Luke Mathewson – Libertyville HS (Libertyville, IL)

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Fritz Jarrett

Luke Mathewson, a 6-5, 235 pound TE/DE from Libertyville, IL, has given a verbal commitment to the North Dakota Football program.  Randy Kuceyeski’s Wildcats finished 5-5 and lost in the 1st round of the Class 7A Illinois Playoffs to eventual state champion Boylan.

Mathewson was a playmaking defensive end in the 4-3 scheme the Wildcats used.  He was a pass rusher and a decent run stopper and has showed a relentless motor off the edge on film.  He also caught some balls from the tight end spot in the passing game and was a physical blocking presence in the run game.  We do not know for sure which position he projects to in college.  We wouldn’t be surprised to see him switch from one side to the other during his college career given his size and athleticism.  He could potentially be a “swing” guy if needed – just speculating on that.

We could not officially confirm any other offers that he had, but we know he was scheduled to visit USD and Western Illinois at some time in the recruiting process.

Mathewson is the 15th known verbal commitment in the class of 2012 and is the 5th addition from the state of Illinois.

Hudl Highlights

Libertyville Article

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Ryan Cain – George Washington High School (Cedar Rapids, IA)

Posted on January 26, 2012 by oskie

The UND Football program has received a commitment from DB Ryan Cain of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Cain, 6′-0″-180lbs, played multiple positions for the Warriors and was very dangerous on kick returns, as evidenced in this highlight tape.  The Warriors finished the season 8-4.  Cain had 3 INT’s in his senior season but missed the first 4 games of the season with a broken collarbone injury.  Head Coach Tony Lombardi’s Warriors finished the season 8-4 on the season and lost to Cedar Falls in the Class 4A quarterfinals.

We see Cain playing safety in college due to the Sioux having a need at that position in coming years.  He played both corner and safety in high school and that will help his coverage skills at the collegiate level.   While he doesn’t seem to be an overly physical player on film, he shows good coverage techniques which is a credit to his coaches at George Washington High School.   He also shows good instincts and “feel” which is requisite for the defensive back spot and is a pretty solid tackler.  Cain hails from the same conference as current UND player Jer Garman.

It should be noted that per Rivals.com, Cain chose UND over offers from MVFC members South Dakota and Northern Iowa.  Cedar Falls (UNI) is only 60 miles away from Cedar Rapids, so UND literally got one from the Panther’s back yard this time.  This has proven to be a very difficult task to accomplish for UND in the past.

Cain is the 14th known verbal commitment to the 2012 recruiting class and the 1st prep commitment from the state of Iowa.

Highlights

Rivals

Rivals Article

Ryan Cain

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Anthony Fletcher – Desert Edge High School (Goodyear, AZ)

Posted on January 24, 2012 by oskie

WR Anthony Fletcher (6’2″-180lbs) of Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona has verbally committed to play football at The University of North Dakota.  Fletcher was a DIII First Team All-State WR for the Scorpions in 2011 and was a two-time all-conference selection.

Desert Edge, coached by Rich Wellbrock, finished the 2011 season with a  7-4 record after losing 33-6 in the 1st round of the Division III playoffs to eventual state runner-up Cactus.

During his junior campaign, Fletcher caught 56 passes for 652 yards and 6 TDs.  In his senior year, he caught 49 passes for 1,004 yards and 9 TD’s, averaging a whopping 21 yds/catch.   He had a season high 222 yards on 6 catches and 2 TD’s in Week 3 vs. Youngker.  Fletcher is what we would call a “combo WR” of size and speed.  He should be able to go up and make the big play over smaller DBs and also be an underneath possession threat on intermediate routes as well.

Fletcher is the third known WR commit to the class of 2012, which could be the best WR class UND has seen in quite some time.   A theme that we have noticed this year is size.   The UND program looks to be making it a point of adding some bigger receivers as they head into the pass-happy Big Sky.

Fletcher is the 13th known verbal of the 2012 recruiting class and the 1st from the Grand Canyon State.

Scout

Highlights

Anthony Fletcher - Desert Edge HS

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Joel Isenberger – Monona Grove High School (Monona, WI)

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Fritz Jarrett

The UND Football program has received a commitment from OL Joel Isenberger of Monona Grove High School in Monona, WI.  Isenberger, 6’4″-280lbs,  played for Head Coach Mike Stassi, who led the Silver Eagles to a 10-1 record in 2011.

Isenberger was one of seven finalists for the Joe Thomas Award as the state’s best offensive lineman.   He is the second UND commit to be named a finalist for the award (Mike Edwards -Sun Prairie).  Isenberger was also an All-SW Region selection in the state of Wisconsin and an All-Badger South Conference selection for the second time.

