Big Sky Conference

University of North Dakota 2016 recruiting class

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Head coach Bubba Schweigert announced 22 new additions to his North Dakota football roster on National Signing Day. Eighteen of those players signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, while the remaining four were guaranteed a roster spot for fall camp and committed to playing collegiately for UND.

“It is an exciting day to see this class come together,” Schweigert said in a UND press release. “Our staff logs a lot of miles and works really hard and today is the day they get to see all of that effort pay off. Overall, I think athleticism is what stands out about this group. All the way from the offensive linemen we signed to the defensive backs. We target certain body types and our staff did a great job of building early relationships with a lot of these players.”

2016 University of North Dakota Football Recruiting Class

National Letters of Intent (18)     Pos.     Ht.       Wt.          Hometown (Previous School)

Jordan Canady                                S          6-2       180    New Berlin, Wis. (Eisenhower HS)

Alex Cloyd                                       TE        6-4       230   Omaha, Neb. (Millard South HS)

Jake Geier                                      S          6-2       210     Andover, Minn. (Andover HS)

Raymond Haas                             OLB     6-5       200   Centennial, Colo. (Arapahoe HS)

Bennett Helgren                            OL      6-6       290     Edina, Minn. (Edina HS)

Evan Holm                                    CB       6-0      175        Edina, Minn. (Edina HS)

Cameron Hunt                              ILB       6-1        210       Carmel, Ind. (Carmel HS)

Noah Mortel                                   OL       6-6        250             Luck, Wis. (Luck HS)

Nathan Nguon                              OL       6-3       285         Burnsville, Minn. (Eagan HS)

Hunter Pinke                                  TE       6-5       220      Wishek, N.D. (South Border HS)

Andre Randolph                          CB       6-0       190      Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence Central HS)

Sean Russo                                   OL       6-6        280     Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Thunder Ridge HS)

Tim Ryan                                      S         6-0      205       Huntley, Ill. (Huntley HS)

Isaiah Secrest                               RB        5-10     185     Rice Lake, Wis. (Rice Lake HS)

Ryan Tobin                                   OL      6-4       280     Muskego, Wis. (Muskego HS)

Travis Toivonen                           WR       6-3       205     Red Wing, Minn. (Red Wing HS)

Jaxson Turner                               OLB     6-2      200         Esko, Minn. (Esko HS)

Noah Wanzek                                WR       6-4       185       Jamestown, N.D. (Jamestown HS)

 

Preferred Walk-Ons (4)

Ben Bolinske                                         QB       5-11    180               Minot, N.D. (Minot HS)

Brett Finke                                           FB       6-1       230     Muskego, Wis. (Muskego HS)

Devan Hunt                                           OL       6-4      295               Edina, Minn. (Edina HS)

Jake Rastas                                           ILB       6-2       195         New Berlin, Wis. (Eisenhower HS)

 

CLASS BREAKDOWN

By Postion: Running Backs (1), Fullbacks (1), Quarterbacks (1), Wide Receivers (2), Tight Ends (2), Offensive Linemen (6), Inside Linebackers (2), Outside Linebackers (2), Cornerbacks (2), Safeties (3)

By State: Colorado (2), Indiana (2), Illinois (1), Minnesota (7), Nebraska (1), North Dakota (3), Wisconsin (6),

High School Teammates: Bennett Helgren, Evan Holm and Devan Hunt (Edina); Brett Finke and Ryan Tobin (Muskego)

 

RECRUIT BIOS

BEN BOLINSKE

QB | 5-11 | 180

Minot, N.D. (Minot HS)

High School Coach: Barry Holmen

Three-year starter and three-time Class AAA All-State first team quarterback for Minot, leading the Magicians to back-to-back state runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015 … Threw for 1,771 yards and 21 touchdowns and added 559 rushing yards en route to being named the 2015 North Dakota Senior Athlete of the Year … Also earned three letters in basketball and one in baseball.

JORDAN CANADY

S | 6-2 | 180

New Berlin, Wis. (Eisenhower HS)

High School Coach: Matt Kern

Named the Woodland Conference Offensive Player of the Year and All-Woodland Conference West Division first team as a wide receiver and defensive back after senior season … Caught 21 passes for 447 yards and seven touchdowns and added 593 rushing yards and six more scores … Registered 30 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two interceptions on defense … Named honorable mention All-State as an all-purpose player by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association … Earned WFCA All-Region Team honors as a utility player … Named to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel All-Area team as a wide receiver … As a junior, had 18 receptions for 295 yards and a touchdown, while adding 365 rushing yards and five touchdowns en route to earning All-Woodland Conference First Team honors as a wide receiver … Three-year starter at free safety, finished career with 111 tackles and five interceptions … Also lettered in track and field and basketball.

