A talent-laden group of 36 high school seniors – including two local prep standouts – have signed their National Letters of Intent or Letter of Acceptance to attend and play football for the University of Minnesota Duluth football in 2025.
"We are excited to welcome this group of young men into the Bulldog football family," said head coach Curt Wiese. "Our staff and campus community worked hard over the last year to help secure a bright future for our program in these 36 student-athletes. Recruiting and developing the best high school student-athletes in our areas of focus has always been the start of the foundation for our program. I look forward to seeing this group start practice this fall as they begin their careers here at UMD."
The 2025 recruiting class is composed of 20 incoming freshmen from Minnesota, 11 from Wisconsin, two from Nevada, and one from Kansas, Illinois, and North Carolina.
The Bulldogs wrapped their 90th season of intercollegiate football this past fall with an overall record of 7-4, while going 6-4 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
2025 CLASS BY POSITION BREAKDOWN
Defensive Backs - 8
Defensive Linemen - 7
Linebackers - 4
Running Backs - 3
Offensive Linemen - 5
Wide Receivers - 4
Quarterbacks - 2
Tight Ends - 2
Kickers - 1
Brenden Adams (WR - 6'1" - 160 - Las Vegas, Nev. - Desert Oasis High School)
Jadon Apgar (K - 6'0" - 185 - Cary, Ill. - Cary-Grove High School)
Caleb Bancroft (TE - 6'7" - 225 - Stewartville, Minn. - Stewartville High School)
Cameron Begalle (WR - 6'0" - 185 - Andover, Minn. - Andover High School)
Kaden Bonds (OL - 6'3" - 275 - Apple Valley, Minn. - Lakeville South High School)
Chase Brandl (DB - 5'10" - 170 - Oshkosh, Wis. - Oshkosh West High School)
Ollie Englund (DL - 6'5" - 210 - Chanhassen, Minn. - Chanhassen High School)
Ethan Giesler (DL - 6'2" - 240 - Farmington, Minn. - Farmington High School)
Riley Grossman (QB - 6'0" - 185 - Lakeville, Minn. - Lakeville North High School)
Jacob Haughton (TE - 6'2" - 215 - Racine, Wis. - Racine Case High School)
Liam Holmberg (DB - 6'0" - 195 - Edina, Minn. - Edina High School)
Scott Holper (WR - 6'0" - 170 - Henderson, Nev. - Coronado High School)
Charlie Hornacek (DB - 6'2" - 185 - De Pere, Wis. - Notre Dame De La Baie Academy)
Braeden Jansen (OL - 6'3" - 290 - Kaukauna, Wis. - Kaukauna High School)
Luke Jung (LB - 6'2" - 200 - Neenah, Wis. - Neenah High School)
Chris King (DL - 6'3" - 255 - Virginia, Minn. - Mountain Iron-Buhl High School)
Derek Klein (DB - 6'0" - 190 - DeForest, Wis. - DeForest High School)
Brody Kok (LB - 6'2" - 210 - Princeton, Minn. - Princeton High School)
Caleb Koury (OL - 6'5" - 315 - West St. Paul, Minn. - Two Rivers High School)
Blake Krause (DL - 6'3" - 230 - Lakeville, Minn. - Lakeville North High School)
Cooper Lawton (RB - 5'9" - 185 - South Range, Wis. - Northwestern High School)
Spencer Lewis (DL - 6'3" - 260 - Richfield, Minn. - Richfield High School)
Joshua Mackiewicz (DB - 6'3" - 205 - Shawnee, Kan. - Shawnee Mission Northwest High School)
Tate Nelson (DB - 5'11" - 160 - Two Harbors, Minn. Two Harbors High School)
Luke Pappas (OL - 6'3" - 270 - Plymouth, Minn. - Robbinsdale Armstrong High School)
Tyler Phillips (OL - 6'3" - 300 - Raleigh, N.C. - Cameron High School)
Brady Schauer (DL - 6'2" - 285 - Sun Prairie, Wis. - Sun Prairie East High School)
Gavin Schmidt (LB - 6'1" - 210 - Elk River, Minn. - Elk River High School)
Parker Schuh (WR - 6'2" - 185 - Combined Locks, Wis. - Kaukauna High School)
Sam Shaughnessy (QB - 6'2" - 190 - Ham Lake, Minn. - Blaine High School)
Max Speratos (DL - 6'4" - 235 - Farmington, Minn. - Farmington High School)
Landon Taylor (LB - 6'0" - 225 - Kenosha, Wis. - Westosha Central High School)
Luke Webber (DB - 6'0" - 190 - Owatonna, Minn. - Owatonna High School)
Zachary Welch (RB - 5'11" - 205 - Champlin, Minn. - Anoka High School)
Ryan Wettstein (DB - 5'11" - 175 - De Pere, Wis. - De Pere High School)
Isaiah Wright (RB - 5'11" - 195 - Fertile, Minn. - Fertile-Beltrami High School)
THE 2025 BULLDOG RECRUITING CLASS AT A GLANCE
Brenden Adams (WR - 6'1" - 160 - Las Vegas, Nev. - Desert Oasis High School)
Three-year starter (WR/DB) at Desert Oasis High School… played under head coach Matt Rosdahl… captain of the team his senior year… tied the career receiving touchdown record… top scorer in conference his senior year… participated in basketball and track & field for three years in high school.
