North Dakota announces additions during early signing period
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND ATHLETICS) – North Dakota head football coach Eric Schmidt announced 26 prospective student-athletes have signed with the Fighting Hawks on Wednesday morning.
“I am really excited to add these young men to our family,” said Coach Schmidt. “I feel like we addressed a lot of needs with talented guys who are wired the right way and love football. Our staff has done an incredible job building strong connections with these student-athletes. I am excited to lock arms with them and help them achieve their goals.”
Class Breakdown
By State: Minnesota (6), Wisconsin (4), Illinois (3), Nebraska (3), North Dakota (3), Florida (2), Iowa (2), Missouri (2), Texas (1)
By Position: Linebacker (5), Offensive Lineman (5), Defensive End (4), Wide Receiver (3), Cornerback (2), Defensive Lineman (2), Kicker (1), Long Snapper (1), Quarterback (1), Running Back (1),Tight End (1)
Names are listed in alphabetical order
Nate Appleget | LB | 6-3 | 225 | Lincoln, Neb. | Southeast HS
Spent four years playing linebacker at Southeast HS … Named First Team All-State as a senior and was honorable mention his junior year … Also received All-Conference and All-City accolades in 2024 and 2025 … Recorded 231 total tackles … Averaged 8.4 tackles per game his senior season … Helped the Knights reach the NSAA state playoffs each season and served as a team captain two years … Also played basketball and ran track for Southeast HS.
Isaac Beaver | DL | 6-2 | 285 | Kearney, Mo. | Kearney HS
Received three varsity letters while playing on the defensive line at Kearney HS … Spent his junior and senior years on the defensive line at KHS and 2023 on the line in Des Moines, Iowa … Named the 2025 Suburban Blue All-Conference Defensive Player of the Year … Earned First Team All-State, All-District and All-Conference honors in both 2024 and 2025 … Helped the Bulldogs reach the MSHSAA state playoffs each season he was on the line and helped KHS win the 2023 state title … Playing for the State Championship this weekend … Twin brother of Mason Beaver.
Mason Beaver | DL | 6-2 | 280 | Kearney, Mo. | Kearney HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing on the defensive line … Spent 2024 and 2025 on the defensive line at Kearney HS and 2023 on the line in Des Moines, Iowa … Named First Team All-State, All-District and All-Conference during both his junior and senior seasons … Has a bench press of 475 and squats 550 … Helped the Bulldogs reach the MSHSAA state playoffs each season he was on the line and won the 2023 state championship … Playing for the State Championship this weekend … Twin brother of Isaac Beaver.
Blake Buhr | LB | 6-5 | 225 | Sheboygan, Wis. | Sheboygan North HS
Played outside linebacker at Sheboygan North HS all four years … Voted the Outside Linebacker of the Year in the conference and the Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 … Garnered All-Region accolades as a senior and was also First Team All-Conference both of his last two seasons … Earned honorable mention All-Conference after his sophomore season … Accumulated 181 tackles, 41 tackles-for-loss, 20 sacks, three forced fumbles and picked off a pass during his prep career … Helped the Golden Raiders reach the WIAA state playoffs in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Delvin Cook Jr. | WR | 6-0 | 180 | Dallas, Texas | South Oak Cliff HS
Earned a pair of varsity letters while playing receiver in Texas … Named First Team All-District as a junior and Second Team All-District as a sophomore … Pulled in 21 receptions for 338 yards and a touchdown his senior season at South Oak Cliff HS … Put down 24 grabs for 418 yards and five scores his junior season at Skyline HS … Helped the Bears reach the UIL Texas Football State Playoffs.
Christian Davis | CB | 6-1 | 185 | Pensacola, Fla. | Monarch HS
Played cornerback at Monarch HS … Averaged 2.4 tackles per game and had two interceptions and a pass deflection as a senior … Posted 34 tackles, 10 pass breakups and a fumble recovery his junior season … Helped the Knights reach the semifinal round of the 2025 FHSAA Football State Championships … Rated as a three star recruit by Rivals.
Marial Deng | WR | 6-5 | 192 | Tokio, N.D. | Four Winds HS
Played receiver for four seasons at Four Winds HS … Earned First Team All-State accolades his senior season … Twice was named First Team All-Region … Piled up 113 receptions for 894 yards and 17 touchdowns in his prep career … Averaged 7.9 yards per reception … Also rushed 27 times for 215 yards and six scores … Helped FWHS reach the NDHSAA state playoffs both of his last two seasons.
