Dragon football signees
“We were definitely able to capitalize on the success of last season,” Laqua said. “This is another class we feel really fits the unique culture of our football program.”
Here are this year’s Dragon football signees:
National Letters of Intent
Jack Antonson (WR, 6-3, 175, Beresford, S.D./Beresford HS)
All-state honoree…single-season receiving touchdown record…first-team all-conference….had 25 catches with 544 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior…also had 144 career tackles and 10 interceptions.
Camden Arndt (WR, 6-3, 205, Donnelly, Minn./Morris Area HS)
Two-time all-district selection…finished with 27 catches for 588 yards and 13 touchdowns in career while rushing for 2,664 yards on 348 carries…two-time District Offensive Back of the Year…two-time team Offensive Player of the Year…selected to play in Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game.
Jenson Beachy (QB, 6-1, 185, Perham, Minn./Perham HS)
District quarterback of the year three straight seasons…district MVP…school career leader in pass completions, attempts, touchdowns, yards, total offense and total offense TD…finished with 6,363 career passing yards and 64 touchdowns while rushing for 1,857 yards and 18 scores…named to Viking Football All-State Team.
Jake Bettcher (DB, 6-2, 180, Detroit Lakes, Minn./Detroit Lakes HS)
All-district as a senior…also all-district honorable mention as a junior…team captain…three-year letter winner in football…also lettered in basketball and track and field.
Ryan Bieberdorf (WR, 5-11, 160, Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji HS)
All-state honoree…North Red District Offensive Player of the Year…two-time all-district…Vikings All-Star Team…two-time team captain and two-time team offensive MVP…had 2,084 career receiving yards with 27 touchdowns…four-year letter winner.
Hayden Boll (FB, 6-0, 235, Hankinson, N.D./Hankinson HS)
Second-team all-state as a senior…two-time all-region selection…team defensive MVP…had 91 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks as a senior…had 117 tackles as a junior…team captain…three-year letterwinner.
Hayden Carr (DT, 6-1, 265, Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS)
Team Lineman of the Year…two-time all-conference selection…finished with 122 career tackles, 4.5 career sacks…had 52 tackles, including three for loss a senior…named to Sports Jam First Team…team captain and three-year letterwinner football.
Max Carter (QB, 6-2, 180, Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount HS)
Threw for 2,469 career yards and 23 touchdown passes…all-conference honorable mention as a senior after throwing for 1,107 yards and eight touchdowns…threw for 1,462 yards and 15 touchdown as a junior…three-year letterwinner.
Ishmael Chesson (OL, 6-5, 250, Minneapolis, Minn./Wayzata HS)
Played left tackle and defensive end in high school career at Wayzata HS…in addition to lettering in football also lettered in basketball and track.
Daniel Crandall (DB, 6-1, 185, Minneapolis, Minn./North HS)
Four-year letterwinner in football…honorable mention all-district…played several positions during his career, including wide receiver and defensive back…also lettered in basketball and track.
Jeff Ekiyor (RB, 6-1, 205, Dayton, Minn./Marantha Christian Academy)
Had 18 rushing touchdowns and averaged 7.6 yards per carry as a senior…all-district honoree twice…all-section honoree…name team’s Most Valuable Player Offense…had 11 rushing touchdowns as a junior.
Yakob Ekoue (DL, 6-2, 210, Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins HS)
All-district and all-conference in football…finished with 53 solo tackles, 80 total, with five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles as a senior…had three forced fumbles and two sacks as a junior…also all-state and all-conference in track…three-year letterwinner.
Samuel Goodwin (OL, 6-4, 250, Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS)
Three-time all-district selection….District Lineman of the Year twice…two-time all-area selection…four-year starter and allowed only six sacks in career…finished with 213 tackles and 11 sacks in defensive career…two-time team captain.
Stone Gorman (DB, 6-0, 185, Aurora, Ill./Oswego East HS)
All-area and all-conference selection…most improved…finished with 68 tackles, including 11 for loss (three sacks)..had five pass breakups and two interceptions…two-year letterwinner.
