Updated - Feb. 4, 12 p.m.

The Lindenwood football team announced the start of its 2011 recruiting class today. Twenty-two high school players signed to join the Lions next season. The program also announced eight transfers who have already enrolled at Lindenwood.

Additional players are expected to be added in the following days.

High School Signees (photo gallery):

Logan Adkison (LB, 6-3, 230, Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South)
First team All-State Class 6 selection was also a first team All-Metro pick by the Kansas City Star … played defensive end in high school, where he racked up 80 tackles, 10 sacks, seven other tackles for loss, and 12 hurries … a potential havoc wreaker at LB. (video)
 
Johnathan Albercrombie (RB, 5-9, 165, Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill)
First team All-District 5 Class 5A selection in an area of south Dallas where fast running backs are grown on a yearly basis … ran an electronically timed 4.42 in the summer, and has the speed to get around the corner … teammate of Xavier Warren's at Cedar Hill.

Greg Barnes (OL, 6-4, 245, St. Louis, Mo./Vianney)
Shined at Lindenwood's team camp in the summer playing on an All-Star team coached by the LU staff … will need to fill out to become an offensive lineman in the MIAA, but the Lions feel he is a very good athlete who could also play DE. (video)

Marvin Byrd, Jr. (DB, 5-9, 185, St. Peters, Mo./Fort Zumwalt East)
The most underrated player in the St. Louis metro area this season? Meet Marvin Byrd: playing a zone read QB spot, he scored 34 TD's, rushing for 1,534 yards, while throwing for 698 and seven more scores … first team All-Metro by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (video)

P.J. DeBey (WR, 6-2, 205, Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley)
One of two wideouts the Lions plucked from Blue Valley's high-scoring state champions, DeBey was a first team Class 5A All-State selection … also a first team All-EKL pick after catching 134 balls over the past two seasons, including two TD's in the title game. (video)
 
Jordan Gater (WR, 5-10, 165, Avilla, Ind./East Noble)
One of the fastest prep players in Indiana this season, Gater caught 50 passes for 1,072 yards, scoring 14 touchdowns … a first team All-Northeast Indiana pick by the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, and a first team IHCA Class 4A All-State selection. (video)
 
Chris Gilyard (RB, 5-9, 180, Lee's Summit, Mo./Blue Springs South)
One of the top sprinters in the state, Gilyard will bring game-breaking speed to the Lion backfield and return game … was named a first team All-State Class 6 choice after rushing for 1,057 yards and scoring 16 TD's in the tough Suburban Big Six. (video)
 
Jared Hagely (DB, 6-1, 180, O'Fallon, Mo./Francis Howell)
A local product who was a two-time first team All-GAC South selection for head coach Bryan Koch's growing program at Francis Howell, Hagely profiles as a long, athletic hash safety with good instincts … posted 99 tackles as a senior. (video)
 
Austin Heath (OL, 6-2, 275, Green Cove Springs, Fla./Clay)
With his mean streak and physical frame, Heath reminds the Lion staff of current LU star Justin Callaway, which means they think he has a chance to be very good … power cleans 335 pounds and plays just past the whistle … projects as a guard in the MIAA. (video)
 
Davaris Jackson (CB, 5-10, 165, New Smyrna Beach, Fla./New Smyrna Beach)
The Lions were extremely active in the Northeast Florida corridor, picking up an excellent cornerback prospect in Jackson, a big hitter who was named to the All-Volusia County first team after recording 85 tackles and three interceptions. (video)
 
Jacob McDermott (WR, 6-1, 194, Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley)
Teamed with DeBey to form one of the most dynamic receiving duos is Kansas prep history, racking up 49 catches for 941 yards, 16 of them for scores … was named a first team Class 5A All-State pick, and a second team All-Metro pick by the Kansas City Star. (video)
 
Brock Montgomery (DB, 6-1, 195, St. Louis, Mo./Pattonville)
Long, physical and athletic, Montgomery was under the radar of most teams after an injury-marred senior season; he was outstanding as a junior, however, earning 1st team honors at LB in the talent-laden Suburban North … a potential star. (video)
 
