TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods have wrapped up the first day of signings for the 2012 season with 18 players who will wear a Washburn uniform starting this fall. Inked after the first day of the signing period are 18 seniors. Check back on Thursday for more signees including additional high school signees as well as junior college transfers.

Washburn finished the 2011 season with a school-record 10 wins going 10-3 reaching the second round of the NCAA playoffs after topping Abilene Christian in the opening round for the Ichabods' first playoff win in school history. The Ichabods were picked No. 11 in the final American Football Coaches Association top 25 poll - the highest final ranking since joining the NCAA Division II ranks.

Josh Brown (6-2, 210, Defensive End, Defiance, Mo./Francis Howell High School)
Named first team all-league, first team all-state metro, second team all-state and the defensive player of the year after recording 80 tackles with a school-record 17 sacks and one fumble recovery … as a junior he was a first team all-league pick as well as second team all-state and a first team all-metro selection as earning defensive player of the year honors … named first team all-league as a sophomore and named the team's lineman of the year as a freshman … finished his career with a school-record 40 sacks which is the second-best total in the Missouri state football record book … son of James and Shila Zuk-Brown … undecided on major.

Frederick Cato (6-1, 210, Linebacker, Wichita, Kan./Wichita South High School)
Was an honorable mention all-state pick and a second team all-city selection for the Titans as a senior after recording 112 tackles with 13 sacks … named honorable mention all-city as a junior … a state qualifier in track as a sophomore … also wrestled … received an academic letter as a senior … son of Frederick Freeman and Shenae Jeffrey … undecided on major.

Rayshawn Cato (6-3, 300, Offensive Line, Midwest City, Okla./Carl Albert High School)
Started all 11 games as a senior leading team to a 9-1 record … a second team all-league pick and a first team all-district selection … as a junior he started all 12 games helping team reach the state quarterfinals … played in all 12 games making three starts as a sophomore as the Titans won the class 5A state championship … son of Raquel Cato … anticipated major is business.

Skylar Curtis (6-2, 185, Athlete, Topeka, Kan./Washburn Rural High School)
Named to the Topeka Capital Journal's all-city Top 11 pick and the city's offensive player of the year after leading the city in total offense, rushing yards and scoring with 1,995 total yards, 961 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns scoring 134 points while passing for 1,191 yards and 12 touchdowns … also named first team all-league at quarterback … named cornerback of the year as a junior and was a two-time team MVP for the Junior Blues as a junior and senior … son of James and Stephanie Curtis … anticipated major is physical education.

Derek Deeds (5-11, 190, Free Safety, Yukon, Okla./Yukon High School)
As a senior he was named second team all-state by the Daily Oklahoman and first team all-city by the same newspaper … a first team Oklahoma Football Coaches Association 6A all-star selection … named the District 6A-1 defensive back of the year as well as first team defensive back … named all-metro first team and Vype Magazine's all-Central Oklahoma first team at defensive back … recorded seven interceptions with 88 tackles … he added 45 receptions for 555 yards and four touchdowns with 39 rushing attempts for 281 yards and three touchdowns … son of Mark and Andrea Deeds … anticipated major is business.

Zach Franklin (6-0, 175, Defensive Back, Wichita, Kan./Wichita Northwest High School)
Recorded 10 tackles and four assisted stops at defensive back as a senior adding three catches for 45 yards … averaged 57 yards per kickoff return with 262 yards on five returns scoring two touchdowns … as a junior he had five catches for 58 yards adding 15 solo tackles and seven assisted stops … son of Ronald and Janice Franklin … anticipated major is criminal justice.

Tevin Geddis (5-10, 175, Defensive Back, Wichita, Kan./Wichita Northwest High School)
Averaged 7.2 tackles per game as a senior totaling 72 on the season with 45 solo stops … also had six punt returns for 91 yards averaging 15.2 yards per attempt … also ran track … son of Mark Geddis … his brother Mark plays football at Langston … majoring in sports medicine.

Jordan Hart (6-2, 175, WIde Receiver, McPherson, Kan./McPherson High School)
This past season he caught 76 passes for 1,481 yards and 14 touchdowns while also carrying the ball 35 times for 218 yards adding five more touchdowns … he was a Class 5A all-state pick while earning first team all-league honors … also named to the Kansas Coaches all-state 5A team… tabbed for the Kansas Shrine Bowl … also averaged 19.3 yards per punt return on 18 attempts and 18.3 yards per kickoff return on 18 tries while tying for the team lead with 22 touchdowns scored … son of Penny Hart … undecided on major.

