BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Football Head Coach Brent Bolte announced the signing of 30 student-athletes from the class of 2026, set to join the Beavers for the team's 100^th Anniversary Season in 2026.
 
"I am very excited about this group of young men and their families that have joined our football program today," said Bolte. "I think the staff did a great job of identifying players that not only fit our needs on the field but buy into the Grind the Axe mentality we stress in this program.  Can't wait to see this group come in and continue to push the envelope on where this program can go."
 
The class is comprised of seven defensive backs, seven offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, four wide receivers, two linebackers, two tight ends, and one each of a kicker/punter, fullback, quarterback and a running back. The newest Beavers hail from nine states, Minnesotans leading the way with 16 signees. Just behind Minnesota is Wisconsin with six signees and Florida with two. Iowa, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, South Dakota and Illinois each have one signee joining the class. 
 
Defensive Backs
Keylin Allen
Merril, Wis. | Merrill HS
5'10 | 175
Keylin Allen joins BSU as a Second Team All-Conference selection at both wide receiver and defensive back for Merrill High School. An Honor Roll student at MHS, Allen has plans to major in business at Bemidji State and enjoys fishing, snowboarding and hunting in his free time. 
 
Jace Bellamy
Winterset, Iowa | Winterset HS
5'11 | 175
Jace Bellamy joins the Beavers as a two-time First Team All-State selection for both the Des Moines Register and Iowa Football Coaches Association, along with being an All-Iowa Elite Team member for the Des Moines Register. A three-time Defensive Player of the Year and state participant, Bellamy has grabbed 178 total tackles, 13 interceptions, 11 touchdowns and eight tackles for a loss. He is also a member of the WHS track and field program, placing eighth at the Iowa State Track and Field Meet in the 4x400 boys relay. Outside of athletics, Bellamy is involved in his church's youth group and is an Academic All-Conference selection. He has plans to major in accounting at BSU and enjoys golf, fishing, hunting and spending time with his friends. 
 
Cardenio Chavez
Grants, N.M. | Grants HS
6'0 | 165
Cardenio Chavez is the Beavers' lone signee from New Mexico this season. He has earned both First Team and Second Team All-District honors with Grants High School during his time playing defensive back and wide receiver. Chavez is also a First Team All-District kick returner. Along with football, Chavez excels in track and field as the District Champion in high jump, long jump and high point. He previously placed fourth in the N.M. State Tournament for high jump. Chavez has posted 52 tackles, four interceptions and 18 passes defended during his time with GHS. Chavez is a member of his All-District Academic team, is an academic letterwinner and is a part of Skills USA, a workforce development organization for students. He plans to major in finance at Bemidji State. In his free time, Chavez enjoys basketball, competing in track and field, weight lifting, gaming and participating in other sports. 
 
Kamari Debose
Gainesville, Fla. | Hawthorne HS
6'2 | 170
Kamari Debose joins BSU as an All-Area selection and Florida State Champion with Hawthorne High School in Gainesville, Fla. At HHS, Debose is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and enjoys spending time with friends in his free time. Debose plans to major in business at Bemidji State.
 
Nico Holtzman
Milwaukee, Wis. | Wisconsin Lutheran HS
6'1 | 180
Nico Holtzman joins the Green & White as a First Team All-Conference defensive back and wide receiver, while also being a second team kicker. He was also a member of the Wisconsin Lutheran High School Section Champions team. Outside of football, Holtzman is an Honor Roll student and member of the student council. He plans to major in business and enjoys music, playing video games, playing basketball and going out to eat in his free time. 
 
David Osei Jr.
Frisco, Tex. | Rock Hill HS
5'10 | 160
David Osei Jr. comes to Bemidji State as one of the only corners in his district (Tex.) to not allow a single touchdown this season. With two playoff appearances with Rock Hill High School, Osei totaled 20 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups, one tackle for a loss and one quarterback hurry in his senior season. Osei has been a consistent A and B Honor Roll student throughout his high school career at RHHS. He plans to major in Health Sciences and Kinesiology at Bemidji State. In his free time, Osei enjoys video games and being with his loved ones. 
 
Tyler Pankonin 
Sioux Falls, S.D. | Washington HS
5'11 | 170
Pankonin signs with the Beavers as a First Team All-State (S.D.) and All-Conference defensive back. The Washington High School Warriors' Defensive MVP, he was selected as a team captain during his senior season. In his senior season, Pankonin marked 97 total tackles with four interceptions. Pankonin is involved in chemistry club and is an Academic All-State selection. He plans to major in biochemistry and enjoys aviation, cars and running. 
 
