Football | 2/7/2018 6:21:00 AM
MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team announced its 2018 recruiting class on Wednesday.
"Interest in our program is at an all-time high," MSUM head coach
Steve Laqua said. "I think we have consistently treated people well over our years here and now we are seeing the fruits of that."
MSUM Football NLI Signees
Jake Belongia (WR, 5-8, 180, New Berlin, Wis./New Berlin HS)
Mickey Brown (DL, 6-3, 325, La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township HS)
Billy Brown (FB, 6-0, 230, Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake HS)
Jordan Burg (DB, 6-1, 190, Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia HS)
Troy Casperson (OL, 6-4, 275, Plymouth, Minn./Armstrong HS)
Theo Chwala (FB, 6-0, 200, Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd HS)
Jack DeWulf (DB, 6-0, 175, Nevis, Minn./Nevis HS)
Beau Driscoll (DB, 6-2, 180, Sherwood, N.D./Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood HS)
Drew Dunham (LB, 6-2, 200, Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep HS)
James Eggert (LB, 5-11, 205, Moorhead, Minn./Moorhead HS)
Jackson Faller (DL, 6-3, 265, Arnegard, N.D./Watford City HS)
Jacob Fleming (DL, 6-3, 240, Palatine, Ill./Fremd HS)
Michael Franks (DB, 5-11, 175, Bradenton, Fla./Bayshore HS)
Alec Goffard (DB, 6-2, 205, Appleton, Wis./Appleton West HS)
Larry Graham (DB, 5-7, 165, Boys Town, Neb./Boys Town HS)
Quinn Halstengard (LB, 6-0, 195, Mandan, N.D./Mandan HS)
Collin Haar (DB, 5-9, 170, Aberdeen, S.D./Central HS)
Ryan Harvey-Turner (WR, 6-3, 190, Milwaukee, Wis./Oak Creek HS)
Nathaniel Hill (DB, 5-8, 170, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park HS)
Matthew Hinds (Hines) (OL, 6-5, 265, Bowbells, N.D./Bowbells HS)
Tyson Hoelscher (TE, 6-3, 240, Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria HS)
Conner Hoenke (WR, 5-9, 165, Dickinson, N.D./Dickinson HS)
Jack Hoffman (OL, 6-6, 295, Watertown, S.D./Watertown HS)
Nic Johnson (DB, 5-9, 170, Cromwell, Minn./Cromwell-Wright HS)
Junior Kai (DB, 5-10, 161, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Brooklyn Center HS)
Justin Kolzow (QB, 6-3, 195, Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South HS)
Joshua Krajacic (DL, 6-2, 220, Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley HS)
Christian Leist (DL, 6-2, 230, Greenville, Wis./Hortonville HS)
Landon Lundquist (WR, 5-9, 180, Aberdeen, S.D./Central HS)
Trent Marquart (WR, 5-9, 165, Glenburn, N.D./Glenburn HS)
Calvin Maske (FB, 5-11. 235, Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes HS)
Deon McMahan (DB, 6-2, 185, Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids HS)
Zane Miller (WR, 5-8, 180, Grand Forks, N.D./Central HS)
Blake Ochsendorf (P, 6-6, 215, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake HS)
Daniel Olson (OL, 6-4, 230, Washburn, N.D./Washburn HS)
Dustin Olson (OL, 6-4, 290, Battle Lake, Minn./Battle Lake HS)
Andy Peterson (K, 5-7, 165, Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS)
Randy Petrbok (DL, 6-3, 215, Addison, Ill./Addison Trail HS)
Easton Phalin (WR, 5-10, 175, Tomahawk, Wis./Tomahawk HS)
Matthew Plieseis (K/P, 6-2, 180, Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson HS)
Jermiare Ratliff Jr. (DB, 6-0, 160, Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood Flossmoor HS
Zayne Rodencal (RB, 5-11, 205, New London, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran HS)
Alexander Ruff (OL, 6-4, 270, Wishek, N.D./Wishek HS)
Solomon Sangobowale (DB, 5-11, 175, Itasca, Ill./Lake Park HS)
Ben Schelhaas (LB, 6-0, 205, Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington HS)
Keenan Schissel (OL, 6-5, 220, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park HS)
Riley Schulz (DB, 6-1, 160, Watertown, S.D./Watertown HS)
DeMarkus Singletary (DB, 6-1, 188, Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East HS)
Brett Skarda (WR, 6-5, 190, Watford City, N.D./Watford City HS)
Gerald Smith (DL, 6-2, 198, Boys Town, Neb./Boys Town HS)
Brad Stewart (DL, 6-3, 225, Hallock, Minn./Kittson County Central HS)
Jarred Taylor (DB, 5-9, 180, St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade College Prep HS)
Blake Wilkins (DB, 6-0, 187, Brooklyn Center, Minn./Park Center HS)
Victor Yang (WR, 5-8, 165, St. Paul, Minn./Roseville Area HS)
MSUM Football Institutional Letter of Intent
Gabe Buehler (DL, 6-2, 230, Fargo, N.D./North HS)
Kyree Hazelton (DB, 5-10, 180, Boys Town, Neb./Boys Town HS)
Nick Herink (DL, 6-1, 230, Fremont, Neb./Archbishop Bergan HS)
Jared Palluck (LB, 5-11, 200, Davenport, N.D./Kindred HS)
Garret Sphatt (DL, 6-0, 230, Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac HS)
Zach Stelzer (LB, 6-0, 204, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS)
PLAYER BIOS
Jake Belongia (WR, 5-8, 180, New Berlin, Wis./New Berlin HS)
All-conference linebacker and running back...all-region utility player...finished with 979 rushing yards, 349 receiving yards and a total of 21 touchdowns...four-year letterwinner...also a two-time state qualifier in wrestling.
Billy Brown (FB, 6-0, 230, Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake HS)
Two-time second-team all-conference selection at running back...first-team all-conference and all-region as linebacker...rushed for 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns...on defense had 200 tackles and five tackles...team captain and MVP...four-year letterwinner.
Mickey Brown (DL, 6-3, 325, La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township HS)
All-area first team selection...all-conference...recorded 43 career tackles...letterwinner in football...played for Coach Kurt Weinberg.
Jordan Burg (DB, 6-1, 190, Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia HS)
Second-team AP all-state selection...all-conference selection...finished with nine career interceptions and 70 tackles.....part of three Class AA state champion teams...also had 1,334 yards receiving and 21 touchdowns...also lettered in basketball and baseball.
Theo Chwala (FB, 6-0, 200, Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd HS)
First-team all-county...first-team all-conference...team captain...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in basketball.
Jack DeWulf (DB, 6-0, 175, Nevis, Minn./Nevis HS)
All-state in 2017...three-time all-district honoree...all-state honorable mention in 2016...team MVP...sub district offensive player of the year in 2017...finished with 37 solo tackles, 19 assists and four interceptions as a senior....threw for 1,186 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior while rushing for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Beau Driscoll (DB, 6-2, 180, Sherwood, N.D./Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood HS)
Team captain...all-region as a senior after earning honorable mention all-region...had eight interceptions and 68 solo tackles in career...four-year letterwinner...also lettered in basketball and track.
Drew Dunham (LB, 6-2, 200, Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep HS)
Two-way starter and team captain...two-year letterwinner...also lettered in baseball and powerlifting.
James Eggert (LB, 5-11, 205, Moorhead, Minn./Moorhead HS)
All-district and all-conference as a linebacker...team captain...finished with 165 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles and four interceptions in career...three-year letterwinner....also lettered in basketball and track.
