Updated - 3/22/2012 (with Chris Jackson & Kye VanNess)

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KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Truman State University (Mo.) has signed 19 student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. The balanced class features 10 offensive and nine defensive players with eight from Missouri, five from Texas, four from Illinois and one apiece from Indiana and Iowa.

“Last year our focus in last year's class was in our offensive interior,” said Head Coach Gregg Nesbitt.  “This year's 2012 class we focused on wide receivers, running backs, & quarterbacks.  We were able to sign three outstanding wide receivers, two quarterbacks, and two running backs along with two tight ends.  We also were able to sign one more excellent offensive lineman. 

"Balance at all positions was our specific focus on defense,” said Nesbitt. “We were able to sign two tackles, one end, two linebackers and four defensive backs.  We return a veteran and experienced unit on this side and should be able to bring along this 2012 recruiting class at their own pace.  We hopefully will be able to redshirt the majority and feel this defensive class will be able to provide several multi-year, productive MIAA starters.

This is Gregg Nesbitt's and his staff, led by recruiting coordinators Thomas Kearney and Andy Ball, third recruiting class at Truman.

Truman State University, founded in 1867 and located in Kirksville, Mo., is Missouri's only highly selective public liberal arts and sciences university. Truman has the highest graduation rate among all Missouri public institutions. More than 50 percent of Truman's graduates pursue an advanced degree immediately upon graduating. Truman was recently recognized as the No. 1 Public University in the Midwest Region–Master's Category by U.S. News & World Report's 2011 edition of “America's Best Colleges.” 

The Truman Athletics Department is a proud member of the NCAA Division II and a charter member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).  Truman sponsors 20 Intercollegiate Sports, the most of any state school in Missouri. 

The Bulldog Football program have won a league best 26 conference championship and have the highest Academic Success Rate in the MIAA at 88% in the latest NCAA data on Division II schools. The Bulldogs also have the best all-time winning percentage (.589) of any NCAA Football playing school in the state of Missouri. Truman was 4-7 in 2011 and will open the 2012 campaign on August 30 at Southwest Baptist University (Mo.).



Cooper Bankus
Height/Weight: 6-4, 230
High School: Milan High School
Hometown: Milan, Mo.
High School Coach: John Dabney
Parents:  Shane and Rhonda
Position: Fullback
Key Stats:  215 carries for 1,377 yards and 16 touchdowns
 
Bankus was an instrumental part in the Wildcats' first perfect season in school history in 2011. He was a second team all-state running back selected by the Associated Press and by the Missouri Football Coaches Association. He had 215 rushes for 1,377 yards and 16 touchdowns and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. On the defensive side of the ball, Bankus registered 95 tackles with two forced fumbles, two sacks and had a huge stop on a two-point conversion to preserve the perfect regular season. Milan won the 2011 Tri-Rivers Conference and was District 12 champions.  He has been named to numerous post season teams for baseball and football, including most valuable player in the Tri-Rivers conference and the Kirksville Daily Express player of the year.

Bo Bell
Height/Weight: 5-9, 175
High School: Rock Bridge High School
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
High School Coach: A.J. Ofodile
Parents:  Robert & Crystal Bell
Position: Quarterback
Key Stats: Threw for over 1800 yards senior season.
 
Bell earned all-district accolades as a quarterback at Columbia's Rock Bridge High School and helped lead the team to their first playoff appearance in five years. He was named a Mid-Missouri player of the week on two occasions and was voted the team's most valuable player. His junior season, Bell completed 29 of 41 passes for 515 yards and had a breakout during his senior season with a 59% completion percentage while throwing for over 1,800 yards and rushing for 500. Bell also earned All-Academic all-state distinction.

Devonte Black
Height/Weight: 6-0, 185
High School: Rich Central High School
Hometown: Matteson, Ill.
High School Coach: Terrell Alexander
Parents: Ken and Karen Black
Position: Quarterback
Key Stats: Passed for over 3,700 yards and 35 touchdowns the last two seasons.
 
