DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University football team announced 22 new Bulldogs after the early signing period concluded on Friday (Dec. 23).
 
"The end of 2023 keeps getting better and better," head coach Todd Stepsis said. "A three-game winning streak and now adding this group to our already talented roster puts us in a great spot for 2023 and beyond. Coach John Bloss did a fantastic job coordinating our coaches in identifying this class of big-time playmakers who all are what Drake Football is all about. The staff and members of our faculty and admissions team then did a phenomenal job of painting a picture of the launchpad opportunity that an experience playing for Drake Football, at Drake University, in Des Moines, Iowa can provide.  The summer can't get here soon enough and I can't wait for this crew to join our team."
 
Christian Aguilar | LB | Peoria, Ariz. | Mountain Ridge HS

Notes: Team captain… Class 6A All-Region First Team (senior year)… Recorded 77 tackles (42 solo) including 6.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks as a senior… Class 6A All-Region Honorable Mention (junior year)… Recorded 79 tackles (26 solo) with 7.0 tackles for loss as a junior.
 
Gene Blalock III | DL | Grinnell, Iowa | Grinnell HS

Notes: Second Team All-State… First Team All-District… District Defensive Lineman of the Year… Made 40 total tackles with 14.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks as a senior… Also earned Second Team All-State and First Team All-District honors his junior year… Recorded 40.5 tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a junior.
 
Jacob Condie | TE | Mesa, Ariz. | Desert Ridge HS

Notes: All-Region Second Team selection his senior year… 549 receiving yards and six touchdowns as junior… Active in FCA.
 
Jacque Gariepy | DL | Glenview, Ill. | Glenbrook South HS

Notes: Team captain… All-Conference… All-State… Central Suburban League Lineman of the Year… Notched 9.0 sacks, forced two fumbles and recovered a pair of fumbles… All-Conference as a junior… National Honor Society member… Three-time Academic All-State honoree.
 
Drew Heiss | OL | Arlington Heights, Ill. | Prospect HS

Notes: All-Conference… All-Area Honorable Mention… All-State Academic Team… Helped Prospect to Class 7A semi-final appearance as a junior.
 
Michael Jefferson Jr. | DB | Grayslake, Ill. | Grayslake North HS

Notes: All-Conference… All-State Academic Team… Three-time All-Conference Academic Team selection… On offense, totaled 1,127 all-purpose yards with 14 touchdowns… Recorded 52 tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions… As a junior, he made 21 tackles, broke up four passes and forced a fumble.
 
Cody Judge | WR | Scottsdale, Ariz. | Chaparral HS

Notes: All-Region Second Team… Hauled in 22 passes for 508 yards and five touchdowns… All-Region Honorable Mention his junior season with 40 receptions, 542 yards and three touchdowns.  
 
Sam Koopmeiners | TE | Savage, Minn. | Cretin-Derham Hall HS

Notes: Team captain… Preseason All-State… Lettered in both football and basketball.
 
Parker Matiyow | OL | Council Bluffs, Iowa | Lewis Central HS

Notes: First Team All-State… First Team All-District… On defense, recorded 16.5 tackles with 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks… Helped Lewis Central to state runner-up in Class 4A in 2022… All-District Second Team as a junior… Took 18^th place in the Class 3A state track & field meet his junior year… Helped Lewis Center win the 2021 Class 4A state title… His father played football at South Dakota from 1993-97.
 
Jake Metze | RB | Johnsburg, Ill. | Johnsburg HS

Notes: All-Conference… All-Area First Team… All-State Honorable Mention… All-State Academic Team… Accumulated 1,696 all-purpose yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior while leading Johnsburg to its first playoff appearance since 2018… Earned All-Conference, All-Area Honorable Mention and All-State Academic Team recognition his junior year… Totaled 1,220 yards with 14 touchdowns as a junior.
 
Javon Murry | RB | Greendale, Wis. | Greendale HS

Notes: All-Conference as a running back and defensive back… Rushed for 819 yards on 112 attempts (7.3 yards per carry) with 13 touchdowns… All-Conference running back as a junior rushing for 798 yards and eight touchdowns.  
 
Ty Naaktgeboren | DL | Sioux Falls, S.D. | Sioux Falls Roosevelt HS

Notes: All-State… All-Metro… Academic All-State… Also competes as a thrower on the track & field team… Qualified for the State Meet in shot put as a junior… Was part of South Dakota's little league baseball team that qualified for the Little League World Series in 2017.  
 
Brady Norton | OL | Mission Viejo, Calif. | Mission Viejo HS

Notes: 247 Sports 3-Star Recruit… Second Team All-League… Orange County All-Star… Led the team in pancakes and only allowed four sacks all season… Helped Mission Viejo to a Top-25 national high school ranking in 2022… Second Team All-League as a junior… During his junior year on the track & field team, finished seventh in Orange County in the shot put.
 
Noah Rychlick | LB | Maple Grove, Minn. | Wayzata HS

Notes: All-District First Team… Totaled 54 tackles with 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks his senior year… Earned two varsity letters in lacrosse.
 
Isaac Saffold | DL | Chicago, Ill. | Kenwood Academy

Notes: Senior captain… Three-time Player of the Week his senior year… His brother Avery played football at Amherst College from 2016-20.
 
Shaku Sangarie | DL | Jacksonville, Fla. | Atlantic Coast HS

Notes: Team captain… Preseason Player to Watch… Limited to six games due to injury as a senior but recorded 32 tackles (14 solo) with 5.0 tackles for loss… Also played basketball in high school
 
Cole Sigler | DL | Anamosa, Iowa | Anamosa HS

Notes: First Team All-District… Recorded 40 tackles (24 solo) with 13 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks… Honorable Mention All-District as a junior.
 
Walker Tart | WR | Dubuque, Iowa | Dubuque Senior HS

Notes: Three-year football starter… Two-time First Team All-Conference choice… First Team All-Area… National Honor Society member… Recorded 59 receptions for 738 yards and nine touchdowns… Two-year basketball starter.
 
Tyler Tortorich | OL | Plainfield, Ill. | Plainfield North HS

Notes: All-Conference… All-State Academic Team… Selected to 2023 Illinois Shrine Bowl… Helped lead Plainfield North to a Class 8A playoff appearance as a junior.
 
Noah Triplett | RB | Littleton, Colo. | Dakota Ridge HS

Notes: All-State… All-Conference First Team… Led the state with 31 touchdowns and rushed for 1,655 yards on 217 carries (7.6 yards per carry) as a senior… All-Conference First Team and All-State as a junior when he ran for 1,551 yards on 214 carries (7.2 yards per carry)… Led the state in touchdowns as a junior with 32… All-Conference in track & field and a lacrosse starter his junior year.
 
Jack Ward | LB | Houston, Texas | St. Thomas HS

Notes: Team captain… First Team All-State… First Team All-District… Houston TD Club Defensive Player of the Year… Academic Honor Roll… Recorded 136 total tackles including 9.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks as a senior… All-District Honorable Mention his junior year having made 70 tackles (5.0 tackles for loss) in just six games.
 
Jadon Williams | DL | Parker, Colo. | Lutheran HS

Notes: Team captain… In six games his senior year, totaled 43 tackles including 8.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack with 6.0 QB hurries and 6.0 pass breakups… Logged 24 tackles (5.0 tackles for loss) and returned an interception for a touchdown as a junior… His grandfather is a Drake University graduate.

Drake football will add to its 2023 recruiting class on the Feb. 1, 2023 National Signing Day.