UMD BULLDOGS UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH FOOTBALL Communications Office • Bob Nygaard, Director • University of Minnesota Duluth • Duluth, MN 55812-2496 [email protected] • (218) 726-8191 • umdbulldogs.com • @umdbulldogs February 5, 2020 A POSITION-BY-POSITION NSIC NORTH DIVISION CHAMPION BULLDOGS SIGN 23 TO 2020 FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS BREAKDOWN OF THE 2020 A talent-laden group of 24 high school seniors -- including a pair of local prep standouts -- have RECRUITING CLASS signed National Letters of Intent or a Letter of Acceptance to attend and play football for the University of Defensive Backs - 5 Minnesota Duluth in 2020. Linebackers - 4 "This is an exciting day for the UMD football," said eighth-year UMD head coach Curt Wiese. "Our Offensive Linemen - 4 staff feels confident that we addressed both the future and immediate needs for our program. We have Wide Receivers - 4 Defensive Linemen - 2 brought in another group of high-character student-athletes who we're looking forward to working with this Placekickers/Punters - 2 summer." Running Backs -2 The 2020 UMD recruiting class is comprised of 14 incoming freshmen from Minnesota, eight from Quarterbacks - 1 Wisconsin and one each from Illinois and Nevada. Player Pos Hgt Wgt Hometown (High School) Justin Azure OL 6-4 265 Waseca, Minn. (Waseca H.S.) Dylan Bair DB 5-11 185 Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake H.S.) Ethan Beffert LB 6-2 225 Hutchinson, Minn. (Hutchinson H.S.) Kyler Brown QB 6-3 210 South Elgin, Ill. (Saint Charles North H.S.) Landon Carter LB 6-2 210 Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville North H.S.) Owen Davis WR 6-6 195 Brainerd, Minn. (Brainerd H.S.) Dylan DeChampeau WR 6-5 190 Coleraine, Minn. (Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin H.S.) William Faul DL 6-5 235 Lake Geneva, Wis. (Badger H.S.) BULLDOG FOOTBALL Brady Herbst LB 6-3 185 Superior, Wis. (Superior H.S.) COACHING STAFF Marcus Holasek TE 6-3 230 Chaska, Minn. (Chaska H.S.) Luke Houdek OL 6-0 235 Jordan, Minn. (Jordan H.S.) Head Coach: Curt Wiese Jerod Jandt LB 6-1 205 Peshtigo, Wis. (Peshtigo H.S.) Associate Head Coach: John Ethan Jauquet OL 6-3 260 Muskego, Wis. (Muskego H.S.) Steger (Special Teams) Seth Kohel RB 5-11 195 River Falls, Wis. (River Falls H.S.) Assistant Coaches: Trey Dill (Defensive Coordinator) Daniel Mitchell RB 5-11 190 Las Vegas, Nev. (Las Vegas Arbor View H.S.) Chase Vogler (Off. Coordinator) Nick Moen OL 6-5 260 Victoria, Minn. (Chanhassen H.S.) Garth Heikkinen (Offensive Line) BJ Murff WR 5-10 160 Minneapolis, Minn. (Hopkins H.S.) Marcus McLin (Def. Secondary/ Derrek Piepho DB 6-0 195 Alexandria, Minn. (Alexandria H.S.) Recruiting Coordinator) Cassius Rohadfox DL 6-0 285 Sheboygan, Wis. (Sheboygan North H.S.) Jason Balts (Running Backs) Tristan Root PK/DB 5-8 180 Eau Claire, Wis. (Eau Claire Regis H.S) Sam Hartman (Tight Ends) Nick Ruhland DB 6-0 180 Independence, Minn. (Orono H.S.) Corey Flesch (Offensive Line) Seth Schmucki P/PK 6-4 160 Randolph, Wis. (Randolph H.S.) Marcus Davis (Nickel Backs) Spencer Spaude WR 6-5 215 North Mankato, Minn. (Mankato West H.S.) Ben Stienessen DB 6-2 190 Byron, Minn. (Byron H.S.) The Bulldogs closed out their 87th season of intercollegiate football with an 8-3 overall/Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference record and captured its 12th consecutive NSIC North Division title by going 7-0. (see next page for recruit bios.) Curt Wiese 2010 & 2008 NCAA II Champions • NSIC North Division Champions 2008-2019 THE 2020 BULLDOG RECRUITING CLASS AT A GLANCE • • • • • • Justin Azure (OL • 6-4 • 265 • Waseca, Minn. • Waseca H.S.) Four-year starter (offensive line and defensive line) at Waseca High School ... played under head coach Brad Wendland ... was chosen the Big South Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior in addition to collaring All-District and All-Section status ... also was named the Blue Jays' Most Valuable Player award that season ... received an invitation to the 2019 Minnesota Football Showcase ... has started four years in baseball (third baseman and pitcher) with the Blue Jays ... National Honor Society member. "Justin played for a strong high school program and was enjoying a productive senior season before it ended with a lower body injury. He has the necessary drive and attitude to return to full health and have a successful career as a Bulldog. We're excited for him to be joining us." UMD Offen- sive Line Coach Garth Heikkinen Dylan Bair (DB • 5-11 • 185 • Prior Lake, Minn. • Prior Lake H.S.) Three-year starter (defensive back, wide receiver, and running back) at Prior Lake High School ... played under head coach Matt Gegenhiemer ... was a two-time All-South Suburban Conference first team selection (2017 and 2019) ... captained the Lakers as both a