We project Isenberger to play the OG position at UND.  He does not seem big enough to be a tackle but is the perfect size for a guard and appears to have the feet to be able to pull down the line.

Isenberger is the 12th known commitment in the 2012 class and the first offensive lineman.   Due to last year’s large offensive line class, we are not surprised they have only had one so far.  However there could be some late additions to this position as well.

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Kenny Golladay – St. Rita of Cascia High School (Chicago, IL)

Posted on January 22, 2012 by oskie

The UND Football program has received a commitment from yet another Illinois product.   Kenny Golladay, 6’3″ – 185lbs, is a WR who played for Coach Todd Kuska’s St. Rita’s Mustangs.   The team finished the season 10-3 losing in the 7A state semi-finals to Wheaton-Warrenville.

From the limited highlights we have been able to find on Golladay, he is what you expect him to be with his size.  He is a deep threat with good speed and good hands and is going to add much needed size at the WR position.  Golladay ended the 2011 season with 44 catches for 640 yds and 9 TD’s.

Golladay is the 11th known verbal commitment of the 2012 class.

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Kevin Bayer – Lincoln-Way East High School (Frankfort, IL)

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Fritz Jarrett

The UND Football program has received a verbal commitment courtesy of Lincoln-Way East High School prep fullback Kevin Bayer.  Head Coach Rob Zvonar’s Griffins finished the season 10-1 in Class 7A after going undefeated and gaining the #1 seed for the playoffs, only to lose to the eventual state runner-up Wheaton in the 2nd round.

Bayer, listed as a 5′-11″ 235 pound fullback, got a lot of short yardage carries from both the fullback spot and the tailback spot on offense and was a force off the edge while playing defensive end in the Griffins’ 4-3 defense.  Since he’s probably a bit undersized to play defensive end in the 3-4 in college, we are pretty confident in presuming he will be a true H-back/fullback at UND and will be a big contributor to the UND running game in 2-back sets as a blocker for years to come.

Based on the returning roster in 2012, we think he also could be a candidate to contribute right away at fullback and on special teams next season.

Bayer is the 10th known verbal commitment of the 2012 class.

Highlights

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Recruiting Weekend

Posted on January 13, 2012 by oskie

The UND football program should be having their biggest recruiting weekend of the year coming up this weekend, January 14th-15th.   As we stated earlier, the Gophers are in town to play UND in hockey and this provides a great atmosphere for the recruits.   These are the names we have been able to confirm from various internet sources (there should be many more but we cannot find them):

  • Charles Elmore – S – St. Rita High School – Chicago, IL
  • Brandon Hathaway – DB – Smyrna High School – Smyrna, TN
  • Matt Salerno – P/K – Chatfield High School – Chatfield, MN
  • Ben Lauer – OT – Wayzata High School – Wayzata, MN
  • Brett Pierce – DL – Holy Angels Academy – Richfield, MN
  • Anthony Fletcher – WR – Desert Edge High School – Goodyear, AZ

Also, according to EdgyTim on rivals.com, TE Cole Gardner from Batavia, IL has received an offer from Eastern Michigan and several other FBS programs are now coming in.   He will be a tough one to get with the MAC schools coming in on him now.

There are rumors floating around that UND may have picked up a Juco LB in the past few weeks.   We have not seen anything but usually where there is smoke there is fire.   With school already starting all transfers should be on campus or will be very soon. 

 

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QB Transfer Braden Hanson

Posted on January 9, 2012 by oskie

The UND football team has picked up a quarterback via the Atlantic Coast Conference.   Braden Hanson from the University of North Carolina has decided to transfer to UND.  He will have one year of eligibility remaining and will be enrolling at UND for the spring semester. 

Hanson, 6’6″ - 215, is a tall, lanky lefty who appears to be strictly a pocket passer with the mobility to move around if needed.  North Carolina ran a west coast type of offense the past couple years meaning Hanson should be fine operating under center and executing the play-action game.  His height will be a definite advantage in the passing game as he will be able to survey the field easier.  

Hanson could not have come out of high school with many more accolades than he did.   Hanson was the North Carolina High School Player of the Year in 2007 - the #18 overall QB in the country – and had nine offers out of high school (Michigan State, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, etc.).   He also threw for 5,600 yards and 81 TD’s in his last two seasons of high school.  

