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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - University of Northern Iowa head football coach Mark Farley announced the addition of 21 student-athletes on National Letter-of-Intent signing day.

The Panthers coming off their eighth top-25 finish in nine years signed 10 players from the state of Iowa. In fact, UNI signed 20 of its 21 players within a five-hour radius of the Cedar Falls campus.

The class includes three junior college All-Americans and three Elite all-state picks from the state of Iowa.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE
Ryan Bingaman, 6-5, 248 lbs., DL, Overland Park, Kan. (Shawnee Mission South HS)
Earned all-conference honors his senior year as a defensive lineman and an offensive lineman ... tallied all-conference status as a junior on the offensive line ... also competed in track and was a state qualifier as a junior in the discus ... high school coach: Brandon Claypool ... born May 16, 1992, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa ... son of Dan and Molly Bingaman ... he has twin sisters (Clare and Nora) and a brother (Ned) ... completed a signature program in high school for engineering ... is an Eagle Scout.

Mohammed Kromah, 6-3, 300 lbs., DT, Blaine, Minn. (Totino Grace HS)
First-team all-area pick ... three-time all-conference honoree ... team captain ... tallied seven sacks and 30 tackles-for-loss as a senior ... led Totino Grace to two state championships and three conference titles ... earned letters in football and basketball ... high school coach: Jeff Ferguson.

Ryan Mack, 6-4, 230 lbs., DE, St. Louis, Mo. (Webster Groves HS)
Finished senior season with a perfect 13-0 record and the 2009 Missouri Class 5A state championship ... earned second-team all-state honors at defensive end ... first-team all-Suburban South pick at defensive end ... second-team all-conference pick as a tight end ... three-year starter and four-year letterwinner ... made the Golden Horn all-metro team ... recipient of the 2009 Ray Moss Award given to the Outstanding Student/Athlete for performance in the classroom and on the field ... finished his senior season with two TD receptions, six sacks and eight tackles-for-loss... 56 total tackles as a senior ... earned letters in basketball (2), track (2) and wrestling (1) ... high school coach Cliff Ice... son of Tracey and Sabrina Mack ... one sibling (Cory) ... his father, Tracey, won Webster Grove's first state championship title in football in 1979... Ryan Mack won the most recent title 30 years later in 2009... Cory is also a football player looking to win a state title for Webster Groves and a third for the Mack family.

Jack Rummells, 6-5, 250 lbs., DL, West Branch, Iowa (West Branch HS)
Earned first-team Class 1A all-state honors from the Des Moines Register and Iowa Newspaper Association ... first-team all-district honoree ... district Defensive Player of the Year ... all-area offensive MVP runner-up ... 2010 Shrine Bowl All-Star game invitee ... first-team all-state as a junior from the Iowa Newspaper Association ... second-team all-state as a junior from the Des Moines Register ... member of National Honor Society ... born June 7, 1992 ... son of Larry and Susan Rummells.

Xavier Williams, 6-4, 294 lbs., DT, Grandview, Mo. (Grandview HS)
First-team all-conference pick ... named to the Suburban Mid-Six team in 2009 ... first-team all-metro status ... team captain for head coach Ron Freeman and the Grandview Bulldogs ... three-year starter on the wrestling team ... two-time state qualifier ... currently has a record of 22-3 on the wrestling mat ... born Jan. 18, 1992 ... son of Tom and Ursula Copeland ... has a sister, Kristen, and a brother, Rodrick (who plays football for the Division II national champion Northwest Missouri State Bearcats) ... plans to major in construction management.

LINEBACKERS
Max Busher, 6-1, 220 lbs., LB, Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount HS)
Two-time honorable mention all-state pick at Rosemount High School ... three-time all-Lake Conference honoree ... two-time second-team all-Metro player ... named team's MVP as a senior ... served as team captain in 2008 and 2009 ... led the team to the conference title and state semifinals in 2008 ... academic all-state in 2009 ... leading tackler on the team as a junior and a senior ... 287 career tackles ... 33 career tackles-for-loss ... earned letters in football (3), wrestling (3) and track (3) ... member of National Honor Society ... honor roll student ... holds a 3.92 grade point average ... high school coach: Jeff Erdmann ... born Dec. 25, 1991, in Rockford, Ill. ... son of Bill and Lori Busher ... has a sister, Natalie ... plans to major in business.

