Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard has announced the addition of 24 new players for the upcoming season at the onset of the regular signing period on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The new commitments join a group of five players who were part of the early signing period in December, bringing the total number of new Bears to 29 for the program’s inaugural FBS season this fall.
The composite 2025 signing class includes 19 high school seniors and 10 transfers, representing 15 home states and one Canadian province. The states of Texas (6), Missouri (5) and Florida (4) make up just over half of the class, which also consists of 14 offensive players, 14 defensive players and one specialist.
MoState’s 14 additions to the offensive unit are headlined by five new wide receivers and four offensive linemen as well as two quarterbacks, two running backs and a tight end. On the defensive side, the Bears are adding seven defensive backs, five defensive linemen and two linebackers. MSU is also adding a long snapper to the roster to this year’s class.
The ten transfers in Beard’s third recruiting class are already enrolled at Missouri State, in addition to two early enrollees from the group of high school seniors. One transfer is from the junior college ranks, two are from FCS programs, and seven transfers spent the 2024 season with an FBS program — including two players from Power Four conferences.
Quoting Coach Ryan Beard:
“We felt like we needed to get bigger, faster, stronger in every aspect of our program, and I think we did that. Our program recruits and evaluates talent at the highest level possible. The future is very bright at MoState!”
UP NEXT
The Bears will open the 2025 season — and their FBS era — on the road at Big Ten member USC on Saturday, August 30 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Missouri State’s inaugural FBS home game will be on Saturday, Sept. 13 against SMU.
TICKETS
To purchase Missouri State Football season tickets for the upcoming season, call (417) 836-7678 or visit the MissouriStateBears.com ticketing page to purchase online. Fans interested in exploring season ticket location and pricing options, can complete a Season Ticket Interest Form, call (417) 836-8899 or email DuaneMiller@missouristate.edu.
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Regular Signing Period – Freshmen
Joseph Arnold
S, 6-0, 175, Fr., Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley Northwest High
As a standout senior defensive back at Blue Valley (Kan.) Northwest High, he logged 36 total tackles, 25 solos, 2.0 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles … Led EKL conference in interceptions in 2024 … Helped lead coach Clint Rider’s Huskies to a 7-4 campaign his senior year … As a junior (2023), he brought down 31 ball carriers with 12 solo stops and an interception for a 6-5 club … Also wrestles at Blue Valley North.
Dezmond Barnes
DT, 6-1, 300, Fr., Millbrook, Ala., Stanhope Elmore High
Barnes brought down 56 ball carriers as a senior at Stanhope Elmore High in Millbrook, Ala. with 37 solo stops, 18.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and 12 QB hurries for a 5-5 squad … Impacted coach Hunter Adams’ Mustangs as a junior standout as well, racking up 45 total stops, 25 solos, 12.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in 2023 … Has a verified 4.9 40-yard dash time and 590-pound squat.
Anthony Bell Jr.
WR, 5-11, 165, Fr., Dallas, Ga., Paulding County High
Bell caught 26 passes for 747 yards and 4 touchdowns as a senior at Paulding County (Ga.) High in 2024 … Averaged 28.7 yards per reception and 74.7 yards per game … Led coach Justin Pressley’s Patriots in receiving yards in 2024 while averaging 35.4 yards per kickoff return … His junior year, he registered 28 pass receptions for 354 yards and 4 scores for an average of 12.6 yards per reception to earn all-region laurels … Has a verified 40-yard dash time of 4.62 and a 19’6.5 long jump.
Haydon Caston
S, 6-1, 185, Fr., Rosharon, Texas, Iowa Colony High
“Tank” Caston brought down 124 ball carriers in 2024 as a senior at Iowa Colony High in Texas … Also racked up 16.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and 3 interceptions … Earned second-team all-state honors in 2024 in addition to earning first-team all-district and district defensive MVP honors … Helped coach Ray Garza’s Pioneers to a 12-2 record his senior season … As a junior, he registered 113 total tackles, 87 solos , 16.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and 4 interceptions … Posted 77 tackles his sophomore year (2022) with 56 solos, 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and 5 pass breakups … Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports which also named him as the No. 165 safety nationally and two-star by Rivals … Had offers from Hawaii, Arkansas State, Oregon State, Tulsa, UTEP and North Texas.
