Valley City – The Valley City State University football program announced the signing of 35 athletes on Wednesday for the upcoming 2024 season.

The 35 new Vikings have all signed letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at VCSU.

“It’s always exciting to sign the future faces of Viking Football and envision where this group of guys will take our program,” said VCSU head coach Dennis McCulloch. “Our coaching staff works hard to find talented individuals who also fit the ideals of our Viking Brotherhood. We’re ready to get these guys on campus and in practice, and they’re ready to work.”

The group of signees includes six transfers and 29 high school seniors. A trio of transfers – Darrick Even, James Dahn and Malachi Mitchell – have already enrolled at VCSU and will participate in spring practice with the team.

Recruiting is ongoing for the Vikings and more signing will be announced in the coming weeks. The current class is heavy in the tri-state area and includes 11 players from North Dakota, six from Minnesota and three from South Dakota. Also joining the Vikings are five signees from Hawaii, three from Alaska, three from Florida, and one each from Washington, California, Tennessee and Saskatchewan. 

The Vikings are currently scheduled to open the season Aug. 29 at Minot State University. VCSU’s home opener is set to be Sept. 21 against Dakota State University.

2024 Viking Football Signees

NORTH DAKOTA (11)

Jaxon Baumgarn – DL, 6-3, 220 lbs

Lakota High School – Lakota, N.D.

Jim Miller – LB, 5-11, 205 lbs

Fargo North High School – Fargo, N.D.

Dorian Sandness – RB, 5-10, 215 lbs

Fargo South High School – Fargo, N.D.

Logan Rist – RB, 5-11, 175 lbs

Des Lacs-Burlington High School – Minot, N.D.

Darrick Even – WR, 6-2, 200 lbs

Dakota State University (S.D.) – Menoken, N.D.

Jake Hennings – OL, 6-3, 240 lbs

Bottineau High School – Bottineau, N.D.

Cashmyn Belgarde – DB, 5-11, 150 lbs

St. John High School – Dunseith, N.D.

Jake Otto – LB, 5-11, 175 lbs

Carrington High School – Carrington, N.D.

Charlie Leshovsky – DB, 5-10, 165 lbs

West Fargo Horace High School – West Fargo, N.D.

Noah Schuette – OL, 6-1, 220 lbs

Shiloh Christian School – Bismarck, N.D.

Jace Jochim – WR, 6-1, 165 lbs

Linton High School – Linton, N.D.

MINNESOTA (6)

Jace Stewart – DB, 5-10, 170 lbs
Esko High School – Esko, Minn.

Joey Antonutti – LB, 6-0, 200 lbs

Esko High School – Esko, Minn.

James Dahn – DB, 5-11, 175 lbs

Northern State University (S.D.) – Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Malachi Mitchell – DB/LB, 6-0, 190 lbs

Virginia University of Lynchburg (Va.) – Minneapolis, Minn.

Brody O’Keefe – DL, 6-1, 220 lbs

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School – Dilworth, Minn.

Andy Pedroza – DB, 6-0, 170 lbs

Rocori High School – Cold Springs, Minn.

SOUTH DAKOTA (3)

Noah Paulson – DL, 6-1, 245 lbs

Florence-Henry School – Wallace, S.D.

Brent Bearman – LB, 6-0, 190 lbs

Webster Area High School – Webster, S.D.

Emmitt Maher – LB, 6-1, 215 lbs

Lemmon/McIntosh School – McLaughlin, S.D.

HAWAII (5)

Mason Nelson – WR, 6-1, 150 lbs

Kaiser High School – Honolulu, Hawaii

K-Sen Warren – OL, 6-1, 290 lbs

Castle High School – Kaneohe, Hawaii

Taison Tisalona – OL, 6-0, 295 lbs

Waipahu High School – Kaneohe, Hawaii

Rowen-Ray Bucao – WR, 5-10, 170 lbs

James Campbell High School – Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Tobias Vazquez – WR, 6-0, 170 lbs

Pearl City High School – Pearl City, Hawaii

ALASKA (3)

Nolan Thaler – OL, 6-1, 305 lbs

Colony High School – Wasilla, Alaska

Reese Rodriguez – DL, 6-3, 225 lbs

Colony High School – Wasilla, Alaska

Collin Peck – RB, 5-11, 180 lbs

Soldotna High School – Kenai, Alaska

FLORIDA (3)

Jermaine Watson – OL, 6-4, 305 lbs

Boone High School – Orlando, Fla.

Patrick Hall – OL, 6-4, 270 lbs

Doral Academy High School – Miami Springs, Fla.

Laggarius Marshell – RB, 5-10, 190 lbs

Boone High School – Orlando, Fla.

SASKATCHEWAN (1)

Parker Orr – DB, 5-7, 165 lbs

Holland College (Canada) – Regina, Saskatchewan

WASHINGTON (1)

Ethan Kastner – QB, 5-11, 170 lbs

Tumwater High School – Tumwater, Wash.

CALIFORNIA (1)

Ryan Travis – K, 5-10, 195 lbs

College of the Siskiyous (Calif.) – Arbuckle, Calif.

TENNESSEE (1)

Donte Hurt – WR, 6-2, 185 lbs

College of the Redwoods (Calif.) – Clarksville, TN