KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Truman State University head football coach Kellen Nesbitt announced the addition of 21 student-athletes to the Bulldog football program for the 2026 season. The signing class features 18 freshmen and three transfers who bring a diverse mix of talent, experience, and academic excellence to Kirksville.
"I'm incredibly proud of our latest signing class—it's a talented, well-balanced group with great potential across the board, and I'm excited to watch these student-athletes develop and contribute here at Truman State," said Nesbitt. "This success wouldn't have been possible without the outstanding work of our entire coaching staff, whose dedication and recruiting efforts made it all happen."
The Bulldogs add three experienced transfers who have already proven themselves at the collegiate level.
Askia Bullie (QB, 6-1, 185, Redshirt Sophomore ) joins the Bulldogs from the College of DuPage Chaparrals, where he was a key contributor to the 2025 NJCAA national champions. The Chicago native appeared in all ten games, rotating between quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. Bullie completed 46 passes for 627 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing 56 times for 247 yards and six more scores. He also contributed five receptions for 38 yards. At Westinghouse College Prep, Bullie was named IHSCA 5A All-State as a junior and earned All-Public League and All-Conference first-team honors as both a junior and senior.
D'Javonte Richmond (DB, 6-0, Junior) transfers from Moorpark College after helping the Raiders to a 19-2 record and three championships. The Granada Hills High School graduate was a regional champion and city section champion during his prep career. Richmond is studying sociology and brings valuable secondary experience to the Bulldogs.
Idrique Carmichael (CB, 5-10, 184, Junior) arrives from Pasadena City College after also playing a full season at the University of North Dakota. At Pasadena CC, Carmichael was named Defensive Player of the Year and earned back-to-back All-State honors. He led the state in interceptions with seven during his prep career at Pasadena High School and recorded impressive stats at Pasadena CC with eight tackles, nine interceptions, 18 pass breakups, and seven tackles for loss. The criminal justice major has been on the Dean's List for four years.
The Bulldogs also added exceptional depth to the team across all positions.
Seth Johnson (CB, 5-9) comes to Truman from Warrensburg High School, where he set school records with 13 pass breakups in 2024 and 15 in 2025. Johnson earned All-Conference honors in 2024 and 2025 while helping the Tigers to back-to-back district championships and state semifinal appearances. He recorded six interceptions and 28 career pass breakups. A three-time All-State track and field athlete (2023-2025), Johnson was also a 2024 All-American who competed at nationals in 2025. The marketing major is a volunteer coach for youth football camps.
Anthony "AJ" Gowin Jr. (LB/DB, 6-1, 195) arrives from Staley High School in Kansas City, Missouri, where he was a three-time All-Conference selection and earned First Team All-District honors as a senior. Gowin was named Staley's Defensive Player of the Year twice and recorded 160 total tackles with 7.6 tackles per game, one sack, and two interceptions over his final two seasons. A four-year Principal's Honor Roll student with a 4.29 weighted GPA, Gowin will enter Truman with his Associate of Arts degree through the ECA Program. He is also RedCross certified lifeguard and a two-year member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
James Franklin III (DB, 5-11, 170) joins the Bulldogs from Saint Rita High School in Chicago, where he earned All CCL-ESCC Conference honors as both a junior and senior. Franklin helped the Mustangs reach the state semifinals as a junior and finish as state runner-up his senior year. In his final season, he recorded 65 total tackles (41 solo), one interception, 19 pass breakups, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two quarterback hurries. An A/B Honor Roll student, Franklin served as a big brother in a mentorship program and volunteered at food banks.
Jameer Sims (DL, 6-1, 220) arrives from CBC High School in St. Louis, where he earned First Team All-District, First Team All-Conference, and Second Team All-State honors as a senior. Sims helped the Cadets to a 12-1 district championship season his senior year, following a state championship as a freshman and state runner-up finish as a sophomore. A four-time yearbook photographer, Sims maintains a 3.3 GPA with two honors classes and volunteered 50 hours at a daycare.
Cori Robertson (WR, 5-9, 155) comes from Hightower High School in Fresno, Texas, where he was named First Team All-District as a wide receiver and earned Offensive Player of the Year honors. Robertson set the school record for most receiving yards in a single season, posting 53 receptions for 1,515 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns his senior year. An A-B Honor Roll student studying business, Robertson brings exceptional speed and playmaking ability to the Bulldogs.
