FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 3, 2025) – Northern Arizona head football coach
Brian Wright announced 22 signees on Wednesday as the initial members of NAU's 2026 signing class. The 22 new Lumberjacks put their commitments to paper on the first day of the early national signing period.
"We are extremely excited to welcome home the Class of 2026," Wright said. "This group is especially meaningful to our staff, as we were able to recruit these young men the right way – through a full recruiting cycle. Our staff found the very best in our recruiting footprint of Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado and we are fortunate to be able to even bring in an exceptionally talented young man from across the Atlantic."
NAU's early signing class is the highest ranked class in the 247 Sports era as of the Dec. 3 signing day. The Lumberjacks' class is the third-highest rated in the FCS.
Six of the 22 signees will make the trip north to Flagstaff from Arizona high schools, with 11 coming from California. The Lumberjacks also added two players from Colorado, and one each from Nevada, Utah and London. Twenty-one of the 22 are high school products with another being a junior college transfer.
The Lumberjacks added 10 on the defensive side of the ball, signing five in the secondary, three on the defensive line and two linebackers. NAU received commitments from nine on offense including three wide receivers and three offensive linemen, one quarterback, one running back and one tight end. NAU also signed three specialists featuring one kicker, one punter and one long snapper.
"We are bringing to Flagstaff not only outstanding football players, but exceptional young men who will strengthen the foundation of a championship program here at NAU," Wright said.
The 22 early signees had a total of 92 offers including 24 from FBS programs.
NAU's early period signees are below, listed in alphabetical order.
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2026 NAU Football Early Signing Class
Josiah Andrews
5-11 – 184 – Cornerback
Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin HS
Three-star recruit…First Team All-League and Second Team All-Metro honoree…Totaled 27 tackles and three interceptions during high school career at Rocklin…Also totaled 306 receiving yards…Two-sport athlete who averaged 12.4 points per game in three years on the basketball team.
Ryan Banse
6-0 – 182 – Long Snapper
Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon HS
Ranked as 12th-best long snapper in the country according to Rubio Long Snapping…Competed at Rubio Long Snapping Camp…Team at La Costa Canyon was 19-1 in games he started.
Khalil Bender
6-0 – 177 – Wide Receiver
Mesa, Ariz./ALA-Queen Creek HS
Three-star recruit…Finished career at ALA-Queen Creek with 36 receptions, 684 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a senior…Named 6A Southeast Region First Team…Played first three years at McClintock HS and recorded a pair of 1,000 yard receiving seasons…Earned 5A San Tan Region First Team honors both seasons… Named First Team All-State as a junior…Accumulated 2,892 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns on 174 receptions overall…Also recorded seven interceptions.
Xavion Brazil
6-0 – 162 – Cornerback
Gilbert, Ariz./Hamilton HS
6A Premier Region Second Team in 2024…6A Fiesta Region Honorable Mention in 2025…Totaled 66 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and 12 passes defended in career at Hamilton…Team reached the Arizona Open Division State Semifinals the last two seasons.
Donivan Dixon
5-9 – 184 – Quarterback
Billings, Mont./Cactus Shadows HS (AZ)
Two-time 5A Northeast Valley Region Player of the Year (2024, 2025)…2024 5A Conference Offensive Player of the Year…Finished career as Cactus Shadows' all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns…Top 20 all-time in career passing yards and passing touchdowns in Arizona high school history…Dual threat three-star quarterback with 9,764 passing yards, 102 passing touchdowns, 4,110 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns in prep career.
Kingston Filo
6-1 – 222 – Linebacker
Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS
Two-time Defensive Player of the Year…Recorded 62 tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss and one interception as a senior at El Camino…Totaled 86 tackles and 2.0 sacks across two seasons…4.0 grade point average in all four years.
Nemo Fungula
6-1 – 181 – Safety
Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley HS
Three-star recruit…First Team All-League…Team was the California Division 3-AA state runner-up in 2024…Compiled 88 tackles, five interceptions and two forced fumbles during career at Amador Valley.
Cannon Garday
6-0 – 215 – Linebacker
Peoria, Ariz./Liberty HS
6A Northeast Valley Region First Team as a junior in 2024…Part of two Arizona Open Division State Championship teams (2023, 2024)…Compiled 78 tackles, 11.5 tackles-for-loss, 7.0 sacks and eight quarterback hurries as a junior…Totaled 141 tackles in his career.