King Davis
RB, 5-9, 175, Fr., Miami, Fla., Miami Central Senior High
Davis rushed for 803 yards on just 69 carries as a senior in 2024 with 11.6 yards per carry and 8 touchdowns at Miami (Fla.) Central High for coach Jube Joseph … Averaged 9.5 yards per carry as a junior with 559 yards on 59 attempts with 5 TDs for the Rockets … Played his sophomore season (2022) at Miami Northwestern where he averaged carried 69 times for 490 and 3 TD (7.1 ypc) in addition to 9 receptions for 117 yards for a 6-5 Bulls playoff team … Finished prep career with 2,076 yards on 232 carries (8.9 ypc) with 18 touchdowns with 153 receiving yards on 15 catches … Rivals.com and 247Sports both listed him as a three-star player, while he ranked No. 128 on the 247Sports national running back rankings … He had scholarship offers from a host of programs, including Arkansas, Ole Miss, Louisville, Oregon, Syracuse and West Virginia.
Tristian Gardner
WR, 6-1, 180, Fr., Waxahachie, Texas, Waxahachie High
As a senior at Waxahachie (Texas) High, Gardner snagged 66 passes for 1,024 yards, 15.5 yards per reception and 11 touchdowns … Helped lead coach Shane Tolleson’s Indians to a 9-4 record and deep playoff run … Earned 6A first-team All-District 11 honors as a senior … Played at Mesquite Horn as a junior and Dallas Lincoln as a freshman and sophomore … Finished his prep career with 95 receptions for 1,482 yards, 15.6 yards per catch and 16 touchdowns … Also received offers from Bowling Green, Sam Houston, Texas State, and UTSA.
Ryan Grayson
DB, 6-0, 165, Fr., Beggs, Okla, Beggs High
Grayson helped lead Beggs (Okla.) High and coach Tyler Blizzard’s Golden Demons to a 9-3 overall record and playoff run his senior season … As a junior (2023), he registered 6 interceptions and 9 pass breakups, while scoring 15 touchdowns and racking up 1,457 total yards on the offensive side of the ball … Ranked as the top defensive back in the state of Oklahoma with 20 career interceptions and a two-star rating from Rivals … Also played running back and was a remarkable punt returner in high school … Had scholarship offers from Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State.
Kheaton Kinney
DL, 6-2, 340, Fr., Atlanta, Texas, Atlanta High
A standout two-way lineman for coach Tyler Morton’s Rabbits at Atlanta (Texas) High, Kinney logged 37 total tackles as a senior (2024) with 25 solo stops and 3.0 tackles for loss for a 7-4 team … Logged 15 total tackles his junior season with a dozen solos and 2.0 tackles for loss … Rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports … Also had an offer from Sam Houston.
Breylon McCuller
DE, 6-4, 225, Fr., Raleigh, N.C., Millbrook High
McCuller is a highly-touted edge rusher who factored in 68 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss and 20.0 total sacks (for 127 yards) as a senior at Millbrook High in Raleigh, N.C. … Was an NAC-6 all-conference pick his senior season for coach Laymarr Marshall who helped lead Millbrook to an 11-2 ledger in 2024 … Played his first three seasons at Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver, B.C. … Has a verified 4.83 40-yard time and 360-pound squat … Also had an FBS offer from Coastal Carolina.
Caleb Olabode
LB, 6-1, 200, Fr., Arlington, Texas, Arlington High
Olabode was a candidate for Texas 6A linebacker of the year after bringing down 140 ball carriers his senior season at Arlington (Texas) High … Also notched 59 solo stops, 15.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and 7 forced fumbles in 2024 … Helped lead coach Scott Peach’s Colts to a 7-4 record as a senior … Has a 4.5 40-yard dash time.
Donald Quist
NB, 6-2, 190, Fr., Allen, Texas, Allen High
Quist logged 44 total tackles, 3.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 pass break-ups as a senior at Allen (Texas) High … Led coach Lee Wiginton’s Eagles to a 13-1 overall record in 2024 … Led Allen High to 6A Division I quarterfinals in his final prep season … Brought down 20 ball carriers his junior season (2023) with 13 solos and a tackle for loss in 8 appearances …. Also ran track at Allen High.
Braxton Starnes
LB, 6-4, 210, Fr., Hamshire, Texas, Hamshire-Fannett High
Starnes was an all-district linebacker at Hamshire-Fannett (Texas) High who notched 76 total tackles, 51 solo stops, 6.0 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions as a senior in 2024 … Also racked up 64 catches for 1,051 yards (16.4 ypc) and 15 touchdowns in 2024 at wide receiver for coach Mark Waggoner’s Longhorns … Played primarily on the offensive side of the ball as a junior with 969 yards on 58 receptions (16.7 ypc) with 14 TD’s … Racked up 2,020 all-purpose yards in three varsity seasons … Also played basketball in high school … Had an FBS offer from Army.
