GRAND FORKS — The UND football program wrapped up a spring football practice last Saturday and Brooks Hendrickson was told to deliver the news.
The left-handed 2026 quarterback prospect from Mount Horeb (Wis.) High School was committing to the Fighting Hawks' program.
"I tried to keep it short and sweet and all the guys cheered, so that was a cool experience," Hendrickson.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior-to-be becomes UND's first commitment of the 2026 recruiting cycle.
Hendrickson threw for 2,249 yards last season with 26 touchdowns to seven interceptions. He was 166-for-274 passing for a completion percentage better than 60 percent.
Hendrickson threw for more than 100 yards in 11 of the 12 games and passed the 200-yard mark five times.
Rushing wasn't a major part of Hendrickson's game as he finished with no rushing touchdowns.
"I'd say I'm a field general guy and leadership is big," Hendrickson said of his style. "I'd say I have a strong arm and get the ball downfield. I like to improvise. I wouldn't consider myself a true scrambler but can get out the pocket and make plays."
Hendrickson also held an Eastern Michigan offer, according to 247Sports.com.
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Hendrickson said he liked the direction of UND's program.
"With a first-year coach and the Schmidt Era, it's all the things they're pouring into the program in terms of facilities and nutrition; those are two big ones," Hendrickson said. "But it's also the accountability. On the wall in the weight room, they have guys ranked as satisfied, hungry and starving. They rank guys and grade them every day based on how you are as a person and player and whether you're getting it done. I don't see a lot of programs doing that. I think they're going to be at the top of the FCS for years to come."
Hendrickson also plays baseball in Wisconsin. He's spent part of the last week in Florida to prep for the baseball season.
"There's still a lot to do with a senior (football) season, but I've had the last couple of days to celebrate (the commitment)," Hendrickson said. "It's back to work now and keep doing what I'm doing."
Hendrickson joins a UND quarterback pipeline long on Wisconsin natives.
UND's 2024 starter Simon Romfo, of Calvin, N.D., is sitting out spring ball as he recovers from an injury.
San Diego State transfer Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson, sophomore Jerry Kaminski and redshirt freshman Jack Sulik have been rotating at quarterback.
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Kaminski won Wisconsin's Dave Krieg Award given to the state's top quarterback in 2022 out of Sun Prairie.
Sulik broke Tony Romo's all-time passing record in Burlington, Wis., as a prep. He threw for 5,020 yards and 50 touchdowns.
Joining the quarterback room in the fall will be Etienne Higgins of Council Bluffs, Iowa — the lone quarterback signee of the 2025 class.
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