Canadian quarterback flips commitment from FBS program to UND

The UND football coaches weren't expecting many surprises Wednesday when they gathered at Midco Sports Network's office on National Signing Day.

There was one Canadian quarterback, however, who hadn't completely indicated his intent by mid-morning.

In the end, Quincy Vaughn opted for a dramatic flair, flipping his commitment from Old Dominion to UND and creating a significant buzz among the Fighting Hawks' coaching staff.

"Things got complicated with me and ODU when their staff was fired," Vaughn said. "Through the entire process, North Dakota respected my decision with ODU. When the staff was let go (at ODU), (UND coaches) were very open to talk to me and my family. We valued that a lot. They treated me with nothing but respect and love. We talked a lot about developing me off the field and not just on the field. That was a big part of this."

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound quarterback from Hamilton, Ont., comes to UND from the same program -- Clarkson Football North -- that produced UND offensive lineman Kyle Hergel, who started all 12 games for the Hawks as a freshman last season.

"Me and Hergel have been good friends for a year and a half," Vaughn said. "He went to Football North the year before me. Me and him click because we're always competing to accomplish things in the weight room. He was a big part of the decision. He would've supported me whether I was ODU or North Dakota but having that connection made it easier to relate. He could give me the honest truth and that was a great feeling."

Vaughn was named to the all-Canadian First Team in both 2018 and 2019. He's rated a three-star recruit by the website 247sports.com.

"I see myself as a playmaker," Vaughn said. "I can run if I need to. I'm a pass-first quarterback but I can get some things done with my legs."

Vaughn, like fellow 2020 recruiting class quarterback Reid Neal of Indiana, is expected to join UND for spring ball. That means the program's roster will include three quarterbacks and all will be freshmen (Tommy Schuster will be a redshirt freshman in 2020).

"I'm excited for the opportunity and to be teammates with those guys," Vaughn said. "The QB room will be exciting. I'm going to support whoever ends up being the guy and lead the team to the best of my abilities."

Vaughn comes from a football family. His dad, Mike, played in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. His older brother, Justin, also played a couple of seasons in the CFL for Hamilton after a college career at Fordham.

The Football North program claims to have sent 18 players in the last three years to scholarships for U.S. NCAA Division I programs.

Vaughn wasn't the only surprise of signing day for the Hawks. Jagger Ferden, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound offensive lineman from Union, Ill., switched his commitment from Western Illinois.

Two other anticipated signings weren't announced. Junior college transfer linebacker Ken Bohnenkamp didn't have completed paperwork but is still expected to join the Hawks for spring ball, while Omaha, Neb., prep Chase Perchal didn't sign following a significant injury during his senior high school season.