TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State head coach Curt Mallory unveiled his first signing class at a press conference Wednesday afternoon following the signing of 24 new Sycamores on National Signing Day.
 
"I'm excited about this class," Mallory said. "These are young men of high character, and a lot of them come from great football programs. A lot of these young men were captains of their football team. Of course they have great accolades, but more importantly they're coming with high character."
 
Of those 24 signees, 21 are high school commits, two are FBS transfers (from East Carolina and Northern Illinois) and one from a junior college (Monroe College). The Sycamores gained nine from within the state of Indiana alone – a key point for Mallory and his staff going forward, as evidenced in his introductory press conference.
 
"We're always going to start off in the Wabash Valley," Mallory said. "It will always start here in the Wabash Valley and the state of Indiana, and then the surrounding states."
 
Below is more info on all 24 Sycamore signees. More info about spring practice will be announced at a later date, as well as additions to Mallory's coaching staff.
 
Breakdown:
Total Signees: 24 (14 offense, 10 defense)
High School: 21 (13 offense, 8 defense)
FBS: 2 (1 offense, 1 defense)
JUCO: 1 (1 defense)
Indiana: 9
Florida: 4
Colorado: 2
Illinois: 2
Kentucky: 2
North Carolina: 1
Ohio: 1
Tennessee: 1
Virginia: 1
Wisconsin: 1
 
Henrik Barndt | Defensive End | 6-5, 250 | Arvada, Colo. | Ralston Valley HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: All-Colorado, All-State and All-Conference his senior season…Second-team All-Conference his junior season…Career totals of 146 tackles, 12 sacks and 33 TFL…Senior season of 103 tackles, 10 sacks and 26 TFL.
 
Personal: Born Sept. 17, 1998, to Doug and Annette Barndt…Has two siblings, Karsten and Anya…Intending to major in business.
 
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Trashawn Britt Jr. | Offensive Line | 6-5, 300 | Brownsburg, Ind. | Brownsburg HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Indiana All-Star…All-Region…Most Improved Player his senior season…Also played basketball and track…Leading rebounder in freshman and junior basketball seasons.
 
Personal: Born July 18, 1999, to Trashawn Britt Sr. and Lakeisha Dodson…Has two brothers, Tyree and Tristan, and one sister, Kamylah…Intending to major in business management.
 
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Jackson Byrne | Offensive Line | 6-4, 270 | New Albany, Ind. | West Washington HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Two-time IFCA All-State…AP All-State…Two-time First-Team All-Kentuckiana…IFCA Academic All-State…Two-time PLAC All-Conference…Also played basketball.
 
Personal: Born Jan. 27, 1999, to Jeff and Marie Byrne…Has one brother, Jeff, who plays basketball at Spalding University…Intending to major in exercise science.
 
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Khalif Copeland | Defensive Back | 5-10, 177 |Villa Park, Ill. | Willowbrook HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: First-Team All-Conference…Academic All-Conference…Daily Herald All-Area…Chicago Sun-Times All-Area…Team MVP…News-Gazette All-State…Career totals of 246 tackles, 11 INT, 23 PBU, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two punt blocks, one PAT block…Also played receiver, totaling 32 catches for 490 yards and seven TD with 698 all-purpose yards.
 
Personal: Born March 1, 1999, to Tina Turner and Alvin Copeland…Has four siblings…His sister, La'Tecia Garza plays softball at Sante Fe College, and his brothers Khyree Copeland and Terrence Miller both play football at Concordia University of Chicago…Intending to major in computer engineering.
 
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Ethan Cox | Linebacker | 6-4, 215 |Terre Haute, Ind. | Terre Haute South HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: First-Team All-Conference…First-Team All-WVCA…Career record holder at Terre Haute South in tackles (375)…Ended career with 375 total tackles (256 solo), 11.7 tackles per game, 17 TFL, three fumble recoveries and one INT…Team Captain…Academic All-State…IHSAA All-State Honorable Mention…Also a varsity letterwinner on the basketball team.
 
Personal: Born Sept. 25, 1998, to Michael and Mandi Cox…Had one sister, Michaela…His mother was a three-sport athlete at Olney Central College before playing tennis at Southern Indiana…Intending to major in environmental science.
 
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Kyle Erickson | Offensive Line | 6-4, 295 |Fayetteville, N.C. | Jack Britt HS | East Carolina
 
Bio
 
At East Carolina: Redshirted in 2014…Played in 11 of 12 games in 2015 and six of 12 in 2016.
 
High School: A three-time all-conference and a two-time all-region selection at Jack Britt High School … Also earned all-state honors as a senior team captain for coach Brian Rimpf, who was a three-year All-Conference USA lineman at East Carolina and former NFL (Baltimore Ravens) performer … Helped Buccaneers capture regional (2012) and conference (2013) titles … Was chosen to represent North Carolina in the prestigious Shrine Bowl after his senior campaign … Lettered a total of four seasons as a tackle, experiencing action with the varsity squad as a freshman … Pair of all-region accolades came from the Fayetteville Observer … An integral member of a Britt offensive unit that generated a Cumberland County-best 5,422 yards of total offense … Picked up additional letters in track and basketball … A member of the Jack Britt High School's A-B Honor Roll as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
 
Personal: Born May 26, 1996, in Watertown, N.Y., to Kevin and Brenda Erickson…Older sister, Heather, is a two-time Paralympic Silver Medalist (sitting volleyball)…Majoring in criminal justice.
 