Jadon Apgar (K - 6'0" - 185 - Cary, Ill. - Cary-Grove High School)
Three-year starter (K) at Cary-Grove High School… played under head coach Brad Seaburg… won a state championship his junior year… 2023 All-Area kicker… 2024 IHSA Semi-finalist… FVC All-Conference.
Caleb Bancroft (TE - 6'7" - 225 - Stewartville, Minn. - Stewartville High School)
Started his senior year (TE) at Stewartville High School… played under head coach Garrett Mueller… 2x MSHSL football state champion in high school… earned All-Conference and All-District awards his senior year… a four-year starter in basketball.
Cameron Begalle (WR - 6'0" - 185 - Andover, Minn. - Andover High School)
Two-year starter (WR) at Andover High School… played under head coach Tom Develice… team captain his senior year… earned All-State honors his junior year… also earned All-Conference, All-District, and All-Metro in 2023…participated in track & field as well, where he broke the school record for 100m dash… father played for UMD in the 1999-2000 season.
Kaden Bonds (OL - 6'3" - 275 - Apple Valley, Minn. - Lakeville South High School)
Two-year starter (OL) at Lakeville South High School… played under head coach Ben Burk… team captain his senior year… 2024 All-District honorable mention… lettered in track & field (shot put).
Chase Brandl (DB - 5'10" - 170 - Oshkosh, Wis. - Oshkosh West High School)
Three-year starter at Oshkosh West High School… played under head coach Joseph Ray… team captain his junior and senior year… earned All-Conference his junior year (QB)... earned All-Conference his senior year (WR)... participated in basketball for three years and track & field for four.
Ollie Englund (DL - 6'5" - 210 - Chanhassen, Minn. - Chanhassen High School)
Two-year starter (DL) at Chanhassen High School… played under head coach Cullen Nelson… earned All-Conference award his senior year…led his team in sacks, TFL's and forced fumbles in 2024…2023 MSHSL State champion.
Ethan Giesler (DL - 6'2" - 240 - Farmington, Minn. - Farmington High School)
Three-year starter (DL) at Farmington High School… played under coaches Jon Pieper and Rick Sutton… team captain his senior year… 2024 South Suburban District honorable mention player… also participated in track & field his junior year.
Riley Grossman (QB - 6'0" - 185 - Lakeville, Minn. - Lakeville North High School)
Four-year starter (QB) at Lakeville North High School… played under head coach Brian Vossen… team captain his senior year… earned Offensive District MVP award in 2024…holds the school record for All-Time Passing Yards, All-Time Passing TD's, and All-Time Starts… participated in the 2024 MFCA All-Star game… played basketball for two years.
Jacob Haughton (TE - 6'2" - 215 - Racine, Wis. - Racine Case High School)
Four-year starter (WR/TE) at Racine Case High School… played under head coach Anton Graham… earned First team All-Conference twice… All-State honorable mention… won the long jump state championship in track & field his Junior year…also playing Baseball at UMD
Liam Holmberg (DB - 6'0" - 195 - Edina, Minn. - Edina High School)
Two-year starter (DB) at Edina High School… played under head coach Jason Potts… team captain his senior year… team MVP his senior year… participated in wrestling, where he started for three years… ran varsity track for two years.
