MACOMB -- As the opening day of fall camp nears, Western Illinois University football coach Joe Davis announced new additions to the roster who were added via the transfer portal earlier in the spring and summer.

The Leathernecks beefed up their numbers, adding 14 new players to the squad. The additions come on both sides of the ball and special teams as the Leathernecks added three defensive backs, three wide receivers, one offensive lineman, one long snapper, two linebackers, two defensive linemen, a running back, and a tight end.

"Our coaches and support staff did a tremendous job improving our program during this cycle," Western Illinois football coach Joe Davis said. "This group of young men hails from P4, G5, D2 and D3 schools.  We targeted young men of character who wanted to be on the front end of something very special.  We're excited to welcome these student-athletes to campus as our team begins the summer access portion of our calendar."

Western Illinois opens fall camp later this summer with the first day of practice. The Leathernecks open the season on August 31 at Northern Illinois.

More on the newest additions:

Elijah Aragon | 6-1 | 185 | So. | Wide Receiver | Oxnard, Calif. | Oxnard HS | Ventura College

In 12 games played at Ventura College in 2023, Aragon had 62 receptions for 753 yards (12.1 yards per catch/62.8 yards per game) and nine touchdowns. He had a season-high 14 receptions and two touchdowns vs. Riverside and a season-high 184 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown reception against Cerritos. In the Cerritos game, he had nine receptions.
 

Mike Barber III | 6-3 | 175 | Sr. | Defensive Back | Zephyrhills, Fla. | Zephyrhills HS | Luther / Loras

Barber comes to the Leatherneck program after two seasons at Loras College and a year at Luther. In his two seasons at Loras, Barber played in 16 games finishing with 58 tackles, including four tackles for loss.

At Luther, Barber played in seven games, finishing the year with 22 tackles (16 solo, six assists).

In high school, Barber was a three-year letter winner at Zephyrhills High School and named a Pasco County All-Star.

Keion Battle | 6-1 | 200 | Jr. | Wide Receiver | Naperville, Ill. | Oswego East HS | Northern Illinois / Illinois

Keion Battle joins Western Illinois after three seasons at Illinois. He played in 12 games and earned Academic All-Big Ten the last two years.

During his freshman year, Battle played for Northern Illinois, seeing action in two games.

In high school, Battle was an All-Southwest Prairie League player three times.

Ben Bergfeld | 5-8 | 241 | So. | Long Snapper | Davenport, Iowa | Davenport North HS | Ohio

Bergfeld comes to Western Illinois from Ohio as a long snapper. Bergfeld redshirted in 2022 but did not see action last season.

Bergfeld played high school football at Davenport North High in Iowa, ranking among the top long snappers in the country his senior season.

Dawson Chapman | 6-2 | 225 | Jr. | Linebacker | Tooele, Utah | Stansbury HS | New Mexico Military Institute

In two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, Chapman played in 18 games, compiling 59 tackles (30 solo, 29 assists).

Edward Clark | 6-0 | 175 | R.-Fr. | Defensive Back | University Park, Ill. | Crete-Monee HS | Minnesota State

Edward Clark joins Western Illinois after running track and Minnesota State last spring. Before that, Clark was a First Team All-Conference defensive back at Crete-Monee High School.

Dylan Drake | 6-7 | 250 | Jr. | Tight End | McKinney, Texas | Prestonwood Academy | Heidelberg

In two seasons at Heidelberg University, Drake played in 10 games. In 2023, he had 13 catches for 110 yards (8.5 yards per catch) and a touchdown…During the 2022 season, Drake had one catch…The McKinney, Texas native has also recorded a pair of kick blocks in his collegiate career.

Tyler Jordan | 6-1 | 225 | Gr. | Running Back | Macon, Ga. | Stratford Academy | Georgia Southern / Georgia Military Academy

Last season, Jordan played in four games, earning a redshirt. He made the Honor Roll in the fall and spring.

In 2022-23, he played in all 13 games and was on the field for 110 total snaps (22 offense, 88 special teams). He had seven carries for 7 yards and two touchdowns.

Lee-John Majerus | 6-4 | 195 | Jr. | Defensive Back | Hayward, Calif. | Alameda HS | Chabot College

Majerus joins Western Illinois after two seasons at Chabot College. At Chabot, Majerus had 27 tackles in 11 games. He also had an interception and two pass breakups.

Diego Neri | 6-2 | 235 | Sr. | Linebacker | Cincinnati, Ohio | Cincinnati Northwest | Bowling Green

In three seasons at Bowling Green, Neri appeared in 38 games. Last year he saw most of his time on special teams. He made three stops against Akron. He also notched a tackle against Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl.

In 2022, he made 11 tackles on the season with a season-high four stops at Mississippi State.

In 2021, he made his collegiate debut and first career start at Tennessee, registering three tackles. He had four stops, including his first career sack against Murray State...Tallied a career-high six tackles at Kent State.

In high school, Neri earned four varsity letters at Cincinnati Northwest High School under coach Damien Johnson. He was a three-time first-team all-conference linebacker and also named second-team all-conference as a freshman as well as being named Defensive Player of the Year in the Southwest Ohio Conference. 

Jalen Riven | 6-3 | 270 | Jr. | Defensive Lineman | Toledo, Ohio | Central Catholic HS | Toledo

In three seasons at Toledo, Riven appeared in seven games. During his first year as a Rocket, he used as a redshirt season.

In high school, he was a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He was a four-year letter winner at Central Catholic High School and a three-time TRAC champion.

Justin Robinson | 6-2 | 195 | So. | Wide Receiver | Raleigh, N.C. | Garner HS | St. Augustine University

Before coming to Western Illinois, Robinson was a wide receiver at St. Augustine University. Robinson also played wide receiver in high school in Raleigh, North Carolina, compiling 10 catches for 131 yards.

Cole Smith | 6-5 | 330 | R.-Jr. | Offensive Lineman | Simi Valley, Calif. | Grace Brethren HS | College of the Canyons / Florida International

Smith joins the offensive line after a redshirt season at Florida International. Before his time at FIU, Smith started at College of the Canyons in California for two seasons.

Darryl Taylor | 6-5 | 225 | R.-Jr. | Defensive Lineman | Inglewood, Calif.  | Inglewood HS | Lenoir-Rhyne

In two seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne, Taylor played in 18 games, recording 43 tackles (18 solo, 25 assists) with 10.5 tackles for loss (-39 yards) and 4.5 sacks (-24 yards)