos in 9 appearances with 5.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks ... Prepped at Miami (Fla.) Norland High.
 
Xavien Michel
DB, 6-0, 180, So., Naples, Fla. (Naples High / Tabor (Kan.) College)
Michel spent the 2025 season at Tabor (Kan.) College where he logged 37 total tackles with 26 solos in 11 appearances as a true freshman ... Also recorded 4 interceptions and 6 pass breakups for coach Mike Gardner's Bluejays ... Had a season-high 6 total stops at McPherson (9/13/25) with 4 solos ... Also had 3 solos and an interception in season opener at Sterling (8/30/25). 
 
Mekhi Miller
WR, 6-1, 194, Sr., Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley North / Tulsa)
Miller took a redshirt season at Tulsa in 2025 after playing in the first 4 games for the Golden Hurricane, finishing with 9 catches for 58 yards ... His lone season in Tulsa was highlighted by a season-high 27 yards on 4 catches at New Mexico State (9/6/25) and 4 receptions for 23 yards vs. Navy (9/13/25) ... Played three seasons at Missouri from 2022-24 ... Appeared in 36 career games and over 1,000 snaps in Columbia with 5 starts, 22 receptions for 311 yards and a touchdown ... During the 2024 season, he saw action in 12 games with 3 receptions for 35 yards ... In 2023, he earned SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll honors and played in 11 games with a start, logging 11 catches for 148 yards ... caught a TD pass vs. South Dakota as part of a 49-yard afternoon ... Played in 13 games in 2022 with 3 starts with 8 receptions for 128 yards ... Was a Kansas 6A all-state selection as a senior (2021) for coach Adam Pummill at Blue Valley (Kan.) North High while leading the Mustangs to a KSHSAA state title ... Was part of three straight state playoff teams ...  Was a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and 247Sports and was charted as the No. 3 and No. 7 Kansas prospect by Rivals.com and 247Sports ... 247 also tabbed him as the No. 61 WR nationally.
 
Isaiah Myers
WR, 6-4, 173, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton High / WKU)
Transfer from WKU ... Played in 9 games for the Hilltoppers in 2025, collecting a pair of passes for 43 total yards ... Both catches, including season-long 22-yarder, came vs. North Alabama (8/30/25) ... Spent the spring of 2025 at Purdue ... Was a key contributor at Charlotte in 2024, appearing in all 12 games as a redshirt sophomore with 13 receptions for 237 yards and 3 touchdowns ... Spent the 2022-23 seasons at Independence (Kan.) Community College where he was an NJCAA first-team All-American in 2023 after snagging 40 passes for 683 yards and conference-best 8 touchdowns in 10 games ... Redshirted in 2022 ... Was rated as a three-star junior college recruit by ESPN, 247Sports and On3Sports ... Prepped at Princeton High School in Cincinnati, where he was a two-time all-conference and all-city honoree ... Tallied 8 receptions and 2 touchdowns his senior season (2021) before sustaining a season-ending injury ... Also received all-region recognition in basketball.
 
Stratton Shufelt
LB, 6-2, 230, Jr., Rio Rancho, N.M. (Cleveland High / UTEP)
Played the past two seasons at UTEP, including 11 appearances in 2025 for the Miners with 18 total tackles (3 solos) ... Logged season-high 7 tackles (3 solos) at Delaware (11/29/25) in season finale ... Saw action in 11 games as a true freshman in 2024 while being named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team after posting 15 total stops, a QB hurry and a pass breakup ... Registered 7 total tackles at WKU in lone start of season with a PBU ... Shufelt was a standout linebacker at Cleveland High in Rio Rancho, N.M., tallying 50 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions as a senior (2023) for a 9-4 Storm team ... Earned 6A District Defensive Player of the Year ... As a prep junior, he amassed 96 tackles with 7.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble for an 11-2 state championship squad, while earning 6A Metro and District Defensive Player of the Year accolades  ... Recorded 56 tackles (45 solo) with 10.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and a forced fumble as a sophomore all-state and all-district selection ... Was a three-star prospect according to 247sports and was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state of New Mexico.
 
Isaiah Villanueva
OL, 6-3, 302, Sr., Katy, Texas (Paetow High / Jackson State)
A standout offensive lineman from Jackson State, Villanueva played in all 12 games for the Tigers in 2025, starting the first 4 games of the season for a 9-3 squad that played in the SWAC Championship game ... Jackson State ranked No. 3 nationally in rushing offense (253.6), allowed just 1.08 sacks per game (No. 10 in FCS) and also ranked No. 4 nationally in total offense (460.7) ...  Played center and guard his junior season ... In 2024, he blocked for one of the most explosive offenses in FCS for a JSU team that ranked No. 2 nationally in red zone offense (96.3), No. 6 in scoring (36.4), No. 8 in rushing offense (211.9) ...  Played his redshirt and redshirt freshman seasons (2022-23) at North Texas where he played in one game as a true freshman (vs. Texas Southern) ... Starred at Paetow High in Katy, Texas, for coach BJ Gotte... Helped lead the Katy program to a 15-1 record an 5A UIL state title in 2021 behind a pair of 1,000-yard rushers.