We see a nice bridge here for the Sioux program.   With highly regarded QB recruits Joe Mollberg and Ryan Bartels both coming in this fall, the Sioux can utilize Hanson’s talents in 2012 while preparing both Mollberg and Bartels during their redshirt season’s.   Then, the hope is that one of the two is ready to go in 2013.   One other important aspect that should not be overlooked is how Hanson could have the ability to “tutor” the younger QB’s, even Bradley, as he is only a true junior.   Hopefully, he is able to bring some of what he has been taught by OC John Shoop up to UND and help the progression of the quarterbacks and even the wide receivers.  

With the Sioux offensive line and wide receiver talent improving greatly the past few seasons, we can’t help but think that adding Hanson could be the piece that helps this offense become more of a consistent force this next fall.   They have shown they want to commit to the power running game and play-action passing.  Inconsistency at QB plagued them in 2011 and they were still able to pull out a 8-3 record and a GWC Championship.   Hopefully, Hanson will be the guy to bring it all together.

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Monday Updates

Posted on January 9, 2012 by oskie

A few things have been going on lately so we thought we would throw them together:

  • The Sioux currently have nine commitments and they are listed on our our homepage – right side.  
  • Osseo recruit DJ Hebert recently committed to Northern Iowa.   He had visited UND and was down to either UND or UNI but picked the Panthers.  
  • DL Ross Dzuris of Platteville, NE has recently committed to Nebraska as a preferred walk-on.   The alure of the Huskers was too much to turn down. 
  • We are working on this weekend’s visit list (Jan. 14th-15th).   So far we have been able to track down 6 names but there has to be more, many more.   They always load up the Gopher hockey weekend to show potential recruits the best possible time.   Plus, those recruits and their parents get free tickets to a game where upper deck seats are going for $100 each.   Not a bad deal for them.   Also, it is very nice of the UND hockey program to donate that many tickets to help out the football program.  They do it multiple weekeds during the recruiting season.     
  • We are hearing the negotiations for the Indoor Practice Facility are still ongoing.   With UND having a medical school and Sanford Health being the main donor, the details are much greater than if they did not have one.   It is good that both sides are making sure no minor details are missed so it works out smoothly down the road.
  • Montana DC Mike Breske has left to join Mike Leach’s staff at Washington State.   That means the Griz may have a new look defensively when they come to the Alerus Center on October 20th.  
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The End of the Line

Posted on December 30, 2011 by oskie

The man who dominated the end of the line of scrimmage for so many years has reached the end of the line in his NFL career.  TE Jimmy Kleinsasser, the former University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux All-American, has announced his retirement following the Vikings final game of the season Sunday vs. the Bears.   Fittingly, it is a home game where his family and friends can trek down to the Cities and celebrate his stellar 13 year career – all with the Vikings.

Kleinsasser, a Carrington, ND native, was one of the most dominant players in UND history – if not the most dominant.  He was the strongest and most powerful player on the field most every game but was one of the fastest at the same time.  He also showed his overall athleticism in his freshman year by playing basketball for the Fighting Sioux.  He was the state champion in high school in both the Shot Put and Discus and certainly could have dominated at the Division II level if he had time to pursue that also.  Kleinsasser has donated generously to the University of North Dakota and also to organizations like Make-A-Wish and Special Olympics.

Kleinsasser survived 3 coaching changes with the Vikings (Green to Tice to Childress to Frazier).  In this day and age that is pretty impressive because most coaches bring with them a new staff and new offensive philosophy.   That often means certain players do not fit the scheme and eventually get shuffled off.  The thing about Jim is he fit every scheme.   There isn’t an offensive coordinator out there who doesn’t want a dominant force on the end of the line to set the edge.  Anybody who watched Vikings games over the last 13 years knows how dominant he was, whether it was vs. a defensive end or linebacker.

His loyalty to the Vikings is one of the things that endears him most to Vikes fans.   In 2009, he had multiple offers that were all much more lucrative than the Vikings offered and yet he still chose to stay in Minneapolis.  He chose to stay with the team that took a chance on him in 1999 by trading up to get him.  He chose to keep his family rooted in the Twin Cities rather than force them to move to Detroit or New York for a few more bucks.

There were a few quotes from the articles we listed below that summed up the career of the man that is Jimmy Kleinsasser:

“Oh man, I love Jimmy,” receiver Percy Harvin said. “He plays this game only for one reason and that’s his teammates and the love of the game”.
 
“I asked him to sign it, an authentic jersey, so I can hang it up in the house. It’s been an honor to play with him.” – Vicanthe Schiancoe
 
“I like the thought of leaving with the body still feeling somewhat good and not walking away from the game with a limp”. – Jim Kleinsasser
 

Star Tribune

Pioneer Press

Washington Post

Bleacher Report

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