Minnesota All-JUCO Team 2010-2019
In an attempt to distract myself from America’s current events I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about former Minnesota preps that went on to succeed at one of the hardest and most unique levels of college football: JUCOs. While…
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Continue ReadingIn an attempt to distract myself from America’s current events I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about former Minnesota preps that went on to succeed at one of the hardest and most unique levels of college football: JUCOs. While we actually have a pretty successful tradition of junior college athletes from the past decade come from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, there are no cumulative guides or lists, so I thought I would go-ahead and try to create my own All-Minnesota JUCO Team from the past 10 seasons. MN preps have historically committed to a select number of JUCOs, so this list included RCTC, NDSCS, Iowa Western, Iowa Central, Central Lakes, Minnesota State Fergus Falls, Ridgewater, Fon du Lac, Vermillion CC, Itasca CC, Mesabi Range, MN West, but there are a few other random JUCOs spread throughout the country that have hosted MN boys under their gridiron spotlights. Because most junior college websites do not go further back than 2013 with their rosters and lack an organized history of where their players have signed over the years, and their are no national tracking databases for JUCO signings, this took some work, so please forgive me if I have forgotten anyone (especially from 2010-2013). However, I’m happy with what I did find, so I am pleased to present to you this Minnesota All-JUCO team featuring former MN prep studs at every position on the gridiron. Based on a combination of junior college and four-year institution success, this list features athletes from the 2010 season through last fall. I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading!
Quarterbacks
First Team: Nick Rooney (Minnetonka/Rochester CTC/Adams St) 6’2, 210 lbs. MN All-Star Game participant. Threw for over 3,100 yards and 25 TDs as a Skipper and was a MN Mr. Football nominee. At RCTC broke about every passing record in the NJCAA books and broke records for total passing touchdowns of 105, career passing yards of 7,884, and single season passing touchdowns with 57. He was a captain and led RCTC to Conference and Division Champions and their first ever National Title game. Named 1st Team NJCAA All-American, 1st Team All Region, 1st Team All-Conference and Division, Team MVP, NJCAA National Player of the week 4 times and Conference Player of the week 4 out of 8 weeks, and the 2015 Junior College National Championship game Most Valuable Player where RCTC lost to Northwest Mississippi CC. He was also 2015 Rochester Area Amateur Male Athlete of the Year. At Adams State his first year he (according to Adams State football website) “started in nine games and appeared in 10 games for the Grizzlies … led the way for the top ranked Passing Offense in the nation with 353 yards per game and the 10th in Total Offense in the nation with 488.1 yards per game, producing 3,153 yards through the air with 29 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 61.45% on 441 passing attempts … accounted for 3,310 total yards of offense … All – RMAC Honorable Mention.” In 2018 he went 247-401 and 30 TDs to 12 INTs. He still plays European pro football this day, most recently for the Bologna Warriors. Minnetonka Highlights NJCAA First Team AA vs. Colorado State-Pueblo
Second Team: Jake Faber (Sherburn/Central Lakes College/Angelo State University) 6’4, 225 lbs. In a year as Central Lakes’ signal-caller Faber went 215-324 for 3,069 yards and 41 TDs w/16 interceptions. Named All-Conference, All-Region, Conference MVP, All-America HM. In 2016 as an Angelo State Ram he went 70-134 for 886 and six TDs and rushed 59 times for 190 yards and six TDs. In 2017 he stepped it up for 149-256 for 17 TDs to seven picks and 77 rushes for 244 yards and five TDs. JUCO Highlights
