GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota head football coach Chris Mussman announced the addition of 22 players to his program on National Signing Day. Two mid-year transfers are currently enrolled and will participate in spring practices, while 20 high school seniors signed their National Letters of Intent to join the program on Wednesday.
2013 University of North Dakota Football Signing Class
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Previous School |
| Dustin Adams# |
OL |
6-3 |
290 |
Minot, N.D./Northern Illinois |
| J.J. Robertson# |
WR |
6-0 |
190 |
Chicago, Ill./Lincoln Way East H.S. |
| Dan Bell |
OL |
6-5 |
275 |
Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls H.S. |
| Aeron Carr |
WR |
5-10 |
170 |
Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain H.S. |
| Garrett Cary |
Dl |
6-4 |
285 |
Walworth, Wis./Bigfoot H.S. |
| Marcus Cheatom |
DL |
6-1 |
285 |
Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice H.S. |
| Mat Cox |
DL |
6-5 |
240 |
Olympia, Wash./Capital H.S. |
| Jake Disterhaupt |
DB |
6-0 |
185 |
Willow River, Minn./Moose Lake-Willow River H.S. |
| Dustin Iverson |
FB |
6-2 |
225 |
Elgin, N.D./Grant County H.S. |
| Cam Kuksa |
DB |
6-1 |
185 |
Palatine, Ill./Palatine H.S. |
| Mitch Meindel |
P |
6-3 |
190 |
Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial H.S. |
| Brandon Miller |
OL |
6-5 |
290 |
Waterford, Wis./Waterford H.S. |
| Kyle Norberg |
LB |
6-1 |
215 |
Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove H.S. |
| Kurt Palandech |
QB |
6-2 |
180 |
Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North H.S. |
| Connor O'Brien |
LB |
6-1 |
205 |
Lemont, Ill./Lemont H.S. |
| Cole Reyes |
DB |
6-2 |
200 |
Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg H.S. |
| Sam Riddle |
QB |
6-2 |
200 |
Hillsboro, Ore./Century H.S. |
| Kyle Ruhe |
TE |
6-5 |
230 |
Temecula, Calif./Great Oak H.S. |
| Patrick Sharp |
RB |
5-10 |
185 |
Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North H.S. |
| A.J. Stockwell |
OL |
6-6 |
285 |
Burnsville, Minn./Eastview H.S. |
| Hunter Wharton |
LB |
6-2 |
220 |
Brawley, Calif./Brawley H.S. |
| Rashad Williams |
OL |
6-5 |
270 |
Maywood, Ill./Proviso East H.S. |
# Mid-year transfers that are currently enrolled at UND
CLASS BREAKDOWN
States: Arizona (1), California (2), Illinois (9), Minnesota (2), North Dakota (2), Oregon (1), Washington (1), Wisconsin (4)
Positions: Defensive Backs (3), Defensive Linemen (3), Fullback (1), Running Back (1), Linebackers (3), Offensive Linemen (5), Punter (1), Tight End (1), Wide Receivers (2), Quarterbacks (2)
MID-YEAR TRANSFERS CURRENTLY ENROLLED AT UND
DUSTIN ADAMS - Highlights
RFr., OL, 6-3, 290
Minot, N.D. (Minot H.S./Northern Illinois)
High School Coach: Barry Holman
Named first team Class 3A all-state after his senior season ... Earned Area Player of the Year honors from the Minot Daily News ... Helped Minot to a 7-4 record and an appearance in the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior … Finalist for the North Dakota Gatorade Football Player of the Year Award ... Garnered all-conference and academic all-conference honors as a senior ... Earned all-state and all-conference honors after his junior season .... One of four finalists for the West Region Senior Athlete of the Year Award ... Served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons with the Magicians ... Three-time letterwinner who started 39 games in his career … Rated as the top recruit in the state of North Dakota by ESPN ... Named to the Academic All-State Team as a senior ... Also played basketball, helping lead Minot to three state tournament appearances.
J.J. ROBERTSON - Highlights
RFr., WR, 6-0, 190
Chicago, Ill. (Lincoln Way East H.S.)