Conner Hartmann (WR, 6-5, 180, North Branch, Minn./North Branch HS)
Two-time all-section selection…honorable mention all-conference…finished with 98 carries for 600 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior…had 18 solo tackles and 17 assists as a senior…four-year letter winner…also lettered in basketball.
Conner Heyerman (OL/TE, 6-4, 230, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael Albertville HS)
Part of three section championship teams…recipient of the Hustle Award…finished with 15 pancake blocks as a varsity starter…two-year letter winner…also lettered in weightlifting.
Jayce Hoesel (OL, 6-4, 278, Bismarck, N.D./St. Mary’s HS)
All-region honorable mention…part of Class AA runner-up team in 2018 and two state championship teams…four-year letterwinner…on defense finished with 38 tackles, 27 assists, 14 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Jacob Hudson (LB, 6-3, 180, Bismarck, N.D./Legacy HS)
All-state and all-conference in football…had 89 tackles in a season…team captain…also lettered in basketball and track.
Caden Jastram (WR, 5-11, 160, West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne HS)
All-state selection and two-time all-conference selection…finished with 1,078 career receiving yards and 11 touchdowns…had five career interceptions and 52.5 career tackles…team captain…three-year letterwinner.
Gage Jessesski (OL, 6-3, 280, Trempealeau, Wis./Gale-Ettrick-Tremplealeau HS)
Coulee Conference Lineman of the Year…first-team all-conference on the offensive and defensive line…played in the Wisconsin All-Star Game…two-year letterwinner.
Jared Kallenbach (DB, 6-0, 180, Jamestown, N.D./Jamestown HS)
All-state selection in 2017…two-time all-conference…two-time team captain..had 43 catches for 715 yards and eight touchdowns…also finished with 108 tackles and four interceptions…three-year letter winner.
Daniel Keefe (OL, 6-4, 300, East Bethel, Minn./Forest Lake HS)
Two-year letterwinner on the offensive line for Forest Lake HS…played for coaches Sam Ferraro and Paul Kendrick…also lettered in track and field.
Mason Leingang (DL, 6-3, 220, Bismarck, N.D./Century HS)
All-state as a defensive lineman in 2018…all-conference as well…voted Defensive Player of the Year by Century HS teammates…team captain…part of state runner-up team…three-year letterwinner.
Brett Martin (DL, 6-3, 210, Colgate, Wis./Germantown HS)
Varsity Leadership junior and senior year…52 career tackles…three-year letterwinner…played for Coach Davis.
Jacob Martodam (LB, 6-0, 200, Fargo, N.D./Davies HS)
All-conference on defense as a senior…finished with 61 tackles, three interceptions, six sacks and a safety during senior season…two-year letterwinner…also lettered in baseball.
Mike McClanahan (DB, 5-11, 175, Papillion, Neb./Papillion-LaVista South HS)
All-state honorable mention…third-team all-conference in 2018…All-IGT…team MVP and captain in 2018…finished with 161 career tackles…three-year letterwinner…also lettered in baseball and track.
Jaydin McNeal (RB, 6-0, 210, Sturtevant, Wis./Horlick HS).
Rushed for 942 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior…SEC Running Back of the Year…all-region team…first-team all-conference…all-state honorable mention as a running back. Had 113 career tackles…state participant in the long jump.
Reece Mentore (OL, 6-3, 224, Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln HS)
All-city selection as a right tackle for Lincoln HS…played both tackle positions…two-year letterwinner in football.
Tim Oeun (DB, 5-10, 175, Oakdale, Minn./Tartan HS)
Two-time all-conference in football…two-year team captain…finished with 10 career interceptions…four-year letterwinner…also lettered in track and basketball.
Matthew Plasterer (QB, 6-4, 200, Billings, Mont./Billings HS)
Second-team all-state and second-team all-conference selection…offensive MVP…team captain…threw for 8,372 passing yards and 93 touchdowns…threw for 38 touchdowns and 3,052 passing yards as senior .
