SMSU 2020 Recruiting Class Breakdown: Minnesota Boys

In this second edition of PrepRedzoneMN’s NSIC 2020 recruiting class breakdown we will take a closer look at the Southwest Minnesota State University’s Minnesota preps. The Mustangs - located in Marshall, Minnesota - are coming off an unfortunate 3-8 2019 season but have a ton of talent on their roster including some standout Minnesotans including All-NSIC Second Team [player_tooltip player_id="1578" first="Onte" last="Burns"]. Only a rising junior, Burns will be joined by nine former MN preps in this 2020 recruiting class including two Crookston transfers, a St. Cloud State transfer, and an RCTC signing. Let’s take a look at these future Mustangs and review and celebrate some of their accomplishments on the gridiron thus far! Let’s Ride! Although only nine of the 40 signings in the 2020 recruiting class hail from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, they are all very accomplished athletes who have should transition well to NSIC ball (besides the already experienced transfers) and have a lot of potential to find some All-NSIC success in Marshall, Minnesota. The prep signings are highlighted by Minnesota Vikings All-State and Minnesota All-Star game pick Chad Maddock (Redwood Falls) - who has some great size (6’2, 260), and with his wrestling background I would not be surprised to see him get some reps early on the DL. Southland’s Carter Schmitz is also a MN All-Star game participant and was one of the best 9-man players in the state this past season, but will most likely have to put some weight on to get some legit reps. Of the transfers the Mustangs signed the gem of the class is St. Cloud State transfer and Cloquet native [player_tooltip player_id="1717" first="Dylan" last="Lauer"] - who started 11 games on the Huskies OL as a freshman in 2018 and played in six last season. At 6’4, 300 he’s got the size and talent to come in and help the OL right away. The two Crookston transfers: Brandon-Evansville DLineman Skyler Quinn and Woodbury’s DL Ben Branscom are both seniors and can provide some immediate help at the DL as well. Let’s take a deeper look at these five plus the remaining MN boys below! Ben Branscom (Woodbury/University of Minnesota-Crookston) Sr. DL. 6’4, 245 lbs. In three seasons on the field + a RS year the Woodbury native totaled 103 career tackles, 13.5 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. At Woodbury he earned all-conference honors as a Royal and racked up 11 career sacks. His senior he finished with 23 tackles with seven tackles for loss and four sacks. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CYVqZ">Crookston Highlights</a> <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/4260584/5721cb590c5e681224a2b638">Senior Year Woodbury highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="11006" first="Joe" last="Buelow"] (Maple Grove) DL 6’0, 265 lbs. Fr. As a senior Buelow was named team captain for Crimson who went 5-5 in 2019. He was also named team defensive MVP and was selected Crimson Player of the Year. Check out his commitment report he did for PrepRedzoneMN below! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7970646/5d89a01090f90210d0930ec4">Senior Year Regular Season highlights</a> [embed]https://prepredzone.com/2019/12/commitment-report-joe-buelow-maple-grove-2020/[/embed] [player_tooltip player_id="1717" first="Dylan" last="Lauer"] (Cloquet/St.Cloud State) OL 6’4, 300 lbs. Jr. Played in 17 career games for the Huskies with 11 starts at the OL. At Cloquet he letted thrice, was named All-Conference, Northeast Red District Lineman of the Year, and helped team to 2017 Class 4A state championship game. After the season he was selected to play in Minnesota All-Star Showcase and was named a member of Duluth Tribune All-Area team. He was also All-Conference in track & field. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/6453975/59f9f6174797b20e3082e667">2017 Senior Year</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10735519/5df168165eee020db85a40be">vs. MSUM</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10735519/5df16674f560030cf4c9f2ff">vs. Minot State</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10735519/5df15c333452a90fb4c2d56c">vs. UMary</a> Chad Maddock (Redwood Falls) 6’2, 260 lbs. DL/OL. Fr. Was a 2x All-District pick and 2019 District Offensive Lineman of the Year who lettered four times. He was also named All-State Third Team and a MN All-Star. On the wrestling mat he was twice named All-Conference, lettered five times, and qualified twice for the state tournament. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2BjFjf">Senior Year</a> [player_tooltip player_id="11022" first="Jordan" last="Nolan"] (Coon Rapids) LB. 6’0, 220 lbs. Fr. Interestingly, Nolan - who is pictured in the featured image for this article - is now a second generation Mustang as his dad George played at SMSU in the 80’s. Nolan was a three-year letterwinner and captained the team as a senior when he posted 92 tackles and 3.5 sacks for the 5A state qualifying Cardinals squad. He was also named All-Conference twice, and finished his prep career with 166 tackles and 9.5 sacks. He also competed in track and field. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/7966347/5d9df63204286813607e13c8">Senior SZN</a> [embed]https://prepredzone.com/2019/12/commitment-report-jordan-nolan-coon-rapids-2020/[/embed] Skyler Quinn (Brandon-Evansville/University of Minnesota-Crookston) DE. 6’3, 245 lbs. Sr. The second Crookston transfer for the Mustangs, Quinn spent four seasons at UMC and totaled 89 tackles, 15 TFLs, 4 sacks, and 2 FFs. As a prep he played for coach Tim Pattrin and was two-time first team All-Conference and All-State honoree. He was also a stud on the basketball court, was picked All-Conference, and scored more than 1,000 career points. He was also named school Athlete of the Year. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CYuZU">Crookston Highlights</a> Carter Schmitz (Southland) LB. 6’1, 200 lbs. Fr. In his MN All-Star game selection season of 2019, Schmitz finished his senior season with 71 tackles and four interceptions. He was also a 2x District Defensive Player of the Year and recorded 246 career tackles with nine interceptions and six fumble recoveries. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/5653417/5dadf60802bb480e9cd31bef">Senior Year Midseason Highlights</a> [embed]https://prepredzone.com/2020/02/commitment-report-carter-schmitz-southland-2020/[/embed] Tucker Schultz (Kimball Area) QB. 6’4, 185 lbs. Fr. A stud gunslinger who was named 2019 District Player of the Year andholds school records for passing yards in a game (391), season (2,155) and career (5,451), Schultz finished senior season passing for 1,705 yards with 10 touchdowns and also rushed for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns. He closed his career passing for 39 touchdowns and rushing for 28 with 1,623 career rushing yards. He was also a 3x District Quarterback of the Year. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CaCeE">2019 Senior Highlights</a> Erik Snook (St. Croix Lutheran/Rochester Community and Technical College) 6’2, 225 lbs. LB. Jr. At RCTC he recorded 31 tackles and a team-high 5.5 sacks in 2019 and also finished second on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss. This resulted in him being named Second Team All-Conference in 2019. According to his SMSU bio - as a prep he was a "three-year letter winner … named all-district as a senior … helped lead team to a pair of Class 3A Prep Bowl appearances … closed career with 132 tackles and seven sacks … also all-conference and a state qualifier in wrestling … letter winner in baseball." <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11297132/5bbd60b86899430cd036ae20">JUCO Freshman Season</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11297132/5d72cdb3bd6bc605887e03ac">JUCO Sophomore Season</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11297132/5a3178785ca97323ccf70c95">Senior Year HS Highlights</a> Go Mustangs!