FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 15, 2021) – After missing out on in-person recruiting for more than a year, head coach
Chris Ball and the rest of the Northern Arizona University football staff returned to the road this summer and fall with 20 commitments joining the program on Wednesday as the early national signing period got underway.
Of the 20 signees, 18 join the Lumberjacks out of high school with two transferring from junior colleges in California. The group includes 10 on the defensive side of the ball, with eight on offense and two specialists.
Nine players spent their high school careers in California with six local to Arizona. Northern Arizona recruiting stretched into Texas once again with a pair of receivers from the Lone Star State joining reigning Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year
RJ Martinez, who was among Northern Arizona's 21 signees last December.
The Lumberjacks also received commitments from players in Colorado, Georgia and Nevada on Wednesday with the rest of the Lumberjacks 2021 recruiting class to be announced on Feb. 2, 2022, the first day of the regular signing period.
2022 NAU Football Early Signing Class
Caiaphas Ardoin
6-0 – 180 – Wide Receiver
East Palo Alto, Calif./Foothill College
Caught 40 passes for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns this fall for the Owls... Finished 7-3 in his lone season at Foothill after graduating from Piedmont Hills High School in San Jose, Calif... Led the American Region of the CCCAA in touchdown catches and ranks second in all of the state... Named All-Pacific 7 League for his performance as a freshman at Foothill... Caught 40 passes for 532 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior in high school.
Camilo Arquette
6-1 – 215 – Linebacker
San Jose, Calif./St. Francis HS
Named 2021 All-West Catholic Athletic League First Team and Linebacker of the Year... Also earned All-West Catholic Athletic League First Team honors as a sophomore and was named Sophomore of the Year by the league... Recorded 71 tackles, 4.5 TFL, four passes defended, and seven quarterback hurries as a senior... Finished with 39 tackles and 2.0 TFL in a shortened spring season as a junior... Tallied 72 tackles and three passes defended as a sophomore... Also rushed for 1,789 yards during his high school career, including a 900-yard season as a sophomore, while adding 29 career rushing touchdowns... St. Francis finished 11-1 this fall, reaching the Division I CIF Central Coast Section Championship game.
Koda Bridges
5-9 – 165 – Wide Receiver
Carrollton, Texas/Hebron HS
Caught 84 passes for 1,393 yards and 15 touchdowns during his senior season... Named First Team All-District in 6-6A... Ranked seventh in state of Texas at 126.6 receiving yards per game and sixth in receptions... Recorded 100 yards receiving in eight of 11 games as a senior, including the final five of the season.
Micah Carreon
6-0 – 275 – Defensive Lineman
Mission Viejo, Calif/Mission Viejo HS
Earned Defensive Co-MVP of the South Coast League and served as a three-year starter for the Diablos... Finished 2021 with 28 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks and five quarterback hurries... Mission Viejo finished the 2021 season 9-2 and reached the CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinals... Went 4-1 during his junior season, recording 21 tackles, 7.0 TFL, three quarterback hurries and 2.0 sacks... Finished sophomore season with 33 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries... Diablos went 11-1 and reached the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals in 2019.
Brevin Czosnyka
6-3 – 190 – Defensive Back
Glendale, Ariz./Sandra Day O'Connor HS
Named All-Region Second Team in 2020... Finished his senior season with 73 tackles, 9.0 TFL, three passes defended, two interceptions, 1.0 sacks and one quarterback hurry... Also caught 12 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns... The Eagles finished 6-4 and reached the 6A Conference State tournament... Finished with 84 tackles and 11.0 TFL, with six passes defended, 2.0 sacks and two interceptions as a junior... Program reached 6A Conference State semifinals after going 5-3 during the regular season... Also finished with 51 tackles, three quarterback hurries, 2.0 TFL and one pass defended.
Ezekiel Duncan
6-3 – 260 – Defensive Lineman
Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes HS
Finished his senior season with 21 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries... Vikings finished the 2021 season 10-3, reaching the Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals... Lowndes held a 26-game home win streak entering the 2021 quarterfinals... Also throws shot put for the track and field team.
