DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake University football team added 25 student-athletes in the NCAA's early signing period, head coach Todd Stepsis announced Wednesday, Dec. 16.
 
"It's great to have so many signees given the uniqueness of this recruiting cycle," Stepsis said. "We have a great team here at Drake University and a lot of people help us recruit student-athletes. Our coaching staff, their families, the support staff, the administrative staff, the admissions staff, all the way up to President Martin have had key roles in signing this class. When you represent Drake University, you represent a storied football program, a fantastic city and a world class institution. These new players signed up for just that, they wanted it." 
 
The class of 25 for the 2021 season hails from Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. The group includes commitments who play positions on defense, offense and special teams.
 
"One of the best things about this year's class is that even though the situation wasn't ideal, we didn't have a lot of uncertainty," Stepsis said. "They stuck to it. That speaks highly of what a commitment means and the type of relationship our coaches have cultivated with them and their families over a long time. There are great expectations for this class and rightfully so. Today is a big step in continuing our program's trajectory."
 
December 2020 Drake Football Commitments
Sebastian Adamski, LB, 6-0, 230, Sahuarita, Ariz. (Walden Grove)
Adamski, from Sahuarita, Ariz., had an outstanding junior season for Walden Grove High School, including being tabbed the all-region defensive player of the year. He made 44 tackles and forced two fumbles and scored a touchdown in his shortened senior season.
 
Sam Anderson, DB/WR, 6-2, 185, Castle Pines, Colo. (Rock Canyon)
Anderson, from Castle Pines, Colo. received three varsity letters for Rock Canyon High School. He had 40 tackles along with two defensive touchdowns, three forced fumbles and three blocked field goals in just six games during a shortened senior season. Anderson also ran track.
 
Bryce Bowers, OL, 6-4, 305, Jonesboro, Ill. (Anna-Jonesboro)
Bowers, from Jonesboro, Ill., is a versatile player who played on the offensive and defensive lines for Anna-Jonesboro Community High School. His senior season was canceled but he earned all-conference honors his junior season.
 
Caleb Bowling, DB, 5-10, 190, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Davie County)
Bowling, from Winston-Salem, N.C., was named second team all-state and first team all-conference and all-district as a junior for Davie County High School. He tallied 135 tackles, three interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and two forced fumbles.
 
Dorian Boyland, ATH, 6-1, 225, Medina, Ohio (Medina)
Boyland, from Medina, Ohio, was named first team all-district as a senior team captain for Medina High School. Medina made its furthest playoff run in school history after being district champions. Playing on both sides of the ball, Boyland rushed for 424 yards and seven touchdowns and recorded 35 tackles and three sacks as a senior.
 
Samuel Carpenter, TE, 6-4, 250, Alexandria, Va. (Thomas Edison)
Carpenter, from Alexandria, Va., is a multi-sport athlete in football and basketball for Thomas Edison High School. He was named first team all-district and second team all-region his junior season.
 
Davion Cherwin, ATH, 5-9, 195, Bartlett, Ill. (South Elgin)
Cherwin, from Bartlett, Ill., is a multi-sport athlete in track and football. He was named all-conference and all-area his junior year of football after he rushed for 700 yards (14 yards per carry) on his way to seven rushing touchdowns. He added 100 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
 
Dante DeNardo, WR, 6-1, 185, Pottstown, Pa. (Owen J. Roberts)
DeNardo, from Pottstown, Pa., was named first team all-league as a wide receiver and second team all-league as a defensive back his senior year. He hauled in 739 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and nabbed two interceptions with one touchdown as a junior.
 
Riley Dravet, DB, 5-10, 180, Winfield, Ill. (Wheaton North)
Dravet was twice named academic all-conference for Wheaton North High School.
 
Blake Ellingson, QB, 6-2, 195, Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville)
Ellingson, from Libertyville, Ill. was named all-area and team MVP his junior season for Libertyville High School. He accumulated 1,687 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns to go along with 605 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
 
Austin Flax, WR, 5-9, 175, Mountain View, Calif. (Mountain View)
Flax, from Mountain View, Calif., helped lead Mountain View High School to the playoffs twice. He played both wide receiver and defensive back as a junior. Flax recorded 1,287 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns along with three interceptions his junior year and was named the De Anza League's Junior of the Year.
 
CJ Grisar, DB, 5-9, 170, Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha West)
Grisar, from Waukesha, Wis., is a multi-sport athlete participating in football, wrestling and track for Waukesha West High School. A team captain, he tallied a team-leading 91 tackles and forced two turnovers his senior year helping garner all-region and all-conference honors.
 
Connor Groff, LB/DL, 6-3, 225, Evanston, Ill. (Evanston Township)
Groff, from Evanston, Ill., is a multi-sport athlete in football and baseball for Evanston Township High School. He was named all-conference in football as a junior.
 
Holden Hughes, DB, 6-2, 180, Lehi, Utah (Lehi)
Hughes played his final high school season for Lehi High School after moving from California. He hauled in two interceptions, broke up six passes and made 12 tackles in just four games of his senior season.
 
Kyle Keller, OL, 6-4, 320, San Pedro, Calif. (San Pedro)
Keller, from San Pedro, Calif., had a decorated career for San Pedro High School. He was named an honorable mention all-conference helping San Pedro to a Marine League championship his junior year.
 
