By: John Kean, Sports Information Director
Missouri S&T has announced that as of Wednesday, Feb. 22, 20 football players have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Miners in the 2012 season. The list of signees include:
Billy Brehe, OL, 6-8, 240, Jefferson City, Mo./Jefferson City HS
Rob Cidlik (Eureka, Mo./Eureka), LB, 6-1, 210, Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS
Marcellus Corbin (Independence, Mo./Truman), OL, 6-4, 265, Independence, Mo./Truman HS
Tyler Dawidowski (Imperial, Mo./Windsor), RB, 5-9, 185, Imperial, Mo./Windsor HS
Logan Fitch (Columbia, Mo./Hickman), QB, 6-2, 205, Columbia, Mo./Hickman HS
Jake Harlan (St. James, Mo./John F. Hodge), DB, 5-11, 185, St. James, Mo./John F. Hodge HS
David Hughes II (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit HS), RB, 5-8, 178, Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit HS
Chris Kennard (Plano, Texas/Parish Episcopal), WR, 5-9, 170, Plano, Texas/Parish Episcopal HS
Sam Knesel (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University HS), OL, 6-1, 270, St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University HS
Justin Lineback (St. James, Mo./John F. Hodge), WR, 6-4, 180, St. James, Mo./John F. Hodge HS
Zachary Martens (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley), OL, 6-1, 270, Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley HS
Andrew Masters (Kearney, Mo./Kearney), DE, 6-2, 210, Kearney, Mo./Kearney HS
Ben Matthews (Platte City, Mo./Platte County), WR/DB, 5-10, 175, Platte City, Mo./Platte County HS
David Price (Lapeer, Mich./Lapeer West), DE/TE, 6-3, 230, Lapeer, Mich./Lapeer West HS
Corey Reuter (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge), DB, 6-2, 185, Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge HS
Dustin Schindler (Waterford, Wis./Waterford), TE, 6-5, 220, Waterford, Wis./Waterford HS
Peter Simpson (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh), QB, 6-1, 178, St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh HS
Derek Spurgeon (Rolla, Mo./Rolla), OL, 6-5, 270, Rolla, Mo./Rolla HS
Blake Tamarkin, LB, 5-11, 205, Gilbert, Ariz./Basha HS
Jaren Underwood (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah), WR, 6-1, 166, Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah HS
BILLY BREHE, a 6-8, 240-pound offensive lineman from Jefferson City High School in Jefferson City, Mo.: Brehe played along the offensive line as both a tackle and guard and as well as at defensive tackle at the high school level. He was a three-year starter at Jefferson City and played for a team that reached the Missouri Class 6 quarterfinals in 2009 and was in the state playoffs the following year. Brehe plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
Billy Brehe Highlights
ROB CIDLIK, a 6-1, 210-pound linebacker from Eureka High School in Eureka, Mo.: Cidlik was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior after earning third-team honors in his junior year for a program that has won two Suburban West Conference titles during his career and made the Missouri Class 5 playoffs for four straight years. Cidlik played at linebacker, defensive end and on the offensive line as a center during his prep career and is projected to play at linebacker in the Miner program. He plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
Rob Cidlik (Eureka, Mo./Eureka) Highlights
MARCELLUS CORBIN, a 6-4, 265-pound offensive lineman from Truman High School in Independence, Mo.: Corbin was a starter on both th eoffensive and defensive lines at the high school level and is projected to play on the offiensive line for the Miners. He was a key part of an offensive line that helped lead Truman to the state playoffs during the 2011 season. Corbin plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
Marcellus Corbin (Independence, Mo./Truman) Highlights
TYLER DAWIDOWSKI, a 5-9, 185-pound running back from Windsor High School in Imperial, Mo.: Dawidowski earned all-state, all-region, all-district and all-conference honors after an outstanding prep career at Windsor High School. He rushed for 1,017 yards and 11 touchdowns during his senior year, averaging 7.4 yards per carry in the process, after running for 1,823 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. He also earned academic all-state honors during his career. Dawidowski plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
Tyler Dawidowski (Imperial, Mo./Windsor) Highlights
LOGAN FITCH, A 6-2, 205-pound quarterback from Hickman High School in Columbia, Mo.: Fitch earned all-conference and all-area honors from the quarterback position following the 2011 season, as he threw nine touchdowns passes and for nearly 1,000 yards as a senior. He set three school records while playing at Hickman and also earned all-district honors as a punter. Fitch, who plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T, was the recipient of numerous academic honors at Hickman.