Brayden Thompson
OL, 6-8, 324, Fr., Wales, Wis., Kettle Moraine High
Thompson earned second-team all-conference as a senior for coach Glenn Derby’s Lasers … Was a four-year starter who was part of an 11-1 conference championship team his junior season (2023) and an 11-3 campaign his sophomore season … Has an 84-inch wingspan and squats 450 pounds … Rated as the No. 170 offensive tackle in the class of 2025 … Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and On3 and two-stars by Rivals … Had offers from Colorado State and Eastern Michigan.
Amare Whetsell
WR, 6-0, 185, Fr., Miami Gardens, Fla., Monsignor Pace High
Whetsell led Monsignor Pace High in Miami (Fla.) in receptions and receiving yards per game (47.6) as a senior in 2024 for the Spartans, snagging 36 receptions for 524 yards and 5 scores while averaging 14.6 yards per catch … Led coach Anthony Walker’s Spartans to an 8-3 record last season … Caught 31 passes for 341 yards as a junior to average 11.0 yards per reception and 31.0 yards per game … Has a top 40-yard time of 4.47.
Regular Signing Period – Transfers
Navonn Barrett
CB, 6-1, 190, So., Trenton, N.J., Trenton Central High, Lackawanna
A transfer from Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa., Barrett recorded 21 tackles, 15 solo stops, 5.5 tackles for loss and broke up 7 passes in 9 games in 2024 … Helped coach Mark Duda’s Falcons to a 7-3 ledger … Redshirted as a true freshman at Maine in 2022 with no games played … Attended Trenton (N.J.) Central High … Had game-winning touchdown reception vs. Allentown his senior season (9/25/21) for coach Chris Franco’s Tornadoes … Had offers from Arkansas State, Albany and others.
Matthew Greene
OL, 6-5, 270, So., Centennial, Colo., Arapahoe High, UNLV
Greene played in five games his redshirt freshman season for coach Barry Odom’s Runnin’ Rebels at UNLV in 2024, primarily on tight end and special teams assignments … Redshirted as a true freshman at UNLV in 2023 with no games played … Was a standout two-way lineman at Arapahoe High in Centennial, Colo. for coach Tyler Brayton … Earned 5A first-team all-state honors as a senior in 2022, while helping the Warriors to a No. 15 state ranking by MaxPreps … Posted 38 total tackles with 11 solo stops, 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery on the defensive side of the ball his senior year … Was also part of a 9-3 playoff squad his junior season for coach Joe Nu’u … Was tabbed as a two-star recruit by Rivals … Also competed in basketball and lacrosse in high school.
Ronnel Johnson
WR, 6-0, 177, Jr., McDonough, Ga., Eagles Landing High, Stetson
A transfer from Stetson, Johnson played in 10 games and caught 40 passes for 513 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2024 for coach Brian Young … Also averaged 9.2 yards per punt return and 17.4 yards per kickoff return his sophomore season for the Hatters … Had a breakout game at Davidson (10/19/24) with 5 receptions for 131 yards and a 71-yard TD … He was named Pioneer League Rookie of the Year in 2023 after playing in 7 games and hauling in 19 passes for 368 yards … Had two 100-yard receiving games with 5 catches for 105 yards vs. Davidson (11/4/23) and career-high 9 receptions for 155 yards and a pair of TDs vs. San Diego (11/18/23) … Prepped at Eagles Landing High School in McDonough, Ga. for coach Johnny Teemer … Had a confirmed 40-yard time of 4.4 and 405-pound squat.
Shomari Lawrence
RB, 6-0, 207, Sr., Pompano Beach, Fla., Blanche Ely High, FIU
Lawrence was a Preseason All-CUSA selection by Athlon and Phil Steele in 2024 at FIU, carrying 47 times for 177 yards and a touchdown in eight appearances for coach Willie Simmons … Saw action in 12 games for the Panthers in 2023 with 125 attempts for 566 yards (4.5 ypc) to rank 11th in CUSA with 4 TDs … Also had 8 receptions for 47 yards in his FIU debut season … Had career-best 139 rushing yards in season opener at LA Tech (8/26/23), including a 67-yard TD run … Recorded 89 yards and a touchdown in win over North Texas (9/9/23) … Also played three seasons at South Dakota (2020-22), including an impressive 2022 campaign in which he carried 107 times for 597 yards and 3 touchdowns (5.6 ypc) with a season-best 122-yard game vs. SIU (10/22/22) … Also had 84 yards on 14 carries at Kansas State (9/3/22) … Played three games in his redshirt campaign (2021) with 33 carries for 160 yards, and made four appearances in 2020-21 spring COVID season, including an appearance against MoState … Was a two-sport star at Blanche Ely High in Pompano Beach, Fla. … Helped lead the Tigers to a 7-4 record 0as a senior (2019) and earned first-team All-Broward County honors after 1,004 rushing yards, 1,206 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns … Earned Otis Gray Award for top performance at the 2019 BCAA All-Star Football Classic … Also competed in track and field in high school.
