VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUViking.com) – The Valley City State University football program has signed 41 student-athletes who will join the Vikings for the 2019 season.
Head coach Dennis McCulloch and his staff announced the additions on Wednesday. All 41 have signed letters of intent to continue their education and football careers at VCSU this fall.
“Excitement is always high on days like today, when we get a glimpse at the future of Viking Football,” said McCulloch. “We can’t wait to start working with these guys this fall and welcome them into our program. Our coaching staff worked extremely hard in recruiting this year and did a fantastic job of finding players that fit the culture of our program and our campus.”
The 2019 class so far spans 10 different states and includes 11 players from North Dakota, nine from Washington, seven from Minnesota, four from Alaska, two each from South Dakota, California, Texas and Arizona, and one each from Florida and Wyoming.
Three of the student-athletes are transferring in from other colleges, while 38 are currently high school seniors. The class is heavy on linemen, with 21 of the signees checking in as offensive or defensive line.
McCulloch says recruiting in ongoing, and the Vikings will continue to grow their incoming class for 2019. A complete list of the signed recruits is below.
Valley City State University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and plays in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference. VCSU is coming off a 6-4 season in 2018 and a second-place finish in the North Star Athletic Association with a 5-2 conference record.
VCSU Football – 2019 Signed Recruits
North Dakota (11)
Troy Dietz – Gwinner, N.D. – North Sargent High School, OL, 6’4”, 285 lbs.
Saleem El-Sarraf – Grafton, N.D. – Grafton/St. Thomas High School, WR, 5’8”, 190 lbs.
Carter Evenson – West Fargo, N.D. – West Fargo High School, TE, 6’2”, 215 lbs
Teylor Hanson – Hannaford, N.D. – Griggs County High School, OL, 6’2”, 240 lbs.
TJ Johnson – Gwinner, N.D. – North Sargent High School, LB, 5’9”, 185 lbs.
Shayden Luna – Towner, N.D. – Towner-Granville-Upham High School, RB, 5’8”, 190 lbs.
Garrett Lund – Horace, N.D. – Sheyenne High School, LB, 6’1”, 210 lbs.
Elliot Dockter – Harvey, N.D. – Harvey Wells County, LB, 5’11”, 185 lbs.
Braydon Schmidt – Hazelton, N.D. – Linton H-M-B High School, DL, 6′, 200 lbs.
Xavier Jacobson – Page, N.D. – Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page High School, TE, 5’8”, 190 lbs.
Luke Knowski – Devils Lake, N.D. – Devils Lake High School, LB, 5’10”, 180 lbs.
 
Washington (9)
Taitum Brumfield – Elma, Wash. – Elma High School, LB, 5’11”, 210 lbs.
Vance Dumas – Renton, Wash. – Hazen High School, DL, 6′, 265 lbs.
Mekhai Goodloe – Cheney, Wash. – Cheney High School, LB, 6’1”, 230 lbs.
Anthony Russell – Enumclaw, Wash. – Enumclaw High School, DB, 5’9”, 155 lbs.
Graham Schmidt – Gig Harbor, Wash. – Peninsula High School, DL, 6’3”, 200 lbs.
Nate Spears – Renton, Wash. – Hazen High School, DL, 6′, 240 lbs.
Kade Queen – Seattle, Wash. – Ballard High School, DL, 6′, 240 lbs.
Nicholas Harberts – Buckley, Wash. – Enumclaw High School, LB, 6′, 210 lbs.
Darius Washington – Ferndale, Wash. – Ferndale High School, DL, 5’11”, 275 lbs.
 
Minnesota (7)
Hunter Gonnerman – Benson, Minn. – Benson High School, RB, 5’11”, 175 lbs.
Marshaun Jones – Brooklyn Park, Minn. – North Dakota State College of Science, DL, 6′, 270 lbs.
Arbra (Steven) Thomas – Wadena, Minn. – Wadena/Deer Creek High School, DL, 6′, 265 lbs.
Jackson Weniger – Verndale, Minn. – Verndale High School, TE, 6′, 220 lbs.
Kobe Arp – Blackduck, Minn. – Blackduck High School, TE, 6’4”, 180 lbs.
Thomas Kaste – Dalton, Minn. – Underwood High School, OL, 6’5”, 295 lbs.
Kyle Hanson – Cambridge, Minn. – Cambridge-Isanti High School, OL, 6′, 230 lbs.
 
Alaska (4)
Levi Benner – Soldotna, Alaska – Soldotna High School, DL, 6’2”, 260 lbs.
Ethan Connaker – Wasilla, Alaska – Colony High School, OL, 6’2”, 270 lbs
Drew Gibbs – Soldotna, Alaska – Northern State University, LB, 6′, 220 lbs.
Joseph Ruge – Wasilla, Alaska – Wasilla High School, OL, 6’1”, 245 lbs
 
South Dakota (2)
Wyatt Locke – Groton, S.D. – Groton High School, DL, 6’1”, 225 lbs.
Zane Schuchard – Pierre, S.D. – Pierre High School,    TE, 6’2”, 200 lbs.
 
California (2)
James Ehoff – Bakersfield, Calif. – West Hills Community College, OL, 6’5”, 340 lbs.
Jahidi West – Stockton, Calif. – Lincoln High School, LB, 5’11”, 210 lbs.
 
Texas (2)
Danny Cortez – El Paso, Texas – Del Valle High School, WR, 5’7”, 160 lbs.
Sammy Trejo – El Paso, Texas – Del Valle High School, OL, 6’2”, 270 lbs.
 
Arizona (2)
Dylan Kauer – Gilbert, Ariz. – Campo Verde High School, OL, 6’1”, 225 lbs.
Alex Zacek – Surprise, Ariz. – Valley Vista High School, DL, 5’10”, 205 lbs.
 
Florida (1)
AJ Mingus – Orlando, Fla. – East River High School, DB, 5’8”, 150 lbs.
 
Wyoming (1)
DJ Weese – Cheyenne, Wyo. – Cheyenne Central High School, OL, 5’11”, 225 lbs.