Coming off the best season in NCAA history, excitement continues to surround the Minot State University (MSU) football program as head coach Ian Shields and his staff continue to build on the momentum of the wins this past fall.

Working hard during the offseason to make the Beavers even better, head football coach Ian Shields and his staff will proudly introduce the recruiting Class of 2025 next Wednesday, February 5, during National Signing Day, celebrating the incoming Beaver class at a special social downstairs at Sports On Tap at noon next Wednesday, as well.

But the new additions to MSU’s roster for the upcoming season are not limited to incoming freshmen who will be signing next week as coach Shields is pleased to introduce a talented group of seven transfers who have already begun classes at MSU this spring and will be on the field for the Beavers’ spring game on Saturday, March 29, at the MSU Bubble.

Joining the Beavers are five new players on defense, including three with NCAA Division II experience and an NCAA Division I FBS transfer, a new kicker, and an NCAA Division I FBS transfer at wide receiver.

Here is a look at the newest members of the Minot State football team:

Jaden Abongo Jr., 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior wide receiver transfer from the University of Missouri, from Brookfield, Missouri and Brookfield High School

Jaden joins the Beavers after 3 seasons with the Missouri Tigers of the Southeastern Conference. His senior year of high school he was an All-State wide receiver and All-Conference defensive back in 2022, earned Academic All-State honors, and was a Missouri State Champion wrestler at 170 pounds as a senior, as well. Abongo plans on studying History Education with a minor in Business at MSU.

Wilfredo Diaz, 5-foot-11, 200-pound junior linebacker transfer from Penn West Edinboro University, from Miami, Florida and West Broward High School

Leading the way on defense is NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association and Don Hansen 2nd Team All-American linebacker Wilfredo Diaz, one of two transfers from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. Diaz led all divisions of college football with 150 tackles in 2024. That included 7.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks, while he had an interception, forced two fumbles and recovered one, and broke up six passes. Diaz plans on studying Health and Physical Education at MSU.

Damarrius Hammonds, 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior linebacker transfer from Laney College, from Oakland, California and Oakland Technical High School

Damarrius was a Bay 6 All-Conference safety for the Laney junior College Eagles in 2024 as he finished the 2024 season with 50 tackles, 1 touchdown, seven pass breakups, two fumbles forced, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions. Hammonds plans to major in Business at MSU.

Reid Jamerson, 5-foot-10, 220-pound sophomore linebacker transfer from Western Kentucky University, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Whitefish Bay High School

Jamerson joins the Beavers after 3 seasons at Western Kentucky where he appeared in 3 games for the Hilltoppers. For Whitefish Bay High School, Reid was a WIAA Defensive Player of the Year finalist, a Tim Krumrie award finalist as the best defensive end in Wisconsin, and set the Wisconsin high school state record for sacks in a game with five. Jamerson plans to study Finance at MSU.

Zach Malpica, 6-foot-3, 245-pound junior linebacker transfer from Penn West Edinboro University, from Fort Myers, Florida and Ida S. Baker High School

Malpica joins the Beavers after 3 seasons at Edinboro University capped by a 2024 that saw him rack up 50 tackles with 13 for loss and six sacks. He also forced one fumble and recovered a fumble. During his high school career at Ida S. Baker High School he was First Team All-State 6A, a FBU Freshman All-America, and was Team Captain. Malpica plans to study Health and Physical Education at MSU.

Brandon McCary, 5-foot-10, 185-pound sophomore kicker transfer from Southwest Oklahoma State University, from Murphy, Texas and Plano East High School

Brandon joins the Beavers after 2 seasons at Southwest Oklahoma State where he handled the field goal and kickoff duties for SWOSU, converting 3-of-3 field goals with a long of 34 yards, kicking 9 extra points, and averaging 53.2 yards per kickoff for 18 kickoffs. Out of high school, McCary was ranked as 4.5 star kicking prospect and in the top 100 kickers nationally. McCary plans to study Business Management at MSU.

James Smith, 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior defensive back transfer from West Los Angeles College, from Los Angeles, California and St. John Bosco

Smith spent the 2020 season with the NCAA Division I FBS University of Washington Huskies, but did not play, then transferred to West LA College where he had 27 tackles, including three for a loss, recovered fumbles, had an interception, two pass breakups, and he blocked a kick this past fall for the Wildcats. In high school, Smith helped St. John Bosco to a 13-1 record, a Division 1 CIF Finals win over Mater Dei, and the 2019 CIF Open Division Championship.

He was listed by Rivals.com as the No. 40 cornerback prospect in the country and No. 45 recruit in his state and ranked the No. 80 cornerback in the nation and No. 91 recruit in California by 247Sports. He also competed in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump in track and field in high school with personal bests of 22 feet, 8.75 inches in the long jump and 46-0 in the triple jump.