Michael Abernathy   5 9   234   FB   Bixby, Okla./Bixby HS
Abernathy played for former Southern football player Pat McGrew at Bixby HS   Abernathy was a teammate of current Lion Dusty Bratzler at Bixby   Abernathy was an All-District, All-Metro and All-State selection, while being named the Bixby Bulletin Player of the Year   He had 415 yards on 64 carries, while catching 15 passes for 117 yards his senior season   He helped lead Bixby to a district, area and regional championship and a spot in the Oklahoma state title game   Abernathy was also a member of the wrestling team at Bixby   Born on April 16, 1989   Abernathy is the son of David and Debbie Abernathy   He is undecided on his future major at Southern.

Zac Anderson   5 10   183   RB   Webb City, Mo./Webb City HS
Anderson played for coach John Roderique at Webb City HS   Part of the 2006 Missouri Class 4 State Champions, Anderson was an All-Conference selection this year   Team went 10-0 before losing in the state sectionals   Anderson was also a member of the 2006 Missouri Class 3 State Championship baseball team, playing for current Southern coach Bryce Darnell   A member of the National Honor Society and Distinguished Honor Roll at Webb   Born on July 27, 1989   Anderson is the son of Tom and Guyla Anderson   Anderson plans on majoring in Business at Southern.

Kellen Cox   5 10   160   ATH   Mt. Vernon, Mo./Mt. Vernon HS
Cox played for coach Joy Mayberry at Mt. Vernon HS   Helped the Mountaineers to an 8-4 record this year and a trip to the second round of the Missouri State Playoffs   Mt. Vernon was a four-time district champ and a four time quarterfinal participant during his tenure   Cox played both quarterback and receiver, as well as defensive back at Mt. Vernon   This past season, Cox rushed for 1,340 yards, passed for 1,610 yards, had 54 tackles and seven interceptions   Had 16 rushing touchdowns and 19 passing TD s   A first team All-Conference, All Area, All District and All-State selection at quarterback and defensive back, Cox was the Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association Offensive Player of the Year   A member of the National Honor Society and the honor roll at Mt. Vernon, he was the Student Body President   Cox was born on July 8, 1989   Cox is the son of Tom and Cindi Cox   His father, Tom is a former football player at Southern and a member of the Missouri Southern Hall of Fame   His sister, Piper, was a four-year letterwinner in Volleyball at Southwest Baptist   Cox plans on majoring in Education at Southern.

Brandon Dean   6 4   223   DL   Independence, Mo./Fort Osage HS
Dean played for coach Ryan Schartz at Fort Osage High School   This past season, Dean helped the Indians to a Conference, District and Sectional Championship before bowing out in the State Quarterfinals   He had 99 tackles and 8 sacks, including six forced fumbles   A team captain, Dean was a first team All-Conference, All-Area and All-State selection   Also a member of the basketball and track teams at Fort Osage   Born on October 24, 1989   Dean is the son of Melinda Dean   Undecided on future major at Southern.

Seth Hackney   6 2   281   OL   Carl Junction, Mo./Carl Junction HS
Hackney played for coach Brett Gosch at Carl Junction HS   A Two-time first team All-Big 8 Conference lineman; first team Coach s All-District; second team  All-State selection   Also a track athlete at Carl Junction, Hackney was All-Conference and All-State, while picking up a district and sectional title in the shot put   Hackney finished fourth in the Missouri Class 3 State Championships with a distance of 55 feet, one and a quarter inch   Born on July 8, 1990, Hackney is the son of Robert and Amy Hackney   Hackney is undecided on his major at Southern.  

Charles Johnson   5 9   173   DB   Opelika, Ala./Opelika HS
Johnson played for coach Spence McCracken at Opelika HS   Joins former teammates Justin Cowper, Corderial Collier, Jo-Jo Wilson and Marcus Cook as former Opelika players to play at Southern   Johnson helped lead Opelika to a 9-3 record this past season, including a win in the first round of the Alabama 6A State Playoffs   He was part of a regional championship team and in his three years, the team made the Playoffs each season, and twice advanced to the fourth round   He led Opelika with 8 interceptions last season   Also a member of the track team at Opelika   Born on December 28, 1989   Johnson is the son of James and Von Johnson   He is undecided on his future major at Southern.

Lee McClendon   5 11   196   QB   Mart, Texas/Mart HS
McClendon played for coach Rusty Nail at Mart HS   An All-Conference, All-District and All-State selection, McClendon helped lead Mart to a 10-1 record and an undefeated 7-0 league mark, including a trip to the Texas playoffs   McClendon threw for 64 touchdowns and only seven interceptions during his junior and senior seasons   He also rushed for 34 touchdowns   McClendon helped lead an offense that outscored its opponents 416-159 this past season   Also helped lead the team to a 15-1 record as a junior and a Texas State Championship   That season, Mart outscored its opponents 621-199 and McClendon was named the Super Center Offensive Player of the Year, as well as the District MVP   He is the cousin of former MIAA standout and current CFL star Tony Miles   Born on September 22, 1989   McClendon is the son of Lee and Norma McClendon   He is undecided on his future major at Southern.

