2012 Football Signees
Evangel University is proud to announce signees for the 2012 recruiting class. New players, as they are signed, will be added to this page throughout the off-season months.
Head Coach Brenton Illum:
“Our staff has done an outstanding job of identifying student-athletes from around the country who can help us build our program back into an NAIA power while also finding young men who can identify with the culture of a strong Christian school.
“We have travelled to California, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas and throughout Southwest Missouri to build a base for recruiting that we will invest our time in for years to come. This staff, led by recruiting coordinator Kyle Williams, has worked tirelessly for months to watch literally thousands of prospects, make phone calls until we fall asleep each night, and compete for the opportunity to add these great young men to our football family.
“The financial investment of our football alumni has allowed us to recruit much more thoroughly than ever before in the history of Evangel football. I am so thankful for their belief in what we are doing and for their willingness to support our work.
“The message that we speak of in recruiting is clear: We are working to make Evangel Football the best football experience possible and we believe that when our student-athletes leave here with a degree, they will be able to look back and say without a doubt that they could not have become the men that they are if they had chosen any other school in the country.”
Justin Breedlove
OL, 6-4, 245
Lebanon, Mo.
High School: Played at Lebanon High School under head coach Will Christian … was a two-time 2nd team All-District performer and an honorable mention All-District player once.
“Justin was our first commit of this year and is a guy with tremendous potential! I’m a big fan of the way Coach Christian runs his program and I know that Justin will make an immediate impact.”
— Brenton Illum
Austen Brooner
LB, 6-1, 205
Pryor, Okla.
High School: Was the Most Valuable Player for District 4 in Oklahoma’s Class 5A playing for Pryor HS … led his area in rushing yards and total tackles during the regular season … set all-time school records in rushing yards and tackles … named Athlete of the Week during the season by the Tulsa World.
“I love linebackers who play running back. Austen is a tough, physical player who will grow into a really great inside linebacker for us. His passion for the game will show year-round as he invests in Evangel and Evangel invests in him.”
— Brenton Illum
Michael Cheatham
OL, 6-4, 315
Duncanville, Tex.
High School: Played at DeSoto HS for head coach Claude Mathis … his team finished 10-2 and advanced to the second round of the Texas High School football playoffs.
“We really enjoyed having Michael on campus and getting to know he and his mother. When we say that football is family, Michael is going to be a very welcome addition to that “family’”.
— Brenton Illum
Cody Christner
DE / OLB, 6-3, 195
Naples, Fla.
High School: Played for Naples High School under head coach Bill Kramer … named honorable mention All-State for Class 6A in Florida … was a Prep Athlete of the Week on Nov. 28 by the Naples News after he led his defense to a shutout win and allowed minus-21 yards of offense in the Class 6A state semifinals … he had five tackles, two tackles for losses, two pressures and a sack in the game … his team finished 11-3 and second in the state.
“Cody was coached by a former Crusader standout, Sam Dollar, at Naples High School. He will play an outside linebacker spot for us and should bring tremendous speed and pass rush ability to our defense!”
— Brenton Illum
Sterling Fuggett
WR, 6-3, 190
Hickory Creek, Tex.
High School: Played at Denison Ryan HS for head Joey Florence … his team finished 12-1 and advanced to the third round of the Texas 4A Division state playoffs.
“Sterling is FAST. At 6’3” and running a 10.4 100meter dash, he will allow us to stretch opposing defenses and will be a big-play threat for us for years to come.”
— Brenton Illum
Derick Harris
OL, 6-2, 265
Louisburg, Mo.
High School: Played at Buffalo High School for head coach Jeff Stone … was an All-Conference performer in the Central Ozark Conference and was named all-district … was also an all-state wrestler in addition to being all-conference and all-district in wrestling.
“Derick is a dominant wrestler not to mention a very physical football player. From up the road in Buffalo we have found a guy who will be a weight room warrior and a leader in the trenches as we establish offensive prowess.”
— Brenton Illum
Kaleb Littleton
OL, 6-3, 275
Iowa Park, Texas
High School: Was a team captain for Iowa City HS in Texas for head coach Scott Ponder … was a unanimous selection as a 1st team All-District player … area media named him to the Red River 22 as the best player for his position in the region.
“We were able to have Kaleb on campus recently and our team loved him! It is important to me that our current players feel good about the personality and character of our incoming players and Kaleb fit in perfectly. That combined with his physical ability makes him a great signee for us!”