Black is a dual threat quarterback with over 3,700 yards passing and 700 yards rushing and a total of 42 touchdowns his past two seasons as a starter. He has earned all-state honorable mention as well as being a two-time all-conference pick. He was named the team's most valuable player in both his junior and senior seasons and was one of the team's captains.

Connor Brown
Height/Weight: 6-2, 200
High School: Hannibal High School
Hometown: Hannibal, Mo.
High School Coach: Mark St. Clair
Mother: Paula Brown
Position:  Tight End
Key Stats:  Had 14 receptions for 399 yards.
 
Brown earned North Central Missouri Conference honors as both a tight end and defensive end for the Pirates. He was also an all-district player in both positions and was named a third team all-state selection as a tight end. He was named the Pirates Offensive player of the year after making 14 grabs for 399 yards and four touchdowns and averaged 28.5 yards after catch.  As a defensive end, Brown notched 27 tackles with 3.5 sacks and four fumble recoveries.  He is also a member of the Hannibal basketball team and is a thrower on the track and field squad, earning all-state honors with a seventh place finish in the discus as a junior.

Logan Carney
Height/Weight: 6-3, 210
High School: Pleasant Valley High School
Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa
High School Coach: Rusty VanWetzinga
Parents: Collin and Karen Carney
Position: Defensive Line
Key Stats: 63 Total tackles and six sacks senior year.
 
Carney was a 2011 all-conference football selection as he totaled 63 tackles, 18 solo with 18 tackles for loss and six sacks. He had 18 quarterback pressures, a fumble recovery and blocked both a field goal and punt while helping the Spartans to an 8-3 record. Carney is also an accomplished wrestler, earning all-conference honors the past three years and was ranked ninth in Iowa in the 195-pound weight class on Jan. 19th.

T.J. Fine
Height/Weight: 6-0, 180
High School: Fort Zumwalt West
Hometown: O'Fallon, Mo.
High School Coach: Paul Day
Parents: Tim and Rebecca Fine
Position: Defensive Back
Key Stats:  Had 12 career interceptions, including nine in one season.
Fine is a two-time first team all-state choice after finishing his career at Fort Zumwalt West with 104 tackles, 12 interceptions and 22 pass breakups. He was a first-team all-metro pick as well as a two-time all-conference first team choice. Fine broke a school record as a junior with nine interceptions and had three pass breakups in a game.

Hayden Gardner
Height/Weight: 6-1, 212
High School: Friendswood High School
Hometown: Friendswood, Texas
High School Coach: Steve Van Meter
Parents:  Gary Gardner  and Ann-Marie Johnson
Position:  Defensive Back
Key Stats:  Had 51 tackles with two blocked punts junior season.
 
Gardner was invited and participated in the United States Army All-American Combine and was the starting strong safety as his Friendswood team advanced to the Texas 4A State semifinals his junior year. That season, he had 51 tackles with six breakups, two blocked punts to go with his offensive numbers of 17 carries for 187 yards and five touchdowns. He was injured early in his senior season.

Matthew Guignon (GEE-on)
Height/Weight: 6-0, 205
High School: St. John Vianney High School
Hometown: Fenton, Mo.
High School Coach: Mike Diffley
Parents:  Jerry and Carla Guignon
Position: Linebacker
Key Stats:  Had 141 career tackles with 15 rushes and 12 receptions for four touchdowns.
 
Guignon was named the defensive most valuable player at Vianney following his senior season. He was also a first team Metro Catholic conference linebacker. For his career, had 141 total tackles while on the offensive side of the ball had 15 rushes and 12 receptions for four touchdowns.  Guignon was a three-year starter and letterwinner.

Aaron Hartfield
Height/Weight: 5-7, 185
High School: North Crowley High School
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
High School Coach: Keeath Magee
Parents:  Joseph and Mia Hartfield
Position: Running Back
Key Stats:  70 carries for 369 yards.
 
Hartfield was a second team all-district selection at North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He had 70 rushes for 369 yards and added six catches for 54 with four touchdowns and a pair of point-after conversions. Hartfield was a three-year letterwinner and two year starter while also running the 100 and 200 meter dash for the school's track and field team.

