2013 Quincy University Signing Day Head Coach: Tom Pajic SID Contact: Brendan Bittner Wednesday, Feb

2013 Quincy University Signing Day Head Coach: Tom Pajic SID Contact: Brendan Bittner Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Hawks Ink 29 Recruits on National Signing Day

QUINCY, Ill. – Quincy University head football coach Tom Pajic announed the signing of 29 student-athletes on Wednesday’s (Feb. 6) NCAA National Signing Day. These student-athletes will play football for the Hawks, beginning in the fall of 2013.

“Recruiting is a year-round process, and being hired last December (2011) didn’t allow for the full recruiting cycle to take place. Now that we had a full cycle we certainly took advantage of it,” said Pajic. “We wanted to recruit good, solid football players regard- less of position. Our evaluation consisted of their abilities to play the game at a high level and production.”

This football recruiting class – the second under Pajic – consists of 29 total players from three states, including Illinois (15), Missouri (13) and Iowa (one).

“Our focus was certainly in region,” said Pajic. “When I was hired, we talked about recruiting our backyard and I believe we ac- complished that with this class.”

Quincy will open the 2013 season at Western Illinois of the Football Championship Subdivision on Sept.7 in Macomb, Ill.

The following are the 29 student-athletes signed to the 2013 QU recruting class.

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School Head Coach Jake Braskett WR 6-0 185 Wonder Lake, Ill./McHenry Dave D’Angelo Adehkeem Brown DB 5-10 175 St. Louis, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins Mike Tarpey Kirkland Burton SS 5-11 185 St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville Eric Meyer Dillon Butler WR 5-10 180 Griggsville, Ill./Griggsville-Perry Don Bigley Cole Byford FB 6-1 220 Bertrand, Mo./Charleston Brett Blackman Nick Clark SS 6-1 192 Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls Brad Remmert Tim Cox OL 5-11 240 Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan Par Pitts Keith Craig DB 6-0 160 Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy Dan Sharp Gabe Ferguson DB 5-11 185 Rochester, Ill./Rochester Derek Leonard Alex Gholson CB 6-0 175 Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan Par Pitts Chris Harris RB 6-0 190 Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin Ken Leonard Kyle Harris CB 5-11 170 O’Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West Paul Day Dalton Heubner DB 5-8 170 Camp Point, Ill./Camp Point Central Brad Dixon Darian Johnson DL 6-2 265 Freeport, Ill./Freeport Aaron Wichman Da’Vione Johnson OL 6-0 270 St. Louis, Mo./Soldan International Sean Morris Troy Johnson FB 6-1 240 Munster, Ind./St. Rita (Ill.) Todd Kuska Malik Joseph LB 6-0 200 St. Louis, Mo./Vashon Reginald Ferguson Kyle Lyon SS 6-1 190 Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg Community Ronnie Stuart Dominic Masciopinto RB 5-2 155 Chicago, Ill./Steinmetz Tim McNaulty Tyler McNeil DB 6-1 182 St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University HS Gary Kornfeld Drew Miller OL 6-3 275 Camp Point, Ill./Camp Point Central Brad Dixon Justin Mitchell OL 6-0 253 Olivette, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins Mike Tarpey Robbie Overstreet II TE 6-4 220 Kingdom City, Mo./North Callaway Mike Emmons Evan Powell WR 6-4 175 St. Clair, Mo./St. Clair Cody McDowell Justin Riggian WR 6-1 170 Chicago, Ill./Chicago Bulls Prep Steve Silva Ethan Rockhold CB 5-9 175 Quincy, Ill/Quincy Rick Little Nate Rueckemann S 6-1 190 McHenry, Ill./McHenry Dave D’Angelo Levi Smith OL 5-11 240 Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud David Lucht Bryan Watkins K 5-9 160 Aurora, Ill./West Aurora Nate Eimer Shelby Wilson FS 5-9 170 Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge A.J. Ofodile The following pages contain the further information on each of these future QU student-athletes. 2013 Quincy University Signing Day Head Coach: Tom Pajic SID Contact: Brendan Bittner Jake Braskett, WR

6-0 | 185 | Wonder Lake, Ill./McHenry Head Coach: Dave D’Angelo

Prior to Quincy: Braskett was all-area honorable mention as a senior... He had 430 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns as a senior... Braskett was a teammate of Nate Rueckemann, a fellow QU commit, at McHenry High School.