Jordan Ellis | OL | 6-5 | 285 | Waukegan, Ill. | Warren Township HS
Spent four years on the offensive line at Warren Township HS … Named First Team All-Conference and All-Area his last two seasons … Was also named honorable mention All-State … Helped the Blue Devils average 305.4 yards rushing per game as a senior … His blocking played a role in WTHS racking up 3,359 yards on the ground and 624 yards through the air in 2025 … Was a two-time conference champion and helped the Blue Devils reach the quarterfinal round of the Class 8A IHSA State Championship twice.
William Flottmeyer | DE | 6-3 | 240 | La Crosse, Wis. | Aquinas HS
Earned four varsity letters while playing defensive end for Aquinas HS … Named WFCA First Team All-State honors both of his final two seasons … Also was First Team All-Conference as both a junior and senior … Helped the Blugolds win the state title in both 2022 and 2023 and played a role in AHS making the WIAA state playoffs all four years he was on the defensive line.
Brady Goihl | OL | 6-7 | 295 | Melrose, Minn. | Melrose Area HS
Spent four seasons on the offensive line at Melrose Area HS … Named All-Section in 2023 … Did not allow a sack his senior season … His blocking helped the Dutchmen reach the MSHSL state playoffs each of the last two seasons he appeared on the line … Behind his blocking, MAHS averaged 99.9 yards rushing per game his senior season … Invited to the 2025 Minnesota All-Star Game.
Jackson Gronewold | LB | 6-3 | 210 | Farmington, Ill. | Farmington Central HS
Lettered four times while playing linebacker at Farmington Central HS … Named First Team All-State, All-Area and All-Region as a senior … Earned First Team All-Area and honorable mention All-State as a junior … Received First Team All-Conference nods the last three seasons of his prep career … Piled up 111 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, an interception and 10 pass breakups in 2025 … Helped the Farmers reach the quarterfinals of the Class 2A IHSA state playoffs as a in 2024 and the semifinals in 2025 … His last two seasons of high school, he helped FCHS go 23-2 overall.
Tate Hamre | DE | 6-4 | 230 | Crookston, Minn. | Crookston HS
Lettered three times while playing edge at Crookston HS … Named All-Conference as a senior … Voted the team M.V.P. … Racked up 28 tackles, picked off six passes, had a pair of sacks and two fumble recoveries in 2025 … Helped the Pirates reach the MSHSL state playoffs as a senior … Also was a member of the hockey and golf teams at CHS.
Brooks Hendrickson | QB | 6-3 | 210 | Mount Horeb, Wis. | Mount Horeb HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing quarterback at Mount Horeb HS … Named First Team All-State, First Team All-Region and First Team All-Conference as a senior … Earned the title of Player of the Year in 2025 … Was also a First Team All-Conference member in 2024 … Threw for 4,661 yards and 60 touchdowns his final two seasons … Helped the Vikings make the WIAA state playoffs each season and was a four-time conference champion.
James Jones | WR | 5-9 | 150 | Delray Beach, Fla. | Atlantic Community HS
Played receiver for three years at Atlantic Community HS … Amassed 1,852 yards receiving during his prep career … Pulled in 39 receptions for 775 yards and 12 scores as a senior … Averaged 19.9 yards per reception in 2025 … Helped the Eagles reach the FHSAA state playoffs each of the three seasons he played.
Samuel Kline | LS | 6-2 | 215 | Clarinda, Iowa | Clarinda HS
Spent four seasons as the long snapper at Clarinda HS … Received First Team All-District accolades as a senior and Second Team honors his junior season … Earned the 2025 Jase Wilmes Legacy Award … Voted the Most Improved Player at CHS in 2024 … Helped the Cardinals qualify for the IHSAA state playoffs all four seasons … Was also a standout on the CHS basketball and golf teams.
Noah Milburn | TE | 6-5 | 215 | Decorah, Iowa | Decorah HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing tight end at Decorah HS … Named Unanimous First Team All-State as a senior … Earned First Team All-District accolades during both his junior and senior seasons … Pulled down 74 catches for 1,172 yards and 16 touchdowns during his career as a Viking … Helped his high school reach the IAHSAA state playoffs all three of those seasons.
