FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University football program signed 20 high school student-athletes to letters of intent on Wednesday, Dec. 20, the first day of the three-day early signing period for Division I football.
The 2024 early signing class includes seven players from North Dakota, six from Minnesota, two from South Dakota, and one each from Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, Indiana and Virginia.
On offense, the Bison added three offensive linemen, three wide receivers, two tight ends, one fullback, one running back and one long snapper. There are two defensive linemen, three linebackers, two cornerbacks and two safeties on defense.
Following the three-day early signing period this week, the regular signing period for Division I football will run from February 7 to April 1.
North Dakota State, coming off its 12th NCAA semifinal appearance in the past 13 seasons, will be under the direction of first-year head coach Tim Polasek, who spent 10 years at NDSU as an assistant coach from 2006 to 2012 and offensive coordinator 2014 to 2016.
The Bison are scheduled to open the 2024 season at Colorado on Saturday, Aug. 31.
2024 NDSU Football Early Signing Day Roster
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Hometown/Previous School |
| Logan Conklin | WR | 6-4 | 190 | Fr. | Minot, N.D./Minot HS |
| Taylen Eady | S | 6-0 | 180 | Fr. | Toano, Va./Warhill HS |
| Peder Haugo | LB | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | Fargo, N.D./Fargo North HS |
| Ray James | LB | 6-3 | 195 | Fr. | Eden Prairie, Minn./DeLaSalle HS |
| Reis Kessel | TE | 6-6 | 209 | Fr. | Fargo, N.D./Fargo South HS |
| Grant Knodle | LS | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne HS |
| McClain Miller | RB | 6-1 | 223 | Fr. | Goshen, Ind./Northridge HS |
| Coy Okeson | OL | 6-4 | 281 | Fr. | Minot, N.D./Bishop Ryan HS |
| Wyatt Osterbauer | DE | 6-4 | 217 | Fr. | Montrose, Minn./Buffalo HS |
| Will Rosenmeyer | CB | 6-0 | 175 | Fr. | Highlands Ranch, Colo./Rock Canyon HS |
| Ryland Satter | FB | 6-1 | 216 | Fr. | Sioux Falls, S.D./O’Gorman HS |
| Isiah St. Romain | WR | 6-1 | 176 | Fr. | Williston, N.D./Williston HS |
| Will Steil | S | 6-2 | 195 | Fr. | Cold Spring, Minn./ROCORI HS |
| Noah Stommes | OL | 6-6 | 222 | Fr. | Richmond, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins HS |
| Nate Tastad | OL | 6-5 | 254 | Fr. | Rolette, N.D./Rolette HS |
| Zach Vanderpool | DE | 6-5 | 227 | Fr. | Byron, Minn./Byron HS |
| Will Washington | CB | 6-1 | 192 | Fr. | Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS |
| Jackson Williams | WR | 5-11 | 167 | Fr. | Omaha, Neb./Millard West HS |
| Donovan Woolen | LB | 6-3 | 205 | Fr. | Frisco, Texas/Wakeland HS |
| Jett Zabel | TE | 6-4 | 207 | Fr. | Pierre, S.D./T.F. Riggs HS |
Logan Conklin, WR, 6-4, 190, Fr., Minot, N.D. (Minot HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Minot High School…Three-year starter…Played wide receiver and safety for coach Chauncy Hendershot…Team captain his senior year…Two-time all-conference and all-state performer…Had 34 catches for 663 yards and 13 touchdowns his senior year to help lead the Magicians to the Class 3A state championship…Added 43 tackles with four interceptions on defense…Averaged 21 yards per catch In his career with 74 receptions for 1,568 yards…Part of a state title in basketball his sophomore year…Also competes in track and field…PERSONAL: Plans to major in construction management…Parents are Ryan and Marci.
