The injury-riddled Lindenwood Lions went 3-7 last season. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

ST. CHARLES, MO — The Lindenwood University football team announced its 2024 signing class. The Lions added 17 new players to the program, nine on offense and eight on defense, with several local players featured in the signing class.

“This is always one of the most exciting days of the year,” Lindenwood head coach Jed Stugart said. “We feel like we addressed the needs of our team to take the next step in our program and especially excited we started in our back yard signing almost half our class in and around the Lou.”

2024 Lindenwood Signees

Robert “Pops” Battle
Robert “Pops” Battle is a 2 star (Rivals) quarterback from East St. Louis HS. Pops is a 4 year starter for the Illinois powerhouse program. He led the Flyers to 3 state championship appearances and he is the all-time leading passer in both yards and touchdowns in ESTL program history. Pops is the #3 all-time in his state of Illinois with over 10,000 yards of offensive production.

Ty Cozad
Ty Cozad is a 2 star (247Sports) running back from Muscatine HS. Cozad is a 3 year starter for the Muskies and in his Junior season he rushed for 2079 yards, 20 touchdowns, and averaged 8.8 yards per carry. He also made First Team All State, District and Conference while maintaining a 4/0 GPA.

Quinn Brown
Quinn Brown is a 2 star (247Sports) offensive lineman from Holt HS. Throughout his high school career, Brown was awarded 2x All State, 3x All District, 3x All Conference, and 3x Academic All Conference. He is a team captain and led the Indians to the 2nd Round of the Class 4 Missouri High School Playoffs this past season.

Andrew Swingle
Drew Swingle is a 2 star (247Sports) offensive lineman from Eureka HS in Missouri. Currently ranked as the #12 offensive lineman in the state (six star football), Swingle was selected 1st Team All Conference and led the Wildcats to the Quarterfinals of the Class 5 Missouri High School playoffs this past season.

Rico Bond
Rico Bond is a 2 star (247Sports) wide receiver from East St. Louis HS. Bond was a top target for Robert “Pops” Battle and together they led the Flyers to multiple state championship appearances. In just 4 playoffs games this past season, Bond tallied 300 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Waylon DeGrave
Waylon DeGrave is a 3 star (six star football) wide receiver from Monroe City HS. DeGrave has earned All-State Honors in 3 consecutive seasons at multiple positions and is also a five-time All-State selection in track. Over 3 seasons he tallied 1,414 receiving yards, 1,511 rushing yards, and 35 total touchdowns. 

Shaun Campbell
Shaun Campbell is a 2 star (247Sports) wide receiver from Kickapoo HS. Campbell is a big-time playmaker and was selected as 1st Team All Conference as both a Wide Receiver and Kick Returner this past season. He was the number 1 receiver for the Chiefs and helped lead the team to a 9-2 regular season record this past year.

Eli Masterson
Eli Masterson is 6 ‘2, 200 lb. wide receiver from Apollo HS. He played all over the field for the Eagles playing on both sides of the ball and on special teams. As a receiver, he led the team with 36 receptions for 653 yards and 6 touchdowns this past year.

Mason Burke
Mason Burke is a 2 star (247Sports) defensive lineman from Holt HS. He was selected as the 2023 GAC Player of the Year as he tallied 85 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and 2 defensive touchdowns. He is currently ranked as the #4 defensive lineman in Missouri and gets to play close to home as he signs with the Lions.

Daniel Simon
Daniel Simon is a 2 star (247Sports) defensive lineman from Winneconne HS in Wisconsin. The 6’5 Simon was a dominant force on the edge and led the Wolves to the 2nd Round of the Division 4 Wisconsin High School Playoffs this past season.

Demetrius Jones
Demetrius Jones is a 3 star (247Sports) defensive lineman from Lutheran North HS. In his Junior Season he was selected as the Metro League Defensive Player of the Year along with 1st Team All-State and 1st Team All-Metro. He finished the 2022 season with 94 tackles and 15 sacks. 

Christopher Abihudi
Christopher Abihudi is a powerful defensive tackle from Hampshire HS. This past season he was selected to the FVC All Conference team and contributed on both sides of the ball as he played offensive line as well for the Whip-Purs.

Owen Thomas
Owen Thomas is a 6’3 linebacker from Lewis Central HS. He comes from a powerhouse program in Iowa and helped lead the Titans to three straight State Championship appearances, winning two of them. Thomas is a First team All-State selection and 2x First Team All-District. 

Mason Van Der Brink
Mason Van Der Brink is a 3 star (SixStarFootball) linebacker from Southeast Polk HS. He comes from a dominant program and helped lead the Rams to 3 straight Class 5A Iowa State Championship victories. 

Sam Owens
Sam Owens is a 6’1 defensive back from MacArthur HS. He is a dominant playmaker on defense but contributed on both sides of the ball for the Generals as he played wide receiver as well. 

Angelo Petrides
Angelo Petrides is a 3 star (Rivals) linebacker from Cherry Creek HS in Colorado. He comes from a powerhouse program and helped lead the Bruins to 3 straight Class 5A CHSSA State Championship appearances, winning 2 of them.

Aiden Taylor
Aiden is a 2 star (247) offensive lineman from East St. Louis HS. He is coming to Lindenwood with fellow high school teammates Robert “Pops” Battle & Rico Bond.

Lindenwood sports information contributed to this story.