On Tuesday two University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) football standouts landed in the national spotlight.

Sam Pitz and Aiden Williams were named to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000. It’s an early watchlist for the annual all-star game featuring the nation’s best NFL Draft prospects.

Pitz, a graduate student tight end, is a three-time Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) All-Conference selection, including two First Team nods. In 2023 he caught nine touchdowns to earn a NCAA Division II All-American Honorable Mention.

Williams, a sixth year offensive lineman, helped block for UMD’s leading rushing offense to become a two-time all NSIC Second Team honoree.

The East-West Shrine Bowl is January 30.