Taylen Eady, S, 6-0, 180, Fr., Toano, Va. (Warhill HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Warhill High School…Four-year starter and two-time captain…Played for coach Jerome Rhodes…First team all-conference wide receiver and defensive back his senior year and was named Defensive Player of the Year…Also played linebacker and punter…Made 51 receptions for 1,005 yards and 15 TDs…Added four interceptions including two returned for touchdowns…Finished his career with 33 touchdowns and 18 interceptions…Set school records in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles…National Honor Society…PERSONAL: Plans to major in exercise science…Son of Ray and Tia Eady…Brother of former NDSU men’s basketball player Tyree Eady.
Peder Haugo, LB, 6-1, 200, Fr., Fargo, N.D. (Fargo North HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Fargo North High School…Three-year starter for coach Adam Roland…Played running back and linebacker…Three-time all-conference…Three-time all-state, including first team honors twice…Class 2A senior athlete of the year…Rushed for a school-record 1,512 yards and 26 touchdowns to lead Fargo North to the Class 2A state title…Finished his career with school-record 3,418 rushing yards, 60 TDs, 128 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and four recoveries…Also competes in basketball and track and field…National Honor Society…PERSONAL: Plans to major in biology…Son of Gary and Amie Haugo…Has two sisters, Ahna and Liv, and a brother, Matthew.
Ray James, LB, 6-3, 195, Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn. (DeLaSalle HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of DeLaSalle High School…Played linebacker and running back for coach Terell McMoore…Four-year starter…Two-time all-conference…Team captain twice…Team MVP his senior year averaging 9.1 yards per carry with five touchdowns…Also part of two conference and section championships in basketball…PERSONAL: Plans to major in business…Parents are Ray and Amber…Has a brother, Ace.
Reis Kessel, TE, 6-6, 209, Fr., Fargo, N.D. (Fargo South HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Fargo South High School…Played tight end and defensive end for coach Tyler Kosel…Three-year starter…Team captain his senior year…Made 51 receptions for 530 yards and seven touchdowns in his career…Two-time all-conference performer…Averaged a double-double in basketball his junior year…State track and field qualifier in the hurdles…National Honor Society…PERSONAL: Undecided on a college major…Parents are Ryan and Tracy.
Grant Knodle, LS, 6-1, 200, Fr., West Fargo, N.D. (Sheyenne HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of West Fargo Sheyenne High School…Played long snapper and defensive end for coach Jeremy Newton…Two-year starter…Team captain his senior year…Made 53 tackles with 16 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2023…Three-time state champion in baseball…PERSONAL: Plans to major in history education…Son of Mike and Jackie Knodle…Has two sisters, Annika and Quinn…His brother, Jacob, is a member of the NDSU cross country and track and field program.
McClain Miller, RB, 6-1, 223, Fr., Goshen, Ind. (Northridge HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Northridge High School…Played running back and linebacker for coach Chad Eppley…Three-year letterwinner…Two-year starter…Team captain his senior year…Averaged 6.2 yards per carry with 1,164 yards and 15 total touchdowns…Ran for 2,505 yards and 27 TDs in his career…Part of back-to-back section championship football teams…All-conference performer in track and field…Also plays baseball…PERSONAL: Plans to major in business administration…Son of Shane and Nichole Miller…Has a brother, Clay.
Coy Okeson, OL, 6-4, 281, Minot, N.D. (Bishop Ryan HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Bishop Ryan High School…Played offensive and defensive line for coach Eric Knutson…Team captain twice…Four-time all-conference…Three-time all-state performer including first-team honors in 2022 and 2023…Had 65 tackles including 31 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks his senior year…Finished his career with 200 tackles, 90 TFLs and 35 sacks…Four-time state qualifier, three-time finalist, and two-time state champion in wrestling…Two-time region champion in the shot put…Also plays basketball…PERSONAL: Plans to major in civil engineering…Son of Larry and Heidi Okeson…Has three brothers and three sisters.
Wyatt Osterbauer, DE, 6-4, 217, Fr., Montrose, Minn. (Buffalo HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Buffalo High School…Played defensive end, linebacker and tight end for coach Jackson Litterer…Three-year starter…Team captain as a senior…Team MVP…Made 80 total tackles with 14 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception his final year…Also made 23 catches for 333 yards and six TDs on offense…AP all-state second team…Two-time all-district and named the district Defensive Player of the Year…Selected to the Minnesota high school all-star game…Also plays lacrosse…PERSONAL: Plans to major in exercise science…Son of Jeremy and Cindy Osterbauer…Has a sister, Kelsey.
