North Dakota State '22 Commitment Class Breakdown: WI & DAK

As we approach that final month before Friday Night Lights and the hype around the season begins to grow to its precipice I thought it may be interesting to take a quick look back on some recent 2022 commitment classes from some FCS, DII, and DIII heavyweight programs that rely on and recruit the Upper Midwest heavily. In particular, I'm talkin' Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin, whose non-FBS programs have taken up the majority of my screen time on Saturday mornings and afternoons since I graduated college. I began this series - which is taking place as I watch film for WI and MN Preseason All-State series - by reviewing 14 of the Minnesota signees to the North Dakota State Bison 2022 34-member recruiting class, and I'm pumped to keep things rolling by highlighting the 14 Dakota and Wisconsin-born studs to ink with the defending FCS national champs. After this, I'm getting into some South Dakota State, UND, Northern Sun, and hopefully WIAC commitment class breakdowns, so make sure you keep a close eye on our site as we lead into the 2022 season. Thanks for reading!   2022 Wisconsin and Dakota-bred Bison   Scholarships   Carson Hegerle (West Fargo, ND) WR. 6'3, 180 lbs.   The highest-rated commitment for North Dakota State in the modern recruiting era of college football, West Fargo wideout Hegerle spurned FBS suitors such as UNLV, Wyoming, Toledo, Utah State, Army, and Nevada and signed with his hometown Bison and brings some outstanding athleticism to his future college program. The 6'3, 180 lb. WR posted some blazing track times throughout his career including a 10.65 100M and 21.67 200M at the ND state track and field meet and also posted a blazing 10.61 laser time in early May of 2022. He also showed out in-person on the camp circuit and recorded a 10'2 broad jump at Wyoming and 35.5" vert at Nebraska. Talk about explosive. He also shows fearlessness and great body control when high-pointing the football and was a nightmare when the ball was in his hand or going deep. The Bison brought in a heckuva receiver haul in their 2022 class.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CarsonHegerle/status/1463554303847714822?s=20&t=e6O8wXiB1cQOmd4zJntH3w </div></figure>   Kelby Azure (Hatton/Northwood, ND) TE. 6'4, 240 lbs.   Another great addition to the small-town, 9-man North Dakota legacy, Northwood product, and Hatton-Northwood superstar Kelby Azure picked NDSU over offers from North Dakota, Army, Dartmouth, and MSU-Mankato and is bound for great things in Fargo. A do-it-all, dynamic behemoth, Azure was a destructive blocker, semi-truck of a ball-carrier/pass-catcher, and tackling machine who has an eye-popping rep 30 seconds into his film where he runs down a loose ball carrier from the backside LB spot 40-50 yards downfield at a firm 6'4, 240 pounds. He was probably the least fun ball carrier to tackle in the state last year and has some rare mobility and athleticism for a prospect of that size. He'll start his career at TE and with his almost college-ready size, I'm excited to see how the adjustment to 11-man college football will go.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/kelby_azure/status/1412432133050847233?s=20&t=uqeJdoIln7eoJZWKRSH7OA </div></figure>   Max Rader (Green Bay-Notre Dame Academy) OT. 6'7, 255 lbs.   North Dakota State got some hammers from the Green Bay area in 2022 and hope to continue their strength in the trenches with cheesehead products from the Great State of Wisconsin. The Triton OT earned Northern Iowa, Eastern Michigan, Yale, and South Dakota State offers before earning his Bison offer on June 21st and committing two weeks later. Unfortunately, he's coming off a shoulder injury that caused him to miss time during his senior year, but he's good-to-go for his freshman year of college after playing in three games post-surgery in 2021. He's long, lean, mean, and great at staying engaged with a defender once he gets his paws on them. I like his leg drive and it looks like he can bend pretty well for his 6'7 frame, as well as work in and block in space if asked, and he's got good footwork a little bit of nastiness to him as well. With how well the NDSU has program has evaluated, signed, and developed OL talent from the Midwest I think Bison fans should be excited about this one.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/maxrader_1/status/1412857612610281473?s=20&t=uqeJdoIln7eoJZWKRSH7OA </div></figure>   Nate Forystek (Bay Port, WI) TE. 6'6, 240 lbs.   Another Green Bay product to head west the 7.5 hours to Fargo to play his college football, Bay Port's Forystek is one of many heavyweight Pirate recruits as of late and waited only a month after receiving his NDSU offer to commit to FCS' finest. A physical run blocker with solid strength, leg drive, and hand placement, Forystek is willing and able to block DEs on the outside as well as go over the middle and snag receptions over defenders unable to make a play on the ball. He's got a ton of room to grow on his already large frame and shows the demeanor and physical skillset to help move some bodies along the NDSU LOS. Another great recruiting haul at the TE position for the Bison in 2022.