FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Dec. 4, 2024) – Northern Arizona University head football coach
Brian Wright has announced the addition of 21 new signees on the first day of the National Signing Period.
The second recruiting class under Wright features 21 high school standouts who all signed National Letters of the Intent to join NAU for the 2025 season. The class features 12 players from the state of California, eight from Arizona and one from Nevada.
There are 11 players on the defensive side of the ball, including five new defensive backs, two linebackers, and four linemen. On the offensive side, NAU welcomes 10 new players including five offensive linemen.
A list of the 2025 signing class can be found below.
Brison Abbott | RB | Bakersfield HS | California | 5'9 | 185
Brison Abbott is a star running back from Bakersfield High School in California. Abbott has been a major threat to every opponent his team has faced, racking up 1,572 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in his senior season alone.
Abbott has spent all four years of high school on his varsity team. He has had a total of 4,419 rushing yards in his high school career with an average of 8.9 yards per carry. Abbott was named Offensive Player of the Year during his junior season and South Yosemite Valley League Offensive MVP. He ended his junior year with 2,079 yards, 194 rushes, and 23 touchdowns. As a senior Abbott led the Drillers to the state championship game.
Isaac Adams | OL | Cajon HS | California | 6'4 | 290
Isaac Adams is a three-year varsity player out of Cajon High School in California. Adams has twice been named first team All-Conference and once to first team All-San Bernardino County. His team ended their season with a 9-3 record and a total of 2,189 rushing yards.
Jayden Baer | DL | Quartz Hill HS | California | 6'5 | 260
Coming from Quartz Hill High School in California, Jayden Baer is a three-year varsity defensive lineman. As a senior, Baer has totaled 61 tackles and 10 sacks. In his career, Baer has racked up 191 total tackles, 102 of those being solo tackles, and 35 career sacks. Helping his team to a 9-3 record this season, Baer has been a crucial player in his team's success.
Baer is also a top ranked wrestler in California.
Josh Bates | OL | Mission Viejo HS | California | 6-4 | 285
Josh Bates hails from Trabuco Canyon, Calif., where he plays for national powerhouse, Mission Viejo. One of the elite programs in Southern California, Bates played multiple positions during his time for the Diablo.
This season Bates was part of a Diablo offense that piled up 3,100 passing and 1,400 rushing yards. Mission Viejo went undefeated in the regular season playing top teams from California, Arizona and Hawai'i. Bates will bring lots of high-level experience with him to Flagstaff.
Aidan Browder | LB | Chandler HS | Arizona | 6'1 | 215
Aidan Browder hails from Chandler, Ariz., where he attended Chandler High School, one of the most storied programs in Arizona high school football.
Browder totaled 138 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble across a two-year varsity career. As a senior, he was voted first team All-Region.
Hayden Daugherty | TE | Highland HS | Arizona | 6'4 | 245
Hayden Daugherty comes to NAU from Mesa, Ariz., by way of Lewiston, Idaho and Walla Walla, Wash.
Daugherty finished his standout career at Highland High School with 71 catches, 951 yards, and six touchdowns. He was selected first team All-Region as a senior and helped Highland to the playoffs in each of his three years on varsity, including winning the 6A State Championship in 2022.
Hayden Fletcher | QB | Liberty HS | Arizona | 6'1 | 180
Hayden Fletcher is a 6'2, 170-pound quarterback who has been playing on varsity for Liberty High School in Peoria Ariz., since he was a sophomore. Hayden earned Northeast Valley Offensive Player of the Year honors after exploding for 2,539 passing yards and 23 passing touchdowns this year, leading his team to a 9-1 record as a team captain.
Fletcher will lead his Liberty Lions in the Arizona Open State Championship on Saturday, Dec. 7
th to finish off his senior year.
Weston Hancock | OL | Red Mountain HS | Arizona | 6'5 | 270
Weston Hancock plays for Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Ariz. Hancock has been elite in the pass and run game this season, earning first team All-Region offensive lineman and leading his team to a 7-4 record.
As a junior, Hancock helped lead the Mountain Lions to an appearance in the 6A Arizona State Championship game.
Nick Harper | DL | Queen Creek HS | Arizona | 6'4 | 255
In his two seasons at Queen Creek, Nick Harper produced 43 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 20 sacks.
As a senior, Harper was named first team All-Region and was a big part in taking the Bulldogs from 3-8 record in 2023 to making the 6A State semifinals in 2024.
Liam Kline | OL | Mission Hills HS | California | 6'5 | 275
Coming from Southern California, Liam Kline is a force to be reckoned with. Kline was a key player at Mission Hills High School where he helped his team to an 8-3 record this season.
John Alexander Lopez | OL | Copper Canyon HS | Arizona | 6'5 | 275
Coming from Copper Canyon High School, John Alexander Lopez is a defensive and offensive threat. During his senior year, Lopez was named first team All-Region Offensive Line, with a total of 23 pancakes and 22 solo tackles. Lopez forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles, averaging nearly five tackles a game.
