Devils Lake’s Oliver Wirth and Amiri Francis are both college football-bound.
They each announced their commitments earlier this week. Wirth committed to Dakota State University as a tight end, while Francis committed to Mayville State University as an offensive and defensive lineman. Both schools are part of the NAIA.
Wirth was an all-state wide receiver for the Firebirds this past fall. He collected nearly 500 receiving yards, helping Devils Lake clinch a playoff spot and their best record since 2017. He also went to the state track and field meet as a high jumper last spring, and he’s a starter on the defending champion basketball team this winter.
DSU, located in Madison, South Dakota, went 6-4 in the fall (including a 7-0 win over Francis’s new school). It was the Trojans’ last year competing in the North Star Athletic Association, which recently disbanded. They’ll be joining the Frontier Conference upon Wirth’s arrival.
Francis wasn’t in Devils Lake’s starting lineup to begin the year, but he became a fixture at right tackle in the offensive line. He helped create space for all-state quarterback Mason Palmer, who threw for more than 1,300 yards and rushed for over 100. Devils Lake went 5-4 in the regular season before falling to Minot North, seeded No. 1 in the West, in the first round of the playoffs.
The Comets went 4-6 on the gridiron this season. Like the Trojans, they’ll be joining the Frontier Conference during the 2025-26 school year.
Devils Lake had three players move on to college football last year in Drew Hofstad, Reggie Cavanaugh and Hudson Hodous.