Defensive Line
Mason Black
Waukesha, Wis. | Waukesha West HS
6'5 | 230
Mason Black joins the Beavers as a two-time All-Conference selection, earning second-team and honorable-mention nods. He has amassed 174 tackles, 27 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and ten sacks during his career. Black is also a varsity starter on the Waukesha West High School wrestling team and competed in the state tournament during his freshman season. Outside of football and wrestling, Black is involved in 4-H. He plans to major in business finance at Bemidji State. Black enjoys being outdoors and on the water, building Lego, playing video games and being with his friends. 
 
Robert Essie
Shoreview, Minn. | Mounds View HS
6'2 | 285
Robert Essie signs with BSU as an All-Conference selection from Mounds View High School. A member of the MVHS state tournament football team, he is also an All-State selection in wrestling and track and field. At MVHS, Essie is a member of Black Student Union. He plans to major in Business Management and enjoys playing pickleball in his free time. 
 
Albert Karpeh
Brainerd, Minn. | Brainerd HS
6'1 | 205
Albert Karpeh travels just up the road to join the Beavers, coming from Brainerd High School. An All-District selection, Karpeh brings leadership experience with him as a team captain for BHS's football and track and field teams. He is also no stranger to competing at Chet Anderson Stadium, as the BHS Warriors took home the 2023 War on the Shore Championship. Karpeh has amassed over 100 tackles, 20 sacks, three interceptions and 20 pass breakups. At BHS, Karpeh is involved in the Key Club, along with being a scholar athlete and member of the Honor Roll. He plans to major in technology engineering and enjoys fishing, weightlifting and snowboarding.
 
Maddox Walk 
Caledonia, Minn. | Caledonia Sr. HS
6'3 | 215
Joining BSU as a state participant in booth football and basketball, Maddox Walk brings with him a 2025 section championship title. Walk is an A Honor Roll student, member of the Principal's List and National Honor Society at Caledonia Senior High School. He has plans to major in exercise science at Bemidji State. Walk's hobbies include hiking, playing basketball and being with friends. 
 
Fullback
Jack Carlson
Goodhue, Minn. | Goodhue HS
6'0 | 220
Jack Carlson joins the Beavers as a District MVP, two-time All-District selection and team MVP for Goodhue High School. Carlson has been a state runner up in football and wrestling with GHS. He has also accumulated All-State Academic honors for both football and wrestling. Carlson's career included 43 touchdowns, 330 tackles and more than 1,500 total yards during his senior season. At GHS, Carlson is a member of the National Honor Society and Envirothon team. He plans to major in accounting at Bemidji State and enjoys fishing, hunting and golf. His cousin, Blake, is a junior on the Beavers' offensive line. 
 
Kicker/Punter
Kyle Nadler
Yorkville, Ill. | Yorkville HS
6'2 | 195
Kyle Nadler joins BSU as a member of the Yorkville High School Conference Championship team (2023). He was an All-Conference selection this past season and was selected to the All-State Academic team for his efforts in the classroom. Nadler averaged 43.5 yards per punt, pinned 11 inside the 20-yard line and went a perfect 25-for-25 on the PAT unit. With a long of 38 yards, Nadler went two-for-three on field goals and kicked 31 kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks. Nadler plans to major in construction management at Bemidji State and enjoys hunting, fishing and power sports in his free time. 
 
Linebackers
Jackson Coss
Buffalo, Minn. | Buffalo HS
6'2 | 215
Coss joins the Green & White as an All-District Honorable Mention as both a wide receiver and kick returner for Buffalo High School. He is an A Honor Roll student and a member of the track and field team. Coss plans to major in criminal justice at BSU. He enjoys reading, watching movies, being outdoors, video games and traveling. 
 
Keagan Grube
Annandale, Minn. | Annandale HS
6'0 | 205
Keagan Grube joins BSU as an All-District First teamer and All-District Most Valuable Linebacker with Annandale High School. He was a member of the Cardinals' 2025 State Champion team, as well as three section champion teams and one state runner up team. Over 9.5 games this past season, Grube grabbed a total of 105 tackles. At AHS, Grube maintained a 3.7 grade point average, participated in Cardinals United, and volunteered with the Cardinal Athletic Foundation and Annandale Baseball and Softball Association. He plans to major in finance at BSU. In his free time, Grube enjoys snowmobiling, hunting and spending time with his friends. 
 
Offensive Line
Mitchell Boeder
Kewaunee, Wis. | Kewaunee HS
6'4 | 280
A four-time varsity letter winner in football, wrestling and track and field at Kewaunee High School. Boeder is a two-time team captain, All-Conference offensive and defensive lineman, Packerland Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year, All-Region and All-State offensive lineman and conference champion with the Kewaunee HS Storm. Outside of football Boeder excels in wrestling as a two-time team captain, four-time All-Packerland Conference Heavy Weight and placed fourth in the WIAA State Wrestling Tournament. He is also a member of the KHS Honor Roll, FFA, Trap Team and Math Team. Boeder plans to major in wildlife biology at Bemidji State. He enjoys hunting and fishing in his free time. 
 