Kyle Kennedy, OL/LS, 6-3, 265, Schwenksville, Pa. (Spring-Ford)
Kennedy, from Schwenksville, Pa., was named first team all-league and all-area helping Spring-Ford win a Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship as a senior. He served as a team captain his final season and received the 2020 PAC Citizenship Award. Kennedy was named the PAC Sportsmanship Player of the Year as a junior.
 
Ben Kujawa, DL, 6-3, 270, Elm Grove, Wis. (Marquette University High School)
Kujawa, from Elm Grove, Wis., is a multi-sport athlete in football and lacrosse for Marquette University High School. He was named first team all-conference as a senior after recording 35 tackles, 10 of which were behind the line of scrimmage, and forced one fumble in just six games. Kujawa led his team in sacks with eight and returned a fumble for a touchdown as a junior.
 
Max Morris, OL, 6-4, 250, Littleton, Colo. (Heritage)
Morris from Littleton, Colo. played baseball, football and track and field for Heritage High School. He played multiple positions along the offensive line, including his final season spent at the tackle position. High school teammate of Tom Shefte.
 
Tevai Neher, OL, 5-11, 285, Queen Creek, Ariz. (Chandler)
Neher, from Queen Creek, Ariz., was a team captain for Chandler High School. He helped Chandler win four state championships. Neher was named all-conference four times and all-region three times in his career.
 
Nas Reynolds, RB, 5-9, 165, Richardson, Texas (Hillcrest)
Reynolds, from Richardson, Texas, led Hillcrest High School to the playoffs as a three-year team captain. He rushed for nearly 4,000 yards and 51 touchdowns in three seasons, served as a team captain twice and earned multiple accolades.
 
Ian Ridge, RB, 5-9, 180, Elk Grove Village, Ill. (Elk Grove)
Ridge, from Elk Grove Village, Ill., holds several records for Elk Grove High School. He tallied 1,856 all-purpose yards and rushed for 21 touchdowns as a junior helping earn all-state, all-area and all-conference honors.
 
Tom Shefte, LB/DB, 6-3, 198, Littleton, Colo. (Heritage)
Shefte, from Littleton, Colo., was ranked by Colorado Prep among the state's top four safeties in the 2021 class his senior year. He also plays baseball. High school teammate of Max Morris.
 
Pat Strocchia III, DL, 6-4, 220, Plainfield, Ill. (Joliet Catholic)
Strocchia from Plainfield, Ill., played for Joliet Catholic High School. He was named all-conference and academic all-state academic his junior year. after totaling 50 tackles and 14 sacks. Joliet Catholic won the Illinois Class 5A state title his sophomore season.
 
Phil Tita, P/K, 6-2, 180, Fernandina Beach, Fla. (Fernandina Beach)
Tita, from Fernandina Beach, Fla., played football and soccer Fernandina Beach High School. He owned a 40.0-yard punting average his senior season and helped Fernandina win its first-ever playoff game.
 
Colton Wolfe, LB, 6-1, 205, Midland, Texas (Midland Christian)
Wolfe, from Midland, Texas, led Midland Christian High School as a two-time team captain, leading them deep into the playoffs each of his final two seasons. He recorded 202 tackles over those two seasons in which he was the team's leading tackler. Wolfe also ran track.
 
December 2020 Drake Football Commitments
Name                           Pos.     Ht.        Wt.       Hometown (High School)
Sebastian Adamski       LB         6-0       230      Sahuarita, Ariz. (Walden Grove)
Sam Anderson              DB/WR 6-2       185       Castle Pines, Colo. (Rock Canyon)
Bryce Bowers               OL        6-4       305       Jonesboro, Ill. (Anna-Jonesboro)
Caleb Bowling               DB       5-10     190       Winston-Salem, N.C. (Davie County)
Doe Boyland                ATH         6-1       225       Medina, Ohio (Medina High School)
Sam Carpenter             TE        6-4       250       Alexandria, Va. (Thomas Edison)
Davion Cherwin             ATH     5-9       195       Bartlett, Ill. (South Elgin)
Dante DeNardo             WR       6-1       185       Pottstown, Pa. (Owen J. Roberts)
Riley Dravet                  DB       5-10     180       Winfield, Ill. (Wheaton North)
Blake Ellingson             QB       6-2       195       Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville)
Austin Flax                    WR       5-9       175       Mountain View, Calif. (Mountain View)
CJ Grisar                      DB       5-9       170       Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha West)
Connor Groff                 LB/DL   6-3       225       Evanston, Ill. (Evanston Township)
Holden Hughes             DB       6-2       180       Lehi, Utah (Lehi)
Kyle Keller                    OL        6-4       320       San Pedro, Calif. (San Pedro)
Kyle Kennedy                OL/LS   6-3       265       Schwenksville, Pa. (Spring-Ford)
Ben Kujawa                  DL        6-3       270      Elm Grove, Wis. (Marquette University High School)
Max Morris                   OL        6-4       250      Littleton, Colo. (Heritage)
Tevai Neher                  OL        5-11     285       Queen Creek, Ariz. (Chandler)
Nas Reynolds               RB       5-9       165       Richardson, Texas (Hillcrest)
Ian Ridge                      RB       5-9       180       Elk Grove Village, Ill. (Elk Grove)
Tom Shefte                   LB/DB 6-3       198       Littleton, Colo. (Heritage)
Pat Strocchia III            DL        6-4       220       Plainfield, Ill. (Joliet Catholic)
Phil Tita                        P/K       6-2       180       Fernandina Beach, Fla. (Fernandina Beach)
Colton Wolfe                 LB        6-1       205      Midland, Texas (Midland Christian)