RELEASE – Missouri State football head coach Ryan Beard has added six players during the February signing period, he announced Wednesday (Feb. 7).
The Bears added three high school standouts and three mid-year transfers to their roster for the 2024 season. Those players are from five different states and include three defensive backs, a linebacker, a quarterback and a wide receiver.
“We are very excited to solidify our recruiting class with these recent additions,” said Beard who begins his second season as MoState head coach. “Thanks to the hard work of our coaching staff, we have addressed our primary needs and are very excited about the new personnel we have brought in to bolster our roster for next season.”
Wednesday’s signees include:
- Thomas Anderson (DB, 6-1, 185, Sr., Kansas City, Kan., Washington High, UNLV)
- Brock Bagozzi (QB, 6-2, 216, Sr., Solvay, N.Y., Bridgton Academy, Marist)
- Rakwan Reed (DB, 5-11, 151, Fr., Westbury, Texas, Westbury High)
- Da’Veon Ross (LB, 6-0, 205, Fr., Tyler, Texas, Chapel Hill High)
- Devin Rutherford (CB, 5-11, 180, Fr., Bartlett, Tenn., Bartlett High)
- Jaquez Smith (WR, 6-1, 195, Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Westlake High, Indiana)
The February additions join 13 players signed by Beard and his staff during the early signing period in December.
Beard and his staff will host a public Signing Day Recap Reception on Thursday evening at the Old Glass Place (521 E Saint Louis St.) in downtown Springfield. The event, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. Door prize drawings will also take place throughout the event, which includes free hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
A summary of the February additions is below, listed alphabetically:
Thomas Anderson (DB, 6-1, 185, Sr., Kansas City, Kan., Washington High, UNLV)
Anderson played in five games at UNLV in 2023 and finished with 8 total tackles, including 6 solo stops, to go with a fumble recovery and a forced fumble for the Rebels … Played the previous two seasons (2021-22) at Independence (Kan.) Community College where he appeared in seven games as a sophomore and notched 7 tackles for the Pirates with 2.0 sacks, a pair of pass breakups and a fumble recovery … He played in five games as a freshman at Indy with 3 total stops, 2 PBUs and a forced fumble … A product of Washington High School in Kansas City, Kan., he played QB, RB and DB for the Wildcats … Earned a Hy-Vee Player of the Week honor as a senior signal caller.
Brock Bagozzi (QB, 6-2, 216, Sr., Solvay, N.Y., Bridgton Academy, Marist)
Bagozzi earned All-Pioneer Football League honorable mention honors in 2023 for the Red Foxes at Marist College where he completed 140-of-263 passes for 1,511 yards and 9 touchdowns … Was named PFL Offensive Player of the Week (9/25/23) after passing for 248 yards and 3 TDs vs. Valparaiso … Also named to PFL Honor Roll in 2023 … He passed for 2,188 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior with starts in all 11 games and a 113.47 QB rating … He passed for season-high 397 yards vs. Valparaiso (11/12/22) and 3 touchdowns vs. St. Thomas (10/1/22) … Played in five games as a true freshman in 2021 and earned one start (vs. Bryant, 9/25/21) to become the first freshman QB to start under coach Jim Parady … Finished his freshman season 25-of-51 for 282 yards and a pair of TDs … Prepped at Bridgton Academy in Maine.
Rakwan Reed (DB, 5-11, 151, Fr., Westbury, Texas, Westbury High)
Reed was a multi-position standout for coach Jarvis Kelley at Westbury (Texas) High, just outside Houston where he snagged 9 interceptions his senior season with the Huskies while breaking up 7 passes, posting 21 total tackles and forcing a fumble in 2023 … He also had 171 yards on the offensive side of the ball as a wide receiver and scatback, including 5.6 yards per carry on 19 attempts with 2 touchdowns along with 6 receptions for 109 yards (18.2 ypr) … He also had an interception in three varsity appearances as a junior for a 6A playoff squad … Reed also runs track at Westbury where he owns part of the school record in the 4×200 relay (1:26.95).
Da’Veon Ross (LB, 6-0, 205, Fr., Tyler, Texas, Chapel Hill High)
Ross racked up 172 total tackles, including 120 solo stops for coach Jeff Riordan at Chapel Hill High in Tyler, Texas for a 13-3 Bulldogs squad in 2023 … He also posted 13.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks his senior season … As a junior, he was credited with 166 tackles with 111 solos, 12.0 TFLs and 6.5 sacks for a 12-3 playoff squad … He had offers from Arkansas State, UNLV and Central Arkansas.
Devin Rutherford (CB, 5-11, 180, Fr., Bartlett, Tenn., Bartlett High)
A versatile defensive back who racked up 55 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss and 3 interceptions as a senior (2023) for coach Chris Smith’s Panthers at Bartlett (Tenn.) High … Named as a three-star defensive back by 247Sports … Logged 4 interceptions as a junior … Finished his prep career with 11 interceptions for 162 yards … Had offers from Alabama State, UAPB, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas and Campbell.
Jaquez Smith (WR, 6-1, 195, Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Westlake High, Indiana)
Smith spent the past three seasons at the University of Indiana where he redshirted in 2021 and did not see any game action in 2022 or 2023 … At Indiana, he was named offensive scout team player of the week for the Western Kentucky game (9/25/21) before earning special teams scout team player of the week for the Maryland game (10/30/21) … He was a four-star prospect by ESPN and 247Sports out of Westlake High School in Atlanta where he was the No. 18 prospect in Georgia and No. 26 receiver nationally by ESPN for coach Bobby May in the Class of 2020 … Was also a three-time Atlanta Journal Constitution Preseason All-American and was named the top receiver by the TD Club of Atlanta three times … As a senior (2020), he caught 24 passes for 298 yards and a TD in 9 appearances for coach Maurico Zackery’s 11-2 Lions squad … 247Sports rated him as the No. 172 prospect nationally.
