Jul. 3—GRAND FORKS — The UND football program’s need for defensive linemen amid a change from a three-linemen scheme to a four-linemen setup received two shots in the arm recently from one family.
Isaac and Mason Beaver — identical twin brothers from the Kansas City area — delivered verbal commitments to the Fighting Hawks as part of the 2026 recruiting class.
The brothers held most of the same offers with at least one brother offered by North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Missouri State and a handful of other opportunities.
The brothers, from Kearney, Mo., are both about 6-foot-2 and 285 pounds and are expected to play defensive tackle for the Fighting Hawks.
“I feel like I can maximize my potential at North Dakota,” Isaac said.
Isaac said one of the big draws for UND was “the nutrition aspect with the brand-new facilities.”
Mason said the Grand Forks setup was the best on his recruiting travels.
“We have like 10 offers and North Dakota had the best facilities by far,” Mason said. “The nutrition aspect — they give you what you need to succeed on the field.”
The Hawks also had the help of having two former teammates of the Beaver brothers in the 2025 Fighting Hawks recruiting class.
Kearney High School graduates Theo Grace (linebacker) and Grant Noland (safety) will be true freshman for UND in the fall.
The Beavers, both first-team all-state picks in Missouri last year, played varsity as sophomores in Des Moines, Iowa, before moving to 25 minutes north of Kansas City.
Isaac said the Beavers have a reputation for a strong first step.
“Knocking back and striking first,” Isaac said. “We clean 400 pounds, and we’re good with our hands. We’re advanced in moves for people our age.”
The Beaver brothers focus solely on football and have put on 25-30 pounds every year of high school.
“When I was 6-1, 160 pounds, I still had that vision of going D-1,” Mason said. “I always knew I had it in me.”
Kearney was undefeated in the regular season in 2025 before losing in the state semifinals to finish the year 12-1.
“It’s a lot of relief,” Mason said of his emotions following the decision. “There were so many schools contacting us and no school has contacted us since we committed, so it’s pretty nice. Now, I can focus on my senior year and try to win a state title.”
UND 2026 prep recruiting class
1. Brooks Hendrickson, Mount Horeb (Wis), QB
2. George Rohl, Ellsworth (Wis), TE
3. Jackson Stein, Lake Mills (Lakeside Lutheran), Wis., OL
4. Brody Woods, Cold Spring, MN, DL
5. Brady Goihl, Melrose Area, MN, OL
6. Aiden Wunderlich, Casselton, N.D., OL
7. Ethan Headings, Iowa City, S
8. Blake Buhr, Sheboygan, WI, Edge
9. Nate Appleget, Lincoln, Neb., LB
10. Tyler Zdon, Fox Lake, Ill., RB
11. Marial Deng, Tokio, N.D., WR
12. Tavian White, Waukee, Iowa, DB
13. Delvin Cook Jr., Dallas, WR
14. Sawyer Riffle, Brainerd, K
15. Sam Kline, Clarinda, Iowa, LS
16. Mason Beaver, Kearney, MO, DT
17. Isaac Beaver, Kearney, MO, DT
18. Toris Rudd Jr., Omaha, Neb., DB
19. Jack Vyhnalek, Seward, Neb., LB-TE
20. Carter Harris, Allen, Texas, WR