The Lindenwood football team is welcoming in brand new members to the Lion family today on National Signing Day. Lindenwoodlions.com will have all the names and information you need on all of the 2013 Lindenwood recruits.

We will update the list of signees throughout the day as the National Letter of Intents come into the football program.

Signed Letter of Intent (last update 3:45 p.m.)
Aris Irizarry
Zackary Yost
Zach Panitzke
Berry Benedick
Jared Rayford
Derek Gurnea
Traveon Stevenson
Tyrian Taylor
Clint Koons
Nick Granberry
Justin Jackson
Orlando Woolens
Scott Prealow
Alex Armstrong
Wesley Thomas
Tyler Walker
DJ Hicks
Alexander Cuevas
Kez Demby
Andrew Bair
Akil Williams
Samson Sia
John Keltner
DeShaun Lawson

Transfers
D'Andre Green
Brian Hawthorne
Jamaal Fears
Adam Trotter
Dante Lewis
Roderick Ryles
Derek van Kluyve

Below is a brief bio on all of the signed high school seniors and transfers who will be making their way to the Lindenwood campus next fall.

Aris Irizarry, Defensive Back - 6-0, 185, Romeoville, Ill. (Plainfield East)
Maybe the fastest Lindenwood signee, Irizarry was a First-Team All-Conference track athlete in the Southwest Prairie Conference. With his great size and speed, Irizarry projects to make an immediate impact in the return game and on the defensive side of the ball for Lindenwood. He could be scary good as a safety.

Zackary Yost, Offensive Line - 6-5, 285, Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield North)
Yost, a First-Team All-Southwest Prairie selection, is by far the biggest lineman recruit for Lindenwood this year … the Lions have had luck with big athletic lineman out of Illinois (most notably, Jake Heneisen) and Yost fits that mold. His talent is not the question as Yost was also an All-Area and Academic All-State selection. Lindenwood coaches can see him competing for playing time right away with his size and knowledge of the game.

Zach Panitzke, Offensive Line - 6-1, 270, North Marion, Fla. (North Marion)
Panitzke is the son of a football coach and was one of the toughest linemen the Lindenwood coaches watched on film all year. He was a First-Team All-District, County, and Area selection. The Lindenwood coaches are excited about his toughness and knowledge of the game.

Berry Benedick, Offensive Line - 6-2, 250, Marshall, Mo. (Marshall)
Benedick is an athletic and aggressive lineman who excelled at tackle for Marshall High School, earning First-Team All-North Central League honors as a senior. Benedick, also an All-State and All-District selection, has the size and frame to be a staple up front for the Lions in the foreseeable future.

Jared Rayford, Running Back - 5-9, 185, Dallas, Texas (Cedar Hills)
Rayford was a First-Team selection to the All-District 5-5A team as a junior, which may be the toughest prep district in the nation. Rayford was averaging 12.4 yards per carry his senior season before suffering a knee injury. The Lindenwood coaches are hoping he returns to his junior year form which would make him the steal of the 2013 class. 

Derek Gurnea, Offensive Line - 6-4, 240, New Lenox, Ill. (Lincoln-Way West)
Gurnea is a small college coach's dream, a physical offensive lineman from a winning program. Gurnea has the frame to grow and could easily be the leader of the offensive line group in the future. With his size and athleticism he projects as a tackle for the Lions.

Traveion Stevenson, Defensive Back - 5-9, 170, O'Fallon, Ill. (O'Fallon)
A three-year starter for one of the best prep programs in the St. Louis area, Stevenson looks to bring experience to a young defensive secondary. A First-Team All-Southwestern conference and Second-Team All-Area selection, Stevenson was selected to the Illinois vs. Missouri All-Star game where he stood out with great footwork and man-to-man coverage abilities.

Tyrian Taylor, Wide Receiver - 5-9, 175, Orlando, Fla. (Jones)
The Lions' lone receiver signee, Taylor was named First-Team All-State and was also selected to the Central Florida All-Star game. Taylor is also an outstanding track athlete, clocking in at 38.95 in the 300 high-hurdles and triple jumping an exceptional 44'10". He is projected as an outside receiver with game-breaking speed. 

