National Signing Day a Success for Dakota State Football
Last Wednesday was national signing day around the country and the Dakota State University football team signed 20 young men for the next season. There were recruits from ten different states: 7 from South Dakota, 4 from Arizona, 2 from Nevada, 1 from Arkansas, 1 from Colorado, 1 from Florida, 1 from Iowa, 1 from Nebraska, 1 from Washington, and 1 from Wyoming. Along with the signed recruits, there were also 10 transfer students who will be joining the team for next season. Dakota State will open the 2014 football season on August 30th against Mayville State.
When asked about this recruiting class, head coach Josh Anderson said, “This is the largest recruiting class I’ve had on National Signing Day in the five years I’ve been here. We have 20 young men from the high school level and 10 transfers already on campus to join us for next fall. That is a tribute to our DSU administration making it a priority to add additional coaches in all our athletic programs. It is a direct result of having more eyes out there recruiting quality talented student-athletes. We have a wide range of specific position athletes, from all over the country. I look forward to watching the football program produce winners in the classroom and on the field as a result. My coaching staff has done a tremendous job of seeking, and recruiting, the type of high-character people we all want to see attending DSU.”
Recruits:
Trevor Anderson, WR – 6’0″ – 150 pounds – Wall High School, son of Kent and Angie Anderson of Wall, S.D., Coach: Kent Anderson (DSU alum), Intended Major: Physical Education. South Dakota Football Coaches’ All-State Wide Receiver, Argus Leader ‘Elite 45’ Honorable Mention, three-time All-Conference selections, 2nd all-time 9-man receiving yards in a single season (1,123 yards), tied record for 9-man receiving touchdowns in a single season (17), 4th wide receiver in 9-man history with 1,000 yards in a single season, Team Captain.
Aric Birkeland, OL – 6’1″ – 250 pounds – Huron High School – son of Marc and Dawn Birkeland of Huron, S.D., Coach: Michael Postma, Intended Major: Undecided. Two-year two-way starter, 1,000-lbs. lifting club, Team Captain, 1st team All-Eastern South Dakota (ESD) Conference, 1st team Class ‘11AA’ All-State, invited to play in the South Dakota All-Star game.
Hunter Cockrell, K/P – 5’11” – 165 pounds – Maumelle High School – son of Kelly and Robin Cockrell of Maumell, Ark., Coach: Mike Buchan, Intended Major: Network and Security Administration. Three-year letter-winner, All-Conference kicker, Hornet Hero award winner.
Levar Colbert, DL – 6’3″ – 270 pounds – Durango High School – son of Nicole Shelton of Las Vegas, Nev., Coach: Matt Gerber, Intended Major: Undecided. Scholar-Athlete.
Dereck DeVries, FS – 6’3″ – 180 pounds – Lennox High School – son of Dan and Jill DeVries of Lennox, S.D., Coach: Matt Luze, Intended Major: Undecided. Argus Leader ‘Elite 45’ Honorable Mention, Offensive Most Valuable Player, three-time varsity letter-winner, Class ‘11A’ All-State 1st team, Big 8 conference honorable mention in his sophomore and junior season, Dakota 12 All-Conference 1st team, placed third at State Class ‘A’ in sprint medley relay, Sprinter of the year in his sophomore and junior seasons, Hurdler-of-the-year award (junior season), member of the National Honor Society.
Jacob Giles, QB – 6’2″ – 185 pounds – Madison High School – son of Chris and Karen Giles (both are DSU alumni) of Madison, S.D., Coach: Max Hodgen (DSU alum and former DSU football All-American), Intended Major: Education. First team Class ‘11A’ All-State quarterback, Argus Leader ‘Elite 45’ selection, selected to play in the South Dakota All-Star Game, Academic All-State.
Jacob Habeger, OL – 6’0″ – 250 pounds – Dell Rapids High School – son of Ray and Suzanne Habeger of Dell Rapids, S.D., Coach: Steve Hansen, Intended Major: Elementary Education. Team Captain, member of the State Champions team three times, four-year honor roll student, Superman Award, Quarrier of the Month award winner.
Chris Hackett, OL – 6’1″ – 275 pounds – Bishop Heelan High School – son of Sarah Hackett of Sioux City, Iowa, Coach: Roger Jansen, Intended Major: Exercise Science. Three-time letter-winner, member of the 2013 State Champion team.
Ean Horner, OL – 5’10” – 260 pounds – Dakota Valley High School – son of Jeff and Laurie Horner of Dakota Dunes, S.D., Coach: Jeff Vandenhul, Intended Major: Elementary Education.
