ROLLA, Mo. -- Missouri S&T head football coach Todd Drury has announced the addition of 26 student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent or ones who have been admitted to Missouri S&T to play for the Miners in the 2020 season.

The 2020 signing class thus far is heavy on linemen, linebackers and running backs, as S&T has signed nine linemen in the class as well as six linebackers and four running backs.  The Miners have also added four defensive backs, a quarterback, wide receiver and a tight end for next season.  It is also a class with a strong Missouri presence, as 20 of the 26 signees hail from the Show-Me State.

The following are the student-athletes who are coming to Missouri S&T for the 2020 season:

GARRICK AARON, a 6-4, 260-pound offensive lineman from Bridgeland High School in Cypress, Texas: Aaron was a standout performer on the offensive line for his high school team that finished 8-3 in the 2019 season. 

"Garrick is a large and smart player that comes from a great program and league," Drury said. "He has seen great competition during his high school career and we are expecting him to bring that competitiveness with him to Rolla."

JOSH ASH, a 5-7, 145-pound running back-defensive back from Waynesville High School in Waynesville, Mo.: Ash played on both offense and defense for the Tigers, as he played the slotback position on offense and free safety on defense.

"Josh is a hard-working, disciplined player that led Waynesville on both sides of the ball," Drury said.

NADEEM AYOUB, a 6-2, 295-pound offensive lineman from Calvary Christian High School in Tampa, Fla.: Ayoub was selected to play in the Pinellas County Senior All-Star game following the 2019 season, when he was selected to the Tampa Bay Times' all-county team as an honorable mention selection.  He plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.

"Nadeem is a physical player that comes from a great program," Drury said. "He has the size and ability to be an impact player here."

ALEX BARNETT, a 6-0, 190-pound defensive back from Lee's Summit High School in Lee's Summit, Mo.: Barnett earned second-team all-conference honors in the Suburban Red Conference in the Kansas City area after recording 79 tackles, including 38 solo stops, during his senior year.  

"Alex is a saavy football player with a high football IQ," Drury said.  "He is very coachable and has a strong desire to compete."

MATT BRAY, a 5-10, 195-pound running back from Union High School in Union, Mo.: Bray rushed for 1,087 yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2019 season to earn first-team all-conference honors in the Four Rivers Conference.  He accumulated 1,246 all-purpose yards as a senior after recording 979 in his junior year, when he rushed for 749 yards and 14 scores to earn second-team all-conference laurels.

"Matt is a downhill, tough running back that carried the load for Union," Drury said. "His aggressive style and passion are going to make him a leader on this team."

MAX CONARD, a 6-3, 195-pound quarterback from Blue Springs South High School in Blue Springs, Mo: Conard was named to the Suburban Gold Conference's all-league second team after the 2019 season, when he threw for 1,912 yards and 21 touchdowns.  In his junior season, he threw for 1,032 yards on 81 completions and had four scoring passes along the way.

"Max is a front of the line type of player that leads by example," Drury said.  "During his career, he made plays with his arm and legs. He has a truly live arm."

CARTER CRONE, a 6-4, 195-pound linebacker-wide receiver from Pattonsburg High School in Pattonsburg, Mo.: Crone earned honorable mention all-conference honors following the 2019 season, when his team reached the Missouri state semifinals in the eight-man division.

"Carter is a long player from Northwest Missouri and an athletic player from an eight-man football school," Drury said. "He played on both sides of the ball and made plays everywhere."

COLTON FRANKS, a 5-10, 180-pound linebacker from Rolla High School in Rolla, Mo.: Franks, who served as a team captain for the Bulldogs, was a three-time all-district and all-conference selection at linebacker after setting a school record for tackles in a career.  In addition to his football honors, Franks has earned all-state honors in wrestling.  He plans to major in history at Missouri S&T.

"Colton is a homegrown player from Rolla that we are excited to have in the program," Drury said.  "He excelled at Rolla High and we are looking forward to him making tackles for the Miners."

