FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 16, 2020) - Working through the unique circumstances of the past nine months, head coach
Chris Ball and the rest of the Northern Arizona University football staff added 21 commitments on Wednesday as the early national signing period got underway.
"NAU Football is excited to have each of these young men joining our team," said NAU head coach
Chris Ball. "They possess and exhibit each of our core values. This class is another big step towards us winning a Big Sky Championship. We are excited to get to work!"
All but one of the newcomers to the program will be a freshman next fall. The lone transfer is defensive lineman
Cosmas Kwete, the brother of current Lumberjack
Eloi Kwete, who arrives from the Pac-12. A total of 10 commitments come on offense while nine additions are set for the defensive side of the ball. The final two commitments, receiver/defensive back Brady Shough and quarterback
Xander Werner, enter the program as athletes.
The Lumberjacks landed five commitments on both the defensive and offensive line as the two position groups accounted for nearly half of the recruiting class. A total of 15 players will arrive in Flagstaff after spending their high school careers in Arizona, with another two from both Oregon and Texas, and one each from California and Washington.
The rest of the Lumberjacks' 2021 recruiting class will be announced on Feb. 3, 2021, the first day of the regular signing period.
2021 NAU Football Early Signing Class
Zach Blackwood
6-4 – 260 – Defensive Lineman
Goodyear, Ariz./Desert Edge HS
Finished his career at Desert Edge with 123 tackles, 80 as solo tackles, as well as 10.0 tackles for loss... Defended six passes, with one interception coming during his junior year... Reached the AIA Open Division quarterfinals during his senior year after the Scorpions went 8-0 in the regular season... During his junior year, the Scorpions finished the regular season 7-3 and qualified for the 4A State Championship... Outsourcing opponents 96-56 in the first three rounds of the playoffs, Desert Edge reached the title game.Â
Jonah Carnell
5-11 – 170 – Wide Receiver
Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde HS
Caught 55 passes for 814 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior at Rancho Verde as the Mustangs finished 9-1 and reached the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs... The Mustangs reached the quarterfinals against San Clemente before their season came to an end... Recorded 145 receiving yards against Norco during his junior season, catching 10 passes in a 63-35 victory.
Quinn Carolan
6-5 – 230 – Tight End
Seattle, Wash./O'Dea HS
Played tight end and defensive end for the O'Dea Fighting Irish... Caught three passes for 56 yards as a junior, adding 13 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss... Finished the regular season 8-0 to reach the district championship and eventually the Class 3A playoffs... Outscoring opponents 74-10, O'Dea rolled through three opponents to reach the Class 3A finals.
Marzion Cosby
6-0 – 165 – Defensive Back
Peoria, Ariz./Centennial HS
All-6A Desert Valley Region First Team as a kick returner in 2020... Arrived at Centennial for his senior year and played one season for the Coyotes... Finished the regular season 6-2 and earned a berth in the AIA Open Division Championship... Caught 15 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns... Finished with 106 yards on four receptions against Chaparral... Also ran for 45 yards on four carries... During his junior season, recorded 736 total yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 31 tackles and three interceptions as Ladue Horton Watkins (St. Louis, Mo.) finished 12-2 in 2019... Also had offers from Eastern Illinois, Missouri State and Western Illinois.
Draycen Hall
5-8 – 175 – Running Back
Gilbert, Ariz./Higley HS
Rolled up 4,572 rushing yards and 65 touchdowns on the ground during his varsity career for the Knights from 2014-17... Added another 15 touchdowns and 1,890 yards through the air as he earned the 4A Offensive Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year awards as a senior in 2017... Also won 4A Conference Player of the Year as a junior in 2016... Served a two-year church mission immediately after high school... Also returned kicks during his high school career, with 1,446 kick return yards and 679 punt return yards... Scored eight touchdowns on returns in his career, including five kick returns as a junior when he was named the Gatorade Arizona Football Player of the Year.
