USD Football Announces 2011 Recruiting Class
www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/football/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=6196 Vermillion, S.D. – South Dakota head coach Ed Meierkort announced on Wednesday, Feb. 2, that 12 student-athletes have signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Coyote football team. USD’s fourth NCAA Division I recruiting class will begin their South Dakota career during the 2011-12 academic year.
“This recruiting class was a knockout for the Coyote football program, even though we had limited scholarships available with only five seniors last season,” Meierkort said. “The joint efforts of the coaching staff, student-athletes, faculty, food service and admissions staff brought these great young men into the Coyote Nation. A combination of competing at a very high level and dramatic improvement in campus facilities helped our staff put together our first recruiting class since joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference.”
Meierkort also announced eight student-athletes will walk-on in the fall and four transfers will attend USD this spring to bring the total number of the 2011 recruiting class to 24. The student-athletes hail from 12 different states, including six natives of South Dakota in Chris Kruse (Lennox), Drew Iddings (Rapid City), Tyler Richardson (Rapid City), Matt Lupkes (Jefferson), Alex Litzen (Rapid City) and Ethan Pace (Elk Point), while the class as a whole is highlighted by five defensive linemen, five defensive backs and four offensive lineman.
“We filled our immediate needs at tight end and quarterback with this class, but also shored up our defensive front and secondary,” Meierkort said. “The ability to attract quality walk-ons with the opportunity to earn a future scholarship is critical to success in the near future. These young men turned down scholarship offers at other FCS or Division II programs for a chance to play for the Coyotes. We could not have attracted these players without the help of our faculty. They do a great job promoting the University of South Dakota’s academic excellence.”
Fans are invited to tonight’s USD Signing Day Event at 5 p.m. at Callaway’s Event Center in Sioux Falls for a chance to visit with Meierkort and his staff about the class. Pro’s Bar and Grill in Vermillion will host tomorrow’s event at 5 p.m.
2011 USD Football Class:
Kayl Barkley – TE, 6-3, 250, Conway Springs, Kan. (Conway Springs HS)
Helped coach Matt Biehler and the Cardinals win the state championship as a sophomore and finish runner-up as a senior…earned first-team all-state honors as a defensive end…also named first team by the coaches association….claimed first-team all-conference honors as a defensive end and tight end…made 48 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks while forcing two fumbles and recovering two…on offense made nine receptions with three touchdowns and 21.3 yards per catch…also played tennis and finished runner-up in doubles at the state tournament as a junior…on the principal’s honor roll four years…born on Oct. 17, 1992…son of Kent and Kathy Barkley.
Bryan Campos – OL, 6-5, 250, West Des Moines, Iowa (Valley HS)
All-conference honorable mention as a senior for coach Gary Swenson…..helped the Tigers total more than 3,500 yards of total offense, including 2,500 rushing yards and 900 passing yards…also threw shot and discus in track and field…four-time academic all-conference honoree…three-year honor roll student….also earned the Silver Cord community service award four times…born on Sept. 15, 1992….son of James and Michelle Campos.
Derek Chancellor – OL, 6-5, 290, McCook, Neb. (McCook HS)
Started the last 22 games of his prep career on the offensive line for coach Jeff Gross…as a senior earned first-team all-state, all-conference and all-district honors…also named to the Super State second team…also earned his team’s honor and merit awards…as a junior earned all-district honorable mention…also participated in wrestling and track and field…in the classroom earned several academic awards….born on Dec. 11, 1992…son of Ken and Rose Chancellor.
Emanuel Cromuel – DL, 6-2, 293, Tampa, Fla. (Thomas Jefferson HS)
Dominant nose tackle for coach Mike Fenton…helped the Dragons capture a state title as a senior…his team finished ranked No. 17 in the nation according to ESPN Rise…earned all-state honorable mention as a senior with 25 tackles and one sack…also all-conference twice…a three-year starter…born on April 6, 1992…son of Marshel and Stephanie Cromuel.
