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Marshall, Minn.: Southwest Minnesota State University football head coach Eric Eidsness announced the signings of 26 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent today to continue their academic and football career at SMSU. Of the players signed on Wednesday, 25 are high school seniors while one is a junior college transfer.

The announcement came today on the first day student-athletes are allowed to sign Letters of Intent. The list includes athletes from seven different states including Minnesota (8), Wisconsin (6), Iowa (5), South Dakota (4), Nebraska (1), Kansas (1) and Colorado (1).

Were very excited about the quality of this recruiting class, Eidsness said on Wednesday. Not only are these individuals good football players, but excellent students as well. The assistant coaches worked extremely hard to bring in quality student-athletes. The average ACT score of the incoming freshman class is over 24, so Im very pleased with the individuals were bringing in. Eidsness also said they filled most of their position needs for this upcoming season. Going into this years recruiting period we placed a major emphasis on offensive lineman and defensive players and we feel weve addressed both those needs in this years class.

Southwest Minnesota State is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. SMSU finished 5-6 overall in 2004 during Eidsness first season as head coach. The five victories was the most by an SMSU team since the 1999 squad finished 6-5.

Letter of Intent Signees
High School
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School)
Scott Beehler RB 5-10 180 Foley, Minn. (Foley HS)
Mitch Bracker DL 6-2 245 Alton, Iowa (Maurice-Orange City-Floyd Valley HS)
Levi Bullerman QB/DB 6-2 200 Adrian, Minn. (Adrian HS)
Matt Carmody DE 6-3 225 Pipestone, Minn. (Pipestone Area HS)
Mike Ganger OL 6-2 280 Nicollet, Minn. (Nicollet HS)
Grady Ganta OL/DL 6-2 275 Columbus, Wis. (Columbus HS)
Bryce Haessly WR 6-0 180 Poynette, Wis. (Poynette HS)
Brad Henjum LB 6-3 215 Conde, S.D. (Doland-Conde HS)
Nathan Jansen LB 6-3 218 Orange City, Iowa (Maurice-Orange City-Floyd Valley HS)
Tom Kolb OL/DL 6-3 270 Goodwin, S.D. (Waverly HS)
Andy Krey LB 6-0 210 Valders, Wis. (Valders HS)
Zach Mast RB 6-0 185 Oakdale, Minn. (Tartan HS)
Tyler Mickelson QB 6-3 190 Rio, Wis. (Columbus HS)
Jeff Mimick LB 5-11 205 Spencer, Neb. (Spencer-Naper HS)
Joe Nikolay QB 6-3 200 Abbotsford, Wis. (Colby HS)
Bill Noethlich OL 6-7 265 Doland, S.D. (Doland-Conde HS)
Aaron Olson QB/DB 6-0 180 Mellette, S.D. (Northwestern HS)
Tyler Reed DB 6-0 180 Ottumwa, Iowa (Ottumwa HS)
Quade Smith OL 6-4 265 Loveland, Colo. (Loveland HS)
Derek Townsend QB/WR 6-1 190 Council Bluffs, Iowa (Jefferson HS)
Ryan Vette DL 6-6 232 Waverly, Iowa (Waverly-Shell Rock HS)
Jordan Wager QB/DB 5-11 180 Dawson, Minn. (Dawson-Boyd HS)
Nick Wagner DL 6-4 235 New Brighton, Minn. (Irondale HS)
Tony Weiler OL 6-4 285 Burlington, Wis. (Burlington Catholic Central HS)
Zach Wysong RB 5-10 180 Hills, Minn. (Hills-Beaver Creek HS)

Junior College (signed in December)
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School/Previous School)
Rufus Hamilton DB 5-8 175 Leavenworth, Kan. (Leavenworth HS/Garden City C.C.)

Here are the bios of the new letter of intent signees.

HIGH SCHOOL
Minnesota
SCOTT BEEHLER, RB, 5-10, 180, Foley, Minn.- Prepped at Foley HS for coach Larry Herm ... 2004 all-conference selection while earning team offensive MVP honors ... named to the all-area team ... two-year letterwinner ... rushed for 1,445 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2004 ... also competes in basketball and baseball ... son of Gary and Bernice Beehler.

LEVI BULLERMAN, QB/DB, 6-2, 200, Adrian, Minn.- Prepped at Adrian HS for coach Randy Strand ... led Adrian to 33-8 record over the past three years ... holds ten school records ... most valuable player of the Little Sioux Conference, leading Dragons to conference title ... 2004 Minnesota Vikings first team all-state ... in 2004 passed for 1,107 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 761 yards and 12 touchdowns ... three-time Worthington Daily Globe all-area pick ... four-year starter ... five-year letterwinner ... passed for 4,428 yards in his career with 50 touchdowns ... finished with 151 tackles during career with two interceptions ... also standout in wrestling and baseball, earning all-conference and all-state in both sports ... son of Dean and Cindy Bullerman.

