East St. Louis (IL) senior-to-be Rico Bond is one of the top high school wide receiver prospects in the St. Louis area this season. (Photo courtesy: 247 Sports)
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
ST. CHARLES, MO — The Lindenwood University football program announced on Monday that it had received commits from a pair of top athletes it had been recruiting for its 2024 class. Both players are two-way standouts that are expected to play wide receiver when they get to Lindenwood.
The two new Lindenwood Lions to be are Rico Bond, a wide receiver/defensive back from East St. Louis (IL), and Waylon DeGrave, a running back/linebacker from Monroe City (MO).
Bond has been one of the top performers on an East St. Louis team that has been ranked No. 1 in St. Louis area high school football for the last two years. Last season, the Flyers won the Illinois Class 6A state title after finishing as runner-ups in 2021.
This season, most expect the East St. Louis, which went 12-2 on its championship run last season, to contend for the title again, while also possibly earning a Top 25 national ranking as it did last season.
Bond caught 47 passes for 847 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He also registered four interceptions and returned one of those for a score as well.
It is expected that the 6-foot, 175-pounder will once again start for East St. Louis’ high-powered offense, but some believe he may not play defense this year, in order to concentrate solely on being the Flyers’ top receiver.
DeGrave was a second team All-State selection at running back for Monroe City last year. He led the Panthers to a 13-1 record and a trip to the Missouri Class 1 state semifinals.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder also played linebacker and will probably do so again this season. But when he gets to Lindenwood, it is expected that DeGrave will move to wide receiver.
Training camp for Lindenwood will begin in just over a week, with the season opener scheduled for Thursday, August 31, when the Lions will host Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Kickoff that night at Hunter Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
| 2023 Lindenwood Lions Football Schedule |
| Thu., August 31 — vs. Wisconsin-Stevens Point — 7 pm |
| Sat., September 9 — at Southeast Missouri State — 6 pm |
| Sat., September 16 — at Western Illinois — 6 pm |
| Sat., September 23 — at Illinois State — TBA |
| Sat., September 30 — vs. Austin Peay — 1 pm |
| Sat., October 7 — vs. Tennessee Tech — 6 pm |
| Sat., October 14 — at Charleston Southern — 3 pm |
| Sat., October 28 — at Tennessee State — TBA |
| Sat., November 4 — vs. Eastern Illinois — 2 pm |
| Sat., November 11 — vs. Bryant — 1 pm |
| All Lindenwood home games will be played at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium |