MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University head football coach Rich Wright has announced the additions of 36 student-athletes to the Bearcat roster following national signing day on Wednesday. The 2015 and 2016 NCAA Division II National Champions class includes student-athletes from eight different states including Iowa (10), Missouri (7), Nebraska (5), Wisconsin (5), Florida (3), Kansas (3), Illinois (2) and Indiana (1). There are 19 offensive players, 16 defensive players and one kicker.

The 2017 signing day class average GPA was 3.14 with an average ACT score of 22. There are 27 individuals who have earned an academic scholarship at Northwest.

“First I would like to thank our coaching staff,” said Wright. “When you play for a National Championship, your window for recruiting becomes finite. The coaches hit the ground running and compiled a tremendous group of talented individuals. The quality of student athlete that we brought to campus was remarkable and will make this community proud. The class fits our culture and will positively represent the program and university.

“Coaches are only one piece of the recruiting puzzle. Our faculty goes above and beyond the call to help share our amazing university with student athletes and their families. We appreciate their willingness to give of their time and talents to help in the process. You have a profound impact on why our players select Northwest Missouri State University. Thank you for your continued commitment and passion for Northwest.

Finally I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our outstanding support staff. Lori Hopkins, Joe Quinlin and Kelly Quinlin, Ashley Strickland, Matt Jasinski, Andy Peterson, Nate Davis, Scott Nielson, Mel Tjeerdsma, Mark Clements, our admissions staff/tour guides, Dr. Matt Walker, Tucker Peve, Marshall Fey, and our buildings/grounds staff . The time and attention from these individuals are what makes Northwest unique when recruits and their parents compare us to other institutions. We appreciate your hard work, and dedication.”
Michael Ahrendsen | 6-1 299 OL La Porte City, Iowa / Union HS
Ahrendsen led Union High School to a 2016 Class 2A runner up finish at state … selected to the 2017 Iowa Shrine Bowl … named first team 2A All-State by the Des Moines Register … three time first team all-district … 2016 district 4 defensive line MVP … four-year starter, two year team captain and two year team MVP … class 2A state wrestling qualifier … 2015 class 2A State Wrestling Duals team champion … member of the Leadership Council … Garret Gingrich Leadership Award recipient … played for head coach Joe Hadachek … plans to be an Agriculture major … parents are Cory and Jan Ahrendsen.

Phillip Blaine | 6-1 260 DT Apopka, Fla. / Apopka HS
Blaine helped lead Apopka High School to a 2014 8A state championship in Florida … 2013 team was state runner-up … 2013 and 2016 district champion … selected to the Central Florida All-Star team … member of the Academic Consortium of Scholars … 3.17 cumulative GPA … played for coach Rick Darlington … plans to be a Computer Science major … parents are Gregory and Phyllis Blaine.

Calvin Bright | 6-4 245 DE Roland, Iowa / Roland- Story HS
Bright was a first team all-state selection at Roland-Story High School … two time first team all-district 3 defensive lineman … named district three defensive MVP … class 2A sack leader in 2016 … Heart of Iowa Conference champion in wrestling … named to the school’s A Honor Roll … coached by Aaron Stensland … plans to major in Physical Education with an emphasis in coaching … parents are Ralph Bright and Michelle Bright.

Armani Carmickle | 6-2 180 WR Kenosha, Wisc. / Indian Trail Academy
Carmickle was an all-state honorable mention wide receiver at Indian Trail Academy … named all-conference, all-region … named school’s Male Athlete of the Year … named team MVP … indoor state champion in long jump and triple jump, earning Athlete of the Meet honors … finished second in triple jump at outdoor state championships … holds school records in triple and long jumps … coached by Mike McKay … plans to be a Biology/Psychology major … parents are John and Marci Carmickle.

Jack Carnie | 6-5 300 OL Roca, Neb. / Norris HS
Carnie was an all-state honorable mention performer at Norris High School … led team to district title … selected to the 2016 River Battle Bowl All-Star Game … named honorable mention all-district … three time track and field letterman … named to school’s AB Honor Roll four times … coached by Jim Jacobsen … plans to be a Business major … parents are David and Amy Carnie.

Braden Dey | 6-1 175 LB Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln North Star HS
Dey was a two time honorable mention Class A All-State performer at Lincoln North Star High School … twice named first team all-conference and was a first team all-city performer two times … voted team captain in 2016, being named team’s MVP … named to the 2016 River Battle Bowl … voted team defensive MVP as a junior … helped lead team to state playoffs in 2015 … three time baseball starter … named to school’s academic honor roll … coached by Mark Waller … plans to be a Biology/Psychology major … parents are Rick and Karie Dey.

