2019 All-NSIC Awards: MN Prep Highlight Edition (Second Team Offense North Division)
This fifth edition of Northstar Football News’ featured series will examine and highlight the former Minnesota prep football stars selected to the Second Team All-Conference Offense list of the North division of one of the toughest conferences in Division II football: the…
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Continue ReadingThis fifth edition of Northstar Football News’ featured series will examine and highlight the former Minnesota prep football stars selected to the Second Team All-Conference Offense list of the North division of one of the toughest conferences in Division II football: the NSIC. 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 Bemidji to Moorhead, Duluth to St. Cloud, and even over to Aberdeen, South Dakota. Let’s check back in with these former Northstar studs to review their 2019 seasons, high school careers, and more. I hope you enjoy!
WR: Brendan Beaulieu (6’3, 190 lbs.) #19. Sophomore. Cottage Grove, Minn. Park HS. Bemidji State University
A 2017 graduate of Park High School in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Beaulieu was an All-District selection as a junior and senior for the Wolfpack, and he redshirted his first season at Bemidji State in the fall of ’17. The following season in 2018 as a redshirt freshman, Beaulieu appeared in 10 games for BSU and caught five passes for 47 yards.
Credit to Bemidjipioneer.com. (Jillian Gandsey | Bemidji Pioneer)Big strides were made this past offseason, and he came back to have a historic season for the Beavers as he recorded the most receiving yards per game for BSU since 2008, and ninth most since 1971. He also tied the program record with four 100-yard receiving games in a season, which tied him for 8th all-time. In total he caught 52 passes for 856 yards and 6 TDs, rushed for 85 yards on 23 carries with a TD, and passed for 75 yards and a TD off one completion on three attempts. He’ll be a beast as an upperclassman. Senior Year HS Highlights vs. Northern State
TE: Zach Ojile (6’1, 230 lbs.) #33. Sophomore. Blaine, Minn. Spring Lake Park HS. University of Minnesota-Duluth
One of the best Spring Lake Park players of the best decade, the former Panthers QB had a decorated prep career where he was named All-Suburban Red District MVP, AP All-State Second Team, and a Mr. Football finalist. He was a 3x All-Suburban Red District selection, and also made the 2016 StarTribune All-Metro Second Team.
Ojile (33) Credit to umdbulldogs.comHe and his twin brother Josh both signed to play football for the Bulldogs, and both were team captains at SLP as well. After an initial redshirt year in 2017, Ojile came into the Bulldog lineup as both a RB and a TE, and was named All-NSIC North Honorable Mention for his freshman campaign efforts. That year he was only tackled once behind the line of scrimmage in 39 rushing attempts, and totaled 234 yards and 6 TDs, and added 9 catches for 104 yards through the air. His 2019 sophomore season saw him earn a more expand role in the offense, and pumped put 31 carries for 129 yards and 4 TDs with 19 catches for 176 yards and 4 TDs coming through the air. I’m excited to see the bruiser in action as a junior in 2020. Senior Season HS Highlights
WR: Jake Richter (6’4, 215 lbs.) #10. Junior. Detroit Lakes, Minn. Detroit Lakes HS. Minnesota State University Moorhead
The former three-sport Detroit Lakes Laker star who lettered in football, basketball, and track & field as a prep had a great junior year college campaign in 2019 for the Dragons in 7 games as he caught 25 balls for 520 yards and 4 TDs, with a longest catch of 73 yards.
Richter. Photo credit Jenna Britz / MSUMThis led to a NSIC Second Team selection, and comes in the wake of his monster 2018 wherein the Detroit Lakes native was named to the All-Super Region 4 Second Team list, as well as a All-NSIC North First Team pick after catching 68 passes for 1,113 yards and 10 TDs. Back as a Laker he was an All-District honoree in football and a captain in both football and basketball. He’ll have another year of eligibility remaining after a medical redshirt season in 2017, and I’m excited to see what he can do.
RB: Isaiah Cherrier (6’0, 210 lbs.) #1. Sophomore. Minnetonka, Minn. Mound Westonka HS. Western Illinois University->Northern State
Definitely the most distinguished Mound Westonka Whitehawk in school history, Cherrier was a 4-year starter and 2-year team captain who was named his district’s offensive MVP twice, All-District twice, All-Conference, All-Metro, All-State, and honored by the Minnesota Vikings to their All-State team. In his prep career he totaled 2,061 rushing yards, 808 receiving yards, 33 rushing scores, and 13 receiving TDs. Along with his 413 kickoff return yards and 603 punt return yards, he added 183 tackles, 22 TFLs, 16 PBUs, 6 sacks, 5 interceptions, 4 FFs, 3 blocked kicks, and 2 FRs on the defensive side of the ball.
#20.As a senior he committed to D1 FCS Western Illinois and spent two seasons there before transferring to Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota where he took over the RB1 spot and in his 2019 junior season rushed for 677 yards and 5 TDS, and added 176 yards through the air. He’ll be a fun senior to keep an eye on, and a key component to new Head Coach Mike Schmidt and his offense in his first year at the helm. Senior Highlights
WR: John Solberg (6’2, 192 lbs.) #9. Senior. Cambridge, Minn. Cambridge-Isanti HS. St. Cloud State University
A well-accomplished scholar off the field who has earned multiple All-Academic NSIC selections while in college to go along with a 2014 NFFMN Scholar Athlete selection in high school, Solberg was a 2015 Cambridge-Isanti grad who won 2014 Mississippi 8 QB of the year and was selected to the Mississippi 8 All-Conference team thrice. He also was a All-Section selection and a captain. The Cambridge native also was a 2x All-Conference swimmer and 2-year captain, and holds school records in the 4×100 m relay and the 4×200 m relay in track. After redshirting with the Huskies in 2015, Solberg had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2017 when he caught 32 balls for 610 yards and 2 TDs. The season after that he asserted himself as one of the best receivers in the conference when he won First Team All-NSIC honors after catching 55 targets for 848 yards and 8 TDs. In 2019 in what turned out to be the last SCSU Huskies football season, he was the best receiver on his squad and caught 33 balls for 520 yards and 5 TDs. Senior Year HS vs. Bemidji State University
#2.Stay tuned for the upcoming NSIC South Division All-Conference Second Team feature, presented by Northstar Football News! Thanks for reading.