UPDATED: As of 4:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4.

ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T head football coach Tyler Fenwick has announced the signings of this year's class student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play football for the Miners in the 2016 season.  Players can begin signing letters of intent, which binds them to the institution for one year, beginning on Feb. 3; the signing period ends April 1.

The Miners have signed 15 players from the high school ranks thus far for next season.  Included in that group are three defensive backs, three defensive linemen, two offensive linemen, two linebackers, two kicker/punters, as well as a quarterback, running back and a tight end.

Following are the players signed by the Miners thus far:

JOHN BANOWETZ, a 5-11, 175-pound kicker-punter from O'Fallon, Mo.: Banowetz earned first-team all-conference honors in the Gateway Athletic Conference as a kicker and second-team honors as a punter at Fort Zumwalt North High School. Banowetz made 48 extra points, two field goals and averaged 34.3 yards per punt during his senior year, after making 27 extra points and a field goal while averaging 30 yards per punt as a junior.  He was named during the season as GAC Central Division special teams player of the week and was an all-academic selection in his conference.  Banowetz plans to major in engineering.

"John has the ability to do both punting and kicking and will have an opportunity to compete right away," Fenwick said.

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3947013/jonathan-banowetz

MASEN COOK, a 6-0, 210-pound defensive end-linebacker from Webb City, Mo.: Cook earned second-team all-conference and all-district honors in the Central Ozark Conference Large following the 2015 season at perennial state power Webb City, while also earning first-team all-southwest Missouri honors. In addition, he was named to the academic all-state team and will major in engineering at Missouri S&T.

"Mason will fit in nicely with our defensive scheme," Fenwick said  "He plays with a great motor and is a hard worker."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1494609/masen-cook
 
ZACH GLAESS, a 5-10, 180-pound placekicker from Queen Creek, Ariz.: Glaess earned first-team all-state honors at Queen Creek High School as a punter and second-team honors as a kicker; he was named as the punter of the year for the 2015 season by ArizonaVarsity.com.  He also earned all-academic honors and will major in engineering.

"Zach has excelled in punting and kicking and will be able to come in and compete for one of the two jobs next fall," Fenwick said.

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/4126072/highlights/317083376

AUSTIN GRIFFIN, a 6-3, 225-pound tight end from West Palm Beach, Fla.: Griffin, who played at Oxbridge Academy, made 12 receptions for 146 yards last season after catching 17 passes for 335 yards and five touchdowns in 2014.  He plans to major in engineering.

"Austin is an athletic, versatile tight end that can create mismatches with defenders," Fenwick said.  "He can play as an attached tight end or can split out wide as a receiver."

HIGHLIGHTS:  http://www.hudl.com/recruiting/athleteprofile/3405214/video

ARYMIS JOHNSON, a 5-10, 188-pound defensive back from Texarkana, Texas: Johnson earned first-team all-district honors at Liberty Eylau High School after recording 107 tackles during the 2015 season, along with two interceptions and six forced fumbles.  He served as a team captain and is also a member of the school's student council.  Johnson will major in biological sciences.

"Arymis is a firecracker of a safety," Fenwick said.  "He is versatile in that he can move over and play corner as well.  He has good speed and is a great tackler.

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3427752/arymis-johnson

DESHAWN JONES, a 5-9, 185-pound running back from Olympia Fields, Ill.: Jones, who played at Rich Central High School outside of Chicago, was voted as his team's most valuable player in each of the last two seasons and accumulated over 2,000 all-purpose yards in his senior year.  He was named first-team all-Southland Suburbs after running for better than 1,500 yards last fall.  Jones, who will major in biological sciences, will graduate among the top 20 in his class at Rich Central.

"Deshawn has big play ability and great vision for a running back," Fenwick said;  "He is also explosive in the return game and can catch the ball out of the backfield."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/recruiting/athleteprofile/4003888/video

COLE MILLER, a 6-2, 310-pound offensive lineman from Columbia, Mo.: Miller played at Rock Bridge High School, where he was a three-year letterman on the offensive line.  He was also a member of the school's branch of the National Honor Society and plans to major in chemistry.

"Cole is big, athletic center," Fenwick said.  "He has great feet for his size and is very smart.  We really like his leadership qualities that he brings to this class.

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/4456434/highlights/307710401

JUSTIN ONWUGBUFOR, a 5-9, 165-pound defensive back from Wichita, Kan.:  Onwugbufor, who played at Northwest High School, recorded 108 tackles, five interceptions, three fumble recoveries and 10 pass breakups.  He is also a wrestler at Northwest and is currently ranked third in the state in that sport.  He plans to major in biological sciences at Missouri S&T.

"Justin is a three-year letterwinner who really impressed us with his detailed fundamentals on film," Fenwick said.  "He will add depth and competition to the cornerback position immediately."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/179775/justin-onwugbufor

JOSH PRICE, a 5-10, 155-pound defensive back from O'Fallon, Ill.: Price was the recipient of the "Spirit of the Panther" award for the top work ethic on the team and finished last season with eight total tackles. He also participated in the Nine Network of Public Media panel for high school students to talk about their experiences in high school and in the recruiting process.

"Josh is a player who has the tools to develop into a very good college football player," Fenwick said.

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/recruiting/athleteprofile/2677176/video

CARSON RAY, a 6-0, 200-pound linebacker from Nixa, Mo.: Ray recorded 92 tackles and four sacks during his career at Nixa High School, where he earned first-team all-district honors.  Ray, who was also an academic all-state selection, will major in engineering.