Kevin Earl – QB, 6-6, 205, Lincolnshire, Ill. (Stevenson HS)
One of the top ranked quarterbacks in the state of Ilinois…posted a 21-2 record as a starting quarterback for coach William McNamara…as a senior went 11-1 by completing 107-of-207 passes for 1,715 yards and 12 touchdowns…earned all-state honorable mention, all-area and all-conference honors…as a junior went 10-1 by completing 78-of-139 passes for 1,491 yards and 15 touchdowns…also earned all-conference honors in basketball and qualified for the state track and field meet in the discus…born on Nov. 20, 1992…son of Robin and Susan Earl…father played in NFL for the Chicago Bears from 1977-82.
Isaac Fairbairn – DB, 5-9, 175, Arvada, Colo. (Arvada West HS)
Two-time, first-team all-conference honoree for coach Casey Coons…also named academic all-state twice...named team MVP as a senior…finished with 1,685 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 290 carries…also made 57 catches for 685 yards and 13 touchdowns…also a dynamic kick returner…born on Oct. 3, 1992…son of Doug and Ann Fairbairn.
Ryan Hillier – LB, 6-1, 205, Lee’s Summit, Mo. (Lee’s Summit West HS)
Named first-team all-state by coaches and sports writers as a senior….also earned first-team all-conference honors and second-team all-metro accolades…was runner-up for the Class 5A defensive player of the year…as a senior made 89 tackles, including 40 solo stops, five interceptions, 3.5 sacks…also returned 15 punts for 221 yards and one touchdown…as a junior earned first-team all-state honors…in his career made 164 tackles, 70 solo stops, and six interceptions…lettered three years in football…also participated in baseball and track and field…named to the principal’s honor roll for four years…born on Oct. 27, 1992…son of Larry and Lana Hillier.
Drew Iddings – DL, 6-6, 225, Rapid City, S.D. (Stevens HS)
A three-sport athlete…as a senior earned 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries….also blocked three passes and two punts…earned all-state honorable mention and all-conference honors…voted to play in South Dakota’s all-star game…named his team’s most valuable defensive lineman…in his career posted 69 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hurries…in wrestling finished fourth at the state tournament twice…in track has earned all-state and all-conference honors twice…won the state championship in the high jump twice and has cleared 6-9…born on March 16, 1993…son of Wayne and Val Iddings and Ken and Anjie Greenfield.
Nick Jacobs – DL, 6-5, 270, Delano, Minn. (Delano HS)
A two-way player at offensive and defensive tackle for coach Merrill Pavlovich…earned all-conference, all-metro and all-state honors as a senior…was a captain of the team…named conference’s most valuable offensive lineman…helped his team earn a conference championship with over 2,800 rushing yards in the regular season…earned 30 tackles, three tackles for loss and five sacks on defense…as a junior was named all-conference also…finished his career with 73 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries…born on Sept. 1, 1992…son of Jeff an Bonnie Jacobs.
Reggie Johnson – DE/LB, 6-2, 225, Lakewood, Calif. (Hillsborough HS)
A two-star recruit according to Rivals.com…..earned all-county honors as a senior for coach Earl Garcia….named his team’s defensive lineman of the year…in his prep career earned 122 tackles, 20 sacks, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries…born on April 18, 1992….son of Reggie Sr. and Rita Johnson.
Chris Kruse – OL, 6-7, 291, Lennox, S.D. (Lennox HS)
A three-year starter in football for coach Scott Meyer….named his team’s offensive line MVP as a senior and junior…earned top newcomer award as a sophomore…was a two-year starter in basketball…earned all-conference honors in both sports….also named academic all-state once…earned three letters in football and two in basketball…born on Oct. 17, 1992...son of Paul and Laurie Kruse.
