VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State University football has signed 34 recruits for the 2020 season, head coach Dennis McCulloch announced Wednesday.

Viking Football made the announcement as part of college football’s National Signing Day. VCSU’s class includes 30 incoming freshmen and four college transfers. All have signed letters of intent to continue their football and academic careers at VCSU this fall.

“Our coaches put in a lot of work and a lot miles this year to find this impressive group of young men,” said McCulloch. “We’re excited to get them on campus this fall as members of Viking Football. As with any recruiting class, we won’t know the full impact until a few years down the road, but it’s an exciting day as we envision the future of our program.”

The 34 signed recruits announced Wednesday hail from 10 different states, including 14 from North Dakota and four from Minnesota. Other states represented include South Dakota (2), California (2), Alaska (3), Florida (2), Washington (3), Arizona (2), Texas (1) and Colorado (1).

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, along with pictures and video highlights for most of the class.

The Vikings are coming off a largely successful 2019 season that saw the team go 7-3 overall and 5-2 in conference play. The Vikings tied for second in the North Star Athletic Association standings.

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 – 2020 Signed Recruits

North Dakota (14)

Austyn Thornton – Valley City, N.D. – Valley City High School, P/K, 5’7, 140 lbs – Highlights

Avery Thorsgard – Northwood, N.D. – Northwood High School, QB, 6’1, 175 lbs – Highlights

Colton Daly – Watford City, N.D. – Watford City High School, WR, 6’1, 172 lbs – Highlights

Dustin Mertz – West Fargo, N.D. – West Fargo High School, WR, 6’1, 175 lbs – Highlights

Fred Lundsrom – Hazen, N.D. – Hazen High School, DL, 6’3, 250 lbs – Highlights

Hunter Medenwaldt – Hankinson, N.D. – Hankinson High School, DL, 5’11, 200 lbs – Highlights

Jameson Lesmann – Burlington, N.D. – Des Lacs-Burlington High School, WR, 6’0, 150 lbs – Highlights

Jeremiah Sullivan – Casselton, N.D. – Central Cass High School, LB, 5’9, 170 lbs – Highlights

Max Defender – Dunseith, N.D. – St. John High School, LB, 5’11, 273 lbs – Highlights

Riley Gerhardt – Valley City, N.D. – Valley City High School, LB, 6’1, 195 lbs – Highlights

Sam Rieger – Lisbon, N.D. – Lisbon High School, LB, 6’2, 215 lbs – Highlights

Parker Vilandre – Devils Lake, N.D. – Devils Lake High School, LB, 5’9, 175 lbs – Highlights

Keisin Peltier – Belcourt, N.D. – Turtle Mountain Community High School, WR, 6’0, 180 lbs – Highlights

Parker Frederick – Sharon, N.D. – Dakota Prairie High School, OL, 6’4, 310 lbs – Highlights

Minnesota (4)

Cade Langen – Kennedy, Minn. – Kittson Central High School, DL, 6’1, 210 lbs – Highlights

Jens Anderson – Park Rapids, Minn. – Park Rapids Area High School, LB, 5’11, 200 lbs – Highlights

Luke Wilhelm – Brainerd, Minn. – Brainerd High School, OL, 6’3, 290 lbs – Highlights

Erik Peterson – Pillager, Minn. – Pillager High School, QB, 6’0, 165 lbs – Highlights

South Dakota (2)

Dakota King – Frederick, S.D. – Trinity Bible College, 6’0, 185 lbs – Highlights

Tyler Two Eagle – Aberdeen, S.D. – Aberdeen Central High School, K, 6’0, 210 lbs – Highlights

California (2)

Damani McGee – Hercules, Calif. – Los Medanos College, DB, 6’1, 165 lbs – Highlights

Anthony Chacon – Bakersfield, Calif. – Mira Monte High School, TE, 6’1, 190 lbs – Highlights

Alaska (3)

Carter Weber-Thomas – Anchorage, Alaska – South Anchorage High School, RB, 5’8, 180 lbs – Highlights

Tyler Linder – Palmer, Alaska – Palmer High School, OL, 6’1, 226 lbs – Highlights

Ridge Raval – Wasilla, Alaska – Colony High School, DB, 5’8, 170 lbs – Highlights

Florida (2)

Justice Bice – Bonifay, Fla. – Fond Du Lac Tribal & Community College, RB, 6’3, 200 lbs – Highlights

Nyle Perkins – Yulee, Fla. – Cincinnati Christian University, WR, 5’10, 170 lbs – Highlights

Washington (3)

Gabe Johnson – Kent, Wash. – Kentwood High School, RB, 5’7, 195 lbs – Highlights

Hunter Reinhart – Leavenworth, Wash. – Cascade High School, OL, 6’2, 265 lbs – Highlights

Jackson Nielsen – Enumclaw, Wash. – Enumclaw High School, OL, 5’11, 245 lbs – Highlights

Arizona (2)

Quanah Locklear – Yuma, Ariz. – Cibola High School, QB, 6’1, 170 lbs – Highlights

Justin Wilda – Peoria, Ariz. – Sunrise Mountain High School, LB, 6’0, 190 lbs – Highlights

Texas (1)

Franky Estrada – El Paso, Texas – Riverside High School, TE, 6’2, 225 lbs – Highlights

Colorado (1)

Romeo Wells – Colorado Springs, Colo. – Harrison High School, RB, 5’8, 225 lbs – Highlights