HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University Norse men's soccer announced the addition of ten student-athletes for the upcoming 2026 season on Thursday. The class includes six transfer student-athletes and four incoming freshmen. 

"I am extremely excited to welcome this class to NKU," said Northern Kentucky men's soccer head coach Sean Teepen. "I want to recognize our entire staff for the incredible time and energy they put into building such a strong class in just a few short months. This group brings a great mix of experience and talented local players who will complement our roster extremely well. Most importantly, each of these young men embodies who we are as a program and reflects the core values we believe in every day."

Cincinnati native Brock Kiper joins the Norse after an All-Missouri Valley Conference campaign at Belmont. The Archbishop Moeller grad spent four seasons with the Bruins, redshirting in 2024. Over four years, he made 56 appearances and 29 starts, scoring 14 goals and recording five assists, totaling 33 points. Kiper led his squad and ranked fifth in the conference in points with 15 in his 2025 campaign. The 6'5" forward earned three weekly honors while with Belmont, earning MVC Offensive Player of the Week and TSWA Player of the Week honors on August 29, 2023, and MVC Offensive Player of the Week honors on November 4, 2025, after netting his first-career brace with an assist to boot against Bradley on Halloween of last year. In 2025, Kiper led the Bruins to an 8-3-6 overall record with a 3-2-2 conference record. The Cincinnati native even scored in Highland Heights last year, scoring a game-tying goal against the Norse on September 6. 

MORE ABOUT BROCK:
Brock's favorite movie is Step Brothers…Brock's favorite musician is Zach Top…His favorite athlete to watch is Lionel Messi…Brock's favorite professional sports team is the Cincinnati Bengals…His hobbies include playing golf…A bucket-list destination for Brock is Greece…His favorite meal is chicken alfredo.

Another MVC talent, Evansville transfer Nate Roberts, will join the Norse in 2026. A Las Vegas native, Roberts spent four seasons with the Purple Aces from 2022-2025, redshirting in his freshman campaign. In his three seasons of action, Roberts made 39 appearances with three starts, all three of those coming in 2025. The 6'3" midfielder scored his first collegiate goal and recorded his first college assist in 2025, finishing with two goals and an assist. Roberts netted the only goal in a late-season win over Northern Illinois, and later scored in the Purple Aces' MVC semifinal victory over UIC. Roberts recorded his first assist in a 3-0 win over Bowling Green. In 2024, Roberts helped Evansville capture the Missouri Valley Conference title as he made eight appearances on the season. Prior to his time at Evansville, he played club soccer for Heat FC ECNL while playing four years at Bishop Gorman High School. A team captain, Roberts earned All-League and All-State honors while producing 12 goals and five assists in his senior campaign, and helped the Gaels capture the 2019 Nevada State Championship. 

MORE ABOUT NATE:
Nate's favorite TV show is Game of Thrones…His favorite movie is Interstellar…Nate's favorite musician is Chris Stussy…His favorite song is "56 Nights" by Future…His favorite athletes to watch are LeBron James, Paul Pogba, and Lionel Messi…Nate's favorite professional sports team is the Dallas Cowboys…His hobbies include gaming and DJing for friends…His first job was bussing at a restaurant…Bucket-list travel destinations for Nate are Thailand and Tanzania…His favorite meal is pasta…Someone he'd like to meet is Phil Knight…He is surprisingly good at basketball and pickleball.

6'2" goalkeeper Caleb Pearson joins the Norse from former MVC outfit and newest member of the Horizon League, Northern Illinois. The incoming redshirt junior made 12 appearances with the Huskies over the 2024 & 2025 seasons, starting ten of those matches. Pearson made 41 career saves with a 4-8 record. The Fort Worth, Texas native showed a lot of improvement in 2025, as he allowed just two goals in 213 minutes of action, making 11 saves as he finished the year with a 3-0 record. Pearson earned victories with 90-minute triumphs over Bradley and UIC, the latter of which he made a career-high seven saves against. Pearson attended L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, and played with the Solar U19 team in MLS Next during 2022-23, where he appeared in 16 matches and recorded nine shutouts. He played with Lincoln FC before his time with Solar, and was also a member of the South Region Olympic Development Program. 

