RELEASE – The Evangel football coaching staff welcomed a talented recruiting class Wednesday, adding signees from 49 prep standouts for the 2024 season.
The 2024 class is made up of talent from Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, California, Kansas, Arizona, and Illinois. With Evangel Football coming off an undefeated regular season and a berth to the NAIA Playoff 2nd Round, interest levels were high to join the Valor squad.
“Today is an exciting day for the Evangel Valor. I’m really proud of the 2024 signing class. As in every signing class, you have to address position needs due to graduation,” EU head coach Chuck Hepola stated. “We have been able to address those needs. With our current players and signing class, we hope to continue to win championships. We are coming off a historical year so the interest in Evangel football has been really great.”
“I’m very proud and appreciative of our staff. The amount of time and effort it takes is staggering and our coaches just keep setting a standard for excellence in recruiting.”” Hepola added.
Game times and dates for the 2024 season will be announced at a later date.
Below are biographies of the recruits:
Brady Allen // TE // 6-2 // 205 // Point Loma HS // San Diego, Calif.
Highlights:
• Team Captain
• 2-Way Player of the Year Finalist
• 1st Team All-League – Offense
• 2nd Team All CIF Defense
• All-Academic Team
Jeremy Anderson // DL // 5-11 // 295 // Rock Bridge HS // Columbia, Mo.
Highlights:
• All-Conference DL
• 3-year starter
Mason Baker // DB // 6-1 // 195 // Thunder Ridge HS // Kensington, Kan.
Highlights:
• 1st Team All-NPL
• All-State All Around Athlete
• Top 8 Kansas 8-Man D2
Mason Bendabout // P // 6-1 // 220 // Claremore HS // Claremore, Okla.
Highlights:
• Tulsa World Player of the Year
• All-State Honorable Mention
• 3-time Special Teams Player of the Week
Gannon Benton // DL // 6-2 // 215 // Kickapoo HS // Springfield, Mo.
Highlights:
• SWMFCA 1st Team DE
• 1st Team All-Conference
• 2nd Team All-District
Braydon Berry // DB // 6-3 // 180 // Central HS // Park Hills, Mo.
Highlights:
• 2x All-Conference WR
• 2x All-District WR
• Dream Team award winner
Will Bisbee // WR // 6-0 // 170 // Summit Christian Academy // Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Highlights:
• Team Captain
• All-Conference
• All-District DB and WR
• Scholar Athlete
Kingston Campbell // OL // 6-3 // 240 // Strafford HS // Strafford, Mo.
Highlights:
• 1st Team All-Conference DE
• Unanimous 1st Team All-Conference OL
• Unanimous 1st Team All-Area OT
Bryson Davis // DB // 5-10 // 150 // Grapevine HS // Grapevine, Texas
Highlights:
• First Team All-District
• Three year letterman
Isaiah Davis // OL // 6-0 // 265 // Guyer HS // Denton, Texas
Highlights:
• 2022 2nd Team All-District Center
• 2023 1st Team All-District Center
• 2023 2x Offensive Player of the Game
James Dowdy // WR // 6-1 // 175 // Reeds Spring HS // Reeds Spring, Mo.
Highlights:
• First Team All-District WR
• First Team All-Area WR/DB
• First Team All-Conference WR/DB
• Perry Phillips Player of the Year
Hugh Eaton // LB // 6-1 // 200 // Marionville HS // Marionville, Mo.
Highlights:
• 2x SWC & Area Defensive Player of the Year
• 2x All-State LB
• 2023 Class 1 Defensive Player of the Year
Reece Eftink // LB // 6-1 // 215 // Kelly HS // Benton, Mo.
Highlights:
• 3x All-State LB
• 3x Academic All-State LB
Daniel Fliflet // LB // 6-1 // 210 // Reeds Spring HS // Reeds Spring, Mo.
Highlights:
• 1st Team All-District LB
• 2nd Team All-Area and All-Conference LB & TE
Koehn Garner // OL // 6-4 // 315 // Moore HS // Moore, Okla.
Highlights:
• Honorable Mention All-OSSAA 6A-1 OL
• Honorable Mention All-Central Oklahoma OL
Harrison Hackbarth // QB // 6-2 // 184 // Grapevine HS // Grapevine, Texas
Highlights:
• All-District
• 3-year letterman
• Team Captain
Colton Hale // LB // 6-0 // 190 // Nixa HS // Nixa, Mo.
Highlights:
• All-Conference RB/LB
• All-District LB
• All-Area LB
Kason Hatley // DL // 5-10 // 272 // Bixby HS // Bixby, Okla.
Highlights:
• 3x All-Conference DL
• 3x State Champion
• 14 sacks in senior season
Garret Hilton // OL // 6-2 // 270 // Camdenton HS // Camdenton, Mo.
Highlights:
• All-Conference
• All-District
• All-SWMFCA
Caden Hinson // TE // 6-7 // 220 // Harrison HS // Harrison, Ark.
Highlights:
• All-Conference TE
• 0 Career Drops
Chris Hubbard // RB // 5-8 // 195 // Mountain Home HS // Mountain Home, Ark.
Highlights:
• All-State RB
• Mountain Home Offensive Player of the Year
Zuric Humes // QB // 6-1 // 190 // Mansfield Timberview HS // Mansfield, Texas
Highlights:
• 1st Team All District
• 1st Team All-Academic
Anaso Igbani // DL // 6-3 // 205 // Northwest HS // Justin, Texas
Highlights:
• 2023 Honorable Mention All-District DE
Simeon Johnson // TE // 6-1 // 235 // Millennium HS // Goodyear, Ariz.