Terek Hawkins (5-6, 155, Running Back, Florissant, Mo./Saint Louis University High School)
As a senior he was named all-league and all-state after rushing for 1,311 yards and 183 carries scoring 20 touchdowns … added 250 receiving yards … a two-time St. Louis area Prepzone Player of the Year … named one of the top 33 running backs in the Greater St. Louis area as a senior … son of Gary Hawkins and Sonya Burnett … anticipated major is business.

Carl Hendricks (6-0, 220, Linebacker, East Saint Louis, Ill./Hazelwood Central High School)
A four-year letterwinner earning first team all-league honors as a senior … as a sophomore he was named the junior varsity defensive player of the year … son of Darold and Arlecia Hendricks … anticipated major is sports management.

Cody Heiman (6-3, 220, Inside Linebacker, Baileyville, Kan./B&B High School)
Was an all-league pick on both offense and defense as a junior earning all-state honors as a senior … named the defensive most valuable player in the district as a senior … an honorable mention all-state pick as a junior … team finished state runner-up his sophomore and senior seasons after winning state as a freshman and junior … will play in the 2012 Kansas Shrine Bowl and the Kansas 8-Man All-Star game … was a first team all-league pick in basketball as a junior as his team finished third in state his sophomore season … placed third in the high jump as a junior and fifth as a sophomore reaching 6-foot-8 in the high jump … a three-time all-league first team catcher on the baseball team … a four-year member of the honor roll and senior class president … son of Doug and Lora Heiman … anticipated major is business.

Chad Johnson (6-0, 175, Wide Receiver, Overland Park, Kan./Olathe East High School)
Named honorable mention all-league after recording 780 receiving yards on 45 catches with six touchdowns … son of Charles and Rebecca Johnson … anticipated major is business management.

Spenser Matthews (6-3, 218, Defensive End, Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit High School)
Was a second team all-state pick as a senior and a third team all-metro pick after his senior season … first team all-league honors as a junior and senior … played in the Blue/Gray All-Star game in Florida … son of George and Victoria Matthews … his father played football at Southeast Missouri … anticipated major is criminal justice.

Michael Miller (6-5, 270, Offensive LIne, Lansing, Kan./Lansing High School)
As a senior he was a first team all-league pick on the offensive line and a second team pick on the defensive line … also added honorable mention all-state honors on both offensive and defensive lines … an honorable mention all-metro pick on the offensive line and a first team all-county selection on the offensive line … as a junior he was a second team all-league pick on offensive and honorable mention all-league pick on the defensive line … earned first team all-county defensive line honors … also lettered in basketball and baseball … son of Steve and Jackie Miller … brother Kyle plays baseball at the Air Force Academy … undecided on major.

Trey Parker (6-5, 255, Defensive Line, Franklinville, N.J./Delsea Regional High School)
Played both defensive end and tight end for the Crusaders … also plays basketball … son of Charles Devaughn-Parker and Patricia Parker … anticipated major is history.

Josh Sanders (6-3, 205 Defensive End, Kansas City, Mo./University Academy)
Named first team all-district seven on the offensive line as a senior and second team all-district on the defensive line as a senior … also plays basketball … son of Michael and Monica Sanders … anticipated major is pre-engineering.

Jaxon Tupper (5-10, 190, Linebacker, Stilwell, Kan./Blue Valley High School)
Recorded 119 tackles as a senior with five sacks, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and an interception en route to second team all-league honors … a three-year letterman … son of Jeff and Johnna Tupper … anticipated major is digital film and video.

Jordan Walker (5-11, 195, Running Back, Kansas City, Mo./Rockhurst High School)
Rushed for a school-record 418 yards on 34 carries rushing for four touchdowns and pulling down a touchdown reception to open his senior season en route to rushing for over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns playing in only five games … named KC area player of the week and a three-time offensive MVP … as a junior he was named an ultimate top 100 prospect after rushing for 700 yards and seven touchdowns as the Hawklets won the 6A Missouri state championship … son of Byron and Nerissa Walker … anticipated major is sports medicine.