Chad Gilson, 6-0, 217 lbs., LB, Urbandale, Iowa (Urbandale HS)
All-State Elite selection as a senior ... CIML defensive player of the year in 2009 ... first-team all-CIML ... 2010 Shrine Bowl All-Star game invitee ... helped lead Urbandale HS to the state playoffs for the first time since 1999 ... served as team captain ... voted as team's defensive MVP as a junior and as a senior ... four-year letterwinner in track ... Drake Relays and State qualifier in discus ... high school coach: Sam Anderson ... born April 10, 1992, in Urbandale, Iowa ... son of Kirby and Vicki Gilson ... has three siblings (Joel, Courtney and Nicole) ... brother, Joel, played for the Panthers from 2006-2009.

OFFENSE

RUNNING BACKS
Andre' Dawson, 6-2, 210 lbs., RB, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (C.R. Washington HS)
No. 1 running back prospect in the state of Iowa ... All-State Elite player after leading the state in rushing (2,212 yards) as a senior at Cedar Rapids Washington High School ... Class 4A first-team all-state pick as a senior ... Class 4A second-team all-state honoree as a junior ... Iowa Newspaper Association first-team all-state selection in 2009 ... rushed for 2,212 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior ... rushed for 1,485 yards and 27 TDs as a junior ... netted 1,387 rushing yards and 13 TDs as a sophomore ... holds six school records: points in a season (170), points in a career (398), TDs in a season (28), TDs in a career (64), rushing yards in a season (2,212), rushing yards in a career (5,084) ... team captain in 2009 ... 2008 team offensive MVP and 2009 team MVP ... relative of former Michigan wide receiver Adrian Arrington.

Wilmot Wellington, 5-10, 205 lbs., RB/ATH, Fairfield, Iowa (Fairfield HS/Iowa Central CC)
First-team all-state Elite player in high school ... first-team all-conference pick as a prep ... team captain ... voted team MVP his senior year for head coach Mike Schenck ... 100-meter state champion in high school ... a two-year starter at Iowa Central for head coach Kevin Twait ... honorable mention All-American and served as team captain ... also earned All-America honors in track at Iowa Central.

QUARTERBACKS
Jared Lanpher, 6-1, 190 lbs., QB, Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS)
Earned all-state honors after guiding Blue Springs High School to the 2009 Class 6A state championship game with a 12-1 record ... selected to play in the MO-KAN All-Star Game ... all-conference and all-area selection ... three-year starter at quarterback .. passed for 5,025 yards, 52 TDs with a 60.2 completion percentage and a 142.7 QB rating ... finished prep career with a 29-6 record and reached the state playoffs all three years he was the starter ... involved in Student Senate for four years ... honor roll student ... member of the Senior Mentor Program ... also played basketball and baseball in high school ... born July 2, 1991, in Independence, Mo. ... son of April and David Lanpher ... older brother, Ryan, plays baseball at Peru State (Neb.) ... plans to major in mathematics.

Will Roth, 6-6, 215 lbs., QB, Marion, Iowa (Linn-Mar HS)
First-team all-conference MVC QB ... first-team all-Metro pick ... IowaPreps.com second-team all-state QB ... had 3,056 career passing yards and 18 TDs ... led the Lions to a single-game record 626 total yards of offense ... basketball team finished second in the state as a junior ... born March 14, 1992 ... son of Bill and Judy Roth.

WIDE RECEIVER
David Johnson, 6-3, 200 lbs., WR, Clinton, Iowa (Clinton HS)
Earned first-team Class 4A all-state honors from the Des Moines Register and Iowa Newspaper Association ... first-team MAC all-conference as a running back and defensive back ... led Clinton to an 11-1 record senior year ... 2009 Outstanding Offensive Player for Clinton HS ... accounted for school record 42 touchdowns as a senior ... Clinton HS all-time leader in career receptions, career receiving yards, career and single-season total offense and single game record for touchdowns (6) ... 2010 Shrine Bowl All-Star game invitee ... two-time Drake and state qualifier in track ... second-place finish in 4x200 and 4x400 relays at the Drake Relays ... WQAD Channel 8 two-time winner of the Player of the Week Award ... second-team all-conference in basketball as a junior ... has maintained over a 3.0 GPA throughout high school ... born Dec. 16, 1991 ... son of Regina Johnson.

