BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Football Head Coach Brent Bolte announced the signings of 29 future Beavers on Wednesday for National Signing Day.
 
The 2025 signing class includes student-athletes from five states, including 20 from Minnesota, three from Wisconsin and Iowa, two from Illinois and one from California. Of the 29 signees, four are from the Bemidji area including players from Walker, Clearbrook, Park Rapids and Nevis. Three are from over 500 miles away from Bemidji with two Chicago adjacent and one from San Diego, Calif. The class includes six offensive linemen, six defensive backs, five defensive linemen, four wide receivers, three linebackers, one tight end and one full back, a running back, a quarterback and a long snapper. 
 
"We've got a big class coming in that'll have to work to fill the shoes left by the remarkable classes we've had graduate over recent years," said Head Coach Brent Bolte. "For us recruiting always starts in our back yard of Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Iowa and Illinois. We recruit good student-athletes that are first and foremost good people. This helps us build our culture and the Beaver Football family. We're excited to see what this signing class can do."
 
Offense
Jake Allex – OL
6-2 | 290 lbs | Marshall, Minn. | Marshall HS
Allex, a 6-2, 290-pound lineman out of Marshall High School, was named District Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2024. A three-time letter winner in football, Allex is a member of ActsLink and Crew Rotary. In his senior season, the Marshall High School offensive line did not allow a single sack. Through his career, the team only allowed four total losses. 
 
Broden Benson - OL
6-1 | 265 lbs | Clearbrook, Minn. | Clearbrook-Gonvick HS
A two-time football letter winner at Clearbrook-Gonvick High School, Benson appeared in 10 games for the Bears during his senior season, marking the most "pancakes" on the team. He is also a member of the CGHS Bears trap shooting team where he is a team captain, national competitor, four-time letter winner and a member of the 50-straight club. Benson is an honor roll student who enjoys hunting, fishing, video games and trap shooting.
 
Brady Bortz - OL
6-3 | 270 | Kiel, Wis. | Kiel HS
A team captain this season, Bortz was this year's Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was selected by a unanimous vote. He is an All-Conference, All-Region and All-State Selection with three letters in football and two in track and field. Bortz is a member of the National Honor Society and enjoys basketball, chess and card games. 
 
Prentiss Derrick Jr. – OL
6-2 | 300 lbs | Chaska, Minn. | Chaska HS
Derrick is a two time All-Conference selection with one All-Conference Honorable Mention nod. He is a four-time letter winner in wrestling, plus three in football and one for track and field. On the Chaska High School wrestling team, he was an All-Conference honoree during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. 
 
Heaton Hall – OL
6-5 | 260 lbs | Moorhead, Minn. | Moorhead HS
Heaton Hall is a three-time letter earner in football who also participates in wrestling (three letters), track and field (two letters) and Olympic weightlifting (one letter). While competing in throwing events during the track and field season, Hall was named the throwing MVP for the spuds. 
 
Grant Winkle – OL
6-2 | 300 lbs | Osakis, Minn. | Osakis HS
Grant Winkle is a four-time letter earner for football, and once in track and field, for Osakis High School. This past season, he was named the Mid-Northwest Three Rivers Blue All-District Most Valuable Offensive Lineman. Winkle is an All-Section 6AA honoree with an appearance in the state tournament during the 2023-24 school year. He is an honor roll student that enjoys fishing, hunting and being with friends and family in his spare time. 
 
Louie Bucksa – QB
6-0 | 175 lbs | Decorah, Iowa | Decorah HS
A First Team All-District and Second Team All-State selection, Louie Bucksa is a two-time letter earner for football with a District MVP title. He has also lettered twice in both basketball and golf along with being a National Honor Society Member. Bucksa enjoys being with friends, hunting, fishing and playing video games. 
 
Julien Bailey – WR
5-11 | 155 lbs | Manitowoc, Wis. | Manitowoc Lincoln HS
Julien Bailey is a three-time letter earner for football and a First Team All-Conference wide receiver. In his junior season, Bailey marked 600+ yards on the season with 10 touchdowns. He also participates in track and field where he is a four-time letter earner. Bailey is an honor roll student who enjoys working out, being with friends, snowboarding and practicing his faith. 
 