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Frederik Fabricius | Offensive Line | 6-6, 305 |LaPorte, Ind. | La Lumiere HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
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Ricky Gibson | Offensive Line | 6-3, 290 | Naples, Fla. | Barron Collier HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: First-Team All-District…First-Team All-Conference…First-Team All-Area…All-State Honorable Mention…Most Valuable Offensive Lineman…Had 40 pancakes in senior season…Also competed in track & field.
 
Personal: Born Oct. 10, 1998, to Samantha Gibson and Leo Guijosa…Has a brother, Niko, and a sister, Ariyana…Intending to major in financial economics.
 
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Dante Hendrix | Wide Receiver | 6-2, 175 | Florence, Ky. | Randall K. Cooper HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: AP and Louisville Courier Journal First-Team All-State…Kentucky 6A Player of the Year…Cincinnati/Kentucky Enquirer Player of the Year…First-Team All-NKAC…NKAC Player of the Year…First-Team All-Bluegrass Prep…Member of "Best of the Bluegrass" All-Star Team (Top-40 players in Kentucky)…Two-time First-Team All-District…Two-time Team MVP…Team Captain as a senior…Played both receiver and defensive back…171 career receptions (17th all-time in Kentucky history), 3,107 yards (Northern Kentucky record; 15th-most in state history), 40 TD (eighth-most in state history), and had 16 interceptions…Had 1,403 receiving yards in a season, 29th all-time in state history…Senior season line read 72 receptions, 1,403 yards, 20 TD, 32 tackles (26 solo), six INT, four PBU and one TD…Had two games of 250-plus receiving yards…Holds all receiving and interception records at Randall K. Cooper High School…Held SportsCenter's No. 1 play on their daily Top-10 countdown on Oct. 14, 2016…Was also a three-year team captain of the basketball team…Was the 2015 9th Region Defensive Player of the Year in basketball and earned First-Team All-NKAC.
 
Personal: Born April 11, 1999, to Melissa and Chuck Hendrix…Has four brothers: Jordan, Javon Morgan, Aaron Morgan and Josh Morgan…Father was a defensive back at Idaho State, where he was a teammate of ESPN NFL analyst Meril Hoge…Brother Jordan played linebacker at Morehead State, where he holds the single-season record for tackles (123)…Distant relative of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix…Intending to major in business management.
 
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Corey Hicks | Defensive Back | 5-11, 180 | Tampa, Fla. | Lennard HS | Monroe College
 
Bio | Highlights
 
Personal: Majoring in criminal justice.
 
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Mariel Jennings | Wide Receiver | 6-3, 185 | Richmond, Va. | Fork Union Military Academy
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: All-Conference…All-Region.
 
Personal: Born May 19, 1998, to Elwood and Marilyn Jennings…Has one sister, Chelsea…Intending to major in business management.
 
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Peterson Kerlegrand | Running Back | 5-9, 180 | Fort Wayne, Ind. | Concordia Lutheran HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Career scoring record holder at Concordia…Also holds single-season record for kickoff return average…Ended career with 3,987 rushing yards on 564 carries, 837 receiving yards on 73 receptions, and 5,919 total yards of offense…Was part of Indiana 3A state championship team…Two-time IFCA 3A All-State team…2016 First-Team All-Northeast Indiana…Three-time First-Team All-SAC…Two-time team captain…Played on 2015 national championship IMG-AWP 7-on-7 team.
 
Personal: Born June 17, 1998, to Gustave and Jeanene Kerlegrand…Has one brother, Preston…Intending to major in aviation management.
 
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Stephon Mayes | Outside Linebacker | 6-1, 241 | Louisville, Ky. | Louisville Male HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Team Captain and Team MVP…85 tackles, 10 sacks.
 
Personal: Born May 27, 1999, to Ebony Guy and Stephon Mayes Sr. …Father played football at Kent State…Intending to major in business.
 
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Titus McCoy | Running Back | 5-10, 187 | Greenwood, Ind. | Center Grove HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Four-year starter…First-Team All-State…First-Team All-Conference…Two-time state finalist at Center Grove…Blue-Grey All-American…Career totals: 3,828 rushing yards, 645 receiving yards, 54 TD.
 
Personal: Born May 14, 1999, to Amber and Scott McCoy…Has a sister, Brittney, and a brother, Anderson…Father played football and mother was a cheerleader at Southern Baptist…Brother plays basketball at Ancilla College…Intending to major in psychology.
 