junior and senior and was chosen their Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2016 and 2019 ... received an invitation to the 2019 Minnesota Football Showcase ... has started three years in basketball (guard and 2019-20 team captain) for the Lakers while also competing in track and field (sprints and long jump) since his sophomore year ... Board Scholar Award winner (2016). “Dylan has the instincts at safety you love to watch. He's a smart football player that will bring an edge to the defensive back unit. I'm excited to coach Dylan and watch him grow as a human.” UMD Defensive Secondary Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Marcus McLin Ethan Beffert (LB • 6-2 • 225 • Hutchinson, Minn. • Hutchinson H.S.) Three-year starter (linebacker, defensive end and tight end) at Hutchinson High School ... played under head coach Andy Rostberg ... captained the 2019 Tigers to the Minnesota State Class AAAA semifinals and an 11-1 overall record ... was a three-time All-North Central District White Division selection and its Most Valuable Defensive Lineman as a senior ... registered 10 quarterback sacks -- the ninth highest total among all Minnesota preps -- in 2019 while also catching 14 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns ... landed a spot on the KDUZ/KARP/KGLB All-Area Team in both 2018 and 2019 and the Minnesota State High School League Academic All-State AAAA Team in 2019 ... concluded his Hutchinson High School football career with 108 total tackles, including 20 sacks and 30 stops for a loss ... has also started two seasons in baseball (cather) for the Tigers ... National Honor Society member. “Ethan is versatile edge player who is able to play on his feet and down in a three point stance. He is a high-effort player, with skill set that allows him to be used in multiple ways.” UMD Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Trey Dill Kyler Brown (QB • 6-3 • 210 • South Elgin, Ill. • Saint Charles North H.S.) Two-year starter (quarterback) at St. Charles North High School ... played under head coach Robert Pomazak ... secured a spot on the All-Dukane County Conference Team in 2018 ... served as a North Star team captain during his final prep go-around ... quarterbacked the North Stars to a runnerup finish at the 2018 Illinois State Class 7A Championship ... threw for 2,787 yards while completing 185 of 333 passes in his two years of starting duty ... also was a starter (first baseman and third baseman) on a North Star unit that placed second in the Illinois state tournament last spring. "Having an opportunity to work with Kyler this summer at camp and getting to see the type of person he is, it became apparent he was the right quarterback for UMD. His ability to extend plays in the pocket and create on his own make him a dual threat QB in our system. I am excited to see his impact on our program both on and off of the field." UMD Head Coach Curt Wiese Landon Carter (LB • 6-2 • 210 • Lakeville, Minn. • Lakeville North H.S.) Three-year starter (defensive end and linebacker) at Lakeville North High School ... played under head coach Brian Vosser ... was a Minnesota Associated Press All-State, Minnepolis Tribune All-Metro and KARE 11 TV All-Metro first team defensive end in 2019 ... concluded his senior year with 18 tackles for a loss, including 10 quarterback sacks ... took part in the 2019 Minnesota Showcase for Team North ... started for the 2018 Minnesota State Class AAAAAA champion Panthers ... also has competed in lacrosse for three years as a prep. “Landon is natural pass rusher, who plays with a relentless passion to get to the quarterback He’s a high-motor player who has been extremely productive during his prep career.” UMD Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Trey Dill 2010 & 2008 NCAA II Champions • NSIC North Division Champions 2008-2019 Owen Davis (WR • 6-6 • 195 • Brainerd, Minn.• Brainerd H.S>) Started four years (wide receiver, free safety, punter and return specialist) played under head coach Ron Stolski ... was twice voted all Central Lakes Conference and All-Area (2018 and 2019) ... captained the Warriors as a senior and wound up being chosen their Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year ... also was District Special Teams Player of the Year that same season ... paced Brainerd High School in pass receiving yards and touchdown receptions for the the second straight fall in 2019 ... also ranked first among 2019 Warriors in pass breakups ... secured a spot on the 2019 Minnesota State High School League Academic All-State AAAAA Team ... has started four years for the basketball Warriors (center/power forward) ... competed one spring in track and field as well ... National Honor Society member. "Owen has a great mix of athletic ability and size that is seen both on the football field and basketball court.