University of Sioux Falls 2020 Recruiting Class: MN Preps
Since joining Division II in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for the 2012 football season the University of Sioux Falls Cougars have been year in and year out one of the conference’s most competitive programs and have put two of…
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Continue ReadingSince joining Division II in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for the 2012 football season the University of Sioux Falls Cougars have been year in and year out one of the conference’s most competitive programs and have put two of their graduates in the NFL, of whom is a Minnesota prep in Apple Valley’s Trey Pipkins – who was drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. With eight straight winning seasons and five seasons with at least nine wins, #CooFalls is a heckuva place to play some college football and they are in a great position to best their 8-4 2019 record. This is great news for the nine Minnesota preps signed to their 2020 recruiting class, and it gets even better as the Cougars also have a large senior class graduating with nine 2020 college graduates receiving All-NSIC recognition. That means there may be a lot of room for competition in the various position groups of USF, and this bodes especially well for the gem of the the Cougars recruiting class: Champlin Park’s QB Jaice Miller Jaice Miller 6'4" | WR Champlin Park | 2020 State MN .
The 6’4, 220 lb. Rebel athlete was an absolute beast of a WR as a junior but switched to play QB – a position he was familiar with – for his senior season in which he led the Rebels to the 6A state finals. PrepRedzoneMN got to see the standout athlete a few times last season, and the kid can sling it.
[player_tooltip player_id="10971" first="Jaice" last="Miller"].He has a cannon, throws a beautiful ball, and could make every throw the Rebels asked of him. Also a tremendous runner, Miller fell back in love with the quarterback position and turned down scholarship offers to play other positions from FBS Wyoming, FCS North Dakota and South Dakota, and a PWO from the University of Minnesota, but chose USF for the chance to play QB and to run their heavy RPO offense that helped 2020 Sioux Falls graduate and First Team All-NSIC Caden Walters find so much success. With the QB position open, it would be very cool to see the Champlin Park graduate step in there, but only time will tell. The Coo also signed his teammate and All-State/All-Metro First Team LB Obi Evuleocha Obi Evuleocha 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Champlin Park | 2020 State MN , MN All-Star OL from Monticello Alex Tack, and a host of other studs that will look great in the purple and black of USF and who PRZ is very excited to see play in the NSIC. Get some more details on the signings below!
Eli Conaway (Greenway High School) 6’1, 205 lbs. Linebacker
Conaway has some absolutely crazy prep numbers as the team captain as a senior compiled 3,983 rushing yards and 47 TDs on a 6.6 yards per carry average. He also had a kick return for a TD, and on defense he recorded 355 tackles, 12 sacks, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. This led to a litany of football awards such as being named All-Conference 3x, All-Section 7AAA twice, MN All-Iron Range Team twice, Duluth News Tribune All-Area Team, Offensive Player of the Year twice, MN Individual Academic All-State, and was a state participant in track and field. He also is an accomplished student and a well volunteered young man. Junior Season Highlights
Conaway.Dawson Davito (Mankato Loyola High School) 6’2, 250 lbs. Defensive Line
Also competed in football and track and field at Mankato Loyola high school who was named All-Conference HM in 2017 as well as All-City that same year. In 2019 he ball out and was named All-City once again as well as All-District, District Lineman of the Year, and the Spartans football team defensive MVP. Also accomplished at shot put who won his district as a senior, participated in the state meet, and placed 12th. He also finished school with a 3.76 GPA. Senior Highlights
Obi Evuleocha Obi Evuleocha 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Champlin Park | 2020 State MN (Champlin Park) 6’0, 210 lbs. Linebacker
The best defensive player on a loaded CP Rebels squad with a lot of talent in the senior cass, Evuleocha had career totals of 189 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and six PBUs.His senior year he was named All-State First Team, All-Metro First Team, All-Conference, and Team Defensive MVP his senior year and was named All-Conference in shot put. The kid is thumper. Highlight Film
Evuleocha (7) reading his keys.Carson Kons (Park of Cottage Grove) 5’10, 180 lbs. Linebacker
A 2x captain of the Park Wolfpack – who sent a ton of kids to the college ranks in their 2020 class – Kons was an All-District pick in 2019 as well as All-Conference after rushing for 372 yards on 48 carries (7.75 yards per carry) with 46.5 yards per game, six TDs and a long of 80 yards. Also was a captain of the lacrosse team. Senior Year
Kons with the TDMark Leonard (Rochester Century) 6’2, 235 lbs. Fullback
One of the players I am most excited for in the class is Rochester Century’s dynamic big-boy Mark Leonard. He played a variety of positions on both sides of the ball for Century and moves very well for a kid of his size. He’s got great hands, so I hope USF gives him a little room to play some H-back or TE in their offense. The FCA volunteer hauled in 38 passes for 496 yards and 12 TDs his senior year, was named All-Big Southeast District Outside Linebacker twice, All-Big Southeast District Wide Receiver, and All-Area Outside Linebacker. His versatility is going to make him a fun one to watch. Senior Year Offense Senior Year Defense
Jaice Miller Jaice Miller 6'4" | WR Champlin Park | 2020 State MN (Champlin Park) 6’4, 220 lbs. Quarterback
In that aforementioned stellar senior season Miller threw for 16 TDs and 1608 yards and rushed for eight TDs and 742 yards. Was named All-Conference (Northwest Suburban) at WR and QB. In junior season had 53 receptions for 936 yards and 11 TDs. Also captained squad as a senior when they went on their state final run. Senior Season Junior Season Sophomore Season
Sam Quick (Totino-Grace) 6’0, 165 lbs. Defensive Back
Coming from a school with a great line of defensive backs, Quick is now the next in line as he was a 3x All-District pick, 2x Team Offensive MVPs, and an All-Conference pick. His senior year he hauled in 64 receptions for 945 yards and 10 TDs while compiling 44 tackles, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and breaking up nine passes. He also was a point guard on the basketball team. High School Career Highlights
Quick.Ethan Sailer (Rochester Lourdes) 6’4, 240 lbs. Tight End
Another prospect I’m excited to watch comes from Rochester’s private school powerhouse Lourdes’ well-built and athletic Ethan Sailer. His midseason tape is mostly from the DE position, but I love what I saw at the TE spot and he’s got some speed for a recruit of his size. The senior captain totaled four catches for 109 yards and a TD in 2019 and totaled 75.5 tackles with 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as well. He was named All-District in 2019, All-District HM in 2018, and District DL of the year in 2019 as well. Senior Midseason
Committed.Alex Tack (Monticello) 6’5, 290 lbs. Offensive Line
The 2019 MN All-Star, All-District, and All-Conferece pick played every position except center on the Monti OL and also threw for the track and field team. According to USF’s signing class article he also “lettered in band…volunteered with Project 4 Teens and as a Student Mentor.” Senior Year Highlights
#RollCoo