Will Rosenmeyer, CB, 6-0, 175, Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Rock Canyon HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Rock Canyon High School…Three-year starter at cornerback…Two-time all-conference…Team captain as a senior…Had 56 tackles with 10 pass breakups and two interceptions his final year…Made 121 career tackles with 19 pass breakups and four interceptions…Also competes in track and field…PERSONAL: Plans to major in business…Son of Travis and Molly Rosenmeyer…Has a sister, Emmy.
Ryland Satter, FB, 6-1, 216, Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D. (O’Gorman HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of O’Gorman High School…Three-year starter for coach Jayson Poppinga…Team captain senior year…Played fullback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and defensive end…Made 69 receptions for 766 yards and 15 touchdowns his final season…Added 12 tackles for loss on defense…Finished his career with 2,285 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns…Four-time all-conference…Three-time all-state…Named to the state’s Elite 45 team twice…Set school single-season records for receiving yards (1,000) and receptions (69) and a state record with five touchdown catches in a single game…Part of a state championship team in track and field his junior year…Also plays basketball…PERSONAL: Plans to major in construction management…Son of Justin and Molly Satter…Has two brothers and two sisters…His uncle, Justin Frick, was a defensive tackle for the Bison from 2003 to 2006.
Isiah St. Romain, WR, 6-1, 176, Fr., Williston, N.D. (Williston HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Williston High School…Played wide receiver, defensive back and quarterback during his career…Three-time all-conference…Two-time all-state…Also competes in basketball and track and field…PERSONAL: Plans to major in business management…Parents are Lloyd and Chante…Has two sisters, Lalani and Chanelle, and a brother, Lloyd.
Will Steil, S, 6-2, 195, Fr., Cold Spring, Minn. (ROCORI HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of ROCORI High School…Three-year starter for coach James Herberg…Played cornerback and quarterback…Accounted for 1,300 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards with 17 touchdowns his senior year…Made 48 total tackles with four interceptions in 11 games on defense…Finished his career with 164 total tackles and 11 interceptions…School-record 96-yard interception return for touchdown…Three-time all-conference first team…Conference MVP and all-state senior year…Selected to the Minnesota high school all-star game…Finalist for Minnesota’s Mr. Football award…State track qualifier in the 100 and 200 meters and 4×100 relay…PERSONAL: Plans to major in nursing…Parents are Todd and Kristi…Has two brothers, Jack and Sam…Jack Steil played baseball at Nebraska for two seasons before joining the NDSU baseball team in 2023.
Noah Stommes, OL, 6-6, 222, Fr., Richmond, Minn. (Eden Valley-Watkins HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Eden Valley-Watkins High School…Three-year starter and four-year letterwinner…Team captain his senior year…Played offensive tackle and defensive end for coach Adam Tri…Team won the 2023 Class 2A state championship with a 13-0 record and went 38-4 during his career…Made 43 tackles with seven tackles for loss and five sacks his senior year…Academic all-state honoree…Two-time all-conference in basketball and the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots…Also competes in track and field…PERSONAL: Plans to major in business…Parents are Reuben and Janice…Has five brothers and five sisters…Two of his brothers, Matt and David, played football at Minnesota…Cousin of Jacob Streit, a tight end for the NDSU football team in 2022 and 2023, and Joshua Streit, a forward in his third season on the NDSU men’s basketball team.