Personal: Jake is the son of Sharon Braskett.

Adehkeem Brown, DB

5-10 | 175 | St. Louis, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins Head Coach: Mike Tarpey

Prior to Quincy: Brown was a three-year letterman for Ladue Horton Watkins High School... As a senior, Brown was a first team All-State defensive back, Suburban East first team all-conference defensive back and Suburban East honorable mention wide receiver... In Brown’s senior year, he had 14 receptions for 259 yards, two touchdowns, 67 tackles and two fumble recoveries... Brown was a staple in Ladue’s three Suburban East Conference championships... Brown also played in the St. Louis All-Star Game.

Personal: Adehkeem is the son of Alex Murray and Traci Brown.

Kirkland Burton, SS

5-11 | 185 | St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville Head Coach: Eric Meyer

Prior to Quincy: Burton was a team captain his senior year and a four-year letter winner and two-year starter for Me- hlville... Burton was voted MVP and best offensive back by his team... In Burton’s junior year, he had 15 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble... In his senior year, he had 10 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, 376 rushing yards, 112 receiving yards and four touchdowns... Burton also received letters in basketball and varsity track, in which he ran the 4x400 and threw shot put and discus.

Personal: Kirkland is the son of Gerald and Sharnice Burton.

Dillon Butler, WR

5-10 | 180 | Griggsville, Ill./Griggsville-Perry Head Coach: Don Bigley

Prior to Quincy: Butler was a 2011 West Central All-Conference selection... He was also named to the Academic All- Conference team... Butler was named the Pittsfield Saukee team MVP in 2011... Butler led the Saukees in receiving yards and totaled over 1,000 all-purpose yards... He was a two-year starter and a team captain his senior season.

Personal: Dillon is the son of Jeff and Rosell Butler. Cole Byford, FB

6-1 | 220 | Bertrand, Mo./Charleston Head Coach: Brett Blackman

Prior to Quincy: Byford was a three-year letter winner for Charleston... In his junior year, he was Offensive Line- man of the Year, SEMO Central Conference honorable mention offensive guard, SEMO Central Conference honorable mention defensive line, All-Media and All-Region second team offensive guard, SMAFCA All-Region honorable mention offensive guard and SMAFCA All-Region second team defensive line... In Byford’s senior year he was first team All-Conference offensive guard, second team All-Conference linebacker, first team All-Region offensive guard, first team All-Region linebacker, first team All-Media offensive guard, first team All-Media linebacker, third team All-State offensive guard, Football All-State Academic, 2012 All-Standard Democrat Team offensive lineman and linebacker, En- terprise Courier Player of the Year... Also led the team in tackles with 120, including 15 tackles for loss, and five sacks.

Personal: Cole is the son of Roger and Angie Byford.

Nick Clark, SS

6-1 | 192 | Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls Head Coach: Brad Remmert

Prior to Quincy: Clark was a team captain, three-year varsity player and a two-year starter for Cedar Falls... Clark helped the Tigers compile a 33-5 record on varsity while making two 4A state semifinals and one 4A state quarterfi- nal... He was a two-time selection to the All-Mississippi Valley Conference team and garnered All-Metro accolades.

Personal: Nick is the son of Kevin and Lisa Clark.

Tim Cox, OL

5-11 | 240 | Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan Head Coach: Par Pitts

Prior to Quincy: Cox was a captain during the 2012 season and helped lead Troy to its best record in 13 years playing in the GAC South... Cox was the starting center for Troy the past two years.

Personal: Tim is the son of Chris and Christy Cox.

