Updated Feb. 9

The Lindenwood football team announced that 28 high school seniors have signed to join the Lions in 2010. 

"We were in a position to be very selective with this class, because our retention has been outstanding the past couple of years," said head coach Patrick Ross. "We went after the kids we wanted at each position, and the result when you're able to do that is usually very good.

"If you've seen us play the last few seasons, you know that speed is a big part of our game, in all three phases, and we certainly added some players who will fit right in from that standpoint."

The new signees join a Lindenwood football program that went 13-1 last season and advanced to the NAIA National Championship game.

2010 High School Signees (Photo Gallery)
Rodney Anderson (CB, 5'10", 180 lbs., New Madrid, Mo., New Madrid County Central HS) 
First team All-State Class 3 pick for one of state's top programs; could develop into outstanding corner for the Lions

Blake Arnette (ATH, 5'10", 175 lbs., Pacific, Mo., Pacific HS)
First team All-State Class 4 star; Offensive POY in the Four Rivers Conference with 27 TDs rushing, 13 passing 

Alex Beckman (PK/P, 6'2", 165 lbs., Florissant, Mo., McCluer North HS)
First team All-Suburban North place kicker; a second team Class 5 All-State selection as a punter

Jimmy Brewer (DB, 6'0", 185 lbs., Arnold, Mo., Fox HS)
Unanimous first team MAFC Red pick; totaled 89 tackles; brings reputation as a fierce hitter to Lindenwood 

Ben Britton (OL, 6'5", 270 lbs., Sullivan, Mo., Sullivan HS)
A first team All-Four Rivers pick on both sides of the ball; the big man was also a third team All-State Class 4 selection

Josh Carlyle (DT, 6'0" 270 lbs, Sikeston, Mo., Sikeston HS)
First team All-SEMO North selection on both sides of the line, accomplished wrestler will play noseguard for the Lions

Donald Collier (CB, 5'10", 175 lbs., Cahokia, Ill., Cahokia HS)
A potential lockdown corner; Collier posted 53 tackles and seven picks as a senior; school's all-time INT leader with 17

Devin Davis (OLB, 6'1", 195 lbs, Aledo, Texas, Aledo HS)
Speedy edge rusher (10.65 100 meters); was key player for Class 4A Div. II state champions in Texas 

Tyler Dewey (DB, 5'10", 190 lbs., Indianapolis, Ind., Franklin Central HS)
First team All-State selection in Indiana with 90 tackles; Dewey is a big hitter with speed and a mean streak (video)

Gunnar Edwards (WR, 6'0", 180 lbs., Tuscola, Ill., Tuscola HS)
First team All-State pick for state titlists with 12 TDs and 10 picks; was named to Champaign (Ill.) All-Decade team

Josh Engberg ( OLB, 6'2", 210 lbs, Wentzville, Mo. Holt HS)
Has the length the Lions like, and athleticism to rush the edge; a first team All-GAC South pick 

Nick Grubbs (DB, 6'1", 185 lbs., Wentzville, Mo., Holt HS)
Versatile Holt standout totaled 50 tackles, 685 rushing yards, 15 TDs, 416 passing yards, eight TFLs and three sacks 

Dillon Hawkins (LB, 6'0", 204 lbs., Aledo, Texas, Aledo HS)
The second member of Aledo's 14-0 state championship team to join the Lions, Hawkins was busy as a senior, posting an amazing 218 tackles on his way to first team All-District 6-4A honors. (video)

Jake Heneisen (OL, 6'5", 265 lbs, Jacksonville, Ill., Jacksonville HS)
Widely recruited central Illinois lineman has great feet and frame; two-time All-CS8 and special mention All-State 

Blayr Jimmerson (ATH, 5'9", 180 lbs., Los Angeles, Calif., Windward Prep)
One of the West Coast's best kept secrets, Jimmerson played at an eight-man school in SoCal where he scored 50 TDs as a senior; a three-star recruit on Rivals.com, he could play WR or CB for the Lions (video)

Nile Knapp (TB, 5'11", 184 lbs., Albany, Ga., Southwest Georgia Academy)
Twice named to the GISA AA All-State first team, Knapp is one of the most decorated schoolboy players to ever come out of southwest Georgia; ran for 2,196 yards and 33 TDs while averaging 10.4 yards per carry as a senior, and racked up 6,019 rushing yards and 87 TDs in his prep career (video)

Brannon Kwiatkowski (LB, 6'2", 225 lbs., Mahomet, Ill., Mahomet-Seymour HS)
Big inside backer who can run racked up 121 tackles as a senior on his way to All-Corn Belt and All-Area honors (video)

Jake Lonergan (OLB, 6'3",  215 lbs., Jacksonville, Ill., Jacksonville HS)
Big-play linebacker posted 21 TFLs, to go along with 101 tackles; earned first team All-CS8 and All-Area honors 

Wayne McRoberts (OL, 6'2", 265 lbs., Lake Saint Louis, Mo., Timberland HS)
Was named a second team All-State Class 5 and first team All-GAC North pick for growing program at Timberland

Patrick Mouse (OL, 6'1", 255 lbs., Blue Springs, Mo., Blue Springs HS)
Helped pave the way for a 3,000-yd. rusher at tailback for Class 6 state finalists the past two seasons

Ryan Ohl (WR, 6'3", 180 lbs., Mahomet, Ill., Mahomet-Seymour HS)
Lanky receiver with great hands grabbed 38 passes for 772 yards and 13 TDs; special mention All-State pick in Illinois (video)

Joe Plassmeyer (QB, 6'4", 215 lbs., St. Louis, Mo., Oakville HS)
First team All-Suburban West pick completed 188 of 347 passes for 2,235 yards; also a solid hoops player (video)

Jacob Poole (QB, 6'1", 190 lbs., Houston, Texas, Cy-Falls HS)
Also starred at WR as a junior (when his brother played QB); had one game with 216 yards passing and 190 rushing (video)

Austin Siess (WR, 6'0", 180 lbs., Meriden, Kan., Jefferson West HS)
Unanimous first team Big Seven selection was also a Class 4A All-State pick in Kansas, scoring 16 TDs

Jake Smith (DB, 6'3", 190 lbs., Springfield, Ill., Sacred Heart-Griffin HS)
First team All-CS8 and special mention Class 6A All-State selection for powerhouse program at SHG 

Andrew VanDeven (LB, 6'0", 210 lbs., St. Charles, Mo., Francis Howell HS)
First team All-GAC South pick racked up a whopping 140 tackles, including 89 solos 

Josh Vaughn (OL, 6'3", 295 lbs., Farmington, Mo., Farmington HS)
Coach's son was a second team All-State Class 4 pick, and twice was a first team All-SEMO North selection 

Gary Wilson (TB, 5'9", 188 lbs., Springfield, Ill., Salisbury School (Conn.))
Wilson was a first team All-State Class 6A selection at Illinois power Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in 2008 (1,668 yards and 30 TDs), before attending prep school in Connecticut this fall, where he rushed for 866 yards and scored 13 TDs in only seven games; skill set is very similar to LU freshman star Denodus O'Bryant (video)