Isaiah McMorris
WR, 5-10, 170, RFr., Omaha, Neb., Bellevue West High, Nebraska
McMorris spent the 2024 season at Nebraska where he redshirted as a true freshman for coach Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers … Played in one game in 2024 with his collegiate debut in season opener vs. UTEP (8/31/24) … Was a three-star prospect by 247Sports out of Bellevue West High in Omaha, Neb. … Caught 44 passes for 576 yards and 8 touchdowns as a senior for coach Michael Huffman’s Thunderbirds at Bellevue West … Averaged 13.1 yards per catch and 72.0 yards per game in 2023 … Had a remarkable junior season (2022), catching 90 passes for 1,297 yards and 14 touchdowns with 14.4 yards per catch and 117.9 yards per game … Also played basketball in high school.
Maguire Neal
S, 6-0, 200, Sr., Zephyrhills, Fla., Zephyrhills High, Charlotte
Neal played cornerback and safety at Charlotte the past three seasons … Brought down 6 ball carriers in 2025 in 5 appearances in 2024 with 3 solo stops at Rice (9/28/24) … Played in 11 games with 3 starts in 2023 with 13 total tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception at SMU (9/30/23) … Brought down season-high 3 ball carriers vs. FAU (10/27/23) … Made 5 starts as a true freshman in 2022 with action in 12 games, recording 23 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a QB hurry … Made his collegiate debut at FAU (8/27/22) with 3 total tackles … Started the last 3 games of his freshman season while earning CUSA All-Freshman Team honors … Started three seasons for coach Nick Carroll at Zephyrhills (Fla.) High where he logged 50 career tackles for loss and 30.0 sacks for the Bulldogs … Posted 37 total tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks as a senior (2021) to earn 5A all-state honors for a 10-2 team … Brought down 51 ball carriers as a junior with 25.5 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks and 4 forced fumbles … Posted 43 stops his sophomore year with 15.0 tackles for loss and 12.0 sacks … Was also a standout sprinter and hurdler, winning the 300m hurdles state title as a senior (37.31) and making the finals in three events (100m, 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles) as a junior … Rated as a three-star linebacker by ESPN and 247Sports in the 2022 class.
Ebubedike Nnabugwu
OL, 6-2, 300, So., Baltimore, Md., Dunbar High, Delaware State
Nnabugwu played in 12 games his sophomore season at FCS Delaware State … Helped coach Lee Hull’s Hornets average 309.3 yards per game in 2024 … Saw action in three games as a true freshman in 2023 to earn a redshirt season … Made his collegiate debut vs. Army West Point (9/9/23) … Prepped at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High in Baltimore where he helped lead the Poets to a 14-0 record and 2A/1A state title his senior year … Credited with 24 pancake blocks in 2022 … Was also part of a 13-0 season his junior season at Dunbar.
Drew Viotto
QB, 6-4, 230, So., Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Walled Lake (Mich.) Western High, Eastern Michigan
Viotto played the 2024 season at Eastern Michigan after spending the 2023 campaign at Minnesota where he redshirted … Saw action in one game last season at EMU with an appearance vs. St. Francis (9/21/24) … Attended Walled Lake (Mich.) Western High School under coach Kory Cioroch … Served as a captain for two seasons, leading the team to a 9-2 record as a senior … Completed 70 percent of his passes, threw for 2,126 yards and 22 touchdowns (with just 4 interceptions) as an all-state selection his senior season (2022) … As a junior, he passed for 1,944 yards and 22 touchdowns on 161 completions … Moved to Metro Detroit from Sault St. Marie, Ontario in 2019 … Was a consensus three-star prospect, according to 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals… Rivals ranked him as the No. 16 prospect in Michigan and as the No. 30 quarterback in the nation … Named a 2023 Detroit News Blue Chip football prospects … Was the top ranked prospect on the CFC100 Class of 2023.