— Brenton Illum
J.R. Looft
OL, 6-5, 295
Hollister, Mo.
High School: Played at Hollister High School for Evangel alum Kevin Roepke … named second team Class 2 All-State, All-District, and All-Central Ozark Conference…was team’s Offensive Lineman of the Year and won the Brotherhood Award … named Homecoming King last year at Hollister … he will be the school’s first ever athlete to play college football.
“J.R. was coached by a couple of former Evangel people in Kevin Roepke and Jake Hammon at Hollister. He was one of our favorite area players over the past couple of years and we are very proud of him and his decision to choose the value of Evangel University over a lot of other great programs who offered him.”
— Brenton Illum
Kherwyn Marshall
DL, 6-0, 275
Baton Rouge, Lou.
High School: Played at McKinley High School for head coach Robert Signater … registered 25 tackles and two sacks … team finished 7-5.
“There is nothing more fun than watching a great defensive lineman! Kherwyn will allow us to play better and better up front in our defense as he grows into a college standout.”
— Brenton Illum
Andrew Minter
RB, 5-7, 185
Stillwater, Okla.
High School: Played for Stillwater HS under head coach Tucker Barnard … named all-district … topped 100 yards in a game four times and got to 99 yards once … averaged 5.1 yards per carry … his team finished 8-3.
“Andrew will immediately impact our program with his positive attitude and personality … not to mention the way he can run the ball!”
— Brenton Illum
Acronis "Cephas" Mitchell
TE / DE, 6-2, 240
Orlando, Fla.
High School: Played for Maynard-Evans HS in Orlando for head coach Chip Gierke (formerly the head coach at Apopka HS in Florida from 1978-94).
“Evangel has long-recruited Evans High School for some of the best athletes in Florida. Cephas stands out not only because of his ability but because of the truly impressive man that he is. Coach Gierke has coached many great players over the years but Cephas is among the elite in his discipline and work ethic. It will be exciting to see him grow in our program.”
— Brenton Illum
Antoine Palmer
DB, 5-11, 185
Houston, Tex.
High School: Played at Alief Taylor HS for head coach Jody Jordan … named first team All-District … was also a first team All-District track performer as a junior.
“Antoine will be a guy in the mold of our senior safety Junior Petit-Jean who can LEAD our secondary with his physical style of play. Antoine is just flat-out fun to watch and will be a big part of our defensive success.”
— Brenton Illum
Casey Perry
DB, 5-11, 175
Fayetteville, Ark.
High School: Played for the Class 7A Arkansas state champion Fayetteville HS Bulldogs under head coach Curtis Smith … team finished with a 12-2 record … named an all-conference performer … was also on the state runner-up team in 2010.
“We watched Casey as a junior and knew he was a guy we wanted in our program. With his commitment (in late January) we finished off our defensive back signees with a guy we’ve wanted for a long time. Winners find a way to infect a team with the discipline that it takes to be good. Casey’s experience on a state champion team will be invaluable.”
— Brenton Illum
Darron Shannon
OL, 6-4, 285
Plano, Tex.
High School: Played for Plano HS under head coach Jayden McCullough … was a first team All-District selection … team finished 7-4 … was also an All-District pick as a junior in 2010.
“We had a great plan for what we needed to find in this year’s class of offensive linemen and we knew right from the start that Darron was the perfect player to fit our offense.”
— Brenton Illum
William Spurling
LB, 6-0, 230
Sanford, Fla.
High School: Played for Lake Mary HS under head coach Scott Perry … was a first team all-conference selection and a named team captain … earned his team “Honey Badger” award.
“I really believe in Brandon Spurling. I think Brandon has the perfect tools to be the physical presence in the middle that we will always need and his passion for his relationship with God will make him a perfect fit for Evangel University.”
— Brenton Illum
Steven Williams
RB, 5-7, 165
Naples, Fla.
High School: Played at Naples HS for head coach Bill Kramer … his team finished 11-3 and second in the state … averaged 4.3 yards per carry … had 883 rushing yards with 7 touchdowns, 369 receiving yards and 4 receiving TD’s as a junior.
“If you’re starting at tailback for Naples high school … you have Division-I talent. We believe strongly in Steven and are REALLY excited to see him begin to make plays in our offense right from the start of his career.
— Brenton Illum
In addition to the above recruits, Evangel signed five transfers for next season. News and information on those players can be found on the "Football Lands Former Hillcrest QB and Missouri State Transfer Mitch Jenkins" news release.