St. Cloud State University HUSKY ATHLETICS Athletic Media Relations Home of the Huskies Contact: Anne Abicht 320-308-2141 / [email protected] For Release: February 5, 2014 St. Cloud State Football Announces 2014 Recruiting Class St. Cloud, Minn. -- St. Cloud State University head football coach Scott Underwood and his staff announced the signing of 27 high school athletes to letters of intent to attend St. Cloud State in the fall and play football for the Huskies. In addition, the Huskies received committments from seven athletes who signed acceptance of admission letters at St. Cloud State. The incoming class includes athletes from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and North Dakota. The group also includes six athletes with local ties from St. Cloud Tech and Apollo High Schools, Sartell, and Folley High School. “We set out to fill our skill positions in this recruiting class,” said head coach Scott Underwood who completed his sixth season at the helm of the Huskies last fall. “We added depth, speed and quality athletes to our program. The receivers bring height to that position. We also brought in runningbacks on the offensive side. Defensively, we have linebackers and secondary players. On the offensive and defensive lines, we brought in mostly interior players.” Another addition is South Dakota State transfer and former Rocori High School quarterback Nate Meyer who transferred to St. Cloud State and began classes this spring semester. Meyer led the Spartans to the 2011 State title. The 2013 Huskies set a single season record for wins finishing the season 12-2, breaking the old record of ten, a mark the Huskies reached twice. St. Cloud State was 10-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) games and finished third in the overall league standings. The season came to an end in the NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinals when #12 St. Cloud State lost on the road to #2 Northwest Missouri State, 59-21. It marked the farthest the Huskies had advanced in the NCAA playoffs in the 24-team format.

2014 St. Cloud State Recruiting Class Dylan Beyer DB 6-2 190 Seymour, Wis./Seymour High School Calvin Buesgens WR 6-2 185 Chaska, Minn./Chaska High School JT Butler WR/KR 6-2 185 Montgomery, Minn./New Prague High School Keaton Clark DB 6-3 190 Neenah, Wis./Xavier High School Jacob Dye OL 6-3 260 Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg High School Curtwan Evans RB 5-10 195 Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park High School Michael Franke OL 6-3 285 Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South High School Marcus Gabriel WR 6-3 190 Wausau, Wis./Wausau Newman High School Elliott Halsch DL 6-1 250 Coralville, Iowa/Iowa City Regina High School Mozel Hargrays Jr. WR 5-9 165 Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East High School Sam Hartman TE 6-4 220 West Des Moines, Iowa/West Des Moines Valley High School Alex Hempe DB 6-0 185 St. Paul, Minn./DeLaSalle High School Jaden Huff RB 5-9 190 Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook High School Gary Koehring LB 6-1 220 Kaneville, Ill./Kaneland High School Jeremy Koffi WR/DB 6-2 195 St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Apollo High School Mason Kramer DL 6-2 280 Minot, N.D./Bishop Ryan High School Alex Lennartz QB 6-3 190 Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake Central High School Tim Mason LB 6-0 195 South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic High School Dylan Nauert WR 6-1 200 Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland High School Peter Palecek OL 6-3 300 Hugo, Minn./Stillwater High School John Pass WR 6-1 195 Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove High School Isaiah Pitchford RB/FS 6-0 185 Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha South High School Chris Poynter DL 6-1 250 Dubuque, Iowa/Dubuque Senior High School Craig Szymanski LB 6-2 210 Farmington, Minn./Rosemount High School, Dwayne (DJ) Wade DB 5-9 160 Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township High School Hunter Williams WR 5-10 190 Carpentersville, Ill./Jacobs High School Josh Wright OL 6-2 270 Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock High School The following players signed a written letter of acceptance with the University. Riley Bates LB 6-1 210 St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech High School TJ Bevans OL/DL 6-1 260 Sartell, Minn./Sartell High School Luke Kelvington RB 5-8 180 Foley, Minn./Foley High School Austin Klaverkamp LB/FB 6-1 215 Clearwater, Minn./St. Cloud Tech High School Dwight Moe OL 6-3 240 Annandale, Minn./Annandale High School Edward Penson OL 6-3 300 St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall High School Casey Underwood WR/DB 6-1 165 St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech High School Recruit Bios 2014 Football Signing Release, page 2 Letters of Intent

Dylan Beyer, DB, 6-2, 190, Seymour, Wis., Seymour High School All-State Honorable Mention….First Team All-Region and All-Conference…team Offensive MVP…son of Dawn and John Beyer.