Logan Fitch (Columbia, Mo./Hickman) Highlights
JAKE HARLAN, a 5-11, 185-pound defensive back from John F. Hodge High School in St. James, Mo.: Harlan excelled on both sides of the football for the Tigers, earning second-team all-state honors as a defensive back and honorable mention as an athlete on the offensive side of the ball. He also earned all-district and all-conference honors after making 57 tackles (41 solo) and picking off a pass during the 2011 season, while completing 65 percent of his passes at the quarterback position and compiling a school record 3,314 total yards and 35 touchdowns. He set two state records in a game this season against Owensville, including 720 yards of total offense. Harlan plans to major in history at Missouri S&T.
Jake Harlan (St. James, Mo./John F. Hodge) Highlights
DAVID HUGHES II, a 5-8, 178-pound running back from University of Detroit Jesuit High School in Detroit, Mich.: Hughes was an honorable mention all-state selection as well as an all-metro and all-Catholic selection in the Detroit area. He rushed for 900 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2011 campaign, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and also caught one touchdown pass. Hughes plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
David Hughes II (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit HS) Highlights
CHRIS KENNARD, a 5-9, 170-pound wide receiver from Parish Episcopal High School in Plano, Texas: Kennard had five receptions for 85 yards and also ran for 252 yards and two touchdowns at Parish Episcopal High School, one of the top private school programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, during the 2011 season. He played for a team that passed the ball only 85 times out of 609 plays from scrimmage on the year. Kennard was the team's second-leading receiver as a junior with 22 receptions for 414 yards and four scores. He plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
Chris Kennard (Plano, Texas/Parish Episcopal) Highlights
SAM KNESEL, a 6-1, 270-pound offensive lineman from St. Louis University High School in St. Louis, Mo.: Knesel (pronounced Knee-sil) was named to the all-state second team and Metro Catholic Conference's all-league squad as a first team selection following the 2011 season. He spearheaded an offensive line for a unit that averaged better than 37 points a game on the year and advanced to the semifinals of the Missouri Class 6 playoffs. Knesel plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
Sam Knesel (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University HS) Highlights
JUSTIN LINEBACK, a 6-4, 180-pound wide receiver from John F. Hodge High School in St. James, Mo.: Lineback was named to the all-state team following a 2011 campaign in which he caught 72 passes for 1,345 yards and 16 touchdowns. He compiled 233 receiving yards, one of the top single game totals in state history, during a game against Owensville during the year. Lineback plans to major in history at Missouri S&T.
Justin Lineback (St. James, Mo./John F. Hodge) Highlights
ZACHARY MARTENS, a 6-1, 270-pound offensive lineman from Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, Minn.: Martens was an all-conference performer on the field as an offensive lineman and also earned academic all-state honors as well, landing his team's most valuable player award in the process. He played all three positions on the offensive line and also played on defense as a nose guard. He has earned numerous academic honors at his school, including the AAA awards for academics, athletics and arts as well as the ExCEL award for excellence in community, education and leadership. Martens plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
Zachary Martens (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) Highlights
ANDREW MASTERS, a 6-2, 210-pound defensive end from Kearney High School in Kearney, Mo.: Masters landed honorable mention all-conference honors following the 2011 season where he made 24 tackles from his defensive end position. Masters was also named to the academic all-state team and was part of a team that reached the second round of the Missouri state playoffs last fall. He plans to major in mathematics and physics at Missouri S&T.
Andrew Masters (Kearney, Mo./Kearney) Highlights
BEN MATTHEWS, a 5-10, 175-pound wide receiver/defensive back from Platte County High School in Platte City, Mo.: Matthews was a two-time all-conference selection at the high school level, as he caught 64 passes for 686 yards and four touchdowns during that span. He was a three-year member of the varsity squad and served as a team captain in 2011. Matthews was also the recipient of a nomination for the HOBY Leadership award. He plans to major in electrical engineering at Missouri S&T.
Ben Matthews (Platte City, Mo./Platte County) Highlights
DAVID PRICE, a 6-3, 230-pound defensive end/tight end from Lapeer West High School in Lapeer, Mich.: Price was selected first-team all-metro in Michigan, where he also played at quarterback during his senior year. He completed 53 percent of his passes for 504 yards and four scores, while making four receptions on the year as well on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, he was in on 44 tackles and made six stops behind the line of scrimmage. Price plans to major in business at Missouri S&T.
