A talent-laden group of 26 high school seniors have signed either a National Letters of Intent or a Letter of Acceptance to attend and play football for the reigning Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference co-champion University of Minnesota Duluth in 2015.

"We are excited to welcome these 26 young men into the Bulldog family," said third-year head coach Curt Wiese.  "This class will help provide some immediate needs as well as build stability for the future. Our staff, campus community and team did a tremendous job making sure we got the right student-athletes for this program and the university. We are confident this incoming group of freshman will help continue to build on the great tradition of UMD football."

The 2015 UMD recruiting class is comprised of 12 incoming freshmen from Minnesota (including two each from Eastview High School and Plainview-Elgin-Milville High School), 11 from Wisconsin (including a pair from each West De Pere High School, Menasha High School, and Eau Claire Memorial High School), two from Illinois, and one from Colorado.

2015 UMD recruit roster (on-line)
 

Player	Pos	Hgt	Wgt	Hometown (High School)
Tommy Anderson	OL	6-3	290	Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview H.S.)
Bill Atkins	DB	6-1	185	Minnetonka, Minn. (Hopkins H.S.)
Dan Bartels	OL	6-3	290	Franklin, Wis. (Franklin H.S.)
John Birkholz	LB	6-3	205	Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount H.S.)
Dom Conway	RB	5-10	170	De Pere, Wis. (West De Pere H.S.)
Nick Eliason	WR	6-5	190	Andover, Minn. (Andover H.S.)
Isaac Erdmann	LB	6-0	210	Menasha, Wis. (Menasha H.S.)
Ben Everhart	QB	6-2	205	Eau Claire, Wis. (Eau Claire Memorial H.S.)
Aaron Gorres	LB	6-3	205	Cottage Grove, Minn. (Park H.S.)
Dre Greer	DL	6-0	280	Dolton, Ill. (Mount Carmel H.S.)
Zac Hawn	TE	6-3	235	Menasha, Wis. (Menasha H.S.)
Bryce Heim	RB	5-10	200	Saint Charles, Minn. (Plainview-Elgin-Millville H.S.)
Erik Hovde	DB	5-10	180	Birchwood, Wis. (Rice Lake H.S.)
Tommy Hutsell	RB	5-11	185	Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview H.S.)
Tom Johnson	DL	6-4	270	Freedom, Wis. (Xavier H.S.)
Connor Konshak	WR	6-2	205	De Pere, Wis. (West De Pere H.S.)
Ben Laube	DL	6-3	260	Eau Claire, Wis. (Eau Claire Memorial H.S.)
Chris Magnuson	DB	6-2	185	Onalaska, Wis. (Holmen H.S.)
Austin Norton	WR	5-10	165	Littleton, Colo. (Columbine H.S.)
Zach Oruruo	OL	6-4	320	Madison, Wis. (La Follette H.S.)
Mike Rybarczyk	QB	6-3	180	Addison, Ill. (Addison Trail H.S.)
Cole Schneider	OL	6-5	230	South St. Paul, Minn. (South St. Paul H.S.)
Taylor Streiff	LB	6-2	200	Brainerd, Minn. (Brainerd H.S.)
Nate ThiekeClough	DB	5-10	170	Elgin, Minn. (Plainview-Elgin-Milville H.S.)
Kyle Webb	RB	6-2	185	Chippewa Falls, Minn. (Chippewa Falls H.S.)
Kole Zuidmulder	TE	6-5	225	Hermantown, Minn. (Hermantown H.S.)

 The Bulldogs wrapped up their 82nd season of intercollegiate football this past fall with a 13-1 overall record and captured a share of its league-record 19th NSIC title by going a perfect 11-0. UMD, which also captured a seventh straight NSIC North Division championship and earned its seventh NCAA II playoff berth in as many seasons, was ranked third in the final 2014 American Football Coaches Association II Poll.


Curt Wiese press conference

                 
Tommy Anderson (OL • 6-3 • 290 • Apple Valley, Minn. • Eastview H.S.) - Two-year starter and team captain at Eastview High School ... Secured All-South Suburban Conference, St. Paul Pioneer Press All-East Metro, Minneapolis Star-Tribune All-Metro (second team) and All-State (third team) honors as a senior ...  helped pave the way for a Lightning offense that averaged 347 yards a game in 2014 ...  allowed just 1.5  sacks in 175 pass attempts during his farewell prep season ... played for head coach Kelly Sherwin ... also lettered in wresting (heavyweight), lacrosse (defense) and track (thrower) at Eastview H.S.

