Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State head football coach Trent Miles has announced the addition of 31 student-athletes to the roster for the upcoming 2011 season on National Letter of Intent Signing Day.

Included in the class is one mid-year transfer and 30 high school seniors.

"I am extremely pleased with our fourth recruiting class at Indiana State," Miles commented. "We were able to fill targeted positions with young players that are going to be very successful in our program. I could not be any more proud of our coaching staff as they did a great job of not only selling Indiana State, but also of going out and winning head-to-head recruiting battles with teams from the upper echelon of the Missouri Valley Football Conference as well as against teams from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. We were able to sign student-athletes that are good young men, great citizens and excellent students that will help continue the success that we have just begun to enjoy with the Sycamore football program."

2011 Indiana State Football Signing Day Class

Ian Allen LB
6-3, 205, Fr., Stilwell, KS (Blue Valley HS)

High School: Lettered for three seasons in football for coach Eric Driskell ... Holds the school's all-time single season and career tackles record ... Posted 204 career solo tackles, including a total of 328 in 37 games, averaging 8.9 tackles per game ... Had 33 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions .... Posted a pair of career interceptions and forced 20 fumbles while recovering seven others.

Personal: Born Ian Matthew Allen on October 23, 1992 in Overland Park, Kan., to Brad and Cathy Allen.

Tarris Batiste, DB
6-1, 195, Fr., Cartersville, Ga. (Cass HS)

High School: Lettered for three years in two sports for coach Rick Casko ... Named honorable mention all-state ... Region 7AAAA FirstTeam selection as both a wide receiver and defensive back ... Two-time all-county selection ... Recorded 67 career receptions for 821 yards and 15 touchdown ... On defense, had 86 total tackles, three interceptions and a pair of punt returns for touchdowns.

Personal: Born Tarris A. Batiste on October 19, 1992 in Irvine, Calif., to Oradell Banks and Cutty ... Majoring in Physical Education.

Zakee Bashir, LB
6-1, 240, So., Blacklick, Ohio (Walnut Ridge HS/Marshall)

Previous School: Did not see action in 2010, sat out the season as a redshirt in 2009.

High School: Named First Team All-City as a junior and senior playing for Walnut Ridge High ... Recorded 72 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a senior.

Personal: Born Zakee Bashir to Onyango and Kameela Bashir ... Majoring in Business Marketing.

Randy Berryhill Jr. , DB
5-10, 180, Fr., Chicago, Ill. (Mt. Carmel HS)

High School- Lettered four years for Coach Frank Lint at Mount Carmel High School. Lettered three years in Track and Field and one year in Basketball. Mr. Hustle Award for Basketball Freshman Year. Tackles for loss 1, for -2, Passes Intercepted 1, Passes Broken up 5, Fumbles Recovered 1.

Personal- Born March 4, 1993 to Randy and Zina C. Berryhill Sr. in Chicago, Ill. Has two siblings Ramzi and Ramus Berryhill. Majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

Michael Bonner
6-0, 175, Fr., Dayton, Ohio (Wayne HS)

High School- Lettered four years for Coach Jay Minton at Wayne High School, three years varsity. 2nd Team GWOC.

Personal- Born Sept. 17, 1992 to Michael and Donna Bonner in Dayton, Ohio. Has one sister, Tina and one Brother, Marcus.

Theo Bradley, WR
6-3, 190, Fr., Kankakee, Ill. (Bishop McNamara HS)

High School: Lettered in football, basketball and track for three seasons at Bishop McNamara Catholic High School, playing football for coach Rich Zinanni ... Was a Chicago Catholic League All-Conference wide receiver ... Named all-area first team and to the Chicago Nike All-Combine Team ... Set the IHSA record for longest kick return in the playoffs with a 99-yard touchdown ... Caught 32 passes for 400 yards and four touchdowns ... Rushed for 493 yards ... Was 29-of-47 passing for 316 yards and five touchdowns ... Recorded 34 tackles and a pair of interceptions.