Aaron O'Dell (OL, 6-3, 305, Springfield, Ill./Rochester)
O'Dell anchored the Rockets' massive lines on both sides of the ball as they rolled to the Class 4A state championship in Illinois … a first team All-Central State Eight and first team All-Area selection, the Lions project him as a left tackle, blind side protector. (video)
 
Stephen Pace (DB, 6-2, 205, St. Louis, Mo./De Smet)
A standout three-sport athlete for the Spartans, Pace has the kind of big body on defense which could project at a number of positions … was an All-Metro Catholic Conference selection on both sides of the ball as a senior. (video)

Vance Purdun (RB, 5-10, 180, Princeton, Mo./Princeton)
A small-school legend in north Central Missouri, where he rushed for 5,851 yards in his career, including 2,324 yards and 36 TD's as a senior … two-time first team Class 1 All-State pick will play in the secondary for the Lions, where his toughness impressed LU coaches at the Lion team camp last summer.

Sam Sealer (WR, 6-0, 185, Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit)
Voted the Otis Taylor Award winner, given to the top wide receiver or tight end in the Kansas City metro area … a first team All-State Class 6 pick, and a first team All-Metro selection by the Kansas City Star … caught 77 passes for 1,065 yards and 11 touchdowns. (video) 

Austin Sweatt (ATH, 5-11, 190, Green Cove Springs, Fla./Clay)
Sweatt has been one of the most exciting players in the Jacksonville area the past two seasons, rushing for 2,039 yards and passing for 1,793 … selected to play in the Florida Shrine Bowl … named first team All-First Coast by the Florida Times Union. (video)

Xavier Warren (DE, 6-1, 225, Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill)
Because his team needed him at offensive tackle—where he earned All-District 5 Class 5A honors in one of the state's toughest districts—Warren flew slightly under the radar in recruiting, but the Lions think he will develop into a star as a speed rushing defensive end. (video)
 
J.T. Young (OL, 6-2, 280, O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt East)
A three-year starter for the new program at Ft. Zumwalt East, Young was a third team Class 5 All-State pick, and a two-time first team All-GAC North selection … also earned third team All-Metro honors from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Transfers:

Lamar Allen (CB, 6-2, 170, Jr., Daytona Beach, Calif./Allen Hancock College)
Long and athletic, Allen will be given a chance this spring to step in for graduated All-HAAC selection Hakim Thomas at the corner.

Richard Avitia (OT, 6-2, 275, Jr., Glendale, Calif./Glendale College)
Quick and athletic tackle was a key performer for the Vaqueros, and he figures to battle for a starting position for the Lions this spring. (video) 

Matt Buckley (C, 6-1, 255, Jr., Glendale, Calif./Glendale College)
Teamed with Richard Avitia at Glendale to lead an outstanding offensive line, and his experience at center will help him challenge for a spot in 2011. (video) 

Joe Day (DE, 6-2, 250, Jr., O'Fallon, Mo./Missouri State University)
Former Fort Zumwalt West standout was first team Class 6 All-State selection for his father, Jaguar head coach Paul Day.

Jarrell Holland (LB, 6-0, 230, Jr., Pacoima, Calif./Moorpark College)
Holland is the brother of former Lion standout receiver Jamere Holland, and he is a big hitter with speed to play inside or outside. (video) 

Casey Nielsen (QB, 5-11, 190, Fr., Cerritos, Calif./Gahr HS)
One of the most prolific high school passers in California history, Nielsen averaged 400 yards passing per game for Gahr HS in 2009, earning Old Spice All-American honors, before sitting out this past season. (video) 

John Uribe (QB, 6-0, 190, Jr., Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara City College)
Record-setting passer at SBCC threw for 2,554 yards and 23 TD's this season, earning American Pacific Conference Player of the Year honors. (video) 

Jake Woten (DE, 6-4, 240, So., Olathe, Kan./Butler County CC)
Former Olathe East star was a first team All-Metro selection by the Kansas City Star in 2008, earning Top 11 honors in the state of Kansas as a senior. (video)