KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Truman State University Football program announced the addition of 16 high school players through the National Letter of Intent program and two transfer students to the signing class of 2021.

"With the NCAA eligibility waivers for COVID relief this past year, it deeply impacted recruiting for this 2021 class," said Head Coach Gregg Nesbitt. "This led us to focus on high end competitors who could play a variety of positions."

"The Bulldogs have consistently performed among the best in all four phases of the kicking game over the past several seasons and 14 of these 18 players have the ability to become three of four phase kicking game starters. We believe these units will have the opportunity to play at even a higher level with the overall ability of this class."

"Our staff focused on Missouri athletes with 13 incoming from Missouri, four from Illinois and one from South Lake Tahoe, California," continued Nesbitt.  "Local talent was also highlighted with signees from Kirksville, Milan, Moberly, Hunstville and Quincy"

"I would like to thank our recruiting team here at Truman and in our community of Kirksville," said Nesbitt. "From our admissions staff, Purple Pride organization, Sodexo on-campus food service, Kristy Rowles at the Holiday Inn Express, Truman Financial Aid Office, Athletics administration staff and our current team members and coaching staff." 

Truman was 10-2 in 2019 and were the inaugural winners of the America's Crossroads Bowl. They are scheduled to play an abbreviated four-game spring season starting on April 1st at Southwest Baptist. They will host William Jewell on April 10 and travel to Missouri S&T on April 15 before a crossover GLVC playoff weekend on April 24th. The teams will be paired across the east and west sides based on standings. 
 

Connor Baxley (Liberty, Mo./Liberty North HS)
Braxley led the Eagles in tackles as a senior with 93 and in tackles for loss with eight. He had four games of 10 tackles or more with a high of 15 coming in a playoff loss to Raymore-Pecliar in his final game. Those 93 tackles were good for a school record in tackles in a season. Also added two interceptions, two fumbles forced and one recovery. Finished with over 200 total tackles in 26 varsity games played, 12 tackles for loss and six career INTS. Braxley was named all-state following his senior season and was twice named to the all-district and all-conference teams.  He earned the Eagles Defensive Player of the Year award and Liberty North Eagle Pride Award. Braxley is a member of the school's honor roll. 

Jake Closser (Blair Oaks, Mo./Blair Oaks HS)
Closser has been a member of two state championship teams, including this past season at Blair Oaks High School. The Falcons finish the season 13-1 with the Class 3 Missouri State title. Closser finished his career with 113 receptions for 2,355 yards and 35 touchdowns while adding 40 rushes for 288 yards and four scores. He broke a school record with seven catches for 337 yards in a game. On the defensive side, in the secondary, he made over 70 total tackles with 14 interceptions, five defensive touchdowns ( a school record) and 23 pass break-ups. He is a three-time all-state honoree and a four-time all-district and all-conference selection. Closser is a member of the school's academic honor roll and a member of the National Honor Society. 

Noah Copeland (Kirksville, Mo./Kirksville HS)
Copeland accumulated over 2200 receiving yards on 200 career catches for Kirksville High. He broke school records in catches and yards for a season with 92 and 1,213 in 2019. Among that total was a 15-reception, 257 yards game against Hannibal High School that was played at Stokes Stadium and was the most receiving yards by a player at the facility. Copeland was the 2020 Kirksville Daily Express PLayer of the Year, named all-state his junior year and all district and all-conference in both junior and seniors campaigns. He owns the Kirksville High basketball rebounding record with over 700 and has scored over 1,000 points. His father Matt was an All-American tight-end for the Bulldogs in 1995, academic all-district selection, two-time all-MIAA performer and was the associate head coach/offensive coordinator for the Bulldogs for seven seasons after his playing career. 

