The Valparaiso University football program has rounded out its 2017 recruiting class with the addition of 16 players, bringing the total number of incoming players to 48.

“We’re very pleased with how our class came together,” Valpo head coach Dave Cecchini said. “We received a number of late commitments, which is always a good sign. We had a number of players who were still working out financial details or had family situations and could not make their decisions by signing day. Some of the athletes were still involved in high school postseason competition at that time, and did not have time to come visit us until later in the spring.”

Of the 16 additions to the recruiting class, eight are from Illinois, three from Florida, three from Ohio, one from Indiana and one from California. Including the 32 players announced on National Signing Day, the Crusaders have 12 from Illinois, 10 from Ohio, eight from Florida and six from Indiana. There are 11 states represented in the incoming class.

“Because we don’t have athletic scholarships, we have the luxury of waiting for these individuals to make a decision,” Cecchini said. “We’re thrilled with the number of players we added. We feel that at the end of the day, we have filled all our needs from a positional standpoint. We’ll have 110 players coming into camp, and it’s as talented of a group of football players as we’ve ever brought into a fall camp.”

2017 Valparaiso Recruiting Class – Additions

Joshua Baker, Lockport, Ill. / Lockport Township, LB

Brett Bittner, Chicago / Saint Laurence, TE

Brent Brimmage, Indianapolis / Park Tudor, DB

Antonio Dargaj, Shaker Heights, Ohio / University, WR

Jacob Gapinski, Mason, Ohio / William Mason, LB

Taylor Glenn, Harvard, Ill. / Alden-Hebron, DL

Kevin Guelce, Hialeah, Fla. / Archbishop McCarthy, DB

Stacey Jones, Gurnee, Ill. / Warren Township, DB

Daniel Larose, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Cardinal Gibbons, WR

Bryce Leach, Sacramento, Calif. / Capital Christian, CB

Elijah Maisonet, Plano, Ill. / Plano, TE

Jeremiah Olojo, Chicago / Lane Tech, DL

Joey Poloskey, Boca Raton, Fla. / Olympic Heights, LB

Corey Shannon, Chicago / Morgan Park, DB

Kyle Ulbrich, Mentor, Ohio / Lake Catholic, P/K

Thomas Weinzimmer, Northbrook, Ill. / Glenbrook North, WR

2017 Valparaiso Recruiting Class – Announced on National Signing Day

Nicholas Antonacci, Cooper City, Fla. / St. Thomas, OL

Conor Beer, Sidney, Ohio / Sidney, WR

Julian Benavides, Rochester Hills, Mich. / Saint Mary’s Prep, DB

Josh Benson, Dyer, Ind. / Lake Central, WR

Trey Bilinski, Nappanee, Ind. / Northwood, QB

Cade Bishop, West Lafayette, Ind. / William Henry Harrison, LB

Tramone Duncan, Gastonia, N.C. / Forestview, DB

Andrew Gedrys, McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette, DL

Cameron Germain, West Palm Beach, Fla. / Dwyer, DL

Douglas Haugh, Redlands, Calif. / Redlands, RB

David Hebda, Brighton, Mich. / Gabriel Richard, DB

Henry Hebda Brighton, Mich. / Gabriel Richard, DB

Nick Johnson, Portage, Ind. / Portage, OL

Cameron Kelly, Stamford, Conn. / The Brunswick School, DB

Aaron King, Tampa, Fla. / H.B. Plant High School, DB

Alexander Kluck, Cedarburg, Wis. / Cedarburg, TE

Ryan Markoff, Centerville, Ohio, QB

David Mason III, Canton, Mich. / Salem, DL

Donald Navarro III, Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley, WR

Nathan Orlandini, Columbus, Ohio / Upper Alrington, DL

Carter Puckett, LaPorte, Ind. / LaPorte, LS

Logan Pfizenmayer, Mansfield, Ohio / Lexington, LB

Jakob Rosiek Tarpoon, Springs, Fla. / East Lake, DL

Dilan Scargle, Dunedin, Fla. / Clearwater Central Catholic, DB

Laddie Skarecky, Naperville, Ill. / Naperville Central, LB

Trey Stablein, Delaware, Ohio, Olentangy Liberty, WR

Gavin Twigg, Acworth, Ga. / Allatoona, LB

Coleman VanSetters Rockford, Mich. / Rockford, LB

Samuel Vas, Cleveland, Ohio / Olmsted Falls, OL

Isaac Velasco, Naperville, Ill. / Naperville North, DL

Thomas Walsh, Plainfield, Ill. / Benet Academy, OL

Kevin Wright, Huber Heights, Ohio / Wayne High School, WR