Jackson Frank (WR, 6-0, 175) joins the program from Festus High School, where he earned First Team All-State, All-District, All-Conference, and All-Region honors as a wide receiver in 2025. He recorded over 1,000 all-purpose yards his senior season, including 800 receiving yards on 29 catches with 13 touchdowns and an impressive 27.3 yards per catch—the highest average in Missouri across all classes. A two-time Academic All-State selection (2024, 2025), Frank helped the Tigers to back-to-back district and conference championships, reaching the state semifinals in 2025 and finishing as state runner-up in 2024. The pre-med major also competes in basketball and track.
Dominic Fantin (S, 6-0, 205) arrives from Crown Point High School in Indiana, where he was part of multiple championship teams. Fantin helped the Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season and conference championship as a freshman, followed by an undefeated season, conference, sectional, regional, semi-state, and state runner-up finish as a sophomore. His junior year saw another undefeated regular season and conference title. An All-Conference and All-Area selection, Fantin recorded over 150 career tackles and eight career interceptions. The accounting major is a Cum Laude graduate, National Honor Society member, and Bulldog Mentors participant.
Jack Berry (LB, 6-2, 215) comes from Eureka High School in Missouri, where he earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a linebacker in 2025. Berry helped the Wildcats to the 2023 Class 5 District 2 championship and the 2024 Suburban Yellow Conference championship, including a perfect 9-0 regular season. In his senior year, he recorded 81 total tackles, three interceptions, three blocked punts, and one defensive touchdown. A three-year varsity letterman in both football and track, Berry is a two-time Academic All-State selection (2024, 2025) and is studying exercise science.
Hayden Bolinger (LB, 6-1, 200) joins the Bulldogs from Saint Dominic High School in O'Fallon, Missouri, where he helped the Crusaders to undefeated seasons as both a sophomore and senior. Bolinger earned All-District honors his junior year and was a district and regional champion in track and field, finishing ninth in the state. As a senior, he recorded 18 tackles, 500 yards, and 11 touchdowns. An A+ Honor Roll student with over 100 hours of community service, Bolinger is studying criminal justice.
Easton Smith (DE, 6-3, 240) joins from Rolla High School, where he was named to the Central Missouri All-Media Team and earned All-Region, All-District, and Media All-District honors. Smith was also recognized as Academic All-State for both football and basketball. He recorded 50 tackles, six sacks, seven tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery during his senior season. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society, Smith volunteers at little kids' basketball and football camps and helps with food distribution at his church. Simith is also an Academic All-State student.
Xzaviar Teal (DL, 6-3, 240) comes from Parkview High School in Springfield, Missouri, where he was the 2025 school sack leader and earned Second Team Class 5 Defensive Lineman honors. Teal was a two-time All-Missouri Independent Team selection and three-time Academic All-State honoree. During his senior year, he recorded 25 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles, 30 solo tackles, 59 total tackles, three pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. A Top 25 student, Teal completed a Career Center Program PC Repair Clinic Internship and is studying computer science.
Joseph Jones (DT, 6-2) comes from Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri, where he was a CMAC All-Conference selection and three-year varsity letterman. Jones earned the 2025 Grit Award and helped the Bruins to CMAC championships in 2022 and 2024 and district championships in 2023 and 2024. Over his final four games as a junior and seven games as a senior, he recorded 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and five sacks. A member of Mu Alpha Theta and Spanish Honors Society, Jones is a tutor at COR Columbia and serves as an Advisory Mentor for MAC Scholars. The computer science major brings versatility and academic excellence to the program.
Lucas Burns (OL, 6-3, 250) arrives from Lafayette County C-1 High School in Higginsville, Missouri, where he was a First Team All-State selection in both 2024 and 2025 and earned All-Conference and All-District honors three straight years (2023-2025). Burns helped the Huskers to three consecutive conference and district championships (2022-2024). A four-year varsity letterman in football (2022-2025) and three-year letterman in both basketball and track, Burns is a National Honor Society member and A Honor Roll student. The agriculture business major is also involved in FFA, FBLA, FCCLA, Science Club, Choir, and NHS while volunteering with local youth football and community service projects.