HM: Ricardo Johnson III (Cretin Derham Hall/San Bernardino Valley JC/Ohio Northern/St. Olaf College) 6’2, 205 lbs. I am a total homer for putting RJIII on the list as I graduated with him at St. Olaf in 2019, but Johnson III is a legitimate player who was on a JUCO tear before an injury derailed his first JUCO season. As a senior in HS he was rated as the #6 overall player in MN in the c/o 2014, the #47 overall DT QB in 2014 in America, and was an All-Conference player. Johnson III received a Hawaii offer as a freshman in high school, but bet on himself and went the JUCO route after his senior year – heading to sunny California for San Bernardino Valley junior college. There – according to St. Olaf’s website – he “played in four games as a freshman quarterback and captain of the Wolverines, named “Offensive Player of the Week” in his first collegiate game… Completed 45-of-88 (51.1%) for 579 yards and four touchdowns with a pair of rushing touchdowns.” He then committed to Ohio Northern, helped them to a DIII national playoff berth, and then became a bit lost with football and returned home to MN. It was there he almost lost his love for football, but St. Olaf came calling, and I was lucky enough to call Johnson III my teammate and captain, as he is a helluva person and not a bad QB to boot. He as awarded MIAC Offensive POTW twice, and was an All-MIAC HM performer as a senior. ESPN2 Nationally Televised Game CDH vs. West LA CC
Quinn Frissell (Robbinsdale Armstrong/Itasca CC/Augsburg University) 6’3, 205 lbs. Was an All-Conference performer for both Mankato East and Robbinsdale Armstrong, and picked Augsburg after a year at the helm of Itasca CC. At Augsburg he was a 2x All-MIAC HM signal-caller, and just accepted a GA job at Dubuque University. Augsburg Junior Year Highlights
Runningbacks
First Team: Anthony Anderson (Eden Prairie/Iowa Western CC/Marshall University) 6’2, 245 lbs. The Minneapolis product went outside the 612 for high school and attended EP to play basketball, but after Mike Grant got in his ear and playing time on the hardwood became harder to find, Anderson gave football a try: and holy cow was it the right move! Anderson is actually a friend of mine who used to play football back at Pearl Park with some of my buddies (slight flex), and he had an unreal prep career as the Eagles starting running back as he helped them win two state titles and rushed for almost 1,400 yards as a senior. He was all the MN All-Star Game Offensive MVP his senior year, and attended IWCC where he had 78 carries for 352 yards nine TDs for the 10-2 Reivers in 2014, where they fell in the NJCAA national title game to East Mississippi CC. He was named All-Midwest Football Conference and Iowa CC Athletic Conference second team selection. He signed with Marshall University, and contributed three years at RB and finished his career with 839 yards from scrimmage and 11 TDs and got a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings. All three of years at Marshall have highlights on Youtube, but I just linked his senior year! IWCC Highlights 2013 Eden Prairie Highlights
Desean Phillips Desean Phillips RB St. Michael-Albertville | 2019 State MN (St. Michael-Albertville/NDSCS/Eastern Illinois) 5’11, 210 lbs. The district offensive POTY as a senior and junior at STMA where he rushed for 1,608 and 18 TDs senior year and 1,198 and 17 TDs as a junior, Phillips attended NDSCS where he was JUCO’s most prolific rushing back last season and was the nations leading rusher with 1,308 and #2 in the nation in TDs with 16. He was All-Division, All-Region, and All-American HM. He received a PWO from his hometown Minnesota Golden Gophers, but signed with Eastern Illinois and enrolled in January of 2020. Excited to watch his college career. First Year JUCO Highlights Senior Year STMA Highlights
Second Team: Jadon Washington Jadon Washington RB Hopkins | 2019 State MN (Hopkins/Iowa Central CC/?) 5’10, 190 lb. Hopkins product who ran as the Tritons RB1 last season, and earned a D1 FCS offer from Missouri State in March! Gonna be a fun one to watch as a sophomore year next season. True Freshman Highlights
