UNI Football and Coach Stepsis add 26 to 2025 signing class

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Head coach Todd Stepsis and the UNI football team added 26 athletes to the roster on Wednesday as a part of 2025's February signing day. Combined with 12 players who inked during the early signing period in December, this class is highlighted by 29 freshmen and nine transfers, including 25 signees from the state of Iowa.

"Every new recruit brings a unique spark to our team," said Stepsis. "The completion of this incoming class is no exception. Their passion, fight, and love for the game are truly inspiring. Together, we will build not just a winning team, but a family that supports each other on and off the field. I can't wait to see what we accomplish together!"

New additions to the roster for the 2025 season include:

DL Jamarion Augustus, 6-3, 220, Highland CC (Alabama)*
K Max Bartachek, 6-2, 185, Iowa Western CC (Iowa)*
FB Michael Bormann, 6-0, 215, Wahlert Catholic HS (Iowa)
OL Joe Briesemeister, 6-5, 230, Mount Vernon HS (Iowa)
OL Henry Bunn, 6-4, 265, Clear Lake HS (Iowa)
WR Jeremiah Cain, 6-2, 170, Oswego HS (Illinois)
RB Christian Collins, 5-10, 200, Notre Dame Academy (Wisconsin)
LB Ryan Crandall, 6-2, 215, Western Illinois (Iowa)*
LB Aidan Ducharme, 6-0, 205, Dowling Catholic HS (Iowa)
DL Braylon Evans, 6-4, 300, Cedar Rapids Thomas Jefferson (Iowa)
WR Graham Freidrichsen, 6-2, 208, Iowa (Iowa)*
RB Grant Glausser, 5-11, 220, Iowa (Iowa)*
RB Bill Jackson, 5-9, 200, Tulsa (Missouri)*
LB Jarrett Kies, 6-3, 220, Cedar Falls HS (Iowa)
WR Sutton Koller, 5-11, 180, Iowa City Liberty HS (Iowa)
DL Ryan Kuennen, 6-4, 275, Iowa (Iowa)*
DE Owen Ostroski, 6-2, 255, Tulsa (Oklahoma)*
K Blake Pankratz, 6-1, 175, Valor Christian HS (Colorado)
CB Jeremiah Powers, 5-10, 165, Lincoln-Way East HS (Illinois)
WR Ayden Price, 6-0, 198, Iowa (Iowa)*
LB Tom Scherr, 6-3, 195, Wahlert Catholic HS (Iowa)
TE Parker Sutherland, 6-6, 220, Iowa City HS (Iowa)
LB Dominiq Vann, 6-2, 205, Grace Preparatory Academy (Texas)
DL Jack Vinyard, 6-4, 225, Waukee Northwest HS (Iowa)
TE Tiernan Vokes, 6-3, 210, Grundy Center HS (Iowa)
DL Wyatt Young, 6-3, 220, George Washington HS (Iowa)

*Denotes midseason transfer

DL JAMARION AUGUSTUS

Jamarion Augustus comes to UNI after most recently competing for a season at Highland Community College. Augustus also enjoyed a two-year stint at North Alabama. The Montgomery, Alabama native recorded 7.0 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss at Highland CC after playing in all 11 games in the 2022 season at North Alabama. He played defensive end and outside linebacker at Montgomery Catholic High School under head coach Kirn Johnson and helped lead the Knights to a 2020 state runner-up finish and the fourth round of the 2021 playoffs. Augustus was named player of the week in 2021 and also lettered in track and field. He was an Honor Society member.

K MAX BARTACHEK

Max Bartachek joins UNI after a two-year stint at Iowa Western Community College. At Iowa Western, Bartachek was named a JUCO All-American, All-Conference, and First-Team Academic All-Region. The Waukee, Iowa native was a part of a 2023 JUCO National Champion and 2024 JUCO National Runner-up teams with the Reivers. Bartachek attended Waukee High School where he competed on the football and soccer teams. A first-team All-State and all-conference kicker his senior season, Bartachek was a first-team all-conference and a third-team all-state athlete his junior season.

FB MICHAEL BORMANN

Michael Borman joins the Panthers after a four-year varsity stint at Wahlert Catholic High School. After his senior season, The Dubuque, Iowa product was named first-team all-state, Dome MVP, Des Moines All-Elite Team and a member of Wahlert's Class 3A State Championship team as a senior.

OL JOE BRIESEMEISTER

Joe Briesemeister comes to Cedar Falls from Mount Vernon High School where he competed on the football and basketball teams. The Mount Vernon, Iowa product was a four-time honor roll student, a Class 3A State participant in 2024 and part of the school's state runner-up team in 2022.