Cosmas Kwete
6-3 – 260 – Defensive Lineman
Phoenix, Ariz./Central HS/Washington State
Played in 11 games for Washington State in 2019... Finished with 20 tackles, 2.0 for loss, and recovered a fumble... A top-20 ranked prospect coming out of high school, finished with 205 tackles during his varsity career at Central... 95 solo tackles, 51.0 tackles for loss and 20 sacks recorded during his high school career... An All-5A Metro Region First Team selection on both the offensive and defensive line as a senior in 2018... All-6A Metro Region First Team as a defensive lineman in 2017, adding second-team honors as an offensive lineman... Twin brother
Eloi Kwete is currently a member of the Lumberjacks and younger brother Richard is a member of the signing class as well.
Richard Kwete
6-3 – 260 – Defensive Lineman
Phoenix, Ariz./Sunnyslope HS
Earned All-5A Northeast Valley Region First Team honors as a senior... The Vikings finished the season 5-1 overall to reach the 5A Conference Championships... Finished with 34 career tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks during his varsity career while also playing on the offensive line... Older brother
Eloi Kwete is currently a member of the Lumberjacks while another brother, Cosmas, is a member of the signing class as well... Also offered by Idaho.
Alani Ma'afu
6-3 – 285 – Defensive Lineman
Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro HS
Recorded 161 tackles, including 42 solo, during his high school career... Added 46.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while playing for the Sabercats... An All-4A Conference First Team selection as a sophomore and junior, as well as All-5A San Tan Region First Team for his senior year... Recorded 5.0 tackles for loss against Horizon as a junior and added another 4.0 in a meeting with the Huskies this season... Saguaro finished 9-1 during his junior year, reaching the AIA Open Division title game... Sabercats recorded a 5-1 record this season, qualifying for the AIA Open Division Championship... Also offered by Hawaii, Iowa State, Liberty, Memphis, Montana State, New Mexico, San Diego State, Tulane and Washington State.
Joe MaQatish
6-7 – 245 – Tight End
Adair Village, Ore./Santiam Christian School
Won the 3A state title in Oregon with a 14-0 record during his junior year... Team averaged 46.3 points per game on the way to the title... Did not play football during his first two years of high school... Also plays basketball for the Eagles.
RJ Martinez
5-11 – 180 – Quarterback
Austin, Texas/Westwood HS
Threw for 7,608 yards and 67 touchdowns in his three varsity seasons for the Warriors... Threw for 2,538 yards and 22 touchdowns across nine games this season... Best game came in the season finale against Round Rock, throwing for 510 yards and four touchdowns... During his junior season, threw for 602 yards and seven touchdowns against Cedar Ridge... The 50 completions from the game tied a state record set by Kyler Murray... Also rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns against Cedar Ridge... Finished his high school career with 1,612 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns... Earned all-district honors following his junior season, as well as honorable mention all-state.
Andrew Mason
6-5 – 280 – Offensive Line
Gilbert, Ariz./Perry HS
Earned All-6A Premier Region Second Team honors as a junior and a senior... Pumas finished 6-4 in his junior year, reaching the 6A Conference State Championship as the team averaged 41.3 points per game... Also offered by San Diego.
Caiden Miles
6-4 – 290 – Offensive Line
Peoria, Ariz./Centennial HS
An All-5A Northwest Region First Team honoree as a junior and a senior, was second team All-5A Conference in 2019... Finished the regular season 6-2 and earned a berth in the AIA Open Division Championship during this past season... All-5A Northwest Region Second Team honoree as a sophomore... FBU Freshman All-American... Coyotes finished 9-1 during his junior season in the 5A Conference, reaching the AIA Open Division Championship... Helped his offense average 24.9 points per game as a senior and 39.8 as a junior... Also offered by Abilene Christian, Air Force, Columbia, New Mexico State, UNLV and Yale.