SOHL GAFA, a 6-3, 245-pound linebacker-defensive end from San Pedro High School in San Pedro, Calif.: Gafa is a transfer from LA Harbor College, where he finished the 2018 season with 41 tackles and eight tackles for a loss to earn first-team all-conference honors. At San Pedro High School, he recorded 83 tackles during his junior year and 71 as a senior, when he was a first-team all-conference selection.
"Sohl is a transfer who played multiple positions, but was always playing downhill and getting after the quarterback," Drury said.

GABE GOODWIN, a 6-3, 195-pound tight end from Palmyra High School in Palmrya, Mo.: Goodwin is transferring to S&T from Quincy University, where he has spent the last two seasons.  In high school, he earned second-team all-conference honors at tight end and first-team laurels as a defensive end and outside linebacker.

"Gabe is a transfer from Quincy, but while in high school, was a standout on both sides of the ball," Drury said.  "We are looking for Gabe to compete and contribute this year."

AUSTIN GUY, a 6-4, 215-pound linebacker from Dexter High School in Dexter, Mo.: Guy was the recipient of the Charles Bland Award following the 2019 season, which is given to the football player who is the most well-rounded student-athlete at the school.  He finished the season on the field with 64 solo tackles and 114 stops overall.

"Austin is a big framed kid with a lot of potential," Drury said.  "He has played on both sides of the ball in high school and excelled in stopping the run while at Dexter."

ALI HALL, a 5-9, 165-pound defensive back-wide receiver from Roosevelt High School in St. Louis, Mo.: Hall recorded 19 receptions for 295 yards and four touchdowns as a wideout during the 2019 season, while also rushing for 260 yards and five scores.  On defense, he finished the season with 53 tackles after making 34 stops as a junior.

"Ali is a dynamic athlete that makes plays on both sides of the ball," Drury said. "He has elite speed and is explosive off the line."

ETHAN HUDSON, a 6-1, 225-pound linebacker from Lutheran St. Charles High School in St. Charles, Mo.: Hudson recorded 69 tackles from the linebacker position a year ago with 33 of the stops being of the solo variety.  He earned second-team all-conference honors in the Archdiocesan Athletics Association in 2018 and 2019.

"Ethan has a passion for the game of football and brings a hard work mentality to the linebacker group," Drury said. "He is an athletic run stopper."

MAX KOVIAK, a 5-10, 155-pound wide receiver from Fort Zumwalt West High School in O'Fallon, Mo.: Koviak led the Gateway Athletic Conference with 1,040 receiving yards – fifth-most in the St. Louis area -- and 15 touchdowns on 61 receptions, earning second-team all-state and first-team All-GAC honors along the way. He also excelled on special teams with 21 yards per kickoff return and a touchdown.  As a junior, he was a second-team all-conference selection after hauling in 37 throws for 554 yards and three touchdowns

"Max is a twitchy competitor who made plays on both sides of the ball in high school," Drury said. "We are excited about his playmaking ability."

RYAN MAASEN, a 6-0, 205-pound linebacker from Camdenton High School in Camdenton, Mo.: Maasen finished the 2019 season with 77 tackles, which included 45 solo stops, to earn defensive player of the year honors in the Ozark Conference.  Maasen was also named first-team all-district and All-Ozark Conference for a team that reached the Missouri Class 4 quarterfinals last fall.

"Ryan is a sideline to sideline type of linebacker," Drury said. "He has elite football IQ and always runs to the ball. He is the kind of guy you want in your program."

AUBREY McALISTER, a 6-3, 220-pound linebacker from Decatur High School in Decatur, Texas: McAlister earned first team all-district honors in Texas Class 4-AAAA in Division I as a defensive end after finishing the 2019 season with 78 tackles and 21 for a loss, a total that included 10 sacks.  McAlister's older brother, Payton, just completed his sophomore season with the Miners.

"Aubrey is a hard working player with a great frame," Drury said.  "He is a versatile athlete and has played multiple positions for his high school team."

GABE MILLIRON, a 6-2, 240-pound offensive lineman from Lee's Summit North High School in Lee's Summit, Mo.: Milliron was named to the Suburban Gold Conference all-league team as an honorable mention selection following the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

"Gabe is an athletic offensive lineman with really good feet," Drury said. "He is a well-rounded player that is drawn to contact and the physical side of the game."