David Price (Lapeer, Mich./Lapeer West) Highlights
COREY REUTER, a 6-2, 185-pound defensive back from Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Mo.: Reuter was named as his team's top defensive back as he made 35 tackles from his cornerback position and also intercepted a pass during the 2011 season. In addition, he was selected to the academic all-state team as Reuter plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
Corey Reuter (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) Highlights
DUSTIN SCHINDLER, a 6-5, 220-pound tight end from Waterford High School in Waterford, Wis.: Schindler was a first-team all-county selection and earned second-team all-conference honors in each of the last two seasons. He made 16 catches for 297 yards and six touchdowns in the 2011 season after makding 24 receptions for 269 yards and five scores as a junior. Schindler plans to major in mechanical engineering at Missouri S&T.
Dustin Schindler (Waterford, Wis./Waterford) Highlights
PETER SIMPSON, a 6-1, 178-pound quarterback from Lindbergh High School in St. Louis, Mo.: Simpson was named as his team's most valuable player in each of the last two seasons as he earned second-team all-conference honors in the Suburban West Conference. He threw for 1,790 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior after throwing for 2,218 yards and 19 touchdowns in his junior year, a season in which the Flyers reached the Missouri Class 6 quarterfinals and won the conference title. He was a finalist for all-metro honors in St. Louis as he set six schools records at Lindbergh. A two-year captain, Simpson plans to major in information science and technology at Missouri S&T.
Peter Simpson (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) Highlights
DEREK SPURGEON, a 6-5, 270-pound offensive lineman from Rolla High School in Rolla, Mo.: Spurgeon earned all-district and all-conference laurels in the Ozark Conference in each of the last two seasons and was also named to the All-Ozark region team following the 2011 season. He anchored an offensive line that rushed for better than 180 yards per game during the past season. Spurgeon plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.
Derek Spurgeon (Rolla, Mo./Rolla) Highlights
BLAKE TAMARKIN, a 5-11, 205-pound linebacker from Basha High School in Gilbert, Ariz.: Tamarkin was named to the Division I, Section II all-West football team in Arizona following the 2011 season, when his team went 9-4 and reached the state semifinals where it lost to the eventual state champion. He finished with 150 tackles in 13 games -- averaging 11.5 per game -- with five pass breakups and earned honorable mention honors from the East Valley Tribune in the Phoenix area.
Blake Tamarkin Highlights
JAREN UNDERWOOD, a 6-1, 166-pound wide receiver from Mascoutah High School in Mascoutah, Ill.: Underwood was a first-team all-conference and all-Metro East selection following the 2011 season and also earned honorable mention all-area honors at Mascoutah High School, where he was named as his team's most valuable player. He finished the season with 39 receptions for 565 yards and five touchdowns and also rushed for three scores. Underwood plans to major in petroleum engineering at Missouri S&T.
Jaren Underwood (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) Highlights
Comments from Missouri S&T head coach David Brown:
Recruiting is a team effort. I am proud of the way our faculty, staff, student-athletes, and community contributed to this successful recruiting class. Andrew Ravadge, our recruiting coordinator, did a great job organizing our on-campus visits. All families left our visits impressed with what we have to offer academically, culturally, and athletically. The coaching staff put forth a lot of time and effort to attract the caliber of student-athletes that we were able to sign. Their efforts are much appreciated.
I am excited that we were able to keep some of the Phelps County guys at home. We look forward to
Jake Harlan (St. James, Mo./John F. Hodge),
Justin Lineback (St. James, Mo./John F. Hodge), and
Derek Spurgeon (Rolla, Mo./Rolla) having productive careers at S&T.
We will have instant depth at the offensive line and receiver positions. We now have more height on our offensive line than most college basketball teams. A few of the guys will definitely need to come in and earn a spot on the bus as freshmen. David Hughes is a huge get for us at running back. We will need for him to contribute early on in his career. We will have more depth at the quarterback position than we have had in recent years.
All three defensive ends can get after the quarterback. That is what we are all about on defense at S&T. They should help us take the next step of getting into the top 10 nationally in sacks. In
Corey Reuter (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) we finally have a cornerback that I can look at eye to eye. He has the size and skill set that we need in order to play as much man as we desire to play.
Our seniors this past year were a great group to work with. They helped lay a strong foundation for our current players and new guys to continue to build a winning program on.