Jackson Faller (DL, 6-3, 265, Arnegard, N.D./Watford City HS)
First-team all-state on defense in 2017...two-time all-conference...second-team all-state in defense in 2017...finished with 99 career tackles, including 69 solo stops and five sacks...had 24 tackles for loss...four-year letterwinner...also state qualifier in wrestling and track.
Jacob Fleming (DL, 6-3, 240, Palatine, Ill./Fremd HS)
All-area and all-conference honoree...team captain...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in lacrosse and wrestling.
Michael Franks (DB, 5-11, 175, Bradenton, Fla./Bayshore HS)
Honorable-mention all-area...team captain...four-year letterwinner...recorded 125 career tackles and 30 career pass breakups...had two career interceptions and eight career fumble recoveries...also lettered in track.
Alec Goffard (DB, 6-2, 205, Appleton, Wis./Appleton West HS)
All-conference receiver...first-team all-conference as a quarterback...WFCA All-Star game invitee...WFCA all-region selection...team captain...finished with 4,342 total yards and 36 total touchdowns...also lettered in basketball and track.
Larry Graham (DB, 5-7, 165, Dunn, N.C./Boys Town HS)
All-conference and all-district honoree...team captain...finished with 21 interceptions and more than 200 career tackles...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in basketball and track.
Collin Haar (DB, 5-9, 170, Aberdeen, S.D./Central HS)
Finished with 132 career tackles and four interceptions...as a senior had 40 solo tackles, four interceptions and three tackles for loss...three-year letterwinner...six-year letterwinner in wrestling...team captain.
Quinn Halstengard (LB, 6-0, 195, Mandan, N.D./Mandan HS)
All-state and All-WDA selection...team defensive MVP...team captain...finished with 115 total tackles and eight total sacks...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in hockey and baseball.
Ryan Harvey-Turner (WR, 6-3, 190, Milwaukee, Wis./Oak Creek HS)
All-state honorable mention...two-time all-conference honoree...Southeast Conference Wide Receiver of the Year...finished with 82 receptions for 1,519 yards and 15 touchdowns...team captain...also lettered in basketball, track and baseball.
Nathaniel Hill (DB, 5-8, 170, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park HS)
Two-time all-conference selection…2016 Sports Jam all-area team…finished with 81 career tackles, four interceptions and 11 passes defensed…two-year letterwinner.
Matthew Hinds (OL, 6-5, 265, Bowbells, N.D./Bowbells HS)
All-region honoree...team captain...lettered in football and also lettered in basketball and golf.
Tyson Hoelscher (TE, 6-3, 240, Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria HS)
All-conference and all-district honoree...three-year starter in football...had 32 tackles, including 14 solo stops, and three sacks...averaged 19 yards per pass reception...three-year letterwinner.
Conner Hoenke (WR, 5-9, 165, Dickinson, N.D./Dickinson HS)
All-WDA as a wide receiver, defensive back and return specialist...team captain...two-time special teams MVP...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in basketball and track and field.
Jack Hoffman (OL, 6-6, 295, Watertown, S.D./Watertown HS)
Played offensive tackle...two-year letterwinnner...played for Coach John Hordorf...also lettered in basketball and track and field.
Nic Johnson (DB, 5-9, 170, Cromwell, Minn./Cromwell-Wright HS)
News Tribune All-Area Team Member...all-district 9 north district...all-state honoree...finished with 122 career solo tackles....had 1,857 career rushing yards, including 1,351 as a senior...had 28 rushing touchdowns...team captain.
Junior Kai (DB, 5-10, 161, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Brooklyn Center HS)
2017 team defensive MVP...all-metro honoree...two-time all-conference honoree...two-year team captain...finished with career totals of 52 tackles, seven interceptions and 22 pass breakups...two-year letterwinner.
Justin Kolzow (QB, 6-3, 195, Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South HS)
All-area and all-conference....All-American (Blue-Grey All-American game)...team captain...finished with 2,524 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns...two-year letterwinner.
