Football | 2/7/2024 7:16:00 AM
MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead football head football coach Steve Laqua and his staff have announced the 2024 Dragon signing class on National Signing Day, February 7.
See below to learn more about the newest additions to Dragon football.
Sign Time: 8:02 a.m.
Specs: 6-4, 238 pounds
Prep: Was a one-time all-conference selection for Fargo North High School...was also a second-team all-state selection, helping Fargo North to a Class AA state championship in 2023...also competed in basketball and powerlifting.
Personal: Son of Chris and David Rose. Undecided major.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's got the length, definitely an intense player, an intense competitor. The guy wants to win and you can see the intensity he brings and brings a lot of energy to the game. He is an extremely smart player and extremely smart in the classroom. He just continues to check boxes of not just tangible things, but intangible and so we really feel like he's going to have a chance to be super successful for the Dragons."
Sign Time: 8:02 a.m.
Specs: 6-4, 256 pounds
Prep: Played on the defensive line for Grand Forks Red River High School...primarily played at the defensive tackle position for the Roughriders.
Personal: Son of Brabra and Yacouba Traore. Plans to major in pre-physical therapy.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's a great athlete, he's got great size for a defensive lineman. When you throw on his film, you just see there is this high ceiling of what he can do and what he can be. We're excited to get him here to commit to the process to learn the crafts and the techniques that it takes to be a phenomenal defensive lineman."
Sign Time: 8:07 a.m.
Specs: 6-2, 184 pounds
Prep: Started in 27 games for Hinsdale South High School finishing with 16 total touchdowns, five interceptions, five sacks and four forced fumbles...was a two-time all-conference selection while also being named to the all-area team twice...was a team captain for the football team as a senior...also competed in baseball, wrestling and bass fishing.
Personal: Son of Amy and Glenn Fundator. Plans to major in economics.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's one of those receivers that has length, huge hands and obviously that's a benefit as a receiver. He's got position versatility, whether it's inside or outside receiver play."
Sign Time: 8:07 a.m.
Specs: 6-3, 301 pounds
Prep: Started in 28 career games for Centennial High School in Norwoord Young America, Minn...was a team captain for the 2023 district champion team at Centennial...was named an all-district selection in 2022 and 2023...also competed in basketball, track & field, golf and wrestling.
Personal: Son of Shelby and Shaun Erickson. Plans to major in exercise science.
What Coach Laqua Says: "Extremely athletic offensive lineman and was really impressive at our camp. A small-town player that has big town abilities and big time skills."
Sign Time: 8:12 a.m.
Specs: 6-1, 211 pounds
Prep: Was a two-time all-state honoree for Mandan High School...was also a two-time all-conference honoree and was named team defensive MVP as a senior...tallied 68 total tackles with six tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and three interceptions.
Personal: Son of Marnie and Shadd Piehl. Undecided major.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's such a competitor and when you see that competitiveness in multiple areas, not just football, but basketball, too. He's going to compete in the weight room, he's going to compete to be able to get himself on the field and contribute to the football team."
Sign Time: 8:14 a.m.
Specs: 5-8, 170 pounds
Prep: Played three years of varsity for Mayer Lutheran High School, rushing for 3,032 yards for his career and 4,429 all-purpose yards while scoring 36 touchdowns...also made 127 total tackles during his prep career...was a two-time all-conference and all-district selection...was named the district's offensive player of the year as well...also competed in basketball and golf.
Personal: Son of Joelle and Jimmie Grimsley. Plans to major in exercise science.
What Coach Laqua Says: "I think he's one of your typical Dragon slots. I think that was one of the first things that the coaches said about him when we saw him. He's your typical Dragon slot, the size, the shiftiness, the yards after catch. He's definitely got a lot of wiggle in the 5-foot-8, 170 pound frame."
Sign Time: 8:15 a.m.
Specs: 5-10, 174 pounds
Prep: Caught 69 passes for for 1,515 yards and 14 touchdowns with two interceptions and three fumble recoveries for Glenwood High School...set a school record for catches in a season and hold the Glenwood record for receptions in a career...was a first-team all-state selection as well as a two-time all-district selection...also competed in basketball and track & field.
Personal: Son of Lisa and Jeremy Longmeyer. Plans to major in construction management.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He brings that big play ability of not just catching short passes and turning them into big passes, but just flat out running past people. He's going to outrun you, he's going to outjump you and get the football. He's got the ability to go out there and stretch the field and turn any play into a touchdown."