Ivaylo Iliev, FB – 5’11” – 230 pounds – Mountain View Christian School – son of Silvia and Vassil Iliev of Las Vegas, Nev., Coach: Mike Valenzuela, Intended Major: Business Management. First-team All-Southern League Offense, 2nd Team All-Southern League Defense, 1st Team All-State Offense.
Brandon Lasky, WR – 6’1″ – 180 pounds – Chino Valley High School – son of Heather Lasky and Irvin Mitchell of Chino Valley, Ariz., Coach: Chuck Apap, Intended Major: Undecided. Three-time letter-winner in football, two-year Team Captain, 2-time letter-winner in track, maintained over a 3.0 grade point average in his four-year high school career.
Collins MaCauley, CB – 5’10” – 165 pounds – University Christian School – son of Ola Cole of Jacksonville, Fla., Coach: David Penland, Intended Major: Business. Four-year letter-winner, three-year starter at cornerback.
Tory Marciel, WR – 6’0″ – 170 pounds – Chino Valley High School – son of Michael and Karen Marciel of Chino Valley, Ariz., Coach: Chuck Apap, Intended Major: Undecided. Three-time Player-of-the-Week honors, All-Area selection.
Tyler Myers, DE – 6’2″ – 220 pounds – Ethan High School – son of Kip and Casta Myers of Ethan, S.D., Coach: Tim Hawkins, Intended Major: Business Management. Team award for best offensive and best defensive lineman, 1st team Corn Belt All-Conference selection, 1st team Class ‘9AA’ All-State selection, Argus Leader ‘Elite 45’ selection, member of the 2010, 2011 & 2013 State Championship Teams, Lineman of the game in the 2013 State Championship game.
Justin Pontarelli, OL – 5’11” – 280 pounds – Shadow Ridge High School – son of Vito and Joanna Pontarelli of Surprise, Ariz., Coach: Rico Tipton, Intended Major: Undecided. Four-year honor roll student, 2014 National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar-Athlete, Team Captain, two-time 1st team All-Section.
Dylan Presley, LB – 5’11” – 210 pounds – Grandview High School, son of Jason and Kathy Presley of Aurora, Colo., Coach: John Shultz, Intended Major: Undecided. 2013 Grandview Football Fallen Wolf Scholarship award winner, also lettered in lacrosse for three years.
Doug (DJ) Schroeder, OL – 6’2” – 265 pounds – Buena High School, son of Doug and Jennifer Schroeder of Hereford, Ariz., Coach: Ryan Scherling, Intended Major: Undecided. 1st Team All Section and 3rd Team All-State.
Skyler Seubert, LB – 6’0″ – 185 pounds – Cheney High School – son of Pat and Angie Seubert of Cheney, Wash., Coach: Jason Williams, Intended Major: Undecided. Recipient of the Mike Jarms award, started for the top-rated defense in the GNL conference.
Colton Stees, DE – 6’5″ – 225 pounds – Southeast High School – son of John Stees and Beth Pafford of LaGrange, Wyo., Coach: Mark Bullington, Intended Major: Undecided. Four-time All-State defensive end, two-time team captain, member of the 2012 State Champions, Officer of the Year award for Goshen County 4-H.
Josh Thielen, OL – 6’3″ – 245 pounds – Blair High School – son of Jeremy Thielen and Tonia McMannis of Blair, Neb., Coach: Darren Harsin, Intended Major: Physical Education. Nebraska Associated Press Class ‘B’ All-State Honorable Mention, Lincoln Star Journal Class ‘B’ All-State Honorable Mention.
Spring Transfers:
Nick Boone – TE – 6’4” – 215 pounds – Edina High School – Transfer: Waldorf College
Jason Grady – OL – 6’3” – 250 pounds – Bear River High School – Transfer: Butte Community College
Bill Holder – RB – 5’9” – 185 pounds – Coon Rapids High School – Transfer: Central Lakes Community College
Terell Johnson – DE – 6’2” – 220 pounds – Buffalo High School – Transfer: Central Lakes Community College
Austin Manzey – LB – 5’11” – 205 pounds – Watertown High School – Transfer: Central Lakes Community College
Matt Mogere – CB – 6’0” – 185 pounds – Monticello High School – Transfer: Central Lakes Community College
Dan Ngandali – CB – 5’10” – 180 pounds – Buffalo High School – Transfer: Central Lakes Community College
Darian Office – DE – 6’2” – 230 pounds – Manvel High School – Transfer: Waldorf College
Jacob Schaefers – OL/DL – 6’2” – 260 pounds – Faulkton High School
Mitch Trestrail – DE – 6’3” – 230 pounds – Oxford Falls Grammar School
