The Basics
Drake University football has officially announced its talented signing class ahead of the 2026 season.
 
"We're really pleased with this 2026 class and how it came together," Drake head football coach Joe Woodley said. "Our staff did a great job of heavily recruiting our region here in the Midwest, while also bringing in some difference-makers from other parts of the country. The guys we brought in are high-character young men who fit what we do at Drake and the culture that's been established here. From a football standpoint, we were able to address a lot of our needs by position, while leaving some flexibility to continue improving our roster as we move toward summer workouts and fall camp. I'm excited about what the future holds for these new signees and Drake Football."
 
Jaylen Bender | K/P | Portsmouth, Ohio | Valley HS
Notes: 4-time First Team All-District and All-State Division 5/6 kicker...also won Valley High School Special Teams Player of the Year twice…All-Conference selection…3-time varsity letter winner…went 55-for-57 on extra points and 10-of-16 on field goals…seven of 18 senior year punts downed inside the 20…set Valley High School record with a 47- yard field goal.
 
Reid Blackburn | DL | Stoughton, Wis. | Stoughton HS
Notes: Team captain and First Team All-Badger Small Conference…as a senior, logged 73 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 11.5 sack, and five forced fumbles…also snagged 16 catches, 180 yards, and a touchdown on the offensive side of the ball.
 
Ryan Bobo | DL | Des Moines, Iowa | Dowling Catholic HS
Notes: Named to 2025 IFCA All-State First Team and 2024 IFCA All-State Second Team…earned district defensive MVP…was an Academic All-State student-athlete…2025 Team Captain…totaled 87 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, and 22.5 sacks for the Maroons.
 
Tanner Burch | OL | Kansas City, Mo. | St. Pius X HS
Notes: 2-time All-Conference player at St. Pius X…also named to All-District team and All-State Third Team during prep career.
 
Riley Contreras | DB | Burr Ridge, Ill. | Hinsdale Central HS
Notes: 3-time varsity letter winner in football and baseball, also earned letter as member of the track & field team…2-time All-Conference performer and team captain…won Offensive MVP as a junior and Team MVP as a senior…set school records for passing yards and passing touchdowns.
 
Devyn Davis | DL | Olathe, Kan. | Bishop Miege HS
Notes: 4-time letter winner…3-time All-EKL Honorable Mention and 2025 Second Team All-EKL player…named 2025 4A All-Stater…tallied 182 tackles and 10 sacks.
 
Jackson Davis | DL | Waukee, Iowa | Northwest HS
Notes: Garnered two letters in basketball, two in football, and two in track & field for the Wolves…named a First Team All-District as a senior and Second Team All-District as a junior…helped Northwest reach state semifinals and best record in school history…logged 70 total tackles including 41 solo stops, 19.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt.
 
Pierce Fisher | DB | Kansas City, Mo. | Rockhurst HS
Notes: Member of Rockhurst football, basketball, and track & field teams…earned five varsity letters…twice named a Football Academic All-State student-athlete…named a Rockhurst Football Captain and Second Team All-District as a senior…also collected Eric Berg Leadership Award.
 
Brady Fitz | LB | Urbandale, Iowa | Northwest HS
Notes: Twice received football varsity letters…named to All-District First Team as a senior and All-District Second Team as a junior…team captain…5A Academic All-State Honor Roll…recorded 94.5 total tackles, five tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions for the Wolves.
 
Declan Gill | OL | Chicago, Ill. | Mount Carmel HS
Notes: Participated in football, wrestling, and boxing…member of three consecutive Illinois State Championship and Chicago Catholic League Blue Division Championship squads.
 
Mason Goering | WR | Iowa City, Iowa | West HS
Notes: 4-time varsity letter winner on Trojans' football, basketball, and track & field teams…qualified for Drake Relays and Iowa State Track Meet in four events, placed third at America's Athletic Classic…named First Team All-District and Second Team All- Conference on the gridiron.
 
Carter Gokie | DL | Lincoln, Neb. | Pius X HS
Notes: Team captain…Academic All-Conference…3-time varsity letter winner…also named Academic All-Conference student-athlete on the track & field team…2-time state qualifier…totaled 98 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, 59 QB pressures, and 4.5 sacks.
 
Kellen Haverback | QB | Mount Vernon, Iowa | Mount Vernon HS
Notes: 4-time varsity letter winner in basketball, golf, and football at Mount Vernon…also lettered three times in baseball…2-time All-District and All-State performer on the gridiron…won district MVP and was named a Blue/Grey All-American…completed 60 percent of passes for 2,394 yards and scored 30 total touchdowns as a senior.
 
Ryker Henderson | OL | Delmar, Iowa | Maquoketa HS
Notes: First Team All-Conference and All-District as a junior and senior…led Cardinals in tackles for final two seasons…qualified for for Iowa State Wrestling Tournament as a junior.
 
Wyatt Hendricks | OL | Lawrence, Kan. | Lawrence HS
Notes: Senior year included a Third Team All-State nomination…was selected as a team captain and the best offensive lineman on the team…started all nine games and allowed just one sack in final prep season…was also a captain as a junior…voted team's Most Improved Player as a sophomore.
 
Aiden Hennings | DL | New Lenox, Ill. | Lincoln-Way Central HS
Notes: All-Conference and All-State Honorable Mention performer as a senior.
 
