GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota head football coach Eric Schmidt announced the addition of 16 student-athletes to the program for the upcoming 2026 season on Wednesday morning.
 
The group consists of 14 transfers and a pair of freshmen signees to go alongside the previously announced 26 prospective student-athletes in December 2025.
 
"I feel like we have addressed a lot of our needs," said Schmidt. "These guys are high character, high achieving young men that love playing football."
 
Class Breakdown:
By Position: Defensive Back (6), Wide Receiver (4), Defensive Line (3), Linebacker (1), Offensive Line (1), Running Back (1)
By State: Florida (2), Illinois (2), Minnesota (2), California (1), Colorado (1), Iowa (1), Maryland (1), Nebraska (1), North Dakota (1), Ohio (1) Pennsylvania (1), Texas (1), Wisconsin (1)
 
Names are listed in alphabetical order:
 
Ethan Beckman | OL | 6-5 | 330 | Prior Lake, Minn. | Prior Lake HS
Played four years at Prior Lake along the offensive line … Spent three seasons as the starter at left tackle … Earned first team all-state honors … Ranked as the No. 3 offensive lineman in the state of Minnesota by recruiting services … Also starred in the shot put … Finished fifth at the state meet last season in the event.
 
Maurice Densmore | WR | 6-0 | 185 | Chicago, Ill. | Winona State
Spent three seasons at Winona State … Saw action in seven games over his career … Hauled in nine receptions for 127 yards and two scores … Grabbed his first-collegiate touchdown against Bemidji State … Had a career-high 62 yards and a score against Southwest Minnesota State … Was a two-time all-conference selection in high school.
 
Avery Dixon | DB | 6-2 | 195 | Milwaukee, Wis. | Upper Iowa
Played three seasons at Upper Iowa … Accumulated over 100 tackles while with the Peacocks … Had over 30 solo stops in each of his last two seasons … Also notched a pair of TFLs in all three of his campaigns … Forced a pair of fumbles … Tallied his first-collegiate interception against FCS Butler … Had a career-high 13 tackles against Truman State … Earned All-GLVC Honorable Mention honors.

Marquis Edmond | DB | 6-2 | 195 | Baltimore, Md. | Virginia State
Started for two seasons at Virginia State … Earned CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2024 … Had over 70 career tackles … Tallied 4.0 tackles for loss over his two seasons … Had eight total tackles, including five solo stops and 1.5 TFLs, against Lincoln (PA) … Had seven solo tackles against Fayetteville State … Caught one pass for a 13-yard score against Johnson C. Smith.
 
Caleb Goodloe | WR | 6-1 | 205 | St. Petersburg, Fla. | Bowling Green
Appeared in four games during his two seasons at Bowling Green … Did not have any receiving stats … Played both WR and safety at Clearwater Central Catholic in high school … Helped the program to district titles in both 2022 and 2023 as well as a state runner-up finish in 2023 … Racked up over 1,500 receiving yards and 18 TDs on 110 catches during his prep career.
 
Ethan Headings | DB | 6-2 | 200 | Iowa City, Iowa | Iowa City West HS
Was a standout on both sides of the ball at Iowa City West HS … Played both wide receiver and linebacker … Earned first team all-state honors on the offensive side … Led Iowa 5A with 1,202 yards and 13 touchdowns on 56 catches … Also had 46.5 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss … Picked off a pair of passes and also ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
 
Travis Hines II | DB | 6-2 | 180 | Papillion, Neb. | Iowa Western
Roamed the secondary in three-different positions at Iowa Western … Helped the program captures a junior college national championship in 2025 … Played in 10 games and tallied 13 tackles last season … Notched his first-collegiate interception against Independence Community College … Broke up four passes … Saw action at corner, nickel and safety.
 
Ben Kamara | DB | 6-3 | 200 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Akron
Spent last season at Akron after beginning his career at Upper Iowa for three seasons … Totaled 27 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss in 10 games with the Zips … Broke up four passes and tallied an interception against Buffalo … Had a season-best five tackles on a trio of occasions …  Earned All-GLVC Second Team honors at Upper Iowa in 2024 … Had 44 tackles, two INTs and seven breakups in his final year with the Peacocks.
 