Sean Weigand
LS, 6-2, 210, RFr., North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora High, Northern Ill.
Weigand redshirted in 2024 as a true freshman for coach Thomas Hammock at Northern Illinois with no games played … Was a standout player at West Aurora (Ill.) High for coach Nate Eimer’s Blackhawks … Was perfect on 61 extra point (31), field goal (2) and punt (28) snaps his senior season (2023) … Timed long snap at 0.68 of a second during a 2022 Kohl’s Winter Showcase Camp … His father, Brian, handled long snapping in stops at both St. Cloud State and North Central College while his older brother, Peyton, was also a long snapper at West Aurora … Also played basketball in high school.
DJ Wesolak
DE, 6-3, 255, Jr., Boonville, Mo., Boonville High, Oregon State
A highly-touted edge, Wesolak played in three games at Oregon State in 2024 with a solo tackle against No. 9 Oregon (9/14/24) and an assisted stop vs. Purdue (9/21/24) … Was at Missouri for coach Eliah Drinkwitz in 2022 and 2023 prior to his one-year stint in Corvallis … Did not see any game action in 2023 as a redshirt freshman but earned SEC Academic Honor Roll honors … Played in final five games in 2022, including the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl game against Wake Forest, to retain his redshirt but was not credited with any tackles … Prepped at Boonville (Mo.) High, he racked up a total of 119 total tackles, 17.0 sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries in his career … Led coach Greg Hough’s Pirates to an 8-3 record in 2021 … Listed as a four-star defensive end by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals … Ranked as the No. 93 prospect in the country on the ESPN 300 list … Ranked as No. 3 player in Missouri in class of 2023 by ESPN, No. 5 by 247Sports and No. 17 by Rivals … Had offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and others out of high school.
Early Signing Period (Dec. 4)
Deuce Bailey
QB, 6-0, 170, Fr., Bowling Green, Ky., Bowling Green High
Bailey led Bowling Green (Ky.) High Purples to back-to-back 5A state titles in 2023 and 2024, including a 37-20 win over Cooper in the 2024 championship … Completed 239-of-343 passes for 3,466 yards and 40 touchdowns this season with just 4 interceptions … Also rushed 68 times for 423 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season, including 3 scores in the state finals … Named Class 5A player of the year by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association … Coach Mark Spader’s squad was 13-2 his senior season … In 2023, Bailey led Bowling Green to a 28-14 win over Cooper to win the 5A state title and was named the championship game MVP … Had FBS offers from Miami (Ohio) and others.
Jackson Kohl
TE, 6-6, 245, Fr., St. Louis, Mo., CBC High
A standout tight end from St. Louis CBC High, Kohl led the Cadets to a 10-2 record in 2024 … Logged 9 receptions for 113 yards and was a prominent blocker on the CBC offensive front, helping coach Josiah Stanfield’s team produce 235.0 ground yards per game … Was a three-star recruit by 247Sports … Had no fewer than a dozen FBS scholarship offers from the likes of Indiana, Louisville, Duke, Army, Michigan State and Nebraska.
Stephen Meitz
OL, 6-6, 295, Fr., Eureka, Mo., Eureka High
Meitz was an instrumental part of Eureka (Mo.) High School’s sensational offensive line that led coach Jacob Sumner’s Wildcats to 520 total yards per game, 248 rushing yards per contest and 6.2 yards per carry in 2024 … Wildcats were undefeated in the regular season in 2024 … Had scholarship offers from Kent State and Air Force, among others.
Gionni McBride
CB, 6-3, 175, Fr., North Kansas City, Mo., North Kansas City High
McBride was a first-team all-conference pick for coach Daniel Joiner’s North Kansas City (Mo.) High Hornets … Has a three-star rating from 247Sports and two-star status from Rivals … In conference play, he tallied 16 tackles, 10 solos, 1.0 tackles for loss and a forced fumble while not allowing a single pass reception … Also had offers from Kansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, Nebraska and Minnesota, among others.
Jayden McGee
DE, 6-4, 220, Fr. St. Louis, Mo., Cardinal Ritter Prep
McGee helped lead coach Brennan Spain’s Cardinal Ritter Prep Lions to a 9-2 record and Missouri state semifinal run in 2024 … Anchored a solid Ritter defensive line by posting 62 total tackles, 35 solo stops, 9.0 sacks and 4 quarterback hurries his senior season for the St. Louis squad … Played his first three seasons at O’Fallon (Ill.) Township High.