Brett LeMaster, 6-2, 175 lbs., WR, Wichita, Kan. (Wichita Collegiate HS)
A member of the Wichita Eagle and Capital Journal's Top-22 team ... selected to the Class 3A all-state squad ... all-metro pick in the Wichita area ... selected to take part in the Kansas Shrine Bowl ... credited with 68 receptions for 1,386 yards and 27 TDs as a senior ... had six games of 100-plus receiving yards ... tallied seven interceptions ... helped his prep squad to the 3A state championship with a 14-0 record as a senior ... honor roll student ... lettered in three sports - football, basketball and golf ... high school coach: Bill Messamore ... born Aug. 13, 1991 ... son of Larry and Christie LeMaster.

Chad Owens, 5-11, 175 lbs., WR, Urbandale, Iowa (Waukee HS)
Second-team all-state quarterback selection by Des Moines Register and Iowa Newspaper Association ... first-team all-CIML ... team captain in 2009 ... rushed for 1,635 yards and 24 TDs ... passed for 1,703 yards and 14 TDs as a senior ... set school record for passing yards in a game (395) ... rushed for 220 yards and 5 TDs in one quarter ... all-conference WR/QB as a junior with 1,151 all-purpose yards and 7 TDs ... 2008 all-state Elite honoree in track ... two-year starter in basketball ... honor roll student ... high school coach: Scott Carlson ... son of Scott and Darlene Owens ... father, Scott, played football at UNI from 1982-85.

TIGHT END
Brian Peters, 6-4, 240 lbs., TE, Waukee, Iowa (Waukee HS)
Unanimous first-team all-CIML tight end as a senior ... posted 19 catches for 262 yards and two TDs as a senior ... selected as a nominee for the top student-athlete in Class 4A by the College Football Hall of Fame ... earned second-team all-CIML status as a junior ... lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track ... son of Dave and Cathy Peters.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Spencer Hicks, 6-6, 295 lbs., OL, Long Grove, Iowa (Central DeWitt HS)
Earned first-team Class 3A all-state honors from the Des Moines Register ... third-team all-state honors from the Iowa Newspaper Association ... first-team All-Eastern Iowa ... first-team all-area and first-team all-district performer as a senior ... 2010 Shrine Bowl All-Star game invitee ... born Jan. 16, 1992 ... son of Nancy and Allen Phelps and Jimmey Hicks.

Brian Palangi, 6-5, 301 lbs., OL, Nahant, Mass. (Swampscott HS/Northeastern Univ.)
Played in 11 games and made six starts at center for Northeastern University in 2009 for head coach Rocky Hager ... redshirted in 2008 ... three-year starter at Swampscott High School in Massachusetts ... named to Boston Globe and Boston Herald all-scholastic teams in 2007 ... two-time all-conference honoree in 2006 and 2007 ... selected to the Massachsuetts All-State Super 26 team ... played in the 2008 Shriner's Football Classic All-Star game ... captain his senior year ... led his team to the Division 3 Super Bowl in 2007 with a record of 12-1 ... born Dec. 12, 1989 ... son of Richard and Maureen Palangi ... has a sister, Ashley ... majoring in criminology.

Ben Ryder, 6-8, 270 lbs., OL, Ottumwa, Iowa (Ottumwa HS)
Earned first-team Class 4A all-state honors from the Des Moines Register ... first-team all-CIML Metro ... first-team all-district ... won the Lineman of the Year, Bulldog Player of the Year and Team MVP for Ottumwa High School as a senior ... 2010 Shrine Bowl All-Star game invitee ... second-team all-state baseball pitcher as a junior ... first-team all-conference pitcher as a junior ... first-team all-district as a junior ... born Nov. 20, 1991 ... son of Wes and Michelle Ryder.

PLACEKICKER
Mike Kusnierz, 6-0, 220 lbs., PK, Combined Locks, Wis. (Rochester Comm. & Tech. Coll.)
First-team all-NJCAA All-America pick in 2009 ... first-team all-conference honoree in 2008 and 2009 ... second-team all-NJCAA All-America selection in 2008 ... two-time first-team all-region player ... made 21 of 26 FGs as a freshman with a long of 42 yards ... drilled 18 of 26 FGs as a sophomore with a long of 48 ... made 64 of 67 extra points in his two years at Rochester Community and Technical College ... broke the school record for career field goals (39) and season field goals (21) ... tied school record for FGs in a game (4) ... in 2008, led the nation in points per game ... holds a 3.3 GPA ... junior college coach: Brad LaPlante ... born Feb. 15, 1990 ... son of Gary and Sue Kusnierz.