Chris Bridges
Duluth, Minn. | Denfeld HS
6'3 | 300
Bridges joins BSU after being a three-year starter on offense for Denfeld High School. In 2025, Bridges was named First Team All-Conference, Lineman of the Year, First Team All-Section, a Duluth News Tribune All-Area Team selection and DHS Defensive Player of the Year. He was also an All-Conference selection in 2024. Bridges is a four-year Honor Roll student, member of the National Honor Society and is in the top 10 percent of his class academically. At BSU, Bridges plans to major in accounting and business finance. In his free time, he enjoys working out, being with his friends and watching sports. 
 
Mason Brent
Ramsey, Minn. | Anoka HS
6'3 | 260
Mason Brent is a recent All-District selection, along with being two-time honorable mention and two-time offensive lineman of the year. Lettering in football, baseball and wrestling, Brent was named Anoka High School's MVP this past season. A 2024 state semifinalist in football, he was also the state champion in wrestling during his freshman campaign. As a senior, Brent played in 100 percent of AHS' total offensive snaps. He added 13 tackles and two sacks with one muffed punt recovered. Brent is an A Honor Roll student. He plans to major in criminal justice at Bemidji State. He enjoys fishing, hunting and being outdoors, along with dirt biking and snowmobiling. 
 
Breckin Hullopeter
Pepin, Wis. | Pepin HS
6'3 | 300
Breckin Hullopeter joins the Beavers as a three-time First Team All-Conference lineman, conference champion, conference Lineman of the Year and All-Region offensive lineman. He is also a First Team All-Conference Defensive Lineman and All-State Honorable Mention. Hullopeter was also named All-Conference First Team for basketball and Second Team All-Conference for track and field. He is involved in student council, teen court and the National Honor Society at Pepin High School as an A Honor Roll student. Hullopeter plans to major in exercise science and enjoys working out, building Lego, playing basketball and four wheeling in his free time. 
 
Brandon Kunz
Aitkin, Minn. | Aitkin HS
6'3 | 260
Brandon Kunz is an All-District selection in his junior and senior seasons. In 2025, he was a member of the All-Area First Team, team captain, AHS lineman of the year and Section 2AA North East Blue Division Section Championship team. Along with earning a touchdown as an offensive lineman, he helped to allow just one sack in three varsity seasons while blocking for multiple 1,000-yard rushers. At Aitken High School, he is a member of the Honor Roll, Peer Leaders, Choice, Madricals, Theater and Knowledge Bowl. Kunz plans to major in business and enjoys fishing and snowmobiling in his free time. 
 
Noah Spears
Memphis, Tenn. | Maple Grove HS
6'4 | 290
Noah Spears joins BSU as an All-West Region and All-Area selection from Maple Grove High School. Spears started his high school career at Memphis University School in Memphis, Tenn. before making the move to Maple Grove. At MUS, he helped his team to a D2AAA Divisional Title, Regional Champion title and was a part of one of the top five teams in the country. At MGHS, he helped the Crimson go undefeated in his senior season, earning section and divisional titles with the number one offense in the state. Excelling academically, Spears was in the top ten percent of students for the National French Exam during his sophomore year of high school. He is also a participant in the Best Buddies club. At Bemidji State, Spears plans to major in music business and enjoys playing drums and being with his friends in his free time. 
 
Zach Winkle
Osakis, Minn. | Osakis HS
6'3 | 310
Zach Winkle joins the Beavers after lettering in football and wrestling at Osakis High School. A BSU War on the Shore Champion, Winkle is also an All-Section selection. He is involved in OHS's Close-Up program. Winkle plans to major in engineering and enjoys hunting, fishing, playing guitar and spending time with his family and friends. His brother, Grant, is also on the Beaver offensive line. 
 
Quarterback
Sam Johnson
Orlando, Fla. | Boone HS
6'2 | 210
Sam Johnson comes to BSU as Boone High School's (Fla.) all-time career passing touchdown, all-time total touchdown, and single-game passing touchdown and total touchdowns leader. Johnson is a two-time All-Metro selection, Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-District selection, FACA North vs South All-Star Game MVP and RNGR Sports Magazine Player of the Week. In his career at BHS, Johnson amassed 72 passing touchdowns, 82 total career touchdowns and over 5,000 passing yards. Outside of football, he is involved in the National Honor Society as an A and B Honor Roll student, criminal justice program and the "Always Wear Your Seatbelt" club. At BSU, Johnson plans to major in sport management and enjoys spending time with friends and playing basketball in his free time. 
 
