National Signing Day
Feb. 2, 2005

Anderson, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound wide receiver, was listed as the St. Louis area's top wide receiver and top defensive back after helping Alton High School to three state playoff appearances. A three-year letterman and two-year captain, Anderson caught 12 touchdown passes on his way to first-team all-conference honors in 2004. Also a track and field standout, he owns several records in the 100-meter dash, including the best prep time in southern Illinois last season. He is a sectional winner in both the 100- and 200-meter events and a two-time state qualifier who was named the Alton Telegraph Track Athlete of the Year in 2004.

Bennett, a 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker, redshirted as a true freshman and saw action in eight games at defensive end with Miami (Ohio) last season. Named one of Michigan's top 50 high school players, Bennett was a three-time all-area and all-conference honoree at Southfield High School. An all-state selection as a senior, he recorded 78 solo tackles, 56 assisted stops, five sacks, three interceptions and two touchdowns. He helped his team to back-to-back conference titles as a junior and senior and set a Michigan High School record of six quarterback sacks in a game as a sophomore. Bennett also earned all-area and all-county honors in wrestling and track.

Boone, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive lineman, was an all-league performer in his junior year that went on to earn all-metro and all-state honors as a senior. He was team captain his final season and helped lead Vashon High School to a district title. Boone also excelled in basketball and was a starter on a team that finished with a #3 national ranking in 2002. He was recognized as Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior.

Dudczak, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound defensive lineman was named to all-area and all-state teams by several local newspapers, including The Daily Herald, Pioneer Press and Chicago Sun-Times after a standout career at William Fremd High School. He was the first freshman wrestler in Fremd history to advance to the state tournament, and was the conference, regional and sectional champion during his junior season. He earned fifth place in the state meet as a junior, finishing with a 35-1 record. He currently owns a 23-2 record while wrestling in the 275-pound weight class.

Harper, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound offensive lineman, was a two-time all-conference performer at both offensive and defensive tackle, helping School of the Osage to a district title as a senior. He was twice named to the all-district first team as an offensive tackle and earned first-team all-state honors at the same position in both the coaches' poll and the Associated Press poll. Harper was also a two-time conference and district champion discus thrower with a mark of 167 feet as a junior.

Hollie, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker, was a two-time all-conference player at Behilde-St. Margaret's High School, helping lead his team to its first conference championship. Hollie, a preseason all-America selection, became North Dakota State College of Science's all-time leading tackler, and earned first-team all-conference and all-region honors. His 102 tackles in 2004 ranked second within the conference.

Layton, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman, helped his Glenwood High School team to a pair of state quarterfinal appearances. The two-year varsity letterwinner was an all-conference selection as a senior. He finishes his varsity career with a 17-7 record.

Lines, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, led Morris High School in tackles his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he recorded 119 tackles, helping the Redskins to a 13-1 record and a state runner-up finish. He earned Defensive MVP honors in his conference and was an all-state and All-Joliet Area First Team linebacker. During his junior season, Lines recorded 110 tackles as the team finished 9-3, and as a sophomore, he recorded 105 tackles, helping the Redskins to an 11-1 finish. Lines has accepted an invitation to play in the Illinois Shrine Bowl game. He has also excelled in baseball as a pitcher and shortstop and participated in basketball.

Milton, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound fullback from Westfield High School, was a first-team all-district selection on a team that advanced to the Texas Class 5A state title game for the first time in school history. His blocking paved the way for a rushing offense that averaged 246 yards per game. The Mustangs finished 2004 with an all-time best 13-2 record. Milton also excels in track as a sprinter and shot putter.

Oliver, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound defensive back, earned three varsity letters and an all-conference nod at Hillcrest High School. As a senior captain, he led Hillcrest to a playoff run and an 8-3 record. He was then a two-time captain, two-time all-conference player and 2004 preseason all-America selection at Rock Valley College. Oliver also earned all-conference, all-area and all-state honors in track and field at Hillcrest.

Payne, a 6-foot, 240-pound fullback, was a part of an Iowa Central team that went 17-5 in two seasons, including a 10-1 mark in 2003. His freshman season at Iowa Central was capped off by a #10 national ranking and a perfect 10-0 regular season finish before falling to Harper College in the Graphic Edge Bowl. His hard-nosed approach to blocking allowed the Tritons to finish as the #1 rushing team in the nation. He earned all-conference, all-metro and all-state honors at Davenport West. His brother, O.J. Payne, played for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2001-03 and was a part of Iowa's Big Ten championship and Alamo and Orange Bowl appearances.

Rowan, a 6-foot, 165-pound placekicker, was an All-Cape Coast Conference First Team selection in 2004. He earned a spot on the North/South All-Star game roster and was an all-district honorable mention. He was named Special Teams Player of the Week six times last season and was also a three-year letterwinner in soccer at Melbourne. Rowan was successful on 12 field goal attempts over the last two seasons, and twice connnected from 45 yards out. He also consistently reached the end zone with his kickoffs and punted for a 38.0 average.

Speight, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive lineman, earned all-conference and All-Central Iowa Metro League honors as a senior. He achieved first team honors on the all-state team and an invitation to the Iowa Shrine Bowl game. Speight was an all-conference selection his junior season and was a three-year varsity letterwinner. He was also a two-year starter at tight end and lettered the past three years in track and field.

Thomas, a 6-foot-7, 280-pound defensive lineman, participated in football, track and field, and wrestling at Hinsdale South High School. He earned two varsity football letters with the Hornets and was part of a 13-1 playoff team in 2001. He competed in both the shot put and discus, was ranked fourth in the state as a wrestler and finished with a 14-2 record.

Walker, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound defensive lineman, was a three-year varsity starter at both tight end and defensive end for Glenbard East High School. After earning all-conference honors in 2003, he was a unanimous all-conference selection in 2004 at defensive end and was also named the league's defensive lineman of the year. He earned all-area honors from The Daily Herald and all-state recognition from both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. A 2003 state wrestling qualifier, he is currently ranked second in the state with a 25-2 record.

Zeller, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound offensive lineman, earned all-conference and all-area honors his senior season. He excelled as a center at Conant High School and is expected to play the same position as a Leatherneck. Zeller is a National Honor Society and Language Honor Society member. His sister, Erin, is the starting catcher on the Western Illinois softball team.