Lindsey Graves
5-8 – 172 – Running Back
Clovis, Calif./Clovis East HS
Compiled 1,542 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in high school career at Clovis East…Three-star recruit averaged 6.5 yards per carry…Also recorded 385 receiving yards…Speedster who clocked a school record 10.57 in the 100-meter dash as a junior.
Bryce Greer
6-2 – 285 – Offensive Line
Queen Creek, Ariz./Casteel HS
6A Southeast Region First Team as a senior…Four-year starter at Casteel…Selected Team Captain…Helped team to 6A State Championship game in 2025.
Evan Haines
6-6 – 324 – Offensive Line
Thornton, Colo./Broomfield HS
Named League's Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2024…Part of 2024 4A state championship team…Three-star recruit…Played tackle and center at Broomfield.
Jonas Kanyanga
6-4 – 257 – Defensive Line
London, England/NFL Academy (UK)
Named the NFL Academy's Most Improved Player.
Aisa Lopati
6-5 – 243 – Defensive Line
Salt Lake City, Utah/West HS
4A First Team honoree in 2025…Played senior season at West after starting high school career at Dixie HS…Totaled 61 tackles, 28.0 tackles-for-loss, 15.5 sacks and 61 quarterback hurries as a senior…Recorded 110 tackles, 12.0 tackles-for-loss, 9.0 sacks and 28 quarterback hurries in two years at Dixie…Forced six fumbles and recovered four in career.
Jakob McKindley
6-3 – 285 – Offensive Line
Corona, Calif./Centennial HS
Four-year varsity member…Three-star recruit who was voted team captain…First Team All-League…Centennial went 38-10 in his four years including perfect 20-0 in league play.
Sebastian Miles
5-10 – 185 – Punter
Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley HS
Totaled 1,105 punt yards as a senior at San Ramon Valley…Placed seven of 27 punts inside the 20-yard line…Averaged 41.0 yards per punt during his junior and senior seasons…Had a long of 55 yards…Named Top 12 at Chris Sailer Kicking Camp.
Nehemiah Norwood
6-1 – 185 – Cornerback
Riverside, Calif./San Jacinto HS/Fullerton College
Recorded 36 tackles, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during freshman season at Fullerton College…Played final two prep seasons at San Jacinto HS…Totaled 81 tackles and 10 passes defended in those two seasons…Received five Division I offers.
Francisco Orduno Jr.
6-2 – 170 – Kicker
Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Pointe HS
5A San Tan Region First Team kicker and Second Team punter in 2025…6A All-Conference and Central Region First Team kicker in 2024…Two-time All-City First Team…Converted 90% of extra point attempts (91-of-99) and 70% of field goal attempts (27-of-41) in three seasons at Mountain Pointe…Longest field goal was 60 yards…Had a long punt of 64 yards…Named Top 12 at Chris Sailer Kicking Camp.
Josiah Rivera
6-1 – 180 – Wide Receiver
Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS
5A League Player of the Year and First Team All-League at Spring Valley…Three-star wideout totaled 1,093 receiving yards on 57 receptions with 11 touchdowns during junior and senior seasons…Recorded eight of his 11 receiving touchdowns in final season…Averaged 19.2 yards per reception.
Gabe Sema
6-3 – 242 – Tight End
Erie, Colo./Erie HS
Totaled 50 career receptions for 713 yards and 10 touchdowns at Erie…Also notched seven tackles-for-loss on defense…Three-star recruit…Voted team captain…Multi-sport athlete as two-time all-conference in triple and long jump.
Isaiah Sensabaugh
6-0 – 199 – Safety
Los Angeles, Calif./Notre Dame HS
Three-star recruit…Fifth-ranked safety in state of California…First Team All-League…Totaled 62 tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions in high school career at Notre Dame.
Zeb White
6-3 – 179 – Wide Receiver
Clovis, Calif./Central East HS
Three-star recruit out of Central East…Recorded 51 receptions, 664 receiving yards and four touchdowns in two seasons…Helped team win two section championships and finish runner-up in the California Division I-A state championship in 2024.
Dristan Williams
6-1 – 265 – Defensive Line
La Mesa, Calif./Mount Miguel HS
Two-way starter on both the offensive and defensive lines…Totaled 23 tackles, 1.0 tackles-for-loss and 0.5 sacks as a senior at Mount Miguel…Three-star recruit…Team compiled a 17-7 record the last two seasons.