ALEX CLOYD

TE | 6-4 | 230

Omaha, Neb. (Millard South HS)

High School Coach: Andy Means

Earned Nebraska Associated Press Class A All-State honorable mention honors as a junior and senior … Named to the Omaha World-Herald All-Metro first team and Coaches’ All-Metro second team as a defensive end … Led team with 12 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns from tight end post … Named to the Omaha World-Herald Coaches’ Honor Roll after junior season that ended with 33 receptions for 344 yards and three touchdowns … Also lettered in wrestling and soccer … Placed third at the Nebraska State Wrestling Tournament in the 195-pound division as a junior, helping Millard South secure the team title.

 

BRETT FINKE (Feen-key)

FB | 6-1 | 230

Muskego, Wis. (Muskego HS)

High School Coach: Ken Krause

Earned Wisconsin Football Coaches Association First Team All-State honors as a tight end/fullback … Named to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-Area First Team as an H-Back … Also collected All-Classic Eight Conference first team honors and Now Newspapers All-Suburban honors as an all-purpose player … Led team in receiving with 27 receptions for 335 yards and four touchdowns … Also rushed 102 times for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns to go with an 8.6 ypc average that led team … Earned honorable mention All-Classic Eight honors as a junior wide receiver … Three-year letterwinner and all-conference performer in baseball.

JAKE GEIER

S | 6-2 | 210

Andover, Minn. (Andover HS)

High School Coach: Rich Wilkie

Named to the 2015 Minnesota Vikings All-State Team … Earned Minnesota Associated Press All-State second team honors as a wide receiver after finishing senior season with a school-record 78 receptions for 929 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding 336 rushing yards and 13 more touchdowns … Named the West Metro Conference Offensive Player of the Year … Earned Minneapolis Star-Tribune All-Metro Second Team honors … Accounted for 33 career touchdowns and is second in Andover history with 123 career receptions … Named to the West Metro All-Conference Team as a junior and senior … Had 35 receptions for 559 yards and five touchdowns as a junior.

RAYMOND HAAS

OLB | 6-5 | 200

Centennial, Colo. (Arapahoe HS)

High School Coach: Mike Campbell

Named to the Colorado High School Athletic Association Class 5A All-State second team as a free safety and wide receiver … Named the South Metro Conference Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-South Metro League first team after leading the league with six interception as a senior … Added 58 tackles for the Warriors en route to earning team MVP honors … Named to the 2014 All-South Metro League Football second team as a junior.

BENNET HELGREN

OL | 6-6 | 290

Edina, Minn. (Edina HS)

High School Coach: Reed Boltmann

Named to the 2015 American Family Insurance All-USA Minnesota Football Team as a second team offensive lineman … Named to the Minnesota Associated Press All-State second team as a senior … Also earned All-District and All-Lake Conference Honors as a senior … Named honorable mention All-Lake Conference as a junior … Earned starting spot at left tackle midway through sophomore season and never relinquished it … Also a two-year letterwinner in basketball.

EVAN HOLM

CB | 6-0 | 175

Edina, Minn. (Edina HS)

High School Coach: Reed Boltmann

Named to the 2015 American Family Insurance All-USA Minnesota Football Team as a first team defensive back … Named to the Minnesota Associated Press All-State first team as a senior … Earned All-Lake Conference honors as a junior and senior … Named Edina’s Team Defensive MVP for his efforts after final two seasons … Registered 50 tackles and eight interceptions during prep career … Return two interceptions and two kickoffs for touchdowns … Will play for the USA High School All-American Rugby Team in France and Belgium in March.

CAMERON HUNT

ILB | 6-1 | 210

Carmel, Ind. (Carmel HS)

High School Coach: John Hebert

Earned four letters in football as a safety and linebacker … Played on Indiana Class 6A State Runner-up in 2013 and 2014 … Finished senior season with 70 tackles, including 40 solo stops, and added three pass break-ups … Also earned varsity letters in track and field and baseball.

DEVAN HUNT

OL | 6-4 | 295

Edina, Minn. (Edina HS)

High School Coach: Reed Boltmann

Three-year starter on offensive and defensive line at Edina High School … Earned honorable mention All-District honors as a senior and was a team captain … Named honorable mention All-Lake Conference as a junior … Also a three-year letterwinner in wrestling and played three seasons of club rugby … Finished career with 70 tackles and five sacks.

NOAH MORTEL (Mor-tell)

OL | 6-6 | 250

Luck, Wis. (Luck HS)

High School Coach: Don Kendzior

Named to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association 8-Man All-State Team … Earned All-Western Division Lakeland Conference first team honors as an offensive tackle following sophomore, junior and senior seasons … Team captain on both football and basketball teams … Earned four letters in both sports and was an all-conference performer on the hardwood as well.

NATHAN NGUON (New-win)

OL | 6-3 | 285

Burnsville, Minn. (Eagan HS)

High School Coach: Rick Sutton

Earned three letters in football, splitting time at offensive tackle and offensive guard … Named Eagan’s Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2015 … Earned East Metro District honorable mention honors … Also earned three letters in track and field and was named Eagan’s Thrower of the Year in 2015 … Placed second at sectionals and 11th at the 2015 state meet in the shot put.