Raymonte Maynard (MPLS Washburn/Chanhassen/RCTC/Valley City State) At Valley City State he totaled 6 TDs in his career! Chanhassen Highlights RCTC Highlights Prep Highlights
Kez Flomo (Totino Grace/St. Cloud State/NDSCS/Kansas University) 5’10, 215 lb. A beast of a prep RB who won First Team AP & PioneerPress All-State, First Team All-Metro, Minnesota Vikings All-State, and Mr. Football runner-up honors, Flomo committed to St. Cloud State (rip) and then left for Whapeton and NDSCS. He signed with Kansas University after toting the rock for the Wildcats at the junior college level. His brother Gayflor Flomo is also a JUCO product and signed with Iowa Western as a RB after graduating from TG as well. JUCO Highlights Senior Year TG Kansas University Athletic Bio
HM: Mitch Underhill (Wayzata/Citrus CC), Otumos Payemanu (East Ridge/ASA CC/Independence CC), Jojuan Harper (Eagan/NDSCS/U of Minnesota), Jesse Sherwood Jesse Sherwood RB Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2018 State MN (Robbinsdale Armstrong/Central Lakes College/?), Israel Lozoya (Rochester Mayo/RCTC/?), Devon Robinson (Richfield/Rochester C&TC))
Tight Ends
Gannon Sinclair (Eden Prairie/NDSCS/Missouri St/Philadelphia Eagles) 6’7, 260 lbs. As a senior at Eden Prairie in 2011 the Eagles went 8-2, and after signing with NDSCS he was a second team All-Conference pick and had 16 catches for 234 yards and 2 TDs. After signing with Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference he started 8 games his junior year and had 3 TDs off 11 catches and 103 yards, and then stepped it up and received MVC All-Conference HM honors after scoring 7 TDs off 18 catches for 258 yards. He bounced around and played for the Eagles, Cardinals, Bears, and Jaguars in his NFL career. NDSCS Highlights Missouri State Highlights
Colby Kratch (Watertown-Mayer/NDSCS/Toledo) 6’4, 245 lbs. All-Conference pick in football as a senior. Attended NDSCS and signed with University of Toledo where he played in 25 games and had 2 catches for 54 yards with a longest catch of 40 yards. After graduating he started coaching, was a GA at Toledo, and is now the Assistant Director of Scouting at Iowa State University.
Dakota Matthees (Winona/Iowa Western/Winona State) 6’5, 240 lbs. The Winona native helped the Winhawks to the Class 4A State Championship game and totaled 27 catches fro 546 yards and 8 TDs as a junior and 34 snags for 910 and 10 TDs as a senior. He redshirted at IWCC and is now a Winona State Warrior! Spring Practice IWCC Winona Highlights
Wide Receivers
First Team: Isaac Fruechte (Caledonia/RCTC/ U of Minnesota/Minnesota Vikings) At Caledonia high school under his father he was named to the PioneerPress All-State team, was a AP All-State HM pick twice, 3x All-Conference honoree, and won three state titles. At RCTC he was named second team All-Minnesota JUCO after posting 30 catches for 805 yards and 9 TDs plus 15 special teams tackles. He signed with the Gophers, was a team captain as a senior, and was named the teams Wide Receiver of the Year as a senior as well. He is now Northern State’s offensive coordinator after stints with UW-La Crosse and UNI. He also played two and a half seasons as a wide receiver and special teams player for the Minnesota Vikings. In 2016, he also had a five-game stint as a wide receiver and special teams player for the Detroit Lions, before returning to the Vikings.
Kieran Johnson(Tartan/Central Lakes College/U of Minnesota) 6’2, 205 lbs. A three-star recruit out of junior college who had offers from Buffalo and Troy, Johnson was an unreal JUCO wideout who was a First Team All-American at Central Lakes. After trying his hand with the Gophers with CLC teammate Carlton Djam (Totino-Grace), it seems Johnson’s career has ended. Tartan Highlights First Team AA JUCO Highlights
