2019 All-NSIC Awards: MN Prep Highlight Edition (First Team Defense South Division)
This third edition of Northstar Football News’ featured series will examine and highlight the former Minnesota prep football stars selected to the First Team All-Conference Defense list of the South division of one of the toughest conferences in Division II football: the…
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Continue ReadingThis third edition of Northstar Football News’ featured series will examine and highlight the former Minnesota prep football stars selected to the First Team All-Conference Defense list of the South division of one of the toughest conferences in Division II football: the NSIC. I was scheduled to do the North division, but Bemidji State’s roster is under construction so I will get back to the North division when it’s up and running again. All of this aside, these five athletes were some of the best players coming out of high school as MN preps and have more than successfully made the jump to college athletics, where they have shone under the lights from Augustana, to Mankato, over to Southwest Minnesota State, and back to Winona. Let’s check back in with these former Northstar studs to review their 2019 seasons, high school careers, and more. I hope you enjoy!
DL: Logan Swanson (6’3, 300 lbs.) Junior. Mankato, Minn. Mankato-East HS. Augustana University
The Mankato native Swanson was one of the most disruptive defensive lineman in the entire NSIC besides fellow South Division competitor from CSP Chris Garrett, and totaled 51 total tackles with 15 TFLs and 8 sacks with a FF and a blocked kick. Due to this he was named to the First Team Defense squad for 2019 efforts after being honored to the All-NSIC HM list as a sophomore in 2018 when he recorded 30 tackles, 7 TFLs, 3 FFs, 2 sacks, and blocked kick in his first year as a Viking starter. Coming off the bench as a FR frosh Swanson put up 21 tackles and 3.5 TFLs to make an immediate impact on the future Division I team. He had a prolific prep career as a three-year starter and two-year captain, as he was named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State team, All-Big 9 Conference First Team twice, all-city team twice, All-District Lineman of the Year, and his team’s OL of the year as a junior. He’ll be a fun one to watch as a senior. Senior Year Highlights
LB: Zach Robertson (6’2, 215 lbs.) Senior. Rochester, Minn. Rochester Mayo HS/South Dakota State. Mankato State University.
The only senior on the list was an absolute beast at Rochester Mayo as a two-time First Team All-Conference pick, Minnesota All-Star Game participant, and finished his senior season with 72 tackles and eight turnovers with 640 receiving yards on the offensive side of the ball. This success for him to sign with the DI FCS South Dakota State Jackrabbits where he appeared in four games for the Missouri Valley competitor and recorded two tackles and .5 tackles for loss and was named to the Missouri Valley Honor Roll. After transferring to the Mavericks, he competed in 13 games and had 22 tackles, two PBUs, a FR, and a blocked punt. He started in 13 games his junior year and played in all 14, and finished second on the Mavericks with 74 tackles, 9.5 TFLS, 4.5 sacks, and two PBUs and posted eight or more tackles in all three of Mankato’s NCAA DII Tournament games. In 2019 he tallied 75 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, two FFs, and a FR in his final collegiate season. He put on for Rochester and should be proud. Peep his MSU highlights: MSU Hudl and high school Hudl: Mayo Highlights
LB: Onte Burns (5’11, 200) Sophomore. Plymouth, Minn. Robbinsdale Cooper HS. Southwest Minnesota State University
I’m super stoked to see the Cooper grad make the list as a sophomore, as Burns was an incredible prep football player named his district’s MVP who recorded 136 (!!) tackles, 10 TFLs, six interceptions, and was a Minnesota All-Star Game participant and Kare11 All-State pick. He had a DI FCS offer from Montana State that unfortunately got pulled last minute, and the Mustangs – located in Marshall, Minnesota – picked up a monster with a chip on his shoulder. He was named a captain as a sophomore in 2019 – I’m sure if not the first than one of a handful to be picked captain as a sophomore Mustang – after recording 48 tackles, two FRs, a FF, a pick, .5 sacks, and a PBU as a freshman LB. Now a First Team Defense pick after his monster season of leading the NSIC with 108 tackles, and had 5.5 TFLs, one FR and FF, and a 19-yard interception for a TD who was named SMSU’s Defensive Player of the Year as well, the sky is truly the limit for the former Cooper Hawk Onte Burns. Senior Year 3 Game Highlights Freshman Year College Hudl Sophomore Year College Hudl
DB: Eli Weber (6’1, 190 lbs.) Sophomore. Dawson, Minn. Dawson-Boyd HS. Augustana University
Weber had an impressive career as a prep at A power Dawson-Boyd, as he starts for three-years and was a two-time DB of the year, district player of the year, two-time all-district honoree, MFCA All-State pick, and a Minnesota Vikings All-State section. After seeing his stats its no surprise, as he caught 47 passes for 642 yards and 8 TDs while recording 51 tackles and seven picks. As a junior he also had 110 tackles! After sitting out as a redshirt he came into the Viking secondary and burst onto the scene with 42 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 interceptions, 1 FF, and 9 PBUs. After another offseason in the Augie weight room he posted 66 tackles, 13 PBUs, 7.5 TFLs, 4 interceptions, and a sack. He’s one of only three sophomores picked to the First Team Defense lists from either division, and will be a beast as an upperclassman. Senior Season Highlights
DB: Isaiah Hall (5’10, 170 lbs.) Junior. Minneapolis, Minn. Apple Valley HS. Winona State University
Honored by Randy Shaver in his Kare11 2015 All-Metro Defense Awards, the former AV Eagle had one of my favorite highlight tapes of the 2015-16 recruiting class and solidified himself as one of the Metro’s most versatile players as a DB, WR/RB, and return threat. He helped get Apple Valley to the section finals his senior year, and had 78 tackles and 5 interceptions. After a RS year in 2016 Hall jumped right into the Warrior secondary and appeared in all 12 games recording 23 tackles, two interceptions, two PBUs, and a TFL and returned 15 kickoffs for 410 yards. He also tried his hands at punts and returned three for 42 yards with a 22-yard long. As a sophomore he took over as the full-time starter and totaled 57 tackles, 8 PBUs, 6.5 TFLs, 5 ints, 2 FFs, and 1.5 sacks. He took a pick 23-yards to the crib for a TD against SMSU, and ranked second in the NSIC in kick returns (28.3 per) which put him 16th in the country as well. He also returned nine punts for 160 yards with a 46-yard long and these combined to put him 25th national in combined return yards with 670. This earned him All-NSIC First Team Defense & Special Teams awards in 2018, a Don Hansen All-Super Region Second Team pick, and a Don Hansen All-American HM nod. He was also Winona State’s Male Athlete of the year in 2018-19. This season in 2019 he lived up to the hype and produced big-time again as he posted 53 tackles, a TFL, a FF, two picks, and eight PBUs while returning 22 kicks for 616 yards with a 98-yard TD and had a punt return for 29 yards. He also was a Don Hansen All-Super Region Third Team Defense pick in 2019. His college highlight is going to be nuts, but for now check out his high school Hudl: Isaiah Hall Highlights Jk….here’s some college film:
Stay tuned for the NSIC North Division First Team Defense article once Bemidji State gets their website back in order, and some Second Team Offense posts following! Thanks for reading Northstar Football News.