Jacob Erdman | 6-3 285 OL Plover, Wisc. / Steven’s Point HS
Erdman was a first-team All-State offensive line performer at Steven’s Point Area Senior High School … was named the WVCS’s lineman of the year in back-to-back years … twice named first team all-conference … holds a 3.3 GPA … coached by Pete McAdams … plans to major in Business with an emphasis in marketing … mother is Tammy Schwebach-Erdman.

TJ Garrity | 6-4 240 DE Waukesha, Wisc. / Waukesha South HS
Garrity was named the 16th best prospect in the state of Wisconsin by WISSports.com … was an all-conference, all-area and all-county performer … named to the Tim Krumrie Award Watchlist, given to the best defensive lineman in Wisconsin … named to school’s academic honor roll … three-sport scholar athlete award … coached by A.J. Raebel … plans to be a Business major … parents are Tom and Mary Garrity.

Cody Gilman | 6-3 280 OL Hardin, Ill. / Calhoun HS
Gilman was a first-team All-State offensive lineman at Calhoun High School … named to the Illinois Shriner High School All-Star team in 2016 … two time all-conference performer on the offensive and defensive lines … named academic all-conference in 2015 and 2016 … coached by Aaron Elmore … plans to be an Agronomy major … parents are Kevin and Heather Gilman.

Gus Gomez | 6-0 170 WR Stilwell, Kan. / Blue Valley HS
Gomez earned all-state honorable mention accolades at Blue Valley High School … named All-EKL … an all-state honorable mention performer in basketball and also earned all-conference honors … named to school’s academic honor roll with a 3.3 GPA … coached by Eric Driskell … undecided on major … parents are Ruben and Sue Gomez.

Kendall Gould | 6-1 170 WR Waukesha, Wisc. / Waukesha North HS
Gould was a first team all-conference performer at Waukesha North High School … four-sport athlete, named first team all-conference in track and holds school record in triple jump … second team all-conference performer in basketball … named honorable mention all-conference in baseball … coached by Matt Harris … undecided on major … mother is Michelle Vasquez.

Elijah Green | 5-11 240 LB Maryville, Mo. / Maryville HS
Green was a two-time all-state performer at Maryville High School … was twice named all-conference and all-district … led team to four straight conference and district titles … team won 2013 state title and were runners-up in 2016 … named to the schools AB Honor Roll four times … coached by Matt Webb … undecided on major … parents are Clarence and Chelli Green.

David High | 6-4 300 OL Matteson, Ill. / Rich Central HS
High was a second team all-area performer at Rich Central High School … twice named all-conference … won team’s offensive MVP honors … named team’s most improved player in 2015 … named to school’s academic honor roll … DECA state qualifier … named school’s DECA MVP … coached by Terrell Alexander … plans to major in Business with an emphasis in sports management … parents are David High and Chery Hamilton.

Kadon Hulett | 6-3 230 DE Creston, Iowa / Creston HS
Hulett was named second team all-state in 2016 at Creston High School … was a first team all-district and a first team OWH All-Western Iowa performer … second team all-district in 2015 … two time team captain … second team all-district, all-conference and All-Western Iowa performer in baseball … two time state qualifier in wrestling, leading team to title in 2016 … member of the National Honor Society … won team GPA awards in baseball, wrestling and football … coached by Brian Morrison … plans to major in Psychology … parents are Chuck and Tami Hulett.

Keilon Hunter | 5-9 155 DB Overland Park, Kan. / Blue Valley North HS
Hunter was an honorable mention all-state defensive back at Blue Valley North High School … named to the All-EKL team as a junior and again as a senior … won the Time Warner Cable Play of the Year honor as a junior … lettered three times in football … named academic all-conference twice … named to school’s academic honor roll … coached by Andy Sims … plans to major in business … parents are Ray Hunter and Carmen Conn.

Cuttar Huss | 6-0 175 WR Troy, Kan. / Troy HS
Huss was a two-time Kansas 2-1A Offensive Player of the Year honoree at Troy High School … led team to 2-1A state championship as a senior in 2016 … named first team all-state three times at wide receiver … named to the Kansas All-Class All-State Top-11 … invited to the 2017 Kansas Shrine Bowl … named first team All-State in basketball as a junior … named second-team all state in baseball as a junior … led baseball team to a third place finish at state in 2016 … co-Valedictorian of graduating class … named to school’s Dean’s list … coached by Derek Jasper … plans to major in Biology … parents are Don and Jill Huss.

