Flashing Forward: MN Preps at UND 2019

Our third edition of "Flashing Forward" will feature some prominent Fighting Hawks that once shined under the lights of Minnesota Fridays. As your premier Minnesota prep football coverage network, Northstar Football News has covered all of these players that will be mentioned in this article since our conception in 2013, and today's edition will feature FCS contender North Dakota, who have heavily recruited Minnesota preps almost since their genesis in 1894. The Grand Forks university has one season left in the Big Sky conference, where they went 6-5 in 2018, before they join the Missouri Valley conference in 2020. For the upcoming 2019 season, UND lists 28 Minnesota boys on their roster not including the eight incoming freshman and University of Minnesota running back transfer Dominik London. The players we will update you on will differ in size, age, position, and even scholarship, but all deserve credit for their hard work since representing Minnesota High School football. Jade Lawrence 6'2, 215 lb. LB. Senior. Moorhead High School Class of '15 #2 [caption id="attachment_10305" align="alignright" width="299"] Credit: Bemidji Pioneer[/caption] Lawrence rushed for 1,384 yards and 25 touchdowns with a 10.2 YPC average on his way to Central Lakes Conference MVP honors and a Minnesota Vikings All-State selection during his senior season in 2014. The ex-Moorhead Spud's senior year Hudl has an incredible first five highlight stretch that features some incredibly hard- hitting and athletic plays that make it no surprise to find out that Lawrence has had a very productive career with UND. Despite a junior season in which he was hurt during the season opener, missed four games, and was never healthy, Lawrence still has amassed 81 tackles, 15 TFL's, and 4.5 sacks in his Fighting Hawk career. Finally healthy in 2019, the now senior is taking better care of his body and is poised for a strong final ride in Grand Forks. Look for him and ex-Woodbury prep Donnell Rodgers to anchor UND's linebacking corps. Senior Year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/1722727/5721bf089a90ec554083034a">http://www.hudl.com/video/3/1722727/5721bf089a90ec554083034a</a> Evan Holm 5'11, 180 lb. DB. Senior. Edina High School Class of '16 #6 [caption id="attachment_10306" align="alignright" width="245"] Credit: Evan Holm Hudl[/caption] No doubt one of the fastest players I've seen playing Minnesota high school football, Holm came from a decorated Minnesota high school sports career that included a selection on the USA High School All-American Rugby Team that played in France and Belgium in the spring of 2016. The speedster also was named to the American Family Insurance All-Minnesota football team and also was an AP All-State first team selection at defensive back. Holm has contributed to the Fighting Hawks on both defense and special teams since his freshman season, and posted 46 tackles, 1.5 TFL's, and 2 FF's in his junior campaign. Looking to stay healthy and finish his career off well, I would keep an eye out for #6 in the secondary and returning kicks for North Dakota this fall. Senior Year Hudl: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/214196/5721cafb9a90ec554091e35a">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/214196/5721cafb9a90ec554091e35a</a> Donnell Rodgers 6'1, 248 lb. ILB. Senior. Woodbury High School Class of '15 #44 [caption id="attachment_10307" align="alignright" width="222"] Credit: Donnell Rodgers Hudl[/caption] The former Woodbury Royal played primarily running back in high school, but has enjoyed a long and accomplished career as a Fighting Hawk linebacker. Listed at 205 lb. his senior year of high school, Rodgers has put on somewhere near 50 pounds since he first made up the trip northwest up 94 and onto highway 29 from Woodbury to Grand Forks. His size has definitely contributed to his success, as Rodgers was named Defensive Scout of the Year during his redshirt campaign in 2015, and went on to total 38 tackles, 6 TFL's, and 3 sacks during his first season playing for green and white. Last season, Rodgers led the team in tackles with 72, while adding 8 TFL's, 2 sacks, and 1 INT. #44 is poised for another productive year in 2019, and will continue to make Woodbury proud since his Suburban East All-Conference honors after rushing for almost 800 yards his senior year of high school. Senior Year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/2171887/5721c3d80428ae20e4bcf51f">http://www.hudl.com/video/3/2171887/5721c3d80428ae20e4bcf51f</a> Graham Devore 6'4, 240 lb. DE/FB/TE. Redshirt Sophomore. Mahtomedi High School Class of '17 #48 [caption id="attachment_10348" align="alignright" width="111"] Credit: Graham Devore Hudl[/caption] The former Zephyr from the Northeast St. Paul suburb has by far had the most unique football experience of any of the players mentioned in this article, and his versatility for the Fighting Hawks is not seen at the D1 level very often anymore. It seems that Devore will be playing both ways this upcoming season in Grand Forks. It is not