High School Coach: Rob Zvonar
Named to the 2012 SuperPrep All-Midwest Team ... Named 2011 second-team Class 7A All-State by the Chicago Tribune ... Recorded 39 receptions for 881 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior in 2011 and had 23 receptions for 615 yards and nine touchdowns in 2010 … Member of the 2012 University of Illinois football signing class, but never enrolled at the school ... High school teammate of current UND football player Kevin Bayer.
SIGNING DAY NLI's
BRANDON MILLER - Highlights
OL, 6-5, 290
Waterford, Wis. (Waterford H.S.)
High School Coach: Adam Bakken
Named the All-Racine County Player of the Year becoming first Waterford athlete to earn that honor in school history … Also named the Southern Lakes Conference Defensive Player of the Year … Earned first team All-Southern Lakes Conference honors as both an offensive and defensive lineman … Named honorable mention all-state by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press as a defensive lineman after totaling 42 tackles, including nine for a loss … Three-year starter at defensive tackle … Led team to WIAA Division 2 championship game as a junior and earned First Team All-Southern Lakes Conference honors that season as well.
A.J. STOCKWELL - Highlights
OL, 6-6, 285
Burnsville, Minn. (Eastview H.S.)
High School Coach: Kelly Sherwin
Named to the South Suburban All-Conference Team as a senior after helping lead his team to the state playoffs … Holds team record for most “Big Hit” awards … Selected to the 2012 Class 3A All-State Tournament team as a first baseman … Named to a pair of preseason All-Metro teams prior to his senior season in football.
KYLE NORBERG - Highlights
LB, 6-1, 215
Cary, Ill. (Cary-Grove H.S.)
High School Coach: Brad Seaburg
Made the move from linebacker to fullback for his senior season and broke the school record with 2,334 rushing yards … Added 26 rushing touchdowns in leading his team to a 13-1 record and a runner-up finish in Class 6A … Named to the Class 6A All-State team by the Illinois Football Coaches Association and also earned Fox Valley All-Conference honors … In limited action defensively, posted 26.5 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions … Started as a linebacker during his sophomore and junior seasons … Father, Bill, won the 1988 Amateur Athletic Union's 'Mr. America' body building competition.
KURT PALANDECH - Highlights
QB, 6-2, 180
Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield North H.S.)
High School Coach: Tim Kane
Two-year starter at quarterback for Plainfield North … Earned All-Southwest Prairie All-Conference honors as a junior and senior … Also named all-area as a junior and senior … Threw for 981 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 684 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior … Made 17 tackles and had three interceptions as a defensive back … As a junior, threw for a school-record 1,337 yards and seven touchdowns … Also was a three-year starter on the basketball team and two-year starter in baseball during his prep career … Named to the Football Academic All-State team as a junior and a senior.
COLE REYES - Highlights
DB, 6-2, 200
Schaumburg, Ill. (Schaumburg H.S.)
High School Coach: Mark Stilling
Three-year varsity starter at Schaumburg High School … Earned First Team Mid-Suburban All-Conference and Daily Herald All-Northwest Area honors as a junior and a senior … During his senior season, the two-way standout made 70 tackles and had three interceptions and also had 11 catches for 299 yards and seven touchdowns … Served as team captain during junior and senior seasons … Earned team Defensive MVP honors both of those seasons … Also a starter on his prep basketball team.
DAN
BELL - Highlights
OL,
6-5, 275
Menomonee
Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls H.S.)
High
School Coach: John Baker
Two-year
starter on the offensive line at Menomonee Falls High School … Earned three
varsity letters and was named All-Greater Metro Conference Second Team as a
senior … Also served as team captain during his senior season and was ranked
among the top 15 offensive linemen in the state of Wisconsin … Three-time
member of the High School Honor Roll.
CAM KUKSA - Highlights
DB, 6-1, 185
Palatine, Ill. (Palatine H.S.)
High School Coach: Tyler Donnelly
Named a two-time All-Mid-Suburban Conference and All-Northwest Area player during his prep career … Missed seven games of his senior season with a broken ankle, but returned for the final five, tallying 516 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns … Helped lead his squad to the Class 8A quarterfinals and a final record of 10-2 … As a junior, rushed for 594 yards and seven touchdowns and also had 30 receptions for 437 yards and four touchdowns … Made 63 tackles and also had five interceptions on defense that season … Also a state qualifier in the triple jump as a junior.
