VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State University football has signed 30 recruits for the 2021 season, head coach Dennis McCulloch announced Wednesday.
The VCSU football program made the announcement as part of college football’s National Signing Day. The incoming Viking class includes 29 freshmen and one college transfer. All have signed letters of intent to continue their football and academic careers at VCSU this fall.
“We’re always excited to welcome a new group of guys into our Viking Football brotherhood,” said McCulloch. “Our coaches have put in a lot of work to recruit this impressive group of young men. It will be a few years before we know the true impact of this class, but we know there are some guys who can contribute right away and it’s an exciting day to envision the future of our program.”
The 30 signed recruits announced Wednesday come from six different states, including eight student-athletes from North Dakota and nine from Minnesota. Six of the incoming freshmen are from Alaska and five are from Hawaii. There is also one athlete each from Washington and South Dakota.
McCulloch said recruiting is still ongoing for Viking Football, and he expects the team to announce several more signings in the coming weeks. A complete list of the signed recruits is below.
The Vikings played seven games during the COVID-shortened season of 2020. Valley City State posted a 5-2 record, finishing second in the NSAA standings behind Dickinson State University. Earlier this week VCSU announced its 2021 schedule, which includes a Thursday night season opener against rival University of Jamestown.
Valley City State University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and a conference member of the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA). VCSU football has won 29 conference championships dating back to 1926.
VCSU Football 2021 Signed Recruits
North Dakota (8)
Ashton Biesterfeld – Oakes, N.D. – Oakes High School, TE, 6-3, 265 lbs
Bo Thingvold – Columbus, N.D. – Bowbells High School, LB, 6-1, 195 lbs
Camden Schwarzkopf – Bismarck, N.D. – Bismarck Century High School, OL, 6-0, 300 lbs
Cody Frounfelter – Granville, N.D. – Granville High School, LB, 5-11, 205 lbs
Cole Schneibel – Rugby, N.D. – Rugby High School, DL, 5-11, 240 lbs
Jaden McNeiley – Kenmare, N.D. – Kenmare High School, WR, 5-10, 165 lbs
Logan Gjerdevig – Wahpeton, N.D. – Wahpeton High School, DL, 6-3, 210 lbs
William Pfahl – Dunseith, N.D. – Dunseith High School, TE, 6-2, 220 lbs
South Dakota (1)
Jesus Jones – Rapid City, S.D. – Rapid City Stevens High School, OL, 6-2, 295 lbs
Minnesota (9)
Colby Marczak – Cottonwood, Minn. – Lakeview High School, DB, 6-1, 175 lbs
Farris Amegankpoe – Maple Grove, Minn. – Maple Grove High School, WR, 6-1, 175 lbs
Joe Price – Willmar, Minn. – Willmar High School, DL, 6-0, 220 lbs
John Thomas – St. Cloud, Minn. – MN State Comm. & Tech College, DB, 5-10, 170 lbs
LaShad Smith – Luverne, Minn. – Luverne High School, DB, 5-10, 175 lbs
Logan Carlson – Stillwater, Minn. – Stillwater High School, TE, 6-4, 195 lbs
TaQuez Chatman – Bloomington, Minn. – Academy of Holy Angels, DL, 5-11, 235 lbs
Thomas Rush – Princeton, Minn. – Princeton High School, LB, 5-11, 190 lbs
Tristan Raths – Donnelly, Minn. – Morris Area High School, LB, 5-10, 200 lbs
Alaska (6)
Chahon Faralan-Taylor – Anchorage, Alaska – South Anchorage High School, LB, 6-4, 190 lbs
Georgia Mageo – Anchorage, Alaska – East Anchorage High School, LB, 5-11, 220 lbs
Georgie Mageo – Anchorage, Alaska – East Anchorage High School, DL, 6-1, 245 lbs
Jackson Eschenlohr – Anchorage, Alaska – Robert Service High School, OL, 6-0, 235 lbs
Landen Maloney – Anchorage, Alaska – South Anchorage High School, DL, 6-4, 240 lbs
Loke Iese – Anchorage, Alaska – South Anchorage High School, LB, 5-9, 210 lbs
Hawaii (5)
Alema Moeava – Kapole, Hawaii – Punahou School, OL, 6-2, 340 lbs
Ashton Raquino – Wahiawa, Hawaii – Leilehua High School, LB, 5-10, 195 lbs
Hunter Phelps – Honolulu, Hawaii – Henry J Kaiser High School, DB, 5-10, 165 lbs
Masila Siua – Hilo, Hawaii – Hilo High School, K, 6-2, 185 lbs
Zach Gardner – Mililani, Hawaii – Mililani High School, OL, 6-2, 280 lbs
Washington (1)
Tanner Fahey – Edmonds, Wash. – Lynnwood High School, WR, 6-0, 185 lbs