Bill Atkins (DB • 6-1 • 185 • Minnetonka, Minn. • Hopkins H.S.) - Two-year starter at Hopkins High School ... attained All-Lake Conference honors and landed a spot on the Minneapolis Star-Tribune All-Metro (second team) in 2004 ... played for head coach John DenHartog ... was voted the Royals' Most Valuable Offensive Player as a senior  ... is a three-time Hopkins H.S. track and field letterman (long jump, triple jump, 4 x 200 meter relay) and was a member of the 2014 Class Minnesota State High School Class AA champion Royals.

Dan Bartels (OL • 6-3 • 290 • Franklin, Wis. • Franklin H.S.) - Started as both a junior and senior on the offensive line at Franklin High School and  collared All-Southeast Conference second team status each of those two years ... played for head coach Louis Brown ... was an integral part of a Sabers club that captured back-to-back Southeast Conference titles and advanced to the title game of the WIAA Division I state playoffs ... also was a three-year tennis lettermen and two-time conference doubles champion at Franklin H.S.

John Birkholz (LB • 6-3 • 205 • Rosemount, Minn. • Rosemount H.S.) - Started two years (safety) at Rosemount High School ... garnered All-South Suburban Conference and Minneapolis Star-Tribune All-Metro honors in 2014 ... captained the Irish that fall ... played for head coach Jeff Erdmann ... also lettered twice in baseball (pitcher) at Rosemount H.S. ... Is the son of Dave and the late Susan Birkholz (a UMD softball alumnae) ... his uncle, Gary Birkholz, started three years on the Bulldogs' offensive line (1979-80), became the school's fourth Associated Press Little All-American as a senior, and in January 2015 was posthumously inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame).

Dom Conway (RB • 5-10 • 170 • De Pere, Wis. • West De Pere H.S.) -  Three-year starting running back at West De Pere High School ... capped off his rewarding prep career by receiving Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State, All-Region and All-Bay Conference (for the second straight year) citations in 2014 ... was a top five finalist for the  Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Award as the top high school running back in Wisconsin ... paced all Wisconsin preps in rushing as a senior with 2,447 yards on 270 carries -- a 9.1 yards per touch average -- and 31 touchdowns ... reigned as the Bay Conference's leading scorer in 2013 and 2014 (ranked third in the state in that department) ... played for head coach Jack Batten and was a three-year varsity teammate of another 2015 UMD recruit, Connor Konshak ... lettered with the 2011 WIAA Division 3 and Bay Conference champion Phantoms ... also has qualified for four WIAA Track and Field Championships and is a six-time All-Bay Conference sprinter ... his father, Torrance Marshall, played football at the University of Oklahoma and was the Most Valuable Player at the 2000 Orange Bowl and later spent four seasons (2001-04) with the National Football League's Green Bay Packers ... two of his uncles (Harvey Clayton at Florida State University and ex-New York Giant/Pittsburgh Steeler Sheven Marshall at the University of Miami) were collegiate football players.

Nick Eliason (WR • 6-5 • 190 • Andover, Minn. • Andover H.S.) - Made the most of his one year of starting duty at Andover High School by being chosen to the All-Northwest Suburban Conference team ... was bestowed with the Huskies' 2014 Most Valuable Offensive Player award as well  .. played for head coach Rich Wilkie ... also lettered twice for the Huskies in both basketball (forward) and twice in baseball (pitcher, first baseman).

Isaac Erdmann (LB • 6-0 • 210 • Menasha, Wis. • Menasha H.S.) - Two-year starter at Menasha High School ... earned both Associated Press (unanimous) and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State recognition as a senior in addition to forging a spot on the All-Bay Conference ... played for head coach Jeramie Korth -- and with Zac Hawn, a fellow 2015 Bulldog recruit -- for the 2014 WIAA Division 2 state champions  ... captained the Blue Jays as a senior and was voted their Defensive Player of the Year ... won a Reaching for Excellence award in 2014 from the Menasha School Board.

