UNC Announces 2025 Recruiting Class

GREELEY, Colo -- Northern Colorado head football coach Ed Lamb announced the program's 2025 signing class Wednesday.

The Bears welcomed Brennen Acosta (Lake Forest, Calif./Saddleback College), Leo Blumentritt (Weichs, Germany/College of the Sequoias), AJ Burton (Englewood, Colo./Iowa State), Shane Curry (Denver, Colo./ Thomas Jefferson HS), Grant Gordon (Longmont, Colo./Mead HS) Dane Gray
(Loveland, Colo./Thompson Valley HS), Andrias Guillory (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain HS), Brooks Hamlett (Highlands Ranch, Colo. • Highlands Ranch HS), Darrell Ishman (Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View HS), Marquis Jamison (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail HS), Brandon Johnson (Palmdale, Calif./ Arizona), Tyrese Johnson (Arvada, Colo./Washington), Derrick Jones (Houston, Texas/College of the Sequois), Levi Little (Clovis, Calif./Fresno City College), Gavin Lockett (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo West HS), Kenny Lueth (Rockling, Calif./Northern Illinois), Ayden Merrihew (Clovis, Calif./Middle Tennessee State), Jordan Rechel (Boulder, Colo./Fairview HS) Andres Rodriguez (Delano, Calif./College of the Sequoias), Zimeon Sauvao (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo Central HS), Zion Sauvao (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo Central HS), Landon Sefcovic (Windsor, Colo./Windsor HS), Kai Shelton (Aurora, Colo.)Regis Jesuit HS, Mekhi Toms (Phoenix, Ariz./Drake), Bennett Wilkes (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge HS, Jacob Willig (Fort Collins/ CSU Pueblo) and Owen Wind (Fort Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge HS) to the program.

The group features 18 student athletes from Colorado, six from California, and one each from Arizona, Texas and Germany.

Fourteen of the members of the 2025 class are slated to suit up on the defensive side of the ball, 11 are
pegged for offense and two are specialists.

All fifteen players joining the Bears from the high school ranks hail from Colorado.

You can sign on with the Bears by making a gift to the Quarterback Club. Your generosity will help provide our student-athletes with the resources they need to succeed on and off the field. Learn more and make your gift today: https://www.give2unc.org/quarterbackclub

2025 Northern Colorado Signing Class

Brennen Acosta	DE	6-5	235	Lake Forest, Calif./Saddleback College
Leo Blumentritt	P/PK	6-6	195	Weichs, Germany/College of the Sequoias
AJ Burton	OL	6-5	315	Englewood, Colo./Iowa State
Shane Curry	WR	6-6	185	Denver, Colo. Thomas Jefferson HS
Grant Gordon	OL	6-4	280	Longmont, Colo./Mead HS
Dane Gray	DE	6-4	210	Loveland, Colo./Thompson Valley HS
Andrias Guillory	OT	6-5	265	Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain HS
Brooks Hamlett	TE	6-6	215	Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch HS
Darrell Ishman	CB	6-2	185	Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View HS
Marquis Jamison	CB	6-1	175	Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail HS
Brandon Johnson	RB	5-9	185	Palmdale, Calif./Arizona
Tyrese Johnson	DL	6-4	265	Arvada, Colo./Washington
Derrick Jones	CB	6-1	175	Houston, Texas/College of the Sequoias
Levi Little	DL	6-3	275	Clovis, Calif./Fresno City College
Gavin Lockett	QB	6-0	185	Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo West HS
Kenny Lueth	QB	6-4	225	Rockling, Calif./Northern Illinois
Ayden Merrihew	DL	6-4	280	Clovis, Calif./Middle Tennessee State
Jordan Rechel	WR	5-10	165	Boulder, Colo./Fairview HS
Andres Rodriguez	DL	6-1	300	Delano, Calif./College of the Sequoias
Zimeon Sauvao	DT	6-3	310	Pueblo Colo./Pueblo Central HS
Zion Sauvao	OL	6-6	320	Pueblo Colo./Pueblo Central HS
Landon Sefcovic	LB	6-3	215	Windsor, Colo./Windsor HS
Kai Shelton	LB	6-2	210	Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit HS
Mekhi Toms	CB	6-3	180	Phoenix, Ariz./Drake
Bennett Wilkes	WR	6-1	200	Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge HS
Jacob Willig	PK	5-11	175	Fort Collins, Colo./CSU Pueblo
Owen Wind	DB	6-3	185	Fort Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge HS

Brennen Acosta DE • 6-5 • 235
Lake Forest, Calif. • Saddleback College

Prior to UNC (at Saddleback College)
2024: Appeared in 11 games ... Tallied 24 tackles, including 10 solo ... Recorded 4.5 TFLs, three sacks,
one forced fumble and a pass breakup.

2023: Played in eight games as a freshman ... Finished with 26 tackles and was third on the team in
tackles-for-loss (5.5) and second in sacks (4).

High School: Acosta lettered in football and track at El Toro High School before graduating in 2022. While at ETHS, Acosta was an all-league selection in football and a CIF finalst in the discus throw.