Running back
David Erlandson
Breckenridge, Minn. | Breckenridge HS
5'10 | 205
A member of the 2025 state runner-up team at Breckenridge High School, David Erlandson has been part of two state-qualifying teams. He was a participant at the 2025 Minnesota All-Star Game and was named Sport Illustrated's Class A Player of the Year. Erlandson was also nominated for Minnesota's coveted Mr. Football Award. He holds three school records at BHS, was the District MVP and part of this past season's All-State Football team. Erlandson also wrestles at BHS, where he is a three-time All-Section and All-District selection and has placed in the state tournament three times. In his career, Erlandson has totaled over 2,000 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns and averaged 15.5 yards per carry in the 2025 regular season. Erlandson was selected as his region's Triple A Award Winner, is a four-time Academic All-State selection for wrestling, member of the National Honor Society, student council, band, knowledge bowl team and mathletes. With plans to major in business finance at Bemidji State, Erlandson enjoys spending time with his friends and family on the lake in his free time. 
 
Tight Ends
Jaxon Bartkowicz
Holdingford, Minn. | Holdingford HS
6'4 | 225
Jaxon Bartkowicz joins the Beavers as one of the most decorated newcomers signing from the 2026 class. A 2025 Minnesota's Mr. Football nominee, Bartkowicz is a two-time All-District and All-Section selection, earning District MVP honors this season. He participated in the Minnesota All-Star Game and was selected to the All-State Football team during his senior season. Bartkowicz was also named both Star Post and St. Cloud Live's Player of the Year and is a four-time CMC Player of the Week. Named Holdingford High School's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for his senior campaign, Bartkowicz was a member of the HHS state quarterfinalist team, section champion team and 2023 and 2024 section runner-up teams. 
 
Bartkowicz is also a member of the HHS wrestling and baseball teams, earning All-State, three-time All-Conference and three-time CMC Player of the Week honors on the mat. With the HHS baseball program, Bartkowicz was named to the All-Tournament Team, a two-time All-Conference selection and CMC Player of the Week. He was the leading HHS rusher this past season, grabbing 728 yards and adding to his career total of over 5,000 offensive yards and 60 touchdowns. At HHS, Bartkowicz is a member of the school's "Spotlight on Scholarship" program and is a Honor Roll student. He plans to major in construction management at Bemidji State. Outside of football, Bartkowicz enjoys more football, being outdoors, fishing and hunting and spending time with his friends. 
 
Nolan Verdi
Dilworth, Minn. | Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton HS
6'2 | 250
Verdi is an All-Section and All-Conference selection at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School. A team captain in 2025, Verdi was named Defensive Player of the Year while the team made a run to the state tournament semifinals. He plans to major in construction management at BSU and enjoys sports, video games and finding ways to stay competitve in his free time. 

Wide Receivers
Jackson Connor
Verona, Wis. | Verona Area HS
6'4 | 200
Jackson Connor signs with Bemidji State as a First Team All-Conference wide receiver for Verona Area High School in Verona, Wis. He has marked 16 touchdowns with over 900 receiving yards. Connor also excels in lacrosse for Verona Area HS, being named a First Team All-Conference midfielder. Connor is involved in the National Honor Society, AP Scholars with Honors program, Black Student Union, volunteers with his school's food drives and is a member of the basketball team. At Bemidji State, Connor plans to major in exercise science. His hobbies include basketball, golf, video games and being with his friends. 
 
Braylon Kelly-Taylor
Bloomington, Minn. | Benilde-St. Margaret's
6'2 | 165
Joining the Beavers from Benilde-St. Margaret's, Braylon Kelly-Taylor is the Gold Sub District Receiver of the Year, a West District Honorable Mention and All-District selection. Kelly-Taylor was named the team's offensive MVP in 2025. The Red Knights were two-time section champions and a state qualifier during his time at BSM. Kelly-Taylor has marked 813 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions during his time in the Red & White. Undecided on a major, Kelly-Taylor enjoys spending time around friends and family, being outdoors, video games and attending church. 
 
Ethan Rud
Bagley, Minn. | Bagley HS
6'2 | 170
Ethan Rud joins the Beavers as the 2025 Offensive Player of the year from Bagley High School. He was a 2025 All-District and All-Section selection while also leading the Flyers as a team captain. In 2025, Rud marked 32 receptions, 598 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. He is a four-year B Honor Roll student at BHS. Rud plans to major in business and enjoys playing basketball and weightlifting in his free time. 
 
Sema'j Young
Minneapolis, Minn. | Robbinsdale Cooper HS
5'9 | 155
Sema'j Young is a two-time Offensive Player of the Year for Robbinsdale Cooper High School. He was named the team's MVP and Wide Receiver of the Year. Young is also also a three-time All-District selection and is an All-State selection. He was awarded the Adam Thielen Academic Award as well. Young plans to major in business and enjoys bowling and playing football in his free time. 
 
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).