Sean Farfan
6-2 – 220 – Long Snapper
West Covina, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College
Played at Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, Calif. before spending a year at Mt. San Antonio College... Rated as a five star long snapper by Rubio Long Snapping... Team finished 8-3 this fall with a victory in the SCFA Patriotic Bowl... As a junior, Bishop Amat finished 9-2 and reached the 2019 CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
BJ Fleming
6-0 – 155 – Wide Receiver
Aledo, Texas/Aledo HS
Caught 39 passes for 704 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior for the Bearcats... Finishing 12-1 this fall, Aledo reached the Class 5A Division II Region II area playoffs... Finished 13-1 in 2020, winning a third straight 5A Division II state title.
Angel Flores
6-2 – 205 – Quarterback
Casa Grande, Ariz./Casa Grande HS
Threw for 2,671 yards while completing 76.4% of his passes and added 26 TDs to 4INTs... Also rushed for 1,292 yards across his four-year career, totaling 19 touchdowns and 7.9 yards per carry... Finished the 2021 regular season 9-0 and went on to win the 4A Conference State Championship, the first in school history... Wrapped up his four-year varsity career with 7,957 yards passing and 3,583 yards rushing, throwing 62 touchdowns and rushing for 60 scores... Also reached 4A Conference State Semifinals as a junior, with a 6-1 record... Finished 6-4 as a sophomore and advanced to the Second Round of the 4A playoffs... Named All-4A Kino Region First Team as a sophomore, junior and senior... Also won 4A Kino Region Player of the Year as a junior and senior... Also named All-4A Conference Second Team as a sophomore and was Honorable Mention to the 4A Kino Region as a freshman.
Devon Grubbs
6-0 – 190 – Defensive Back
Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS
Named All-6A Central Region at three different positions during his high school career... Earned Second Team All-Region honors as a running back following his senior season... Named All-Region First Team as a defensive back in 2020 and All-Region Second Teams as a kick returner in 2019... The Thunder finished the 2021 regular season 5-5 overall and qualified for the 6A Conference State Tournament... Went 7-3 in 2019 and reached the 6A Conference semifinals.
Cash Koepke
6-4 – 300 – Offensive Lineman
Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos HS
Named the Sunset League's Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year and was listed as a Top 10 Offensive Lineman in Orange County, Calif. ahead of the 2021 season... Three-year starter for the Griffins... Team finished 9-2 in 2021, reaching the Division I CIF Southern Section Playoffs... Program also finished 6-0 during an abbreviated 2021 Spring season.
Braden Kramer
6-4 – 230 – Tight End
Colorado Springs, Colo./Pine Creek HS
Eagles finished 10-3 this fall, reaching the 2021 CHSAA Class 4A Semifinals... Recorded 19 catches for 398 yards and three touchdowns as a senior... Finished with 17 tackles, three passes defended, 2.0 TFL and 1.0 sacks as a junior... Added 11 catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns on offense.
Marcus Lye
6-1 – 185 – Kicker/Punter
Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy College Prep HS
Named All-6A Desert Valley Region First Team as a kicker in 2021 and 2019 in addition to being named as a first teamer as a punter in 2020... Also earned All-6A Conference Second Team honors as a punter in 2020... Honorable Mention 6A Desert Valley Region as a punter in 2021 and as a kicker in 2020... Finished his senior season with 43 touchbacks on 56 kickoffs, 40 punts for an average of 37.6 with nine downed inside the 20, and hit 26-of-28 extra points as well as 12-of-21 field goals with a long of 53... Broncos finished 2021 with a 6-4 record and reached the second round of the 6A Conference State Tournament... Also went 8-2 and qualified for the 6A State Tournament in 2019.
Alani Ma'afu
6-5 – 280 – 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.
CJ McMillan
6-6 – 260 – Offensive Lineman
Sacramento, Calif./Capital Christian
Named to Preseason 2021 All-Sac-Joaquin City Section Team... Offense averaged 42.0 points per game for the Cougars... Finished 7-2 during the 2021 season... Reached the Division III quarterfinals with a 9-3 record during the 2019 season.