Alex Litzen – WR, 6-5, 205, Rapid City, S.D. (Stevens HS)
One of the top wide receivers in the state of South Dakota…as a senior caught 31 passes for 646 yards and nine total touchdowns for coach Paul Ferdinand…averaged 20.8 yards per catch…as a junior earned 53 receptions for 573 yards and eight total touchdowns…averaged 10.8 yards per catch…hauled in 84 receptions for 1,219 yards and 15 total touchdowns in his career…named the MVP of the National Underclassmen Combine as a junior and senior…named Argus Leader Elite 45 as a senior…two-time Rapid City Journal Best-of-the-West honoree…two-time all-conference…also participated in basketball and track and field…born on Sept. 21, 1992…son of Dave and Lori Litzen.
Matt Lupkes – DB, 5-9, 175, Jefferson, S.D. (Dakota Valley HS)
Guided coach Jason Jund’s team to four state playoffs as a quarterback and defensive back…limited to four games as a senior due to injury, but still earned 544 total yards…earned first-team all-state honors as a defensive back…named Argus Leader Elite 45 honorable mention and Sioux City Journal all-metro first team...also selected to South Dakota all-star game…as a junior racked up 1,523 total yards and 19 touchdowns on offense and 98 tackles and five interceptions on defense…named first-team all-state and all-conference…named conference MVP….named to Argus Leader Elite 45…in his career totaled over 2,700 yards and 33 touchdowns to go with a school-record 223 tackles and seven interceptions…in basketball was team’s leading scorer as a junior and senior…earned second-team all-state honors as a junior…also holds four school records in track and field and was a member of the state champion 4x400-meter relay as a junior…born on April 5, 1992….son of Stan and Lisa Lupkes.
Nick Meyer – QB, 6-1, 185, Elk Grove Village, Ill. (Elk Grove HS)
A three-year starter at quarterback and two at safety for coach Brian Doll…led his team to playoff appearances during his last two years in the program with a 14-7 record….as a senior completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,356 yards and 20 touchdowns…also rushed for 1,211 yards and 20 touchdowns…made 44 tackles and nine tackles for loss on defense….earned all-state honors from several outlets and was named conference player of the year…as a junior passed for 1,999 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 997 yards and 16 touchdowns…earned all-conference and all-area honors…as a sophomore passed for 1,006 yards and six touchdowns with rushing for 585 yards and eight touchdowns…in his prep career passed for 2,793 yards and 44 touchdowns….rushed for 8,154 yards and 89 touchdowns…made 87 tackles on defense with 15 tackles for loss…born on April 22, 1993…son of Jim and Diane Meyer.
Nick Olson – OL, 6-4, 255, Richfield, Minn. (Richfield HS)
An all-state honorable mention for coach Todd Olson…also named to third-team all-metro and all-conference…nominated for Minnesota all-star game…earned three letters in football and two in baseball…born on May 19, 1993…son of Todd and Lisa Olson…older brother Trevor starts on Northern Illinois’ offensive line...grandfather Warren is in the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Ethan Pace – TE, 6-5, 230, Elk Point, S.D. (Elk Point-Jefferson HS)
Two-time, first-team all-state honoree for coach Scott Bruning…three-time, first-team all-conference honoree…finished his prep career with 21 tackles for loss and eight sacks…also a two-time, first-team all-conference performer for basketball…holds his schools single-season rebounding record…also participated in track and field…born on Jan. 25, 1993…son of Al and Terri Pace.
Tyler Richardson – LB, 5-11, 200, Rapid City, S.D. (St. Thomas More HS)
A key component of coach Wayne Sullivan and St. Thomas More’s success…as a senior posted 1,177 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns…also earned over seven tackles per game…earned all-state and all-conference honors as a running back…named the Argus Leader’s Elite 45 and Rapid City Journal’s Best of the West…played in South Dakota’s all-star game…in his career finished with over 1,700 yards and 200 tackles…also helped the baseball team earn two state championships…born on Sept. 11, 1992…son of Troy Richardson and Kelly Schott.
Judas Smith – DB, 5-10, 170, Las Vegas, Nev. (Durango HS)
Led all safeties in tackles in the state of Nevada as a senior….recorded 113 tackles and six sacks in 10 games for coach Gary Maki…named to All-Southwest League….named his team’s defensive MVP and defensive back MVP…selected to play in state’s all-star game in Las Vegas…broke the single-game tackles record with 23…in three years of varsity football recorded 164 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions…three-year letterwinner in football….also won three letters in track and field as a sprinter…born on June 14, 1992…son of Winston and Sheila Williams.
