CEDAR FALLS – UNI football signed 16 new student-athletes for the 2022-23 season.
“The early period, number one, is always to take the high school football players. It’s the foundation of your program,” said head coach Mark Farley. “So it’s really to dive into your local, five-hour radius football players, because that has always been the corps of our football team. It’s your development group.”
The Panthers also looked at other needs of the team to help fill in with transfer students who have experience.
UNI signed 14 high school seniors and picked up two transfer students out of Iowa State and West Virginia universities.
Cordarrius Bailey (defensive end)
Iowa State University (Clarksdale, Mississippi) | 6-3 | 255 pounds
Bailey redshirted his freshman year at Iowa State University and played in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman, primarily on special teams. He notched three tackles in 2018. He sat out the 2019 season with an injury and saw limited action in 2020 and 2021. He earned Second Team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2020. Out of high school, he chose Iowa State over Louisville, Arizona and Mississippi State. He was a three-star recruit by Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN and Scout. He was rated as the 36th-best weakside defensive end and ninth-best player in Mississippi by Rivals. He is the son of Felicia and Columbus Palmer and was a liberal studies major at Iowa State.
Lamarr Box (corner)
East St. Louis High School (Illinois) | 6-0 | 170 pounds
Box notched 98 tackles in his senior year. He had 58 solo tackles and averaged seven tackles a game. He recorded a sack and two fumble recoveries. Box showed his versatility receiving a punt for a touchdown. He helped his team win a Class 6A Illinois State Championship in 2019 and was part of the runner-up team in 2021 under coach Darren Sunkett. His parents are Lamarr Box Sr. and Priscilla Box.
Rayshaun Dallas (ATH)
Southeast High School (Florida) | 6-3 | 215 pounds
Dallas transferred to Southeast High School in Bradenton, Florida, his senior year of high school. He finished the season with 50 tackles and 14 sacks. He recovered three fumbles. Dallas is a two-sport athlete, playing football and basketball. He averages 15 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. He was an All-Area selection and All-State nominee in football. He chose UNI as it was a good fit for his athletic ability. Prior to transferring, He was a two-year starter as a quarterback for Bayshore High School.
Jahsiah Galvan (defensive back)
West Liberty High School (Iowa) | 6-2 | 192 pounds
Galvan is Iowa’s class 2A defensive player of the year and returner of the year. He earned a spot on the Class 2A District 5 First Team and IPSWA Second Team all-State honors. He’s the Muscatine Journal player of the year. Galvan was highly recruited for his physical, athletic, hard-hitting and electric play. He is a ball hawk who loves contact and will be a huge addition for UNI. Galvan can play multiple positions on offense and defense with game-changing talent.
Benjamin Kuehnast (offensive tackle)
Humboldt High School (Iowa) | 6-7 | 275 pounds
Kuehnast was the district lineman of the year and earned class 3A First Team All-State honors. He was highly recruited for his long reach and athletic play. He has an attitude to finish. Kuehnast is a proven winner who comes from a hard-working background and has everything needed to become one of the next successful offensive tackles that UNI is known for producing year after year.
Dewuan Mack Jr. (defensive back)
Lee’s Summit North High School (Missouri) | 5-11 | 190 pounds
Mack is a two-time first team all-district and all-conference player. He finished his junior and senior years with 146 tackles. He reeled in seven interceptions and forced three fumbles. He chose the Panthers over Kansas, Miami (OH) and UT-Martin.
Jordan McClom (defensive back)
Armstrong High School (Minnesota) | 6-0 | 185 pounds
McClom earned all-state honors as a defensive back. He was a three-year varsity starter and named to the all-metro team two times. He also earned all-area honors and participated in the 2021 Minnesota All-Star Game. He was highly recruited as a ball-hawking safety. UNI is excited to add him to the backend.