Dominic Dabney (Milan, Mo./Milan)
Dominic will join his brother Ryan on the Bulldog squad after a tremendous career in both basketball and football at Milan High School. As a four-year varsity starter, Dabney gained 3,743 yards on the ground with 28 touchdowns and averaged 8.1 per carry. He added another 32 career receptions for 332 yards and three scores and also returned both punts and kickoffs and had one return touchdown in each. On the defensive side, finished with 354 total tackles with 34 for loss, 11 sacks, four fumble recoveries, 20 forced fumbles, three defensive scores and four interceptions. He has been an all-state selection three times and a four-time choice on the all-district and all-conference teams. He was named to the MFCA "All-Hands Team." On the basketball court, Dabney is near 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals and helped the Wildcats to the Class 2 "Final Four" as a junior. He is a academic all-state and all-conference honoree and a member of the school's honor roll and National Honor Society. His grandfather, L.E. "Horse" Dabney is a 1986 inductee of the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame

Tristan Duncan (Effingham, Ill./Effingham HS)
Duncan led Effingham with 70 catches for 1,436 yards (110.5/g) as a junior in 2019. He had 14 receiving touchdowns and five catches of 50 yards or more with a long of 64 coming in the season opener against Mater Dei. Duncan had a season-best nine catches for 196 yards in a 46-7 win over Lincoln.  He had eight games in an 11-2 season with over 100 yards receiving. Prior to his senior season, Duncan has played in 21 varsity games with 103 receptions for 2,251 yards and 24 touchdown catches. He was a junior all-state receiver and earned all-conference in both his junior and sophomore years.

Houston Eagen (Odessa, Mo./Odessa HS)
Eagen played nose guard and tackle for the 2019 Missouri Class three state championship Odessa Bulldogs. The team had won 36 of 37 games the last three years with a 12-1 record in 2018, a 15-0 state title in 2019 and a 9-0 record until COVID ended the season in sectionals. Eagan was named to the all-state, all-district and all-conference teams in both his junior and senior seasons. He also earned the academic all-conference award. 

Parker Erickson (Bolivar, Mo./Bolivar, Mo.)
Erickson was a three-year varsity starter for the Bolivar Liberators and made 42 receptions, had 20 carries for 802 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named three times to the all-district and all-conference teams and broke the school record in the weight room for the Power Clean. Erickson is a member of the academic all-state team, school honor roll and National Honor Society. 

Dominic "DJ" Flint (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles West HS)
Flint was the leading rusher for the 4-3 St. Charles West Warriors in 2020 with 72 carries for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 108 yards and tossed a 62-yard touchdown pass. He finished with 847 yards of total offense. On the defensive side, registered 20 total tackles with 16 solo, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. On special teams, had nine returns for 301 yards. For his high school career, Flint rushed for 3,952 yards with 41 touchdowns and averaged 10.5 yards per carry. He earned all-district honors in both his junior and sophomore seasons and all-conference accolades in his sophomore, junior and senior campaigns. Flint is a member of the academic all-conference team and National Honor Society. 

Josh Gansen (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West HS)
Gansen made 86 receptions for over 1200 yards and 26 touchdowns over the course of four seasons at Parkway West. During his season year, Gansen grabbed 15 passes for 283 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. As a junior, he caught another 15 passes for 212 yards. Gansen was named all-district in both his junior and season seasons and was a member of the Suburban Central-National all-conference team as a senior. He is a member of the school's honor roll and a member of the National Honor Society. 

Mitch Gore (Dunlap, Ill/Dunlap HS)
As a junior, Gore had 33 carries in four games with 162 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He had 16 touches and a score in a 38-26 victory over Limestone while adding one catch and a touchdown for 36 yards. Earned all-conference honors in both his sophomore and junior seasons and was selected as a Journal Star Preps - Best of Central Illinois Award Winner and selected for the Central Illinois Shrine Bowl.  Gore broke the school record with a 500-pound squat in the weight room, is a member of the National Honor Society and school honor roll. 

Tyler Jenness (Liberty, Mo./Liberty North HS)
Jenness finished his 2020 season at Liberty North with over 500 yards in all-purpose yardage while the Eagles finished the season with a 9-3 record. He eight rushes for 59 yards, 11 catches for 118 and averaged 31.4 yards in nine kick returns. On defense, he made 41 total tackles with three for loss and was credited with 10 quarterback hurries. For his varsity career, Jenness played in 24 games with 47 catches for 590 yards and six touchdowns while adding 179 career rushing yards on 24 attempts. He earned academic all-conference honors and is also a member of the school's baseball team. 