Personal: Born Theo Darjovan Bradley on April 18, 1993 in Kankakee, Ill., to Nicole King ... Majoring in Exercise Science ... Sister, Shanice Bradley plays volleyball at Bradley.

Logan Buske, TE
6-3, 205, Fr., Terre Haute, Ind. (Terre Haute South Vigo HS)

High School: Played football for coach Mark Reitz ... Was named to the All-Region 6 as a senior ... First Team All-Wabash Valley selection as a junior and senior ... Associated Press Honorable Mention All-State in 2009 ... Two-time team captain ... Posted 137 career total tackles, including 17 tackles for loss ... Had 20 career receptions for 295 yards and two touchdowns ... As a senior, he posted 31 solo tackles with 21 assists and 10 for loss ... Had 14 receptions for 154 yards and one score.

Personal: Born Logan Buske on October 27, 1992 in Terre Haute, Ind.

Brian Cleckley, RB/DB
6-0, 180, Fr., Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton HS)

High School: Lettered for four seasons in football, basketball and track ... Two-time All-GMC honoree ... Named second team All-GMC in track ... Named his team's Most Valuable Player ... Posted 1,008 rushing yards with 16 touchdowns along with 1,127 passing yards with 14 touchdowns.

Personal: Born Brian M Cleckley on November 20, 1991 in Hamilton, Ohio to Trina Davis and Damien Reece ... Has three brothers and one sister.

Brady Collins, DE
6-5, 230, Fr., Sunman, Ind. (East Central HS)

High School - Lettered for three years at East Central High School under head coach Don Stonefield ... named to the all-state team two times, while also earning three all-conference honors ... earned County Defensive Player of the Year and the Anthony Munoz Southeast Defensive Player of the Year awards ... also earned one letter in basketball at ECHS.

Personal - Born on August 6, 1992, to Susie and Rick Collins in Sunman, Ind. ... has one older sibling, Blake (22) ... majoring in Athletic Training.

Richie Dyer, RB/DB
5-10, 185, Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio (Fork Union Military Academy/Moeller HS)

High School - Played at Fork Union Military Academy under head coach Micky Sullivan ... earned a pair of All-Virginia honors for running backs and punt/kick returners ... also a standout athlete in Track & Field, winning the Junior Olympic National Championship in the long jump in 2009.

Personal - Born on January 28, 1993, to Yvonne and Richard Dyer in Cincinnati, Ohio ... has one sibling, Cori ... his father, Richard, played football at Boston College ... majoring in Business and Marketing.

Alex Ferguson, OL
6-6, 300, Fr., Tolono, Ill. (Tolono Unity HS)

High School: Lettered in football, track and basketball, playing for coach Scott Hamilton at Tolono Unity High School ... Selected to play in an IHSA All-Star football game at Millikin University ... Ranked by ESPN as among the Top 200 Offensive Tackles in the nation ... Two star ranking by ESPN Scouts, Inc. ... All-Area special mention as well as all-conference honorable mention ... His team posted a 24-3 record during his career with only one regular season loss ... Started 27 consecutive games at offensive tackle and long snapper.

Personal: Born Alexander Nicholas Ferguson on December 17, 1992 in Urbana, Ill., to Bill and Stephanie Ferguson ... Majoring in Business Management ... First player to earn a NCAA Division I football scholarship from his high school in several years.

Tanner Fritschle, PK/P
6-1, 175, Fr., Washington, Ind. (Washington HS)

High School: Played for head coach Kelly Brashear at Washington High School. Fritschle has started for the Hatchets for three seasons. In 2010, The Washington kicker put 70 kickoffs in 11 games in the end zone, a 85 percent rate that ranked him third in the nation in kickoffs. For the season, he averaged 69.6 yards per kickoff. Fritschle also connected on a school record 46-yard field goal. He was named a All-American high school kicker through the Kohls kicking camp. At that same camp, Fritschle won the punting competition with a punt that went 44 yards and had 4.45 seconds of hang time. Tanner also won the kick-off competition with a 72-yard blast that had 3.63 seconds of hang-time. He was named as the runner-up of the Kohl's National High School Leader of the Year for his football kickoff prowess. He played a vital part in the Hatchets' fourth-straight winning season at 8-3 and was named to the Indiana Football Coaches' Association All-State team for Class 3A.