Bryant Meredith
5-10 – 160 – Defensive Back
Concord, Calif./De La Salle HS
Named 2021 Preseason All-Bay Area News Group... Finished with 32 tackles, three interceptions and 1.0 TFL... Also rushed for 75 yards on four carries with 19 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns... Finished 10-2 in 2021, with a 29th consecutive NCS football championship... Reached the NorCal 1AA Regional... Finished 6-0 in the 2021 Spring season and 12-2 in 2019.
Edward Rhambo
6-2 – 185 – Defensive Back
Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde HS
Finished with five passes defended and four interceptions during the 2021 season, adding 14 tackles... Caught nine passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns... Also returned a kick and punt for a touchdown... Finished his sophomore season with 27 tackles, six passes defended, two interceptions and a blocked punt... Panthers finished the 2019 season 8-4 and reached the Mountain Region semifinal while reaching the Class 4A quarterfinals.
Alexis Sanchez
6-3 – 325 – Offensive Lineman
Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge HS
Started for the Mountain Lions as they finished the 2021 season with a 7-3 record and reached the second round of the 6A Conference State Tournament... Blocked for an offense that averaged 52.25 points per game in eight victories between the regular season and postseason... Mountain Lions scored 75 and 77 points in a pair of victories during this past fall season.
Warren-Stevens Tayou
6-2 – 245 – Defensive Line
Lawndale, Calif./Lawndale HS
Played for Lawndale during the 2021 spring season in California... Played for John Glenn High School in Norwalk, Calif. in 2019... Finished with nine tackles, 5.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks and six quarterback hurries... Won the 605 League title, going 6-5 in 2019.
Brandon Wong
6-1 – 210 – Linebacker
Rocklin, Calif./Whitney HS
Named 2021-22 Sierra Foothill League Defensive Player of the Year... Named 2020-21 All-Sierra Foothill League First Team... Finished his senior season with 102 tackles, 16.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles... During a shortened junior season in the spring, finished with 74 tackles, 7.0 TFL and three passes defended... Also recorded 37 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a sophomore... Also totaled five receptions for 64 yards and four touchdowns as a senior... Whitney finished the 2021 season 6-6 overall, reaching the quarterfinals of the Division II 2021 CIF Sac-Joaquin Football Playoffs.
2022 NAU Football Early Signing Class
| Player |
Position |
Height | Weight |
Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Caiaphas Ardoin |
WR |
6-0 | 180 |
East Palo Alto, Calif./Foothill College |
| Camilo Arquette |
LB |
6-1 | 215 |
San Jose, Calif../St. Francis HS |
| Koda Bridges |
WR |
5-9 | 165 |
Carrollton, Texas/Hebron HS |
| Micah Carreon |
DL |
6-0 | 275 |
Mission Viejo, Calif/Mission Viejo HS |
| Brevin Czosnyka |
DB |
6-3 | 190 |
Glendale, Ariz./Sandra Day O'Connor HS |
| Ezekiel Duncan |
DL |
6-3 | 260 |
Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes HS |
| Sean Farfan |
LS |
6-2 | 220 |
West Covina, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College |
| BJ Fleming |
WR |
6-0 | 155 |
Aledo, Texas/Aledo HS |
| Angel Flores |
QB |
6-2 | 205 |
Casa Grande, Ariz./Casa Grande HS |
| Devon Grubbs |
DB |
6-0 | 190 |
Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS |
| Cash Koepke |
OL |
6-4 | 300 |
Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos HS |
| Braden Kramer |
TE |
6-4 | 230 |
Colorado Springs, Colo./Pine Creek HS |
| Marcus Lye |
K/P |
6-1 | 185 |
Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy College Prep HS |
| Alani Ma'afu |
DL |
6-5 | 280 |
Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro HS |
| CJ McMillan |
OL |
6-6 | 260 |
Sacramento, Calif./Capital Christian |
| Bryant Meredith |
DB |
5-10 | 160 |
Concord, Calif./De La Salle HS |
| Edward Rhambo |
DB |
6-2 | 185 |
Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde HS |
| Alexis Sanchez |
OL |
6-3 | 325 |
Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge HS |
| Warren-Stevens Tayou |
DL |
6-2 | 245 |
Lawndale, Calif./Lawndale HS |
| Brandon Wong |
LB |
6-1 | 210 |
Rocklin, Calif./Whitney HS |
