(Wednesday, December 20; Sioux Center, Iowa) The Dordt Defender football program has announced its initial commitments for the 2024 recruiting class.
"Our first group of signees is an exciting group of student-athletes. It's easy to see the momentum in our program as it shows up in recruiting. Most of these men have engaged in a relationship with our university for a long time and we consider it an honor to have them join Defender Nation," said Dordt head football coach Joel Penner.
December 20, 2023 Commits
Guy Barr is a senior at Marshall Christian Academy (Texas) where he has played quarterback, tight end, defensive end, and linebacker during his career. He's passed for 2,716 yards with 54 touchdowns at quarterback and he totaled 156 tackles with four interceptions on defense. Barr helped Marshall Christian to a state title in 2023 and he was named the offensive mvp of the state championship game. He was a member of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 all-star teams and plans to study education at Dordt.
Evan Beck is a senior at Spirit Lake High School (Iowa) and is listed at 6-3, 260 pounds and has played center. He's a two-time all-district selection and lineman of the year. He earned first-team all-state and academic all-state honors while helping Spirit Lake to the Class 2A State Playoff Semifinals. Beck plans to study engineering at Dordt.
Reece Christiansen, a 6-5, 245-pound offensive and defensive lineman from Front Range Christian High School (Colorado), will join the Defenders and plans to study business.
Jack Crane is a 6-4, 270-pound offensive lineman at Sioux Center High School (Iowa). Crane earned all-district first-team honors in 2023 after claiming honorable mention accolades as a junior. He's a first-team academic all-state honoree and is an academic all-district selection too. Crane plans to enter the pre-optometry program at Dordt.
Collin Friesen is a 6-7, 310-pound offensive and defensive tackle at Christ Preparatory Academy (Kansas) where he was named a 2023 NHFA All-Star. Friesen plans to study biology.
Jaxon Gutowski is a senior at Coronado High School (Colorado) and is listed as a 6-1, 165-pound quarterback who passed for 4,000 career yards and 26 touchdowns. Gutowski also ran for eight touchdowns and earned two first-team all-conference selections and two academic all-conference selections. He plans to enter the pre-physical therapy program.
Logan Hanson is a 5-10, 200 pound running back and linebacker from Thorp High School (Wisconsin). Hanson gained 4,134 career rushing yards with 47 touchdowns and 917 receiving yards on 59 catches. He had 16 touchdown receptions and totaled 247 tackles with 26 tackles for loss with 6.5 sacks and four interceptions. He's the all-time rushing leader at Thorp and earned first-team all-state honors at running back in 2023 and is a two-time all-region honoree on offense and a three-time all-conference honoree. Hanson also claimed defensive all-conference second-team honors and was a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Academic All-State selection. He plans to study engineering at Dordt.
Elijah Moroney played defensive end and tight end at Guthrie High School (Oklahoma) and is listed 6-3, 215 pounds. Moroney earned all-district co-defensive player of the year honors with 81 tackles, 19 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. He blocked two punts and had two fumble recoveries with three forced fumbles. He plans to enter the pre-physical therapy program at Dordt.
Brody Peissig played for St. Croix Central (Wisconsin) and had 87 career tackles with 26 for loss and 8.5 sacks. Peissig earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior and was recognized as an all-region defensive lineman this year. Peissig is listed at 6-3, 230 pounds and has played defensive end and offensive lineman. He plans to study data science.
Isaac Pelland is listed as a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker, running back and tight end at Baraboo High School (Wisconsin). He gained 4.9 yards per carry and had 130 total tackles on defense with three sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Pelland is a two-time second-team all-conference honoree and earned first-team honors in 2023 while also earning academic all-state honors. Pelland plans to study engineering.
Brendan Prather is a senior at Edmond Sante Fe High School (Oklahoma). He is 6-1, 240 pounds and was named the COAC Second-Team Offensive Lineman and a first-team all-district selection. Prather plans to study psychology.
Jacob Singleton played offensive line for Fairmont High School (Minnesota) and is 6-1, 280 pounds. He was named to the all-conference team and was named lineman of the year in the conference. He plans to study criminal justice at Dordt.
Karter Tolsma is a senior at Alamosa High School (Colorado) and played linebacker. Tolsma is 6-1, 205 and had one interception and 43 total tackles for Alamosa. He was a first-team all-conference selection and claimed honorable mention all-state accolades. He plans to study agriculture at Dordt.
Robert Tweed II is a senior at Jefferson County North High School (Kansas). Tweed had 110 tackles with 30 tackles for loss the last two seasons with 16 sacks and two forced fumbles. Tweed totaled nine sacks with 63 tackles in 2023. He was an All-Northeast Kansas League Offensive and Defensive Lineman pick, and he was a Class 1A All-State selection on defense. Tweed also earned Sports in Kansas 1A Defensive Player of the Year honors. Tweed is 6-3, 235 pounds and he plans to study criminal justice.
Keenan Valverde is a running back from Pierce High School (Nebraska) who ran for 1,854 yards in 2023 and scored 25 rushing touchdowns and averaged 7.6 yards per carry. He also had 11 receptions with one for a touchdown in 2023. Valverde ran for 1,900 yards in 2022 and had 27 rushing touchdowns while averaging 8.4 yards per carry in 2022. He's a two-time All-State running back and was part of two state championship teams and a runner-up finisher. He plans to study health and human performance at Dordt.
Ethan Van Ginkel prepped at Unity Christian High School (Iowa) and played wide receiver, running back and defensive back during his career and has also returned punts and kicks. Van Ginkel is a two-time, first-team all-district selection and was an academic all-district selection as well. He had 40 career catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns and on defense he had six interceptions with two fumble recoveries. He plans to study engineering at Dordt.