Sign Time: 8:15 a.m.
Specs: 6-2, 263 pounds
Prep: Was a two-time all-conference honoree for Hill-Murray High School...was named the district defensive line MVP as a senior...was also named the team's defensive line MVP.
Personal: Son of Tina and Paul Jewett. Undecided major.
What Coach Laqua Says: "You like the commitment that he has, the physicality, and his love of football is really high. When you start to put those things together, there's a guy that can be successful that's going to be pushing for playing time early in his career because of how important football is to him."
Sign Time: 8:17 a.m.
Specs: 5-10, 195 pounds
Prep: Competed at Tea Area High School where he rushed for 1,039 yards as a senior with 14 touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns...was a all-state and all-conference selection as a senior for Tea Area...set the single-game school record for rushing yards with 229...as a junior, was named an all-state and all-conference performer...also competed in wrestling for Tea Area.
Personal: Son of Michelle and Lynn DeYoung. Undecided major.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's a physical, downhill runner. For Dragon fans, if you're thinking back to past years, he's a blend of Austin Stone and Zayne Medhaug that have been two fabulous backs for us."
Sign Time: 8:25 a.m.
Specs: 6-1, 230 pounds
Prep: Played in 36 career games with 28 starts for Detroit Lakes High School...made 49 tackles as a senior for the Lakers with nine tackles for loss and two sacks...was an all-conference selection both as a junior and senior...also competed wrestling, basketball, baseball and powerlifting.
Personal: Son of Claire and Tim Martin. Plans to major in construction management.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's tough. He's hard nosed and reminds me a lot of a couple of guys on our current team at the same positions at DL. I think of Jacob Brosius as a player cut out of the same cloth as him. Not just physically, but how they play the game. They're scrappy, they're physical,I know most all our games are on turf now, but if you're playing back on grass, when the game's over, this guy is going to have a dirty jersey. He's just in the thick of things wherever it might be."
Sign Time: 8:26 a.m.
Specs: 6-4, 195 pounds
Prep: Made 16 solo tackles to go along with 30 assisted stops as a senior for Fargo South High School...also had a team-best 4.5 sacks as a senior for the Bruins...was an all-conference honorable mention as a senior and was deemed the most valuable defensive lineman...also competed in basketball and track & field.
Personal: Son of Chantel and Brent Hoffert. Undecided major.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He has the frame, has the length, extremely explosive and a long football player. When you think about wingspan and keeping people off of you when you're on a pass rush and being able to have long arms to keep those tackles off. That is something that he can do and he's got the desire to be physical along with it."
Sign Time: 8:30 a.m.
Specs: 6-1, 267 pounds
Prep: Had 58 pancakes on the offensive line as a senior at Wayzata High School with over 120 pancakes for his prep career...on defense, registered 31 total tackles and four tackles for loss as a senior...was an first team all-district selection as well as a two-time all-area honoree...was named to the Minnesota High School All-Star game...also competed in track & field where he was an all-state performer in shot put.
Personal: Son of Mercy-Appleton Wilson and Emmanual Wilson Sr. Plans to major in political science/pre-law
What Coach Laqua Says: "This guy flat out moves people. Period. If you're a guy that is in his way, he's going to go through you. He's got great lower body strength and the ability to bend to play with leverage that gets under defenders if you're on the tracks."
Sign Time: 8:31 a.m.
Specs: 6-2, 209 pounds
Prep: Made 73 total tackles with a sack and a forced fumble for Stanley High School as a senior...was a three-time all-conference honoree in his time in high school...was also an all-state nominee as a senior...also competed in basketball and track & field.
Personal: Son of Carol and Blair Hynek. Plans to major in construction management.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's one of those typical small town guys that are maybe raw right now, but that really grow into being able to excel on one side of the football field once they hit college."
Sign Time: 8:34 a.m.
Specs: 6-2, 268 pounds
Prep: Made 51 total tackles with one sack and six tackles for loss for Fargo Shanley High School as a senior...was a first team all-state selection as a senior...also competed in track & field and trap shooting.
Personal: Son of Ryan and Rachel Rogen. Plans to major in construction management.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's ahead of the curve and so that's what's exciting. I really felt like as a junior he was under the radar. We saw him at our camp and did a lot of great things. Then you start to dig into it more and you find out what he can do and how he can be success."