Keith Craig, DB

6-0 | 160 | Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy Head Coach: Dan Sharp

Prior to Quincy: Craig led his team to the 2012 semifinals this season... He had 65 total tackles, five interceptions and recovered two fumbles... He was a two-year starter at Joliet Catholic... In 2011, he was part of a Joliet Catholic team that made it to the State Championship... Keith also plays basketball for Joliet Catholic.

Personal: Keith is the son of Charles Craig.

Gabe Ferguson, DB

5-11 | 185 | Rochester, Ill./Rochester Head Coach: Derek Leonard

Prior to Quincy: Ferguson was named to the 2012 Academic All-State team... Ferguson was selected to the 2012 CS-8 All-Conference team... He led the 2012 state champion Rochester Rockets with five interceptions... Ferguson also recorded 24 receptions, averaging 17 yards per catch, and four touchdowns... He was named player of the game in their second round playoff game verus Charleston... Ferguson was also a member of three straight state championship teams in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Personal: Gabe is the son of Dennis and Theresa Ferguson. Alex Gholson, CB

6-0 | 175 | Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan Head Coach: Par Pitts

Prior to Quincy: Gholson was one of the anchors for the top defense in GAC South... Gholson recorded 42 tackles, two fumbles recoveries and 10+ pass deflections in his senior season at the corner position... Gholson was a two-way starter and lettered twice in track for Troy Buchanan.

Personal: Alex is the son of Steve and Kim Gholson.

Chris Harris, RB

6-0 | 190 | Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin Head Coach: Ken Leonard

Prior to Quincy: Harris finished his career ranked third all-time in total rushing yards at SHG with 3,205 yards... He holds SHG’s single game rushing record with 340 yards... Harris was selected to the 2012 Class 5A All-State team and was selected to the Central State – 8 All-Conference team in 2011 and 2012... Harris finished the season with 1,709 yards and a 9.8 yards per carry average and 21 touchdowns... He was a two-way starter for the past two seasons... Har- ris was also named a captain his senior year. Harris finished his career with three letters and an overall record of 31-5.

Personal: Chris is the son of Stephanie Harris.

Kyle Harris, CB

5-11 | 170 | O’Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West Head Coach: Paul Day

Prior to Quincy: Harris was named the Gateway South first team All-Conference kick returner, second team All-Dis- trict 3 athlete and honorable mention defensive back... During his high school career he compiled five interceptions, 52 tackles, nine pass breakups, two kick return touchdowns and a forced fumble... Harris also participated in track during his four years in high school as a sprinter... He ran the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 100m, 200m and 400m sprints... Kyle holds the school record in the 4x100... He also wrestled for two years.

Personal: Kyle is the son of Perry and Gretel Harris.

Dalton Heubner, DB

5-8 | 170 | Camp Point, Ill./Camp Point Central Head Coach: Brad Dixon

Prior to Quincy: Heubner was selected to the Class 2A 2012 All-State Team... He was also named the 2012 Quincy Herald-Whig Player of the Year... He was a first team All-WIVC selection in 2012 and an All-West Central Conference selection in 2011... Heubner led the panthers in total rushing yards with 1,507 yards and 22 touchdowns... Defensivly, Heubner finished the season with 57 tackles, four interceptions and four sacks. Heubner was a team captain his senior season and helped led his team to the best record in school history.

Personal: Dalton is the son of Dwight and Cindy Heubner

Darian Johnson, DL

6-2 | 265 | Freeport, Ill./Freeport Head Coach: Aaron Wichman

Prior to Quincy: Johnson was a team captain his senior season and a three-year varsity starter for Freeport... He ac- counted for 10 sacks as senior and garnered All-Conference accolades for two consecutive seasons in the Northern Illinois Conference... He was also selected to the Academic All-Conference team and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Personal: Darian is the son of Thomas Johnson and Lori Andrews. Da’Vione Johnson, OL

6-0 | 270 | St. Louis, Mo./Soldan International Head Coach: Sean Morris

Prior to Quincy: Johnson was a St. Louis Public High School All-Conference offensive lineman... Johnson played right tackle, right guard, and center for Soldan... He was a three-year starter... His team finished its season 8-2 and went to the Missouri Class 3 semifinals.

