The University of Central Missouri football team announced their class of incoming players for the 2018 season during an inaugural banquet at Player’s in Warrensburg last Thursday. The Mules are coming off their 11^th straight-winning season after last year’s 9-3 finish.

The class consists of 33 players and is highlighted by the offensive line and defensive back classes. Mules head coach Jim Svoboda spoke highly of this year’s class.

“This is a great signing class. I thought our coaches were very thorough in bringing a deep group of quality prospects to the table and we were fortunate to land a high percentage of them,” Svoboda said.

Out of Boys Town, Nebraska, running back Dashawn Bates ­– who Svoboda said is one of the fastest kids in the state ­­– was selected to play in the 2017 Shrine Bowl.

The offensive linemen are led by local product, Jake McCannon, from Crest Ridge High School. McCannon earned First Team All-Conference honors on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in 2017.

Henry Carranza, out of Olathe East High School earned First Team All-State and All-Class 6A on the offensive line in 2017.

On the defensive side, the Mules landed solid recruits to fill out their defensive back core. Azaiah Bello from Blue Springs High School was named to Second Team All-State in 2017 after racking up 71 tackles, seven interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Jordan Pringle, a defensive back from Bolingbrook, Illinois, was a three-year starter at Bolingbrook High School and made the playoffs all three seasons. He earned First Team All-Conference honors throughout his high school career.

The Mules also picked up linebacker Dominic Raybourn and his brother John Ray

bourn, who is a quarterback from Staley High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Dominic received All-Conference and District honors in 2016 and 2017, making 137 tackles over his career. John was named First Team All-State, Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year and Simone Award finalist during his senior campaign. Both brothers were integral in Staley’s state championship victory in 2017.

Mules recruiting coordinator, Kyle Westphal, believes John Raybourn is one of the most exciting players to sign with them this year.

“He’s the Class 5A Player of the Year and led his team on a game-winning touchdown drive in the final minute of the State Championship game,” Westphal said.

Westphal is in his seventh season at UCM, and 13^th overall, believes this class is among the best he’s seen.

“As far as what we needed going into the recruiting season and the quality individuals we got, we feel like this is the best one we’ve gotten since I’ve been here,” Westphal said.

Mules offensive coordinator, John McMenamin, said expectations for next season remain high.

“We got a lot of guys coming back and we keep raising the bar so hopefully that will keep inspiring our players,” McMenamin said. “Our goal is always to win the conference and we won’t accept less than that.”

Mules football won’t start the 2018 season until September, but this signing class gives fans a lot to look forward to. The full list of recruits that the Mules signed can be found on the UCM Athletics site.