Joshua Krajacic (DE, 6-2, 220, Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley HS)
DVC unanimous all-conference selection...all-area from Naperville Sun and Dupage County...finished with 12 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior...two-year letterwinner...also lettered in track and field.
Christian Leist (DL, 6-2, 230, Greenville, Wis./Hortonville HS)
First-team all-conference as a senior...second-team all-conference as a junior...finished with 110 career tackles, including 16 career sacks and 19 career tackles for loss...three-year letterwinner in football.
Landon Lundquist (WR, 5-9, 180, Aberdeen, S.D./Central HS)
All-state and all-ESD...team captain...played multiple positions during career...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in track.
Trent Marquart (WR, 5-9, 165, Glenburn, N.D./Glenburn HS)
Two-time all-state selection as a defensive back...four-time all-conference selection...all-state as a wide receiver in 2015...had 1,620 rushing yards, 83 receptions for 1,756 yards and 68 total touchdowns in career...five-year letterwinner...also lettered in basketball, track and golf.
Calvin Maske (FB, 5-11. 235, Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes HS)
All-district selection...two-time all-lakes area team...defensive MVP...had 421 yards and five touchdowns rushing on 63 attempts...on defense had 60 solo and 30 assisted tackles...finished with nine career sacks and 155 solo tackles.
Deon McMahan (DB, 6-2, 185, Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids HS)
All-district first team selection in 2017…played safety and wide receiver at Coon Rapids HS.
Zane Miller (WR, 5-8, 180, Grand Forks, N.D./Central HS)
All-EDC selection...team captain...had 351 receiving yards, 337 kickoff returns...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in hockey, baseball and track.
Blake Ochsendorf (P, 6-6, 215, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake HS)
Averaged 40 yards per punt...part of team that advanced to state...two-year letterwinner...also lettered in track.
Daniel Olson (OL, 6-4, 230, Washburn, N.D./Washburn HS)
Defensive Line MVP as a senior...all-region and all-conference in career....finished with 42 solo tackles, 59 assists and 9 sacks in career...four-year letterwinner...also lettered in basketball and track.
Andy Peterson (K, 5-7, 165, Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS)
Finished 24-of-24 on PAT and 3-of-4 on field goals during senior year...junior year went 30-of-30 for PAT and 4-of-5 on field goals...two-year letterwinner.
Randy Petrbok (DL, 6-3, 215, Addison, Ill./Addison Trail HS)
All-conference, all-area and a team captain...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in wrestling and track and field...sister, Sarah, plays for MSUM volleyball team.
Easton Phalin (WR, 5-10, 175, Tomahawk, Wis./Tomahawk HS)
Second-team all-conference as a quarterback...two-time offensive player of the year...finished with 1,906 career passing yards and 20 touchdowns...also had 1,082 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in basketball and track.
Matthew Plieseis (K/P, 6-2, 180, Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson HS)
All-conference as a senior...made 60-of-68 career extra points and made 14 field goals...holds high school record for most extra points kicked in a game (seven)...holds school records in extra point accuracy in a season (14-14), field goals made in a game (three), field goals made in a season (seven), career field goals (14) and kickoff average (54.7).
Jermiare Ratliff Jr. (DB, 6-0, 160, Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood Flossmoor HS)
Part of undefeated season and conference championship team in 2016...had three interceptions during varsity career along with 47 tackles, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble...four-year letterwinner.
Zayne Rodencal (RB, 5-11, 205, New London, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran HS)
Two-time unanimous all-conference selection...honorable mention all state...all-region...North All-Star game participant...set school records for most rushing yards in a season (2,180), most touchdowns in a season (30) and most rushing yards in a game (457)...four-year letterwinner.
Alexander Ruff (OL, 6-4, 270, Wishek, N.D./Wishek HS)
All-region in football...team captain...had 81 total tackles and three sacks...four-year letterwinner...also lettered four years in basketball and track and field.
