Building Bigger, Faster, and Local: Inside Coach Schillinger’s 2026 Recruiting Class

If you’ve followed Marauder Football the past few seasons, you’ve heard head coach Shann Schillinger talk about two pillars of the program: Greatness through Virtue and building a roster that can compete at a championship level. The newly announced 2026 recruiting class is a clear sign that those words are turning into action.

With 29 commitments—including 20 freshmen and nine transfers—Schillinger and his staff have assembled a group that blends hometown pride, national experience, and even international flavor.

“We’re really excited about this recruiting class,” said Schillinger. “Our staff did a great job building relationships and this class is full of multi-sport athletes who were all highly recommended by their high school coaches. The class has good length across the board and we got bigger as a football team at several key positions, which was a big emphasis for us in this cycle.”

Homegrown Talent: Bismarck and North Dakota at the Core

If there’s a headline for this class, it’s this: the Marauders are building from home base out.

• 13 freshmen hail from North Dakota
• 11 of those played for one of the five Bismarck high schools

There’s a deep Marauder lineage running through the class as well:

• Several recruits have brothers currently on the team
• Three signees have fathers who played for UMary
• Many played for high school coaches who are former Marauders

That kind of continuity matters. These are players who already understand what the University of Mary stands for and what it means to put on the orange and blue.

Transfers, NFL Academy Standouts, and a Returning Star

While the staff prioritized the “kids in our own backyard,” they didn’t stop there.

• Nine transfers join the program, four with experience at NCAA Division I schools
• Eleven of the 29 newcomers are midyear commitments already on campus
• Three of those midyear additions developed through the NFL Academy in Europe, with two European freshmen joining the class

And then there’s a name Marauder fans already know:

• CB Justus Breston returns to UMary after a season at the University of Montana, where he helped the Grizzlies reach the FCS semifinals.
• In 2024 with the Marauders, Breston was NSIC and D2Football Player of the Week after returning two interceptions for touchdowns in the season opener.

Adding battle-tested transfers and NFL Academy products to a strong local base gives this class both upside and readiness.

Built in the Trenches, Loaded with Playmakers

The staff clearly recruited with a roster blueprint in mind. The 2026 class includes:

• 8 offensive linemen
• 6 wide receivers
• 4 defensive linemen
• 4 defensive backs
• 3 tight ends
• 2 linebackers
• 1 quarterback
• 1 running back

That heavy investment in the offensive line, plus length at receiver and on defense, reflects Schillinger’s emphasis on getting bigger and more physical in key spots.

“More than anything, we like the potential of this group,” Schillinger said. “If these guys do the things that it takes—commit to the weight room, learn our system, and compete every day—they all have a chance to be good players for us.”

Spring Ball: The Next Crucial Step

Recruiting, as Schillinger reminds often, doesn’t end on Signing Day.

“Recruiting is a year-round process,” said the former NFL safety, now entering his fourth season as UMary head coach. “Spring ball is going to be very important for our program and for a lot of our players as we evaluate where we’re at. It gives us a chance to see who’s ready to play next year, who’s taken the next step in their development, and where we still maybe need to add a few more pieces… Those spring evaluations are critical as we continue to build our team for the 2026 season.”

With so many midyear enrollees, including several transfers and NFL Academy products already in Bismarck, this spring will offer the first real look at how this class can elevate the standard.

What This Means for Marauder Football Alumni

For former players, this class hits several notes that should resonate:

• Local pipeline is thriving – Bismarck and North Dakota kids, many with Marauder ties, are choosing Mary.
• The talent profile is rising – Division I transfers, NFL Academy standouts, and productive JUCO players are joining the mix.
• The identity is clear – bigger, longer, multi-sport athletes with strong recommendations and strong roots.

This 2026 group is more than a list of names—it’s a snapshot of where Coach Schillinger is taking the program.