Kyle Hogan | RB | Brentwood, Mo. | St. John Vianney HS
Notes: Competed in football, track, and baseball during prep career…received multiple varsity letters…named an All-Missouri Catholic Conference Second Team and Honorable Mention performer...also named First Team All-District and First Team Academic All-State as a senior…amassed 1,417 total yards with 1,245 on the ground for 10 TDs in final season.
 
Kobe Lewis | WR | Marietta, Ga. | Sprayberry HS
Notes: 4-year player at Sprayberry High School…received First Team All-Region twice, All-Region Honorable Mention, Second Team All-Region, Team Offensive MVP twice, Coaches Award, and Burlsworth Award during prep career...caught 117 passes for 1,700 yards and 14 TDs.
 
Owen Lynch | LB | Chicago, Ill. | St. Rita HS
Notes: Two-time CCL/ESCC All-Conference…also named All-Area, Team Defensive MVP, and Team Top Junior Defensive Player…member of 2025 7A State Runner-Up squad…amassed 180 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 12 PBUs, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
 
Kannon Matthews | DL | Sandy, Utah | Alta HS | Southern Utah University
Notes: Saw action in three total games for the Thunderbirds…recorded one tackle against Abilene Christian.
 
Joe Mausser | OL | West Des Moines, IA | Valley HS
Notes: Named to All-District and All-Academic First Teams as a junior and senior, All- District Second Team as a sophomore…3-time varsity letter winner for the Tigers…also earned Presidential Honor Roll status.
 
Grayson Myer | WR | Frisco, Texas | Wakeland HS
Notes: Recognized as Dallas Area Utility Player of the Year and District Offensive MVP as a senior…honored as District Utility Player of the Year and Dallas Area Honorable Mention as a junior…named All-District safety as a sophomore…racked up 2,121 yards and 21 touchdowns.
 
Jack Offerdahl | DB | Littleton, Colo. | Dakota Ridge HS
Notes: Twice named a First Team All-South Metro League player…also earned First and Second Team All-State honors, plus Second Team and Honorable Mention All-Colorado status…member of undefeated state champion Dakota Ridge squad as a senior…totaled 264 tackles and eight interceptions during 3-year varsity career.
 
Lincoln Oltmann | OL | Palo, Iowa | Kennedy HS
Notes: Allowed just one sack during entire prep career…was a team captain at Cedar Rapids Kennedy…chosen to All-Conference, All-District, and All-Metro First Team…voted Most Valuable Lineman.
 
Camren Reed | DB | Belleville, Ill. | Mascoutah HS
Notes: 2-time All-Mississippi Valley Conference performer…3-year varsity football participant…3-time Honor Roll student-athlete.
 
George Richter | DL | Kansas City, Mo. | Liberty HS
Notes: Twice named a varsity letter winner…named Second Team All-State as a senior and First Team All-State as a junior…also earned a pair of First Team All-District and All- Conference nods…member of district and conference championship team…recorded 11 sacks as a junior.
 
Owen Shea | DL | Antioch, Ill. | Antioch HS
Notes: All-State and All-Conference performer…team captain…Conference and Team Defensive Player of the Year…voted Antioch Team MVP and Defensive Lineman of the Year.
 
Parker Tune | WR | Summersville, Mo. | Liberty HS
Notes: Listed as an All-Conference, All-District, All-Area, All-State First Team, and All- Ozark performer two times…named All-Area Offensive Player of the Year in final prep season…member of conference, district, and sectional championship winning teams.
 
Jaden Ubben | DL | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Cedar Falls HS
Notes: Earned First Team All-Mississippi Valley Conference, Second-Team All-State, and All-Metro honors as a senior…logged 60 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and nine sacks in final year as a Tiger…Cedar Falls teams qualified for Iowa State Playoffs in final two seasons.
 
Kael Williams | RB | Washington, Iowa | Washington HS
Notes: Competed in football, basketball, track & field, and baseball for the Demons…earned First Team All-District twice, and Second Team All-District once…senior year included Academic All-State honors, a team captaincy, and Washington Team MVP…won Team Offensive MVP and was also named a captain as a junior…amassed 2,259 rushing yards with 36 touchdowns during prep career.
 
Braylon Wilson | QB | Reno, Nev. | Reno HS
Notes: Three-time Academic All-State student-athlete at Reno High School…exceeded 3,000 total yards and 30 touchdowns in both junior and senior seasons…earned Northern Nevada 4A Offensive Player of the Year…set school records in career and single season touchdowns and total yards.
 
Dax Wiskur | LB | Sedalia, Mo. | Smith-Cotton HS
Notes: Received 11 varsity letters over four years playing football, basketball, golf, and baseball…accolades include First Team All-Conference DB, First Team All-District DB, 2- time Second Team All-District WR, All-Conference Honorable Mention, and 2-time Academic All-State…named to KMZU Dream Team…defensive statistics totaled 221 tackles and six tackles for loss.
 
Shakur Wright | RB | Waterloo, Iowa | East HS | University of Northern Iowa
Notes: Transferred to Drake after playing for former Bulldog coach Todd Stepsis at UNI…was a decorated prep player with First Team All-Metro, First Team All-District, Team MVP, Offensive MVP, and team captain status to his credit.