Personal: Da’Vione is the son of Alonzo Johnson and Autumn Carter.

Troy Johnson, FB

6-1 | 240 | Munster, Ind./St. Rita Head Coach: Todd Kuska

Prior to Quincy: Johnson was a team captain and a two-year starter at St. Rita for both the offensive and defensive lines... He was a first team All-Chicago Catholic League Blue selection... Johnson helped lead the mustangs to a 10-3 record and a state semifinal appearance his junior year and a 6-6 record his senior year.

Personal: Troy is the son of Brad and Laura Johnson.

Malik Joseph, LB

6-0 | 200 | St. Louis, Mo./Vashon Head Coach: Reginald Ferguson

Prior to Quincy: Joseph was a four-year varsity letterman at Vashon... As a senior, Joseph was named first Team All- State defensive end, All-Public High League second team defensive end and was selected to play in the 2012 North vs. South All-Star Game... In Joseph’s senior campaign, he racked up 99 tackles and 19 sacks... In his junior year, he was named All-Public High League second team defensive end, while accruing 77 tackles and 13 sacks... He was also first team All-Conference defensive end in his sophomore season, making 64 tackles and recording nine sacks... Joseph also runs track for Vashon, competing in the 400m, 800m, 4x400 relay and 4x800 relays.

Personal: Malik is the son of Wallace and Charmane Mu’Min and Filmon Joseph.

Kyle Lyon, SS

6-1 | 190 | Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg Community Head Coach: Ronnie Stuart

Prior to Quincy: Lyon was an asset for Freeburg this season after transferring from Belleville East... Lyon played both defensive end and running back while racking up a four-yard per rush average on the ground and a 6.5-yard average receiving... Lyon also averaged 20.5 yards on kickoff returns and had one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Personal: Kyle is the son of Chad and Jennifer Lyon.

Dominic Masciopinto, RB

5-2 | 155 | Chicago, Ill./Steinmetz Head Coach: Tim McNaulty

Prior to Quincy: Masciopinto was an All-Chicago Public League performer at running back as a senior... He amassed 896 rushing yards on 103 attempts for nine touchdowns as a senior... Masciopinto has played basketball at Steinmetz all four years... Dominic also runs track for Steinmetz, competing in the triple jump and long jump... He also competes in the 100, 200, and 400-meter sprints.

Personal: Dominic is the son of Dino Masciopinto. Tyler McNeil, DB

6-1 | 182 | St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University HS Head Coach: Gary Kornfeld

Prior to Quincy: McNeil was named a defensive captain in 2012... He had 50 tackles and an interception... Offensive- ly, he had seven catches for 190 yards and averaged 30 yards per kick return as a senior... He was an all-conference honorable mention choice.

Personal: Tyler is the son of Eugene and Karen McNeil.

Drew Miller, OL

6-3 | 275 | Camp Point, Ill./Camp Point Central Head Coach: Brad Dixon

Prior to Quincy: Miller was a Class 2A 2012 All-State team selection... Miller was also a 2012 WIVC All-Conference team selection... Miller led an offensive line that pounded out over 4,000 yards rushing in the 2012 season... Miller led a unit that opened up running lanes that averaged over 7.3 yards per carry on the season... Miller also racked up 88 total tackles, seven sacks and five fumble recoveries on the defensive side of the ball.

Personal: Drew is the son of Rusty and Sarah Miller.

Justin Mitchell, OL

6-0 | 253 | Olivette, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins Head Coach: Mike Tarpey

Prior to Quincy: Mitchell helped his team win the Suburban East Conference and advance to the first round of playoffs playing every position on the defensive line... He was named an All-Suburban East defensive tackle after compil- ing 37 tackles, two forced fumbles... He also led the team in sacks.

Personal: Justin is the son of Elizabeth Mitchell and the late Ruben Mitchell.