ATHLETES
Tirrell Rennie, 6-0, 190 lbs., ATH, North Lauderdale, Fla. (Coconut Creek HS/Ellsworth CC)
Two-time All-America pick at Ellsworth Community College ... passed for 2,863 yards and 23 TDs, while rushing for 1,025 yards and 10 TDs as a senior ... broke school record for total offense in one game with 557 total yards (460 passing and 97 rushing) ... set the single-season total offense record with 3,888 yards ... accounted for 73 touchdowns and over 7,300 yards of total offense while setting 13 school records in a two-year span ... played quarterback as a senior at Coconut Creek High School in Florida ... broke his prep school's record for total offense in a single game with 330 passing yards and 155 rushing yards ... led Coconut Creek to a 6-4 record as a senior.

Kevin Vereen Jr., 6-3, 205 lbs., ATH, Waynesville, Mo. (Waynesville HS)
Lettered on the 2007 state championship team at Waynesville High School as a sophomore, played cornerback and special teams ... as a junior, started at quarterback and cornerback ... threw for more than 1,500 yards with 14 TDs ... he also rushed for 546 yards and 11 TDs ...first-team all-district and honorable mention all-conference as a junior ... 2009 team captain ... first-team all-conference quarterback ... first-team all-district pick ... second-team all-state honoree as an athlete ... completed 111 of 193 passes for 1,445 yards and 12 TDs as a senior ... rushed 120 times for 991 yards and 12 TDs to break school record for most yards rushing by a quarterback ... team MVP ... all-state in track and field in the 4x400 meter relay ... two-year varsity letterwinner in basketball ... all-district pick in basketball averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds per game ... high school coach: Rick Vernon ... son of Kevin and Lisa Vereen... one sibling (Kirkland) ... a native of Fayetteville, N.C. ... high school teammate of current UNI Panthers L.J. Fort and B.J. Ray.


2010 UNI Football Signing Class
Ryan Bingaman, 6-5, 248 lbs., DL, Overland Park, Kan. (Shawnee Mission South HS)
Max Busher, 6-1, 220 lbs., LB, Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount HS)
Andre' Dawson, 6-2, 210 lbs., RB, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (C.R. Washington HS)
Chad Gilson, 6-0, 217 lbs., LB, Urbandale, Iowa (Urbandale HS)
Spencer Hicks, 6-6, 295 lbs., OL, Long Grove, Iowa (Central DeWitt HS)
David Johnson, 6-3, 200 lbs., WR, Clinton, Iowa (Clinton HS)
Mohammed Kromah, 6-3, 300 lbs., DT, Blaine, Minn. (Totino Grace HS)
Mike Kusnierz, 6-0, 220 lbs., PK, Combined Locks, Wis. (Rochester Comm. & Tech. Coll.)
Jared Lanpher, 6-1, 190 lbs., QB, Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS)
Brett LeMaster, 6-2, 175 lbs., WR, Wichita, Kan. (Wichita Collegiate HS)
Ryan Mack, 6-4, 230 lbs., DE, St. Louis, Mo. (Webster Groves HS)
Chad Owens, 5-11, 175 lbs., WR, Urbandale, Iowa (Waukee HS)
Brian Palangi, 6-5, 301 lbs., OL, Nahant, Mass. (Swampscott HS/Northeastern Univ.)
Brian Peters, 6-4, 240 lbs., TE, Waukee, Iowa (Waukee HS)
Tirrell Rennie, 6-0, 190 lbs., ATH, North Lauderdale, Fla. (Coconut Creek HS/Ellsworth CC)
Will Roth, 6-6, 215 lbs., QB, Marion, Iowa (Linn-Mar HS)
Jack Rummells, 6-5, 250 lbs., DL, West Branch, Iowa (West Branch HS)
Ben Ryder, 6-8, 270 lbs., OL, Ottumwa, Iowa (Ottumwa HS)
Kevin Vereen Jr., 6-3, 205 lbs., ATH, Waynesville, Mo. (Waynesville HS)
Wilmot Wellington, 5-10, 205 lbs., RB/ATH, Fairfield, Iowa (Fairfield HS/Iowa Central CC)
Xavier Williams, 6-4, 294 lbs., DT, Grandview, Mo. (Grandview HS)