MORE ABOUT CALEB:
Caleb's favorite TV show is Barry…His favorite movie is Good Will Hunting…Caleb's favorite musician is Drake…His favorite song is "Cinderella" by Mac Miller…His favorite athlete to watch is Joe Hart…Caleb's favorite professional sports team is Arsenal F.C.…His hobbies include golfing and watching movies…His first job was as a lifeguard…A bucket-list destination for Caleb is Greece…His favorite meal is steak…Someone he'd like to meet is Tom Brady…He is surprisingly good at cooking.

UC San Diego transfer Michael Luechauer arrives at Northern Kentucky as a redshirt sophomore after spending a pair of seasons with the Tritons. A 5'11" forward, Luechauer (LUKE-hower) made five appearances for UCSD in 2024, notching his first career assist in a 3-0 victory over Air Force. Luechauer attempted three shots with two on goal, and played a season-high 47 minutes in a 2-2 draw at Howard. A native of Charleston, West Virginia, Luechauer graduated from George Washington High School as the Patriots' all-time leading goal-scorer, and was named 2023 West Virginia Boys Gatorade Player of the Year and First Team All-State while leading his squad to the Class AAA state title. Luechauer scored 36 goals in his senior campaign with 12 assists, and scored 66 goals over his high school career. He led the Patriots to a 20-2-1 record and scored the lone goal in the state final. 

Hunter Hernandez comes to the Norse after spending 2025 with Eture FC, a semi-professional team of international players competing in Spain. Hernandez spent 2024 with Truckee Meadows Community College. Hernandez was a key player for the Lizards in the 2024 campaign, starting in 16 of his 17 appearances. The Las Vegas native scored a pair of goals and recorded six shot attempts, with four on goal. Hernandez graduated from Centennial High School in Las Vegas in 2023. 

MORE ABOUT HUNTER:
Hunter's favorite athletes to watch are Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodríguez…Hunter's favorite professional sports team is Real Madrid…His first job was as a landscaper…A bucket-list travel destination of Hunter's is Greece…His favorite meal is ancho salmon…Someone he'd like to meet is Cristiano Ronaldo…He is surprisingly good at Clash Royale.

The lone international signee in Northern Kentucky's 2026 class, London, England native Pharrell Williams, is set to join NKU this fall. The 6'1" defender spent 2025 with NJCAA Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois. Williams started in all his appearances on the season, recording a goal and an assist. Williams was named to the NJCAA Region 4 Second Team for his performance. Before his 2025 season at Rock Valley, Williams spent the 2023-24 season at Iowa Lakes Community College, where he made two appearances. Williams graduated from Richard Challoner School, a Catholic boys' secondary school in Kingston-upon-Thames. 

MORE ABOUT PHARRELL:
Pharrell's favorite TV show is Top Boy…His favorite movie is Paid in Full…His favorite musician is Future…His favorite song is "DC10" by Central Cee…His favorite athletes to watch are Bukayo Saka, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Gervonta Davis…Pharrell's favorite professional sports team is Arsenal F.C.…His hobbies include traveling and playing video games…His first job was in retail…A bucket-list destination for Pharrell is Brazil…His favorite meal is whatever his mum cooks…Someone he'd like to meet is Eberechi Eze.

