Feb. 13—GRAND FORKS — The UND football program's first commitment of the 2027 recruiting class is an in-state prospect who held an offer from North Dakota State.
Minot North's Ethan Howey, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound edge, committed to the Fighting Hawks earlier this week.
"The coaching staff and the weight room and stuff — that really made a big part of it," Howey said. "(The weight room) is bigger than the ones I've seen so far and has the nutrition right by it."
Howey has played two years of varsity and the new program at Minot North, seeing time at left tackle and edge.
Minot North lost to Devils Lake in the North Dakota Class AA state championship last fall.
Howey was named a first-team all-state offensive lineman. The Sentinels are coached by former UND long-snapper Jacob Holmen.
Howey competes in track and field for the Sentinels, as well. He placed fifth at the state meet last year in the shot put and was a state qualifier in the discus. He also runs the 100 and 4x100.
Howey said he plans to early enroll next year, joining the Fighting Hawks for spring ball.
"Playing football more," Howey said of why that route was appealing.
UND head coach Eric Schmidt has a background coaching the edge position and played the position at UND en route to the 2001 NCAA Division II national championship. In addition to being the special teams coordinator at the University of Washington for two seasons, Schmidt also coached the edges for the Huskies.
UND's edges had productive seasons in 2025, led by starters Lance Rucker and Kaden Vig. Both Rucker and Vig return in 2026.
Both Rucker and Vig were all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selections.
Rucker finished with 11.5 sacks, breaking the previous record of 11, which was shared by Schmidt (2001) and Wes Atkinson (1998).
The Hawks finished the 2025 season 8-6 in the first year under Schmidt, winning the program's first FCS playoff road game at Tennessee Tech before falling in the second round at Tarleton State.