Feb. 5—JAMESTOWN — The University of Jamestown football team has announced the 23 players who have signed in the Class of 2025.
“I’m really excited about these guys, not only because of the talent level as far the type of players they were in high school but the type of people that we’re getting and the academics and an all-encompassing deal,” Jimmies head coach Brian Mistro said. “We were a lot more selective than we’ve ever been since I have been here and recruiting these guys since we only have a class of 20-something guys. … I’m excited to see what our first true Division II class pans out to be because there’s a lot of good players in this group.”
The 2025 class has players from 10 states including three from North Dakota.
This year, the Jimmies brought in four defensive backs and five offensive linemen. The Jimmies are expected to lose four defensive backs and four offensive linemen from this past season’s roster. Last year, the Jimmies had 10 interceptions and gave up 11 sacks.
One of the three quarterbacks the Jimmies signed is Cole Hentges, who is transferring after one season at the University of North Dakota. While he did not make an appearance for the Fighting Hawks or at his previous stop, the University of Mary (North Dakota), Hentges had a decorated high school career, throwing for 2,043 yards and 19 touchdowns and tacking on 466 yards on 130 carries for seven touchdowns on the ground.
Hentges said he wanted to commit to UJ after talking to Mistro and meeting his new teammates in town. Hentges said he knew wide receiver Erastus Antsino and linebacker Spencer Ness from playing against them in high school.
“I texted Erasti to get the inside scoop on things and I liked what he had to say,” Hentges said. “He spoke very well of the people and the program and the place. When I came to visit, I loved it and I was like, ‘all right. I’m in.”
As a mid-year transfer, Hentges gets to work with his teammates during the spring before the official quarterback competition starts in the fall.
“It definitely helps to learn the offense, having a new o (offensive) coordinator, we’re all kind of on the same foot,” Hentges said. “It’s definitely better than showing up for fall camp and not knowing what the offense is like, what the guys are like and trying to find your spot on the team. So just being here now at least gives me … more time to learn the offense and find my role on the team.”
The Jimmies are bringing in two linebackers this year, Malachi Werremeyer and Griffin Keller. Last year at Fargo Davies, Werremeyer helped lead the team to a Class AAA state runner-up finish. As a running back and linebacker, Werremeyer had 206 carries for 1,363 yards and 17 touchdowns and two receptions for 31 yards. Werremeyer’s defensive stats were not available by publishing time.
Out of the 23 players in this year’s class, 18 are 6 feet or taller and six weigh 240 pounds or more.
“It worked out that way,” Mistro said. “Coach (Josh) Zimmer and I and our staff, we sat down and we really assessed, what are the teams that we’re playing look like. I don’t want to say we cut off anybody because we didn’t but we have some parameters in which we wanted to live in. Obviously, if there’s a player that doesn’t fit into those parameters that’s a heck of a football player then there’s always the outlier. But we sought after guys that fit into the world we wanted to be in and it’s kind of how it panned out. It’s a process-oriented deal.”
After bringing in 54 players last year, Mistro said the Jimmies’ smaller class this year was not because of NCAA rules but instead because of the coaching staff’s previous success in recruiting.
“We knew going into it that we’re not probably going to go out and get the highest touted Division II recruits but I still think we went after very highly-touted recruits and we were able to hit some home runs,” Mistro said. “I think we also went after guys that were overlooked and maybe didn’t get the shot that they deserve and we were standing there saying, ‘We’re gonna give you that shot because we think you can grow and develop and become a heck of a Division II football player.’ So I was really excited about some of the hidden gems I think we found and some of the guys that we’re able to project out into the future to say this guy’s gonna be a really good football player and some people are gonna be really mad they didn’t take him. … We wanted to be balanced in some things that we do and address some needs.”
The full class:
Dermain Linen, DB, Marana, Arizona
Moses Miller, DB, Marana, Arizona
Alexander Rivera, DB, Fountain, Colorado
Mikhi Chant, DB, Lakeville, Minnesota
Tyler Evans, OL, Marana, Arizona
Aren Monk, OL, Star, Idaho
Lars Salmen, OL, Cokato, Minnesota
Stephen Bunce, OL, Edina, Minnesota
Xander Thompson, OL, Portland, Oregon
Zachary Barbieri, TE, Elk Grove California
Jordan Davis, WR, Boca Raton, Florida
Jeric Schloegl, WR, Sauk Centre, Minnesota
Treyson Iglehart, WR, Garrison, North Dakota
Riley Svanda, WR, Tea, South Dakota
Cole Hentges, QB, Sartell, Minnesota
Simon Kieffer, QB, Rapid City, South Dakota
Darian Harper, QB, Lacey, Washington
Manuel Hurtado, DL, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Reuben Diehyee, DL, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Jack Olstad, Edge, Moorhead, Minnesota
Malachi Werremeyer, LB, Fargo, North Dakota
Griffin Keller, LB, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Samuel Mayhair, RB, Jamestown, ND