Daniel Gabbard, WR
5-8, 175, Fr., Terre Haute, Ind. (Terre Haute North Vigo HS)

High School: Lettered in football and track at Terre Haute North Vigo High School ... Played football for coach Chris Barrett ... First team Wabash Valley selection as both a junior and senior ... Two-time first team all-state ... Selected to play in the North/South All-Star Game ... Named All-MIC ... Named his team's Special Team's Player Of The Year for three seasons as well as the Offensive Player Of The Year as a senior ... Holds the Terre Haute North school record for return yards in a career ... Also holds the school record for punt returns for touchdowns ... As a senior he had 190 rushes for 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns ... Posted 21 receptions for 350 yards and two touchdowns.

Personal: Born Daniel Gabbard on August 5, 1992 in Terre Haute, Ind. to Jeff and Anita Gabbard ... Majoring in Business.

Evan Goebel, OL
6-3, 305, Fr., Evansville, Ind. (Castle High School)

High School - Lettered for two seasons at Castle High School under head coach Doug Hurt ... selected to the first-team all-conference list as a senior, after earning second-team all-conference honors as a junior ... also named to the first-team all-metro list.

Personal - Born on September 26, 1992, to Tana and Steve Skaggs in Evansville, Ind. ... has one sibling, Kyle ... undecided on an academic major.

Foluke Gordan-Lamar, RB
6-1, 230, Fr., Atlanta, Ga. (Druid Hills HS)

High School - A four-year letterwinner at Druid Hills High School under head coach Brett Hall ... named to the all-county team as a junior and senior ... earned the Freshman Defensive Player of the Year award at DHHS, before switching to the offensive side of the field to earn team MVP honors as a senior ... rushed for 1,280 yards as senior with 10 touchdowns ... also lettered for four years in lacrosse at DHHS.

Personal - Born on September 19, 1993, to the late, great Valerie Denis Gordon in Albany, Ga.

Dyris Haywood, WR/DB
5-11, 175, Fr., Belleville, Ill. (Central HS)

High School- Lettered four years at Central High School in Belleville, IL. Lettered four years in Track and Field. All-State Junior and Senior year (WR), All-Conference Junior and Senior year. All-Metro Junior and Senior Year, and All-City Junior and Senior year. Team MVP.

Personal- Born Aug. 18, 1992 to Talmon and Marcia Haywood in Belleville, Ill. Majoring in Business.

Trent Lancaster, QB
6-1, 180, Fr., Brazil, Ind. (Northview HS)

High School- Lettered four years for Coach George Gettle at North Vigo High School. Junior and Senior All-State Honorable Mention. Three Year All-Conference (WIC). Most Improved Freshman year, Offensive MVP Sophomore and Junior year, Captain and Team MVP Junior and Senior year. Over 2500 yds passing, over 60% Comp percent, 34 TD (Sr), 700 yards Rush, 13 TD (Sr), career 6400 yards passing.

Donovan Layne, DB
5-11, 185, Fr., Dayton, Ohio (Chaminade-Jullenne HS)

High School- Lettered three years for Coach Andy Helms at Chaminade Jullenne High School. All-Area Junior and Senior year, Top 22 in the Area Senior year, All Miami Valley 1st Team GCL Junior and Senior year, DB of the Year GCL Senior year, Three Year Letter Dayton Daily News Player of the Week Senior year. MVP of Defense Senior year.

Personal- Born Dec. 19, 1992 to Heather Layne in Dayton, Ohio. Has one Sister, Vanessa. Majoring in Pre-Med.

Zach Lewis, OL
6-1, 315, Fr., Terre Haute, Ind. (South Vigo HS)

High School- Lettered three years for Coach Mark Raetz at Terre Haute South High School. All Wabash Honorable Mention, All-County, Selected to play in the Wabash Valley All-Star Game, Team Captain.

