The “storm of the century” could not keep ISU football from signing 16 recruits on National Signing Day Wednesday morning, despite a blizzard producing over 12 inches of snow in the Bloomington-Normal area.

“Our goal is to continue to broaden our recruiting base each year and improve each class from the previous one, and I think we showed that with this group,” ISU head coach Brock Spack said.  “Our last two classes have been very good and several of those players have made immediate contributions to the team on the field and I expect several of this year’s signees to do the same.”

This year’s group includes 14 high school seniors and two junior college transfers who will be grouped with four previous transfers to give the Redbirds 20 new players for the 2011 ISU season.

“We are continuing to target the best players in the state of Illinois, but we are also widening our scope around the country,” Spack said. “Overall, I believe we have succeeded with this class, but we won’t know until we get them on the field in the fall.”

Tevin Allen: DB, 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas HS

Allen posted 40 tackles, two interceptions and broke up six passes in the secondary as a high school senior.

Mike Banks: ATH, 5-foot-7, 165 pounds, University Park, Ill., Mount Carmel HS

Banks rushed for over 20 touchdowns and averaged over 10 yards per carry on the ground his senior season.

Tyler Barnes: TE/HB, 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, Rock Falls, Ill., Rock Falls HS

Barnes carried the ball 77 times for 554 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. He was named a NCIC First Team All-Conference selection as junior and sophomore.

Teddy Corwin: TE, 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, St. Louis, Mo., DeSmet Jesuit HS  

Corwin recorded 40 tackles, seven sacks, eight tackles-for-loss and two fumble recoveries, while catching 12 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns as a senior.

Will Davis: DL, 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Wheaton, Ill., Wheaton Warrenville South HS

Davis was an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA) Class 7A All-State selection and a Champaign News-Gazette All-State Special Mention 100 selection as a senior.  

Alex Donnelly; DB, 6-foot, 200 pounds; Kirkland, Wash., Lake Washington HS

Donnelly averaged 7.5 tackles-per-game and led his high school league in tackles-for-loss in his senior season.

Daniel Donnelly: OL, 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Coconut Creek, Fla., Monarch HS

Donnelly was named the No. 20 prospect in Broward County by the Miami Herald.  

Darrelynn Dunn: RB, 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Bloomington, Ill., Iowa Central CC (Transfer)

Dunn was named a Second Team All-America selection by the NJCAA in 2010. He led Iowa Central with 1,244 yards, 138.2 yards per game average and 18 rushing touchdowns.

Joe Farmer: TE, 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, Snoqualmie, Wash., Mount Si HS

Farmer was named a Washington Class 3A All-State Honorable Mention selection by the Associated Press following his senior season when he caught 15 passes for 118 yards and five touchdowns.  

Justin Lane; QB, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Arlington, Wash., Lakewood HS

Lane threw for 8,030 yards in his high school career and threw 83 career touchdown passes. Lane threw for over 2,300 yards and recorded 23 touchdown passes as a senior.

James Marrishow: OL, 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, Orlando, Fla., Colonial HS

Marrishow started every game on the offensive line as a senior and helped his team to a 4-6 record after they held a 1-9 record his junior season.

Zack Marshall: DL, 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Glen Ellyn, Ill., Glenbard West HS

Marshall was named an All-West Suburban Silver Conference selection as a senior.

Dontae McCoy: DB, 6-foot, 200 pounds, Palos Heights, Ill., Shepard HS

McCoy set a school-record by passing for 2,182 yards in his career as a quarterback. McCoy was also a standout on defense, registering 79 total tackles, two sacks and an interception.

Pat Meehan, LB, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Frankfort, Ill., Lincoln Way East HS

Meehan was named an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA) Class 7A and Champaign News Gazette First Team All-State selection as a senior.

Brandon Newbern: WR, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Indianapolis, Ind., Grand Rapids CC (Transfer)

Newbern caught 11 passes in seven games in 2010, and recorded 249 receiving yards for a 22.6-yard average and three touchdowns.

Jake Wienhoff: OL, 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, Chatham, Ill., Glenwood HS

In Wienhoff’s two games played in his senior season due to an ankle injury, he started on the offensive line and recorded 18 tackles, four tackles-for-loss and two sacks.