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NateForystek/status/1421599342796943363?s=20&t=uqeJdoIln7eoJZWKRSH7OA </div></figure>   Drew Klein (Hortonville, WI) K.   One of the best kickers in the Upper Midwest this past cycle, Klein was a standout two-sport athlete who excelled on the football and soccer fields for Hortonville and received his NDSU offer almost a month after originally visiting campus in July of 2021. He committed a month later, and had a great senior football season that included made FGs from 46, 42, (OT winner), 24, and 22 yards and more than his fair share of kickoff touchbacks behind his monster leg. He was First Team All-Conference in both sports last fall and has been working hard this summer to maximize his game before getting to Fargo.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_DrewKlein/status/1440308731544174603?s=20&t=uqeJdoIln7eoJZWKRSH7OA </div></figure>   Caleb Bowers (Whitefish Bay, WI) LS. 6'2, 225 lbs.   A four-year starter and All-Conference award winner along the OL and DL for Whitefish Bay in SE Wisconsin, Bowers finished his career with 42 tackles, 10 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and three FFs and is another strong special teams pickup for Coach Kody Morgan & co. He also held a PWO to Marshall and a DII offer from SMSU.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/calebbowers3/status/1487104930095800329?s=20&t=TABR8pWs8_AbiZasFQz8Nw </div></figure>   Isaac Hyland (St. Mary's Springs, WI) DB. 5'10, 165 lbs.   There's nothing better in recruiting than a legacy commitment, and Hyland is a good one, as he was coached by his grandpops Bob Hyland, a Bison Athletic Hall of Fame offensive lineman from 1967-1969 who is now Wisconsin's all-time coaching wins leader, and raised by his father, Rob Hyland, a quarterback for the Bison from 1992-1996. One of the hardest hitters in the Badger State's 2022 class, Hyland started three years for the Ledger's and was twice named All-Conference at both the DB and RB spots. He totaled 159 career tackles, 14 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and three interceptions, and averaged 6.9 yards per carry rushing for 2,491 career yards and 31 touchdowns. I'm honestly not positive that he's a scholarship signing but either way he's a good one for NDSU, as his experience and comfort around the LOS, physical play style, and closing speed all will help him continue to lay the wood at the college level.   Preferred Walk-ons   Luke Kokat (Union Grove, WI) TE/DE, 6'4, 225 lbs.   A PrepRedzone Showcase MVP and standout who was a part of Union Grove's talented 2022 class, Kokat repped a 295 lb. power clean in early March and was named All-State HM and All-Region as a TE following his more-than-stellar senior campaign. A dominant run blocker with a strong initial punch, finishing ability, and some juice as a pass catcher and DE, Kokat did a little bit of everything on the edge of the Broncos' offense and defense in 2021. He chose North Dakota State over a variety of DII offers from the Northern Sun. You can never have too many TEs!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/luke75260698/status/1447918194241511438?s=20&t=ob2Rr6rFwIbVaPazT5s31A </div></figure>   Kaden Chadwick (Velva, ND) OL. 6'6, 275 lbs.   The town of Velva is home to 1,256 people and one of the biggest has to be future Bison offensive lineman Kaden Chadwick, who committed to the Bison on a PWO over offers from Bemidji State and MSU-Moorhead. The Bison were his first college offer, and it only took him eight days to decide that Fargo was the place for him for college. He's still raw, but does show some solid feet and has pass pro experience as a prep, and his length and physical gifts will always catch the eyes of college coaches. His best days of football are very much in front of him!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KadenChadwick1/status/1409706301345599492?s=20&t=ob2Rr6rFwIbVaPazT5s31A </div></figure>   Kegan Huber (Badger, WI) DB. 6', 175 lbs.   A First Team All-Conference pick as a senior, Huber played both safety and corner in 2021 and closes on the ball quickly and smoothly once he sticks his cleat in the ground. He's got smooth feet, a good press at the LOS, and instincts and physicality in pass defense. He's a fluid, aggressive missile in his senior tape and chose the Bison over half-a-dozen NSIC offers, making a Badger grad from the Badger state head west to play D1 ball. Congrats, Kegan!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KeganHuber/status/1437196938642874369?s=20&t=ob2Rr6rFwIbVaPazT5s31A </div></figure>   Ben Goldy (Rapid City-Stevens, SD) OT. 6'8, 280 lbs.   