Antonio Moore   5 7   170   RB   Marlin, Texas/Marlin HS
Moore played for coach Jerry Malone at Marlin HS   He was an All-District selection, as well as the District Newcomer of the Year   Moore rushed for 826 yards on 99 caries and 12 touchdowns   also caught four passes for 116 yards and a touchdown   Moore helped lead his team to the state quarterfinals as a junior   Moore also competed in track at Marlin HS   Born on October 5, 1989   Moore is the son of Broedwick and Gloria Moore   He is undecided on his future major at Southern.

Bryant Newell   6 6   290   OL   Springdale, Ark./Springdale Har-Ber HS
A two year starter for coach Chris Wood at Springdale Har-Ber HS   Newell was a two-star Rivals.com recruit   A member of the 2007 Arkansas 7A runner-up team   Newell was a first team All-Conference and All-Area selection and helped lead his team to a conference championship   Also a member of the track team at Springdale   Born on January 18, 1990   Newell is the son of Curtis and Onna Newell   He plans on majoring in business at Southern.

Alan Pink   6 1   182   ATH   Webb City, Mo./Webb City HS
Pink played for coach John Roderique at Webb City HS   This past season, he was an All-Conference and All-Area selection after catching 21 passes for 405 yards   Webb went undefeated until the sectionals   Pink also played baseball and basketball at Webb   Born on February 3, 1990   Pink is the son of Scott and Christy Pink   Pink plans on majoring in Computer Science at Southern.

Stephen Poston   6 2   208   WR   Carthage, Mo./Carthage HS
Poston was part of the district champion Carthage  team that gave Webb City HS its first loss of the season this past year in the Missouri State Sectionals   Played for coach Jon Guide at Carthage   Poston was a two-time first team All-Southwest Conference selection, as well as a two-time All-District, All-Area and All-State selection   Poston was also an All-Conference and All-District selection as a kicker   this past year, Poston had 50 receptions for 1,056 yards and 14 touchdowns   Poston also had 72 tackles and three sacks as an outside linebacker   Also played baseball at Carthage   Born on February 11, 1990, Poston is the son of Jerry and Mary Poston   He plans to major in physical therapy at Southern.

Ethan Powell   6 5   248   OT   Bixby, Okla./Bixby HS
Powell played for former Southern football player Pat McGrew at Bixby HS   Powell was a teammate of current Lion Dusty Bratzler at Bixby   An All-District, All-Metro and honorable mention All-State selection in helping to lead Bixby to a district, area and regional championship and a spot in the Oklahoma state title game   A member of the National Honor Society, as well as the school s honor roll   Powell also competed in basketball and track at Bixby where he was an All-District selection in basketball and a two time regional champ in the discus and three time state qualifier ... Born on October 29, 1989   Powell is the son of Craig and Diane Powell   Powell plans to major in biology/pre-dentistry at Southern.

Jamel Rucker   5 11   183   DB   Henryetta, Okla./Morris HS
Rucker played for coach Larry Crenshaw at Morris HS   He was an All-Conference, All-Area and All-State selection   Rucker rushed for more than 3,500 yards in his career, including over 650 and seven touchdowns as a quarterback   Rucker helped lead the Bearcats to the state playoffs this past season, including a 10-2 record and 6-1 league mark   Rucker also competed in basketball and track at Morris HS   Born on April 2, 1989   Rucker is the son of Bruce Rucker and Diedra Khan   Rucker plans on majoring in physical education at Southern.

Nick Sanders   6 3   260   DL   Webb City, Mo./Missouri State Univ./Webb City HS
Sanders was a three-year letterman for coach John Roderique at Webb City    His teams went 36-2 in his three seasons and finished with a 14-0 state championship season in 2006   Sanders started the final 28 games of his career and was an All-State selection as a senior as well as winning Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year award    Sanders totaled 150 tackles and 15 sacks his final two years while the defense posted 11 shutouts in that time   Redshirted at Missouri State and will have four full years with the Lions ... Born on September 7, 1988   He is the son of Ronnie and Kristie Sanders   He plans to be a business major at Southern ... Sanders is currently enrolled at Southern in the Spring 2008 semester.

Logan Simon   6 2   170   ATH   Joplin, Mo./Joplin HS
Simon played for coach Doug Buckmaster at Joplin HS   in two seasons with the Eagles, Simon recorded 50 catches for 752 yards and six touchdowns   He was an All-conference and All-District selection in both 2006 and 2007   Simon helped the Eagles to a 2006 conference championship   Simon also competed in track at Joplin, where he was an All-Conference and All-District selection, as well as a sectional qualifier   Simon was a member of the honor roll at Joplin   Born on August 2, 1989   Simon is the son of Jim and Liz Simon   Simon plans to major in business at Southern.