Clint Koons, Linebacker - 6-1, 205, Wentzville, Mo. (Wentzville Holt)
One of the most decorated and prolific players in St. Charles County prep history, Koons was a two time class 5A All-State selection. He was also selected to the First-Team All-District and Conference teams as a senior. Projected as a will backer in the lions 4-2-5 defense, Koons should help establish a young and dominate linebacking crew along with sophomores Harris and Chappelle.

Nick Granberry, Defensive End - 6-3, 240, St. Louis, Mo. (St. Louis University High)
Granberry, a Second-Team All-Metro Catholic Conference selection his senior year, showed a great knack for rushing the passer while at SLUH. The Lindenwood defense requires athletic defensive lineman and Granberry definitely fits that mold. With his size and strength, he figures to be very versatile and will play various spots for the Lindenwood front line.

Justin Jackson, Defensive End - 6-3, 230, Joliet, Ill. (Joliet West)
The Lions feel they found a defensive anchor in Jackson who was the Southwest Suburban Defensive Player of the Year. He was an All-State and All-Area selection with great size and explosiveness. Jackson figures to compete for playing time immediately at the defensive end position. 

Orlando Woolens, Defensive Back - 5-9, 155, University City, Mo. (University City)
Woolens first caught the Lindenwood coaches' eyes when he ran by every other St. Louis player, posting the fastest time in the 40-yard dash at the Mizzou day camp this summer. Woolens continued to impress the Lindenwood coaches with his on and off-the-field contributions for University City being named a team captain and All-Suburban South player.

Scott Prealow, Running Back - 5-7, 170, Collinsville, Okla. (Owasso)
Prealow, a three-year starter for one of the top prep programs in the state of Oklahoma, is one of two running back commits that look to fill the shoes of Denodus O'Bryant. Prealow is the all-time leading rusher in Owasso High School history. He finished his career with 4,149 yards and 42 touchdowns, while being named First-Team All-State. The Lindenwood coaches are excited about his great vision and outstanding cuts.

Alex Armstrong, Defensive End - 6-1, 220, Fenton, Mo. (Rockwood Summit)
Armstrong has been on the Lions radar for awhile following an outstanding Junior season in which he tied his high school's record of 11 sacks. His senior season propelled him to a 2013 Super 30 selection by the St. Louis Post Dispatch. He received Second-Team All-Suburban South honors as a senior. He is projected as an anchor end with his size and strength. 

Wesley Thomas, Defensive Back - 5-10, 170, Arlington, Texas (Arlington Bowie)
Thomas was one of the most impressive defensive backs the Lindenwood coaches watched on film this year. He was a unanimous First-Team All-District 3-5A selection. With his great playmaking ability and size, Thomas is expected to make an immediate impact on the Lindenwood defense as a freshman.

Tyler Walker, Defensive Back - 5-10, 175, St. Louis, Mo. (Clayton)
One of the top all-around athletes in the St. Louis Metro area, Walker was a First-Team All-Metro selection as a defensive back. He was a Second-Team All-State selection that finished his senior season with 132 tackles, 1,739 total yards, and 27 total touchdowns. Walker projects to be a difference maker in the secondary, as well as in the return game.

DJ Hicks, Defensive Backs - 6-0, 200, Norman, Okla. (Norman North)
Hicks is yet another member of the Lions incoming freshman class who is coming off an outstanding senior season. The hard hitting safety finished the year with 73 tackles and six interceptions for the Oklahoma state runner-up Norman North Timberwolves. Lindenwood coaches are excited about his size and speed and expect him to make an immediate impact on special teams and be a feared hitter for years to come.

Alexander Cuevas, Quarterback - 6-0, 190, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Culver City)
Cuevas is a dual threat quarterback from California that impressed Lindenwood coaches with his ability to take over games. He finished his senior season with 2,243 passing yards, 412 rushing yards, and 19 touchdowns. Cuevas was a Second-Team All-Ocean league selection. 