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Rontrez Morgan | Wide Receiver | 5-11, 165 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Oakleaf HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Times Union Honorable Mention…Ended career with 103 receptions, 1,337 yards and 20 TD.
 
Personal: Born Aug. 28, 1998, to Kokeana and Greg Morgan…Has one brother, Kendall…Undecided major.
 
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Max Morgan-Elliot | Offensive Line | 6-3, 270 | Huber Heights, Ohio | Wayne HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: First-Team All-GWOC…GWOC Scholar-Athlete.
 
Personal: Born May 24, 1998, to Bill and Wende Morgan-Elliot…Has two siblings: Jack and Mali…Grandfather, Fred, played football at Bowling Green…Intending to major in business.
 
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Rajshawn Mosley | Defensive Line | 6-2, 280 | Indianapolis, Ind. | Arsenal Tech HS | Northern Illinois
 
Bio
 
2015 (at Northern Illinois): Played in eight games…Six tackles (five solo).
 
2014 (at Northern Illinois): Played in 12 games as a true freshman…Eight tackles (four solo).
 
High School: Ranked as the 25th-best recruit in Indiana by 247Sports in 2014…Two-time All-Conference…All-State and Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2013…110 tackles, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, three PBU and one INT his senior year…96 tackles, four fumbles recovered as a junior.
 
Personal: Born Jan. 26, 1995, in Chicago to Reginald Mosley and Vickie Epps…Majoring in business administration.
 
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Cade Peratt | Tight End | 6-3, 225 | Arvada, Colo. | Ralston Valley HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: First-Team All-Conference…Team Captain…All-State…Had 361 receiving yards three touchdowns.
 
Personal: Born Nov. 18, 1998, to Eric and Maryann Peratt…Has one brother, Kaylor…Intending to go into Pre-Med.
 
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Jay Perras | Offensive Line | 6-4, 302 | Neenah, Wis. | Neenah HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Unanimous First-Team All-Conference…All-Area…All-Region…Senior season: 36 pancakes, two sacks allowed.
 
Personal: Born June 2, 1999, to Jim and Deanna…Has two sisters: Jenna and Leah…Intending to major in construction management.
 
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Kris Reid | Outside Linebacker| 6-2, 205 | Bellwood, Ill. | St. Joseph HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Four-time Defensive MVP…Two-time All-Conference…Red Division Defensive MVP…All-State…Career totals of 221 tackles, 52 TFL, 27 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, six field goals blocked and seven total touchdowns…Once had single-game totals of 21 tackles and 6.5 sacks.
 
Personal: Born June 4, 1999…Intending to major in criminal justice.
 
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Tommy Richardson | Linebacker | 6-2, 235 | Bloomington, Ind. | Bloomington South HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Three-time All-State, All-Conference and All-Area…Herald Times Defensive Player of the Year…Career totals include 451 tackles (276 solo), six sacks, five INT and 10 TD…Senior season included 115 tackles (75 solo), 11 TFL, two sacks, two defensive touchdowns…Also was a two-year starter on the baseball team.
 
Personal: Born Feb. 19, 1999, to Curt and Missy Richardson…Has three brothers: Todd, Tyler and Trent…Intending to major in exercise science.
 
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Jean Sanon | Defensive Back | 5-9, 160 | Immokalee, Fla. | Immokalee HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Senior season defensive totals of 35 tackles (15 solo), three INT, nine PBU, and one defensive TD on a blocked FG return…Also played WR, recording 502 yards of total offense, 23 receptions, and five TD (four receiving, one rushing)…Also ran track…Three-time state qualifier in the 4x100 and 4x400…Had PRs of 11.05 in the 100, 22.7 in the 200 and 51.0 in the 400.
 
Personal: Born May 3, 1998, to Vinet and Aliana Sanon…Has five sisters: Dialie, Diana, Marie, Michelle and Juliana…Intending to major in psychology.
 
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DeMarquez Trotter | Defensive Back | 5-10, 175 | Nashville, Tenn. | East Nashville Magnet HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: All-City…All-Region…All-State Preseason…Multiple-time Player of the Week…Tallied 83 tackles (44 solo), four INT, nine PBU, five TD and 1,056 all-purpose yards…Also competed in basketball and track.
 
Personal: Born Oct. 22, 1998, to Kamika Bell and Derrick Trotter…Has two brothers: Donovan Manning and Deiontae Trotter…Intending to major in sports medicine.
 
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Tynan Williams | Tight End | 6-3, 225 | LaPorte, Ind. |New Prairie HS
 
Bio | Highlights
 
High School: Two-time All-State…Two-time First-Team All-Conference…All-Area…Team Captain…Was two-way player as a tight end and defensive end…Had 22 career receptions for 326 yards and three TD…Had 170 career tackles…Was 28-9 as a varsity starter…Part of two sectional championship teams, one regional championship team and one state runner-up team.
 
Personal: Born Oct. 27, 1998, to Royce and Angie Williams…Has two sisters: Lexie and Kenzie…Intending to double-major in business management and sports management.
 
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