A basketball player who brings PF size to the gridiron for the Bison's OL room, Goldy showed a solid pass set on tape and can gain depth to cover speed rushes and anchor his giant 6'8 frame well enough to handle power rushes from larger DEs and occasionally 3Ts. He put some good reps on tape in his three game of senior highlights and makes for another raw yet intriguing PWO OT signing. The Bison were his only reported college opportunity.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BenGoldy73/status/1448304643302379521?s=20&t=ob2Rr6rFwIbVaPazT5s31A </div></figure>   John Gores (Fargo Shanley, ND) WR. 5'6, 160 lbs.   Perhaps the most electric signing from this talented batch of North & South Dakota and Wisconsin 2022 preps, Shanley's Gores was an elusive, explosive, and playmaking WR and returner who could break tackles in any way imaginable and possessed the speed to torch DBs downfield on deep routes. His contact balance is great for his size and he gave defenders fits last season as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the Dakotas. The Bison were his only reported college opportunity.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GoresJohn/status/1459012069131497498?s=20&t=ob2Rr6rFwIbVaPazT5s31A </div></figure>   Brit Senftner (Bismarck St. Mary's Central, ND) LB. 6'3, 200 lbs.   A three-year starter for the Saints who was named co-senior athlete of the year in 11A, Senftner had a heckvua state championship performance that saw him catch six passes for 114 yards and a TD as well as 5 tackles and an INT. He chose his Bison PWO opportunity over scholarship offers from MSU-Moorhead, UMary, Minot State, North Dakota, South Dakota State, and a FCS roster spot from St. Thomas. The Bismarck product played LB, safety, and wide receiver last season and was a terrific tackler and thumper with range, closing speed, and a ton of pop at the point of contact. I love his pursuit angles and how he doesn't waste step but pressures the ball carrier with how fast he gets to their hip. With that DB background I think he's going to bring a ton of speed and range to the already-loaded Bison LB room. Also is a huge plus when you can land an instate walk-on over scholarship offers from conference rivals.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BritSenftner/status/1460437788361248770?s=20&t=ob2Rr6rFwIbVaPazT5s31A </div></figure>   Kellen Entz (West Fargo-Sheyenne) WR. 6'3, 190 lbs.   Does that last name sound familiar? Kellen Entz will join his pops with the Bison and continues a West Fargo to NDSU connection that includes current Bison Nathan Golade, Barika Kpeenu, Kole Menz, and Tyler Terhark that were former Mustang standouts. Kellen also held Northern State and MSU-Moorhead offers, but playing for his pops was too good to turn down and he'll bring his great size for the WR position into the Bison ranks. Additionally, he's got ball skills, contested catch capability, and some solid route-running ability for a wideout of his size. I also liked his defensive highlights, where he switched from breaking up passes downfield to halting ball carriers right where they stand in run support. Don't think this is simply an offer of nepotism here, Entz can play.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/kellenentz/status/1461515235211284485?s=20&t=ob2Rr6rFwIbVaPazT5s31A </div></figure>   Superlatives   Most Likely to Play as a Freshman: Carson Hegerle (West Fargo) WR.   Biggest Recruiting Win: Carson Hegerle (West Fargo) WR.   Hardest Hitter: Kelby Azure (Hatton/Northwood) DL.   Biggest Sleeper: Ben Goldy (Rapid City-Stevens) OL.   Lowest Floor: Caleb Bowers (Whitefish Bay) LS.   Highest Ceiling: Carson Hegerle (West Fargo) WR.   Future NFL Draft Pick: Max Rader (Notre Dame Academy) OL.   Future Team Captain: Isaac Hyland (St. Mary's Springs) DB.   PWO Success Continued: Brit Senftner (St. Mary's Central) LB.   Most to Prove: Kellen Entz (Sheyenne)   Don't Underestimate: John Gores (Shanley)

As we approach that final month before Friday Night Lights and the hype around the season begins to grow to its precipice I thought it may be interesting to take a quick look back on some recent 2022 commitment classes from some FCS, DII, and DIII heavyweight programs that rely on and recruit the Upper Midwest heavily. In particular, I'm talkin' Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin, whose non-FBS programs have taken up the majority of my screen time on Saturday mornings and afternoons since I graduated college. I began this series - which is taking place as I watch film for WI and MN Preseason All-State series - by reviewing 14 of the Minnesota signees to the North Dakota State Bison 2022 34-member recruiting class, and I'm pumped to keep things rolling by highlighting the 14 Dakota and Wisconsin-born studs to ink with the defending FCS national champs. After this, I'm getting into some South Dakota State, UND, Northern Sun, and hopefully WIAC commitment class breakdowns, so make sure you keep a close eye on our site as we lead into the 2022 season. Thanks for reading!