Ben Everhart (QB • 6-2 • 205 • Eau Claire, Wis. • Eau Claire Memorial H.S.) - Three-year starter at Eau Claire Memorial High School ... exited the Old Abe program owning all-time records for passing yards, completions and touchdown passes ...  wound up connecting on 415 of 705 tosses for 4,962 yards and 46 touchdowns while racking up 5,628 yards of total offense during his prep career ... was an All-Big Rivers honoree in 2014 and the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram's Northwest Wisconsin Player of the Year ... served as team captain as a junior and senior ... played for head coach Paul Kling  ... also lettered four times in basketball (point guard) and three times in baseball (pitcher) at Eau Claire Memorial H.S.

Aaron Gorres (LB • 6-3 • 205 • Cottage Grove, Minn. • Park H.S.) - Three-year starter at Park High School ... captained the 2-14 Wolfpack and corralled All-Suburban East Conference acclaim that year ... was the recipient of the teams Most Valuable Defensive Player as a senior ... played for head coach Darin Glazier ... earned Academic All-State honors during his farewell prep football season  ... Lettered twice in basketball (forward) at Park H.S.

Dre Greer (DL • 6-0 • 280 • Dolton, Ill. • Mount Carmel H.S.) - Three-year starter on the Mount Carmel High School defensive front ... his 2014 portfolio included selections to the All-Chicago Catholic League and All-Area teams ... was tabbed the Caravan's Defensive Lineman of the Year as a senior ... played for head coach Frank Lenti ... also lettered once in baseball (outfielder) at Mount Carmel High School.

Zac Hawn (TE • 6-3 • 235 • Menasha, Wis. • Menasha H.S.) - Three-year starter (tight end and defensive end) at Menasha High School ... was a three-time All-Bay Conference selection -- first team in 2013 and 2014 and second team as a sophomore ... gained All-Region status in each of his final two prep seasons and All-State honors in his last go-around ... captained the Blue Jays to the 2014 WIAA Division 2 state title . ... played for head coach Jeramie Korth and was part of a Menasha H.S. senior class that included another 2015 UMD recruit (Isaac Erdmann) ... his father is an Arizona State University football alumnus and one-time San Diego Charger.

Bryce Heim (RB • 5-10 • 200 • Saint Charles, Minn. • Plainview-Elgin-Millville H.S.) - Three-year starter (running back and defensive end) at Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School ... was cited as an All-Southern Football Alliance Red Division honoree in 2014 (first team), 2013 (first team) and 2012 (honorable mention) ... served as a team captain during his senior season and ran for a SFA Red Division-best 1,307 yards and 13 touchdowns on 204 carries ... received All-Section 1AAA first team recognition as a junior and senior  and was a 2014 Academic All-State qualifier... earned a Class AAA Gold Academic Team Award all four of his prep years from the Minnesota Football Coaches Association ... closed the books on his  Bulldog career with 2,793 rushing yards and 31 touchdown ... played for head coach Kevin Lamb and was a Bulldog teammate of Nate ThiekeClough (another 2015 UMD signee) ... has lettered four times in track and field running (sprinter) and ran a leg on the Bulldogs' 4 x 100 relay unit that placed third at the 2014 Minnesota State High School Class A Championships.

Erik Hovde (DB • 5-10 • 180 • Birchwood, Wis. • Rice Lake H.S.) - Three-year starter at Rice Lake High School ... saved his best football for last -- established Warrior single-season records for passing yards, total yards, and passing touchdowns as a senior en route to snaring All-Big Rivers Conference second team honors ... was used at quarterback, cornerback and punter during his prep career ... played for head coach Dan Hill and handled the team's captaincy responsibilities in 2014 when the Warriors advanced all the way to the WIAA Division 3 state championship bout before falling to Wisconsin Lutheran High School   ... also lettered two times in basketball (guard) and one in baseball (outfielder) at Rice Lake H.S.