Scott Holper (WR - 6'0" - 170 - Henderson, Nev. - Coronado High School)
Two-year starter (WR/DB) at Coronado High School… played under head coach Shawn Dupris.
Charlie Hornacek (DB- 6'2" - 185 - De Pere, Wis. - Notre Dame De La Baie Academy)
Two-year starter (WR/DB) at Notre Dame De La Baie Academy… played under head coach Mike Rader… earned Team Defensive MVP his senior year… First-Team All-Conference two years in a row… Won the 2024 WIAA State football championship… started on varsity lacrosse his junior year.
Braeden Jansen (OL - 6'3" - 290 - Kaukauna, Wis. - Kaukauna High School)
Three-year starter (OL) at Kaukauna High School… played under head coach Matt Binsfeld… team captain his senior year… FVA Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2024… unanimous First-Team All-Conference… was a part of the National Honor Society… participated in track & field for one year.
Luke Jung (LB - 6'2" - 200 - Neenah, Wis. - Neenah High School)
Three-year starter (LB/TE) at Neenah High School… played under head coach Steve Jung (father)... team captain his senior year… All-Region (TE) his senior year… led the FVA in tackles in 2024… conference champions in 2022 and 2024… was a part of the National Honor Society… participated in basketball and track & field.
Chris King (DL - 6'3" - 255 - Virginia, Minn. - Mountain Iron-Buhl High School)
Three-year starter (DL/OL) at Mountain Iron-Buhl High School… played under head coach Dan Zubich… team captain his senior year… earned All-State (DL) in 2024… 2024 All-District MVP… earned All-State (OL) in 2023… 2023 District Defensive Lineman of the Year… 2022 MSHSL state champion… participated in basketball for two years.
Derek Klein (DB - 6'0" - 190 - DeForest, Wis. - DeForest High School)
Two-year starter (DB) at DeForest High School… played under head coach Aaron Mack… team captain his senior year… earned Team Defensive MVP his junior and senior year… also led the team in tackles both of those years… participated in track & field for three years and basketball for two.
Brody Kok (LB - 6'2" - 210 - Princeton, Minn. - Princeton High School)
Three-year starter (QB/LB) at Princeton High School…played under head coach Ryan Fay… All-District Honorable Mention in 2023… earned All-Conference award in 2024… played hockey for four years.
Caleb Koury (OL - 6'5" - 315 - West St. Paul, Minn. - Two Rivers High School)
Three-year starter (OL) at Two Rivers High School… played under coaches Thomas Orth and Bruce Carpenter… team captain his junior and senior year…earned All-District his junior and senior year… also earned Team Lineman of the Year in 2023 and 2024… was a part of the National Honor Society… participated in wrestling and track & field.
Blake Krause (DL - 6'3" - 230 - Lakeville, Minn. - Lakeville North High School)
Three-year starter (TE/RB/LB) at Lakeville North High School… played under head coach Brian Vossen… team captain his senior year… Team Defensive MVP in 2024… earned All-Conference his senior year… participated in wrestling.
Cooper Lawton (RB - 5'9" - 185 - South Range, Wis. - Northwestern High School)
Two-year starter (RB/DL) at Northwestern High School… played under head coach Jovin Kroll… team captain his senior year… earned First-Team All-Conference his junior and senior year… participated in track & field as well (throws and sprints)... was a part of the National Honor Society… father Peter Lawton is a Hall of Famer at UMD for football… mother Crystal Lawton played volleyball at UMD.
Spencer Lewis (DL - 6'3" - 260 - Richfield, Minn. - Richfield High School)
Four-year starter (DL) at Richfield High School… played under head coach Kristian Pulford… team captain his senior year… earned All-Conference and All-District awards in 2024… also participated in track & field and alpine skiing for four years.
Joshua Mackiewicz (DB - 6'3" - 205 - Shawnee, Kan. - Shawnee Mission Northwest High School)
Three-year starter (WR/DB) at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School…played under head coach Bo Black… team captain his senior year… earned Team MVP in 2024… earned First-Team All Sunflower league award in 2024… was a part of the National Honor Society… played hockey for four years, where he started two seasons.
Tate Nelson (DB - 5'11" - 160 - Two Harbors, Minn. Two Harbors High School)
Four-year starter (RB/WR/DB) at Two Harbors High School… played under head coach Tom Nelson (Father)… earned All-District awards his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons… was the District Defensive Player of the Year in 2024… was a part of the National Honor Society…also participated in track & field where he holds the school record for 100m dash, 200m dash, and long jump.