Sign Time: 8:35 a.m.
Specs: 6-2, 241 pounds
Prep: Started in 30 career games for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School making 52 tackles...was both a first team and second team all-conference selection in his prep career...was a member of two conference championship teams while at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn...was team captain his senior season...also competed in track & field.
Personal: Son of Erica and Andrew Schierholz. Plans to major in business finance.
What Coach Laqua Says: "We have not had many that we've had out of Iowa but we've tried to expand that recruiting area. There's a distance which means he's got to be fully bought into the program, into what we're doing and understand that he's going to be away from home but this is going to feel like home away from home. Really feel like he's a guy that's going to be able to buy into the process."
Sign Time: 8:36 a.m.
Specs: 5-11, 165 pounds
Prep: Was a three-year starter at Fargo North High School where he connected on 14 career field goals on 16 attempts with a long of 42 yards...made 143 of 150 PAT in his career and completed his prep career with 185 career points for the Spartans...finished his career as the all-time leader in points by a kicker in Fargo North history and second in points scored in school history.
Personal: Son of Lori and Zach Watson. Plans to major in business administration.
What Coach Laqua Says: "Big leg, obviously, you can see that from a distance standpoint in both kickoffs and field goals. I think the part that's maybe more important than how big your leg is, is how cool under pressure you are. What kind of a clutch kicker are you? He checks those boxes. I don't know that there's things that rattle him."
Sign Time: 8:37 a.m.
Specs: 6-3, 269 pounds
Prep: Started 15 games for Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School on both the offensive and defensive lines...did not surrender a sack on the offensive line as a senior and made 25 tackles for the Rebels...was an all-district and all-section honoree as a senior while also being named the team's offensive MVP...competed in the Minnesota High School All-Star game...also competed in track & field and basketball.
Personal: Son of Jacque and David Dudgeon. Undecided major.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's one of those guys right down the road that we feel like is maybe a diamond in the rough. If he continues to develop into his body, develop into the skills that it takes to be a great offensive lineman. He's got a great frame, moves his feet really well and was a guy that coach AJ Scott, our offensive line coach, was really excited about."
Sign Time: 8:38 a.m.
Specs: 5-10, 161 pounds
Prep: Started varsity as a freshman for Thief River Falls and holds a career field goal long of 35 yards...was named the team's specialist of the year as a senior...was a first team all-district as well...also competed in hockey, soccer and track & field.
Personal: Son of Heather and Leif Spears. Plans to major in business management.
What Coach Laqua Says: "Same hometown, same same high school as Brady Olson, one of our offensive linemen. Brady had been talking about how cool under pressure he is and what a good person he is, what a good player he is. He's done some really nice things at kicking camps when you look at him working on perfecting his craft."
Sign Time: 8:39 a.m.
Specs: 6-0, 178 pounds
Prep: Played in 22 games for Bismarck Century, rushing for 1,600 yards in his career...in his senior season, rushed for 1,328 yards with 14 total touchdowns...also had a career receiving mark of 430 yards and 23 total touchdowns....first team all-state as a senior where he was also a team captain...also competed in baseball, track & field and basketball.
Personal: Son of Tonia Lill and Chad Lindeman. Plans to major in exercise science.
What Coach Laqua Says: "Played a lot at running back and we see him as having great skills there, but tremendous skills as a wide receiver with his size and speed. There's a couple of places that he can play because he's got tremendous measurables if you look at what he can do physically."
Sign Time: 8:40 a.m.
Specs: 6-1, 185 pounds
Prep: Was named all-conference and all-section selection for Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton as a senior...was also named the team's MVP and most improved...was also a team captain as a senior...also competed in basketball and track & field while at DGF.
Personal: Son of Amy and Keith Friend. Undecided major.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's got a great frame, he's tough, he's one of those guys that you feel like is going to find his way onto the football field, whatever it takes. He's that type of committed player to the process."
Sign Time: 8:43 a.m.
Specs: 5-11, 182 pounds
Prep: Started in 29 career games for Devils Lake High School...tallied 1,848 receiving yards with 24 touchdowns for his career...as a senior, grabbed 71 receptions for 884 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns...first team all-state and a two-time second-team all-state honoree...two-time all-EDC team...also competed in basketball, baseball and track & field.
Personal: Son of Allison and Chad Hofstad. Plans to major finance.