Tommy Hutsell (RB • 5-11 • 185 • Apple Valley, Minn. • Eastview H.S.) - Two-year starter (running back, slot receiver and quarterback) at Eastview High School ... finished first among 2014 Lightning in rushing with 1,014 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to grabbing All-South Suburban Conference status for the second time in as many years ... was an integral component of a Lightning offense that also featured another incoming Bulldog freshman in Tommy Anderson ... two-time Academic All-State qualifier ...played for head coach Kelly Sherwin ... also has lettered twice in baseball (second baseman and outfielder) and three times in hockey (wing) at Eastview H.S.

Tom Johnson (DL • 6-4 • 270 • Freedom, Wis. • Xavier H.S.) - Started three years (outside linebacker and tight end) at Xavier High School in Appleton, Wis. ... was a three-time All-Eastern Valley Conference selection (first team in 2014 and 2013 and third team as a sophomore) ... Also nailed down 2014 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State (honorable mention) and All-Region honors  ...  voted the Hawks' Most Valuable Defensive Player following his senior year ... also lettered three times in basketball (All-EVC center) and once in track (shot put and discus) at Xavier H.S.

Connor Konshak (WR • 6-2 • 205 • De Pere, Wis. • West De Pere H.S.) - Three-year starter (wide receiver and outside linebacker) at West De Pere High School ... earned Associated Press All-State (second team) and  Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State (honorable mention) recognition as a senior in addition to being a finalist for the Al Toon Award (top high school senior receiver or tight end in Wisconsin) ...reigned as the Phantom's pass reception leader in 2012 and 2014 and was rewarded with a sAll-Bay Conference first team each of those two seasons ... was on the receiving end of  22 touchdown passes (which equaled a Wisconsin high school record) as a senior ...  captained the 2014 Phantoms ... played for head coach Jack Batten ... started for the 2012 Bay Conference champions along with fellow incoming UMD freshman Dom Conway ... also was a three-time basketball letterman (forward)  and a member of the National Honor Society at West De Pere H.S.

Ben Laube (DL • 6-3 • 260 • Eau Claire, Wis. • Eau Claire Memorial H.S.) - Two-year starter (defensive and offensive lines) at Eau Claire Memorial High School ... was showered with a number of post-season honors in 2014 including All-Big Rivers Conference, Eau Claire Leader Telegram All-Northwest, All-Region and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State (honorable mention) ... figured in on 84 tackles during his final prep go-around while being chosen the Old Abes' Defensive Player of the Year ... played under head coach Paul Kling and was a member of the 2014 Old Abe senior class along with (UMD recruit) Ben Everhart ... also lettered in both wrestling (four times) and track and field (three times) at Eau Claire Memorial H.S.

Chris Magnuson (DB • 6-2 • 185 • Onalaska, Wis. • Holmen H.S.) - Three-year starter (safety and running back) at Holmen High School ... earned All-Mississippi Valley Conference recognition on two occasions (2013 and 2014) and a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State honorable mention citation as a senior ... played for head coach Steven King ... was among 16 finalists for the 2014 Jimmy Leonhard Award (top senior Wisconsin high school defensive back) ... played a pair of seasons with current UMD cornerback Dillon Martinez (one of only two true freshmen to receive field time this past fall)  at Holmen H.S. ... certainly got his money's worth athletically as a prep --  lettered twice in track (mid distance) and basketball (small forward) and once each in wrestling and hockey with the Vikings.

Austin Norton (WR • 5-10 • 165 • Littleton, Colo. • Columbine H.S.) - Started for three years (running back and wide receiver) at Columbine High School ... rushed for a team-high 1,378 yards and 19 touchdowns while also racking up 138 points (including a pair of touchdowns via kickoff returns)  on his way to collaring All-5A Jefferson County first team and Denver Post All-State (honorable mention) honors ... also closed out 2014 with 1,939 all-purpose yards -- a figure unmatched by any Rebel ... co-captained Columbine High School as a senior ... paced the Rebels in pass receiving yardage the previous fall and had a All-5A Jefferson County honorable mention citation to show for it ... received the John Lynch Foundation Star of the Month Award for December 2014 ... also was a two-year track and field letterman (sprinter) at Columbine High School ... qualified for the Colorado State High School Championships in the 100-meter dash.