Barry McCarter, WR
6-2, 205, Fr., Gary, Ind. (Gary West Side Leadership Academy)

High School- Lettered four years for Coach Alexander Pratt at Gary West Side Leadership Academy. Three year All-Northwestern Conference 1st Team, Post Tribune First Team All-Area, Times 2nd Team, All-Conference Northwestern Region 1 All-Star. 1081 yards, 73 catches, 16 TD Senior year. Also lettered in Basketball and Track and Field.

Personal- Born Nov. 14, 1992 to Barry and Michelle McCarter in Chicago, Ill. Has four siblings Bashear, Brittany, and Brianna McCarter and Stephen Rosser. Majoring in Sport Management.

Conrrad Nicholls, DL
6-5, 240, Fr., Raytown, Mo. (Raytown HS)

High School- Lettered four years varsity for Coach Kevin Page at Raytown High School.Was nominated All-District Honorable Mention his Freshman year, All-Conference Honorable Mention Sophomore year, and All-Conference Honorable Mention Junior year. His Senior year was 3rd Team All-State, 1st Team All-Conference, and All-Simone Team chosen for the Lion's Club All-Star game. He was Defensive Captain Junior and Senior year. MVP on Defense Junior and Senior Year. Held most tackles on D-Line, 104 in one season, 10.5 sacks. Also, Freshman year lettered varsity Track and Field and JV Basketball.

Personal- Born Nov. 4, 1992 to Nick and Shawna Nicholls in Honolulu, Hawaii. Has two brothers, Mike and Connor and one sister Tatianna. Majoring in Biological Engineering.

DeSean Prentice, WR
6-1, 180, Fr., Mishawaka, Ind. (Penn HS)

High School- Lettered four years for Coach Cory Yeoman at Penn High School. Lettered three years in Basketball and four in Track and Field, First Team All NIC Honorable Mention All-State, South Bend Tribune 2010 Dream Team, State Qualifier in High Jump 2009 and 2010.

Personal- Born Jan. 6, 1993 to Shermin Prentice in Mishawaka, Ind.

Ayind Ramsey, DB
5-11, 185, Fr., Houston, Texas (Centerville HS)

High School- Lettered three years for Coach Ron Ullery at Centerville High School. 2nd team All-GWOC return Specialist. Five int., 6 rec., 2 TD, and 300 yds. Also lettered in Track and Field three years.

Personal- Born Aug. 15, 1992 to Ed and Laura Ramsey in Houston, Texas. Has two sisters, Basha and Chloe and one brother, Dominic. Majoring in Engineering.

Gerrick Ratliff, LB
6-0, 200, Fr., Chicago, Ill. (De La Salle Institute)

High School - Lettered in track, basketball and football at De La Salle Institute ... Played for coach Dan O'Keefe ... First team All-Catholic League as a senior ... Was a second team All-Catholic League selection following his junior campaign ... Named his team's Offensive Player Of The Year in 2010 ... Posted 50 total tackles, six interceptions ... Tallied 176 rushing attempts for 1,000 yards with five touchdowns ... Recorded four pass receptions for 150 receiving yards.

Personal: Born Gerrick Michael Austin Ratliff on October 9, 1992 to Gail and Gary Ratliff in Chicago, Ill. ... Majoring in Business Management.

Nick Rice, OL
6-7, 330, Fr., Greenwood, Ind. (Greenwood HS)

High School- Lettered three years for Coach Mike Campbell at Greenwood High School. All-Conference (Sr.), All-County (Jr. and Sr.), All-Metro South (Jr. and Sr.).

Personal- Born to Bryan and Laura Rice in Greenwood, Ind. Has one sister, Elizabeth. Majoring in Music.

Montel Roberts, OL
6-6, 280, Fr., Detroit, Mich. (Martin Luther King, Jr. HS)

High School- Lettered three years for Coach Dale Harvel at Martin Luther King Jr. High School. First Team All-Metro, First Team All-Detroit Offensive Lineman.