Marley Allison (Edina/RCTC/Iowa State/Winona St) 5’11, 190 lbs. A First Team AP All-State pick, All-Metro, and Mr. Football Finalist as an Edina Hornet his senior year, Allison had 70 catches for 865 yards and 7 TDs as a senior and 36 passes for 405 yards and 5 TDs as a junior. At RCTC he caught 69 passes for 1,139 yards and 14 TDs and ranked fifth nationally (NJCAA) in receiving yards and touchdown catches. He also had six 100-yard receiving games. He signed with Iowa State and in 2015 played in five games on special teams. However, grades have always been an issue, and after transferring from Iowa State to Winona State he unfortunately never saw the field. Hornet Nation JUCO Highlights
Second Team: Demonta’ Harris (Richfield/Itasca CC) Second Team NJCAA All-American at Itasca Community College where he totaled 807 yards and 21.5 YPC! JUCO Experience
Keyon Thomas (MPLS North/NDSCS/Adams St) 6’0, 175 lbs. MCAC Player of the Week at NDSCS. Great athlete with legit speed. Averaged 145 yards receiving per game as a senior at Minneapolis North. Minneapolis North Highlights JUCO Highlights vs. Chadron State
Anthony Eboreime (Park Center/NDSCS/UND/Black Hills State) 6’3, 190 lbs. Standout prep career at Park Center and continued his success at NDSCS. Signed with North Dakota and was named the Offensive Scout MVP at the University of North Dakota. At Black Hills State he totaled 36 catches for 827 yards and 6 TDs his senior year after catching 19 balls for 236 yards as a junior. Black Hills State Senior Year
HM: Connor Watts (Mankato West/RCTC/Adams St), , Malcolm Moore (Minnetonka/Iowa Western), Kyle Hughes (MPLS Washburn/Iowa Western CC/Augsburg University), Cecil Doe (Wayzata/NDSCS/Hawaii), Cedric Chappell (MPLS Washburn/NDSCS/Valley City State University), Terrance Bowers (Hopkins/RCTC/UMD)
Offensive Lineman
First Team: Jacob Fahrenkrug (Robbinsdale Cooper/NDSCS/Florida State) 6’4, 322 lbs. According to Florida State’s athletic website from 2013: “Widely considered the top offensive lineman in the JUCO ranks…four-star recruit according to Rivals.com, who lined up at left guard for his North Dakota State College of Science team…played in the Minneapolis suburban high school of Robbinsdale Cooper for three years…once weighed 400 pounds and used athletics as a way to improve his health…No. 11 on the SuperPrep JUCO 100…the No. 4-rated overall JUCO prospect and the top-rated offensive lineman in the nation by Rivals.com…rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports…named 2010 First Team NJCAA All-American…also named Academic All-Conference, First Team All-Region 11 and First Team All Midwest Football Conference…earned honorable mention All-Region honors as a freshman at North Dakota State.” Fahrenkrug was coached as a prep by my former Southwest Lakes HC John Biezuns, and was an absolute stud at FSU who started 16+ games at the OL for the Seminoles. One word: stud.
Malik Besseck (Robbinsdale Armstrong/ASA JC) 6’5, 260 lbs. One of the most mysterious players on the list, Besseck was a great prep player who signed with ASA junior college in Brooklyn and became was of the most highly touted JUCO lineman in the nation and received offers from Temple, TCU, UCF, Washington State, Colorado, Minnesota, Maryland, Nebraska, Kentucky, Colorado State, UTSA, Akron, Marshall, Memphis, Kansas, Southern Mississippi, East Carolina, Iowa State, Hawaii, and Georgia State. He announced that he was staying at ASA for his sophomore season in 2017, but I haven’t been able to find much film, and there’s no word on what happened to him or if he’s still playing football. He had a pretty crazy offer list though, and I hope all is well with him. Senior Year Prep Highlights Freshman JUCO Highlights
Nick Radunz Nick Radunz DL Becker | 2018 State MN (Becker/NDSCS/NDSU) 6’4, 275 lbs. All-American OL at NDSCS who chose the Bison where he will play on the OL with his older brother Dillon, a FCS First Team All-American. Sophomore JUCO Highlights True Freshman JUCO Highlights
Second Team: Chase Nelson (Edina/NDSCS/Toledo) 6’8, 315 lbs. Earned All-Conference and Second Team All-Metro honors at Edina, and played in 29 games for the Rockets with at least 21 starts.