a surprise when one looks at his track record at Mahtomedi, as the former Minnesota Football Showcase All-Star selection ranked second in the state with 8 sacks as a senior while adding 14 TFL's. He was a second team All-State selection and his high school highlights show both a ferocious defensive end as well as an athletic and explosive tight end. With the weight he has added in a college strength and conditioning program, it is no wonder that Devore is one of the few players nowadays to see action on both sides of the ball. Having spent his redshirt freshman season playing tight end and fullback, the coaches have seen more than enough athletically and physically to try him on the defensive side as well. Apparently his ferociousness at blocking last year gave the coaches a good idea of his mindset and physically, and we should all be excited to see what #48 is going to do this year. Junior Year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2AAwe6">http://www.hudl.com/v/2AAwe6</a> Zeke Ott 6'3, 235 lb. DL. Redshirt Sophomore. Caledonia High School Class of 2017 #59 [caption id="attachment_10586" align="alignright" width="187"] Credit: postbulletin.com[/caption] As Ryan Burns at Gopherillustrated.com stated: "I will not understand why @EzekielOtt didn't at least have a MAC offer. He's an absolute STEAL for North Dakota." I could not have agreed more, ad expected 24/7sports.com Crystal Ball prediction to come true that Ott would get at least a PWO offer and sign with the Minnesota Gophers. The former first team AP All-State selection who racked up 13 sacks in his final season has had a tough go of things so far in his North Dakota career. Although still listed on UND's roster, Ott sustained an injury in 2018 that will keep him out for all this upcoming season, and there are question marks on whether Ott will continue to play football in Grand Forks or elsewhere. His injury is also one of the reasons that Graham Devore could see some time on the defensive line this year. I know we are all wishing the best for Ott and his health and football career. Senior Year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/29z318">http://www.hudl.com/v/29z318</a> Patric Rooney 6'3, 302 lb. Center. Senior. Benilde-St. Margaret's School Class of 2015 #67 [caption id="attachment_10588" align="alignright" width="223"] Credit: Patric Rooney Hudl[/caption] Rooney earned Minneapolis Star Tribune All-Metro first team honors and AP second team All-State honors as a senior at Benilde-St. Margaret's high school in St. Louis Park. After redshirting in 2015, Rooney appeared in 11 games and made his first career start in 2016 as a redshirt freshman. He has since started every game for the Fighting Hawks, and has anchored the offensive line as a center. Look for #67 to continue his starting streak for North Dakota in 2019 and try to count how many opposing defensive lineman get pancaked in his wake. Senior Year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/1704096/5721bf850428ae20e4b75b8b">http://www.hudl.com/video/3/1704096/5721bf850428ae20e4b75b8b</a> Garett Maag 6'4, 200 lb. WR. Sophomore. St. Croix Lutheran High School Class of '18 [caption id="attachment_10589" align="alignright" width="214"] Credit: Garett Maag Hudl[/caption] In terms of UND's 2018 recruiting class, it seems that Maag may have been the best pickup for the Fighting Hawks. He definitely had the biggest impact of the 2018 freshman, as the product of St. Croix Lutheran played in 10 games while catching 18 balls for 271 yards and five touchdowns. Maag chose UND over a PWO from Minnesota, as well as a litany of NSIC schools, and it seems he has made the right choice for himself. As a 2017 Star Tribune All-Metro second team selection who caught 18 balls for 614 yards and 10 TD's his senior season, it was always evident that Maag had the talent to succeed at the D1 level, but he has done a lot more than exceed expectations in his freshman season in Grand Forks. Watch out for #89 becoming the Fighting Hawks primary wideout this season. Senior Year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/8284215/59e3d372bd6a3306387cf117">http://www.hudl.com/video/3/8284215/59e3d372bd6a3306387cf117</a> Luke Herzog 6'2, 205 lb. LB. True Freshman. St. Thomas Academy Class of '19 PWO [caption id="attachment_10590" align="alignright" width="229"] Credit: Luke Herzog Hudl[/caption] The preferred walk-on from STA finished his 2018 senior season with 31 total tackles, 6 TFL's, two sacks, one FF, and a pick. Also having received an offer from D2 Bemidji State, Herzog bet on himself and chose to chase the D1 lights in North Dakota. The hard-hitting former DB seems to have the athleticism to succeed at the FCS level, and I am looking forward to watching his career unfold in Grand Forks. Senior Year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/8284215/59e3d372bd6a3306387cf117">http://www.hudl.com/video/3/8284215/59e3d372bd6a3306387cf117</a>   Check out the upcoming edition of "Flashing Forward" as we check out the North Dakota State Bison and see which MN preps are poised for a big 2019.