INDEPENDENCE, Kan. - A pair of ICC Football players will continue their academic and football careers as teammates as Quarterback Keegan Anderson, and Defensive Lineman Thaddius Parson have both committed to Division I FCS Alabama State for the 2026 season. 

Anderson, the 6’2 freshman from Abilene, Texas burst on to the scene in his freshman season, as he came off of the bench in the first game of the year and proceeded to start the next five games before missing the rest of the season with a hand injury. Anderson made the most of his six games, finishing the year with 1,278 passing yards and threw 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions. He was awarded KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in a win against Ellsworth where he finished with 298 yards passing and a season high four touchdown passes. Anderson bested his season high in passing yards in an OT loss to Butler where he finished with 307 yards, which was also part of a stretch of four straight games with multiple touchdown passes. 

Parson, the big 325 pound interior defensive lineman, will return to his home state of Alabama after a solid sophomore season with the Pirates. Parson racked up 24 total tackles while anchoring the defensive line, including three sacks and five tackles for loss. His best game of the season came in a shutout win over Highland where he recorded two sacks for a Pirate defense that kept the Scotties off the scoreboard. He also had four tackles, a sack, and a tackle for loss in a 6-3 win over Dodge City. 

Alabama State competes in the SWAC Conference and is coming off a strong 2025 season, where they finished 10-2 with one of their losses coming to Division I FBS Alabama-Birmingham, before rattling off six straight wins to close out the year.