Johnl Jones (Fridley/Fergus Falls CC/Valley City State) 6’2, 340 lbs. 2x All-Conference winner in college at Valley City State University. Junior College Highlights
HM: Bronson Warner Bronson Warner OL Eden Prairie | 2019 State MN (Eden Prairie, Iowa Western)), Gavin Blomberg (Providence Academy/Iowa Central CC/Ellsworth CC)
Kicker/Punter
Patrick LeCorre (Edina/ Eastern Arizona CC /Ball State) 6’0, 202 lbs. At Edina high school he was one of the most prolific kickers in state history as he finished with 26 career FGs, one shy of the record, and was named Minnesota’s 2014 All-State Special Teams Player of the Year, second team all-state as a sophomore, and 3x conference Special Teams Player of the Year. He was a two-time all-league kicker/punter at Eastern Arizona, and has mainly handled KO duties while helping out with punts, FGs, and PATs. 2017 Highlights
Defensive Lineman
First Team: Jermaine Johnson (Eden Prairie/Independence CC/University of Georgia) 6’5, 250 lbs. The #1 JUCO recruit in the nation for the 2018 season, Johnson chose to head to Independence, Kansas after his senior year at EP, and the long and lanky DE/WR turned into the most dangerous pass-rusher in the nation. He held offers from Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Minnesota, USC, TCU, Syracuse, Arizona State, Miami, Nebraska, Colorado, Oregon, Middle Tennessee State, UCF, UCLA, Illinois, Texas, Louisville, Utah, and Kansas before ultimately choosing the Bulldogs. He played some good minutes at UGA this past season and has another change to raise his draft stock in Athens next year. Ultimate JUCO Highlights
Jareid Combs (Delasalle/Iowa Central/University of North Texas/New York Jets) 6’3, 250 lbs. A monster at Delasalle who chose to head to Iowa Central with teammate Oscar Opara after his prep career finished, Combs maintained his monster status in junior college and posted 25 sacks in two seasons. He was tated a three-star player by 247Sports.com and the No. 12 defensive end in the nation, was an NJCAA All-American HM in 2014 when he racked up 17 sacks, which was second in the nation, and also totaled 50 tackles and 4 FFs while being named a team captain. In two season at North Texas he posted 64 total tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 3 sacks. He inked a UDFA deal with the Jets after his senior year. Delasalle highlights JUCO Highlights
Russell Becker (Maple Grove/Fergus Falls CC/University of Cal-Berkeley) 6’4, 285 lbs. He was apart of some very talented Maple Grove teams in 2012 and 2013, and at Minnesota State C&TC-Fergus Falls he moved to defensive line after being a prep offensive lineman and combined for 77 tackles, 15.5 sacks and one forced fumble over 15 games during his 2014 freshman and 2015 sophomore campaigns. He racked up more honors as a sophomore when he was named first-team All-Division in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference, NJCAA All-Region 13 and his team’s Defensive MVP when he recorded 53 tackles, 10.0 sacks and one forced fumble over seven games during a sophomore season that was highlighted by his performance in a win over Minnesota West Community and Technical College when he registered 14 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks to earn MCAC Western Division Defensive Player of the Week honors. He committed to the University of Cal-Berkely, and posted 24 tackles as well as 1.0 tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery, and was awarded Cal’s Ken Harvey Award for academic commitment and improvement. JUCO Sophomore Highlights
Second Team: Dominic Quewon (Robbinsdale Cooper/Iowa Western CC/U of Southern Mississippi) 6’3, 245 lbs. Posted 50 tackles and 5 sacks in his All-America HM season last fall for Iowa Western. He signed with Southern Mississippi and will help their DL next season. Film Cooper Highlights
Bryson Johnson (Champlin Park/NDSCS/South Alabama) 6’4, 305 lbs. A second-team all-Midwest Football Conference selection as a sophomore after recording 59 total stops at NDSCS. Signed with South Alabama.
Derek Butcher (Delano/NDSU/NDSCS/Florida Atlantic University) 6’4, 295 lbs. First Team All-Conference twice at Delano, and was a MCAC First Team All-Conference pick at NDSCS. At FAU he posted six tackles, two TFLs, and a sack his senior season. Signed with Florida Atlantic in Boca Roton, Florida. NDSCS Highlights
HM: Deon Dorvil (Edina/RCTC/Missouri Western State), Tyus Deboer (Marshall/Iowa Western CC), Connor Novak-Goar (Eden Prairie/Iowa Western CC/U of Minnesota) Luke Chuol (Centennial/Iowa Western CC/Iowa Central), Edward Guyton (Richfield/Fergus Falls CC) DT, Raphael Orubo Raphael Orubo DL Woodbury | 2018 State MN (Woodbury/Iowa Western CC), Samaja Finch Garrett (Minnetonka/HighlandCC)
Linebackers
First Team: Eji Ejiya (Spring Lake Park/DSCS/North Texas/Baltimore Ravens) 6’3, 231 lbs. Was second team all-state selection and first team All-Metro selection at Spring Lake Park High School who was committed to NDSU before he didn’t qualify, Ejiya was a NJCAA All-America honorable mention and totaled a team-high 62 tackles and four sacks. He earned All-Conference USA HM & First Team honors as a junior and senior respectively, and totaled 273 tackles, 40.5 TFLs, 16 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, and a blocked kick at UNT.