Solomon Sangobowale (DB, 5-11, 175, Itasca, Ill./Lake Park HS)
Finished with 26 solo tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two blocked punts...also lettered in track and basketball.
Ben Schelhaas (LB, 6-0, 205, Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington HS)
All-conference selection...all-state honorable mention...team captain...second-leading tackler during senior and junior year...part of three South Dakota state championship teams in a row...four-year letterwinner.
Keenan Schissel (Chisel) (OL, 6-5, 220, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park HS)
Had six pancakes and 15 knockdowns...had a pass-blocking percentage of 93.9 percent...two-year letterwinner.
Riley Schulz (DB, 6-1, 160, Watertown, S.D./Watertown HS)
Finished with 52 tackles and two interceptions over final two years...returned interception for a touchdown as a senior....three-year letterwinner.
DeMarkus Singletary (DB, 6-1, 188, Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East HS)
Finished with 193 career tackles, including 37 tackles for loss, along with four sacks, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries...two-year letterwinner...also lettered in basketball and track.
Brett Skarda (WR, 6-5, 190, Watford City, N.D./Watford City HS)
All-conference and second-team all-state as a wide receiver...finished with 44 career catches for 835 yards and 17 touchdowns...had 69.5 career tackles and two sacks...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in hockey in baseball.
Gerald Smith (DL, 6-2, 198, Boys Town, Neb./Boys Town HS)
All-district first team...all-conference...second team all-state superstate honorable mention...team captain...had 60 tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and four pass deflections in 2017...three-year letterwinner.
Brad Stewart (DL, 6-3, 225, Hallock, Minn./Kittson County Central HS)
All-conference and captain...finished with 100 career tackles, seven career sacks and 16 career tackles for loss...had five sacks and 44 tackles...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in hockey and baseball.
Jerred Taylor (DB, 5-9, 180, St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade College Prep HS)
Two-time first team all-district and all-conference...team MVP...finished with six touchdowns, 906 yards, four interceptions and 164 tackles in career...four-year letterwinner...also lettered in track and field
Blake Wilkins (DB, 6-0, 187, Brooklyn Center, Minn./Park Center HS)
All-conference as a senior...had 87 tackles, three interceptions and four forced fumbles during senior season...finished with 208 career tackles and eight interceptions...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in track and field.
Victor Yang (WR, 5-8, 165, St. Paul, Minn./Roseville Area HS)
All-section and all-conference...finished with 1,810 career all-purpose yards, 13 touchdowns, 1,001 receiving yards and 703 rushing yards...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in track and field.
INSTITUTIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT
Gabe Buehler (DL, 6-2, 230, Fargo, N.D./North HS)
All-conference player as a senior...MVP of defensive linemen...had 22.5 tackles during senior season...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in track and field.
Kyree Hazelton (DB, 5-10, 180, Boys Town, Neb./Boys Town HS)
Team captain...had 466 rushing yards, 78 receiving, 67 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in wrestling, baseball and track.
Nick Herink (DL, 6-1, 230, Fremont, Neb./Archbishop Bergan HS)
All-state honorable mention...all-conference...named Special Teams Player of the Year...four-year letterwinner...also lettered in track and baseball.
Jared Palluck (LB, 5-11, 200, Davenport, N.D./Kindred HS)
Two-time first-team all-region selection...second-team all-state in 2017 after earning first-team honors in 2016...finished with 133 tackles...four-year letterwinner.
Garret Sphatt (DL, 6-0, 230, Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac HS)
Two-time unanimous first-team all-conference...all-region selection...had 82 solo tackles and 27 tackles for loss in career...had 12 sacks and four fumble recoveries...two-year varsity letterwinner in football...also lettered in wrestling.
Zach Stelzer (LB, 6-0, 204, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS)
All-district honoree and also earned all-district honorable mention in career...three-year letterwinner...also lettered in track and field.
