SMSU Football Announces 24 on National Signing Day

Courtesy of Southwest Minnesota State Athletics

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State University head football coach Eric Eidsness announced today the signing of 14 high school student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and football careers at SMSU. That announcement came today on the first day student-athletes are allowed to sign National Letters of Intent. Ten other student-athletes have signed Institutional Letters of Intent to participate in football.

The list includes student-athletes from six different states including Minnesota (13), Iowa (5), South Dakota (3), Wisconsin (1), Texas (1) and Nebraska (1). The list of signees includes six defensive lineman, four running backs, three wide receivers, two offensive linemen, two linebackers, two tight ends, two punter/kickers, one defensive back, one quarterback, and one fullback/linebacker.

“This is a great group of young men that our assistant coaches identified and brought to campus,†Eidsness said on Wednesday. “With only 16 seniors last year we really needed to focus in on certain needs. We were able to fill many of our needs and look forward to the future of these young men in our program.”

Southwest Minnesota State is an NCAA Division II school located in Marshall, Minn., and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. SMSU finished with an overall record of 5-6 in 2009, including a record of 4-6 in the NSIC finishing in ninth place in the 14-team conference.

The Mustangs are scheduled to begin spring practice on March 29. SMSU will open the 2010 season on Thursday, Sept. 2, at home versus Northern State University in a non-conference game at the Regional Event Center.

      2010 SMSU National Letter of Intent signees:
      Name    Pos.    Ht.    Wt.    Hometown (High School/Previous College)
      Josh Genske    TE    6-5    230    Waconia, Minn. (Mayer Lutheran HS)
      Riley Johnson    DE    6-4    235    Urbandale, Iowa (Johnston HS)
      Charlie Kern    QB    6-3    185    Belle Plaine, Minn. (Belle Plaine HS)
      Jacob Levtzow    DE    6-2    225    Rockham, S.D. (Redfield HS)
      Nate Lyman    DL    6-4    270    Holland, Iowa (Grundy Center HS)
      Zach McNally    DE    6-4    230    Graceville, Minn. (Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley HS)
      Miles McLaughlin    LB    6-0    195    Sioux Falls, S.D. (O’Gorman HS)
      Jonathan Olson    OL    6-5    280    Zumbrota, Minn. (Zumbrota-Mezeppa HS)
      AJ Page    LB    6-5    225    Minneapolis, Minn. (Hopkins HS)
      Derek Riley    RB    5-10    195    Wabasso, Minn. (Wabasso HS)
      Tyler Tonderum    RB    5-9    190    Armstrong, Iowa (Armstrong-Ringsted HS)
      Mike Wenk    K/P    6-2    180    Hartford, S.D. (West Central HS)
      Cole Wilson    OL    6-4    285    Faribault, Minn. (Fairbault HS)
      Shawn Younger    WR    6-1    180    Haslet, Texas (All Saints Episcopal School)

      2010 SMSU Institutional Letter of Intent signees:
      Name    Pos.    Ht.    Wt.    Hometown (High School/Previous College)
      Nate Carr    WR    6-1    205    Elmore, Minn. (Blue Earth Area HS)
      Tra Carter    RB    6-4    226    Minneapolis, Minn. (Wazayta HS)
      Cole Casteel    FB/LB    5-10    210    Faribault, Minn. (Fairbault HS)
      Arik Jacquart    P    5-9    235    Fountain City, Wis. (Winona HS)
      Vern Lasley    DL    6-1    265    Tama, Iowa (Meskwaki Settlement School)
      LaRon Lewis    WR    6-0    178    Omaha, Neb. (North HS)
      Sam Milbrett    RB    5-10    180    Waseca, Minn. (Waseca HS)
      Cole Oswald    TE    6-2    195    Isle, Minn. (Isle HS)
      Matt Renken    DT    6-3    246    Cottonwood, Minn. (Lakeview HS)
      Nick Seedorff    S    5-8    175    Hiawatha, Iowa (Cedar Rapids Kennedy HS)