Leo Blumentritt P/PK • 6-6 • 195
Weichs, Germany • College of the Sequoias

Prior to UNC (at Collge of Sequois)
A 4.0 student that played WR and served as backup QB ... Tallied 45 punts in 2024, averaged 36.0 yards per kick, with a long of 65 yard ... Recorded 13 punts inside the 20, with one touchback ... He totaled six receptions for 78 yards in two seasons, with 42 rushing yards on seven carries ... Completed 7-of-12 passes for 83 yards and a 99.8 QBR.

AJ Burton OL • 6-5 • 315
Englewood, Colo. • Iowa State
Prior to UNC (at Iowa State) Awards & Honors
Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (S24)

2024
Redshirted before transferring at conclusion of season.

High School
Prepped at Cherry Creek for head coach Dave Logan … three-star offensive lineman by 247Sports, On3 and Rivals … listed as a top-135 offensive tackle nationally and a top-10 player in Colorado by 247Sports Composite … paved the way for a 1,300-plus yard rusher in his senior season while the Bruins finished as state runner-up … 2022 CHSAA 5A Second Team All-State selection … won three state titles at Cherry Creek … also played basketball.

Shane Curry WR • 6-6 •185
Denver, Colo. • Thomas Jefferson HS

High School: Tallied 53 catches for 1,009 yards and nine TDs his senior season ... Member of the basketball
team as well.

Grant Gordon OL • 6-4 • 280
Longmont, Colo. • Mead HS

High School: Colorado High School Athletic Association All-State Selection ... Team finished as state
runner-up in 2024 ... Won the 2024 Colorado State Wrestling Championship.

Dane Gray DE • 6-4 • 210
Loveland, Colo. • Thompson Valley HS

High School: Registered 187 career tackles ... Colorado High School Athletic Association 3A State
Champion.

Andrias Guillory OT • 6-5 • 265
Lakewood, Colo. • Green Mountain HS

High School: Colorado High School Athletic Association All-State First Team Selection.

Brooks Hamlett TE • 6-6 • 215
Highlands Ranch, Colo. • Highlands Ranch HS

High School: Tallied 21 receptions for 224 yards and four TDs during his senior season ... Plays basketball
and volleyball.

Darrell Ishman CB • 6-2 • 185
Castle Rock, Colo. • Castle View HS

High School: Tallied 82 tackles, seven interceptions and broke up 17 more passes in his career.

Marquis Jamison CB • 6-1 • 175
Aurora, Colo. • Cherokee Trail HS

High School: Recorded 55 career tackles, with two interceptions and 17 pass breakups.

Brandon Johnson RB • 5-9 • 185
Palmdale, Calif. • Arizona

Prior to UNC (at University of Arizona)
2024: Appeared in six games during the 2024 season... Recorded three rushing attempts for 11 yards with
a long of four yards... Entered the transfer portal on Jan. 11, 2025. 2023: Did not see any action during 2023 season.
High School: A running back who prepped at Highland High School in Palmdale, Calif. … Rushed for 3,001 yards and 48 touchdowns on 340 carries over three seasons on varsity… Averaged 8.8 yards per

carry, 107.2 yards per game, and rushed for a long of 79 yards with 14 100-plus-yard games… Made 20 receptions for 349 yards and four touchdowns… Recorded 3,350 all-purpose yards while averaging 119.6 yards per game… Scored 386 total points during his high school career.

Tyrese Johnson DL • 6-4 • 265
Arvada, Colo. • Washington

Prior to UNC (at University of Washington)
2024: Did not see any action during the 2024 season ... Redshirted.

High School: Played offensive and defensive line at Ralston Valley … Notched 89 total tackles as a senior, when the Mustangs went 10-3 and reached the semifinals of the state's 5A (highest level) state championship playoffs … Earned honorable mention All-5A Jeffco League as a senior … Totaled 79 tackles as a junior in 2022, when Ralston Valley also went 10-3 and reached the state 5A quarterfinals … Also played basketball and lacrosse and was on the track & field team.

Derrick Jones CB • 6-1 • 175
Houston, Texas • College of the Sequois

Prior to UNC (at College of Sequois)
2024: Tallied 30 tackles, including 22 solo in 11 games, with nine pass breakups and two interceptions last season for the College of Sequois.

2023: Notched seven tackles, including three solo over eight games, with a fumble recovery and a pass breakup during the campaign.

Levi Little DL • 6-3 • 275
Clovis, Calif. • Fresno City College

Prior to UNC (at Fresno City College)
2024: Appeared in eight games ... Recorded 18 tackles, including 10 solo ... Registered 5.0 TFLs, including
2.5 sacks.

2023: Played in four games, with four tackles, including one solo ... Registered one sack for five yards.

Gavin Lockett QB • 6-0 • 185
Pueblo, Colo. • Pueblo West HS

High School: 2024 Colorado 4A Player of the Year ... Threw for over 4,000 yards in three seasons, with 41 career touchdowns, 24 interceptions ... Added 2,903 yards and 48 touchdowns on the ground ... Registered a career-high 113.4 QBR during his senior campaign ... Two-time Colorado High School All-State First Team Selection ... Also played FS and a member of the Track & Field team.

