Milburn Makes the Leap: Decorah Senior Signs With UND

If no one funds local news, your community is just rumors. Help Decorah News bring facts home. DECORAH — Decorah High School held a brief press conference Wednesday, Dec. 17, during which senior Noah Milburn signed his national letter of intent to play football at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Milburn is a three-year letter winner for the Vikings, competing as a tight end, defensive end and safety. During that time, he helped Decorah win 24 games, including state quarterfinal appearances in 2024 and 2025 and a district championship in 2024. He earned first-team all-district honors in 2024 and 2025 as a tight end. This past season, Milburn was named first-team all-state as a tight end by the Iowa Football Coaches Association and as a punter by the Des Moines Register. A key contributor to Decorah's running game, Milburn recorded 1,172 receiving yards on 74 catches with 16 touchdowns, becoming the school's all-time leader in receiving yards. He also handled punting duties all three varsity seasons, averaging 36.8 yards per punt. In 2025, he set the school's single-season punting average record at 39.1 yards per kick. In addition to football, Milburn is a two-year letter winner in basketball and earned first-team all-conference honors during the 2024-25 season. He is also a three-year letter winner in soccer, helping the Vikings reach the state tournament during the 2023-24 school year. Milburn also participates in concert choir, Silver Cord and the National Honor Society and has earned academic all-state recognition. He is the son of Scott and Sara Milburn. Your inbox, upgraded! Subscribe for free and enjoy handpicked stories, helpful advice, and local insights delivered weekly.