A Waynesville, Ohio native, Nicholas Feldhaus, joins the Norse after a historic career at Waynesville High School, where he scored 49 goals and recorded 12 assists for the Spartans, leading the team to a regional semifinal appearance in 2024. Feldhaus was tabbed a United Soccer Coaches All-American for his performance, and he departed the Spartans with the individual single-season goals record. He also helped Waynesville set a new team single-season record with 18 wins and 112 goals, and the team earned sectional and district championships. Feldhaus has competed with Cincinnati United Premier MLS Next Homegrown since 2019. Nicholas' father and uncle, Sean and Brian Feldhaus, both played soccer at Ohio State in the late 90's, with Brian leading the Buckeyes in goals with eight in the 1999 campaign. 

MORE ABOUT NICHOLAS:
Nicholas' favorite TV show is Dexter…His favorite movie is The Hangover…Nicholas' favorite musician is Morgan Wallen…His favorite song is "Already"…His favorite athlete to watch is Cristiano Ronaldo…Nicholas' favorite professional sports team is FC Bayern Munich…His hobbies include spikeball…His first job was taking care of horses on a farm for a summer…A bucket-list destination for Nicholas is Munich…His favorite meal is pasta…Someone he'd like to meet is Cristiano Ronaldo…He is surprisingly good at spikeball.

Louisville native Donovan Richardson will also join the Norse this fall after graduating from Louisville Collegiate this spring. A goalkeeper, Richardson recorded three shutouts in 15 appearances for the Titans this past fall. He helped the Titans achieve a 19-4 overall record, but they fell to eventual State Champion St. Xavier in the Region 5 final. Richardson has also competed for FC Cincinnati at various youth levels and most recently competed in Lexington SC's youth academy. 

MORE ABOUT DONOVAN:
Donovan's favorite TV show is Outer Banks…His favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption…Donovan's favorite musician is Drake…His favorite song is "Springsteen"…His favorite athletes to watch are Jordan Pickford, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers…Donovan's favorite professional sports team is the Cincinnati Bengals…His hobbies include golfing, working out, poker, and pickleball…His first job was at Hobby Lobby…A bucket-list destination for Donovan is the Bahamas…His favorite meal is steak…Someone he'd like to meet is Kobe Bryant…He is surprisingly good at ping pong.

Beavercreek, Ohio, native Gage Walling will arrive at Northern Kentucky for his freshman campaign this fall. Walling helped lead Beavercreek to a Regional Final appearance this fall as the Beavers finished 16-2-2. Walling earned First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District, First Team All-Ohio, and First Team All-Region honors over his high school career. Walling totaled 30 goals and 23 assists with the Beavers and recorded 48 points in his senior season. The midfielder also competed for Ohio Elite Soccer at the club level. 

MORE ABOUT GAGE:
Gage's favorite TV show is Snowfall…His favorite movie is The Wolf of Wall Street…Gage's favorite musician is Drake…His favorite song is "Club Paradise"…His favorite athlete to watch is Lionel Messi…Gage's favorite professional sports team is FC Barcelona…His hobbies include snowboarding and fishing…His first job was doing roofing and siding…A bucket-list destination for Gage is Greece…His favorite meal is a cheeseburger…Someone he'd like to meet is Michael Jordan…He is surprisingly good at ping pong.

Midfielder Jibreel Askira rounds out the freshman class for the 2026 Norse. A Hilliard, Ohio native, Askira graduated from Hilliard Davidson this spring after earning All-State, First Team All-OCC, and All-Region honors for the Wildcats. He helped lead Davidson to a 10-5-2 record and a 4-1 OCC Central record, and an appearance in the OHSAA Central 3 District Final. Askira also competed for Club Ohio.

MORE ABOUT JIBREEL:
Jibreel's favorite TV show is Gravity Falls…His favorite movie is Avengers: Endgame…Jibreel's favorite musician is Miguel…His favorite song is "Anointed"…His favorite athlete to watch is Neymar…Jibreel's favorite professional sports team is Chelsea F.C.…His hobbies include playing basketball with friends…His first job was caddying…A bucket-list destination for Jibreel is San Diego…His favorite meal is pasta…Someone he'd like to meet is Drake…He is surprisingly good at card games.

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