"Carson is a physical linebacker that has a passion for the game of football," Fenwick said.  "He plays with great effort and is a strong fundamental tackler.  We fell that he is going to fit into our scheme very well."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2684719/carson-ray

COLE REAT, a 6-2, 220-pound defensive end from Eureka, Mo.: Reat earned second-team all-state honors following the 2015 season and was also named first-team all-metro St. Louis, all-district and all-conference at Eureka High School.  Reat recorded 58 tackles and nine sacks during the 2015 season, following a 2014 campaign where he had 45 tackles and five sacks.  He will major in engineering.

"Cole plays with a very high motor and is very active and quick off the football," Fenwick said.  "He has the ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/recruiting/athleteprofile/1650733/video

NINO SCHMITT, a 6-1, 275-pound offensive lineman from St. Louis, Mo.: Schmitt played for the Missouri Class 6 runner-up at Christian Brothers College High School and earned first-team all-state, all-metro, all-district and all-conference honors.  In addition, he was named to USA Today's All-Missouri second team following the 2015 season.

"Nino is a fantastic finisher of blocks," Fenwick said.  "He has tremendous feet and agility and can play either center or guard for us."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1604885/nino-schmitt

BRENNAN SIMMS, a 6-3, 195-pound quarterback from Punta Gorda, Fla.: Simms was a scholar-athlete award recipient at Charlotte High School, where he earned honorable mention all-state and first-team all-area honors following the 2015 season.  Last fall, in being named as the Sun Herald's "Offensive Player of the Year," Simms set the regional record for passing yards as he threw for better than 5,600 in his career with 59 touchdown passes.  He threw 25 touchdown passes and just four interceptions in 2015 as he threw for 2,359 yards and completed 64 percent of his throws.  He plans to major in engineering.

"Brennan is a pocket passer that has had a tremendous high school career," Fenwick said.  "He has shown that he is very accurate with a strong arm and can make every throw on the field.  He shows great leadership skills as well.

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2941055/brennan-simms

TERSHAWN WHARTON, a 6-3, 230-pound defensive end from University City, Mo.: Earned first-team All-Suburban Central Conference honors at University City High School, where he led the Lions in tackles with 110 which included four quarterback sacks and an interception.  Wharton plans to major in engineering.

"Tershawn is a big, lean and athletic defensive end," Fenwick said.  "He plays strong and aggressive and has speed off the edge on the pass rush.  He has a frame that will help him develop into a great player."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/recruiting/athleteprofile/1756257/video

DONTAY WHITE, a 5-11, 220-pound linebacker from Florissant, Mo.:  White was a second-team all-state selection at linebacker and first-team all-conference pick at Hazelwood Central High School, where he recorded 73 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions during his senior year.  As a junior, White posted 70 tackles and a sack while also recovering two fumbles.  He will major in engineering.

"Dontay is a heat seeking missile with great speed and the ability to make tackles in the backfield," Fenwick said.  "He is an extremely active football player and can run sideline to sideline."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/recruiting/athleteprofile/2922327/video

The Miners also signed four players during the mid-year signing period:

CONNOR KAGY, a 6-3, 240-pound tight end from Overland Park, Kan.: Kagy played at Coffeyville Community College over the last two seasons, where he played in 20 games at tight end during that span.  Prior to that, he played at Blue Valley North High School, where he earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a lineman.  Kagy is majoring in chemical engineering.

"Connor has good size and ability," Fenwick said.  "He has shown a great work ethic and will fit in nicely with the departure of Cody Burgess (Cuba, Mo./Cuba HS)."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1862239/connor-kagy

MATT MATA'U, a 5-11, 308-pound defensive lineman from Laie, Hawaii: Mata'u has spent the last two seasons at Palomar College in California, where he recorded five tackles from his defensive tackle spot in 2015 after making eight tackles, including one for a loss in 2014.  He played defensive end at Kahuka High School in Hawaii.  Mata'u is majoring in biological sciences.

"Matt has jumped right into the weight room this semester and proved he belongs in the mix," Fenwick said.  "He is as strong and athletic as anyone we have had here for his size."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4273671/matt-matau

EBREHEM SALEM, a 6-4, 315-pound offensive lineman from O'Fallon, Mo.: Salem played at Eastern Arizona College over the last two seasons and was part of an offensive unit that averaged 323.1 yards per game on the ground during the 2015 campaign.   He played his high school football at Fort Zumwalt West, where he earned all-district and all-conference honors and also played on the Team USA national team following his senior year.  Salem is majoring in petroleum engineering.

"Ebrehem is a big offensive lineman that played tackle in junior college, but can play all five positions on the offensive line," Fenwick said.  "He will add great competition to the depth we already have going through spring ball."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1479019/ebrahem-salem

ASHTON SMITH, a 6-3, 265-pound defensive lineman from Berkeley, Calif.: Smith played at Diablo Valley Community College, where he was credited with 14 tackles last season in the six games he appeared in.  He had 12 tackles during the 2014 campaign.  Smith is majoring in psychology.

"Ashton is another big-framed defensive lineman who can play a variety of positions," Fenwick said. "He moves really well and is a good technician when it comes to defensive line play.  I'm really looking forward to seeing him compete in the spring."

HIGHLIGHTS: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1291413/ashton-smith