Signing Day Press Conference
Complete Signing List
Grand Valley State University second-year head football coach
Scott Wooster announced the signing of 31 student-athletes to attend and play football for the Lakers in the fall of 2024.
"We had an outstanding year identifying our needs and getting what we wanted on both sides of the ball," said Wooster. "We had specific needs in what we were looking for, while also honing in the best players available in Michigan and the boardering states. The fit between our recruits and what we have established in our program is so important. We have an incredible culture within our program and we want kids that really want to be a part of Grand Valley State football and fit into our culture. A number of our recruits also had Division I interest and while we kept the majority, we also lost a few. It is also essential that we find the right fit in the classroom and socially and we are extremely proud of our student-athletes academic success rating, which is among the leaders in both the GLIAC and NCAA."
Grand Valley State's 2024 class consists of 31 total players from Michigan (25), Ohio (4), and Illinois (2). The Lakers signed 18 defensive players, 12 offensive players and a kicker.
Chandler Allen, DL, 6-4, 250 (Detroit, Mich./Warren Fitzgerald)
High School: Prepped at Warren Fitzgerald High School for head coach JuWan Shakespear...Named the MAC Gold Defensive MVP...Earned all-country and First-Team All-MAC Gold honors...Tallied 47 tackles and seven QB sacks as a senior...Played quarterback as a junior.
Isaiah Allen, OL, 6-4, 280 (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan)
High School: Prepped at Padua Franciscan High School for head coach Kevin Kubit...Earned four letters in high school...Earned first-team all-league honors as a senior...Named all-area and all-county in 2023...Earned all-league honors as a sophomore and junior.
Isaiha Amaechi, DB, 6-0, 175 (Chicago, Ill./Phillips Academy)
High School: Prepped at Phillips Academy for head coach Joseph Winslow...Recorded 26 tackles, picked off two passes and recovered a fumble during senior season...Earned all-city plaudits.
Jayden Barnes,DB, 5-10, 175 (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic)
High School: Prepped at Toledo Central Catholic for head coach Greg Dempsey...Earned three varsity letters...Led team to a 16-0 record and the 2023 OHSAA State Championship...Recorded 60 tackles, six tackles for loss, four interceptions and seven pass break ups during senior campaign...Earned First-Team All-Catholic League honors as a senior...Earned all-district and all-state honors...Central Catholic was a combined 44-4 during his prep career...Tallied a three-year total of 117 tackles and picked off five passes.
Jay Cady, K, 6-0, 180 (Lake Orion, Mich./Oxford)
High School: Prepped at Oxford High School for head coach Zach Line...Four-year letterwinner at Oxford...Converted 4-of-6 field goals in 2023 and tallied touchbacks on 77 percent of his kickoffs...Recorded 14 tackles and hauled in 10 receptions for 104 yards...Earned First-Team All-OAA, all-district and all-region honors as a senior...Hit 5-of-7 field goals during junior season...Tallied 42 tackles and caught nine passes...Named First-Team All-OAA as a junior...Converted 14-of-21 field goals during career and was a three-time, First-Team All-OAA honoree.
Gage Chatfield, TE, 6-4, 230 (Jenison, Mich.)
High School: Prepped at Jenison High School for head coacch Rob Zeitman...Earned First-Team All-O.K Red plaudits as a senior...Named all-area and all-region...Two-way player as a tight end and defensive lineman...Also plays basketball.
Evan Curtiss,OL,6-4,270 (Fowler, Mich.)
High School: Prepped at Fowler High School for head coach John Spicer...Four-year letterwinner...Two-time consensus All-State performer...Two-way performer that excelled on both sides of the ball...Leader on an offensive line that helped Fowler combine for over 12,000 yards of total offense during his career...Key member defensively, reccording 88 tackles and 15 tackles for loss...First-Team All-State by every publication in Michigan, while also being named to the Lansing State Journal Dream Team.
Anderson Farmer, OL, 6-3, 265 (Traverse City, Mich./Central)
High School: Prepped at Traverse City Central High School for head coach Eric Schugars...Earned first-team all-conference, all-district and all-region honors as a senior...Namd to the Record-Eagle Dream Team...Tallied all-conference and all-region plaudits as a junior.
Marion Figueroa, OL, 6-5, 260 (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay)
High School: Prepped at Anchor Bay High School for head coach Mike Gianonne...Two-way player for Anchor Bay that excelled on both sides of the ball...Tallied 27 tackles as a defensive tackle...Earned all-league, all-area and MHSFCA All-State honors as a senior...Earned all-league and all-area plaudits as a junior.
Corin Greenwell, DB, 6-2, 185 (Chicago, Ill./St. Francis)
High School: Prepped at St. Francis High School for head coach Bob McMillen...Tallied 68 tackles and picked off three passes during senior campaign...Earned First-Team CCL and all-city honors in 2023...Team was combined 21-5 during final two prep seasons.