Kez Demby, Defensive Back - 6-0, 170, Shawnee, Kan. (Shawnee Mission West)
Another member of the Lindenwood recruiting class whose team enjoyed a stellar season, Demby helped lead Shawnee Mission West to the Kansas class 6A state championship. He was named a Second-Team All-Kansas City All-Metro selection, as well as an All-Sunflower performer. Demby showed great athleticism on both sides of the ball for the Vikings, and projects as a safety for Lindenwood.

Andrew Bair, Long Snapper - 6-3, 220, Columbia, Mo. (Columbia Hickman)
Maybe the most unheralded yet most important position on the field is the long snappers and the Lindenwood Lions feel they found a good one in Bair, who is coming off an outstanding senior season for the Kewpies. Bair could be the starting snapper from day one of camp this fall and should hold onto that position for the next four years.

Akil WIlliams, Offensive Line - 6-1, 290, Grandview, Mo. (Grandview)
As one of the most physically dominant offensive linemen in the recruiting class, Williams was a First-Team All-State 4A selection for the Grandview Bulldogs. He was also a First-Team All-District and KC Suburban Conference Blue selection. Lindenwood will use his size and physicality to set the tone on the front line over the next four seasons.

Samson Sia, Defensive Back - 6-4, 215, Independence, Mo. (Fort Osage)
One of the prizes of this 2013 recruiting class is Sia, a defensive leader for the state runner-up Fort Osage Indians. He was a First-Team All-State selection and was named the Suburban White Defensive Player of the Year. Sia led the defense in tackles that held opponents to 8.0 ppg. Projected as a boundary safety with his ability to run and hit.

John Keltner, Offensive Line - 6-1, 270, Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs)
Keltner, a key member of the Blue Springs 2013 state championship team, was a First-Team All-State, First-Team All-Simone, and First-Team All-Suburban Gold selection. Keltner paved the way for an offense that averaged 43.0 ppg as he rushed for an average of 284 yards per contest. He will be given an opportunity to compete on the offensive line immediately at the guard position.

DeShawn Lawson, Defensive Tackle - 6-3, 250, Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
Of the more than 50 athletes that the Lions had on campus this spring Lawson was the most impressive physical specimen. An offensive tackle for Skyline's 2012 Quarterfinalist team, Lawson impressed lion coaches at defensive tackle during a spring recruiting trip … with impressive strength and speed for his size Lawson could be a force to be reckoned with for years to come in the MIAA.

Transfers

D'Andre Green, Defensive Back - 5-11, 185, Baltimore, Md. (Hartnell College)
Green was a First-Team 2011 All-Coast Conference selection at Hartnell. He is currently on campus this spring and will compete for a starting spot in the 2013 defensive secondary. 

Brian Hawthorne, Defensive Back - 5-10, 175, Harbor City, Calif. (Santa Monica College)
Hawthorne is expected to provide an immediate impact in the Lindenwood Lions defensive backfield.  Hawthorne was named the Santa Monica student athlete of the year for football. 

Jamaal Fears, Defensive Tackle - 6-2, 300, Duncanville, Texas (Alabama State)
Fears was a three-year starter for Duncanville High School before signing with Alabama St. last season. Fears will look to make a huge impact in the fall. 

Adam Trotter, Defensive Back - 5-11, 190, St. Louis, Mo. (Arkansas Pine-Bluff)
Former Parkway Central product played two years at Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Trotter was an outstanding two-way player in high school and finished his senior season with 75 tackles. 

Dante Lewis, Defensive Back - 5-11, 190, Marietta, Ga. (Southern Illinois-Carbondale)
With great athleticism, Lewis is the type of player will fit well into the Lindenwood defensive scheme. He is already on campus and will participate in spring drills and practice.

Roderick Ryles, Defensive Back - 6-1, 200, Orland, Fla. (Pittsburgh)
A three-star recruit out of high school, Ryles holds the record for career interceptions at his high school. Ryles is already on campus and will compete for a starting job in the secondary. 

Derek van Kluyve, Offensive Line - 6-2, 280, Camdenton, Mo. (Truman State)
Van Kluyve was an Honorable Mention All-State selection and two-time First-Team All-Conference offensive lineman out of high school ... he is already on campus and will look to make an immediate impact on the line.