Braden Minta | DE | 6-4 | 245 | Eden Prairie, Minn. | Eden Prairie HS
Earned two varsity letters while serving as an edge at Eden Prairie HS … Played as a tight end all four seasons… Named First Team All-District as a senior … Helped the Eagles reach the MSHSL state playoffs each of his last two seasons … Also played basketball at EPHS.
Sawyer Riffle | K | 6-1 | 205 | Brainerd, Minn. | Brainerd Senior HS
Spent four years as the kicker at Brainerd Senior HS … Named the North Star All-District Specialist of the Year in 2025 … Earned All-District and All-Conference honors as a senior and was also honorable mention All-Conference as a junior … His first ever field goal make was from 47 yards out as a freshman … Helped the Warriors reach the MSHSL state playoffs all four seasons … Invited to the 2025 Minnesota All-Star Game.
Toris Rudd Jr. | CB | 6-0 | 180 | Gretna, Neb. | Millard South HS
Spent four years playing defensive back at Millard South HS … Voted the Defensive Player of the Year at MHS … Recorded 40 tackles, four interceptions and a sack his senior season … Also registered 435 all-purpose yards and had a punt return for a touchdown … Named All-District his junior season … Helped the Patriots win the Class A State Championship at the NSAA State Football Championships in both 2024 and 2025.
Jakob Starcevic | LB | 6-2 | 255 | Kindred, N.D. | Kindred HS
Spent four seasons as a linebacker at Kindred HS … Named All-State all four seasons and was a five-time All-Region selection … Named the Region Senior Athlete of the Year in 2025 … Had 280+ tackles throughout his career and forced more than 25 turnovers during his prep career … Helped the Vikings make the NDHSAA state playoffs all for season and was a member of the State Championship team in 2023 and was a runner-up in 2024 … Was also a standout on the baseball, basketball and track teams at KHS.
Jackson Stein | OL | 6-7 | 310 | Lake Mills, Wis. | Lakeside Lutheran HS
Spent four seasons on the offensive line at Lakeside Lutheran HS … Named First Team All-Conference as a senior … Received honorable mention recognition on the All-Region Team … Voted the 2025 Offensive Lineman of the Year … Helped the Warriors make the WIAA state playoffs in both 2022 and 2023.
Jack Vyhnalek | LB | 6-3 | 215 | Seward, Neb. | Seward HS
Earned four varsity letters while playing linebacker at Seward HS … Named First Team All-State … Gained First Team All-District status three times … Put down 150 tackles, six tackles-for-loss and three sacks during his prep career … Holds the school record for total receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns … Helped the Bluejays make the NSAA state playoffs all four years, including an appearance in the semifinals his junior season … Also played basketball and was a member of the track team at SHS.
Brody Woods | DE | 6-6 | 230 | Rocori, Minn. | Rocori HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing on the defensive line at Rocori HS … Named First Team All-Section and was the 2025 Defensive M.V.P. … … Helped the Spartans make the MSHSL state playoffs each of his four seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2023 … Invited to the 2025 Minnesota All-Star Game … Played AAU basketball for the Minnesota Comets and also was a standout on the basketball, track and lacrosse teams at Rocori.
Aiden Wunderlich | OL | 6-6 | 270 | Casselton, N.D. | Central Cass HS
Spent four seasons on the varsity line at Central Cass HS and earned four varsity letters … Named First Team All-State and All-Conference as a senior … Voted the Hardest Worker at CCHS in 2024 and the Most Improved Player in 2023 … His blocking helped the Squirrels make the NDHSAA state playoffs each of the four seasons he was on the line, including the state title game in 2022.
Evan Zabel | OL | 6-4 | 280 | Alexandria, Minn. | Alexandria Area HS
Played on the offensive line at Alexandria Area HS for four seasons … Twice named the Sections Top Offensive Lineman … Helped the Cardinals qualify for the MSHSL state playoffs each of his four seasons, including a runner-up finish in the State Championship in 2024 … Received an invite to play in the 2025 Minnesota High School All-Star Game … Was also a standout on the basketball and baseball teams at Alexandria Area HS.
Tyler Zdon | RB | 5-8 | 190 | Fox Lake, Ill. | Grant Community HS
Spent three varsity seasons as a running back at Grant Community HS … Named All-Conference all three years as a running back and was also honorable mention All-State his final season … Piled up 3,613 yards rushing and 46 touchdowns on 459 carries during his prep career … Recorded 1,379 yards rushing and 18 scores his senior season … His legs helped the Bulldogs qualify for the IHSA state playoffs each of his three seasons.