Tim Johnson (Alton, Ill./Alton HS)
Johnson led the Alton Redbirds as a junior in rushing attempts with 76 for 382 yards and six touchdowns while grabbing 15 passes for 221 yards. His season high was 23 carries for 156 yards against O'Fallon back in October of 2019 and caught seven passes for 98 yards against Edwardsville in September of that same season. As a sophomore, ran for 145 times for 970 yards and six scores with seven catches for 69 yards. His career best game statistically was 29 carries for 232 yards in 2018 against Collinsville. Johnson has been named all-conference in both his sophomore and junior seasons and was a three-time Columbus Offensive Back of the Week.  

Chris Kerr (O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West)
Kerr earned all-conference honors in both his junior and senior seasons at Fort Zumwalt West. He caught 23 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown and was the top defensive player with 77 total tackles, with 54 solo stops in his senior season with the Jaguars. He had 18 tackles in a district win over Jefferson City on October 22. Kerr caught 35 balls for 400 yards and seven touchdowns during the junior season with 57 total tackles and three interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. Kerr has been named academic all-conference, school honor roll and is a member of the National Honor Society. 

Jack Marth (Quincy, Ill./Quincy Notre Dame HS)
Marth is a defensive end and tight end for QND and through three seasons has 115 tackles with 20 for loss and a pick-six. He's had over 500 career rushing years for six touchdowns. Marth was named all-state as a junior and earned all-league honors in both his sophomore and junior campaigns. He is an academic all-state honoree, academic all-conference and a member of the school's honor roll and National Honor Society. 

Jacksyn Miller (Moberly, Mo./Moberly HS)
Miller was a key member of the Moberly Spartan's North Central Missouri Conference championship his season season. The linebacker led the team in tackles the past three seasons with 83 coming his senior year with 8.5 for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and an interception. As a tight end, caught 10 passes for 181 yards and three TDs to earn first team all-NCMC accolades at both positions. Finished his career with over 260 tackles with all-state honors in both junior and senior years and all-district and all-conference honors for three consecutive years...Miller was named to the KRES All-Star team and the KMZU Dream Team. He is an academic all-state honoree, with membership on the school's honor roll and National Honor Society. 

Jake Tarwater (South Tahoe, Nev./South Tahoe HS)
In his sophomore and junior seasons as starting quarterback for the South Tahoe Vikings, Tarwater threw for 4,379 yards and 42 touchdown passes. His senior season was cancelled due to COVID. He completed 60% of his passes for a 219 yards per game mark while adding 32 rushes for 112 yards. He earned all-district and all-conference honors following his junior season. On the academic side, Tarwater was named academic all-state, academic all-conference and is a member of the school's honor roll and National Honor Society. 

Transfers: 

Ben Miller (Huntsville, Mo./Westran HS/Missouri Western State University)

Miller inked initially to Missouri Western in 2019 and was a redshirt player for the Griffons before transferring to Truman State. He was a three-year varsity starter at Westran HS and earned all-state accolades in both his junior and senior seasons. He earned all-conference honors three times. Miller accumulated 167 tackles in 36 games played with six fumble recoveries and 10 quarterback sacks. He had five sacks his senior season in which the Hornets went 11-3 before bowing out in the state semifinals to eventual champion Hayti. Miller was a member of the school's honor roll and National Honor Society. 

Vito Orlando (Hillsboro, Mo./Lutheran South HS/Washburn University)
Orlando signed originally in 2019 to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and redshirted his first season. He was named twice to the Ichabod offensive work team player of the week. At Lutheran South, broke the school record for passing yards in a season with 2,392 and career with 6,857. He completed 61% of his high school passes with 67 touchdowns en route to earning all-state honors in both his junior and senior seasons. He was a varsity starter all four seasons and was all-district and all-conference in his sophomore, junior and senior campaigns.