Trey Borchers – WR
6-1 | 175 lbs | Anoka, Minn. | Anoka HS
Trey Borchers is a four-time letter winner in football who has marked 800 receiving yards, 61 receptions and six touchdowns this season. Anoka High School grabbed a Class 6A State Semifinal berth this past season for the first time in 20 years. Borchers is a three-time All-District honoree along with being named to the All-State Second Team. He holds the AHS career receiving yards record at 1961 yards. Borchers is also successful in track and field where he is a four-time letter winner and in basketball and track and field where he is a three-time All-Conference selection for both sports. 
 
Hudson Omoke – WR
6-1 | 180 lbs | Sauk Rapids, Minn. | Sauk Rapids-Rice HS
Hudson Omoke is an All-Conference and All-District selection with a combined seven letters won between football and basketball. This past season, he marked 750 receiving yards with 42 catches and five touchdowns. He is a member of the All-State Academic team and enjoys snowboarding, cooking and reading. 
 
Brock Wyandt – WR
5-10 | 180 lbs | Farmington, Minn. | Farmington HS
Wyandt is a four-time letter winner for football with a stat line of 41 receptions, 673 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He has also seen time in the Farmington High School run game and as a returner with 21 returns for 509 yards and a touchdown. He holds the school records in career receptions at 112 and receiving yards at 1636. Wyandt is an All-District (3x), All-State and All-Star game selection.
 
Hank Artz – FB
5-10 | 245 lbs | Fairmont, Minn. | Fairmont HS
A team captain for Fairmont High School, Hank Artz is a three-time All-District Defensive Lineman, five-time letter winner for football with four letters in track and two in hockey. He is also an honor roll student that enjoys golf, playing cards, hunting, fishing and weightlifting. 
 
Gavin Oelschlager – TE
6-4 | 210 lbs | Walker, Minn. | Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Gavin Oelschlager is an All-Section 6A tight end with four letters in football, three in basketball and one in track. He was named the Mid-Northwest Central District Defensive Lineman of the Year. Oelschlager also participates in pep band and student council and is an honor roll student. 
 
Mitch Olson – RB
5-9 | 185 | North Oaks, Minn. | Mounds View HS
Mitch Olson is the Beavers' only running back selection for this signing class. He is a four-time academic award winner for football and hockey, four-time letter winner in hockey along with being All-Conference and varsity captain. He enjoys golfing, being on the lake, wake surfing and being with his friends.
 
Defense
Ryan Carroll – DE
6-4 | 205 lbs | Park Rapids, Minn. | Park Rapids HS
Ryan Carroll totaled 62 tackles with 41 solo, four sacks, a fumble recovery and 13 tackles for a loss during his senior season at Park Rapids High School. He is an All-District and All-Section selection while also earning team and offensive MVP nods. Carroll participated in the State All-Star Game and is a three-time letter winner in football and basketball. He also is a honor roll student and National Honor Society Member.
 
Carter Drake-Metzger – DT
6-3 | 255 lbs | Wilton, Iowa | Wilton HS
Carter Drake-Metzger is a First Team All-State and All-District Selection with three All-Conference nods and four letters in football. Last season, he amassed 40.5 tackles with 26 solo and 12.5 tackles for a loss with 6.5 sacks. He is also involved in swimming, wrestling and track at Wilton High School, on top of being a honor roll student. Drake-Metzger is also an Eagle Scout and enjoys hunting, fishing, trap shooting and weightlifting
 
Jason Eagle - DE
6-3 | 215 lbs | Spring Lake Park, Minn. | Spring Lake Park HS
Jason Eagle is a two-time defensive MVP and two-time All-District selection with the 2022 Suburban Blue Championship under his belt. He is a two-time letter winner in basketball and also competes in golf at SLPHS. Eagle is a honor roll student that enjoys golfing, being with his friends and playing video games. 
 
Joey Funderburk – DE
6-5 | 250 lbs | Davenport, Iowa | Assumption HS
Joey Funderburk is a two-time letter winner for football at Assumption High School. He is a First Team All-District selection who has competed in the Iowa Shrine Bowl and was named AHS's Lineman of the Year. An Academic All-Conference selection for football and basketball, he was also a member of the 2023-24 Basketball 3A State Championship team. 
 