Jake Schmitt
6-2 – 210 – Inside Linebacker
Tempe, Ariz./Corona del Sol HS
Finished with 216 career tackles, 117 solo, for the Aztecs... Also had 15.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions during his high school career... Finished 8-0 during the regular season with Corona del Sol, reaching the AIA Open Championship... Earned the 6A East Valley Region Player of the Year as a senior... Named to the All-6A Central Region First Team and the All-6A Conference Second Team for his junior season... Also reached the 6A state playoffs as a junior... Also offered by Colorado State, Idaho, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Southern Utah and Weber State.
Brady Shough
6-2 – 195 – Athlete
Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton HS
Caught 56 passes for 668 yards and four touchdowns... Added 80 tackles, including 49 solo, and three interceptions... Huskies finished 6-1 during his senior season, reaching the AIA Open Division title game against rival Chandler... Also finished 8-2 in his junior season, reaching the open division semifinals in 2019... An All-6A Premier Region honorable mention three times during his high school career.
Dante Smith
6-3 – 280 – Defensive Lineman
Mesa, Ariz./Desert Ridge HS
All-6A Fiesta Region as a senior... All-6A Central Region as a junior... Recorded 84 tackles in his varsity career, 45 solo... Added 14.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and two interceptions... Returned a fumble for a touchdown during his junior season... Also offered by Abilene Christian, New Mexico, New Mexico State, North Dakota, Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, South Dakota State and Tarleton State.
Seth Smith
6-6 – 285 – Offensive Lineman
Chandler, Ariz./Chandler HS
Three-year letterwinner for Chandler... All-6A Premier Region Second Team as a senior... Won the AIA Open Division Championship as a senior, beating rival Hamilton in the final to finish the season undefeated... The Wolves also finished the 2019 season 10-0 and won the Open Division title over Saguaro... Chandler also finished the 2018 season 9-1 and won the 6A state championship over Perry.
Justin Thomas
6-3 – 285 – Offensive Lineman
Queen Creek, Ariz./Casteel HS
All-6A Fiesta Region second team as a senior, All-5A San Tan Region second team as a junior... Colts finished 5-3 this season, reaching the 6A state tournament... With a 7-3 record in 2019, Casteel reached the 5A Conference semifinals... Offense averaged 38.9 points per game in 2019... Also offered by Abilene Christian, Air Force, Dartmouth, Idaho and Southeast Missouri State.
Jakobe Walton
5-11 – 185 – Defensive Back
McKinney, Texas/McKinney HS
Finished his high school career with the Lions... Playing for the West Mesquite Wranglers as a junior, finished with 29 total tackles and an interception... Also caught nine passes for 168 yards and four touchdowns... Named to the All-7-5A Division I First Team as a junior.
Holden Whipple
6-4 – 285 – Offensive Lineman
Salem, Ore./West Salem HS
Originally played quarterback and tight end before moving to offensive line as a sophomore... West Salem reached the second round of the OSAA Class 6A state playoffs in his sophomore and junior seasons... Also plays basketball for the Titans... Sister, Paige, plays volleyball at Arizona.
Diallo (DJ) WilliamsÂ
6-1 – 180 – Defensive Back
Peoria, Ariz./Centennial HS
Recorded 10 passes defended during his varsity career for the Coyotes... Added a sack during his senior season... Finished the regular season 6-2 and earned a berth in the AIA Open Division Championship... As a junior, Coyotes finished 9-1 during his junior season in the 5A Conference and reached the AIA Open Division Championship... Also offered by Montana State, Northern Colorado and Southern Utah.
Xander WernerÂ
6-3 – 225 – Athlete
Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro HS
All-5A San Tan Region First Team as a senior... Threw for 289 yards, rushed for 279 and caught nine passes for 166 yards in his final season for the Sabercats, adding eight touchdowns on the ground and throwing for three scores... Scored seven total touchdowns as a junior while catching 12 passes for 284 yards... Considered a top-40 prospect in Arizona... Also offered by Air Force, Army, Bucknell, Fordham, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Southern Utah and Texas State.
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