Quentin Urban – DB, 5-10, 195, Omaha, Neb. (Millard South HS)
A two-time all-state honoree in several media outlets for coach Andy Means…also a three-time all-conference honoree and all-conference linebacker of the year…also named to Omaha World Herald Super Six football team…a finalist for OWH and Lincoln Journal Star Athlete of the Year…as a senior earned 127 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, three blocked kicks and one fumble recovery…on offense scored 18 touchdowns with 591 rushing yards, 306 receiving yards and 129 passing yards…in his career earned 315 tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, 42 tackles for loss, four blocked kicks and returned two punts for touchdowns…on offense earned 1,306 rushing yards with 23 touchdowns, 778 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns…scored 42 total career touchdowns…also earned four all-state honors in baseball and three in basketball…lettered all four years in football, basketball and baseball…born on Dec. 28, 1992…son of Tony and Micki Urban.
Justin Wohlert – DB, 5-9, 170, Hartley, Iowa (Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn HS)
An all-around athlete for coach Steve Waechter…as a senior named first-team all-state by the Des Moines Register…rushed for 693 yards and nine touchdowns with 10.2 yards per carry…also caught five passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns…on defense made 35 tackles with two interceptions…as a junior rushed for 1,048 yards and 15 touchdowns….passed for 315 yards and six touchdowns…named to first-team all-district and all-area and second-team all-state…also holds schools record in long jump and won the state track meet in the event as a junior…born on Dec. 24, 1992…son of Jeff and Krista Wohlert.
Transfers:
Donny Alves Fortes – DL, 6-3, 280, Boise, Idaho (Boise HS/Eastern Arizona College)
Helped coach Bob Clark to a 9-3 record with an appearance in the Salt City Bowl…played in five games with seven tackles and one sack…during his prep career earned second-team all-conference…played in Idaho all-star game…also lettered in track and field…born on Sept. 15, 1989…son of Lucinda and Donald Alves Fortes…originally a native of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Jay Burns – TE, 6-3, 245, Kansas City, Kan. (Bishop Ward HS/Butler CC)
Spent the last two seasons under coach Troy Morrell at Butler Community…helped the Grizzlies go 11-1 in 2010 to win the conference and region to advance to the NJCAA National Championship…made eight catches for 80 yards and one touchdown…redshirted the 2008 season at Central Arkansas…earned first-team all-area honors as a senior during his prep career…named second-team as a junior…also all-conference basketball player…holds career rebounds record at school…born on April 20, 1990…son of Mike and Linda Burns.
Anthony Williams – WR, 6-2, 183, Tampa, Fla. (Chamberlain HS/Troy)
Spent the last two seasons at Troy University...caught three passes for 35 yards for a team that went 8-5 in the 2010...redshirted the 2009 season…was a three-star recruit by Rivals.com coming out of high school…helped Chamberlain High School advance to the state championship as a senior….averaged more than 20 yards per catch (39 for 843) and scored 13 touchdowns…named to the first-team All-Sun Coast roster….earned all-state honorable mention…broke team-record with 13 touchdown catches…ranked 54th best receiver in nation by ESPN.com….born on Jan. 27, 1991…son of Carlette Jackson and Anthony Williams, Sr.
Zack Wilson – LB, 6-1, 220, Bountiful, Utah (Bountiful HS/Snow College)
Helped coach Larry Wall and Snow College finish the 2010 season ranked seventh in the nation…won the Top of the Mountains Bowl, 48-36, for a 10-2 record….as a sophomore earned all-conference honors after posting 81 tackles, including 49 solo stops, 13 tackles for loss and one sack…as a freshman made 38 tackles, including seven for loss and had one sack…during his prep career was an all-state linebacker and was named region defensive MVP…earned two state team titles…born on Feb. 12, 1987….son of George and Barbara Wilson.