WYATT MOORE, a 6-2, 240-pound lineman from Blair Oaks High School in Wardsville, Mo.: Moore was named to the all-district and Tri-County second team in 2019 after helping lead the Falcons to a No. 1 ranking in Missouri Class 3 and a trip to the state semifinals.  As a junior, Moore was part of a team that won the Missouri Class 2 state championship.

"Wyatt is a driven player that is a proven competitor," Drury said. "We are really excited to see him develop over the next few years."

GIDEON NIBOH, a 5-7, 170-pound running back from Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, Mo.: Niboh rushed for 1,449 yards (10^th in the St. Louis area) and 20 touchdowns during his senior year to earn offensive player of the year honors in the Gateway Athletic Conference.  He also landed first-team all-conference and second-team all-state honors as he also caught 17 passes for 268 yards and four additional scores.  He was a second-team All-GAC player in his junior year after running for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns, while adding 10 catches for 204 yards.

"Gideon is a dynamic playmaker with great vision," Drury said.  "He is an every down back that can run and catch."

TREVOR PYRON, a 5-10, 195-pound defensive end from Smackover High School in Camden, Ark.: Pryon was a two-time all-conference selection at the high school level and is projected to play on the defensive side of the line at S&T.  He had 51 tackles during the 2019 season and was credited with 15 pancake blocks on offense.

"Trevor played both sides of the ball at his high school in Arkansas," Drury said. "He is a great program fit and will be a real player here."

LEX RAUER, a 6-1, 220-pound lineman from St. Joseph Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo.:  Rauer was a three-year letterman and starter at the high school level on both the offensive and defensive lines.

"Alex is a tough player from St. Joseph Central who played under coach Andy Ball while he was the head coach at Central," Drury said. "We are excited about his development." 

ZACHARY ROBERTS, a 5-9, 155-pound running back from Orchard Farm High School in St. Charles, Mo.: Roberts ran for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior year to earn second-team all-conference honors in the Gateway Athletic Conference. As a junior, he rushed for 1,076 yards and four scores as he was named to the All-GAC North first team.  He was selected to play in the American Cancer Society all-star game following the 2019 season.

"Zach has track speed when coming out of the backfield," Drury said. "He is a player that will grow and develop into a true competitor." 

CODY SMITH, a 6-2, 285-pound offensive lineman from Buffalo High School in Buffalo, Mo.: Smith earned first-team all-state in Missouri Class 3 and all-conference honors after the 2019 campaign.  He also received first-team all-area and all-district honors along the offensive line.

"Cody is a physical athlete with good feet and an aggressive mentality," Drury said.  "He is a multi-sport athlete that will bring a lot of juice to the offensive line."

CONNOR SURRATT, a 5-10, 265-pound offensive lineman from Jefferson High School in Festus, Mo.: Surratt is a two-time all-region and all-conference selection in the I-55 Conference, earning first-team laurels in 2019 after being named to the second team as a junior.  He also earned academic all-state honors during his prep career.

"Connor is an intelligent and physical offensive lineman from the St. Louis area," Drury said.  "He is going to bring a physical presence to the offensive line."

DERRICK THOMAS, a 6-0, 180-pound defensive back from South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, Texas: Thomas was a top defensive back for his team that played in District 6-5A in Texas, a team that finished with a 9-3 record last fall.

"Derrick is a long, athletic lockdown corner who competed against some of the best in the nation at his high school," Drury said. "He is a competitor and we are excited to get him on campus."

JARRETT WILSON, a 5-8, 170-pound running back from Timberland High School in Wentzville, Mo.: Wilson was named to the Gateway Athletic Conference's all-league team after he ran for 686 yards and four touchdowns during the 2019 campaign.  Wilson also returned kicks, averaging 22 yards per kickoff return last season.  As a junior, he rushed for 1,446 yards and 11 touchdowns and accounted for 1,563 all-purpose yards.

"Jarrett is a physical runner that can make all of the cuts," Drury said. "He plays bigger than his size and is a load to bring down."