OL HENRY BUNN

Henry Bunn comes to UNI from Clear Lake High School where he competed on the football, basketball, and track and field teams. The Clear Lake, Iowa native was a two-time first-team all-district and three-time academic all-district pick in football. The offensive lineman was named second-team all-state his senior year. Bunn was a member of a district champion and state participant football team, as well as a conference champion basketball team in his time with the Lions.

WR JEREMIAH CAIN

Oswego, Illinois native Jeremiah Cain attended Oswego High School where he competed on the football, basketball, and track and field teams. A two-time all-conference athlete on the football field, Cain was named to the academic honor roll his sophomore and junior years. The wide receiver was an all-conference athlete on the track his junior season as well as a state qualifier heading into his 2025 campaign with the Panthers.

RB CHRISTIAN COLLINS

Green Bay, Wisconsin product Christian Collins arrives in Cedar Falls after attending Notre Dame Academy where he competed on the football and baseball teams. The No. 1 running back in Wisconsin's Division 3, Collins is the state's fifth-leading rusher all-time and was named the MaxPreps State Player of the Year and WFCA State Offensive Player of the Year. He was part of a Notre Dame Academy squad that posted a 14-0 record his senior season and capped the year with a Division 3 state title. He was also named first-team all-region, conference offensive back of the year and first-team all-conference following his senior campaign.

LB RYAN CRANDALL

Ryan Crandall returns home to the state of Iowa after a two-year stint playing at Western Illinois. With the Leathernecks, Crandall was named a Fifth-Team Phil Steele All-Missouri Valley Football Conference linebacker after playing in 11 games last season. He finished the year with 66 tackles (38 solo). The Ankeny, Iowa native ranked second on the team in tackles and had a team-high 5.5 tackles for loss (-12 yards). He had one interception with a return of 14 yards, four pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Crandall started in all 11 games and had a team-high 5.5 sacks. The linebacker appeared in eight games as a freshman at WIU, finishing with 29 tackles (15 solo, 14 assists), three tackles for loss (-3 yards), two fumble recoveries, one interception (32 return yards). The Ankeny High School product lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He was named First Team All-State and First Team All-District after the 2021 football season and earned Second Team All-State and Second Team All-District honors after the 2020 season.

LB AIDAN DUCHARME

Clive, Iowa native Aidan Ducharme joins UNI from Dowling Catholic High School. A three-time Presidential Honor Roll student, Ducharme was named first-team all-district and second-team all-state during his time with the Maroons.

DL BRAYLON EVANS

Braylon Evans makes the short trek to the UNI-Dome from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School and was named a first-team all-conference selection his senior year.

RB GRANT GLAUSSER

Dubuque, Iowa native Grant Glausser joins the Panthers after one season at the University of Iowa. Glausser attended Western Dubuque High School. In addition to playing on the football and baseball teams, he also competed for the track and field squad. At Western Dubuque, he was a Mr. Iowa Football District MVP his senior season and a District MVP his junior season. On the track, Glausser was the 3A state champion in the sprint medley and the distance medley.

WR GRAHAM FREIDRICHSEN

Another transfer from the University of Iowa, Graham Freidrichsen comes to UNI after a three-year stint with the Hawkeyes. Freidrichsen was a two-year Academic All-Big Ten student and was named to the dean's list his freshman season in Iowa City. The Urbandale, Iowa native was a three-year letterman playing wide receiver, quarterback and defensive back at Urbandale High School. He led Class 5A in receiving yards during the regular season as a senior and helped the prep team reach the state playoffs three straight seasons, posting a 20-9 overall record in the process. As a senior, he recorded 39 receptions for 876 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also returning nine kickoffs for 155 yards. Freidrichsen was a team captain as a senior and also competed in bowling, rugby, track and field and basketball. He was a member of the 1,600-meter relay unit that earned elite all-state recognition as a junior.

RB BILL JACKSON

St. Louis, Missouri product Bill Jackson arrives in the Cedar Valley after a three-year stint at Tulsa. A two-year letterwinner, Jackson played in 22 career games rushing 122 times for 600 (4.9 avg.) with nine receptions for 52 yards. He was a two-year starter at Cardinal Ritter College Prep where he averaged 122 yards per game and 10.6 yards per carry in his final two seasons. Jackson rushed for 742 yards and six touchdowns on just 73 carries in just six games as a senior, averaging 141 yards per game (11.1 avg. per carry). He also scored nine touchdowns in six games his junior season in 2019. Rated by MaxPreps as the No. 15 recruit in the state of Missouri, he had a 3-star rating by 247Sports and entered his senior season as the St. Louis Post Dispatch's No. 16 player in its Super 30 preseason countdown.

LB JARRETT KIES

Hometown product Jarrett Kies joins the Panthers after attending Cedar Falls High School where he competed in both football and track and field. A two-time all-conference athlete, Kies was an Iowa Shrine Bowl invitee and was named to the all-district second team after his senior season as the Tigers qualified for state playoffs. Kies was inducted to the Cedar Falls Tiger Booster Club Hall of Fame his junior year after earning a Drake Relays championship in the shuttle hurdle relay. He also earned a state championship in the shuttle hurdle relay and the sprint medley.

