December signing period 2025: Redbirds’ recruiting haul features eight in-state players among 17-member class

Illinois State head coach Brock Spack and the Redbirds signed players from eight different Illinois high schools Wednesday as part of a 17-member recruiting class. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)

By Barry Bottino

Illinois State welcomed 17 new players into the program Wednesday on the first day of the December National Signing Day period.

For nearly half the class, the Redbirds proved to be quite familiar. Eight of the commits who signed Wednesday are from the state of Illinois.

“I think we did very well in the Chicagoland area and in the state of Illinois,” said Spack, whose staff signed players from eight different Illinois high schools. “We put a lot of time and effort into that. We start from our own state, work inside out and expand.”

The class includes eight players on offense and nine on defense. Eight different position groups are represented, led by four defensive linemen, three wide receivers and three defensive backs.

“We had a D-line emphasis,” he said. “We were looking for more defensive end type bodies. We’ve had a really good run of high school inside (D-line) players here the past couple signing periods, so we spent a little more time on length. That went really well for us.”

Spack said two of the in-state players, defensive linemen Josh Crandall of Oregon and Kevin Michaelsen of Chicago, would arrive on campus in January.

Among the wide receiver group is Jake Cestone from powerhouse Nazareth Academy, which won three consecutive state titles in his career. Cestone ranks fifth in IHSA history in career touchdown catches. As a senior, he had 49 receptions for 999 yards and 17 TDs.

Spack also noted that ISU has already looked at “a couple” of junior college quarterbacks and will “peruse the portal” for other options with the pending departure of senior Tommy Rittenhouse. He said adding one transfer quarterback is a likely scenario, either from the junior college or four-year school ranks.

The team also signed a dual-threat quarterback Wednesday in Detroit’s Andrew Knight II.

News and notes: Arizona prep running back Quentin Skillings, who scored 28 touchdowns in his final two prep seasons, grew up in Bloomington and has multiple relatives in Illinois, including Champaign and LaSalle-Peru, according to Spack. “He was really interested in us,” Spack said. “This is home to him. He’s very excited to come back here.” … Linebacker recruit Diesel McFadden from Chicago’s Taft High School, is the son of former Arkansas All-American and 10-year NFL running back Darren McFadden. He projects as a Jack outside linebacker in ISU’s system, according to Spack. … Along with quarterback, Spack said the team could seek a veteran offensive lineman, a pass rusher, a cornerback and potentially a wide receiver when the transfer portal opens Jan. 2. … Walk-on offensive lineman Zach Poole, at 6-6, 330 pounds, “has really good flexibility for a guy his size,” Spack said. Poole played in nearby Lincoln.

ISU’s December 2025 Signing Period List  

(Name, Position(s), Height, Weight, School, Hometown)  

High school recruits

Quentin Skillings, RB, 6-0, 195, Williams Field HS, Gilbert, Ariz.

Jake Cestone, WR, 6-2, 175, Nazareth Academy, Schaumburg, Ill.

Nick Ori, DB, 6-2, 210, Libertyville HS, Volo, Ill.

Will Strong, WR, 6-2, 190, Tippecanoe HS, Tipp City, Ohio

Santino Bernabei, 6-1, 185, Maine South HS, Park Ridge, Ill.

Devin Viola, DB, 6-0, 170, Mukwonago HS, Mukwonago, Wis.

Hudson Samolinski, DL, 6-3, 280, Winnecone HS, Winnecone, Wis.

Mezziahs McDaniel, OL, 6-4, 300, Brownsburg HS, Indianapolis

Owen Smith, DL, 6-5, 250, Big Foot HS, Walworth, Wis.

Chase Markowicz, WR, 6-2, 175, Lincoln-Way West HS, New Lenox, Ill.

Alex Wood, TE, 6-5, 240, Helias HS, Jefferson City, Mo.

Deisel McFadden, OLB, 6-1, 235, Taft High School, Chicago

Andrew Knight II, QB, 6-0, 170, Martin Luther King HS, Sterling Heights, Mich.

Draivyn Colvin, ILB, 6-3, 225, Staley HS, Kansas City, Mo.

Josh Crandall, DL, 6-4, 260, Oregon HS, Oregon, Ill.

Kevin Michaelsen, DL, 6-5, 240, St. Patrick HS, Chicago

Walk-on player

Zach Poole, OL, 6-6, 330, Lincoln Community HS, Lincoln, Ill.

Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.

Find us on social media!

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin 

Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin 

Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin 

Blue Sky: PSPigskin