Two UMD football players, Sam Pitz and Aiden Williams, have been named to the d2football.com Elite 100 Watch list.

Pitz is one of 25 players named to the Elite First Team (offense) and the only tight end to earn the honor. Pitz was named to the 2023 d2football.com Elite 100 Watch List, and is a three-time NSIC all-conference selection (including two first team selections), two-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Football Team member, a 2023 First Team CSC All-American, a 2023 CCA All-Super Region 4 First Team selection and he earned a Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Honorable mention in 2023.

Pitz posted the best offensive season of his career in 2023, racking up 9 touchdown passes.

Williams was one of the 25 players on the Elite Second Team (offense). He was also selected for the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 watchlist with Pitz. Williams is a two-time All-NSIC second team honoree after earning the accolade again in 2023. Williams ranked seventh in the nation over the 2023 regular season with an average of 243.8 yards per game.