WR SUTTON KOLLER

North Liberty, Iowa native Sutton Koller attended Iowa City Liberty High School where he competed in both football and track and field. Koller finished his prep career as the school's all-time leading touchdown scorer, second all-time leading receiver, and fifth all-time leading rusher. A Class 5A first-team all-district selection, he earning, All-Mississippi Valley Conference first-team accolades. As a senior he was an all-state athlete on offense, while earning Des Moines Register Iowa Elite Team, Class 5A All-Iowa Team and Prep Redzone 5A first-team all-state honors on defense. The wideout received the Iowa City Press-Citizen Football Player of the Year Award and was a nominee for the Des Moines Register Iowa Player of the Year Award.

DL RYAN KUENNEN

Ryan Kuennen joins the Panthers after a year at the University of Iowa. A former walk-on for the Hawkeyes, Kuennen attended West Des Moines Valley High School where he competed on the football and baseball teams. The West Des Moines, Iowa native was named first-team all-state in football after his senior campaign for the Tigers. He also earned first-team all-conference honors in baseball.

DE OWEN OSTROSKI

Owen Ostroski arrives in Cedar Falls after a three-year stint at Tulsa. A two-year letterwinner, Ostroski played in 24 career games and made nine starts for the Golden Hurricane. The Bixby, Oklahoma product produced 55 tackles, 13.5 TFL (-72.0 yards) and 6.5 sacks (-58.0 yards) at Tulsa. Ostroski changed his number from No. 48 to No. 55 ahead of the 2024 season, wearing the same number that his father, Tulsa All-American Jerry Ostroski, wore which had been retired in 2018. He was a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree. The Holland Hall High School product was a four-year letterwinner and was dominant while helping his squad to a 12-0 record and a Class 3A state championship his senior season. Ostroski recorded 94 tackles, including 41.0 TFL, along with 15.0 sacks and three blocked punts as a senior, leading a defense that posted five shutouts and allowed only 69 points. He was a first-team Tulsa World all-metro selection, was named the defensive MVP in the state championship game with nine tackles and 3.5 TFL in a 35-7 win over Lincoln Christian. He had a 3-star rating by 247Sports and Rivals.com. In a playoff victory over Checotah, he had 12 tackles, 4.0 TFL tackles, five QB hurries and blocked one punt. Ostroski was the 2019 Oklahoma District 2A-5 MVP as a junior, while playing defensive line, linebacker, tight end and offensive line. He also lettered in track and field, throwing the shot put and discus.

K BLAKE PANKRATZ

Littleton, Colorado native Blake Pankratz comes to UNI after attending Valor Christian High School where he competed in football, soccer, golf, skiing and basketball. Pankratz was a two-time all-conference honoree and a four-time playoff qualifier in football.

CB JEREMIAH POWERS

Jeremiah Powers comes to UNI from Lincoln-Way East High School. The Frankfort, Illinois product was two-time state runner-up and one-time final four participant. Powers was named to the all-conference squad after his senior season with the Griffins.

WR AYDEN PRICE

Another transfer from the University of Iowa, Ayden Price arrives at UNI after a two-year stint with the Hawkeyes. While at Iowa, Price was a two-time dean's list student and a President's List and Academic All-Big Ten student in his final season in Iowa City. The West Des Moines, Iowa native attended West Des Moines Valley High School where he was a first-team all-state receiver and utility player his senior season. Price also won the Bernie Saggau Award that year.

LB TOM SCHERR

Another prep player familiar with the UNI-Dome, Tom Scherr joins UNI after attending Wahlert Catholic High School, which captured the Iowa Class 3A state title this past season. The Dubuque, Iowa native competed on the football, track and field, wrestling and soccer teams. A first-team all-state wideout, Scherr was an All-District Special Teams MVP his senior season. His junior year, he was a first-team all-state returner and finished the wrestling season with a 27-7 record.

TE PARKER SUTHERLAND

Iowa City, Iowa native Parker Sutherland joins the UNI squad after completing his prep career at City High School. He competed on the football, basketball and baseball teams for the Little Hawks. A two-time all-district and all-conference athlete, Sutherland was a part of the No. 1 offense in Iowa's Class 5A. The tight end was also named second-team all-state after his senior season.

LB DOMINIQ VANN

Dominiq Vann arrives in Cedar Falls from Arlington, Texas. He attended Grace Preparatory Academy where he competed in football, as well as track and field. A four-time all-district athlete on the football field, Vann was named an all-state linebacker after his junior and senior seasons with the Lions, in addition to earning academic all-state honors both of those years. On the track, Vann was a state finalist in the 4x200m relay.