Nate Tastad, OL, 6-5, 254, Fr., Rolette, N.D. (Rolette HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Rolette High School…Played for the North Prairie Cougars and coach Josh Keller…Four-year starter and two-year captain…Played offensive line, defensive line and linebacker…North Dakota Senior Athlete of the Year in 9-man football with 53 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six sacks for the state champions…Finished his career with 133 total tackles, 26 TFLs, 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles…Blocked for a rushing offense that ran for more than 14,000 yards during his career…Three-time all-region pick…First team all-state offensive lineman as a junior and senior…Five-year starter in basketball…Also participates in baseball, track and field, FFA and pep band…PERSONAL: Undecided on a college major…Son of Matt and Cynthia Tastad…Matt Tastad was an offensive guard on the 1992 NDSU football team…Family includes two sisters, Sydney and Eva, and a brother, Brett.
Zach Vanderpool, DE, 6-5, 227, Fr., Byron, Minn. (Byron HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Byron High School…Two-year starter for coach Ben Halder…Team captain his senior year…Played defensive end, left tackle and long snapper…Two-time all-district…District Defensive Lineman of the Year…Had 41 tackles with 15 tackles for loss and three sacks his final season…Part of a unit that limited opponents to 9.5 points and 198.5 yards per game while advancing to the state semifinals…Also competes in basketball and track and field…PERSONAL: Plans to major in exercise science…Son of Brian and Heather Vanderpool…Has two sisters, Sacia and Ella…Sacia plays basketball at Wisconsin.
Will Washington, CB, 6-1, 192, Fr., Burnsville, Minn. (Apple Valley HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Apple Valley High School…Coached by Pete Usset…Three-year starter…Team captain senior year…Played cornerback, safety, wide receiver and running back…Three-time all-conference first team…Team MVP and co-Defensive Player of the Year in the conference his senior year…Made 40 tackles with two tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble…Selected to the Minnesota high school all-star game…Also competes in track and field…PERSONAL: Plans to major in interior design.
Jackson Williams, WR, 5-11, 167, Fr., Omaha, Neb. (Millard West HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Millard West High School…Coached by Kirk Peterson…Three-year starter…Team captain senior year…Played wide receiver and returned kickoffs and punts…Finalist for Nebraska’s Mr. Football award…First team all-state with 1,832 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns….Made 45 receptions for 882 yards and nine TDs…School’s career receiving leader with 1,986 yards…Had a school-record 95-yard touchdown reception…Tied the state record twice with 99-yard kickoff return touchdowns…Finished his career with 4,078 all-purpose yards and 32 total touchdowns…Academic all-state in football…Also competes in basketball, baseball and bowling…PERSONAL: Plans to major in business…Son of Jamel and Sarah Williams…Father played for Nebraska and was a fifth-round NFL draft pick playing for the Redskins (1997-1999) and Packers (1999)…Mother played softball for Nebraska…Has two brothers, Kaden and Bryson.
Donovan Woolen, LB, 6-3, 205, Fr., Frisco, Texas (Wakeland HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of Wakeland High School…Coached by Chan Isom…Three-year starter…Two-year team captain…Played linebacker and wide receiver…All-district as a junior and senior…Had 65 tackles his senior year with 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, eight pass breakups, one interception and two forced fumbles…Made 44 receptions for 781 yards and 14 touchdowns…PERSONAL: Plans to major in business administration…Son of Tim and Heather Woolen…Has a brother, Davion, who played football at Oklahoma in 2022.
Jett Zabel, TE, 6-4, 207, Fr., Pierre, S.D. (T.F. Riggs HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: 2024 graduate of T.F. Riggs High School…Coached by Steve Steele…Played tight end, quarterback and defensive end…Three-year starter…Team captain as a senior…Two-time all-conference and all-state pick…2023 Midco Sports Class 11AA Player of the Year…Made 58 receptions for 995 yards and 18 touchdowns to lead the Governors to their seventh consecutive state championship…Had 2,304 career receiving yards and set school records for receptions (138) and receiving touchdowns (35)…Completed a record 99-yard touchdown pass in the 2023 state title game…Also a state champion in baseball…Ran a time of 11.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash…Also plays basketball…Member of the chess club…PERSONAL: Plans to major in construction management…Son of Mark and Tanna Zabel…Has two brothers…Peyton Zabel plays baseball at Texas State…Grey Zabel is an offensive lineman at NDSU.
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