Missouri State University has announced the receipt of National Letters of Intent from 20 high school and junior college students who have committed to play football for the Bears this fall.  The class includes 12 high school seniors and eight transfers.

“We were able to get most of the players we targeted, and we are very excited about this year’s class,” said head coach Terry Allen, who will begin his seventh season with the Bears in 2012. “We have a good group of local players and have addressed some immediate needs with transfers.”

The recruits are from eight different states, including eight from Missouri.

Missouri State’s high school commitments are:

Ryan Boatright (TE, 6-4, 233, Fr., Jenks, Okla., Jenks High)

Was an all-district pick at tight end in 2011 for Coach Allan Trimble at Jenks (Okla.) High … Started three seasons and finished with 41 receptions for 5 touchdowns … Helped lead Jenks to an 11-3 record and Oklahoma state semifinal appearance in 2011 as well as state finals trips in 2009 (12-2) and 2010 (13-1) … Is also in his fourth year as a starter on the Jenks basketball team.

Khellan Bruce (DL, 6-2, 285, Fr., Memphis, Tenn., Central High)

Four-year starter on the defensive line at Central High in Memphis, Tenn. … Recorded 46 tackles, 14 for loss, 2 sacks and 3 blocked kicks for Coach Lynord Crutchfield his senior season … Earned preseason all-state honors as well as all-city, all-district, all-metro, and all-conference postseason honors for the Warriors in 2011 … Was a second-team all-district and all-city defensive tackles his junior season … Also helped the Central track team to three straight conference titles as a standout shot and discus thrower.

Dylan Cole (ATH, 6-0, 206, Fr., Rogersville, Mo., Logan-Rogersville High)

Standout local product who was a Missouri Class 3 consensus all-state RB after he compiled 2,002 rushing yards on 225 carries for 33 touchdowns for the state champions at Logan-Rogersville High in 2011 … Also caught 23 passes for 511 yards and another 10 scores for Coach Doug Smith … Wildcats were 14-1 this fall … Likely to play linebacker for the Bears after he registered 102 total tackles, 7 for loss and a pair of interceptions as a senior … Rushed for 75 yards and had 5 tackles in the Show-Me Bowl win over John Burroughs in St. Louis … Named MHSFCA Offensive Player of the Year in 2011 as well as Central Ozarks Co-Offensive Player of the Year and SWMFCA Offensive Player of the Year … Was also all-conference, all-region, All-Ozarks and all-district at both RB and DB in 2011 … Carried 210 times for 1,492 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior with 1,816 all-purpose yards and 20 scores … Was a third-team all-state RB in 2010 as well as all-district, All-Ozarks, all-region and all-conference … Played for four state playoff teams and three district championship teams and finished his career with 4,172 rushing yards and 61 ground touchdowns.

A.J. Eaves (OL, 6-5, 280, Fr., Lamar, Mo., Lamar High)

Played right guard as a high school senior for Coach Scott Bailey at Lamar (Mo.) High … Helped lead an offense that compiled more than 6,500 total yards and earned the Missouri Class 2 state title in 2011… Earned Class 2 all-state and All-Ozarks honors in 2011 as well as all-conference and All-Ozarks recognition … Provided spark for Lamar offense to rack up 442 yards of total offense in Show-Me Bowl victory over Lafayette County … Was third-team all-state as a junior along with second-team all-conference and first-team all-district for the state semifinalists … Was part of four straight district championship teams at Lamar … Also plays basketball and baseball.

David Godsey (OL, 6-5, 260, Fr., Raymore, Mo., Raymore-Peculiar High)

Was a three-year letterman for Coach Tom Kruse at Raymore-Peculiar (Mo.) High School … Was a Suburban Big 6 all-conference selection at offensive tackle as a senior … Was a Top 100 selection at the NUC Combine last summer … Played offensive line and long snapper at Ray-Pec and was part of two playoff teams and a conference championship squad … Also a black belt in tae kwan do.

Zac Hoover (WR, 6-0, 180, Fr., Grain Valley, Mo., Grain Valley High)

A Missouri Class 4 all-state second team selection as a senior, Hoover accounted for 26 touchdowns in 2011 for Coach Jimmy Tucker at Grain Valley High … Pulled in 15 touchdown receptions as a senior … Also accounted for 1,600 all-purpose yards, including 11 rushing touchdowns … In 2011, he earned all-state, all-conference, all-area and all-metro honors along with KMZU Dream Team distinction … Was also all-conference and all-area as a junior and was part of a state playoff team in 2009 … Finished his career with 108 receptions and 38 touchdowns … Was also an all-state wrestler and hurdler as a junior at Grain Valley, finishing third in the state wrestling tournament as a junior (31-12) and sixth in the 110 high hurdles.

