Michigan Tech left tackle Brandon DeVries earned a spot on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List, the national preseason honor roll announced Thursday, Aug. 13, placing the senior on the offensive squad (honorable mention) ahead of the Huskies' season opener.

DeVries, a two-time captain, has played in 32 games in a Michigan Tech uniform and collected All-GLIAC honors in each of his three seasons in Houghton. He earned First Team All-GLIAC recognition in 2025 after back-to-back Second Team selections in 2023 and 2024, according to the Michigan Tech athletics department.

The Elite 100 list, selected by D2Football.com staff with input from sitting head coaches and professional scout Josh Buchanan, features first and second team picks for offense, defense and special teams plus 25 squad selections on each side of the ball, WZMQ reported.

DeVries joins NMU's Jaden Dobert and Tanner Hertel as Upper Peninsula players recognized on the list, as we reported Aug. 18.

The recognition comes as Michigan Tech enters the 2026 season with elevated expectations. Head coach Dan Mettlach, the reigning GLIAC Coach of the Year, opened fall camp on Aug. 8 with more than 50 returning players and 35 incoming freshmen. The Huskies were picked third in the GLIAC preseason coaches poll after finishing tied for third in each of the past two seasons with 4-3 conference records.

Mettlach said Aug. 8 that the program felt it was one win away from a playoff appearance in 2025.

"We felt like we were a game away from maybe making a playoff appearance last year," Mettlach told Upper Michigan's Source. "Our culture in our locker room, the type of recruits we're bringing in the locker room. We've got different ways we measure what taking that next step is."

DeVries said at the start of camp that the younger players are making strides. "The energy's been great, guys have been getting after it," he said. "We've seen the younger classes start to finally come to fruition after their first spring."

Michigan Tech opens the 2026 season at Bemidji State on Thursday, Aug. 27, with a 7 p.m. kickoff in Bemidji, Minnesota. The home opener is Saturday, Sept. 5, against Midwestern State.