DC Football announces first wave of 2024 signees

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College football team announced the signing of 44 student-athletes to bolster the program's transition to NAIA competition in the upcoming fall season.

Over half of the incoming recruiting class are in-state prospects with 28 student-athletes staying home to play for Ohio's only NAIA football program. The Yellow Jackets also infuse 14 others from Indiana and Michigan while picking up single signees from New Jersey and Alabama. The incoming class is also bolstered by 10 transfer students.

"We are very proud to announce the first wave of signees in the class of 2024," says head coach Bill Nickell. "This class is full of talented players but also excellent young men off the field. Our staff has done a tremendous job of locating, evaluating, and connecting with student-athletes who will join our current squad and propel us into the scholarship era. I cannot thank our coaches enough for their investment in our program and players."  

Two local talents joining the program via transfer are running back CJ Fluker (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance) after time at Lindsey Wilson College and Urbana plus linebacker Casen Wolfrum (Defiance, Ohio/Tinora) from Heidelberg. Defiance also inked several athletes in the Jackets' backyard including quarterback Garret Bogart (Pandora, Ohio/Bluffton), lineman Jayden Dick (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic), and All-Ohio lineman Seth Navarre (Liberty Center, Ohio/Liberty Center).

"We concentrated our recruiting efforts on the tri-state area not just because of our location, but because there is great football in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. We targeted positions of need but also put a premium on students who are proven winners and culture builders. Our class is full of state champions, conference champions, and league champions as well as highly decorated individuals," adds Coach Nickell.

The Yellow Jackets look to continue to infuse a winning mindset with a number of players who won at a high level in their high school careers. A trio of Cleveland Glenville players, linebacker Camaron Brown along with linemen Darrell Owens and Matthew Gary, join Defiance's roster after back-to-back state titles under Ted Ginn Sr. Signing out of Michigan is tight end Jaylen Spearman, who is coming off a state championship with Southfield. Additionally, Navarre and the Liberty Center Tigers finished state runner-up in Ohio last fall.

"Our excitement increases as we get closer to our first season at a higher level. We will continue to bring in quality people into our program that will contribute to what we are building here. The future is bright for Defiance College football!" says Coach Nickell.

Below is the full list of DC football signings:

The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 4-6 finish to the 2023 season, improving on the program's win total for the second consecutive season. During the last two seasons under Coach Nickell, 23 Defiance football players have earned all-conference honors along with three all-region awards. DC football will compete in the Mid-States Football Association beginning this fall.

-JACKETS-