GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)– University of North Dakota head football coachBubba Schweigertannounced 28 prospective student-athletes and incoming transfers have signed with the Fighting Hawks on Wednesday morning.
24 of the 28 signees will join UND after their high school careers, while four will also join the program as transfers.
Coach Schweigert on the Class
“We are excited to welcome these young men to the Fighting Hawk football family,” said Coach Schweigert. “This group of student-athletes will add talent to our roster as we continue our ascent to the top of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Our staff developed tremendous relationships with these individuals, and they will be excellent additions to our team culture.”
Class Breakdown
By State:Minnesota (5), Iowa (4), Nebraska (4), North Dakota (4), Wisconsin (4), Kansas (3), Illinois (1), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Virginia (1)
By Position:OL (8), DB (6), DL (4), LB (2), QB (2), TE (2), WR (2), K (1), RB (1)
Names are listed in alphabetical order
Aidan Behymer| TE | 6-6 | 225 | Overland Park, Kan. | Air Force
Spent one season at Air Force after a graduating from Blue Valley Northwest HS … Named First Team All-State and All-League his final two years of high school … Also named First Team All-Metro his senior season … Earned the title of Kansas Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2022 … Led BVNHS his senior season in both sacks and TFL’s … His blocking helped the Huskies win the state championship in 2021 … Also participated in basketball and track & field.
Wyatt Bell| OL | 6-3 | 290 | Rogers, Minn. | Rogers HS
Spent four years on the offensive line at Rogers HS … Named First Team All-State and All-Metro both his junior and senior seasons … Recorded 168 pancake blocks as a senior and did not allow a single sack in 2023 … His blocking helped the Royals make three consecutive state playoff appearances … Played in the 2023 Minnesota HS All-Star Game.
Packson Bettis| LB | 6-3 | 225 | Topeka, Kan. | Washburn Rural HS
Spent three varsity years playing linebacker and tight end at Washburn Rural HS … Named First Team All-State in both 2023 and 2022 … Earned First Team All-Conference honors his final three years of high school … Earned the title of Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2021 … Recorded 68 tackles (44 solo stops), 11 TFL’s and three sacks as a senior … Runs a 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash …. Helped the Blues post an 11-1 record in 2023 and reach the 6A state semifinals … Also played basketball and ran track for WRHS.
Brennen Blegen| DL | 6-3 | 285 | Blairstown, Iowa | Benton Community HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing on the defensive line at Benton County HS … Three-time All-State honoree … Named First Team All-District his final three years of high school … Twice was named the District Defensive Lineman of the Year … Recorded 56.5 tackles his senior season … Received an invitation to play in the 2023 Shrine Bowl.
Colton Brunell| RB | 6-0 | 200 | Columbus, Wis. | Columbus HS
Played running back and linebacker at Columbus HS the past four seasons … Named First Team All-State at both running back and linebacker both of the last two seasons … Earned First Team All-Conference honors for three years in a row … Named the Wisconsin Player of the Year … Piled up a state record 7,416 rushing yards in his career and was the first player in state history to eclipse the 7,000-yard mark … Scored 103 rushing touchdowns as a Cardinal … Helped CHS win the 2022 state championship.
Mark Bussan| OL | 6-6 | 320 | Prairie City, Iowa | Prairie City-Monroe HS
Spent three seasons on the offensive line at Prairie City-Monroe HS … Named First Team All-State as a senior and Second Team All-State as a junior … Earned First Team All-District all three seasons he appeared on the offensive line … His blocking helped the Mustangs rack up 4,524 yards of offense in 2023, including 3,174 yards on the ground … PCMHS reached the playoffs all three seasons he played.
Isaac Cariveau| OL | 6-3 | 285 | Detroit Lakes, Minn. | Detroit Lakes HS
Spent four years on the offensive line at Detroit Lakes HS … Two-time All-Conference lineman his junior and senior seasons … Named the Midwest Red Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2023 … Played in the Minnesota All-Star Game … His blocking helped the Rackers put up 1,867 yards on the ground his senior season and 720 yards through the air.
Caden Cetak| DL | 6-4 | 225 | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln East HS
Earned two varsity letters while playing defensive end at Lincoln East HS … Named Honorable Mention All-State and All-City as a junior … Two-time First Team All-Conference … Recorded 90 total tackles, 16 sacks and 32 tackles-for-loss in his career … Helped the Spartans reach the playoffs each year he played on varsity … Also spent time at tight end while playing for LEHS.
Langden College| DL | 6-4 | 225 | Minneapolis, Minn. | Armstrong HS
Played defensive end and outside linebacker at Armstrong HS the past three seasons … Named the All-District Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … Saw action in the 2023 All-Star Football Game … Named the Defensive Lineman MVP as a junior … Piled up 68 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five TFL’s and forced a fumble during his senior season … Helped the Falcons post a record of 8-3 in 2023 … Also ran track.