Jarvis Jones (ATH, 6-1, 190, Fr., Webb City, Mo., Webb City High)

A standout receiver and defensive back at Webb City (Mo.) High, Jones will give Missouri State an athletic option at multiple positions … Tallied 30 catches for 712 yards and 7 touchdowns for Coach John Roderique as a senior … Helped lead the Cardinals to back-to-back Missouri Class 4 titles and 15-0 seasons in 2010 and 2011 … Teams were 43-1 in his three seasons as a letterman for the Cardinals … Was a first-team all-state defensive back as well as all-district, all-conference, all-region and All-Ozarks selection in 2011 … Snagged 13 receptions for 186 yards as a junior while earning honorable mention all-region distinction … Had 45 catches for 944 yards in his career … Ran a 10.94 in the 100-meter dash at the 2011 Class 4 state meet to finish fourth and also anchored the fourth-place 4×100 relay team.

Tre Kelly (WR, 6-3, 195, Fr., Edmond, Okla., Santa Fe High)

Was an all-state receiver for Coach Lance Manning at Santa Fe High in Edmond, Okla. … Snagged 52 receptions for 746 yards and 7 touchdowns as a senior for the Wolves … Selected to play in the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-Star Game in July … Earned all-state, All-Vype, and all-city for the district champs in 2011 … Was also named the Class 6A co-receiver of the year for District 2 … Made the Vype All-Central Oklahoma second team in 2011, along with All-Edmond first team honors.

Cedric Miller, Jr. (RB, 6-0, 205, Fr., Memphis, Tenn., Southwind High)

A big running back with the game-changing speed, Miller rushed 232 times for 1,975 yards and 31 touchdowns as a prep senior at Memphis (Tenn.) Southwind High … Also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a senior and compiled 2,495 all-purpose yards while averaging 22.3 points … Coached by his father, Cedric Miller, Sr., he earned all-state, all-conference and all-metro honors and helped the Jaguars to a 7-3 finish and state playoff appearance in 2011 …Collected 675 yards on just 75 carries as a junior, but earned a reputation as an all-conference and all-metro defensive back with 112 tackles, 23 for loss and a pair of interceptions … Notched 68 tackles, 15 for loss and 3 picks as a sophomore … Is also a standout sprinter as part of a state championship 4×100 relay team in 2010 and qualified for state in three relays and the 200-meter dash  in 2011 … Played varsity soccer two seasons.

Sam Schwartze (OL, 6-4, 280, Fr., Springfield, Mo., Springfield Catholic High)

Two-year starter at left tackle for Coach Bobby Cornelison at Springfield (Mo.) Catholic High … Was limited to four games as a senior due to a foot injury, but did not allow a sack … Earned all-conference and all-district honorable mention honors in 2011 after garnering first-team honors as a junior on both teams … Part of three district championship teams … Did not allow any sacks in 12 games as a junior … Also threw the discus his freshman season.

Riley Shantz (OL, 6-4, 295, Fr., Springfield, Mo., Glendale High)

A December high school graduate, Shantz is already enrolled at Missouri State and will participate in spring workouts for the Bears … Three-year starter at guard and center for Coach Joel Heman at Glendale High in Springfield … Led team to an 8-2 overall record, district title and Ozark Conference runner-up finish in 2011 as a standout center … Was a second-team Class 5 all-state pick as a senior as well as all-conference, all-district and All-Ozarks honoree.

Colby Wickwar (LS, 6-0, 200, Fr., Nixa, Mo., Nixa High)

Was a three-year starter at long snapper for Coach Rich Rehagan at Nixa (Mo.) High and was a starter on the offensive line as a senior … Helped lead Eagles to a 10-2 record, district title and a state playoff berth in 2011 … He earned honorable mention all-conference distinction as a senior and was named NHS Special Teams MVP … Attended Kohl’s national showcase events before his junior and senior seasons, placing second at the Texas event in 2010 and 7th at the Orlando event in 2010.

Missouri State’s junior college commitments are:

Patrick Blanar (OL, 6-3, 295, Jr., El Mirage, Ariz., Cactus High, Scottsdale [Ariz.] CC)

Already enrolled at Missouri State, he will participate in spring workouts for the Bears … Two-year starter for Coach Doug Madowski at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College, Blanar started 21 straight games on the Artichokes’ offensive line … Led squad to a 7-4 mark and runner-up finish in the WSFL as a sophomore in 2011 … Was a two-year starter and three-time letterman for coach Larry Fetkenheir at Cactus High in Glendale, Ariz. … Helped the Cobras to a 13-1 record and 2009 Arizona state title his senior season while earning all-state, all-region and Arizona Top 25 distinction … Was also part of a regional championship team as a sophomore and earned all-region first team honors in 2008 and 2009.