Brennan Czeschin (QB, 6-3, 192) arrives from Saint Dominic High School, where he rewrote the school record books. Czeschin is the single-game, single-season, and career record holder in passing yards, completion percentage, and passing touchdowns. He finished his career with 5,343 yards, 60 touchdowns, and a 60.6% completion rate. His senior season saw him throw for 2,273 yards and 29 touchdowns with a 63% completion rate (137/218), while his single-game records include 343 yards, six touchdowns, and a perfect 100% completion percentage (minimum 15 attempts). A three-time All-District selection and one-time All-Conference honoree, Czeschin helped the Crusaders to district championships in 2022 and two undefeated regular seasons (2023, 2025)—the only two in school history. With a 3.91 weighted GPA (3.82 unweighted), he is a National Honor Society member, Head of House (one of 12 students chosen from 1,100+), and St. Dominic Leadership Summit Council member. The business administration/management major has logged 125+ hours of community service.
Brady Micek (QB, 5-11, 180) comes from Lafayette High School in St. Louis, where he was named 2025-2026 Conference Player of the Year and earned Third Team All-State and First Team All-Metro honors as a quarterback. Micek was also recognized as an All-District quarterback and All-Conference/All-District wide receiver in 2024-2025. He helped the Lancers to the Class 5 district championship in 2024-2025 and the Suburban Yellow Conference championship in 2025-2026. During his senior season, Micek completed 154 of 245 passes (62.89%) for 2,522 yards, 31 touchdowns, and six interceptions while adding 105 carries for 482 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. A National Honor Society member, Micek is involved in basketball, Young Men Service League, and NHS service projects. He is studying business.
David Russell (WR, 5-10, 155) joins from Festus High School, where he was the leading receiver in yards for Class 4 in Missouri. Russell earned First Team All-Region honors and All-Conference recognition in triple jump and long jump. He was also an honorable mention as a returner. Russell helped the Tigers to back-to-back state finals appearances, finishing as state runner-up in 2024 and reaching the state semifinals in 2025 while winning district and conference championships both years. The major is still to be determined for Russell, who brings elite speed and playmaking ability.
Angstrom Watt (FB, 6-0, 205) arrives from Putnam County High School in Unionville, Missouri, where he was named First Team All-State and earned All-District honors. Watt rushed for 1,431 yards and 16 touchdowns while also starring as a middle linebacker. He helped the Midgets to the 2025 conference and district championships and was named to the NEMO Pressbox Dream Team, KMZU Dream Team, KMEM Player of the Week, and KMEM Player of the Year. An Academic All-Conference and Academic All-State selection, Watt is a member of NHS, DECA, and FCA and volunteers at First Christian Church. Watt brings a powerful running style to the fullback position.
Gavin Christ (K) joins the Bulldogs from Mascoutah High School in Illinois, adding a talented kicker to the special teams unit.
Coach Nesbitt emphasized the collaborative effort that made the recruiting class possible.
"A huge thank you also goes to the Purple Pride organization for their exceptional campus tours during official visits, Laura Bates, Tyana Lange, and Bethany Gibson for going above and beyond to get us into campus buildings over holiday weekends, Rihannon Turner for helping us secure fleet vehicles on the weekends, Kaytee Wood from the Registrar's Office, Michelle Howell and Brandon Rueter from Admissions for their tremendous support with the application process for each prospect, and Bri Abernathy, Pam Ouyang, and Mindy Atkins from Sodexo for taking care of all our on-campus meals," said Nesbitt.
"Special appreciation to all the professors who generously gave up time on their weekends to meet with our prospects—especially Scott Templeton (Business), Stacey Kaden (Business), Jerry Mayhew (Exercise Science), and Carson Lackey (Exercise Science). It truly takes a village to put on a great visit, and Truman State has done an outstanding job of representing that spirit—everyone's commitment to showcasing what makes Truman special is truly appreciated. Go Dogs!"
The 2026 signing class brings a combination of championship experience, academic achievement, and athletic talent that positions the Bulldogs for continued success both on the field and in the classroom.