Cal Myrin – DT
6-5 | 265 | Rogers, Minn. | Rogers HS
Myrin totaled 31.5 tackles, two sacks, an interception, six tackles for a loss, 47 quarterback pressures, a strip tackle, five pass breakups and four quarterback hits. He is a two-time letter winner in football and appeared in the state tournament. Myrin also plays baseball and enjoys working out, listening to music and video games. 
 
Tristan Holbrook – LB
6-1 | 210 lbs | Belle Plaine, Minn. | Belle Plaine HS
Tristan Holbrook is a four-time letter winner for football, six-time winner for wrestling and once for track. He sat out most of his senior year due to injury but was the team's Offensive and Defensive MVP along with District Linebacker of the Year during his junior campaign. He is a honor roll student involved in the Minnesota Honor Society and enjoys golfing, hunting and being with friends. 
 
Eli Klimek – LB
6-1 | 210 lbs | Nevis, Minn. | Nevis HS
Eli Klimek is a six-time letter earner for football at Nevis High School. He was a selection to the Minnesota Vikings All-State Team, an All-District MVP, made the All-State 9-man Team, Defensive Back of the Year, Special Teams Player of the Year and Team MVP. Klimek is also involved in band, baseball and basketball. 
 
Ben Watson - LB
6-1 | 195 lbs | Burnsville, Minn. | Burnsville HS
Ben Watson totaled 72 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions in his senior season, along with marking five all-purpose touchdowns. He is a First Team All-Conference selection as the BHS Team MVP with three letters in football and track plus four in hockey. 
 
Amani Akins – DB
5-11 | 170 lbs | Tinley Park, Ill. | Victor J. Andrew HS
Amani Akins participates in track and football at Victor J. Andrew High School. In his free time, Akins enjoys watching movies and spending time with friends. 
 
Jacob Bednarski – DB
6-1 | 170 lbs | Mount Prospect, Ill. | Prospect HS
Jacob Bednarski is a three-year varsity player for Prospect High School. This season, he marked 17 pass breakups, two interceptions and one field-goal block. Bednarski is an All-Conference player that enjoys spending time on the field and with his friends. 
 
Chad King - DB
5-10 | 180 lbs | Garrison, Minn. | Brainerd HS
A senior captain and three-time letter winner at Brainerd High School, Chad King marked 67 tackles, 12 pass breakups and one pick six in his senior season. He earned an All-District nod during his junior campaign and is a three-time All-Conference selection. King also plays hockey and is on the Central Lakes College Dean's List. 
 
Kaine Larocque – DB
6-1 | 160 lbs | Apple Valley, Minn. | Apple Valley HS
Kaine Larocque marked 113 tackles, two interceptions and three touchdowns this season. He is an All-Conference and All-District selection as well as being a member of a 2024 Section Finalist team. Larocque has a combined 10 letters won between football, track and academics. 
 
Jett Schoenherr – DB
5-10 | 170 lbs | Stratford, Wis. | Stratford HS
Three-time State Champion Jett Schoenherr is an All-Region Defensive Back with a First Team All-Conference nod. This past season, Schoenherr marked 38 tackles, four interceptions, seven pass breakups, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He holds fifth place all-time in receiving yards at SHS along with multiple track and field records. He is a Marawood Scholar Athlete, National Honor Society Member, Principal Athletic Banquet honoree and Academic All-State selection. 
 
Cooper Woodhall – DB
6-3 | 190 lbs | San Diego, Calif. | Hoover HS
Cooper Woodhall is a league and division Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive MVP with three letters in football. With multiple accolades for football, he also created 11 Meals Mission, a philanthropic movement. Woodhall earned academic honors at both Torrey Pines High School and Hoover High School during his career. 
 
Jonah Thell - LS
6-3 | 200 | Sauk Rapids, Minn. | Sauk Rapids-Rice HS
Jonah Thell marked 37 punt snaps, 31 short snaps, three coverage tackles and one coverage forced fumble this season. He is an All-Conference Honorable Mention and Special Teams Player of the Year. A DECA officer, Thell is also in hockey, track and the Minnesota Honor Society. He enjoys pickleball, being with friends, cooking and watching TikToks. 
 
For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversFB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).