The 2026 recruiting class is a milestone for Marauder Football. For the first time, University of Mary isn’t just drawing from North Dakota, the region, and the U.S.—it’s tapping directly into one of the most exciting global pipelines in the sport: the NFL Academy.
Four new Marauders in the 2026 class arrive from Europe by way of the Academy’s elite development system, bringing international experience, advanced training, and big-time upside to Bismarck:
For alumni and fans, this group signals how far the program’s reach has grown under Head Coach Shann Schillinger.
The NFL Academy is an elite American football development program that combines:
Its mission is simple but ambitious: give student-athletes a life-changing opportunity to excel both academically and athletically while preparing them for college football and life beyond the game.
The Academy currently runs two main hubs:
In both locations, athletes train in a college-style environment—elite facilities, high-level coaching, film study, strength and conditioning, and mentorship from NFL players and coaches—while also pursuing their education and a structured character-development program.
The results speak for themselves:
UMary joining this talent pipeline positions the Marauders on a truly global stage.
Position: Wide Receiver
Hometown: Zuid, Netherlands
Previous Team: Spijkenisse Scouts, NFL Academy (England)
Trayrancel arrives as a 6-4, 190-pound receiver with the kind of length and explosiveness that’s hard to teach.
Coach Schillinger on Pinas:
“Thayrancel comes to us from the NFL Academy in London. He’s an explosive athlete who can make plays both down the field in the pass game and can create with the ball in his hand. We are very excited about this addition to our receiver room.”
Coming out of the Academy, Pinas is used to competing against top international talent and training in a system designed to mirror college football. He immediately raises the ceiling of the Marauders’ receiver group.
Position: Wide Receiver
Hometown: London, England
Previous Team: Saracens RFC, NFL Academy
At 6-5, 205 pounds, Rafael is exactly the kind of long, fluid target college offenses covet.
Coach Schillinger on Varona Blakstad:
“Rafael is going to be a really good player for our program. He’s long and has great bend for his height, which really shows up in and out of his breaks. He’s a smooth route runner who understands how to create separation and use his frame effectively. He brings a lot of upside to our receiver room, and we’re looking forward to developing his skill set within our offense.”
With his length and movement skills, Rafael gives UMary a true matchup problem for defenses on the outside.
Position: Tight End
Hometown: London, England
Previous Team: London Warriors, NFL Academy
Seb Harris arrives as a 6-4, 230-pound hybrid WR/TE with rare speed and athleticism for his size.
Coach Schillinger on Harris:
“Seb comes to us from the NFL Academy in London. He’s a great kid who loves playing ball. He is a wide receiver / tight end that provides immense upside. His athleticism / speed is rare for a guy of his size. He should be a dynamic weapon in both the pass and run game.”
In an offense that values versatility, Harris has the tools to line up all over the formation and stress defenses in the middle of the field and down the seams.
Position: Offensive Line
Hometown: Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Path: NFL Academy (London) → Georgia State → University of North Alabama → UMary
Dominic brings something incredibly valuable to the Marauders’ offensive line room: experience and maturity.
He:
Coach Schillinger on Braesch:
“Dominic is a really good get for our program. He’s an experienced guy with a high football IQ who understands the game and plays it the right way. He came highly recommended by a couple coaches we trust, and that meant a lot to us throughout the evaluation process. He has a strong understanding of what it takes to be successful up front, and we expect him to make an immediate impact in our room.”
For a program intent on getting bigger and better in the trenches, Dominic is exactly the type of veteran presence you want leading younger linemen.
Bringing in four NFL Academy products isn’t just a recruiting win—it’s a statement about where UMary football is headed:
For Marauder Football Alumni, this class of international signees is proof that the program you helped build is stepping onto a broader stage—one that stretches from Bismarck to London, Germany, and the Netherlands.