Robbie Overstreet II, TE

6-4 | 220 | Kingdom City, Mo./North Callaway Head Coach: Mike Emmons

Prior to Quincy: Overstreet helped lead North Callaway to the state quarterfinals in class 3A during the 2011 season and the state playoffs in 2A in his senior year... In 2012 his team won the Mid-Missouri Conference and beat teams by an average score of 41-8... Overstreet also throws discus for North Callaway.

Personal: Robbie is the son of Robert Sr. and Barbra Overstreet.

Evan Powell, WR

6-4 | 175 | St. Clair, Mo./St. Clair Head Coach: Cody McDowell

Prior to Quincy: Powell was a three-year letterman for St. Clair... In Powell’s senior year, he was named Academic All- State and Academic All-Conference, All-Area honorable mention wide receiver and cornerback, Four Rivers first team All-Conference receiver, MSSA second team All-District wide receiver and MSSA first team All-District cornerback... Powell was also Academic All-State in his junior year... Powell’s career numbers at St. Clair include 35 receptions for 780 yards, six touchdowns, 60 tackles and six interceptions... Powell also lettered three years in basketball and two years in track and field.

Personal: Evan is the son of Mark and Sheila Powell. Justin Riggian, WR

6-1 | 170 | Chicago, Ill./Chicago Bulls Prep Head Coach: Steve Silva

Prior to Quincy: Riggian was a member of the 2012 All-Chicago Great Lakes Conference team as a defensive back... Riggian averaged 15 yards per catch and had four touchdowns as a receiver... On defense, he had 22 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception... He was recognized as his team’s defensive MVP... In 2011, Riggian averaged 17.6 yards per catch with five touchdowns... He had 42 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks defensively... Riggian helped lead his team to a Chicago Great Lakes Conference Championship.

Personal: Justin is the son of Chenna Riggian and MacArthur Johnson.

Ethan Rockhold, CB

5-9 | 175 | Quincy, Ill./Quincy Head Coach: Rick Little

Prior to Quincy: Rockhold was a two-year starter for Rick Little at Quincy High School... He was an All-Conference selection in both his junior and senior years.

Personal: Ethan is the son of Paul and Francie Tyson.

Nate Rueckemann, S

6-1 | 190 | McHenry, Ill./McHenry Head Coach: Dave D’Angelo

Prior to Quincy: Rueckemann was a team captain as a senior and was a varsity starter in his final two seasons... He recorded three sacks, two interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced fumble as a senior... On offense, Rueck- emann also recorded five catches for 74 yards... He played baseball as a freshman and sophomore at McHenry.

Personal: Nate is the son of Chris and Andrea Rueckemann.

Levi Smith, OL

5-11 | 240 | Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud Head Coach: David Lucht

Prior to Quincy: Smith was a two-way starter for Red Bud in his junior and senior seasons... With Smith on the defensive line, Red Bud toted the second-best defense in the Cahokia Conference... Playing defensive tackle, Smith ended his senior season with 23 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery.

Personal: Levi is the son of Kenneth and Georgette Smith.

Bryan Watkins, K

5-9 | 160 | Aurora, Ill./West Aurora Head Coach: Nate Eimer

Prior to Quincy: Watkins was 31-for-31 on extra points, 2-for-3 on field goals, had 41 kickoffs with eight touchbacks and kicked two recovered onside kicks as a senior... Watkins also had 41 punts with a 32-yard average and nailed four punts inside the 10-yard line... He also scored a 41-yard touchdown on a botched punt snap... He was a two-year starter for West Aurora.

Personal: Bryan is the son of Matthew and Nancy Watkins. Shelby Wilson, FS

5-9 | 170 | Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge Head Coach: A.J. Ofodile

Prior to Quincy: Wilson a senior captain for the Columbia Rock Bridge Bruins was a two-year starter at free safety and as a punt returner... Wilson led the team in solo tackles his senior year with 42... He also had 31 assisted stops, two interceptions, nine pass breakups, a sack, a touchdown, nine pass breakups and a forced and recovered fumble... Wilson was also named to the Class 6A All-District 3 team in 2012.

Personal: Shelby is the son of Dane and Pam Wilson.