What Coach Laqua Says: "A guy that was a captain on his football team a multi-sport player that is very committed to the process to not only get himself better, but his teammates better, too."
Sign Time: 8:44 a.m.
Specs: 5-9, 176 pounds
Prep: Played in 21 games for Prior Lake High School...had 163 attempt for 1,203 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns...also played on defense, making 107 total tackles as a safety with an interceptions and seven pass breakups...was a an all-district and all-conference selection...also competed in track & field and hockey.
Personal: Son of Janell and Mark MacGillivray. Plans to major in business administration.
What Coach Laqua Says: "We project them as a defensive back, but played a lot of running back and is a tremendous track athlete. He's an absolute culture fit. The guy took a lot of visits to campus and so he got a great view of who we are in our program and what we're about, but we also got a great view of who he is and what he's about and how committed and how important the game of football is to him."
Sign Time: 8:45 a.m.
Specs: 5-11, 207 pounds
Personal: Was a three-year starter for Pelican Rapids High School...passed for 3,914 yards with 38 touchdowns to go along with 2,279 career rushing yards for 33 touchdowns...also played on defense, making 59.5 total tackles with two sacks...was a two-time district MVP, three-time all-district, two-time all-section and a three-year captain for Pelican Rapids...also competed in basketball and baseball.
Prep: Son of Amanda and Eric Guler. Plans to major in physical education.
What Coach Laqua Says: "When you hear so many people singing someone's praises, you know that there's something special and there's something I think that is special about Timmy and what he's going to bring to the program."
Sign Time: 8:48 a.m.
Specs: 6-1, 195 pounds
Prep: Made 75 total tackles for Alexandria Area High School as a senior...was named the team's most valuable defensive back and defensive player of the year as a senior...was an all-district, all-section and all-state selection as well...was named the Northstar North District Defensive Player of the Year.
Personal: Son of Jenny and Fred Staples. Plans to major in business administration.
What Coach Laqua Says: "I remember popping on his highlight film during the season after he had already committed, but just watching him, he was all over the field, just making plays. One of those guys that definitely was a leader on his football team and helped contribute to a successful season and has contributed to a successful program there."
Sign Time: 8:50 a.m.
Specs: 5-10, 183 pounds
Prep: Started in 28 games for Thorp High School and would go on to rush for 1,400 yards in his career as well as 500 receiving yards...was a two-time first team all-conference selection and all-region as a defensive back...was an all-state honorable mention as a defensive back as well...was a three-year captain for Thorp while also earning all-state honors as a receiver.
Personal: Son of Sheila Wundrow and Daniel Sutton. Plans to major in biology.
What Coach Laqua Says: "We're excited about bringing him here into the program, helping him find the right position, developing him in the weight room and help him settle into a great football career with the Dragons."
Sign Time: 8:51 a.m.
Specs: 6-0, 170 pounds
Prep: Made 27 starts for St. Thomas More High School with a career-best game of eight catches, 164 yards and a pair of scores...was a team captain for the football team as a senior and was an all-conference honoree...was also an all-conference honorable mention twice during his career...also competed in basketball, baseball and track & field.
Personal: Son of Katherine and Cody Young. Plans to major in exercise/military science.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He catches everything and he has such a great catch radius and ability to track the ball. Obviously you've got to have great hands to be able to make the play in traffic. He comes from a great family that made a tremendous commitment to make multiple visits here to make sure that this was the right fit."
Sign Time: 8:53 a.m.
Specs: 6-1, 226 pounds
Prep: Played in 34 career games for Buffalo High School and made 23 starts throughout his career...had 60 total tackles including 12 tackles for loss...as a senior, accounted for five of Buffalo's eight sacks on the year...was a team captain his senior season while also being named an all-district performer...also competed in track & field.
Personal: Son of Nicole and Mike Winfield. Plans to major in business administration.
What Coach Laqua Says: "Tremendous energy, tremendous personality. When you're around him, you can feel it. I think coaches can feel it, teammates can feel it and on visits, recruits can feel it. He's a guy that was at our camp and I think just completely blew us away with his movement skills, change of direction and ability to have snap explosion."
Sign Time: 8:55 a.m.
Specs: 6-2, 260 pounds
Prep: Was a three-year starter for Mandan High School...was named a first team all-state and all-conference performer as a senior for the Braves...was a second team all-state and all-conference player as a junior...as a senior, was named the team MVP and most valuable lineman...also competed in track & field where he was a state qualifier in shot put as a junior.