MITCH MEINDEL - Highlights
P, 6-3, 190
Waukesha, Wis. (Catcholic Memorial H.S.)
High School Coach: Bill Young
Earned Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press second team all-state honors as a punter and placekicker … Helped lead the Crusaders to the Division 3 state title … Kicked the game-winning field goal in the quarterfinals of the state tournament as time expired … Named Waukesha Freeman First Team All-Area as a punter and placekicker … Earned All-Classic Eight First Team honors as a placekicker and second team honors as a punter … Named to the WIAA All-Region First Team as both a punter and placekicker … Earned Player of the Month honors for Lake County Area in December of his senior season … Finished in the top 10 in scoring in Waukesha County, while also playing wide receiver and defensive back … Had 12 catches for 331 yards and six touchdowns and also added four interceptions … Averaged 40-plus yards per punt as a senior and had 33 touchbacks on 53 kickoffs.
CONNOR O'BRIEN - Highlights
LB, 6-1, 205
Lemont, Ill. (Lemont H.S.)
High School Coach: Eric Michaelsen
Earned South Suburban Blue All-Conference honors as a junior and a senior … Named to the Joliet Herald All-Area Team in 2011 and 2012 ... South Suburban News All Area 2012 … Two-time winner of the Chicago Tribune Player of the Week Award … ESPN Chicago Helmet Sticker award … Led the team to back-to-back IHSA semifinals … As a senior, led the team in tackles with 130, including 97 solo stops … Added 13 tackles for a loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, three recovered fumbles and 12 pass breakups … Posted 85 tackles and seven sacks as a junior … Three-year starter on defense … Named team's Defensive MVP in 2012 and was also voted as Team Captain … Named Academic All-State in 2011 and 2012 … An Illinois State Scholar recipient … Earned the Prairie State Achievement Award as well as the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award in 2012.
RB, 5-10, 185
Winfield, Ill. (Wheaton North H.S.)
High School Coach: Joe Wardynski
Three-year varsity starter at running back for Wheaton North … Earned DuPage Valley All-Conference first team honors after junior and senior seasons … Named to the all-area team as a senior after rushing for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns … Helped team post a 10-2 record, while advancing to the quarterfinals of the Illinois Class 7A state tournament … Finished career with more than 2,300 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns … Also had 24 career receptions for 229 yards and two touchdowns … Qualified for the state track meet in the 100-meter dash, 400-meter relay and 800-meter relay.
DL, 6-4, 265
Walworth, Wis. (Bigfoot H.S.)
High School Coach: Rod Wedig
Named to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Class 4A All-State first team as a junior and a senior … Also earned All-Rock Valley Conference First Team honors as both an offensive and defensive lineman as a junior and a senior … Named the 2012 Rock Valley Conference Lineman of the Year … Started all four years on the defensive front and helped his team win the Class 4A state championship as a freshman.
FB, 6-2, 225
Elgin, N.D. (Grant County H.S.)
High School Coach: Jamie Krenz
Earned First Team North Dakota Football Coaches Association Class A All-State honors as a tight end during his senior season … Also earned First Team All-Region 4 and All-Badlands Conference honors as a junior and a senior … Had 27 receptions for 415 yards and eight touchdowns and also added a rushing touchdown en route to earning Team MVP honors as a senior … Defensively, made 33 total tackles and had a sack … Invited to play in the MonDak Badlands Bowl … Also a standout basketball player, earning all-district and all-region honors as a junior after leading his team in scoring and rebounding … Two-time member of his High School's Honor Roll and member of the National Honor Society as a sophomore.
QB, 6-2, 200
Hillsboro, Ore. (Century H.S.)
High School Coach: Bill Smith
Four-year starting quarterback for Century High School … Named the 2012 Pacific Conference Player of the Year and earned first team All-Pacific Conference honors … Earned Oregon Class 6A second team all-state honors after passing for 3,609 yards and 37 touchdowns … Passing yardage was second most in the state in 2012 and his 37 touchdown passes tied for the most in the state … Also rushed for 537 yards and six touchdowns … Three-time Scholar Athlete award winner … Earned honorable mention All-Pacific Conference honors in basketball as a junior.