Blake Weber (Prior Lake/RCTC/U of Minnesota/U of St. Thomas) 6’2, 225 lbs. A 2014 graduate of Prior Lake where he was finalist for Minnesota Mr. Football; consensus First Team All-State, StarTribune All-Metro; South Suburban Conference Defensive POTY, captain and twice all-conference. He made 72 tackles as a senior and totaled 1,247 yards of offense (810 rushing and 437 receiving) with 14 TDs. In his career he had 137 tackles, 1,528 rushing yards, 652 receiving yards, and 24 TDs. At RCTC he played in 12 games and made 48 tackles, caught one interception and broke up two passes, caught 22 passes for 369 yards and one touchdown, rushed 11 times for 56 yards, and was named First Team All MCAC. He walked on to the Golden Gophers and then transferred to UST where he was twice an All-MIAC honoree. 10 Plays JUCO 10 Plays High School
Kolade Amusan (Woodbury/U of South Dakota/Highland CC/Davenport University) 6’1, 225 lbs. Was a All-Conference, All-Metro, and All-State honoree for Woodbury who compiled 60 tackles including four sacks and 10 for loss, forced four fumbles ,and earned the team’s Big Hitter Award as a prep. Bounced back from the University of South Dakota and after a season at Highland CC he committed to Davenport University where he will help out their linebacking corps. JUCO Highlights Senior Year Highlights
Second Team: Jamire Jackson (MPLS North/NDSCS/UMary) 6’1, 230 lbs. Was an All-Metro and All-State pick coming out of North Community High School in Minneapolis, and held a NDSU offer but failed to qualify. This brought him to Garden City CC, and then eventually NDSCS where he balled out and signed with the UMary Marauders in the NSIC. North Highlights Freshman Year JUCO Sophomore JUCO Highlights
Cody Stanger (Stewartville/RCTC/University of St. Thomas) 6’1, 240 lbs. Was an All-Conference pick at RCTC. Signed with the University of St. Thomas. Top-25 JUCO Highlights Stewartville Highlights
HM: Harry Momoh (Hopkins/Iowa Western CC/UMD), James Horton (Apple Valley/RCTC), Johnny Watkins (MPLS Washburn/Mankato St/NDSCS/U of St. Thomas). Devin Joyce Devin Joyce ATH Minneapolis Southwest | 2018 State MN (MPLS Southwest/ItascaCC/?), Tywon Nash Tywon Nash ATH Minneapolis Southwest | 2018 State MN (MPLS Southwest/Itasca CC/?), *John Schmidt (Sartell/Dowling Catholic [IA]/Iowa Western CC/Kent State)
Defensive Backs
First Team: Elijah Campbell (St. Paul Central/Iowa Western CC/U of Northern Iowa/XFL DC Defenders) 6’0, 210 lbs. The St. Paul native was named Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-MVFC in 2017 and picked up second-team All-MVFC honors during his junior year. He had eight interceptions in his two years, including five during his senior season and 93 total tackles. Had a standout career at both St. Paul Central and Iowa Western CC and after successful stints with the AAF and the XFL I think he deserves a legitimate NFL shot. Iowa Western Highlights Recruiting Highlight Tape
Jack Leius (Robbinsdale Armstrong/U of Minnesota/Itasca CC/Minnesota State-Mankato) 6’0, 195 lbs. Redshirted and saw no action in two years at the U of M, but was named the special teams scout player of the year in 2017. He then started at defensive back for Itasca Community College and received an MCAC honorable mention and laid some huge hits. Was the NSIC Newcomer of the Year this past season and posted 59 tackles, 7 TFLs, a sack, 5 PBUs, and two interceptions in the Mavericks defensive backfield this past fall. Senior Season Armstrong Midseason JUCO Highlights