DL JACK VINYARD

Another Urbandale, Iowa native, Jack Vinyard comes to UNI after attending Waukee Northwest High School where he competed on the football and baseball teams. A two-time all-conference athlete and team Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Vineyard was a four-time academic honor roll student.

TE TIERNAN VOKES

Hailing from a local prep powerhouse, Tiernan Vokes joins the Panthers after attending nearby Grundy Center High School. Vokes concluded his career with the Spartans after winning three consecutive Class 1A state championships and one runner-up trophy. He also competed in track and field, as well as basketball for the Spartans. A four-time honor roll student, Vokes was a two-time first-team all-state wide receiver and jumped to No. 6 on Iowa's all-time receiving touchdowns list his senior season. The versatile athlete was a two-time state qualifier in the 110m high hurdles and shuttle hurdles his sophomore and junior years. Vokes was also a first-team all-conference pick in basketball at Grundy Center.

DL WYATT YOUNG

Another Cedar Rapids product arriving at the UNI-Dome is Wyatt Young, who prepped at George Washington High School and competed in football, wrestling and rugby. A four-year varsity athlete on the football team, Young was a two-time wrestling state qualifier heading into his senior season. A four-year rugby state qualifier, the defensive lineman was also Iowa's 5A tackle for loss and sack leader with the Warriors.

Full 2025 Signing Class:

DL Jamarion Augustus, 6-3, 220, Highland CC (Alabama)*
K Max Bartachek, 6-2, 185, Iowa Western CC (Iowa)*
FB Michael Bormann, 6-0, 215, Wahlert Catholic HS (Iowa)
OL Connor Best, 6-3, 280, Cedar Falls HS (Iowa)^
OL Joe Briesemeister, 6-5, 230, Mount Vernon HS (Iowa)
OL Henry Bunn, 6-4, 265, Clear Lake HS (Iowa)
WR Jeremiah Cain, 6-2, 170, Oswego HS (Illinois)
RB Christian Collins, 5-10, 200, Notre Dame Academy (Wisconsin)
LB Ryan Crandall, 6-2, 215, Western Illinois (Iowa)*
QB Kaleb Diers, 6-6, 220, Marion HS (Iowa)^
LB Aidan Ducharme, 6-0, 205, Dowling Catholic HS (Iowa)
OL Colby Eskildsen, 6-6, 255, Northwood-Kensett HS (Iowa)^
DL Braylon Evans, 6-4, 300, Cedar Rapids Thomas Jefferson (Iowa)
WR Graham Freidrichsen, 6-2, 208, Iowa (Iowa)*
RB Grant Glausser, 5-11, 220, Iowa (Iowa)*
DB Elijah Hoyt, 6-0, 188, Urbandale HS (Iowa)^
RB Bill Jackson, 5-9, 200, Tulsa (Missouri)*
LB Jarrett Kies, 6-3, 220, Cedar Falls HS (Iowa)
WR Sutton Koller, 5-11, 180, Iowa City Liberty HS (Iowa)
DL Ryan Kuennen, 6-4, 275, Iowa (Iowa)*
OL Gabe Meaney, 6-6, 235, Janesville HS (Iowa)^
QB Jayce Nixon, 6-0, 200, Venice HS (Florida)^
DE Owen Ostroski, 6-2, 255, Tulsa (Oklahoma)*
K Blake Pankratz, 6-1, 175, Valor Christian HS (Colorado)
CB Jeremiah Powers, 5-10, 165, Lincoln-Way East HS (Illinois)
WR Ayden Price, 6-0, 198, Iowa (Iowa)*
QB Kaz Rebarcak, 6-3, 205, Davenport North HS (Iowa)^
LB Tom Scherr, 6-3, 195, Wahlert Catholic HS (Iowa)
TE Kailer Smith, 6-6, 240, Cedar Falls HS (Iowa)^
TE Parker Sutherland, 6-6, 220, Iowa City HS (Iowa)
DL Theo Thomas, 6-4, 260, Totino-Grace HS (Minn.)^
LB Dominiq Vann, 6-2, 205, Grace Preparatory Academy (Texas)
DB AJ Vaughn, 6-0, 180, Macarthur HS (Oklahoma)^
DL Jack Vinyard, 6-4, 225, Waukee Northwest HS (Iowa)
TE Tiernan Vokes, 6-3, 210, Grundy Center HS (Iowa)
DB Kaiser Williams, 6-4, 180, Naperville North HS (Illinois)^
DB Josiah Young, 6-3, 175, Totino-Grace HS (Minnesota)^
DL Wyatt Young, 6-3, 220, George Washington HS (Iowa)

*denotes midseason transfer
^denotes December signee

UNI football action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Football), X (@UNIFootball) and on Instagram (@unipantherfootball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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