MATT CARMODY, DE, 6-3, 225, Pipestone, Minn.- Prepped at Pipestone Area HS for coach Richard Schroyer where he earned honorable mention all-conference honors in 2004 playing defensive end ... team co-captain ... finished career with ten sacks, over 60 tackles and five fumble recoveries ... three-year letterwinner ... also a four-year letterwinner in track and two-year letterwinner in basketball ... son of Cliff Carmody and Val Carmody.

MIKE GANGER, OL, 6-2, 280, Nicollet, Minn.- Played at Nicollet HS for coach Tom Murphy ... honorable mention all-conference pick ... four-year letterwinner ... also in track ... son of James and Rhonda Ganger.

ZACH MAST, RB, 6-0, 185, Oakdale, Minn.- Prepped at Tartan HS for coach Tim Hickey ... two-time letterwinner ... missed time on the football field due to injury ... all-conference in track while also earning all-state honors in track ... sone of Bill and Barb Mast.

JORDAN WAGER, QB/S, 5-11, 180, Dawson, Minn.- Prepped at Dawson-Boyd HS for co-coaches Cory Larson and Phil Lienneman ... played quarterback and safety as a senior after playing wide receiver as a junior ... two-time all-conference and two-time all-area selection ... three-year letterwinner ... rushed for 429 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior while completing 56 passes and tossing seven touchdowns ... had 433 kickoff return yards and two touchdowns ... had 79 tackles and six interceptions as a senior ... during his junior season had 52 receptions for 939 yards and nine touchdowns ... son of Jon and Tammy Wager.

NICK WAGNER, DL, 6-4, 235, New Brighton, Minn.- Prepped at Irondale HS for coach Eric Longtin ... all-conference selection ... finished second on the team in sacks and fifth in tackles ... two-year letterwinner and two-year starter ... selected to play in the Down Under Bowl in Australia ... son of Paul and Colette Wagner.

ZACH WYSONG, RB, 5-10, 180, Hills, Minn.- Played at Hills-Beaver Creek HS for coach Dan Ellingson ... two-time all-conference and all-area pick ... finished career rushing for 1,924 yards and 24 touchdowns ... also had 584 career receiving yards and 828 punt return yards ... on defense, recorded 66 career tackles with 11 interceptions ... also an all-conference pick in baseball and basketball ... son of Nick and Jean Wysong.







Wisconsin
GRADY GANTA, OL/DL, 6-2, 275, Columbus, Wis.- Played at Columbus HS for coach Jason Brunell ... played both offense and defensive line ... earned first team all-conference honors as a senior and was an all-area defensive lineman ... voted best overall lineman and outstanding lineman by coaches ... three-year letterwinner ... team captain ... started 34 consecutive games recording 211 tackles, including 37 tackles for loss and 17 sacks during career ... team finished 36-4 during his four seasons ... also compete in track ... son of Gregg and Melanie Ganta.

BRYCE HAESSLY, WR, 6-0, 180, Poynette, Wis.- Prepped at Poynette HS for coach Dave Hamshire ... all-conference selection recording 19 receptions for 327 yards and seven touchdowns ... second team all-conference as linebacker ... help lead team to 25-2 record in final two years including two straight conference championships ... also competes in basketball and track ... son of Jim and Connie Haessly.

ANDY KREY, LB, 6-0, 210, Valders, Wis.,- Prepped at Valders HS for coach Wade Rickmeier ... played both running back and linebacker where he earned all-conference honors at both positions ... first team all-area linebacker ... Manitowac area Defensive Player of the Year as a senior ... team MVP ... averaged 12 tackles per game and finished the season with 84 tackles and 4.5 sacks ... averaged 105 yards rushing in 2004 ... also plays basketball ... son of Derrick and Sue Krey.

TYLER MICKELSON, QB, 6-3, 190, Rio, Wis.- Prepped at Columbus HS and played for Jason Brunell ... was a two-time all-conference selection ... passed for 2,315 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior earning first team all-area and honorable mention all-state accolades ... was named conference player of the year following his junior and senior seasons ... was also all-conference as a kicker during his senior season ... holds several school records including touchdown passes in a game (6), most yards in one season (2,315) and yards in one game (346) ... also plays baseball ... son of Randy and Julie Mickelson.

JOE NIKOLAY, QB, 6-3, 200, Abbotsford, Wis.- Played at Colby HS for coach Jeff Rosemeyer ... first team all-conference selection ... passed for 850 yards and six touchdowns ... team captain ... standout on defense as well recording 50 tackles and three interceptions ... son of Paul and Karen Nikolay.

TONY WEILER, OL, 6-4, 285, Burlington, Wis.- Prepped at Burlington Catholic Central HS for coach Tom Aldrich ... first team all-conference pick at offensive line and defensive line ... first team all-county on the offensive line and second team all-county for defensive line ... member of division 7 state runner-up team ... also competes in track ... son of Tim and Mary Weiler.

Iowa
MITCH BRACKER, DL, 6-2, 245, Alton, Iowa- Played at Maurice-Orange City-Floyd Valley HS for coach David Pfaffle ... all-state selection in 2004 recording eight sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries ... two-year letterwinner ... also in track and baseball.

