Missouri State football adds eight players during February signing period

SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State football coach Ryan Beard has added eight players to his roster for the upcoming season during the spring signing period which officially opened Wednesday.

The Bears’ new head coach has wrangled six high school seniors and a pair of transfers in the February signing period with five offensive additions and three newcomers on the defensive side of the ball. The spring additions join 13 signees who committed to the Bears during the December signing period for a total of 21 newcomers ready to join the squad.

“This is an elite signing class,” said Beard. “Our staff has done a tremendous job of addressing our immediate and long-term needs. We’ve added some depth in some key areas, and I feel really excited about the future of Bears football based on the outstanding individuals we have recruited in this year’s class.”

The new additions announced Wednesday include:

Jayden “Jab” Becks (RB, 6-0, 195, Fr., Waxahachie (Texas) High)
A standout running back for coach Shane Tolleson at Waxahachie (Texas) High where he helped the Indians to a 10-3 ledger and advanced to the regional round of the 6A playoffs his senior season (2022) … Carried 91 times for 632 yards (6.9 ypc) in 2022 for 8 touchdowns and 3 games of 100 yards or more … Also caught 9 passes for 66 yards and a TD … As a junior, Becks carried 129 times for 599 yards (4.6 ypc) with 5 touchdowns and a pair of 100-yard games … Also had 8 pass receptions for 50 yards in 2021.

Tim Brantley Jr. (DT, 6-1, 300, Fr., Allen (Texas) High)
Part of a 7-4 Allen (Texas) High 6A playoff squad in 2022 for coach Lee Wiginton … Racked up 21 total tackles, 20 solo stops, 7.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 4 QB hurries and a fumble recovery as a senior for the Eagles while earning first-team all-district 5 honors … Was a two-time varsity player of the week and was captain for two contests … As a junior, he brought down 25 ball carriers with 13 solos, 5.0 tackles for loss and a sack … Was a three-time letterman at Allen High and part of district championship teams in 2020 and 2021.

Erick Cade (OL, 6-6, 345, So., Denton, Texas, Braswell High, Ole Miss)
Transfer from Ole Miss who spent the past two seasons in Oxford under coach Lane Kiffin … Did not play in any games during the 2022 season and redshirted in 2021 … Prepped for coach Cody Moore at Braswell High in Little Elm, Texas where he was rated as a three-star prospect by all major recruiting services and the No. 57 offensive tackle in the nation … Named to Dallas Morning News’ top 100 (No. 41) and No. 5 offensive lineman … Earned 5A District 7 first-team all-district honors for the Bengals as a junior … Selected to the final ballot for the Whataburger Super Team … Named to the Denton-area All-Decade Team by the Denton Record Chronicle … Had recruiting offers from Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and Arizona State, in addition to Ole Miss.

Jayden Gillens (WR/KR, 5-10, 185, Fr., Orlando, Fla., Jones High)
Sensational athlete who excelled in all phases at Jones High in Orlando, Fla., for coach Elijah Williams … Averaged 9.6 yards per carry on 38 attempts as a senior with a pair of touchdowns to go with a 26.4 receiving average on 5 receptions with a TD … Posted 21 tackles on the defensive side of the ball in 2022, racking up 10 solos and 3 interceptions for an 11-3 Jones team his senior year … High school teammates with fellow Bears signee Jamauri Sands.

Hutson Lillibridge (OL, 6-3, 305, Jr., St. Louis, Mo., DeSmet High, Tulane)
Transfer from Tulane who was part of coach Willie Fritz’s Green Wave squad the past two seasons, including a transformational 12-2 campaign in 2022 in which he played in 9 games … Made first collegiate appearance against Morgan State (9/11/21) … Prepped at DeSmet Jesuit High in St. Louis where he was a four-year starter for coach Robert Steeples’ Spartans … Was part of a 13-1 state semifinal team at DeSmet his senior season (2020) … Rated a three-star prospect and No. 23 player in Missouri by 247Sports.com … Post-Dispatch named Lillibridge as the No. 17 prospect on its Preseason Super 30 list …. Led the Spartans to an undefeated 14-0 season and Class 6 state title run as a junior.

Jax Rumsey (OL, 6-4, 311, Fr., Moore (Okla.) High)
A standout offensive lineman for coach Greg Bryant’s Lions at Moore (Okla.) High … Anchored an offensive line that averaged 443.6 yards per game … Earned first-team All-Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference in 2022 … Started all four years of his high school career.

Jamauri Sands (DB, 6-1, 180, Fr., Orlando, Fla., Jones High)
Was a standout defensive back at Jones High in Orlando, Fla., where he helped the Tigers to an 11-3 record his senior season … Racked up 35 total tackles with 18 solo stops, 3 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries in 2022 for coach Elijah Williams … 2022 season was also highlighted by a 99-yard kickoff return and a fumble recovery for a touchdown … High school teammates with fellow Bears signee Jayden Gillens … Also plays basketball at Jones High.

Floyd Williams (CB, 6-1, 175, Fr., Blytheville, Ark., Gosnell High)
Two-way standout and three-time all-conference selection at Gosnell (Ark.) High for coach Lewis Earnest’s Pirates … Helped Gosnell to an 8-3 ledger and playoff berth his senior year … Racked up 34 total stops in the defensive secondary with 24 solo stops with an interception and 12 pass break-ups in 2022 … Also rushed for 1053 yards on 194 carries (5.4 ypc) as a senior (2022) with 22 total touchdowns and four 100-yard games while scoring 124 points (tops in 4A) … Had 5 total touchdowns in one game as a senior … Played 8 games as a junior with 14 tackles and 316 rushing yards on 61 carries (5.2 ypc) … Earned invites to the Adidas All-American Combine and Rivals Combine in addition to the All-State All-Star Game … Honored in the Arkansas Elite 100 list three times … Was also part of a playoff team his freshman season … Also competes in basketball and track at Gosnell High with career-bests of 10.7 in the 100-meter dash and 46-feet in the triple jump … Has recorded a 4.40 laser-timed 40-yard dash.

Missouri State Football 2023 Recruiting Class: