Missouri State University has announced the receipt of National Letters of Intent from 25 student-athletes who have committed to play football for the Bears this fall. The class includes 24 high school seniors and one junior college transfer.
“We feel like this is the best class we’ve had the privilege of bringing to Missouri State during our time here,” head coach Terry Allen stated. “Obviously we won’t know the full impact for a couple of years, but the commitment shown by our student body in making some of the facility upgrades played a key role in shaping this class. Our administration also played an active role in the recruitment process, so a special thank you goes out to President Smart and the tremendous support staff we have here on campus.”
 Missouri State
Blayne Armstrong (QB, 6-4, 205, Fr., Marshfield, Mo., Marshfield High)Â
Armstrong was a 2013 all-state honoree, as well as a three-time All-Central Ozarks Conference and all-district selection for coach Nick Codutti at Marshfield High. He passed for 3,172 yards and 33 touchdowns, while rushing for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior.
Sean Bernard (ILB, 6-2, 220, Fr., Wichita, Kan., North High)
Bernard capped a standout senior season with a first-team Kansas 6A all-state selection for coach Joe Belden at Wichita North High. An inside linebacker, Bernard was selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl, leading North with 90 tackles as a sophomore before injuries shortened each of his final two prep campaigns. A multi-sport athlete, Bernard is also a two-year starting forward for North in basketball.
Jared Beshore (S, 5-11, 180, Fr., Lamar, Mo., Lamar High)
Projected as a defensive back at the college level, Beshore played a key role in Lamar High’s three consecutive state championships. A four-time all-state selection, Beshore excelled on both sides of the ball for coach Scott Bailey, racking up 118 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior, while rushing for 1,458 yards and 26 touchdowns. The four-time all-district pick finished his prep career with 23 interceptions, 4,920 rushing yards and 88 total touchdowns.
Tre Betts (DB, 5-11, 190, Fr., Sand Springs, Okla., Charles Page High)
Betts, a three-star prospect out of Sand Springs (Okla.) Charles Page High according to 247Sports.com, was a first-team all-state honoree for coach Dustin Kinard and the Sandites. The defensive back was also an all-district choice and an Oklahoma Top 30 team selection. A two-time academic all-conference selection, Betts finished his career with a 184 Tackles and 10 interceptions, as well as 1,392 all-purpose yards.
Willis Chambers III (WR, 6-4, 195, Fr., Dallas, Texas, First Baptist Academy)
Chambers was an all-district and all-state selection as a defensive end/wide receiver for coach Jason Lovvorn at First Baptist Academy in Dallas. Helped the Saints to a perfect 14-0 mark and a TAPPS Division III state title as a senior in 2013, totaling eight touchdown receptions, as well as 100 tackles, 10 sacks and four defensive TD’s. Named Offensive MVP of the Tom Hillary All-Star Football Classic.
Aaron Clardy (OL, 6-5, 300, Fr., Neosho, Mo., Neosho High)
Clardy was a three-time all-district selection and an honorable mention all-state pick as a senior at Neosho High under head coach Dustin Baldwin. A 2013 KURM Radio Dream Team honoree, Clardy is a highly decorated wrestler as well, placing third in the heavyweight group at the Class 3 state meet last winter.
Daryl Coburn (DL, 6-1, 325, Fr., Little Rock, Ark., Central High)
Coburn completed his prep career at Little Rock Central High as a four-year letterwinner and two-year starter on the defensive line for coach Scooter Register. An all-conference pick in each of his two years as a starter, Coburn helped the Tigers to an Arkansas Class 7A quarterfinal appearance last fall.
Malik Earl (WR, 6-2, 195, Fr., Edmond, Okla., Santa Fe High)
A two-year starter for coach Lance Manning’s Santa Fe High squad out of Edmond, Okla., Earl caught 57 passes for 1,254 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. He was named to all-state and Oklahoma City all-metro teams and earned district wide receiver of the year accolades. A two-sport athlete, Earl also competes in basketball for Santa Fe.
Easton Flaugh (ILB, 6-2, 215, Fr., Reeds Spring, Mo., Reeds Spring High)
Flaugh was two-time all-state selection, as well as a Springfield News-Leader All-Ozarks team pick as a senior at Reeds Spring High. A two-way player as a linebacker and quarterback for coach Brian Moler, Flaugh totaled a 170.5 tackles for his career, along with 1,898 rushing yards, 1,681 passing yards and 43 total touchdowns. He was also a two-time academic all-state honoree for the Wolves.
Deion Holliman (WR, 5-9, 190, Fr., Camden, Ark., Fairview High)
A versatile threat as a runner and receiver, Holliman was a two-time all-state performer for coach Buck James at Fairview High in Camden, Ark., totaling 1,807 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns on 86 receptions, for his career. He also racked up nearly 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns on kick/punt returns and helped the Cardinals to the Arkansas Class 5A state title as a junior in 2012. A Hootens.com finalist for Arkansas’ 5A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, Holliman finished his career with nearly 4,000 all-purpose yards.
C.J. Hubbard (DL, 6-2, 280, Fr., Springfield, Mo., Hillcrest High)
Hubbard led Springfield Hillcrest to the Class 4 playoffs with a 7-4 record as a senior. A three-time All-Ozarks Conference and all-district selection under head coach John Beckham, Hubbard earned all-state honors his final two seasons and was named his team’s defensive player of the year after totaling 43 tackles (seven tackles for losses) and three sacks in 2013.
Skyler Hulse (OLB, 6-3, 240, Fr., Oak Grove, Mo., Oak Grove High)
A three-time all-state honoree for coach Pat Richard at Oak Grove High, Skyler Hulse projects as an outside linebacker for the Bears. Hulse was a first-team all-state pick as an offensive lineman as a senior, also earning his third straight all-conference nod as a defensive lineman. He previously picked up all-state recognition as a defensive lineman in 2011 and earned Kansas City all-metro honors, as well as a spot on the 810 WHB Radio Elite 81 list. A two-sport athlete, Hulse also gained all-state honors in track and field.
Colby Isbell (DL, 6-3, 245, Fr., Rogers, Ark., Heritage High)
Isbell was a two-year starter and all-state performer as a defensive lineman for Rogers (Ark.) Heritage High. A two-time all-conference honoree for coach Perry Escalante’s War Eagles, Isbell earned NWA Defensive Lineman of the Year recognition in 2013 and was named to the KURM Radio Dream Team each of the last two years.
Alexz Jones (ILB, 6-2, 210, Fr., St. Louis, Mo., Francis Howell High)
A big and athletic inside linebacker, Jones posted 104 tackles and 15 tackles for losses in 2013 while earning first-team all-state and All-GAC first-team honors as a senior at Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, Mo. He was also a team captain and helped Howell to an 8-3 record as a senior. As a junior, he helped the Vikings to 14-3 season while reaching the Class 6 Show Me Bowl.
Brock Kliewer (DL, 6-5, 250, Fr., Harrisonville, Mo., Harrisonville High)
A two-time consensus Class 4 all-state defensive lineman, Kliewer has been a mainstay on coach Chuck Lliteras’ squad at Harrisonville (Mo.) High. He earned a spot on the Kansas City Star All-Metro team in 2013 as well as the 810 WHB Radio Elite 81 list. He was also a two-time All-MRVC and All-District 13 selection the last two years, academic all-state in 2013 and academic all-conference three times. Kliewer has also been an academic standout and two-time all-conference basketball performer.
Nick Masoner (RB, 6-1, 215, Fr., Excelsior Springs, Mo., Excelsior Springs High)
Masoner is a versatile athlete with good speed who earned second-team all-state honors at running back his senior year at Excelsior Springs (Mo.) High School. Was all-district and all-conference in 2013 at both defensive back and running back for coach Josh Buford’s squad. As a junior, he was third-team all-state and first-team all-district as an athlete and all-conference as a punter, kicker and receiver. He was also all-conference as a punter in 2010 and 2011.
Terrence Neuhauser (DL, 6-1, 325, So., Las Vegas, Nev., Cheyenne High, LA Pierce CC)
A transfer from LA Pierce Community College, the talented defensive lineman was part of a 9-2 team a year ago where he recorded 20 tackles and 5.5 for losses as a freshman. He was instrumental in holding opponents to just 112.1 yards per game on the ground as a starting nose tackle for coach Efrain Martinez. At Cheyenne High in Las Vegas, he was an all-state and all-division pick for coach David Cochran, earning Lineman of the Year honors as a senior in 2012.