Highlights:
• USA Football National Team member
• 2024 Player to Watch (Recruiting Report)
• 5A Desert West All-Region Team
Titus Johnson // QB // 6-3 // 230 // Millennium HS // Goodyear, Ariz.
Highlights:
• Varsity Captain
• 2024 Player to Watch (Recruiting Report)
• 5A Desert West All-Region
• Arizona Player of the Week
• MaxPrep Player of the Week
• Blue-Grey All-American Bowl Invite
Zach Jouret // WR // 5-11 // 175 // Hallsville HS // Hallsville, Mo.
Highlights:
• All-Conference and All-District WR
• Tied the all-time leading scorer at Hallsville
• Special Team MVP
Rylan Kenslow // ATH // 6-2 // 185 // West Plains HS // West Plains, Mo.
Highlights:
• 2023 Area Receiving Leader
• All-District and All-Region WR
• All-Ozark Conference
• All-Oark Radio Network All-Star team
AJ Larry // OL // 6-3 // 330 // Portageville HS // Portageville, Mo.
Highlights:
• 2x All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State
• 2023 Regional OL of the Year
Jacob Lomosi // DL // 5-10 // 235 // Kickapoo HS // Springfield, Mo.
Highlights:
• SWMFCA Unanimous 1st Team
• 2nd Team All-Conference
• 1st Team Academic All-Conference
• Academic All-State
Rees McCullough // DL // 6-0 // 205 // El Dorado Springs HS // El Dorado Springs, Mo.
Highlights:
• 3x All-Conference, All-District, and Academic All-State
• 2x All-Area
Logan McLaughlin // QB // 6-2 // 195 // Guyer HS // Denton, Texas
Highlights:
• 1,222 Passing Yards, 12 Passing TDs (played half of season)
• 66% Completion Percentage
Gabe McMains // OL // 6-0 // 250 // Fair Grove HS // Fair Grove, Mo.
Highlights:
• 2nd Team All-Conference OL
• District and Conference Champions
Blake McNeece // DL // 6-0 // 235 // Ash Grove HS // Ash Grove, Mo.
Highlights:
• 1st Team All-Conference DL
• 1st Team All-Conference OL
• 1st Team All-Area OL
• 2nd Team All-Area DL
• All-District DL
Silas Morton // ATH // 5-10 // 200 // Strafford HS // Strafford, Mo.
Highlights:
• 2,300 offensive yards
• 110 total tackles
• 1st Team All-Area RB
• 2nd Team All-Area DB
• 1st Team All-Conference Offense & Defense
Deacon Peterson // DL // 6-1 // 250 // Coweta HS // Coweta, Okla.
Highlights:
• 2x 1st Team All-Conference
• 2 Year Team Captain
• State Finalist Wrestler
Chad Phillips // DB // 6-0 // 170 // Northwest HS // Justin, Texas
Highlights:
• 1st Team All-District
• 2x 2nd Team All-District
Logan Putman // DL // 6-1 // 230 // Lee’s Summit West HS // Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Highlights:
• 2x All-Conference DE
• All-District
• Hard Hat award winner at Lee’s Summit West
Cosmo Rhoads // TE // 6-4 // 220 // Cassville HS // Cassville, Mo.
Highlights:
• 21-22 & 23-24 Academic All-State
• SWMFBCA Honorable Mention DE/TE
• 23-24 Big 8 Honorable Mention All-Conference TE
Keith Robinson // DL // 6-1 // 220 // Wylie East HS // Wylie, Texas
Highlights:
• 2nd Team All-District
Rocket Robinson // LB // 5-10 // 205 // Point Loma HS // San Diego, Calif.
Highlights:
• Defensive Player of the Year
• 1st Team All-League
Tristan Rodriguez // OL // 6-2 // 325 // Colleyville Heritage HS // Colleyville, Texas
Highlights:
• Offensive Lineman of the Year
• 1st Team All-District
Elijah Romine // LB // 6-1 // 205 // Salem HS // Salem, Ark.
Highlights:
• 3x All-State
• Conference Player of the Year
Russell Roweton // QB // 6-3 // 190 // Willard HS // Willard, Mo.
Highlights:
• 1st Team All-District
• SWMFBCA 2nd Team
• Honorable Mention in COC
• Academic All-State
Josiah Semlow // RB // 5-9 // 162 // Tri Valley HS // Downs, Ill.
Highlights:
• 3x Semi Finalist
• Vice President of Class
• Honor Roll Student
Cullen Snow // DB // 6-0 // 175 // Rock Bridge HS // Columbia, Mo.
Highlights:
• 2x All-Conference, All-District, and All-State DB
• 18 career interceptions
Micah Teel // RB // 6-1 // 220 // Claremore HS // Claremore, Okla.
Highlights:
• All-District RB
• 2x Offensive Back of the Year
Nathan Terzoli // DL // 6-2 // 215 // Point Loma HS // San Diego, Calif.
Highlights:
• Team Captain
• 1st Team All-League
• All-Academic Team
Jace Warren // OL // 6-0 // 255 // Tuttle HS // Tuttle, Okla.
Highlights:
• 4A District 2 OL of the Year
• O.C.A. All State
• OFBCA All Star – 4A West
• 1st Team Oklahoman Little All City
• Honorable Mention Oklahoman All-State
Peyton Woodrome // TE // 6-4 // 215 // Grain Valley HS // Grain Valley, Mo.
Highlights:
• All-Conference
• All-District
• All-KC Examiner