Tyson Powell (WR, 5-10, 180, Ortonville, Minn./Ortonville HS)
Finished with 2,711 career rushing yards and 30 touchdowns…threw for 1,909 yards and 19 touchdowns…three-time all-district selection…three-time team MVP…team captain…three-year letterwinner.
Wyatt Powers (DL, 6-4, 220, Tea, S.D./Tea Area HS)
All-state selection…Elite 45 honorable mention…Dak 12 All-Conference…finished with 167 total tackles over past two years…caused seven turnovers as a senior…recorded 3.5 sacks in a single game, a school record…three-year letterwinner.
EJ Reese (DB, 5-10, 185, Green Bay, Wis./Green Bay Preble HS)
Two-time all-conference safety…finished with 141 career tackles, six interceptions, five forced fumbles and four punt blocks…three-year player on varsity…three-time Ironman Champion…also lettered in track.
Gregory Saville (OL, 6-4, 275, Argusville, N.D./Northern Cass HS)
All-region selection…honorable mention all-region…team captain…lineman MVP…four-year letter winner in football…part of 2016 Region Champs team.
Noah Skalsky (LB, 6-1, 195, Bismarck, N.D./Century HS)
All-Conference as both a linebacker and running back…second-team all-state as a linebacker…had 78 tackles and five sacks as. senior…two-year letterwinner in football…also lettered in track.
Jacob Stewart (OL, 6-2, 254, Park Rapids, Minn./Park Rapids HS)
Team captain…three-year letter winner in football…also lettered in track, basketball and hockey during career.
Quinn Stulo (WR, 6-1, 180, Franksville, Wis./Oak Creek HS)
First-team all-conference as a quarterback…2018 Offensive Player of the Year…All-Milwaukee Area second team…finished with 1,632 earring passing yards and 17 touchdowns…had 27 catches for 458 yards and four scores.
Parker Syverson (DB, 5-11, 175, Waubun, Minn./Waubun HS)
Key part of Class A state championship team for Mahnomen/Waubun co-op…all-state honorable mention…District Defensive MVP…all-conference honoree…rushed for 1,675 yards in a season…four-year letterwinner.
Isaac Undlin (WR/TE, 6-4, 185, Mohall, N.D./Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood HS)
Two-time all-state selection…three-time all-conference selection..two-time team captain…had 29 receptions for 578 yards and 11 touchdowns…four-year letterwinner.
Brett Vetter (WR, 5-10, 165, Fargo, N.D./Davies HS)
All-Eastern Dakota Conference selection…team captain…finished with 834 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games as a senior…three-year letter winner…also lettered in track and field.
Brady Vry (OL, 6-6, 240, Menagha, Minn./Sebeka HS)
Played for United North Central co-op program…honorable mention all-district selection as a junior…also lettered in wrestling and track.
Elijah Wright (DL, 6-2, 205, Allouez, Wis./De Pere HS)
All-Conference honorable mention…named Tim Krumrie Defensive Lineman Award semifinalist…finished with 133 career tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks…three-year letterwinner…also lettered in track and field.
Institutional Letters of Intent
Jager Clark (DB, 5-11, 190, Racine, Wis./Horlick HS)
All-time leading tackler at Horlick HS with 359…two-time all-region..three-time all-conference…team MVP on defense…team captain…three-time all-county linebacker…had four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles in career…four-year letterwinner.
Phillip Hagen (LB, 6-3, 165, Kulm, N.D./Kulm HS)
All-region selection as a senior and also second-team all-state on offense…offense MVP…team captain…finished with 179 career tackles and 15 interceptions on defense…had 63 tackles and four interceptions as a senior…four-year letterwinner…also lettered in basketball and track.
Benjamin Kern (K, 6-3, 200, East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks HS)
Finished with 33-of-35 PAT completions…part of section runner-up team…also state participant in tennis.
Ryan Riedel (K/P, 5-10, 140, Blaine, Minn./Blaine HS)
Set school record with 72-yard punt…two-time Special Teams Champion of the Week…part of team that advanced to state semis…two-year letterwinner.
Read more at msumdragons.com.