Chris Jackson
Height/Weight: 5-11, 180
High School: Macomb High School
Hometown: Macomb, Ill.
High School Coach: Kelly Sears
Parents: Danny Jackson & Helen Schultze
Position: Running Back
Key Stats: Had 3,152 career rushing yards with 2,052 coming his senior season.
 
Jackson was a first team all-state and two-time all-conference selection after rushing for 2,052 yards with 24 rushing touchdowns as a senior. He holds the Macomb school records for career rushing yards with 3,152 and single-season rushing yards with 2,052. He was named the 2011 KHQA Football Player of the year for the Tri-State area while also garnering Peoria Journal Star small school player of the year. Jackson was also a starter on the Bombers Basketball team and runs track.


Jesse Jenkins
Height/Weight: 5-9, 190
High School: William Brennan High School
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
High School Coach: Stephen Basore
Parents: Jesse and Ilena Jenkins
Position:  Running Back
Key Stats:  Recorded 1500 plus career rushing yards.
 
Jenkins was a two-year starter and three year varsity letterwinner while being named first team all-District as a running back and was named the male athlete of the year. Jenkins rushed for over 1,500 career yards while his team improved seven wins from his junior season.  Jenkins is also a four-year starter on the school's track team.

Roderick Jones
Height/Weight: 6-2, 180
High School: West Side High School
Hometown: Gary, Ind.
High School Coach: Jason Johnson
Parents: Rick and Wendy Jones
Position: Wide Receiver
Key Stats:  Had 16 catches for 231 yards and four touchdowns his senior season.
 
Jones was a triple threat on the offensive side of the ball as had 16 catches for 231 yards, 27 passes for another 276 yards and 22 rush attempts for 135 yards for a total of nine touchdowns his senior season. He was named first team all-conference in both his junior and senior season while also being named all-conference on the defensive side of the ball as a senior. Jones was an honorable mention all-area pick. He was a three-year starter and letterwinner as well as being a member of the school's track and field team.

Kyle Leckrone (Luh-KRONE)
Height/Weight: 6-2, 265
High School: St. Teresa High School
Hometown: Decatur, Ill.
High School Coach: Scott Davis/Tim Brilley
Parents: Pat & Julie Leckrone
Position: Defensive Line
Key Stats:  Named team's most valuable lineman.
 
Leckrone was a three-year starter and four year letterwinner on both the offensive and defensive line at St. Teresa. He was named first team all-conference for his play on both the offensive and defensive line and was selected by the team's most valuable lineman. Leckrone was named first team all-county for offense and is a starter on the basketball and baseball teams.
 
Nick Reichert
Height/Weight: 6-0, 251
High School: Quincy Notre Dame
Hometown: Quincy, Ill.
High School Coach: Bill Connell
Parents:  Joseph and Christine Reichert
Position: Defensive Line
Key Stats:  17 Tackles for loss, including four sacks senior year.
 
Reichert earned first team all-state honors as an offensive lineman and was a first team all-area defensive lineman as a senior. Reichert recorded 72 tackles with 17 for loss and four sacks. He had four sacks and 36 tackles as a junior. Reichert earned all-conference honors the past two seasons and was an academic all-state choice in both 2010 and 2011.

Joey Schenck (shank)
Height/Weight: 6-5, 190
High School: Rockwood Summit
Hometown: Fenton, Mo.
High School Coach: Mike Bellers
Parents:  Matt & Barb Schenck
Position: Wide Receiver
Key Stats:  109 career receptions for 1327 yards and 20 touchdowns
 
Schenck was a second team all-Suburban South conference player two straight years and was named the team's Most Athletic Player following his junior and senior season. Broke school records in single-game catches with eight then nine his senior year and single-season receptions with 49 then 56 his senior year. Schenck ended his high school career with 109 catches for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns. Rockwood Summit won consecutive Class 5, District 1 championships. Was also a all-conference honorable mention choice as a pitcher on the school's baseball team.

