North Dakota announces 23 additions during early signing period

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND ATHLETICS) – University of North Dakota interim head football coach Isaac Fruechte announced 23 prospective student-athletes have signed with the Fighting Hawks on Wednesday.

Names are listed in alphabetical order

Pierre Allen Jr. | LB | 6-2 | 215 | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southeast HS
Three-year starter at linebacker at Lincoln Southeast HS … Named First Team All-Conference as both a junior and senior … First Team All-City and honorable mention All-State each of the past three seasons … Recorded 225 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 26 tackles-for-loss, five forced fumbles and two interceptions as a Knight …  Helped Lincoln Southeast make the NSAA state playoffs all three seasons and served as a team captain.

Jack Ames | LB | 6-1 | 222 | Hawley, Minn. | Hawley HS
Spent four years playing linebacker at Hawley HS … Named All-Section as a senior … Three-time Defensive Player of the Year and won the Leadership Award as a Nugget … Put down 93 tackles and 13 tackles-for-loss as a senior … Helped the Nuggets make the second round of the Class AA MSHSL state playoffs in 2024 … Also ran track for Hawley HS.

Gabe Anderson | LB | 6-3 | 205 | Hinton, Iowa | Hinton HS
Played linebacker at Hinton HS for four seasons … Garnered First Team All-State and First Team All-District honors as a senior … Named the District 1A-1 Offensive M.V.P. in 2024 … Recorded 56.5 tackles, 42 solo stops, two tackles-for-loss and a sack his senior season … Picked off four passes and had 107 return yards, including a pick-six in 2024 … Helped the Blackhawks make the Class 1A IAHSAA state playoffs each year he was on varsity.

Griffin Broderick | RB | 6-0 | 230 | Minot, N.D. | Minot HS
Lettered three times while playing running back at Minot HS … Named First Team All-State as a senior and received All-Conference honors both of his last two seasons … Rushed for over 2,300 yards in his high school career and scored 30 touchdowns … Piled up over 1,000 yards rushing as a senior … Helped the Magicians win the Class AA NDHSAA state title in 2023 … Standout for the MHS baseball team … Broke the home run record at Minot.

Ethan Cole | DL | 6-3 | 245 | Chatfield, Minn. | Chatfield HS
Three-year starter on the defensive line at Chatfield HS … Named All-State as a junior and was an honorable mention player as a sophomore … First-Team All-Conference each year as a starter … Named the Lineman of the Year in 2023 at CHS … Recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown in Chatfield’s 24-14 victory over Caledonia in the 2024 Class 2A Championship … Helped the Gophers reach the semifinal round of the 2024 Class AA MSHSL state playoffs.

Nick Darling | OL | 6-2 | 300 | Johnston, Iowa | Johnston HS
Earned four varsity letters while playing on the offensive line at Johnston HS … Named Second Team All-Conference as a junior … His blocking helped the Dragons make the Class 5A IHSAA state playoffs each year he played … Also wrestled for JHS.

Theo Grace | LB | 6-2 | 215 | Kearney, Mo. | Kearney HS
Played linebacker at Kearney HS … Named First Team All-State, All-District and All-Conference as a senior … Recorded 124 tackles in 2024 … Finalist for the Bobby Bell Award … Also was a star javelin thrower for the Bulldogs … Won the 2023 Class 4 MSHSAA State Championship and helped KHS reach the playoffs each year of high school.

Etienne Higgins | QB | 6-3 | 198 | Council Bluffs, Iowa | Abraham Lincoln HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing quarterback at Abraham Lincoln HS … Twice was named All-Conference … Was a dual-threat quarterback for the Lynx and went 78-for-119 passing for 985 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior while rushing 89 times for 627 yards and 12 scores … He averaged 12.6 yards per pass and 7.0 yards per carry in 2024 … Runs a 4.71 second 40-yard dash … Also played basketball and ran track for the Lynx.

Nathan Hromadka | TE | 6-6 | 220 | Maple Grove, Minn. | Maple Grove HS
Lettered three times while playing tight end at Maple Grove HS … Twice named to the All-District and to the CCX All-Area Team … Accumulated over 600 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns at MGHS … Compiled a 33-3 record in high school and won the Class 6A MSHSL state championship with the Crimson in both 2022 and 2024 … Also was a standout on the basketball court.

Wyatt Kuhn | LB | 6-4 | 215 | New Salem, N.D. | New Salem-Almont HS
Earned four varsity letters while playing linebacker and tight end at New Salem-Almont HS … Made the All-Region Team all four years of his prep career … Named First Team All-State as both a junior and senior … Helped the Holsteins achieve a perfect 14-0 record in 2022 and win the NDHSAA state title.

Charles Langama | RB | 5-8 | 195 | Maple Grove, Minn. | Maple Grove HS
Lettered twice while playing running back at Maple Grove HS  … Named First Team All-District and All-State as a senior … Named First Team All-Metro, All-CCX and was named the Offensive M.V.P. as a junior … Played in the Minnesota High School All-Star Game … Rushed for 2,634 yards and 41 touchdowns while playing varsity football and also had 280 yards receiving and caught six touchdown passes … Helped the Crimson win the Class 6A MSHSL state championship in 2024.