Brady McCullough (wide receiver)
Ankeny High School (Iowa) | 6-5 | 220 pounds
McCullough led Class 5A in receiving yards. He owns the Ankeny High School single-season records for number of receptions, yards and touchdowns. He earned a spot on the Class 5A First Team All-State and Elite teams. He is a member of the National Honors Society and earned the Silver Cord Volunteer Award for 120 hours of community service. He is the son of Brea and the late Matt McCullough. His sister, Sara, plays on UNI’s women’s basketball team. They also have another sibling, Troy. He was also recruited by Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Northwestern, North Dakota State, Yale, South Dakota State and others.
Tae Shon McDaniels (defensive lineman)
City High School (Iowa) | 6-4 | 255 pounds
McDaniels was part of an Iowa City High team that played in the semifinals in the UNI-Dome in 2021. He was named the City High 2021 Dan McCarney Lineman of the Year award winner and earned Third Team All-State honors. He notched 35 tackles his senior year and had 14 tackles for a loss. He recorded five sacks. He forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. He’s a three-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball and throwing the shot and discus in track and field.
Keith Moko (defensive back)
Newton High School | 6-1 | 170 pounds
Moko earned a spot on the all-district team with an honorable mention. In 2020, Moko notched 17.5 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. He recovered one fumble and recorded an interception. He chose the Panthers over Indiana State, North Dakota and St. Thomas.
Gavin Proudfoot (offensive tackle)
Luther High School (Wisconsin) | 6-7 | 240 pounds
Proudfoot is a First Team All-Conference offensive lineman out of Onalaska, Wisconsin. He earned first team all-conference honors as a defensive end as well. Proudfoot has a long reach and is super athletic. He is a multi-sport athlete and has earned honors in basketball as well. He earned conference player of the year honors and First Team All-Area honors as a basketball player. He has the perfect frame and speed to play offensive tackle for UNI.
Tate Sander (defensive back)
Blemond-Klemme High School (Iowa) | 6-0 | 190 pounds
Sander has the perfect combination of speed and physicality to play at UNI. Sander is the younger brother of current UNI standout, Korby Sander. Tate Sander had 736 yards and 38.5 tackles in just six games as a senior. As a junior, he amassed 1,054 yards and earned First Team All-District honors. Sander runs the football with a purpose on offense and comes down hit from the safety position on defense.
Matthew Schecklman (quarterback)
Appleton North High School (Wisconsin) | 6-4 | 210 pounds
Schecklman was named the FVA Conference Player of the Year and the FVA Conference Returner of the Year. He earned All-Region honors and honorable mention on the All-State team as a quarterback. As a four-time varsity letter winner, he was a team captain his senior year. In his senior year alone, Scheckelman notched 1,565 yards in passing and had 19 touchdowns. He posted a 70.5% passing percentage and had 721 rushing yards of his own. He had 5,171 total career yards, with 4,349 yards coming from passing. He recorded 42 passing touchdowns and had a 50 touchdowns total in his career.
Tyler Schmitt (linebacker)
East Sac County High School (Iowa) | 6-4 | 210 pounds
Schmitt was selected to the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association Class 1A Third Team All-State Football as a linebacker. He’s a three-year starter. Schmitt earned all-district first team honors and was named the all-district defensive MVP. Schmitt also plays basketball and is a state-qualified sprinter on the track and field team.
Dalesean Staly (defensive back)
Blue Springs High School (Missouri) | 6-1 | 190 pounds
Staley earned first team all-district honors. He was second team all-conference. He finished his senior season with 72 tackles and added three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Devell Washington (wide receiver)
West Virginia University | 6-4 | 210 pounds
Washington is a transfer from West Virginia University, where he earned a spot on the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team. He redshirted his freshman year in 2020. In high school, he played wide receiver and free safety at Bay City Central High. In 2019, he was named to the all-Saginaw Valley League North second team. He secured a spot in the 2019 Xenith Senior All-Star Game. In three seasons, he totaled 74 receptions for 1,131 yards and notched 15 touchdowns. He was rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports. Ranked as the No. 61 wide receiver nationally by ESPN, No. 65 by Rivals and No. 95 by 247Sports. Out of high school, he held offers from Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue.