DL, 6-1, 285
Chicago, Ill. (Brother Rice H.S.)
High School Coach: Brian Badke
Helped lead his team to a berth in the Chicago City Championship Prep Bowl as a senior … Named First Team All-Catholic League as both an offensive and defensive lineman … Made 32 total tackles, including 23 solo stops as a senior … Qualified for the Illinois State Track and Field Meet in the discus and shot put as a junior.
OL, 6-5, 270
Maywood, Ill. (Proviso East H.S.)
High School Coach: Steven Tadlock
Named to the All-West Suburban Gold Conference team as a senior … Voted his team's most outstanding offensive lineman as a junior and senior … Member of the 2012 Illinois Class 8A State runner-up boys basketball team.
TE, 6-5, 230
Temecula, Calif. (Great Oak H.S.)
High School Coach: Robbie Robinson
Four-year starter at Great Oak High School … Played tight end, defensive end and special teams … As a senior, caught 23 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns … Team earned the Southwestern Riverside Country Scholastic Achievement Award … Personally received the Involvement Award for his extracurricular work at school and in the community while participating in athletics.
WR, 5-10, 170
Mesa, Ariz. (Red Mountain H.S.)
High School Coach: Ron Wisniewski
Named the Mesa All-City Offensive Player of the Year as a senior after rushing for 448 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 59 catches for 735 yards and nine scores … Earned first team All-Mesa honors as a running and second team All-Mesa honors as a wide receiver … Earned all-state honors in track and field as a long jumper … Holds the school records for long jump (24-01.50”) and 100-meter dash (10.6) … Father, Chuck Carr, played parts of eight seasons of Major League Baseball for five different teams.
DB, 6-0, 185
Willow River, Minn. (Moose Lake-Willow River H.S.)
High School Coach: Dave Louzek
Named one of 10 finalists for the Minnesota Mr. Football Award as a senior … Earned first team Associated Press All-State honors, Polar League All-Conference honors and Duluth News Tribune All-Area Player of the year as a junior and a senior … Helped team to a pair of Class AA state runner-up finishes in both of those seasons after combining for nearly 4,000 yards rushing and more than 50 touchdowns … A two-way standout, rushed for 1,630 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior and 2,276 yards and 33 touchdowns as a junior.
MAT
COX - Highlights
DL,
6-5, 240
Olympia,
Wash. (Capital H.S.)
High
School Coach: J.D. Johnson
Two-year
starter on the offensive and defensive lines at Capital High School … Named to
the Associated Press All-State First Team as an offensive lineman and
Second Team as a defensive lineman … Earned Tacoma News Tribune All-Area
First Team accolades as an offensive lineman as a senior and Olympian All-Area
First Team accolades as a defensive lineman after junior and senior seasons …
Also earned All-League First Team honors as a defensive lineman after final two
prep seasons … Helped lead team to Class 2A semifinals during senior season and
Class 3A quarterfinals as a junior … Totaled 62 tackles and a team-leading six
sacks as a senior and added 54 tackles and seven sacks as a junior … Member of
the Seattle Times Top 100 recruits list for the state of Washington …
Two-year starter on the boys basketball team … Earned Academic All-America
honors after every semester of his prep career.
DL, 6-2, 220
Brawley, Calif. (Brawley H.S.)
High School Coach: Jon Self
Earned three varsity letters in football at Brawley High School … Named First Team All-Imperial Valley Conference after registering 85 tackles, six sacks and 10 quarterback hurries as a senior … Starter at defensive tackle, tight end and as the long snapper on place kicks … Team captain as a senior, helping lead his team to a 10-2 record and berth in the CIF San Diego Section Division IV semifinals … Won the Anthony Garcia Foundation Student-Athlete Award in 2012 … Four-year member of High School Honor Roll … Named a San Diego Tribune Scholar-Athlete in 2012.
* Listed in order that NLI's were received