Ronald Jackson, DL, 6-0, 280 (Detroit, Mich./Belleville)
High School: Prepped at Belleville High School for head coach Calvin Norman...Recorded 55 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 10 QB sacks as team advanced to the Division I State Championship game senior season...Earned all-league, all-area and all-region honors as a senior...Guided team to an undefeated (14-0) campaign as a junior en route to Division I State Championship...Recorded 40 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six QB sacks...Team was a combined 50-3 during his prep career...Notched 132 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 20 QB sacks in four years.
Mason Kirn, OL, 6-3, 275 (Rockford, Mich.)
High School: Prepped at Rockford High School for head coach Paul Cummings...Earned All-O.K. Conference honors as a senior...Michigan High School Coaches Association Academic All-State...Team was a combined 21-2 during his final two prep campaigns.
Davonta Love, DL, 6-1, 295 (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley)
High School: Prepped at Chippewa Valley High School for head coach Scott Merchant...Recorded 52 tackles, five tackles for loss and two QB sacks as a senior...Earned all-state, all-league and all-county honors...Named to the Macomb County Dream Team...Tallied 43 tackles and 11 tackles for loss as a junior...Earned all-league and all-area plaudits as a junior.
Garrie Mann DL 6-3 250 Richland, Mich./Gull Lake
High School: Prepped at Gull Lake High School for Don Eastman...Recorded 89 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 13 QB sacks and nine forced fumbles as a senior...Consensus First-Team All-State honoree...Earned all-area, all-region and all-league honors...Notched 88 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and seven QB sacks as a junior...Earned all-state, all-area and all-league plaudits...Tallied 242 career tackles, 53 tackles for loss and 24 QB sacks in three years on the varsity.
Sopuruchi Ojinnaka, DB, 5-11, 185 (Warren, Mich./Mott)
High School: Prepped at Warren Mott High School for head coach Tom Milanov...Recorded 47 tackles, picked off one pass and blocked four field goals as a senior...Hauled in 25 receptions for 717 yards and tallied 1,028 all-purpose yards...Named all-area and all-league as a senior...Tallied 34 tackles and one interception during junior campaign...Named all-area and all-league.
Zak Olejniczak, QB, 6-1, 185 (Lapeer, Mich.)
High School: Prepped at Lapeer High School for head coach Mike Smith...Ccompleted 123-of-199 passes for 1,971 yards and 20 TDs...Rushed for 908 yards and 18 TDs on 148 carries...Earned all-area, all-region and all-league as a senior...Completed 101-of-183 passes for 1,457 yards and 16 TDs, while rushing for 1,124 yards and 19 TDs as a junior...Earned all-league and all-area plaudits...Passed for 5,033 yards and 54 TDs, while rushing for 2,293 yards and 40 TDs during prep career.
David Osagiede, DL, 6-6, 235 (Eastpointe, Mich./St. Clair Lakeview)
High School: Prepped at St. Clair Lakeview High School for head coach Patrick Threet...Recorded 76 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and six QB sacks as a senior...Consensus All-State honoree by every publication, including the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News...Macomb County Lineman of the Year...Macomb County Dream Team honoree...Selected to the Detroit News Top 60 players in Michigan...First-Team All-MAC West...Tallied 50 tackles, six tackles for loss and six QB sacks as a junior...First-Team All-MAC West selection.
Devon Pettus, LB, 6-0, 230 (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Canton)
High School: Prepped at Plymouth Canton High School for head coach Casey Bess...Earned three varsity letters...Two-way player who excelled on both sides of the ball...Rushed for 1,096 yards and 12 TDs, while recording 26 tackles and five QB sacks...Earned First-team All-KLAA honors...Detroit News All-West selection...Rushed for 1,045 yards and nine TDs as a junior...Earned All-KLAA and all-region honors.
Kellen Russell-Dixon, RB, 5-10, 185 (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central)
High School: Prepped at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School for head coach Todd Kolster...Rushed for 1,632 yards and 27 TDs, while hauling in 33 receptions for 433 yards...Consensus All-State honoree...Earned All-O.K. Conference honors...Member of the MLive Dream Team...Led team to the MHSAA Division 5 State Championship in 2023.
Andrew Schuster, QB, 6-1, 200 (Macomb, Mich./Chippewa Valley)
High School: Prepped at Chippewa Valley High School for head coach Scott Merchant...Completed 212-of-301 passes for 2,766 yards and a school-record 28 TDs...Consensus All-State selection...Macomb County Player of the Year...MAC Red Player of the Year...First-Team All-MAC Red...All-region and all-county...Detroit News and Detroit Free Press All-State...Completed 109-of-171 passes for 1,460 yards and 12 TDs...Earned All-MAC Red First-Team honors...Named All-Macomb County.