Brad Pryor (DL, 6-3, 295, Fr., St. Charles, Mo., Duchesne High)
A three-time all-state performer for coach Charlie Elmendorf at Duchesne High in St. Charles, Mo., Pryor is coming off a memorable senior season. He notched 55 total tackles with 17 tackles for losses and 10 sacks for the Pioneers en route to a 10-2 campaign and Class 4 playoff run. He was named AAA Conference Lineman of the year in 2013 after being named AAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2012. He is also a three-time all-district selection, ran a 4.94 40-yard dash at the MSU Prospect Camp and also competes in basketball and track.
Jason Randall (RB, 5-9, 180, Fr., Leavenworth Kan., Leavenworth High)
A first-team all-state running back selection by the Topeka Capital Journal and Kansas Coaches Association, Randall tallied 1,370 yards on 202 carries with 15 touchdowns and 1,522 all-purpose yards. He was a team captain his senior season for coach Mark Littrell’s Pioneers in 2013. He was a two-time all-conference pick and accounted for 1,030 yards on 163 carries and 10 touchdowns as a junior.
Jake Riederer (OL, 6-2, 270, Fr., Holton, Kan., Holton High)
A Rivals two-star standout, Riederer was an all-state offensive and defensive lineman for coach Brooks Barta at Holton (Kan.) High in 2013. He was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior while being selected to the Kansas Shrine Bowl and 2012 Under Armour All-American Combine. He also helped the Wildcats to a 12-1 finish his final season after helping lead Holton to a Class 4A state title in 2012.
Breck Ruddick (QB, 6-3, 190, Fr., Memphis, Tenn., CBC High)
The pro-style QB was named by the Memphis Commercial Appeal as one of the top 40 Division I prospects in the west Tennessee and north Mississippi region. Ruddick was a two-time all-district performer for CBC High and coach Rob Vogel. The standout team captain earned Max Preps Player of the Week honors once and earned the FBU Top Gun Award three times for the Purple Waves. He threw for 934 yards and six touchdowns while compiling more than 1,300 yards of total offense. He has also earned all-state baseball honors three times.
Matt Rush (CB/ATH, 5-9, 185, Fr., Springfield, Mo., Hillcrest High)
A versatile athlete, Rush helped Springfield’s Hillcrest High to a 7-4 campaign and trip to the district semifinals his senior season. He passed for 836 yards and 8 touchdowns while racking up 1,260 yards on 155 carries and 12 scores for coach John Beckham’s Hornets. After earning all-state honors at two other positions his first two seasons, he was named to the Class 4 all-state squad as an all-purpose player and was a Springfield News-Leader All-Ozarks pick in 2013.
Justin Summers (OL, 6-5, 300, Fr., St. Louis, Mo., Vianney High)
Summers was a starting tackle for coach Paul Day at Vianney High School in St. Louis where he was a first-team all-state and second-team St. Louis all-metro performer. He helped the Griffins to a district championship game appearance in 2013 while earning all-district, all-conference and all-metro honors while be named to the St. Louis top 30 players list. He was also all-conference and third-team all-state his junior season with a number of academic honors.
Jordan Turner (OL, 6-6, 320, Fr., Willard, Mo., Willard High)
A Missouri Class 5 AP all-state performer, Turner helped his Willard (Mo.) High squad rack up nearly 320 rushing yards per game as part of an 8-3 run to the district finals. Earned all-area and all-district honors twice while earning all-district distinction his senior season for coach Brock Roweton.
Anthony Upchurch (S, 5-10, 180, Fr., Memphis, Tenn., White Station High)
Upchurch recorded 95 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and a pair of blocked kicks as a senior at White Station High in Memphis, Tenn. He helped coach Joe Rocconi’s Spartans to a 9-5 record and trip to the Class 6A semifinals in 2013. Upchurch was a two-time all-district linebacker who was selected to the Liberty Bowl All-Star Game where he posted 12 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. He was also named as the Spartans’ Defensive Player of the Year and team captain in addition to Memphis Best of the Preps distinction.