Calvin Buesgens, WR, 6-2, 185, Chaska, Minn., Chaska High School Three-year football letterwinner…First Team All-State, All-Metro and All-Conference player…team offensive MVP…holds single season records of 976 receiving yards and 13 touchdown receptions…team advanced to the state semi-finals last fall…plans to compete in track and field at St. Cloud State…competes in the 400, 200 and 100 meter races and relays in high school…son of Cheryl and Anthony Buesgens

JT Butler, WR/KR, 6-2, 185, Montgomery, Minn.,New Prague High School Two-year letterwinner...played runningback, defensive back and kick return...First Team All-Conference as a senior...named Special Teams Player of the Year...Top 25 Champion junior and senior year...caught 32 passes for 380 yards and one touchdown...had 11 kick returns for 355 yards and two touchdown returns of 90 and 91 yards...two-year letterwinner in track...will captain the team this spring...running events include 100, 200, 4x100 and hurdles...last season placed in the section finals in the hurdles and anchored 4x100 state relay team...First Team All-Conference in track...Most Valuable Junior...two-time Academic All-State...National Honor Society Member...parents are Raachel and John Butler.

Keaton Clark, DB, 6-3 190, Neenah, Wis., Xavier High School Two-year football letterwinner…All-Region and All-Area defensive back…unanimous First Team All-Conference defensive back…team defensive MVP…2013 Honor- able Mention All-State…prep team advanced to state semi-finals…named to Wisconsin All-Star team…track and letterwinner…parents are Stacie and Terry Clark.

Jacob Dye, OL, 6-3, 260, Williamsburg, Iowa, Williamsburg High School Three-year football letterwinner…All-District team member…Second Team All-State… letterwinner…son of Angela Crotts and Kevin Dye.

Curtwan Evans, RB, 5-10, 195 Bloomingdale, Ill., Lake Park High School All-Conference and All-Area football player…DVC defensive captain…team MVP…All-State track athlete…ranked #5 in state for track…Honor Roll student...son of Kenisha and Curtis Evans.

Michael Franke, OL, 6-3, 285, Crystal Lake, Ill., Crystal Lake South High School Three-year starter at right tackle…started 36 games during prep career…named team leader as a junior and senior…named a senior captain…All-Area football team member as a senior…listed as a four star offensive lineman in Tom Lemming’s 2013 Football Report…plays lacrosse…holds school bench press record of 355 lbs… four-year honor roll student…volunteer reading buddy and Fellowship of Christian Athletes flag football coach…recognized by high school teachers and peers a well rounded student athlete…son of Colleen and Shawn Franke.

Marcus Gabriel, WR, 6-3, 190, Wausau, Wis., Wausau Newman High School First Team All-Conference and All-Region senior year…Honorable Mention All-State as a senior…First team All-Conference as a junior and second team as a sopho- more…caught 51 passes for 769 yards and four touchdowns during senior season…collected 121 receptions for 1,803 yards, 13 touchdowns and 2,164 all-purpose yards in prep career…son of Jennifer and Randy Gabriel.

Elliott Halsch, DL, 6-1, 250, Coralville, Iowa, Iowa City Regina High School Two-year football letterwinner…First Team All-State and All-Area senior year…named Defensive Player of the Year by the Iowa City Press-Citizen…Regina High School has won four straight football titles and the school holds the Iowa record for most consecutive wins…wrestling and letterwinner…parents are Becky and Pat Halsch.

Mozel Hargrays Jr., WR, 5-9, 165, Romeoville, Ill., Plainfield East High School Football letterwinner and starter…All-State and All-Conference in track and field…events include long jump and 4x200 relay…state track and field qualifier…son of Rhonda and Mozel Hargrays Sr.

Sam Hartman, TE, 6-4, 220, West Des Moines, Iowa, West Des Moines Valley High School Two-year football letterwinner…All-Conference…team played in state championship semi-final game last fall…baseball letterwinner…son of Lori and Ted Hartman.

Alex Hempe, DB, 6-0, 185, St. Paul, Minn., DeLaSalle High School Four-year football letterwinner…First Team All-State, All-Metro and All-Conference…team defensive MVP as a senior…team advanced to state semi-final game last fall.son of Cindy Hempe.

Jaden Huff, RB, 5-9, 190, Bolingbrook, Ill., Bolingbrook High School Joined the Huskies football program at the start of spring semester…Four-year starter….All-State and All-Conference player…named conference Offensive Player of the Year…team won state championship his sophomore season...son of Lisa and Sam Huff.

