SIGNING DAY LIST

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State University head football coach Eric Eidsness announced today the signing of 14 high school student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and football careers at SMSU.  That announcement came today on the first day student-athletes are allowed to sign National Letters of Intent.  Ten other student-athletes have signed Institutional Letters of Intent to participate in football.

The list includes student-athletes from six different states including Minnesota (13), Iowa (5), South Dakota (3), Wisconsin (1), Texas (1) and Nebraska (1).  The list of signees includes six defensive lineman, four running backs, three wide receivers, two offensive linemen, two linebackers, two tight ends, two punter/kickers, one defensive back, one quarterback, and one fullback/linebacker.

“This is a great group of young men that our assistant coaches identified and brought to campus,”Eidsness said on Wednesday.  “With only 16 seniors last year we really needed to focus in on certain needs.  We were able to fill many of our needs and look forward to the future of these young men in our program.”

Southwest Minnesota State is an NCAA Division II school located in Marshall, Minn., and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  SMSU finished with an overall record of 5-6 in 2009, including a record of 4-6 in the NSIC finishing in ninth place in the 14-team conference.

The Mustangs are scheduled to begin spring practice on March 29.  SMSU will open the 2010 season on Thursday, Sept. 2, at home versus Northern State University in a non-conference game at the Regional Event Center.