NATHAN JANSEN, LB, 6-2, 218, Orange City, Iowa- Played at Maurice-Orange City-Floyd Valley HS for coach David Pfaffle ... first team all-state ... first team all-district ... named team outstanding running back ... team MVP ... first team Northwest Iowa Review ... ended career with 210 tackles including nine sacks in 2004 ... rushed for over 1,400 yards in career with 16 touchdowns ... son of Kevin and Nancy Jansen.

TYLER REED, DB, 6-0, 180, Ottumwa, Iowa- Played at Ottumwa HS for coach Tom Kopatich ... was a two-time all-conference pick and two-time all-area selection ... team captain ... during his final two seasons, recorded 115 tackles, five fumble recoveries and three interceptions ... named teams most valuable defensive back ... a member of the National Honor Society, he was listed as a Whos Who Among High School Students for three years ... two-time all-conference honoree in wrestling ... team captain ... was chosen to attend elite Nike football camp in 2004 ... son of Rob and Kathy Reed.


DEREK TOWNSEND, QB/WR, 6-1, 190, Council Bluffs, Iowa- Prepped at Jefferson HS for coach Dan Strutzenberg ... all-conference and all-city selection ... two-year letterwinner ... holds school record for most total yards in one game ... completed 54 passes for 881 yards on the season while also rushing for 966 yards ... also in baseball, basketball and soccer ... son of Kim and Beth Townsend.

RYAN VETTE, DL, 6-6, 232, Waverly, Iowa- Prepped at Waverly-Shell Rock HS for coach Dave Arns ... letterwinner in football where he finished with 32 tackles and four sacks as a senior ... also played basketball.

South Dakota
BRAD HENJUM, LB, 6-3, 215, Conde, S.D.- Played at Doland-Conde HS for coach Shayne Geditz ... two-time all-state pick ... honorable mention Argus Leader Elite 45 ... two-time all-conference selection ... Aberdeen American News all-area ... finished career with 386 tackles, ten sacks and three interceptions ... also rushed for 657 yards and six touchdowns ... selected to play in South Dakota All-Star game ... son of Joe and Kristy Henjum.

TOM KOLB, OL/DL, 6-3, 270, Goodwin, S.D.- Prepped at Waverly HS for coach Dale McElhany ... all-state selection as a senior while earning honorable mention all-state as a junior ... three-time all-conference pick ... Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 honorable mention honoree ... selected for South Dakota All-Star game ... team MVP in 2004 ... team captain ... conference MVP as a senior ... finished senior season with 95 tackles and 4.5 sacks ... recorded 90 tackles and 7.5 sacks as a junior ... also in track and basketball ... son of Gerald and Carla Kolb.

BILL NOETHLICH, OL, 6-7, 265, Doland, S.D.- Played at Doland-Conde HS for coach Shane Geditz ... earned all-conference honors and all-state honorable mention ... member of 2004 state runner-up squad ... named hardest worker by team in 2004 ... also competes in track ... son of Dan and Teresa Noethlich and the late Doretta Noethlich.

AARON OLSON, QB/DB, 6-0, 180, Mellette, S.D.- Played at Northwestern HS for coach Ray Sauerwein ... named all-state quarterback as a senior after earning honorable mention all-state as a junior ... two-time all-area pick ... selected to South Dakota All-Star game ... named to Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 squad ... as a senior, passed for 1,201 yards and 19 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions ... rushed for 1,106 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior campaign ... finished career passing for over 3,500 yards and 46 touchdowns while rushing for 2,173 yards and 37 touchdowns ... two-time team MVP and two-time team captain ... set school records for passing yards, passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns ... also competes in basketball and track ... son of Ken Olson and Roxanne Olson.

Nebraska
JEFF MIMICK, LB, 5-11, 205, Spencer, Neb.- Prepped at Spencer-Naper HS for coach Ken Jensen ... first team all-state selection ... first team all-district ... first team all-area ... captain for all-area team ... set school record with 541 career tackles ... finished career with 12 fumble recoveries ... team captain ... four-year letterwinner ... played in Nebraska State 8-man All-Star game ... in junior and senior seasons, rushed for 2,479 yards and 49 touchdowns ... also in track where he holds school record for discus ... state qualifier in discus ... son of Connie Zidko and Bill Mimick.

Colorado
QUADE SMITH, OL, 6-4, 265, Loveland, Colo.- Prepped at Loveland HS for coach John Poovey ... all-area selection ... named offensive lineman of the year ... member of three conference championship teams ... three-year letterwinner and two-year starter ... member of 2003 state championship team ... son of Val and Mike Sanders.

JUNIOR COLLEGE (Signed in December)
RUFUS HAMILTON, DB, 5-8, 175, Leavenworth, Kan., Garden City C.C.-Played the last two seasons at Garden City C.C. in Garden City, Kan. for coach Bob Larson ... finished the 2004 season with one interception, three pass break-ups and two tackles for loss ... 2002 graduate of Leavenworth HS where he played for coach Eddie Minor ... three-year starter, where he twice earned all-conference honors ... also competed in track ... sone of Kelvin and Diana Hamilton.