Deng Deng| WR | 6-5 | 205 | Tokio, N.D. | Four Winds HS
Spent four years playing wide receiver for Four Winds HS … Named First Team All-State as a senior and Second Team All-State as a junior … Earned All-Region honors his final three years of high school … Averaged 82.5 yards receiving per game and 80.3 total yards per game as a senior … Scored 17 total touchdowns in and put up 977 all-purpose yards in 2023 … Was also a standout basketball player for the Indians.
Asher Jenkins| LB| 6-1 | 195 | Bellevue, Neb. | Bellevue West HS
Played as a defensive back for four seasons at Bellevue West HS … Named Honorable Mention All-State and Third Team All-Metro his senior season … Received recognition as a member of the 2023 Hurrdat Sports Unheralded Team … Recorded 125 total tackles (84 solo), 22 tackles-for-loss, seven sacks and two interceptions as a Thunderbird … Helped BWHS make the NSAA state playoffs all four seasons.
Jayden Jones| DB | 5-11 | 170 | Chicago, Ill. | Mt. Carmel HS
Played four years at Mount Carmel HS …. Named an All-Conference DB as a junior … His defense helped the Caravan post a 13-1 record in 2023 and win the state championship … Helped keep opposing offenses to 10 points or less on seven occasions in 2023, including one shutout.
Cole Hentges| QB | 6-0 | 205 | Sartell, Minn. | University of Mary
Spent one season at the University of Mary after graduating from Sartell HS … Played in 11 games his senior season of high school and went 161-for-277 passing for 2,046 yards and 19 touchdowns … Averaged 186.0 yards passing per game in 2022 … Attended the 612 Quarterbacks Camp in Minnesota.
Tray Kuntz| TE | 6-4 | 230 | Grand Forks, N.D. | Grand Forks Central HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing tight end at Grand Forks Central HS … Named First Team All-State and was also All-Conference as a senior … Earned honorable mention All-Conference status as a junior … Recorded 56 grabs for 776 yards and nine touchdowns in his career … Caught a team-high 22 passes for 313 yards and six touchdowns as a senior … Had two sacks and five TFL’s in 2023 … Helped the Knights reach the 2023 Class AA State Championship Game … Son of former UND all-conference linebacker Mike Kuntz.
Kenten Laughman| K | 6-3 | 170 | Shawnee, Kan. | Mill Valley HS
Spent four years as the kicker for Mill Valley HS … Named All-State as both a junior and senior … Ranked as the No. 1 prep kicker in Kansas … Sits No. 44 nationally for total kickoff yards … Drilled a 51-yard field goal his senior season … Averaged 52.8 yards per kickoff in 2022 … Went 12-for-14 on field goals in his career.
Lawson Lotysz| OL | 6-2 | 280 | Grand Forks, N.D. | Grand Forks Red River HS
Spent four years on the offensive line at Grand Forks Red River HS … Garnered First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference honors as both a junior and senior … Started at center for a team that produced 1,589 rushing yards and scored 16 rushing touchdowns in 2023 … Helped the Roughriders to three consecutive playoff appearances … Also played baseball at Red River HS … Son of UND legend Greg Lotysz and younger brother of recent UND offensive linemanPeyton Lotysz.
Gunnar Lym| DB | 6-0 | 185 | Bennington, Neb. | Bennington HS
Spent four seasons playing safety at Bennington HS … Named All-Conference three times … Helped the Badgers win three-straight Class B State Championships … The BHS defense kept opposing offenses to less than 10 points in 21 games over his final three season of high school … Recorded 209 tackles, picked off 11 passes and had nine touchdowns as a Badger.
Jy Martin| DB | 5-10 | 185 | Clover, S.C. | West Virginia State
Played two seasons as a defensive back at West Virginia State after graduating from Clover HS … Named First Team All-MEC in 2023 … Led the Yellow Jackets in solo tackles (38), interceptions (3), pass breakups (4) and forced fumbles (3) … He was second in tackles on the team at WVSU last season with 51 tackles, including six TFL’s and a sack … He picked off three passes in the first four games this season … In his two seasons, he compiled 84 total tackles, with 65 of them being solo stops.
Sam Ostrenga| DB | 5-11 | 190 | Sun Prairie, Wis. | Sun Prairie East HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing defensive back at Sun Prairie East HS … First Team All-State, All-Region and All-Conference as a senior … Was also First Team All-Conference his junior season … Racked up 178 total tackles and recorded nine interceptions during his varsity high school playing career … Helped the Cardinals reach the 2022 state quarterfinals and the 2023 state semifinals … Also played baseball at SPEHS and holds the record for the most stolen bases in school history.