Matt Lawson | RB | 5-10 | 225 | Hoffman Estates, Ill. | Illinois State
Played one season at Illinois State before redshirting in 2025 … Appeared in all 12 games for the Redbirds in 2024 … Racked up 447 yards and averaged 4.3 yards per carry … Finished third on the team in yards and second in carries … Exploded for a career-high 84 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown against Northern Iowa … Also scored touchdowns against Western Illinois and Southern Illinois.
 
Kylyn Macklin | DL | 6-3 | 255 | Cincinnati, Ohio | UAlbany
Spent last season at UAlbany … Registered 40 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss, with the Great Danes … Also had 1.5 sacks in 2025 … Played the 2024 season with Morehead State in Kentucky … Had 30 tackles and a whopping 8.0 TFLs at MSU … Also finished second on the team with 5.0 sacks and recorded a forced fumble … Spent the 2023 campaign at Fairmont State … Appeared in seven games and recorded six tackles … Also had 2.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks.
 
Mason McFarland | DB | 5-10 | 195 | Elk Grove, Calif. | Sacramento City College
Appeared in 10 games for Sacramento City College … Recorded 62.0 total tackles, including 40 solo stops to rank second on the team … Made 5.0 tackles for loss … Picked off a pair of passes to tie for the team lead … Registered a career-high nine tackles against Fresno … Also had two games with eight tackles … Had a two-interception game in the season finale against Monterey Peninsula.
 
Mason Miller | LB | 6-3 | 235 | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Iowa State
Appeared in two games for Iowa State … Rated as a three-star prospect by multiple recruiting services … Listed as one of the top linebackers in the nation by 247Sports at the time of his recruitment … Played both sides of the ball during his prep career … Finished his high school career with 151 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and five interceptions … Also rushed for over 2,700 yards and 27 yards … Earned first team all-state honors in his senior season.
 
Kefa Pereira | DL | 6-1 | 305 | San Antonio, Texas | Eastern Illinois
Played one season at Eastern Illinois after beginning his collegiate career at Monterey Peninsula … Appeared in all 12 games and made one start at EIU … Had 13 tackles, including four solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss … Had a fumble recovery against Charleston Southern … Earned JUCO All-America honors in 2024 … Was also named the top defensive player in the conference and earned all-region honors … Had 37 tackles and six sacks … Recorded 20 tackles for loss and forced four fumbles … Helped his team go 11-0 and win the NCFC American Division Championship Bowl.
 
Madden Thorson | WR | 5-11 | 185 | Harvey, N.D. | Minnesota State Moorhead
Spent four seasons at Minnesota State Moorhead and saw action over the last three campaigns … Appeared in 33 games for the Dragons … Finished with 1,951 yards and 12 touchdowns on 172 catches … Had 37 grabs for 472 yards and four TDs in 2025 … Tallied a pair of 100-yard games against Winona State and Minnesota Duluth … Finished second on the team with 77 catches and 803 yards in 2024 … Was a two-time all-state honoree and four-time all-region selection at Harvey.
 
Ty Vig | DL | 6-5 | 215 | Hallock, Minn.| Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls
Started his collegiate career on the basketball court with Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls … Was averaging a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds during his time … Shined for Kittson County Central during his prep football days … Paced the team in tackles in each of his final three seasons … Was a three-time all-conference selection for the Bearcats … Brother of current UND student-athlete Kaden Vig.
 
Cameron Weir | WR | 5-11 | 153 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Washington State
Played one season at Washington State … Did not see any game action … Was named Washington State's Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week twice … Earned first team all-conference honors at both wide receiver and safety in his final two prep seasons … Had over 1,000 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns over his high school career … Tallied a trio of interceptions as a safety … Won a state title in the 100-meter dash on the track … Was a three-time All-America selection on the track.
 
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