SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel football head coach Chuck Hepola announced the 2020 Signing Class for the Crusaders on Wednesday.
Coming off a third consecutive Top 25 finish, the Crusaders ended the season 8-3 and ranked No. 20 in the final NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll. The 2020 class is made up again of talent from Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
“We have been in the hunt for a conference championship and a berth in the NAIA playoffs each of the last three seasons and that’s a credit to our culture, the core of our student-athletes, and our coaching staff,” said head coach Chuck Hepola who finished his fourth season at Evangel.
“We continue to not be satisfied and striving to make our return to the postseason,” Hepola added. “We believe that talent in this class can help complement our returning players and culture to make those moves.”
Evangel returns more than 85 percent of its defense and 75 percent of its offense, however, the coaching staff continued to add top-level talent on both sides of the ball.
Game times and dates for the 2020 season including Homecoming, Hall of Fame Game and Heart Game of the Week TV schedule will be announced at a later date.
Andrew Anello // K/P // 5-8 // 145 // Nixa HS // Nixa, Missouri
National Top 100 kicker ranked by Kohl’s kicking
Christopher Attyberry // DB // 5-10 //175 // Hillcrest HS // Springfield, Missouri
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2Bmkw6
Bishop Bell // WR // 6-4 // 200 // Coppell HS // Coppell, Texas
Played for Head Coach Mike Dewitt. Had 3 Receiving TD’s for the Cowboys this Year.
Sam Bradley // OL // 6-4 // 286 // NOAH Home School // Tulsa, Oklahoma
NHFA All-American, NOAH Defensive Lineman of the Year
Hayden Conrad // QB // 6-6 // 210 // Mustang HS // Mustang, Oklahoma
1st Team All-District and All-Conference. Honorable Mention All-Big City and All-State
Chris Doran // WR // 5-11 // 170 // Mustang HS // Mustang, Oklahoma
3 Year Varsity Starter/Letterman. Team Captain. 2nd Team All-Conference Punt Returner. FCA All-State Nominee
Darius Facen // OL // 6-0 // 265 // Rolla HS // Rolla, Missouri
1st Team All-Conference. 2x 1st Team All-District
Carson Gehring // OL // 6-0 // 285 // Willard HS // Willard, Missouri
1st Team All-Area and All-District. 2nd Team All-Conference and All-State.
Cole Gilpin // WR // 6-4 // 200 // Fair Grove HS // Fair Grove, Missouri
All-State WR, Media All-State WR, 46 Catches for 1,055 yds and 12 TDs Senior Year.
Chase Harris // DB // 5-10 // 150 // McCluer North HS Florissant, Missouri
First Team All-Conference
Tryton Henley // RB // 6-0 // 215 // Willow Springs HS // Willow Springs, Missouri
All-Southwest Missouri Running Back. First Team All-SCA Running Back. First Team All-SCA Kicker
Kayon Hill // DB // 6-2 // 190 // McCluer HS // Florissant, Missouri
1st Team All-Conference
Trevon Holt // DB // 5-11 // 170 // Bixby HS // Bixby, Oklahoma
Team Captain, 3x State Champion, Lee Snider Award Recipient – Best all-around athlete on and off the field.
Taton Hopkins // DB/P // 6-2 // 165 // Bartlesville HS // Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Oklahoma 6A-2 All-District Team. Oklahoma All-State Honorable Mention. Northeast Oklahoma Fellowship of Christian Athletes Athlete of the Year.
Cameron Keith // TE // 6-2 // 200 // Oak Grove HS // Oak Grove, Missouri
All-District TE
Levi Matthews // LB // 5-10 // 200 // Greenfield HS // Greenfield, Missouri
All-Area and All-District LB. Greenfield Defensive POY
Samuel McGuire // DL // 6-1 // 286 // Stockton HS // Stockton, Missouri
All-Conference and All-Area 2nd Team
Malik Moore // WR // 5-10 // 175 // DeSoto HS // DeSoto, Texas
Went 9-3 senior year and reached 2nd round of the playoffs. 5-time Junior Olympics Sprinter. Also returns kicks/punts.
Isaiah Ordaz // LB // 5-11 // 240 // Lake Ridge HS // Mansfield, Texas
Played for Head Coach Kirk Thor, 34 tackles, 1 sack and 3 QB hurries his senior year.
RJ Phillips // DL // 6-0 // 234 // Butte College // Oroville, California
Played on a Butte College Team that went 8-3 this past season. Originally from Lone Star HS in Frisco, TX.
Bowen Preddy // RB // 5-11 // 175 // Cassville HS // Cassville, Missouri
1st Team All-Big 8/All Area. Class 3 SWMFCA Offensive Player of the Year, All-State.
Dominique Puentes // DL // 6-1 // 240 // The Colony HS // The Colony, Texas
All-District 1st team as a Junior and 2nd team as a Senior. Had 6 sacks, 11 TFLs and 66 tackles his senior year.
Payton Russell // LB // 5-11 // 205 // Collinsville HS // Collinsville, Oklahoma
5A-4 Defensive Player of the Year. All-State. Coaches All Star Team.
Joey Sylvester // DB // 5-11 // 170 // Mustang HS // Mustang, Oklahoma
3 Year Starter and Letterman. Team Captain, 96 Tackles
Nate Swofford // ATH // 5-10 // 155 // Ava HS // Ava, Missouri
Class 2 Offensive POY. 2nd team all-state QB. All O-Zone Team.
Blake Tash // QB // 6-0 // 175 // Joplin HS // Joplin, Missouri
1st Team All State. State Runner Up. National record Holder for Completion Percentage for a Career (73.6%)
Kyair Warner // DL // 6-2 // 210 // The Colony HS // The Colony, Texas
2nd Team All-District. Team Defensive Lineman of the year. 12 sacks, 16 TFLs, 4 forced Fumbles during his time at The Colony HS.
DJ White // WR // 6-0 // 170 // Cassville HS // Cassville, Missouri
3x First Team All-Big 8. 2x All District. All State WR.
Brooks Wilson // RB // 5-10 // 175 // Logan-Rogersville HS // Rogersville, Missouri
3x All-Conference and 1x All-District
