MACOMB, Ill - The Western Illinois football team added nine recruits to their 2025 Class on National Signing Day. The team adds depth on both sides of the ball adding two linemen, a tight end, wide receiver, and quarterback on offense while adding multiple linebackers, one defensive back, and one linemen on the defensive side.
Sage Yazzie is a 6'5 215 pound tight end out of Waukee, Iowa where he was an All-State Honorable mention selection his Senior year of high school. His Mom, Dad, and Uncle all played basketball at Air Force. Yazzie chose WIU because of the coaches and environment that WIU has.
Cason Carswell is from Mason, Michigan where he is a three star quarterback listed by 247sports.com. He is ranked as the No.155 QB in the nation and No.55 player in the state of Michigan by 247sports.com. The 6'3 185 pound quarterback had 100 career touchdowns and was named to the All-State team three years in a row. Carswell was a second team All-State selection his sophomore year of high school and he followed that with being named to the All-State First Team his Junior year. He reached his 100th career touchdown his Senior year where he was named to the All-State team once again. Cason also played basketball in high school in which he was named to the All- Conference team and was a four-time Academic All-state selection.
On the offensive line, Tyler Sulsberger and Ryan McCombs add size. Sulsberger, a 6'7 295 pound lineman from Hornick, Iowa, was a first-team all district selection his Junior and Senior year of high school and during his Senior year, Tyler was also a Second-Team All-State selection.
McCombs is a 6'5 280 pound lineman from Jacksonville, Illinois, where he won multiple awards. As a Sophomore, he was named to the All Conference Honorable Mention and followed that with being named to the All-Conference First Team and Academic All-Conference Team his Junior year. He ended his high school career with being named to the Illinois Class 5A All-State First Team,All Conference First Team, and Academic All Conference Team.
Rounding out the offense is 6'5 175 pound wide receiver Morgan Quiri from Tuscon, Arizona. Quiri was named a First-Team All-Region WR both his Junior and Senior years of high school. As part of the 12th Ranked team in the state of Arizona according to MaxPreps, he recorded over 750 receiving yards his senior year. He also played club football with the Tuscon Turf for 12 years in which he was a part of the number one ranked 7v7 team multiple times. Morgan also ran track in high school where he placed top three in the state in multiple events including the 400 meter dash, long jump, and 4x4. He chose WIU because of the coaching staff and how he felt they could make him not only a better football player, but also a better person off the field.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cameron Nickel and Joe Edwards are both linebackers who both had family members play at the NFL level. Nickel comes from Metamora, Illinois where he was a Second-Team All Conference selection his Junior and Senior year of high school. The 6'2 218 pound linebacker had 72 tackles, five sacks, one interception and one touchdown his Junior year. He would follow that with an impressive 120 tackles, nine sacks, and 13 tackles for loss his Senior year while also being on the Honor Roll all four years of high school. His cousin, Elbie, played Tight End at Cincinnati and went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Edwards is a 6'2 215 pound linebacker coming from Downers Grove, Illinois where he was an All-Conference selection, Red Grange All-County selection, and a team captain his senior year. During his Junior year, he was the Defensive Lineman of the year. Joe chose WIU because of the coaches making him feel welcomed. His brother, David, played for the Buffalo Bills, Las Angeles Rams, and Wisconsin Badgers as an offensive lineman.
Aa'Zoriyon Bonner is a 6'3 180 pound defensive back from Sandusky, Ohio in which he was a back-to-back All-District and All-Conference selection his Sophomore and Junior years of high school. During his Sophomore year, Bonner had the most tackles in a game for his team and led the team in tackles his Junior year. In his senior year, he recorded 70 tackles, 18 PBU'S, 2 INT's, 2 FF, and 1 FR.
On the defensive line, 6'4 225 pound Charlie Stec is a three-star defensive lineman listed by 247sports.com. Stec is also ranked as the No. 194 Edge in the nation and No. 78 player in the state of Illinois by 247sports.com. In his senior year he had 13 sacks and a pick 6. Charlie comes from Orland Park, Illinois where he attended Brother Rice High School. Stec chose WIU because it was close to home and he loved the coaching staff and players.
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