DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University football team added 13 high school student-athletes in the NCAA's early signing period, second-year head coach Todd Stepsis announced Thursday, Dec. 19.
 
"What a tremendous start to our 2020 freshman class," said Stepsis. "It has it all with size, speed, athleticism and nastiness. More importantly they are student-athletes who love the game of football and believe in doing things the right way. This group will not only enhance our roster on the field, but will be game changers on campus and in the community. Drake football is different and that's what they were looking for. I can't wait for the summer so we can get to work."
 
The class of 13 for the 2020 season, includes three offensive linemen, two wide receivers, two linebackers, two defensive backs, one defensive linemen, one running back, one tight end and one H position. The group hails from California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Oklahoma.
 
2020 Drake Football Commitments
Name                           Pos.     Ht.        Wt.       Hometown (High School)
Rhent Addis                  OL        6-3       301      Goshen, Ind. (Northridge)
Jun Ahn                        RB       5-5       165      Fullerton, Calif. (Sunny Hills)
Isaac House                 OL        6-4       245      Collinsville, Okla. (Collinsville)
Bennet Krebs                OL        6-2       261      Breese, Ill. (Mater Dei)
Ben Millman                  TE        6-3       225      Johns Greek, Ga. (Johns Creek)
Tim Nesslage                WR      6-2       190      O'Fallon, Mo.. (Fort Zumwalt North)
Sam Rodriguez             H          6-2       195      Western Springs, Ill. (Lyons Township)
Ethan Rohman              DL        6-3       219      Owatonna, Minn. (Owatonna)
Cian Smith                    WR      6-2       180      San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente)
Riley Theobald              LB        6-1       241      Plainfield, Ill. (Nazareth Academy)
Jacob Thompson           LB        6-1       218      Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Jefferson)
Jeremy Villalobos          DB       6-2       165      Vacaville, Calif. (Vacaville)
Jackson Williams          DB       5-10     170      Aurora, Ill. (Batavia)
 
Addis from Goshen, Ind. is a multisport athlete in football and wrestling for Northridge High School. He served as a captain for the football team in his final season.
 
Ahn from Fullerton, Calif. rushed for 1,906 yards and tallied 2,539 all-purpose yards with 30 touchdowns his senior season for Sunny Hills High School, which advanced to California regionals his senior year.
 
House from Collinsville, Okla. was named the 2019 5A-4 Offensive Lineman of the Year and helped Collinsville High School equal its school-record win total and qualify for state semifinals his junior season.
 
Krebs from Breese, Ill. was a four-year varsity letterwinner, three-year starter and team captain his senior season for Mater Dei High School. He earned honorable mention all-state accolades his final season.
 
Millman from Johns Creek, Ga. helped Johns Creek High School capture back-to-back region championships and the team advanced to the second round of the 2019 Georgia Class 6A state playoffs.
 
Nesslage from O'Fallon, Mo. is a three-sport standout in baseball, football and track and field for Fort Zumwalt High School. He helped the football team advance to the Missouri Class 5 semifinals.
 
Rodriguez from Western Springs, Ill. returned to the field his senior season after missing his junior year due to injury. He earned all-conference and all-area honors and was named Lyons Township High School's most valuable player.
 
Rohman from Owatonna, Minn. had a decorated senior season for Owatonna High School, which won the 2019 Minnesota Section 1 championship and qualified for the Minnesota Class 5 State championship.
 
Smith from San Clemente, Calif. was a two-year letterwinner for San Clemente High School, which won two playoff games in California's highest division his final season. He earned all-district honors and was named San Clemente's top defensive back.
 
Theobald from Plainfield, Ill. was a four-year letterwinner for Nazareth Academy. In his final season, he led Nazareth in tackles, collected all-conference honors and the team finished as Illinois Class 7A state runner-up.
 
Thompson from Cedar Rapids was a two-year captain for Jefferson High School, where he earned all-conference, all-district and all-state honors in his senior season.
 
Villalobos from Vacaville, Calif. was a two-way standout for Vacaville High School playing quarterback and defensive back. He earned all- Monticello Empire League honors as a senior at both positions and was selected the league's 2019 Player of the Year.
 
The final member of the class is Williams from Aurora, Ill. was a captain for Batavia High School as a senior, where he helped the team advance to the Illinois Class 7A quarterfinals. He collected all-conference and all-area honors his senior season.