Kenny Lueth QB • 6-4 • 225
Rockling, Calif. • Northern Illinois

PRIOR TO UNC (at Northern Illinois)
2024: Redshirted

PRIOR TO NIU (at American River College)
2023: Completed 156-of-268 passes for 2,301 yards and 30 touchdowns with only two interceptions and ran for a pair of touchdowns in 12 games.

2022: Completed 104-of-179 passes for 1,229 yards with 11 touchdowns and scored five rushing TDs in
11 games.

High School: Two-year varsity letterwinner ... Team went 5-0 during COVID season ... Honor Student every
semester.

Ayden Merrihew DL • 6-4 • 280
Clovis, Calif. • Middle Tennessee State

Prior to UNC (at Middle Tennessee State)
2024: Did not see action.

Prior to Middle Tennessee State (at Reedley College)
2023: As a sophomore, played in all 11 games and recorded 32 tackles and 4.5 sacks to earn All-Central Valley Conference First Team Honors ... Also the Co-Defensive Player of the Year and earned academic all-state honors ... Helped lead Reedley to a 7-4 ... Played in seven games as a freshman and finished with eight tackles and 2.0 sacks ... Chosen as a team captain.

High School: Lettered in football and track at Clovis High School ... Two-time all-conference selection in football ... Two-time all-conference, two-time all-valley and a four-time field athlete of the year in track and field.

Jordan Rechel WR • 5-10 • 160
Boulder, Colo. • Fairview HS

High School: Accumulated 6,535 all-purpose yards during his career, including 3,494 receiving yards and
34 TDs ... Added 2,413 yards and 48 touchdowns on the ground.

Andres Rodriguez DL • 6-1 • 300
Delano, Calif. • College of the Sequoias

Prior to UNC (at College of the Sequoias)
2024: Tallied 14 tackles, including nine solo in nine games played ... Registered 10.0 TFLs, including 4.0
sacks.

2023: Appeared in seven games ... Recorded 11 tackles, with five solo ... Notched 5.0 TFLs, including 3.0
sacks.

Zimeon Sauvao DT • 6-3 • 310
Pueblo Central HS

Personal: Moved to Pueblo in the winter of 2024 from American Samoa ... Twin brother of Zion.

Zion Sauvao OL • 6-6 •320
Pueblo Central HS

Personal: Twin brother of Zimeon ... Holds a 3.5 GPA ... Plays the trombone.

Landon Sefcovic LB • 6-3 • 215
Windsor, Colo. • Windsor HS

High School: 2024 Colorado High School Athletics Association Honororable Mention after recording 88
tackles, 2.5 sacks and one interception.

Kai Shelton LB • 6-2 • 210
Aurora, Colo. • Regis Jesuit HS

High School: Totaled 304 career tackles, with 6.5 sacks and two interceptions.

Mekhi Toms CB • 6-3 • 180
Phoenix, Ariz. • Drake

Prior to UNC (at Drake)
2024: Played in eight games, with 10 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups.

Bennett Wilkes WR • 6-1 • 200
Wheat Ridge, Colo. • Wheat Ridge HS

High School: A four-year letterwinner at Wheat Ridge HS ... 2024 All-Colorado Selection ... Totaled 3,357
receiving yards on 231 catches, including a career long 83 ... Found the endzone 34 times in his career.

Jacob Willig PK • 5-11 • 175
Fort Collins • CSU Pueblo

Prior to UNC (at CSU Pueblo)
Awards: 2023 Honorable Mention NFF Colorado Chapter Academic All-Colorado; RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week (10/16/23)

2024:Appeared in seven games ... Converted 9-of-10 field-gaoal attempts and 27-of-28 extra-point attempts
in seven games.

2023: Played in 11 games as the team's primary kicker ... Was 59-for-60 on extra points and was 6-of-10

on field goals with his longest field goal being 43 yards against Adams State (10/7) ... Set a single-game school record with 11 extra point attempts at Fort Lewis (9/30) and also set a single-game school record with 11 extra point attempts at Fort Lewis.

2022: Played in nine games, serving primarily as a kickoff specialist … Was 4-for-6 on point-after attempts with two of those four made extra points coming against Fort Lewis (10/1).

2021: Did not see any action.

2020: No season due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

High School: A three-year letter winner in football at Rocky Mountain High School … Named All-Conference
selection for the Lobos.

Owen Wind DB • 6-3 • 185
Fort Collins, Colo. • Fossil Ridge HS

High School: Recorded 100 career tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups, four sacks and four
TFLS.

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Players Mentioned

Brennen Acosta

Leo Blumentritt

AJ Burton

Brandon Johnson

Tyrese Johnson

Derrick Jones

Levi Little

Gavin Lockett

Kenny Lueth

Ayden Merrihew

Andres Rodriguez

Mekhi Toms

Jacob Willig

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