Erick Paye| DL | 6-4 | 225 | Grand Forks, N.D. | Grand Forks Central HS
Played defensive end and tight end at Grand Forks Central HS for two seasons … Named Class AA All-State and All-EDC his senior season … Accumulated 44 tackles, eight sacks and 14 TFL’s while at GFCHS … Caught five balls for 119 yards and two scores in 2023 … Helped Grand Forks Central High School make the Class AA state championship game as a senior … Was also a standout basketball player for the Knights.
Jonah Reiling| OL | 6-4 | 295 | Lisbon, Iowa | Lisbon HS
Spent three varsity seasons on the offensive line and defensive line at Lisbon HS … Earned First Team All-State honors on the offensive line as a senior … Named the 2023 District Offensive Line MVP … Two-time First Team All-District … Won the Lisbon Pancake Award twice for the most pancakes in a season … His blocking helped the Lions score 50 or more points in four games in 2023 … His senior season the LHS offense accumulated more than 1,900 rushing yards and scored 41 touchdowns in games where he was on the offensive line … Helped the Lions post a record of 9-1 as a senior … Also participated in wrestling and track.
Keegan Ryan| WR | 6-4 | 200 | Lake City, Minn. | Lake City HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing wide receiver at Lake City HS … Named the 2023 Southeast Red District Offensive Player of the Year … Earned the title of Republican Eagle/Cannon Falls Beacon All-Area Football Player of the Year in 2023 … Named All-Conference both his junior and senior seasons … Recorded 96 receptions for 1,280 yards and 13 touchdowns in his prep career… Rushed 78 times for 608 yards and scored nine rushing touchdowns … Recorded 20 returns for 555 yards and one touchdown … Piled up 147 total tackles and had seven interceptions as a Tiger … Also played basketball and ran track.
Avery Scott| DB | 6-0 | 185 | Newport News, Va. | West Virginia State
Played two years at West Virginia State after graduating from Woodside HS in Virginia … Appeared in all 10 games for the Yellow Jackets in 2023 … Had 37 total tackles (28 solo), five TFL’s, two sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, seven pass breakups and an interception last season … Recorded a 50-yard interception return against Frostburg State … Saw action in three games on defense in 2022 and had a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown at UNC Pembroke in 2022.
William Stobbe| OL | 6-3 | 290 | West Des Moines, Iowa | Waukee HS
Earned three varsity letters while playing on the offensive line at Waukee HS … Named Second Team All-State and First Team All-District in 2022 … Earned honorable mention All-Conference honors after playing in only five games as a senior in 2023 … His blocking helped the Warriors reach the 2023 5A State Quarterfinals.
Jack Sulik| QB | 6-4 | 210 | Burlington, Wis. | Burlington HS
Three-year starter at quarterback at Burlington HS … Named First Team All-Country, All-Region and All-State as a senior … Second Team All-Country and both First Team All-Region and All-Conference as a junior … Piled up 5,020 passing yards and passed for 50 touchdowns in his career … Scored 57 total touchdowns at Burlington HS … Became the all-time leading passer in yards, completions and touchdowns at BHS, passing Tony Romo in the process … Helped the Demons reach the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.
Tyler Thaden| OL | 6-6 | 265 | Elkhorn, Neb. | Millard West HS
Played two varsity seasons on the offensive line at Millard West HS … Named to the 2023 Hurrdat Sports Unheralded Team … Helped MWHS put up 48 points or more in four games his senior season … His blocking helped the Wildcats reach the 2023 state semifinals … Younger brother of current UND offensive linemanTrace Thaden.
Henry Theobald| DB | 6-0 | 170 | Sioux Falls, S.D. | O’Gorman HS
Earned three letters while playing defensive back and wide receiver at O’Gorman HS … Named First Team All-State as both a junior and senior … Received All-Conference honors in 2023 … Member of the 2023 Argus Leader Elite 45 Team … Recorded 80 tackles, 13 PBU’s and picked off five passes in his career … Hauled in 37 catches for 689 yards and seven touchdowns as a Knight … Blocked five kicks in his prep career … Also played basketball and ran track at O’Gorman HS.
Alton Williams| OL | 6-8 | 290 | Sun Prairie, Wis. | Sun Prairie East HS
Three year varsity letterwinner and two-year starter on the offensive line at Sun Prairie East HS … Named First Team All-State, All-Region and All-Conference as a senior … Earned First Team All-Conference and All-Area status as a junior … Helped the Cardinals reach the 2022 state quarterfinals and the 2023 state semifinals.
12/20/2023 10:45:00 AM| By:Tyler Wells, FightingHawks.com
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