Recruiting Report: Connor Foley (2018)

<p><strong><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Connor Foley</span></span></span></strong><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> didn’t think anything of the performance he was having in the second game of the season against Worthington. The New Ulm receiver was just "having a good time" in the Eagles home opener. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">His enjoyment ended up producing a new single-game state record.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Foley caught 12 passes for 279 yards in the Eagles 44-16 win. Half of his dozen receptions went for touchdowns, which set a new Minnesota record, breaking the old standard of five that was held by four different players. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“It felt like we were playing catch in the backyard,” Foley said via email. “After realizing six touchdowns was a record, I just could not stop smiling.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Foley caught 10 passes as a junior last season – the first under coach <strong>Corey Kneeshaw</strong>. Kneeshaw </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u><strong><a href="http://www.keyc.com/story/36177440/new-ulm-football-anxious-for-2017"><span style="color:#B22222">told KEYC-TV</span></a></strong></u></span></span><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> in Mankato before the 2017 season that he could only implement “about 50 percent of the playbook”, because he didn’t move to New Ulm until July.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“</span></span></span><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Coach Kneeshaw has been stressing to quarterback <strong>Hunter Ranweiler</strong> and me to take control and play ‘our’ game,” Foley said. “Everyone on the team played their game that night [against Worthington].”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Foley followed up his record-setting performance with four receptions and 90 yards against Tri-City United in Week 3. He also had a game-sealing interception to improve the Eagles record to 2-1 for the first time since 2009. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior also competes in basketball and track. He said he’s being recruited by NAIA schools Jamestown University and Dakota Wesleyan University, as well as junior colleges on the hardwood. The letters for football have started to arrive from Division II and III programs from around the upper Midwest too.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“</span></span></span><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I am looking for a school that has a tight knit feel,” Foley said. “A program that has family-oriented team, one with stable coaches, and school that is very supportive of their sports."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Whether it’s hunting, fishing or working with livestock, Foley said he likes being outdoors when not competing in athletics. He aspires to one day turn that affinity into a career, after his playing days are finished.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“</span></span></span><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I am looking into Natural Resources, such as fisheries, forestry, and wildlife management,” Foley said, “with hopes to work with the Department of Natural Resources in the future.”   </span></span></span></p>