Mules Football has 30 Commit for 2011
 
(Warrensburg, Mo.) – The University of Central Missouri Mules football squad announced its 2011 class today. The list includes 28 high school student-athletes and two transfers that will wear the Cardinal and Black next season.
            “Our staff did an outstanding job of targeting and signing most of the top players on our list.” Mules Head Coach Jim Svoboda said, “It is an outstanding class characterized by speed, athleticism, and frames to build on.”
 
Following is a list of the Mules' 2011 Football Commitments:
 
Josh Benton – Punter
5-10  *  170  *  Freshman
Atlanta, Ga.  *  Chamblee High School
High School Head Coach:  James Soza – Earned all-county and all-region 6-AAAA at punter… recorded 33 punts for 1,414 yards for an average of 42.8 yards and a hang time of 4.1 seconds… His season-long punt was 64 yards, with a 4.9 second hang time… He is the all-time record holder at Chamblee High School… Played on the  DeKalb County All-Star Team, and was a starter.
 
Brian Berzanski – Offensive Line
6-5  *  265  *  Freshman
Chicago, Ill.  *  Vernon Hills High School
High School Head Coach:  Tony Monken – Helped his team to a 10-2 record as a senior, earning a spot on the Blue and Silver Team on the offensive line… He also won the team's Unsung Hero Award.
 
Chase Bollinger – Linebacker
6-2  *  210  *  Freshman
Eureka, Mo.  *  Eureka High School
High School Head Coach:  Farrell Shelton – Served as a team captain in both his junior and senior seasons… As a senior he was named first-team All-Suburban West Conference as a wide receiver and defensive back… He was named first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state as a linebacker… He was also a two-time All-Suburban West Conference pick as an outfielder for the baseball team.
 
Jordyn Butler – Defensive Line
6-3  *  240  *  Freshman
Orrick, Mo.  *  Orrick High School
High School Head Coach:  Pat Richard – As a senior he was a first-team all-conference defensive lineman, first-team all-conference offensive linemen… He also earned first-team all-district on the defensive line, and first-team all-state by both the coaches and AP on the defensive line… He was a KMZU Dream Team selection and was selected to play in the Lions Club All-Star Game.
 
Evan Campbell – Running Back
5-8  *  180  *  Freshman
Kansas City, Mo.  *  Staley High School
High School Head Coach:  Fred Bouchard – A first-team all-district, all-conference, and all-state performer at running back, he rushed for 1,162 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior for the 11-3 Falcons… He also had 24 receptions for 302 yards and a couple scores… He rushed for 1,000 yards multiple times in his career, and was a KMZU Dream Team selection as a sophomore.
 
Richard Davila – Quarterback
6-0  *  185  *  Freshman
Overland Park, Kan.  *  St. Thomas Aquinas
High School Head Coach:  Mike Thomas – Threw for 2,223 yards and completed 60 percent of his passes as a senior, averaging 247 yards per game… He also rushed for 584 yards for an average of 51 yards per game… A team captain, he was an honorable mention all-state, All-Sun, All-Eastern Kansas League and all-metro pick… He was also nominated to the Simone Award and the Shrine Bowl.
 
Will Frazier – Defensive End
6-3  *  260  *  Freshman
Kansas City, Mo.  *  Oak Park High School
High School Head Coach:  Keith Ross – A three-year lettermen at Oak Park, he was a first-team all-conference and second-team all-state selection by both the media and coaches... He is also a two-year letterman in basketball.
 
Josh German – Defensive Tackle
6-1  *  280  *  Freshman
Columbia, Mo.  *  Hickman High School
High School Head Coach:  Jason Wright – A two-time all-district selection, he earned second-team all-state as a junior… He was a three-year starter and two-year team captain… As a senior he logged 38 tackles, five sacks and 10 tackles for loss on the defensive line… He had 43 tackles, 12 for loss and 3.5 sacks as a junior as well… Also threw for the track and field team, earning all-district and all-sectionals in the shot put with a throw of 50-3, and all-district in the discus with a toss of 160-8.
 
 
 
 
Kadarious Green – Defensive Back
5-11  *  180  *  Freshman
Kirkwood, Mo.  *  Vianney High School
High School Head Coach:  Gene Gladstone – Played quarterback and defensive back and was named first-team all-conference in the Metro Catholic Conference as a defensive back… He also served as a team captain his senior year.
 
Michael Hopfinger – Defensive Back
6-1  *  180  *  Freshman
Lee's Summit, Mo.  *  Lee's Summit North High School
High School Head Coach: Ty Kohl – Played both defensive back and wide receiver for Lee's Summit North, lettering all four years... As a senior, he was honored as the team's Offensive Player of the Year…  He recorded seven interceptions, while returning two of them fortouchdowns as a senior… He earned first-team all-conference and second-team all-state honors as a defensive back, as well as second-team all-conference at wide receiver.
 
