February 4, 2026
Defiance College Football announces 2026 recruiting class on National Signing Day
DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance Yellow Jackets football team released its initial wave of recruits as part of Wednesday's college football National Signing Day.
A total of 43 incoming players are mixed with a combination of new faces coming to campus this fall and over a dozen mid-year transfers ready to compete in DC's spring program. The Jackets welcome players from 7 different states, including 29 in-state recruits from Ohio.
| Name | POS | HT | WT | Hometown | High School | Prev. College |
| Gaige Acevedo | LB | 5'11 | 210 | Columbus, OH | Kipp | |
| Martieon Adams | DL | 6'3 | 240 | Toledo, OH | Toledo Central Catholic | |
| Malachi Anderson | WR | 6'1 | 175 | Columbus, OH | Kipp | |
| Isaiah Anderson-Harris* | WR/DB | 5'10 | 160 | Springfield, OH | Springfield | |
| Cameron Ashley | DL | 6'3 | 240 | Xenia, OH | Xenia | |
| Jameison Benedict | RB | 5'8 | 185 | Montpelier, OH | Northview | |
| Riley Bolton* | DL/LB | 6'0 | 230 | Rockford, OH | Parkway | |
| Owen Catanese | K/P | 6'0 | 175 | Marengo, OH | Highland | |
| De'vonn Cornelius* | WR | 6'0 | 160 | Orlando, FL | West Orange | Cambellsville |
| Chris Cotton* | QB | 6'0 | 205 | St. Louis, MO | Desmet Jesuit | Central State |
| D'vyne Cowan-Bazley* | DB | 6'2 | 160 | North Paulding, GA | North Paulding | Pikeville |
| Zachary Dixon* | WR | 6'1 | 170 | Cleveland, OH | Brush | Madonna |
| Jayrece Dixon | QB | 6'0 | 200 | Columbus, OH | Westland | |
| Xavier Dozier | TE | 6'2 | 250 | Dayton, OH | Stebbins | |
| Keshawn Drummer | ATH | 5'7 | 170 | Muskegon, MI | Muskegon | |
| Marc Fleming | DB | 6'1 | 180 | Sidney, OH | Sidney | |
| Amariyan Glover | DB | 5'9 | 150 | Muskegon, MI | Muskegon | Siena Heights |
| Gavin Griffin | WR | 6'2 | 180 | Columbus, OH | South | |
| Breylon Haddock | WR | 6'3 | 180 | Springfield, OH | Shawnee | |
| Jonathon Huffman | DB | 5'10 | 170 | Sherwood, OH | Fairview | |
| Dominique "Debo" Knisely | ATH | 5'6 | 150 | Piqua, OH | Piqua | |
| Daniel Koehler | TE | 6'2 | 250 | Rushsylvania, OH | Benjamin Logan | |
| Courtland Lemar* | DB | 5'10 | 185 | Sachse, TX | Sachse | Cambellsville/Kentucky Christian |
| Jameal Lyons | DL | 6'0 | 220 | Toledo, OH | Whitmer | |
| Jeremiah Mason | DB | 5'10 | 170 | Roseville, MI | Chippewa Valley | CCC Detroit/Eastern Michigan/Olivet |
| Ka'von Matthews | WR | 6'4 | 200 | Detroit, MI | King | Rochester CC (MN) |
| Andre McConnell | RB | 5'10 | 190 | Riverside, OH | Stebbins | |
| Carmelo McDonald | TE | 6'3 | 215 | Columbus, OH | South | |
| John Moore* | DL | 6'3 | 235 | Redford Union, MI | Redford Union | Calvin |
| Cameron Moss | DL | 6'3 | 235 | Dayton, OH | Northridge | |
| Craig Nichols* | RB | 5'10 | 200 | Defiance, OH | Defiance | Trine |
| Cameron Onyebuagu* | WR | 5'10 | 175 | Indianapolis, IN | Warren Central | Jackson State |
| Vory Peacock* | DL | 6'3 | 220 | Detroit, MI | Harper Woods | Findlay |
| Edward Pearson | OL | 6'0 | 245 | Clinton, MI | Clintondale | |
| Logan Peaslee* | WR | 5'10 | 170 | Wauseon, OH | Wauseon | |
| Navoia Ragin* | OL | 6'3 | 305 | Bowling Green, OH | Bowling Green | Central State |
| Ezra Sanchez | DL | 6'1 | 255 | Fostoria, OH | Fostoria | |
| Joziah Santiago | LB | 6'1 | 210 | Columbus, OH | West | |
| Frederick Shaw Jr | LB | 5'10 | 215 | Indianapolis, IN | Lawrence Central | |
| Liam Sullivan | LB | 6'0 | 205 | Lima, OH | Bath | |
| Braden Wagner | DL | 6'2 | 250 | Monroe, OH | Monroe | |
| Marquise White | LB | 6'2 | 225 | Detroit, MI | King | Saginaw Valley State |
| Dominic Winton-Jackson* | DL | 6'3 | 280 | Columbus, OH | Centennial |
*Denotes mid-year transfer
The Yellow Jackets return to the field for the 2nd Annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 18 at Justin F. Coressel Stadium beginning at noon.
-JACKETS-