Luke Pappas (OL - 6'3" - 270 - Plymouth, Minn. - Robbinsdale Armstrong High School)
Four-year starter (OL) at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School… played under head coach Jack Negan… team captain his senior year… earned All-District Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2023 and 2024… Team Offensive Lineman of the Year his junior and senior year… participated in track & field.
Tyler Phillips (OL - 6'3" - 300 - Raleigh, N.C. - Cameron High School)
Four-year starter (OL/DL) at Cameron High School… played under head coach Charlie Roherty… team captain his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons… 2x All-Conference for offensive and defensive line… 2x All-Region for offensive and defensive line… participated in track & field and wrestling.
Brady Schauer (DL - 6'2" - 285 - Sun Prairie, Wis. - Sun Prairie East High School)
Two-year starter (DL/OL) at Sun Prairie East High School… played under head coach Brian Kaminski… 2x First-Team All-Conference (2023, 2024)... was a part of the leadership team in high school…participated in track & field.
Gavin Schmidt (LB - 6'1" - 210 - Elk River, Minn. - Elk River High School)
Three-year starter (LB/RB) at Elk River High School… played under head coach Steve Hamilton… team captain his junior and senior year… earned District Offensive MVP his senior year… competed in the 2024 MFCA All-Star Game… MSHSL state champion in 2022 and 2024… participated in track & field.
Parker Schuh (WR - 6'2" - 185 - Combined Locks, Wis. - Kaukauna High School)
Three-year starter (WR) at Kaukauna High School… team captain his senior year…played under head coach Matt Binsfield… earned FVA WR of the Year his junior and senior seasons… hold the record for Kaukauna's All-Time Receiving Yards… was a part of the National Honor Society… participated in track & field.
Sam Shaughnessy (QB - 6'2" - 190 - Ham Lake, Minn. - Blaine High School)
Two-year starter (QB/DB) at Blaine High School… played under head coach Michael Law… team captain his senior year… earned All-State and All-Conference awards his senior year… led 6A in total yards in 2024… was a Mr. Football finalist… both parents attended UMD as well, and his father was a football player… also participated in hockey and track & field.
Max Speratos (DL - 6'4" - 235 - Farmington, Minn. - Farmington High School)
Two-year starter (DL/TE) at Farmington High School… played under coaches Jon Pieper and Rick Sutton… team captain his senior year… 2x First-Team All-District (2023, 2024)... led the team in sacks his junior and senior year… was an honor roll student all four years…participated in track & field.
Landon Taylor (LB - 6'0" - 225 - Kenosha, Wis. - Westosha Central High School)
Three-year starter (LB/RB) at Westosha Central High School…played under head coach Jared Franz…team captain his junior and senior year…3x First Team All-Conference… 2024 All-Region LB… 2024 All-Kenosha County Player of the Year… school leader for both tackles and rush yards in a career… 2024 WFCA All-State Honor… also participated in lacrosse.
Luke Webber (DB - 6'0" - 190 - Owatonna, Minn. - Owatonna High School)
Two-year starter (WR/DB) at Owatonna High School… played under head coach Jeff Williams… earned All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2023… earned All-Conference in 2024… 2x section champions… participated in track & field where he holds the school record for 200m dash.
Zachary Welch (RB - 5'11" - 205 - Champlin, Minn. - Anoka High School)
Three-year starter (RB/LB/DB) at Anoka High School… played under head coach Bo Wasurick… team captain his junior and senior year… 3x All-Conference award…2x Team MVP Award (2023, 2024)... All-State his senior year… participated in track & field.
Ryan Wettstein (DB - 5'11" - 175 - De Pere, Wis. - De Pere High School)
Two-year starter (DB) at De Pere High School… played under head coach Ben Strickland… team captain his senior year… led the team in interceptions his junior year… 2x All-Conference awards (2023, 2024)... participated in baseball.
Isaiah Wright (RB - 5'11" - 195 - Fertile, Minn. - Fertile-Beltrami High School)
Three-year starter (RB/WR/DB) at Fertile-Beltrami High School… played under head coach Brian Nelson… earned All-Conference his junior and senior year… All-State 9-Player Team his junior and senior year… competed in the 2024 MFCA All-Star game… participated in basketball and track & field.