HUNTER PINKE (Peen-key)

TE | 6-5 | 220

Wishek, N.D. (South Border HS)

High School Coach: Gus Schlepp

Earned Class 2A All-State first team honors as a tight end after finishing senior season with 24 receptions for 404 yards and four touchdowns … Also added 72 tackles and two sacks on defense … Earned All-Region 3 honors as a junior and senior in 9-man football… Named to the Class 2A All-State second team in basketball as a junior after averaging 21.0 ppg and 12.0 rpg … Earned five varsity letters on the hardwood and four in track and field … Collected Region 3 All-District 6 honors as a sophomore and junior in basketball … Nominated for North Dakota Distinguished Student Award … Third generation UND athlete – mother (Kathryn) threw discus for the track and field and team and grandfather (Fred Lukens) played basketball at the university.

ANDRE RANDOLPH

CB | 6-0 | 190

Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence Central HS)

High School Coach: Jed Richman

Earned three letters as a defensive back and quarterback … Named All-Marion County honorable mention as a quarterback following senior season … Accounted for 1,602 total yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 45 tackles as a defensive back in final prep season … Started as a defensive back during junior season.

JAKE RASTAS (Rah-stus)

ILB | 6-2 | 195

New Berlin, Wis. (Eisenhower HS)

High School Coach: Matt Kern

Named the Woodland Conference Defensive Player of the Year … Earned All-Woodland Conference West Division first team honors as a tight end and linebacker … Also earned honorable mention All-Suburban honors and second team All-County accolades … Finished senior season with 80 tackles, four interceptions and two interception returns for touchdowns.

SEAN RUSSO (Roo-so)

OL | 6-6 | 280

Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Thunder Ridge HS)

High School Coach: Joe Johnson

Earned three varsity letters as an offensive tackle … Garnered second team All-Continental League North honors as a senior … Collected All-Continental League North honorable mention honors following junior season.

TIM RYAN

S | 6-0 | 205

Huntley, Ill. (Huntley HS)

High School Coach: John Hart

Earned three letters as a starting defensive back and wide receiver … Named a Fox Valley Conference All-Valley Division honoree after each of those campaigns … Made 52 tackles, added two interceptions and seven pass break-ups as a senior … Also earned Northwest Herald All-Area first team honors as a punter after averaging 42.0 ypp during senior season … Defensively, made 57 tackles, had one interception and five pass break-ups as a junior.

ISAIAH SECREST (Sea-crest)

RB | 5-10 | 185

Rice Lake, Wis. (Rice Lake HS)

High School Coach: Dan Hill

Earned four letters in football and track and field … Named to the All-Big Rivers Conference first team Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Region team after rushing 121 times for 1,263 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior … Named honorable mention All-State by the WFCA and Associated Press … Also a first team All-Big Rivers Conference selection as a junior and all-conference performer and state qualifier as a sprinter.

RYAN TOBIN (Toe-bin)

OL | 6-4 | 280

Muskego, Wis. (Muskego HS)

High School Coach: Ken Krause

Named to the All-Classic Eight second team as a senior and earned Waukesha Freeman All-County honorable mention honors … Also named to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel All-Area second team as an offensive lineman … Earned All-Classic Eight first team honors as a junior after helping Muskego rush for 362.0 ypg and lead the Warriors to a Classic Eight Conference title and a state playoff berth.

TRAVIS TOIVONEN (Toy-vuh-nen)

WR | 6-3 | 205

Red Wing, Minn. (Red Wing HS)

High School Coach: Ricky Foggie

Named to the 2015 American Family Insurance All-USA Minnesota Football Team as a second team wide receiver … Earned Minnesota Associated Press Class 4A All-State third team honors after leading the state in receiving yards with 1,037 in eight regular season games … Named the Republican Eagle All-Area Player of the Year after finishing season with 64 receptions for 1,287 yards and 11 touchdowns … As a junior, finished with 28 receptions for 660 yards and eight touchdowns … Named the Republican Eagle All-Area Player of the Year in basketball following junior season.

JAXSON TURNER

OLB | 6-2 | 200

Esko, Minn. (Esko HS)

High School Coach: Bill Hudspith

Named to the 2015 Minnesota Vikings All-State Team and Iron Range Conference MVP as a senior … Also named to the Northstar Football News All-State First Team … Earned All-Area and All-Iron Range Conference honors as a junior after accounting for nearly 2,000 rushing and receiving yards and scoring 27 touchdowns … Defensively, added 28 tackles, 12 pass break-ups and four interceptions.

NOAH WANZEK (Wahn-zeck)

WR | 6-4 | 185

Jamestown, N.D. (Jamestown HS)

High School Coach: Bill Nelson

Named to the North Dakota Class AA All-State second team after senior season … Finished final prep season with more than 600 receiving yards … Collected All-WDA first team honors and All-West Region Team accolades as a wide receiver and punter … Averaged 16.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg en route to earning North Dakota Class A All-State second team honors in basketball after junior season.

Press release courtesy of Ryan Powell – UND Athletics. All Rights Reserved.

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