Jamar Howard – Wide Receiver
6-4  *  220  *  Senior-Tr
Cincinnati, Ohio  *  University of Cincinnati 
Junior College Head Coach: Curtis Allen... Caught 71 passes for 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns at College of the Sequoias... Named a pre-season junior-college all-America selection, and a freshman All-America honoree… Played for Head Coach Doc Gamble at Withrow High School… Earned all-league, all-city and all-county honors as a senior... Caught 58 passes for 708 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2005, only his second season of competitive football... Garnered All-Southwest Ohio honors... Transferred to Withrow for his senior season after playing his first three years at Western Hills High School... Earned four varsity letters in basketball and was an all-conference selection as a senior... Ranked the 57th best wide receiver prospect nationally by Rivals.com… He was named a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com… He is currently on campus at UCM.
 
Kellen Kempf – Athlete
5-10  *  185  *  Freshman
Boonville, Mo.  *  Boonville High School
High School Head Coach:  Brad Parsons – A first-team all-state pick by both the coaches and AP, he had 276 carries for 2,197 yards and 27 TD's at running back as a senior… He also holds the single game rushing record with 345 yards… He is only the second running back in Boonville history to reach the 2,000 yard mark in a single season… On defense he recorded 49 tackles and 4 interceptions, earning first-team all-conference at running back and second team at defensive back… He was a first-team all-district pick at both positions, and earned the Pirate Pride Award… Also a member of the KRES All-Star team, KMZU Dream Team, and Columbia Tribune All-Area Team, he was the Player of the Month as well…. Was on the 2010 12^th annual Mid-Missouri Pigskin preview cover… He also played baseball, and was a first-team all-conference and all-district outfielder, helping his team win a district and conference title.
 
 
 
 
Tycie Linneman – Offensive Line
6-4  *  240  *  Freshman
Huntsville, Mo.  *  Westran High School
High School Head Coach:  Curtis Jasper – Tribune All-Area football team... Tribune Lineman of the year after anchoring both lines for the Hornets, he finished with six sacks and a team high 19 tackles for loss... He was also a first-team all-state pick by the media for his efforts on the defensive line, as well as receiving first-team all-conference and all-district honors as a senior.
 
Darion Moore – Defensive Back
5-11  *  180  *  Freshman
Grandview, Mo.  *  Grandview High School
High School Head Coach:  Andy Leech – A second-team all-conference selection playing on both sides of the ball… Played running back, rushing for 1,303 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior… Ranked second in the state after the first game of the season, in which he ran for 279 yards and was named the Player of the Week… He was also named the offensive MVP for his team and also played safety… son of Jermaine Jones and Tamika Moore-Jones.
 
Kenny Mings – Defensive Back
6-1  *  180  *  Freshman
Shawnee, Kan.  *  Shawnee Mission West High School
High School Head Coach:  Aaron Barnett – As a senior, he recorded 47 receptions for nearly 700 yards and 10 touchdowns as a wide receiver... He also accounted for six interceptions as a defensive back and tallied over 500 punt return yards...  He earned first-team all-conference as a wide receiver and defensive back and honorable mention all-state at wide receiver.
 
Drew Padgett – Offensive Line
6-3  *  250  *  Freshman
Lee's Summit, Mo.  *  Lee's Summit West High School
High School Head Coach:  Royce Boehm – Helped the Titans win the 5A state championship as a senior, earning second team all-conference honors… a two-year letterman in football, and three years in track and field… He was a first-team all-conference selection in both the shot put and discus, and was nationally ranked in both as well… He also played basketball for two years.
 
Shayne Parsons – Offensive Line
6-3  *  260  *  Freshman
Independence, Mo.  *  Fort Osage High School
High School Head Coach: Ryan Schartz – A second-team all-state selection by the coaches, he also earned first-team all-district and all-area… He was also a unanimous all-conference selection… He was named offensive lineman of the year at FOHS as well.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Josh Pickrell – Tight End
6-3  *  215  *  Freshman
Hamilton, Mo.  *  Penny-Hamilton High School
High School Head Coach:  Dave Fairchild – As a senior Pickrell received all-conference honors at both linebacker and tight end, he was also a two-way all-district selection as well... He continued to rack up the accolades, receiving first-team all-state honors at both tight end and defensive end… He was also was named to the St. Joseph News Press football team, while also being named to the all-star teams of KAAN and KKWK radio stations... Helped the Hornets win back-to-back state titles as well.
 