Tim Thomas
Height/Weight: 6-1, 210
High School: Francis Howell High School
Hometown: St. Charles, Mo.
High School Coach: Bryan Koch
Parents:  Ben and Cindy Thomas
Position:  Linebacker
Key Stats:  Recorded a school record 176 tackles in a season
 
Thomas was a two-time first team all-conference performer was also earning third team all-metro as a linebacker for Francis Howell High School. He broke the school record with 176 tackles his senior season that ranked fifth in Missouri high school football and totaled 275 his past two seasons. Francis Howell posted an 8-4 record his senior season with a trip to the state semifinals in Missouri's biggest class. Thomas also excelled in the weight room by breaking the Vikings record in the squat by completing 650 pounds.  In addition, Thomas is a four-year all-conference academic award winner and competed on the school's track and volleyball teams.

Brett Uhlemeyer (u-la-MY-her)
Height/Weight: 6-2, 200
High School: Fort Zumwalt West High School
Hometown: O'Fallon, Mo.
High School Coach: Paul Day
Parents: Doug Uhlemeyer and Lori Litzinger
Position: Defensive Back
Key Stats: Had 262 career tackles with four interceptions.
 
Uhlemeyer earned first team all-conference honors in three seasons at Fort Zumwalt West as well as being a three-time all-district and academic all-conference performer. Broke a school record with four fumble recoveries for a season and finished his high school career with 262 tackles, eight total fumble recoveries, four interceptions and 15 tipped passes.  Was a three-year starter and letterwinner on both the football and basketball teams at Fort Zumwalt West.

Kye VanNess
Height/Weight: 6-3; 280
High School: Farmington High School
Hometown: Farmington Mo.
High School Coach: Todd Vaughn
Parents: Scott & Shelli VanNess
Position: Offensive Line
 
VanNess was named to the 2011 Southeast Missouri Conference (SEMO) team as both an offensive and defensive lineman and his team won their Missouri Class 4 district title and advanced to the state semi-finals before falling to MICDS. They finished the season 12-2…was also the 285-pound SEMO champion as a senior which helped the team capture the league championship in 2012…VanNess signed an institutional letter of intent.


Brad Wellman
Height/Weight: 6-3, 295
High School: Quincy Notre Dame High School
Hometown: Quincy, Ill.
High School Coach: Bill Connell
Parents:  Cliff and Peggy Deverger
Position: Offensive Lineman
Key Stats:  Had 23 tackles and a forced fumble
 
Wellman was an anchor on the Quincy Notre Dame offensive line the past two seasons as he earned all-state honorable mention accolades following his senior season. He was also named to the 2011 all-Mid State Six first team and all-Area first team while earning second team all-conference and honorable mention all-area in 2010.

Allen Young
Height/Weight: 5-8, 158
High School: Northwest High School
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
High School Coach: Bill Patterson
Parents:  C.J. and Kim
Position:  Wide Receiver
Key Stats:  38 receptions for 606 yards and five touchdowns senior season.
 
Young was a first team all-district for Class 5A in Texas his senior season after grabbing 38 passes for 606 yards and five touchdowns. He added 24 rushes for 124 yards and a score plus had eight kick returns for 177 yards and six punt returns for 66 yards.  With those numbers, Young was named the team offensive most valuable player. Young also earned first team all-district honors as a junior with 30 receptions for 300 yards, 23 rushes for 152 and a total of 31 special team returns for over 500 yards.  Young is also a member of the high school basketball and track teams.

Austin Zoda
Height/Weight: 5-10, 180
High School: Frisco High School
Hometown: Frisco, Texas
High School Coach: Vance Gibson
Parents: Jon and Marissa Zoda
Position:  Defensive Back
Key Stats:  276 career tackles; 5 Interceptions
 
Zoda earned all-district honors in 2010 and was the team's all-purpose most valuable player in 2011 along with being named a team captain. On the defensive side of the ball, Zoda registered 276 career tackles with five interceptions, nine forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and one touchdown. Was also running back/wide receiver with 23 receptions for 366 yards and 39 carries for 300 yards and 10 total scores. Zoda was a two-time winner of the Bubba Storey Award and a winner of the David Holt Award in 2012.