2026 Recruiting Classes for the NSIC

[Matt Witwicki]

Just figured we could start a thread for this topic since the teams will be dropping this info on Wednesday Feb 4th. Most teams will have a link or page where this info gets accumulated, feel free to post it when you see it for a given school. Some schools will also shoot a video with the head coach / coaching staff on Wednesday night as well. Seems like that's been hit or miss with regard to it being posted on the NSIC Network app, so feel free to post a link of the coach video if you come across that also.

Most schools will also announce their offseason portal pickups at this time. I haven't seen the NSIC putting a heavy focus on portal roster activity, but instead there does seem to be an ongoing focus on roster building through HS recruiting and development. Immediate positional needs seem to be the focus of the portal for NSIC clubs.

[laker]

I used to go to Signing Day parties at MSU-Mankato. It was interesting to see who they got. Now with the transfer portal it has lost a lot of its luster. Still, if you like football, it is interesting to see who they have picked up.

[Stanger86]

I tried once again to track SMSU commitments as they came in....I've heard recently that we have about 40 signings expected tomorrow, but I only had uncovered about 25 as of yesterday. Not sure if it's a combination of some of these kids not living online, the team trying to keep the commitments "silent" or just the changing Twitter algorithms making it more difficult to search.

I think we have a few solid commitments, but of course it's so hard to know until we get them on campus and on the field.

[laker]

2026 Football Signing Class (PDF) - Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics

[KPKCBC]

How is everyone looking today? Any classes standing out?

[Swisher]

Northern is at 40 and 6 transfers

[Stanger86]

Seeing names come across today (most of which I knew, but some have been surprises), I personally feel better about this class for the Mustangs than I have about the last few signing classes. I'm hoping they can find some momentum that can carry over to the football field and can really start building back this program.

[Millsy]

Bemidji State: https://bsubeavers.com/

EDIT: Not liking the way BSU set up the website. Went digging into one of the players and then lost the NSD landing page.

[CollegeFBGuy]

Bemidji State: https://bsubeavers.com/

EDIT: Not liking the way BSU set up the website. Went digging into one of the players and then lost the NSD landing page.

From my memory, this is the first time where they have a list of the signings, to include position and school/town, which we didn't have before. There are some good ones on there. I didn't notice if they included transfers or had a separate spot for those

[Stanger86]

One pleasant surprise for me was seeing hometown kid Jake Allex sign with SMSU and is already on campus. He didn't play football last year as a freshman, but he seemed pretty highly touted when he originally signed with Bemidji State out of high school. I trust BSU offensive line evaluations.

[Umdfan35]

UMD Bulldogs have a solid class, most committed by Oct. lost a few, but added an All State OL from Nevada, 31 players most from MN and WI, have to see how they develop, 3 Vikings All State players

[Millsy]

From my memory, this is the first time where they have a list of the signings, to include position and school/town, which we didn't have before. There are some good ones on there. I didn't notice if they included transfers or had a separate spot for those

Must have added that after I posted. All I could dig up was the NSD landing page, and then when I clicked on one of the athletes, I lost the landing page and did not see a list.

I seem to recall in years past they have had a list available with the school/town listed. There is some "local" talent on the list, which I think is great to pique interest with the general local sports fan.

[Otis Day]

Official post from the Coo: https://usfcougars.com/news/2026/2/4...6-signees.aspx

NSD event at the Bob tonight at 5:30pm. Will also be livestreamed: nsicnetwork.com/usfcougars

A live episode of the Coo Coach Cast with Coach Glo will also be up later as well.

I don't get too caught up in recruiting, espeically in the transfer portal era. I'll cheer for the guys on the field when the season starts. That being said, the class appears to be solid, not flashy. USF is pretty set in the skill positions at the moment so it makes sense. Lots of beef. Feel good about the high-end local guys they grabbed but will still of course compare with Augie's :)

Otherwise, pretty even regionally with recruits from: Iowa (5), Kansas (2), Minnesota (7), Missouri (2), Nebraska (6), Nevada (1), South Dakota (6), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (8). The higher Wisconsin number jumped out this year. USF did well there in the Stugart years but that number has dropped off some recently.

[vikingfaithful]

Here is a list of 26 high school signees. I know of at least 1 portal student out of SMSU.

Viking Football Adds 26 on National Signing Day - Augustana University Athletics

Some thoughts: Wisconsin continues as the #1 state without a NSIC team to supply talent. The desert SW is a big destination.

3 schools signed a player out of Chippewa Falls, WI. Maybe there is more than 1 school.
In D2 it's not easy to know which recruits will be great college players. Although, huge high school numbers and much competition for their services helps. Case in point, Jarod Epperson who was hell on a lot of NSIC opponents ran for 2,391 yards and 36 tds his senior season as state champs

[MrMustang]

we used to have a signing day luncheon. I wish we still did. It was fun to hear from the coaches.