February signing period 2016: Western leans on in-state connections for new additions

Head coach Joe Davis and his Western Illinois staff added 13 high school recruits, including 10 players from Illinois, to the program Wednesday. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)

By Barry Bottino

Western Illinois closed the 2025 season – the second for head coach Joe Davis — with three wins in the final month.

That on-field momentum, according to Davis, has paid plenty of dividends in recruiting.

“Going into our third year now, we’re really seeing the fruits of our labor on the road,” he said.

WIU is seeing the payoff on visits and through contacts with Illinois high schools.

“We make a point every year to make a connection with every single head coach in the state, whether that’s in person, in an email or a text or a call,” he said.

On Wednesday, Western added 13 high school players to their roster at the start of the NCAA’s February signing period. Ten of those additions are in-state players.

Three scholarship players were announced, including versatile defensive back Chris McBride, a three-year starter from Gurnee’s Warren Township High School, and linebacker Kye Weinzierl from Geneseo, who was the Western Big Six Conference’s Player of the Year.

Davis said nine of the 13 players his program added were selected for an all-state team.

The third scholarship player is Raef Puyear, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound offensive lineman from Oakville High School in St. Louis.

Eight of the 10 preferred walk-ons WIU added are from Illinois, including athletes from Chicago, Peoria, Mount Zion and Normal.

“Our staff has done a tremendous amount of work to rebuild the reputation and the image of this football program,” said Davis, who noted that prep coaches, prospective recruits and their families all have shared feedback on Western’s commitment to in-state talent. “Those are all positive comments that we don’t take lightly.”

WIU’s February Signing Day List

(Name, Position(s), Height, Weight, School, Hometown)  
Raef Puyer, OT, 6-4, 285, Oakville HS, St. Louis, Mo.
Chris McBride, CB, 6-1, 200, Warren Township HS, Gurnee, Ill.
Kye Weinzierl, LB, 6-1, 195, Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.

Preferred walk-ons
Luke Fierke, OL-DL, 6-4, 315, Fort Dodge HS, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Trevor Christman, OT, 6-7, 310, Parkview HS, Springfield, Mo.
Deandre Smith, LB, 6-1, 220, Morgan Park HS, Chicago
Makai Hill, WR, 6-2, 175, Peoria Manual HS, Peoria
Isaac Beenders, LB, 6-0, 205, Morton HS, Morton, Ill.
Sheko Gjokaj, WR, 5-10, 180, St. Charles East HS, St. Charles, Ill.
Maliq Givens-Smith, WR, 5-9, 170, Normal Community West HS, Normal, Ill.
Keller Stocks, QB, 6-3, 215, Mount Zion HS, Mount Zion, Ill.
Jaiden Blunt, S, 6-2, 170, Saint Rita HS, Chicago
Aiden Wild, LB-TE, 6-3, 220, Lena-Winslow HS, Lena, 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.

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