ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The defending National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national champions, the Northwestern College football team announced 35 signees on National Signing Day, head coach Matt McCarty announced.
“This is an outstanding group of young men with potential impact players across the board and at all positions,” noted McCarty. “We believe this group will help us continue to compete at a championship level.”
This year’s recruiting class sees a nice balance of offensive and defensive athletes, with 16 coming in on both sides of the ball. One athlete is listed as a two-way player, and two more listed as ‘athlete’ on the roster coming into Northwestern.
Of the recruiting class, 23 athletes hail from the state of Iowa. South Dakota is represented with seven signees. Five states see one athlete represented: Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Texas.
Three incoming names to note, per the Red Raider coaching staff:
Kylar Fritz, Defensive Back
6-1 // 195 // Sioux Center, Iowa // Sioux Center
Fritz, the 3A Defensive Most Valuable Player – District 1 in the state of Iowa, comes to Northwestern after leading Sioux Center High School to the 2022 3A State Playoffs, before falling by a field goal to Nevada High School. The Warriors ended the 2022 campaign with a 5-5 record.
He led Sioux Center in tackles with 101 on the season with 81 of them being solo tackles. The mark sat 14th in the state of Iowa at the 3A level. He also led the team with his five interceptions and brought one back for a touchdown.
Korver Hupke, Offensive Line
6-2 // 245 // Independence, Iowa // Independence
Hupke was a member of an Independence High School squad that went 10-2 and advanced to the Quarterfinals in the 3A bracket, falling to Humboldt 34-26.
On defense this past season, he recorded 46.5 total tackles (third on the team), 2.5 sacks (second on team), and 34 solo tackles (third on the team).
Brady Lynott, Athlete
6-2 // 210 // Hawarden, Iowa // West Sioux
Lynott, a member of the West Sioux High School team, helped guide the squad to an 11-2 record and helped guide the team to a 1A state championship game appearance.
He accounted for the team’s second-best total touchdowns (27) and rushing touchdowns (11). He recorded 1,458 all-purpose yards, while tallying 944 yards receiving and 441 yards on the ground. His 16 receiving touchdowns also led the team this past season.
First Last Height Weight Position High School Hometown
Drew Alger 6-1 175 DB Spirit Lake Milford, Iowa
Joel Bayens 6-2 245 OL Des Moines Christian West Des Moines, Iowa
Gabe Borchers 6-2 210 DE Unity Christian Sioux Center, Iowa
Carter Bultman 6-1 195 RB West Sioux Hawarden, Iowa
Gavin De Hoogh 6-1 235 DE Western Christian Sheldon, Iowa
Dillyn DeHoyos 5-10 165 WR Marion (TX) Schertz, Texas
Joey Desir 5-11 175 QB Shiloh Christian Bismarck, N.D.
Brock Fisher 6-0 210 DE BH/RV Alton, Iowa
Camdyn Frederes 6-0 205 LB SF Jefferson Sioux Falls, S.D.
Kylar Fritz 6-1 195 DB Sioux Center Sioux Center, Iowa
Jaxson Hildebrand 6-1 220 LB Denison Denison, Iowa
Sam Hofer 6-0 170 DB Bridgewater/Emery/Ethan Bridgewater, S.D.
Korver Hupke 6-2 245 OL Independence Independence, Iowa
Owen Junker 6-5 265 OL Lenox Lenox, Iowa
Lane Kenny 6-3 185 ATH Akron-Westfield Chatsworth, Iowa
Ayden Klein 5-11 170 DB MOC-Floyd Valley Orange City, Iowa
Tyson Klein 6-2 205 LB Scottsbluff Scottsbluff, Neb.
Camden Kruse 6-2 175 DB West Lyon Inwood, Iowa
Colton Leslie 6-4 315 OL Nevada Nevada, Iowa
Brady Lynott 6-2 210 ATH West Sioux Hawarden, Iowa
Evan Maxwell 6-4 320 OL Earlham Winterset, Iowa
Owen Menninga 6-2 245 OL Pella Christian Pella, Iowa
Caden Meyer 6-4 220 DL Newell-Fonda Newell, Iowa
Aydn Netten 6-3 185 WR/DB Van Meter Van Meter, Iowa
Dylan Schillinger 6-2 200 DE MOC-Floyd Valley Alton, Iowa
Griffen Schnider 6-0 235 OL Tea Area Tea, S.D.
Jackson Sklenar 6-0 195 TE Glidden-Ralston Glidden, Iowa
Jackson Smythe 5-11 195 LB Tea Area Tea, S.D.
Jarrett Spinnato 5-8 150 RB Tarkio Tarkio, Mo.
Jaxsen Tadlock 5-11 205 DE Beresford Beresford, S.D.
Daniel Teerink 6-0 200 RB Billings West Molt, Mont.
Blake Thompson 5-10 160 WR Tea Area Tea, S.D.
Carter Van Donge 5-11 165 WR SF Christian Sioux Falls, S.D.
Ashtin Van’t Hul 6-1 180 WR Western Christian Rock Valley, Iowa
Campbell Wessels 5-9 155 DB Spencer Spencer, Iowa
(NOTE: Student-athletes listed in alphabetical order by last name.)
“These young men have been difference makers in their programs and will continue to excel on the field, in the classroom, and on our campus,” said McCarty.