Dante Keys | 6-1 180 WR Plainfield , Ind. / Plainfield HS
Keys was an all-conference performer at Plainfield High School … led the team as a senior with 1,194 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns … broke school record with a 99 yard kickoff return … lettered in football three times … also a two-time indoor state track and field qualifier … 3.99 GPA … member of the National Honors Society … DECA member … coached by Brian Woodard … plans to major in Biology … parents are Parke and Stephanie Lucas.

Jack Moore | 6-3 210 LB Oskaloosa, Iowa / Oskaloosa HS
Moore was named to the 2016 INA All-State third team at Oskaloosa High School … earned first team all-district honors as a senior … voted team MVP as a senior … team captain in both football and basketball during junior and senior seasons … named second team all-conference in basketball as a junior and was honorable mention as a sophomore … qualified for state in high jump during sophomore seasons … has lettered three times in football and four times in basketball … named to the 2016 Academic All-State football team … three time academic all-conference performer in football … two time academic all-conference in basketball and track … coached by Jake Jenkins … plans to major in Biology … parents are Matt and Elizabeth Moore.

Sam Phillips | 6-2 210 LB Tabor, Iowa / Fremont Mills HS
Phillips was a three-time All-State performer at Fremont Mills High School … he was named first team all-district all four seasons … earned football academic all-state honors and was a six time academic all-conference selection … was a three-time first team all-conference selection in basketball … qualified for state in track three times, placing twice … earned All-Western Iowa honors in football and basketball three times … coached by Jeremy Christiansen … plans to major in Biology … parents are Brett and Annie Phillips.

Israel Pitchford | 6-2 200 LB Waukesha, Wisc. / Waukesha North HS
Pitchford was an all-conference honorable mention performer at Waukesha North High School … named scholar athlete three times … admitted into the Gifted and Talented program … coached by Matthew Harris … plans to major in Business Management … parents are Marlon and Mindy Pitchford.

Cole Rollnger | 5-10 190 DB Eldridge, Iowa / North Scott HS
Rollinger was named an all-state wide receiver by the Iowa News Association in 2016 at North Scott High School .. named first team all-district and first team all-metro during senior season … finished second on the team in tackles as a senior after leading the team during junior year … invited to the Blue-Grey All-America Bowl in Jacksonville Fla., in 2016 … as a junior, named all-district, all conference and all-metro … earned a first-quarter Football Academic Award in the fall of 2016 … coached by Kevin Tipper … plans to major in Exercise Science … parents are John and Kim Rollinger.

Eli Ross | 6-1 230 LB Kansas City, Mo. / Staley HS
Ross was a three-time all-state performer at Staley High School … named All-Suburban White Conference four times, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016 … named all-district three times and all-city two years … was an All-Simone performer twice … left Staley HS as the program’s record holder with 374 total tackles and 210 solo tackles … named to schools academic honor roll four times and has earned three academic letters … coached by Phil Lite … plans to major in Computer Science … parents are Keith and Joyce Ross.

Corbin Ruth | 6-0 180 DB Malcolm, Neb. / Seward HS
Ruth was an all-state honorable mention performer as a junior and again as a senior at Seward High School … two-time first team all-district honoree … selected to the 2016 River City Bowl … earned the Seward Football Fourth-Quarter Award three times … four time letter winner in football … named the Elks Male Sports Award recipient in 2016 … all-state honorable mention performer in basketball and was an all-district honoree in 2016 … lettered in basketball and baseball … member of the National Honors Society … academic all-state in football, basketball and baseball … named to school’s academic honor roll … coached by Jamie Opfer … plans to major in Biology … parents are Royce and Jennifer Ruth.

Jacob Ruzicka | 6-2 220 TE Wahoo, Neb. / Wahoo HS
Ruzicka was a first team all-state performer at Wahoo High School … was a two-time fall-area and all-district performer during junior and senior seasons … was an all-state performer in basketball … named first team all-conference twice in basketball and earned all-conference MVP honors in 2015-16 … coached by Chad Fox … plans to major in Agricultural Business … parents are John and Vicki Ruzicka.