Kenny Smith   6 0   270   DL   Claremore, Okla./Foyil HS
Smith played for coach Trent Worley at Foyil High School   Smith played on both the offensive and defensive lines and was the team s kicker   Last season, Smith recorded 110 tackles, 53 solo, as well as 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception and two safety s   An All-Conference, All-District and All-State selection, Smith was his conference s Defensive Player of the Year   A standout in the classroom as well, Smith was a member of the honor roll as well as serving as the Student Council President, and listed among Who s Who Among High School Students   Smith also competed in basketball and track at Foyil   Born on March 22, 1990   Smith is the son of Kevin and Marietta Smith    Smith plans to major in biology/pre-med at Southern ... Smith is currently enrolled at Southern in the Spring 2008 semester.

Eric Thomason   6 0   240   OL   Webb City, Mo./Webb City HS
Thomason played for coach John Roderique at Webb City, HS   This past season, Thomason was an All-Conference, All-Area and All-State selection for the Cardinals   A member of the 2006 Missouri Class 4 State Championship team   A four-time member of the honor roll at Webb, Thomason was also an All-Conference and All-District performer on the track team   Born on October 3, 1989   Thomason is the son of Wayne and Patty Thomason   Thomason pans on majoring in Biology at Southern.

Corey Wattelet   5 7   160   WR   Joplin, Mo./Joplin HS
Wattelet played for coach Doug Buckmaster at Joplin HS   Over his career, Wattelet caught 90 passes for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns   he also rushed for 317 yards on 48 attempts for two scores   A captain for the Eagles, Wattelet was a three time All-Conference selection and twice was named All-District   Also a member of the Joplin track team, Wattelet was an All-Conference performer and a district and sectional qualifier   A member of the Joplin honor roll   Born on October 20, 1989   Wattelet is the son of Frank and Tara Wattelet   Wattelet is undecided on his future major at Southern.

Brandon Williams   6 3   315   DL   Kirkwood, Mo./Rockwood Summit HS/Harmony Prep
Williams played for coach Mike Bellers at Rockwood Summit in 2006   Transferred to Harmony Prep School in Cincinnati in 2007   An All-Conference and All-State selection at Rockwood Summit at defensive tackle, Williams led the Falcons with 99 tackles and seven sacks in 2006   He was a team captain and was the Suburban South Defensive Player of the Year   Williams was also a standout in the classroom and was part of the school s honor roll s at both Rockwood Summit and Harmony Prep   Also competed in Basketball where he was an All-Conference selection and finished fifth in the 2006 Missouri State Discus    Born on February 21, 1989   Williams is the son of Brad Williams, Jr. and Shelly Washington   He is undecided on his major at Southern ... Williams is currently enrolled at Southern in the Spring 2008 semester.

Richard Williams   6 0   239   LB   Port St. Lucie, Fla./Fort Pierce Central HS
Williams played for coach Chris Hutchings at Fort Pierce Central HS   Williams was an All-Conference and  All-Area selection , as well as a member of the Outback All-Star team as a senior   He recorded 108 tackles, including 14 for loss and two sacks last year   Also served as a fullback for Fort Pierce Central and had a rushing touchdown   Williams was also a member of the wrestling and track and field teams at Fort Pierce Central   Born on September 10, 1989   Williams is the son of Rufus and Jocelyn Williams   Williams plans to major in child development or psychology at Southern.

Zopon Williams   6 2   237   DL   Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe HS
Williams played for coach  Dan Cocannouer at Santa Fe HS   A team captain, Williams had 56 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries last season, including a huge game against Putnam City West where he recorded 25 tackles and picked up both of his fumble recoveries   Williams also competed in track at Santa Fe   Born on July 8, 1988   He is undecided on his future major at Southern.

Landon Zerkel   6 3   195   WR   Webb City, Mo./Webb City HS
Zerkel was part of a state championship team at Webb City High School with current Lion Collin Howard   played for coach John Roderique at Webb   A first team All-Conference, All-Area, All-District, All-Region and All-State selection this past year at wide receiver for the Cardinals   The Joplin Globe Offensive Player of the Year, Zerkel finished with 40 receptions for 766 yards and 10 touchdowns   Zerkel was also a standout basketball player and was a first-team All-Conference and All-Area selection last year as a junior, while being named conference MVP   Zerkel is a member of the National Honor Society and is on the honor roll at Webb City   Born on November 19, 1989, Zerkel is the son of Kenny Zerkel and Carrie Cavitt   He is undecided on his future major at Southern.