DES MOINES, Iowa -- Drake head football coach Todd Stepsis welcomed eight student-athletes to the program on National Signing Day (Feb. 1) to join 22 early signees making up the 2023 signing class.
 
Eliseo Buffington | ATH | Atherton, Calif. | Sacred Heart Prep HS

Notes: Recorded 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, six pass deflections and two forced fumbles as a senior… 2021 CIF California State Champion.
 
Tyson Hancock | WR | Smithville, Texas | Smithville HS

Notes: First Team All-District wide receiver… Caught 32 passes for 644 yards and five touchdowns while carrying the ball for 292 yards and three touchdowns as a senior… Recorded 90 tackles and five interceptions on the defensive side his senior year… National Honor Society member.
 
Jaxon Laminack | WR | ,Oklahoma | Blanchard HS

Notes: First Team Little All-City wide receiver… Class 4A District 4 Player of the Year… Recorded 52 receptions for 958 yards and 11 touchdowns offensively as a senior… Made 111 tackles and four interceptions on the defensive side of the ball his senior season… Also competed in basketball and track & field… Helped Blanchard to the state tournament his junior year… Two-time finalist at the state track & field meet.
 
Logan Lawonn | DB | Wind Lake, Wis. | Muskego HS

Notes: First Team All-State, All-Conference and All-Region defensive back as a senior… Milwaukee High School nominee for Defensive Football Player of the Year while helping Muskego to a Classic 8 Conference title his senior season… Recorded 82 tackles… Made four interceptions including one returned for a touchdown… Earned Second Team All-Conference status as a junior with 73 tackles and three interceptions… Also competes in basketball and track & field… Won his conference's long jump title as a junior.
 
Ike Owens | QB | Jenks, Oklahoma | Jenks HS

Notes: Two-time captain, four-year letter winner in football… All-District… ESPN High School Showcase Player of the Game… Two-time state of Oklahoma Player of the Week… Logged 2,405 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior… Oklahoma High School Honor Society… Academic All-Conference… President of his high school's FCA.
 
Chris Rice | DB | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Palmer Ridge HS

Notes: All-Conference Honorable Mention… 15 tackles (2.0 for loss) with two interceptions and eight pass breakups as a senior… Helped Palmer Ridge to an undefeated 2022 season… Recorded 32 tackles (4.0 for loss) and made six interceptions during his junior season.
 
Drew Tapley | QB | Scottsdale, Ariz. | Desert Mountain HS

Notes: Team Captain… All-State Honorable Mention as a junior and senior… Completed 121 of 186 passes for 1,828 yards and 22 touchdowns while running for four touchdowns to lead the Wolves to a Class 5A semifinal appearance his senior year… First Team All-Region as a junior completing 174 of 250 passes for 24 touchdowns helping Desert Mountain to its best record in school history (11-2).
 
Kemani Wilson | DB | Jacksonville, Fla. | The Bolles School

Notes: Varsity letter winner in football, basketball and track & field… Notched 29 tackles (27 solo), three interceptions (two returned for a touchdown) and two fumble recoveries as a senior… Treasurer of The Bolles School's Black Student Union.