Parker Sampson | 5-10 185 K Kansas City, Mo. / Park Hill HS
Sampson was a MFCA first team all-state kicker at Park Hill High School … named first team all-class 6 district 4, first team All-Suburban Conference Gold Division and Missouri Media All-State Class six as a senior … set seven Missouri state high school kicking and punting records … 2015 Kansas City Star All-Metro second team kicker … MFCA third team all-state kicker in 2015 … two time first team all-district performer … named team’s MVP in 2015 and was program’s special teams player of the year three times … had a 3.0 GPA … coached by Josh Hood … plans to major in Business … parents are Tom and Kelley Sampson.

Chase Shiltz | 5-10 190 RB Creston, Iowa / Creston HS
Shiltz was a two-time first team all-state running back at Creston High School … earned second team all-state honors in 2014 … finished his high school career with 5,329 rushing yards … had 11 games with 200 or more rushing yards … recorded four 300+ rushing yard performances … two year team captain … coached by Brian Morrison … undecided on major … parents are John and Dorie Shiltz.

Cody Tanner | 6-2 285 OL Greenfield, Iowa / Creston HS
Tanner earned third team all-state honors in 2016 at Creston High School … was a two time first-team all-conference performer … lettered in football three years … coached by Brian Morrison … plans to major in Agriculture … parents are Roger and Robbie Tanner.

Raymond Thomas | 5-7 170 RB Bradenton, Fla. / Braden River HS
Thomas was an all-county first team honoree at Braden River High School … was a two-time all-area performer … was team captain in 2016 … three year starter … coached by Curt Bradley … plans to major in Business … parents are Raymond Thomas Sr., and Katina Williams.

Jordan Thompson | 5-10 190 RB Apopka, Fla. / Apopka HS
Thompson helped lead Apopka High School to a 2016 district title, going 9-0 … named team captain and earned the Apopka War Eagle award … named to the school’s academic honor roll … coached by Rick Darlington … plans to major in Business … parents are Wesley Thompson and Renee Tulloch.

Tucker Tripp | 6-3 230 DE Maryville, Mo. / Maryille HS
Tripp was a first team all-state performer at Maryville High School … earned first team all-conference, all-district and all-county honors during his junior and senior seasons … named first team all-media as a senior … was the 2016 St. Joseph News Press Defensive Player of the Year … named a KKWK-KMRN all-star defensive end as a senior … named to the schools’ Bronze Honor Roll three times … named to the 95% club during junior and senior years … coached by Matt Webb … plans to major in Business … parents are Brian and Shelly Tripp.

Jared Vineyard | 6-1 210 TE Kansas City, Mo. / Staley HS
Vineyard was an all-district and all-conference performer at Staley High School … member of the National Honors Society … named to the Staley Falcon Honor Roll … coached by Phil Lite … plans to major in Biology … father is Joe Vineyard, mother is Rochelle Lite and stepfather is Phil Lite.

Jackson Walker | 6-2 215 DE Solon, Iowa / Solon HS
Walker was a second team all-district honoree at Solon High School … named to the all-district academic team … coached by Kevin Miller … plans to major in Biology … parents are Damon and Carolin Walker.

Trey Washington | 6-1 175 DB Grimes, Iowa / Dallas Center-Grimes HS
Washington was a second team all-state performer at Dallas Center-Grimes High School … earned first team all-district accolades three times … named to school’s AB Honor Roll three times … coached by Scott Heitland … plans to major in Business … parents are Gabe and Heidi Washington.

Jake White | 6-1 265 OL Maryville, Mo. / Maryville HS
White was an all-state offensive lineman at Maryville High School … twice earned All-MEC honors on the offensive line … was a 2016 all-district honoree … named to the 2015 and 2016 All-Fall Nodaway County team … served as team captain in 2016 … named to school’s academic honor roll three times … coached by Matt Webb … plans to major in Education … parents are Suzi White and the late Dr. Jason T. White.

Max Wittman | 6-5 260 OL Kansas City, Mo. / Liberty HS
Wittman was a two-time all-conference performer at Liberty High School … named second team all-district as a senior … earned academic all-state honors in 2016 … coached by Chad Frigon … plans to major in Biology/Chemistry … parents are Jim Wittman and Sara Madson.

Braden Wright | 6-2 180 QB Elkhorn, Neb. / Elkhorn South HS
Wright helped lead Elkhorn South High School to a pair of state championships … named to the Class B All-State team … named second team Superstate … two time all-area, all-district and all-conference performer … named to school’s academic honor roll … scored 29 on ACT … coached by Guy Rosenberg … plans to major in Biology … parents are Bobby and Lisa Wright.

— Northwest Athletics —