Jimmie Maxson III | WR | 6-4 | 200 | Crete, Ill. | Brother Rice HS
Played four years at wide receiver in his prep career … Named the Offensive M.V.P. at Brother Rice his senior year … Earned the Wayne Thomas Award at St. Rita his junior season … Named to the All-Catholic League both of his last two seasons … Recorded 87 catches for 1,749 yards and 27 touchdowns in his high school career … Also ran track.

Frankie McAninch | LB | 6-0 | 215 | Mankato, Minn. | Mankato West HS
Three-year starter at linebacker at Mankato West HS … Named All-State as a senior … Earned All-District honors and All-City honors as both a junior and senior … Won the District M.V.P. award as a senior and was the District Defensive Player of the Year his junior season … Put down 201 total tackles, 108 solo stops, 34 tackles-for-loss, seven sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles as a Scarlet … Helped MWHS reach the state playoffs each year he played.

Alex Michels | OL | 6-6 | 280 | Green Bay, Wis. | Bay Port HS
Lettered three times while playing offensive tackle at Bay Port HS … Started 38 consecutive games for the Pirates … Named the 2024 FRCC North Offensive Lineman of the Year … Earned First Team All-Conference accolades in both 2023 and 2024 … Garnered honorable mention All-State accolades in 2024 and was an All-Region selection … Helped the Pirates reach the state playoffs each season and won the 2024 WIAA Division I state championship.

Grant Noland | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Kearney, Mo. | Kearney HS
Spent four years playing safety and wide receiver at Kearney HS … Named First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference as a senior … Won the 2023 Class 4 MSHSAA State Championship and helped the Bulldogs make the state playoffs each season … Helped lead the Bulldogs to a 35-4 record over his last three seasons of high school … Also ran track.

Karter Peterson | TE | 6-5 | 220 | Thompson, N.D. | Thompson HS
Played tight end for Thompson HS for four years … Received All-Region honorable mention accolades in 2023 … Caught 61 passes for 626 yards and scored 10 touchdowns … Helped the Tommies make the Division B NDHSAA state playoffs in 2021 and 2022 … Was also a standout on the THS basketball and track & field teams.

Zach Schemper | TE | 6-3 | 230 | West Des Moines, Iowa | West Des Moines Valley HS
Played tight end for West Des Moines Valley HS … Recorded 21 receptions for 267 yards and a pair of touchdowns his senior season … Helped the Tigers reach the Class 5A IAHSAA state playoffs each year of his high school career and played in the 2022 state title game … Runs a 4.72 second 40-yard dash.

Seth Staloch | WR | 6-6 | 205 | Osakis, Minn. |  Osakis HS
Lettered three times while playing wide receiver for Osakis HS … Earned All-District honors as a senior … Twice voted the team’s Most Valuable Receiver and once was named the team M.V.P. … Accumulated over 1,500 yards receiving and scored 12 touchdowns as a varsity player … Helped the Silverstreaks reach the Class AA MSHSL state playoffs each year he played and reached the quarterfinal round his junior season … Also played baseball and basketball for OHS.

Owen Thielges | DB | 6-2 | 190 | Moorhead, Minn. | Moorhead HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing safety for Moorhead HS … Earned the title of Section 8AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … Named First Team-All State as a senior … Was a three-time All-Conference player for the Spuds … Picked off 11 passes and scored 20 touchdowns while playing on the varsity team … Helped the Spuds make the Class 5A MSHSL state playoffs each of his three seasons.

Brody Thornton | LB | 6-4 | 220 | Menomonie, Wis. | Monomonie HS
Three-time varsity letterwinner at Menomonie HS … Named All-Region and All-Northwestern as a senior … Garnered First Team All-Conference honors as a senior and was a second-team All-Conference linebacker as a junior … Racked up 63 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries as a senior … Blocked a field goal and five extra points on special teams his senior season … Hauled in 25 catches for 238 yards and three touchdowns while also playing wide receiver in 2024 … Made the Division 2 WIAA state playoffs with the Mustangs all three seasons.

Grant Tylutki | DB | 5-9 | 185 | Cold Spring, Minn. | Rocori HS
Lettered four times while playing safety and wide receiver at Rocori HS … Gained All-State and made the All-Star Team as a senior … Garnered All-District accolades as both a junior and senior … Earned the District M.V.P. in 2024 … Finalist for Mr. Football in Minnesota … Piled up 352 total tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, 11 pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in his career at RHS … Racked up 1,036 yards receiving and five touchdowns and 439 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball … Helped the Spartans reach the Class 4A MSHSL state playoffs each year and reached the state title game as a junior.

Ty Vig | DL | 6-5 | 210 | Hallock, Minn. | Kittson County Central HS
Played defensive end and outside linebacker for three years at Kittson County Central HS … Three-time All-Conference player for the Bearcats … Helped the Bearcats reach the 9 Man MSHSL state playoffs each of his three seasons … Also played basketball for KCCHS.

Michael Wagner | OL | 6-5 | 260 | Maple Grove, Minn. | Maple Grove HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing on the offensive line at Maple Grove HS … Named to the All-Minnesota Team in 2024 … His blocking helped the Crimson win the Class 6A MSHSL state championship in both 2022 and 2024.