Gary Koehring, LB, 6-1, 220, Kaneville, Ill., Kaneland High School Two-time All-Conference player…Defensive MVP of conference…two-time First Team All-Area…All-State Honorable Mention…Team MVP…holds school record for tackles…three-year starter…team advanced to the 2011 state semifinals…played on two conference championship teams and two undefeated teams...parents are Janet and Gary Koehring. Recruit Bios... 2014 Football Signing Release, page 3 Jeremy Koffi, WR/DB, 6-2, 195, St. Cloud, Minn., St. Cloud Apollo High School All-Central Lakes Conference team member in football…All-Area in football…caught 32 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns his senior season…had seven carries for 102 yards and a touchdown…defensively posted 89 tackles and intercepted two passes…two-time All-Conference in track…All-Conference player as a junior...son of Kim and Ettien Koffi.

Mason Kramer, POS, 6-2, 280, Minot, N.D., Bishop Ryan High School Four-year football letterwinner…three-year football team captain…three-time All-Region…two-time All-Area…two-time First Team All-State…North Dakota Class AA Powerade Senior Football Athleti of the Year…Minot Daily News 2013 Co-Football Player of the Year… a multi-sport athlete, Kramer lettered in five sports claiming five letters in baseball, three in basketball, two in wrestling and one in track and field….All-State wrestler…two-year team captain…state runner-up at heavyweight as a first year wrestler…All-Region baseball two years…All-State and led team in home runs…son of Chris and Tim Kramer.

Alex Lennartz, QB, 6-3, 190, Grayslake, Ill., Grayslake Central High School Three-year football letterwinner…All-Area Team member…team captain…led team in scoring with ten passing and nine rushing touchdowns…three-sport athlete competing in football, basketball and track…team rebounding leader in basketball the last four seasons and first or second in scoring in each of those years…has won 12 letters...Honor Roll student…four-year member of Student Athlete Leadership Team…three-year participant in the Fox Valley Leadership program...parents are Heather and Greg Lennartz.

Tim Mason, LB, 6-0, 195, South Holland, Ill., Marian Catholic High School All-Conference team member…team Defensive MVP...son of Shorlanda and Tim Mason.

Dylan Nauert, WR, 6-1, 200, Sugar Grove, Ill., Kaneland High School Three-year letterwinner…two-time All-Conference and All-Area football player…team captain…special teams MVP…ranked in the area’s top five for receiving yards, touchdowns and yards per catch…football team advanced to the 2011 state semifinals…played on two conference championship teams and two undefeated teams… four-year track letterwinner…three-time All-Conference and All-Area…three-time state qualifier…All-State as a sophomore and junior…track team MVP last season... son of Dawn Nauert.

Peter Palecek, OL, 6-3, 300, Hugo, Minn., Stillwater High School Two-year football letterwinner…five-time varsity letterwinner earning two wrestling and one track and field letter…AP All-State football player…American Family Insur- ance All-USA Minnesota, Star Tribune All-Metro team…Pioneer Press All-East Metro, All-Suburban East Conference team member…named team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman…Eagle Scout…parents are Marie and John Palecek.

John Pass, WR, 6-1, 195, Elk Grove Village, Ill., Elk Grove High School All-Conference football player…All-Area in football…caught 42 passes and scored 14 touchdowns…All-Area in track and field...son of Carrie Pass.

Isaiah Pitchford, RB/FS, 6-0, 185, Waukesha, Wis., Waukesha South High School Four-year football letterwinner…team captain in football, basketball and track…First Team All-Conference runningback and second team All-Conference free safety as a senior…Honorable Mention All-Conference runningback junior year…All-Area, All-County, All-District, All-Freeman, All-Journal Sentinel in football…All-County top scorer…offensive and special teams Team MVP…Wisconsin Senior All-Star Game participant…player of the week honors…holds school records for most extra points in a season and career, and most interceptions in a game and season…three-year letterwinner in basketball…track and field school record holder in 400 meter, 1600 meter relay, 3200 meter and 800 meter relay…USATF Junior Olympic qualifier…AAU Junior Olympic qualifier…placed sixth in state 400 meter race as a junior…has been a state qualifier in the 200 meters and 3200 meter relay…National Honor Society Member…High Honor Roll student…son of Mindy and Marlon Pitchford.

Chris Poynter, DL, 6-1, 250, Dubuque, Iowa, Dubuque Senior High School First team All-Conference and First Team All-Tri-State Area…named Defensive Team MVP his senior year…three-sport athlete who also competes in wrestling and track and field...son of Ann Brandel and Tilton Poynter.

