FARGO — North Dakota State added a three-star defensive back to its 2023 football recruiting class, getting a verbal commitment from Warren Township (Ill.) High School's Jailen Duffie. They also added Minnetonka (Minn.) High School offensive lineman Jack Liwienski.
The 6-foot, 160-pound Duffie announced his decision Wednesday, June 22, via social media. Duffie had 19 Division I offers, including FBS schools and the top teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The 6-foot-3, 287-pound Liwienski also committed Wednesday. He had 13 Division I offers, including the top teams from the MVFC.
Duffie and Liwienski make it six known commitments for the 2023 class. Duffie is a three-star prospect, according to Rivals and 247sports.
"What made me want to go to NDSU was the culture there," said Liwienski, the son of former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Chris Liwienski. "I just loved the winning culture that they have and I just love the brotherhood that they have within the team and I just want to be a part of that."
Love you pops! #HappyFatherDay pic.twitter.com/uAQjBn80bl
— Jack Liwienski (@JackLiwienski75) June 19, 2022
Riverside University (Wis.) High School's Jaiden Pickett committed to NDSU for football Tuesday, June 21. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Pickett is projected to play linebacker for the Bison.
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"It's always been my dream to play Division I football since I was 7 years old," Pickett wrote. "This was hands down the toughest decision of my life. ... With that being said Agent 0 will be playing for and attending North Dakota State University for my college career."
Neuqua Valley (Ill.) High School's Grant Larkin verbally committed to NDSU on Thursday, June 16. The 6-foot, 180-pound Larkin had offers from 11 other programs, including two FBS offers in Army and Akron.
"NDSU is just a heck of a place to to be," Larkin told WDAY-TV's Dom Izzo . "There are few atmospheres and programs out there like NDSU, and playing in the Fargodome." Larkin said.
Larkin is projected to play safety for the Bison. He had 40 catches and six touchdowns during his junior season.
"I personally love the coaching staff, one of the key things that stuck out to me is how thorough they are while they were in the recruiting process with me, and it really showed why they are so good, because of the way they recruit," Larkin said.
The Bison also got a verbal commitment from Dallas Center-Grimes (Iowa) High School linebacker Josh Hendricks , who had 71 tackles and two sacks during his junior season, on June 16.
"I am officially home," Hendricks wrote in announcing his commitment.
Spring Lake Park (Minn.) offensive lineman Beau Johnson committed to the Bison in early April . The 6-foot-7, 250-pound Johnson is from the same high school as former Bison standout Zack Johnson.
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The following list will be updated as verbal commitments happen:
- Minnetonka (Minn.) lineman
Jack Liwienski committed to NDSU on June 22
. The 6-foot-3, 287-pound Liwienski plays on both the offensive and defensive line for Minnetonka. He had 13 Division I offers before his decision.
💚💛🦬COMMITED💚💛🦬 @Coach_Entz @FBCoachLarson @CoachGrantOlson @TonkaFB @RecruitTonkaFB @AllenTrieu pic.twitter.com/WJrYeDdO6I
— Jack Liwienski (@JackLiwienski75) June 22, 2022
- Warren Township (Ill.) High School's Jailen Duffie committed to the Bison on June 22 . The 6-foot, 160-pound Duffie is a three-star recruit according to 247sports and Rivals. He is expected to play defensive back for the Bison.
Fargo, North Dakota, I’M HOME.
— Jailen Duffie (@DuffieJailen) June 22, 2022
110% COMMITTED💛💚 @Coach_Entz @DomIzzoWDAY @EFTfootball @wthsfb@Phouly31 @CoachBigPete @EDGYTIM@BOOMfootball @AllenTrieu @NDSUfootball @Rivals_Clint @247Sports @Coach_Braun pic.twitter.com/I40yKs1XLo
- Riverside University (Wis.) High School's
Jaiden Pickett committed to NDSU on June 21
. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Pickett is a three-star recruit, according to 247sports, and is projected to play linebacker for the Bison.
Agent 0 reporting in to be a Bison!!!🙏🏾🟢🟡🏈🦬@NDSUfootball @Coach_Entz @PrepRedzoneWI @travisWSN @Evan_Flood @McNamaraRivals @AllenTrieu @MJ_NFLDraft @FBCoachLarson pic.twitter.com/S8gjDiES74
— Pickettron2.0🏈🦍📺🥶 (@Jaipickett31) June 21, 2022
- Dallas Center-Grimes (Iowa) High School's Josh Hendricks committed to the Bison on June 16. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker had 71 tackles, two sacks, five forced fumbles and one interception during his junior season for Dallas Center-Grimes.
I AM OFFICIALLY HOME‼️@NDSUfootball #GoBison 🟢🟡🦬@Coach_Entz @CoachGrantOlson @Coach_Braun @Coach_Roehl @dcgfootball @DCGStrength @AllenTrieu @BlairRIVALS pic.twitter.com/SZRtvtiv5C
— Josh Hendricks (@JoshHen12302114) June 16, 2022
- Neuqua Valley (Ill.) High School's Grant Larkin committed to the Bison on June 16. the 6-foot, 180-pound Larkin is expected to play safety for NDSU.
Fargo, North Dakota, I’M HOME.
— Grant Larkin 2023 (@GrantLarkin1) June 16, 2022
110% COMMITTED #GoBison #RollHerd #LLJ6 @BillEllinghaus @NVHS_Football @AccelerationPro @BOOMfootball pic.twitter.com/z2nNodIkRL
- Spring Lake Park (Minn.) High School's Beau Johnson committed to NDSU on April 3. The 6-foot-7, 250-pound Johnson is an offensive lineman who played at the same high school as former Bison offensive lineman standout Zack Johnson.
Grateful. @NDSUfootball #COMMITTED @Coach_Entz @CoachGrantOlson @FBCoachLarson #GoBison 🤘 pic.twitter.com/OZSdPPNGHh
— Beau Johnson (@BeauSLP23) April 3, 2022