Sycamore’s Carter York, Thatcher Friedrichs sign with successful college programs

SYCAMORE – In the four years Carter York and Thatcher Friedrichs have gone to Sycamore High School, the football team has seen a lot of success.

On Wednesday, the duo set up their college careers to continue the trend.

York made his commitment to South Dakota State official at a ceremony at Sycamore, while Friedrichs formalized his commitment to North Central College.

They were the only two DeKalb-area signings reported Wednesday. NIU said the football team will not release its full list of winter signees for a few days, as December’s early signing period has become important in college football.

Over the past three years, the Spartans have gone 32-4, reaching at least the second round each season.

Friedrichs heads to Naperville, where the Cardinals are fresh off an NCAA Division III national championship.

“They win games,” Friedrichs said. “They have great team chemistry. I love what they are building there.”

Friedrichs kicked and punted for the Spartans, and he said the Cardinals plan on using him as a punter. The plan is to play on the JV team as a freshman and be the punter by his sophomore year.

He said he had an offer from Western Illinois, an FCS program, but chose North Central instead. And although the Cardinals' recent success influenced him, there were other factors.

“They have an amazing exercise science program, along with a doctorate of physical therapy, which is what I want to study and become a physical therapist,” he said. “And then I had my overnight visit. I love the guys, I love the coaches, just everything about North Central. And it’s relatively close to home, so I can come back on the weekends if I need to.”

York will go a little farther, heading to Billings, South Dakota, to play for the Jackrabbits and first-year head coach Dan Jackson, an NIU assistant in 2020-21.

The Jackrabbits have reached the FCS semifinals seven times, the semifinals three times and won national titles in 2022 and 2023 since joining the FCS level in 2004.

“It’s just the people and the culture,” York said. “The South Dakota State culture, I just love it. I love everything about the school and the football program and everything.

York had a preferred walk-on offer from Illinois and a full offer from Valparaiso but chose the PWO opportunity with the Jackrabbits.

York played safety and receiver with the Spartans and will play safety for South Dakota State.

“I’ll most likely redshirt, but we’ll see how the summer goes,” York said. “It’ll be different not playing receiver, but I’ll get used to playing defensive back. Not scoring touchdowns but creating turnovers.”