Zach Oruruo (OL • 6-4 • 320 • Madison, Wis. • La Follette H.S.) - Two-year starter (center) at Robert M. LaFollette High School ... secured All-BIg Eight Conference recognition both of those years (first team in 2014 and second team in 2013) ... was an integral part of two undefeated Madison city championship clubs ... played for head coach Scott Swanson ... participated one year with the Lancer track and field team (shot put and discus).
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Mike Rybarczyk (QB • 6-3 • 180 • Addison, Ill. • Addison Trail H.S.) - Two-year starter at Addison Trail High School . ... was a 2014 Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 7A All-State selection, a All-West Suburban Conference pick, the WSG Offensive Player of the Year, and the Suburban Life's All-Area Most Valuable Player ... suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8 of his senior year (had led the Blazers to a 7-0 record at that point), but still managed to throw for 822 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding another 420 yards (and nine scores) on the ground ... amassed 2,207 passing yards, 734 rushing yards and 34 total touchdown during his three years with the Blazer varsity ... played for head coach Paul Parpet Jr ... has lettered twice in baseball (shortstop, pitcher) at Addison Trail H.S.

Cole Schneider (OL • 6-5 • 230 • South St. Paul, Minn. • South St. Paul H.S.) - Two-year starter (center) at South St. Paul High School ... was an All-Metro Conference first team pick as a senior and the Packers' Offensive Lineman of the Year in both 2013 and 2014 ... captained the 2014 Packers and head coach Chad Sexauer ... was a Gold Award  for Academic Excellence recipient three years ... also competed in golf and basketbal  South St. Paul H.S.

Taylor Streiff (LB • 6-2 • 200 • Brainerd, Minn. • Brainerd H.S.) - Two-year starter at Brainerd High School ... seized All-Central Lakes Conference recognition in 2014 and reigned as the Warriors' leading tackler as a senior team captain ... was voted the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player that year as well ... twice landed a spot on the All-Section team, including in 2013 when the Warriors finished second in the Minnesota State High School Class AAAAA Tournament ... played for head coach Ron Stolski ... also has competed in baseball for three springs at Brainerd H.S. (outfielder, third base and pitcher) ... is the son of Brett (a former Mankato State University baseball letterman) and Mary Streiff (a one-time All-American diver at the University of North Dakota).

Nate ThiekeClough (DB • 5-10 • 170 • Elgin, Minn. • Plainview-Elgin-Millville H.S.) - Two-year starter (safety, running back and wide receiver) at Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School ... was a two-time All-Southern Football Alliance Red Division and All-Section selection (2013 and 2014) ... laid claim to the Bulldog Most Valuable Player Award each of those two seasons ... placed first on the Bulldog tackles charts as both a junior and senior ... took on a team captaincy role in 2014 ... played for head coaches Bill Irhke and Kevin Lamb during his prep career ... was a football teammate of 2015 UMD recruit Bryce Heim ... also is a five-time track and field letterman (sprints) and participated in basketball as well at Plainview-Elgin-Millville H.S.

Kyle Webb (RB • 6-2 • 185 • Chippewa Falls, Wis. • Chippewa Falls H.S.) - Three-year starter (wide receiver, running back and kick returner) at Chippewa Falls High School ... made both the All-BIg Rivers and All-Chippewa County teams as a junior and senior and was an Eau Claire Leader-Telegram All-Northwest Team pick in 2014 ... captained the Cardinals during his last season with the program  ... played for head coach Chuck Raykovich ... also lettered three years in track (regional and sectional-qualifying sprinter) at Chippewa H.S. ... his father played basketball at Manchester College (for then head coach Steve Alford, who is now coaching at UCLA) while his grandfather is an Indiana State football alumnus.

Kole Zuidmulder (TE • 6-5 • 225 • Hermantown, Minn. • Hermantown H.S.) - Two-year starter at Hermantown High School ... was deployed at a handful of positions -- quarterback, punter, placekicker, defensive end and safety by head coach Daryl Illikainen ... threw for 1,108 yards as a senior team captain  while being chosen the Sea-Range Conference's Offensive Player of the Year ... twice landed All-Sea-Range Conference status in addition to making the Duluth News-Tribune All-Area Team  in 2014 ...  also starred for four years on both the baseball diamond (pitcher and first base) and the basketball court (forward) at Hermantown H.S. ... was a two-time All-Lake Superior Conference honoree in both sports ... his father played football at the University of North Dakota (tight end).