Anthony Scott, LB, 6-2, 200 (Roseville, Mich.)
High School: Prepped at Roseville High School for head coach Vernard Snowden...Recorded 63 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven QB sacks and picked off eight passes...Earned all-legue, all-district and all-region honors...Tallied 56 tackles and five tackles for loss...Earned all-league honors as a junior.
Keegan Sell, LB, 6-0, 200 (Garrettsville, Ohio/Garfield)
High School: Prepped at Garfield High School for head coach Mike Moser...Four-time letterwinner...Tallied a school-record 210 tackles and 33 tackles for loss...Notched four QB sacks and forced four fumbles...Rushed for 1,389 yards and 25 TDs...Named the District 5 Defensive Player of the Year and the Regional Player of the Year...First-Team All-Ohio All-State selection...Led team to a 12-1 record...Notched 162 total tackles and 31 tackles for loss as a junior...First-Team All-Ohio All-State honoree...District Defensive Player of the year...Conference MVP.
Alijah Shabazz, DB 5-11, 170 (Toledo, Mich./Whitmer)
High School: Prepped at Toledo Whitmer High School for head coach Ken Winters...Recorded 54 tackles and picked off three passes as a senior...Earned all-district and all-conference honors during final prep campaign...Tallied 49 tackles and earned all-conference plaudits.
Trey Sharp, DB, 5-11, 170 (Hudson, Ohio)
High School: Prepped at Hudson High School for head coach Jeff Gough...Tallied 30 tackles and picked off three passes...Hauled in 31 receptions for 461 yards and four TDs...Earned all-area, all-region and all-league honors...Notched 22 tackles and earned all-league honors as a junior.
Ryer Snow, LB, 6-0, 200 (Grand Rapids, Mich./West Catholic)
High School: Prepped at Grand Rapids West Catholic for head coach Landon Grove...Earned three varsity letters...Recorded 52 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and eight QB sacks...Hauled in 22 receptions for 470 yards and four TDs...Member of the MLive Dream Team...Earned All-O.K. Conference honors...All-region and all-area as a senior...Notched 83 tackles and 12 QB sacks as a junior...Earned All-O.K. Conference, all-area and all-region honors as a junior...Member of MLive Dream Team...Team was a combined 33-4 during his three years on varsity with a MHSAA State Championship as a junior.
ArJon Thompson, RB, 5-11, 190 (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson)
High School: Prepped at Livonia Stevenson High School for head coach Randy Micallef...Earned Detroit Free Press All-West honors as a senior...Earned KLAA All-Conference plaudits and was selected to the MHSCA All-Region First-Team...Rushed for 540 yards as a senior after toting the ball for 827 yards and TDs as a junior...Earned All-KLAA honors as a DB/QB junior year.
Camren Vansolkema, DL, 6-1, 280 (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian)
High School: Prepped at Grand Rapids South Christian High School for head coach Danny Brown...Tallied 48 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five QB sacks as a senior as team advanced to State Championship game...Earned All-O.K. Conference First-Team honors...All-region, all-state and MLive Dream Team performer...Recorded 25 tackles and earned All-O.K. Conference honors as a junior...Earned all-region, MLive Dream Team and all-state recognition...Team finished 14-0 and won MHSAA State Championship.
Jake Vermaas, WR, 6-0, 190 (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian)
High School: Prepped at Grand Rapids South Christian High School for Danny Brown...Hauled in 98 receptions for 1,797 yards and 23 TDs as a senior...Consensus First-Team All-State performer as selected by the Associated Press, Detroit News and Detroit Free Press...Named to the MLive Dream Team...Earned First-Team All-O.K. honors...Earned all-area and all-region...Helped to reach the MHSAA State Championship game...Caught 42 passes for 552 yards and two TDs as team went 14-0 and captured MHSAA State Championship...Earned All-O.K. honors.
Isaiah Veatch, LB, 6-0, 205 (Waterford, Mich./Mott)
High School: Prepped at Waterford Mott High School for Chris Fahr...Tallied 125 tackles and 12 tackles for loss as a senior...Earned all-league and all-area honors as a senior...Recorded 113 tackles as a junior en route to earning all-league and all-area plaudits.
Josh Williams DL 6-0 280 Detroit, Mich./Dearborn Fordson
High School: Prepped at Dearborn Fordson High School...Tallied 84 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and six QB sacks as a senior...Earned all-state, all-region and all-league honors as a senior...Notched 56 stops and earned all-league plaudits as a junior.
Liam Young, WR, 6-1, 175 (Plymouth, Mich./Divine Child)
High School: Prepped at Dearborn Divine Child High School for head coach Chris Laney...Hauled in 22 receptions for 228 yards and four TDs as a senior...Earned All-Catholic League, all-region and academic all-state honors...Caught 30 passes for 588 yards and nine TDs as a junior...Named All-Catholic and all-region.