Kerry Burks (DL, 6-2, 270, Jr., Tulsa, Okla., McClain High, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M)

As a sophomore at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Burkes registered 88 tackles, 10 for loss and a conference-best 8 sacks for Coach Dale Patterson … His tackle total was second in the conference … Earned All-Southwest Junior College Conference first-team honors in 2011 … Was a prep all-state pick as a senior for Coach Dan Bitson and McClain High in Tulsa.

Seginald Chaney (LB, 5-10, 221, So., Jacksonville, Fla., Terry Parker High, Independence [Kan.] CC)

Chaney is already enrolled at Missouri State and will take part in spring drills … Compiled 69 tackles and a pair of sacks last season at Independence (Kan.) Community College, while taking over the starting linebacker role and also playing special teams … Redshirted as a true freshman in 2010 … Was a three-year starter for coaches Jim Scible (2008) and Greg Stanton (2006-07) at Terry Parker High in Jacksonville, Fla. … Led Braves to a 7-3 record as a standout linebacker his senior season.

Adam Dixon (CB, 5-10, 185, Jr., Laveen, Ariz., Cesar Chavez High, Scottsdale [Ariz.] CC)

A sensational athlete with a 3-star rating by Rivals.com, Cole played 7 games as a sophomore last season for Coach Doug Madoski at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College … Compiled 9 tackles, 3 pass break-ups and a forced fumbles in 2011 … Accounted for 4 interceptions at Scottsdale as well … Was a track and football standout at Cesar Chavez High in Laveen, Ariz. … Tallied 79 tackles, 4 blocked punts, 4 break-ups and a pair of forced fumbles as a senior for Coach Jim Rattay … Was a two-time Arizona North-South All-Star Game participant and 2009 all-state and all-region selection … Was part of a nationally-ranked 4×100-meter relay team that ran a 40.90 at the state meet … Has registered a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash and has a 31-inch vertical.

Spencer Emerson (DL, 6-2, 335, Jr., Clive, Iowa, Dowling Catholic High, Ellsworth [Iowa] CC)

Enrolled at MSU and will participate in spring drills … Played last two seasons at Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College for Coach Mike Virden … Was part of four conference championship teams for Coach Tom Wilson at Dowling Catholic High in West Des Moines, Iowa … Maroons were 13-1 his senior season in 2009 and finished as state runners-up … Was an elite all-state first-team pick in 2009 as well as an all-conference and all-city selection … Dowling High was 9-3 and reached the state quarterfinals his junior year.

Tim Piccarreto (LB, 6-2, 240, Jr., Fort Collins, Colo. Poudre High, Glendale [Ariz.] CC)

Finished third on the team in total tackles with 57 for Coach Mickey Bell at Glendale (Ariz.) Community College in 2011 … Led Glendale to an 8-4 record and berth in the Valley of the Sun Bowl last season … Earned all-conference and all-state distinction as a senior at Poudre High in Fort Collins, Colo. … Helped Coach Steve Bradley’s team to a 10-3 record and state semifinal run as a standout middle linebacker his senior season (2008) … Posted 111 total tackles and earned second-team all-state and first-team all-conference distinction while … Was also a three-year letterman in wrestling.

Jeremiah Plowden (S, 5-11, 180, Jr., Wichita, Kan., Southeast High, Fort Scott [Kan.] CC)

Was a two-year starter for Coach Curtis Horton at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, earning honorable mention all-conference distinction as a sophomore in 2011 … Was a three-sport standout at Southeast High in Wichita, Kan., where he played basketball, football and track … Passed for over 1,200 yards as a senior and earned all-city honorable mention laurels … Also played cornerback.

C.J. Randall (DL, 6-5, 270, Jr., Gilbert, Ariz., Mesquite High, Glendale [Ariz.] CC)

A standout junior college defensive end, Randall posted 41 tackles, 8 for loss and 3 sacks as a sophomore for Coach Mickey Bell at Glendale (Ariz.) Community College … Led team to an 8-4 record and berth in the Valley of the Sun Bowl in 2011 … Earned all-conference, all-region and all-state as a standout defensive lineman at Mesquite (Texas) High.

— MSU Sports Information —