Marcus Haskins (East Ridge/Concordia-St. Paul/Iowa Western CC/Liberty University) One of my favorite Minnesota prep storylines, Haskins attended Concordia-St. Paul after his career at East Ridge, redshirted, and then became an All-American cornerback after recording nine interceptions his RS freshman year. He then transferred to Iowa Western and All-Americaned again before committing to Liberty University where he will go for the AA 3-peat on the D1 level. Pumped to see where else his football career takes him! East Ridge Highlights Concordia-St. Paul Highlights Iowa Western Highlights
Jackson Martens (Burnsville/Iowa Central CC/U of Northern Iowa) 6’3, 210 lbs. Recorded 59 tackles and 2 interceptions as a freshman at Iowa Central, and committed to Northern Iowa for his remaining three years of collegiate eligibility. Will play LB in college but was a heckuva strong safety at Burnsville and played some in college too. Freshman JUCO highlights Burnsville Highlights
Second Team: Oscar Opara (Delasalle/Iowa Central CC/Iowa State) 5’10, 180 lbs. Had a standout career at Delasalle where he earned First-Team All-State honors by the Associated Press in 2012 and was named to the Minneapolis StarTribune All-Metro team, an All-Conference pick, and participated in the Minnesota All-Star game. His senior season he tallied 21 tackles and intercepted five passes, returning three interceptions for TDs … also had a punt return and kickoff return for a TD. Also was a First-Team All-Conference selection as a junior, leading the state in interceptions with nine, and also tallied 30 tackles and 12 pass breakups. He intercepted 18 passes in his career. As an ICCC Triton he was named All-Conference HM and had 53 tackles, five intercepted passes, and returned a fumble recovery for a TD. At Iowa State he mostly played special teams and recorded three tackles. Senior Highlights
Travis Frank (Caledonia/RCTC/Winona State) 6’2, 210 lbs. Was an All-State HM pick as a senior at Caledonia, and recorded 62 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a freshman DB at RCTC. He then signed with Winona State, and recorded 54 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 INTs, 3 PBUs, and a FF in his Warrior career. Midseason RCTC Highlights Cali Highlights
Tim Gordon (Cretin-Derham Hall/Eastern Michigan/Fullerton College/U of Memphis) 5’11, 175 lbs. As a senior at CDH he logged 52 total tackles, three TFL, six interceptions and 18 PBU and was named All-Conference for his performance. Prior to his senior season he was named to the StarTribune preseason Dream Team. After a RS year at Eastern Michigan he played in all 12 games and totaled 10 tackles and a TFL. At Fullerton he finished the season with 51 total tackles, 16 PBUs and two interceptions (80 return yards). He’s unfortunately been battling injuries at Memphis, but appeared in two games and recorded a tackle. Senior Year Highlights Fullerton Highlights
HM: Kierre Rhodes (St. Paul Johnson/College of Desert CC/UW-Stout), Moses Nyangacha (Cooper/NDSU/Iowa Western CC), Aaron Roundtree (Eagan/NDSCS/U of Minnesota), Tykeise Johnson (Coon Rapids/JUCO Highlights), Maurice Willis (Robbinsdale Cooper/Central Lakes College)
2020 JUCO Commits to watch out for…
Darrin Dalton (Park Center/RCTC) ATH
Carvon Gurley Carvon Gurley 6'3" | DL Minnetonka | 2020 State MN (Minnetonka/Iowa Western CC) DT
Tyson Schilling (Cretin-Derham Hall/Iowa Western CC) WR
Kendrick Osura (St. Cloud Tech/Iowa Western CC) ATH
Malachi Mitchell (Park Center/RCTC) LB
Devon Moore (Champlin Park/NDSCS) LB
Anthony Gipson (Maple Grove/Itasca CC) LB
Carter Anderson (Centennial/Minnesota St CC-Fergus Falls) WR
Rhys McCarthy-Kern Rhys McCarthy-Kern LB Eden Prairie | 2019 State MN (Eden Prairie/Concordia-St.Paul/Grossmont College)