Craig Szymanski, LB, 6-2, 210, Farmington, Minn., Rosemount High School Two-year football letterwinner…First Team All-Conference as a junior and senior…First Team All-Metro and All-State as a senior…team advanced to the state cham- pionship game in his senior season and advanced to the semi-finals in junior year…competes in wrestling and track and field…son of Colleen and Mark Szymanski.

Dwayne (DJ) Wade, DB, 5-9, 160, Evanston, Ill., Evanston Township High School Two-year varsity letterwinner at Evanston Township High School…played two seasons prior to that at Notre Dame College Prep…starter at defensive back…led team to back to back playoffs…son of Dwayne Wade Sr., Phillippa Bermudez and Ralna Bonner.

Hunter Williams, WR, 5-10, 190, Carpentersville, Ill., Jacobs High School Caught 55 passes for 698 yards and eight touchdowns his senior season...parents are Michelle and Jeff Silberfine and Greg and Michelle Williams.

Josh Wright, OL, 6-2, 270, Waverly, Iowa, Waverly-Shell Rock High School Three-year football letterwinner…two-year All-State team member…three-time All-District player…Iowa Shrine Bowl selection…also competes in track and field… parents are Nancy and Paul...son of Nancy and Paul Wright. Recruit Bios 2014 Football Signing Release, page 4 Acceptance of Admission

Riley Bates, LB, 6-1, 210, St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech High School Four-year member of Tech football team...three-year varsity player...team captain in 2013-14...two-time All-Conference and All-Section team selection...All-Area team in 2013...also competed in varsity hockey and ...son of Krisi Lain and Paul Bates.

TJ Bevans, OL/DL, 6-1, 260, Sartell, Minn./Sartell High School Three-year letterwinner...team captain...Third Team All-State...Mr. Football candidate...All-Conference...two-time All-Area and All-Section First Team pick...Honorable Mention All-Conference twice...Team MVP...state tournament participant...two-time Academic letterwinner...Scholar Athlete Award...Academic All-State nominee...son of Tom Bevans.

Luke Kelvington, RB, 5-8, 180, Foley, Minn., Foley High School Three-time Granite Ridge All-Conference team player…Granite Ridge Specialist of the Year as a senior…St. Cloud Times All-Area, KNSI Radio Metro Sports Com- mission Player of the Week and Foley Offensive Player of the Year in 2013…Times All-Area Honorable Mention and Foley Co-Offensive Player of the Year as a junior…Foley High School’s all-time rushing leader…rushed for 1,254 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior…rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior…member of Foley’s three place state wrestling team…individual state participant at 170 lbs. in 2013…Cadet All-American Greco Roman Wrestler at 160 lbs. in 2012…ran on Foley 4x400 state runner-up relay team and member of 2013 Boys Team State Class A Track and Field Champions…earned Academic All-Conference and All-State honors in football, wrestling and track…National Honor Society member...son of Taunja and Brad Kelvington.

Austin Klaverkamp, LB/FB, 6-1, 215, Clearwater, Minn., St. Cloud Tech High School Three-time All-Conference, two-time All-Area…Minnesota Mr. Football candidate…Second Team All-State…All-Section 8-5A Team Award winner…senior team captain…two-time Defensive Perimeter Award Winner…All-Star Trophy and Award Metro Sports Commission Player of the Week…holds school career record for tackles with 327, including 130 solo stops…single game rushing highlight of 161 yards and three touchdowns…baseball letterwinner…team captain…All-Conference Honorable Mention and All-Area…Ace Pitcher and Mr. Hustle Awards…Gold Glove Award winner…three-year starter in wrestling…competed in Minnesota State High School Wrestling Tournament at 195 lbs…All-Conference Honorable Mention...son of Denise and Jim Klaverkamp

Dwight Moe, OL, 6-3, 240, Annandale, Minn., Annandale High School All-Conference offensive lineman…All-Conference defensive lineman…All-Area offensive lineman...parents are Jenny and Steve Moe.

Edward Penson, OL, 6-3, 300, St. Paul, Minn., Cretin-Derham Hall High School Three-year starting offensive lineman…team has won section and conference championships…three-sport athlete…two-year letterwinner in wrestling…three-year letterwinner in track and field…track and field team captain…four-year member of JROTC program...son of Kathleen and Andrew Penson.

Casey Underwood, WR/DB, 6-1, 165, St. Cloud, Minn., St. Cloud Tech High School Two-year letterwinner in football...starter on both offense and defense in senior season...parents are Tamara and Scott Underwood.