Personal-Born Feb. 8, 1993 to Russell and Patricia Roberts in Detroit, Mich.

Nathaniel Schuster, OL
6-4, 265, Fr., Terre Haute, Ind. (South Vigo HS)

High School- Lettered three years for Coach Mark Raetz at Terre Haute South High School. First Team All-Region, First Team All MIC, First Team All-Wabash Valley, Honorable A;;-State Offensive Lineman, Selected to Play in the Wabash Valley All-Star Game.

Personal- Born June 1, 1992 to Keith and Lorri Schuster in Terre Haute, Ind.

Mark Sewall, DB
5-10, 172, Fr., Western Springs, Ill. (Lyons Township HS)

High School- Lettered two years for Coach Kurt Weinberg at Lyons Township High School. All-Conference West Sub. Silver (2010), ESPN Chicagoland All-Area Honorable Mention. Seven career interceptions. Also lettered two years in Basketball.

Personal- Born May 6, 1993 to Dan and Joan Sewall in Western Springs, Ill. Majoring in Business Administration ... Brother, Alex is a current member of the Sycamore football team.

Travis Starks, RB/DB
5-9, 170, Fr., Chicago, Ill. (Cascia HS)

High School- Lettered four years for Coach Todd Kuska at St. Rita of Cascia High School. First Team All-Conference Catholic League, MVP Offense 2010-11. 99 yard kick return-TD.

Personal- Born Jan. 2, 1993 to Mitchell and Brenda D. Starks II in Chicago, Ill. Has one brother, Mitchell III. Majoring in Communications/Journalism.

Connor Underwood, LB
6-3, 230, Fr., Washington, Ill. (Washington Community HS)

High School: Lettered in football, basketball and track at Washington Community High School ... Played for coach Darrell Crouch ... Named All-State as a senior ... Team captain in football in 2010 and in basketball in 2009 ... As a senior he was named all-conference and was the team's leading tackler and was an all-area honoree ... Invited to the 2011 Illinois All-Star All-Star Shrine Game ... Also all-conference , all-area and team's leading tackler as a junior ... Named team MVP, all-conference and all-area in basketball as a junior ... Holds the school record for solo tackles and is sack in quarterback sacks ... Also school record holder for single-season solo tackles and second in sacks ... Holds the school record for career tackles for loss and in season tackles for loss ... Also holds the school records for sacks in a season, tackles in a game and tackle points.

Personal: Born Connor Timothy Underwood on July 17, 1993 in Indianapolis, Ind., to Scott and Donna Underwood ... Majoring in Business Administration ... Mother, Donna Underwood played collegiate volleyball at Illinois State while his father, Scott played football at Illinois State ... Brother, Colton Underwood plays football at Illinois State where he is a defensive lineman.

Victor Vernon, DL
6-3, 260, Fr., New Lenox, Ill. (Providence Catholic Prep/Providence HS)

Providence Catholic Prep School- Lettered four years and wrestled three under Coach Mark Coglinese.

High School- Lettered four years for Coach Mark Coglinese at Providence High School in New Lenox, IL. Graduated in 2011.

Personal- Born Oct. 20, 1992 to Tim and Angie Vernon. Has one sister, Allie Vernon.

Kendall Walker, LB
6-0, 210, Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio (Moeller High School)

High School - A three-year letterwinner at Moeller High School under head coach John Rodenberg ... earned first-team all-conference in each of his last two seasons on the field after being selected to second-team as a sophomore ... named to the all-district teams as a junior and senior ... totaled 125 tackles as a senior, including 13 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks ... also earned one letter in wrestling at MHS.

Personal - Born on October 6, 1992, to Carmen and Kevin Walker in Cincinnati, Ohio ... has two younger siblings, Kevin (18) and Khara (17) ... his father, Kevin, played collegiately at Maryland before spending five seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals (1988-1992), while his uncle, Shannon, played at The Citadel ... majoring in Sport Management.