Kaegan Prather – Defensive Back
6-2  *  190  *  Freshman
Hamilton, Mo.  *  Penny-Hamilton High School
High School Head Coach:  Dave Fairchild – Helped Penny-Hamilton win back-to-back state championships playing both quarterback and defensive back... He is a two-time all-state defensive back and an all-state quarterback as a senior... He is also a two-time all-state selection on the basketball court.
 
Haleem Rayford – Running Back
5-11  *  235  *  Freshman
Wentzville, Mo.  *  Timberland High School
High School Head Coach:  Craig Collins – A first-team all-conference and second-team all-district selection, he averaged 10 yards per carry at running back… also a member of the track and field team, he was an all-conference discus thrower.
 
Colter Smith – Quarterback
6-5  *  225  *  Junior-Tr
Ogden, Utah  *  Snow Junior College
College Head Coach:  Tyler Hughes – After high school he participated in a mission trip to Argentina before attending Snow College… Through five games, he threw for nearly 1,400 yards, 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions…  He threw for more than 300 yards and six touchdowns in the Top of the Mountains Bowl against Iowa Western… He served as a team captain in his final season as well… Attended Ben Lomond High School, playing for the late Head Coach Art Burtenshaw… Threw for 2,000 yards as both a junior and senior… He was three-year starter, and four-year letterman in both football and basketball… He is currently on campus at UCM.
 
Sam Smith – Linebacker
6-1  *  210  *  Freshman
Crestwood, Mo.  *  Lindbergh High School
High School Head Coach:  Tom Beauchamp – During his career, Smith was a two-time first-team all-state linebacker by the Missouri coaches... Smith was also a three-time first-team All-Suburban West conference pick at linebacker… He also served as team captain in 2009 and 2010... As a senior, Smith received first-team all-metro honors at linebacker for the Flyers, while also being voted the 2010 Suburban West Defensive Player of the Year... He finished his career with the most tackles in school history (237), while holding the record for most career starts.
 
Ricky Spratley – Linebacker
6-2  *  215  *  Freshman
St. Louis, Mo.  *  DeSmet High School
High School Head Coach:  Pat Mahoney – As a senior, he racked up 62 tackles, and four fumble recoveries on defense, while rushing for over 700 yards as a running back on offense...  He also earned second-team All-Metro Catholic Conference at running back and linebacker his senior season.
 
Anthony Supato – Defensive Tackle
6-1  *  270  *  Freshman
Arnold, Mo.  *  Fox High School
High School Head Coach:  Nick Gianino – as a senior, Saputo received All-Suburban West first-team honors at defensive tackle... Saputo was also honored with first-team all-state at defensive tackle... During his senior campaign, Saputo also served as a team captain.
 
LaVance Taylor – Running Back
5-10  *  180  *  Freshman
Raytown, Mo.  *  Raytown High School
High School Head Coach:  Kevin Page – Played both running back and defensive back for the Bluejays, earning first-team all-conference at running back… He broke the school record for rushing yards in a season as  senior… A team captain, he also won the Neal Harris 610 Offensive Player of the Week during the season.
 
Ian Toalson – Tight End
6-4  *  220  *  Freshman
Savannah, Mo.  *  Lafayette High School
High School Head Coach: Paul Woolard – as a senior, Toalson received first-team all-St. Joseph City honors as a tight end… Toalson was named first-team All-MEC Conference for his efforts at tight end and defensive end… He also received first-team all-district and all-state honors at defensive end.
 
Imran Uddin – Defensive End
6-3  *  240  *  Freshman
Springtown, Texas  *  Springtown High School
High School Head Coach:  Brad Turner – He was a three-year starter at class 6A Springtown High School...  He earned first-team all-district and Parker County in 2010, and earned second-team in both as a junior...  He earned all-district academic honors three years in a row and was selected to the all-state academic team his senior season.
 
Jason Venckus – Linebacker
6-3  *  230  *  Freshman
Chicago, Ill.  *  St. Laurence High School
High School Head Coach:  James Grannan – An all-conference, all-area, and All-Catholic School selection at defensive end… He was also selected his team's Most Valuable Player.
 
 
 
Ryan Wallace – Athlete
5-9  *  170  *  Freshman
St. Joseph, Mo.  *  Central High School
High School Head Coach:  Jeff Wallace – During his senior year, he threw for 1,078 yards with 12 touchdowns and added 805 yards rushing with seven scores… He was named to the All-St. Joseph News Press team two times and was an All-Suburban second-team quarterback in the Red Division as a senior.
 
Malcolm Whitelaw – Offensive Line
6-4  *  270  *  Freshman
Raytown, Mo.  *  Raytown High School
High School Head Coach:  Kevin Page – A second-team all-conference selection and the most improved offensive lineman as a senior, he was also the honorary team captain… He also earned Best Novice Debater in the classroom as a junior… Also competes for the wrestling team and for the track and field squad.