Personal: Son of Lisa and Scott Corbin. Plans to major in business administration.
What Coach Laqua Says: "This is a hard-nosed, tough football player in the trenches and that's what football programs need. At the end of the day, it's about blocking and tackling and you've got to be able to win in the trenches and you need tough guys that can do that. He does that."
Sign Time: 8:56 a.m.
Specs: 5-7, 165 pounds
Prep: Was an all-conference honorable mention for Prior Lake High School and was also named the team's offensive MVP his senior season...racked up over 900 all-purpose yards for Prior Lake as a senior with a total of nine touchdowns...also competed and started for the Prior Lake baseball team where he was named a sub-state MVP.
Personal: Son of Michelle and Jon Barrett. Plans to major in business.
What Coach Laqua Says: "Jaxson brings a lot of dynamite to the field as far as being at wideout and being able to make plays after he gets the ball in his hand."
Sign Time: 8:58 a.m.
Specs: 6-2, 226 pounds
Prep: Played in eight games as a senior at Mayer Lutheran High School, making 92 total tackles with three sacks and a pair of forced fumbles...as a junior, made 77 tackles with two interceptions and two defensive touchdowns...was an all-district honorable mention as a senior and an all-district performer as a junior...also competed in basketball.
Personal: Son of Amy and Mike Neitzel. Plans to major in communications.
What Coach Laqua Says: "You look at that toughness, that desire to get on the football field to play with his teammates, to help find success. All those things translate into a successful college career."
Sign Time: 9:18 a.m.
Specs: 6-0, 198 pounds
Prep: Played in 22 games for Fargo Shanley High School, making 139 total tackles...was named second team all-state as a senior for the Deacons...also competed in basketball and track & field.
Personal: Son of Jessica Tibor and Shawn Christmann. Plans to major in exercise science.
What Coach Laqua Says: "I think he was instrumental in our recruiting class as being a guy that committed early and was connected with a lot of different people. I think he really worked hard through his own channels and own connections to build the the Dragon football recruiting class."
Sign Time: 9:19 a.m.
Specs: 6-0, 185 pounds
Prep: Holds a career best of 251 yards rushing in one game...was named the offensive MVP as a senior at Bishop HeelanCatholic High School...was also a two-time team captain for Bishop Heelan as well as an all-district honoree...also competed in track & field, running sprints.
Personal: Son of Myrah and Jerry Favors. Plans to major in pre-pharmacy.
What Coach Laqua Says: "This guy has big play ability. It's one of those things where you feel like anytime he touches the football, he has a chance to make something big happen."
Sign Time: 9:27 a.m.
Specs: 6-3, 251 pounds
Prep: Has career totals of 183 total tackles including 67 solo stops for Alexandria Area High School...also made 20 career tackles for loss with seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries...was an all-district selection as a junior...North Star defensive lineman of the year and an all-section honoree as a senior...also competed in baseball.
Personal: Son of Heidi Carlson and Jerry Rumohr. Plans to major in construction management.
What Coach Laqua Says: "Just watching him, he's another guy that opposing coaches raved about that said: 'Hey, here's here's a guy you got to look into…here's a guy that you guys got to recruit…here's a guy that's going to be a successful Dragon…here's a guy you want to get into your program'."
Sign Time: 11:07 a.m.
Specs: 6-3, 268 pounds
Prep: Played tight end for Lac Qui Parley Valley where he caught 30 balls for 607 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns...also found the end zone five times on the ground...was an all-conference performer twice while also being named the team MVP...also competed in basketball and baseball.
Personal: Son of Amanda Molden. Undecided major.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's got a lot of room to grow and such a high upside for potential because he's so athletic. You can see that since he played multiple positions in high school and he is probably in a position where he could be multi-positional here in college."
Sign Time: 11:19 a.m.
Specs: 5-11, 170 pounds
Prep: Played all four years of prep football for Centennial High School, primarily playing wide receiver...also competed in basketball while at Centennial.
Personal: Son of Roxanne and Jeramie Burgoon. Undecided major.
What Coach Laqua Says: "He's one of those tough-as-nails type guys that plays different positions. We liked that versatility when you're looking at being able to translate into doing different things on the football field whether in the backfield or at receiver."
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