Chargers sign 21 recruits to join Class of 2027 on National Signing Day

Team 131 officially begins its march to the fall 2023 season today at Hillsdale College, as the Chargers football team announces its signees in the class of 2027 who'll be joining the squad this fall.

The Chargers signed 21 players on National Signing Day, Wednesday, Feb. 1. Hillsdale is expecting more to join the class in the coming days, so stay tuned – we will be updating this story as additional letters of intent arrive.

Hillsdale College's football program is built around the importance of family, and as is true almost every year, there are multiple recruits with family ties to the Chargers in this year's class. Freshman offensive lineman Zac Affholter joins older brothers Benjamin and Nick on the roster, while defensive back Christian Creason joins his brother, Corban, and Chris VanOpstall joins his brother, John.

Additionally, while his older brother, Josh, graduated this past spring, defensive lineman Luke Peroni also has family ties to the Chargers. All told, this year's four additions bring the total number of siblings to play at Hillsdale under head coach Keith Otterbein during his 22-year tenure to 25, including three sets of three brothers.

And as impressive as this year's class was on the field in high school, it was equally impressive off it. Combined, the class averages a 3.72 high school GPA, a sign the group will be up to the task of meeting the high academic standards Hillsdale College has for its student-athletes.

"I think it's a great class for us," Otterbein said. "We've added depth to a variety of key positions on both sides of the ball, and some really talented kids who we think are going to be great players for us down the road.

"Additionally, when you look at the academic success these kids have had throughout high school, we believe we've found guys who really fit Hillsdale and will be able to achieve at a high level in the classroom and in the community as well as on the playing field."

Recent NCAA Division II football rules changes that allow a true freshman to play in up to three games without burning their redshirt year, mirroring the rule at the NCAA Division I level, means that members of the 2027 class could be bigger contributors right away for the Chargers than in past classes.

"It certainly changes our perspective a little bit, and gives us the chance to find ways to be creative in getting some of our freshmen on the field and contributing a little bit earlier than in the past," Otterbein said. "That's something we're going to try to take advantage of, and that this group will benefit from."

Hillsdale is looking to improve on a 5-6 season that included huge highs, like a home upset of the G-MAC champion and sixth-ranked Ashland, 36-20, but also included three losses of one score or less, with all of those opponents taking the lead in the fourth quarter. Close calls like that give the Chargers optimism that they're not that far away from a much better season in 2023 with continued improvement on both sides of the ball.

The 2023 freshman class will look to play an immediate role in taking the next step, and help keep the Charger program moving forward toward its ultimate goal of recapturing the G-MAC championship it last won in 2018.

2023 Charger Football Recruiting Class