Lopez has also been a part of his school's track and field team. He is aiming to break his school's shot put record in the spring.
Markell Martin | DB | Scripps Ranch HS | California | 6'1 | 170
Coming from San Diego, Calif., Markell Martin is an offensive player from Scripps Ranch High School. As a junior, Markell played on both sides of the ball as well as starting as a kick returner.
During his time at Scripps Ranch, Markell was part of turning the program around starting at 2-9 his sophomore year, 7-4 his junior year and 9-2 as a senior. Markell is a native of Texas but went to high school in San Diego.
Devin Murphy | LB | Maryvale HS | Arizona | 6'3 | 195
Devin Murphy is a 6'4, 205-pound all-around threat from Maryvale Highschool in Phoenix, Ariz. Murphy is a three-year starter on varsity, but this year he put up 1,445 yards of total offense on the ground and receiving with 15 touchdowns. He also helped his defense with 72 total tackles and seven interceptions as captain of the team.
Joseph Ramirez | WR | Thomas Downey HS | California | 6'3 | 185
Joseph Ramirez hails from Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, Calif. He started his career as a quarterback before transitioning to wide receiver and defensive back.
Over the course of a three-year varsity career he accumulated 1,740 yards receiving, 810 yards rushing and 850 yards passing. He also serves as the team's punter and has experience returning kicks.
Ramirez comes from a winning program, being part of three 10-win teams during his time with the Downey Knights.
Jaxen Robinson | TE | Christopher HS | California | 6'5 | 220
Jaxen Robinson is an offensive player from Christopher High School in the Bay Area where he played tight end and quarterback. As a senior, Robinson ended his season with 2,592 passing yards and 30 total points, ending his high school career with a total of 5,854 yards.
During his junior year, Robinson was named second team All-Bay Area, helping to lead his team to the CCS Division II Final as well as being named Offensive Player of the Year in the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
In addition to football, Robinson is a multi-sport athlete playing basketball and baseball. Robinson has been named first team All-State Team Division 4 and first team All-League for his participation in basketball at Christopher High School.
Braylon Singleton | DB | Culver City HS | California | 6'2 | 180
Braylon Singleton is a three-year starter at wide receiver and defensive back on varsity for Culver City High School in California. Singleton put up 753 all-purpose yards and 11 total touchdowns. Singleton also showed out on defense with 61 total tackles and four interceptions.
Myles Singleton | DB | Culver City HS | California | 6'0 | 170
Myles Singleton is a three-year starter at wide receiver and defensive back on varsity for Culver City High School in California. Singleton went on this season to have 1,371 all-purpose yards on offense, breaking the school record for receiving yards along with 13 receiving touchdowns. He also was a huge part of the Culver City defense putting up 72 total tackles and three interceptions.
Charlie Taufa | DL | Narbonne HS | California | 6'2 | 265
Charlie Taufa is a defensive lineman from Narbonne High School in California. Taufa has recorded 16 solo tackles with a total of 23 tackles in his high school career.
Taufa originally attended Pittsburg High School where he was a standout before transferring to Narbonne High School.
JT Taylor | DB | Higley HS | Arizona | 6'0 | 170
JT Taylor is a defensive back from Higley High School in Arizona. Taylor has had an outstanding senior season with 53 receptions, 842 yards, and 13 touchdowns. A three-star recruit, he has helped his high school to rank fifth in the Open Division this season. In his last two seasons at Higley, Taylor has scored a total of 30 touchdowns.
As a junior, Taylor put up over 1,000 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns helping Higley finish 13-2. Taylor was the leader in receiving yards per game and receiving touchdowns. Taylor was a key piece of back-to-back 5A Arizona State Championships for Higley High School
Taylor will join the Lumberjacks as a defensive back where his standout athleticism will help him develop into a playmaker in the secondary.
Maddox Valoaga | DL | Faith Lutheran HS | 6-4 | 255
Maddox Valoaga was born and raised in Las Vegas Nev. The only signee from the Battle Born State in the class of 2025, Valoaga started his career at national powerhouse Bishop Gorman before transferring to Faith Lutheran.
At Faith Lutheran, Valoaga enjoyed a standout season which led the Crusaders to an undefeated regular season with an appearance in the state championship game. Valoaga contributed 102 tackles, five sacks, 24 tackles for loss, a receiving and a rushing touchdown. A long versatile athlete, Valoaga will be a force on the Lumberjack defensive line.
Christopher Williams | DB | San Juan Hills HS | California | 6'1 | 180
Christopher Williams hails from Mission Viejo, Calif., where he was a standout on both sides of the ball at San Juan Hills High School.
In his three-year varsity career, Williams filled the stat sheet recording 78 receptions for 977 yards, four receiving touchdowns, 111 tackles, 20 pass deflections, three interceptions and one sack. In his first year on varsity, the Stallions only won four games before going on to win over 10 games in each of the next two seasons.
