MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State University Moorhead football coach Steve Laqua has announced the Dragons' 2013 recruiting class. A total of 20 athletes signed national letters of intent to play for the Dragons, while eight athletes signed letters of acceptance of admission to continue their athletic careers at MSUM to bring the total to 27.

"We're extremely excited about this group," Laqua said. "There's definitely some difference makers who will compete for playing time right away. This increases the talent level of our team as a whole. We were very specific looking for guys who can compete right away because of how young we are. This group will create instant competition for starting positions and playing time this fall."

Laqua expects to sign five or six more athletes after signing day as well.



DRAGON FOOTBALL CLASS OF 2013

Akeel Abdelhadi, G, 6-2, 315, Hoffman Estates, Ill. (Barrington HS)
Helped offense break all major school passing records…allowed just one sack in past two years…tied Mid-Suburban League record for points in a game…set school bench-press record…two-year letter winner in football...also a regional and sectional champion in wrestling.



Anthony Baysah,
Earned first-team All-Missota Conference honors as a senior…helped Holy Angels reach Section 3AAAA championship game…rushed for 703 yards and three touchdowns as a junior.



Jack Bixler, OL, 6-2, 245, Chanhassen, Minn. (Minnetonka HS)
Starter on Minnetonka team that advanced to Class 6A state quarterfinals…team captain in 2012…played for coaching legend Dave Nelson…two-year letterwinner in football…also a conference champion in the shot put in track, where he is a three-year letter winner…also lettered in wrestling.



Austin Buss, DE, 6-2, 235, LeCenter, Minn. (Tri-City United HS)
Was all-conference selection as part of Tri-City United…team captain…four-year letterwinner in football…also lettered in baseball.



Demetrius Carr, QB, 6-3, 215, Naperville, Ill. (IC Catholic Prep)
Multi-threat as a passer and runner at quarterback…threw for 1,062 yards, 13 touchdowns and completed 60.6 percent of his passes as a senior…also a dangerous running threat, rushing for 830 yards on 103 careers…finished with 11 rushing touchdowns…two-time Suburban Christian Conference Offensive Player of the Year…two-time Dupage County All-Area and two-time All-SCC selection…all-state honorable mention selection twice.



Zach Drevlow, DL, 6-3, 245, Gwinner, N.D. (North Sargent HS)
Named first-team all-state on offense in 2012…named second-team all-state on defense in 2011…two-time all-region selection…team captain…finished with 40 solo tackles, 62 total tackles and 12 sacks in career…four-year football letter winner…also lettered in basketball and track and field.



Jared Hoemberg, LB, 6-0, 225, Bertha, Minn. (Bertha-Hewitt HS/Central Lakes College)
Transfer from Central Lakes College where he was a two-time first-team all-conference selection…also second-team All-American and all-region selection…at Bertha-Hewitt HS was a three-time all-conference selection and also earned all-state and all-section honors.



Shaun Hollenkamp, TE, 6-3, 207, Pine City, Minn. (Braham HS)
Two-time all-conference selection…team captain during senior year…named most valuable offensive back…Ironman champion in 10th through 12th grade…finished with 1,000 all-purpose yards during senior year and also had 48 catches for 645 yards.



Jaylen Howze, S, 6-0, 170, Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton North HS)
Two-time all-conference selection...also a two-time all-area selection...finished with 43 tackles, four interceptions and 3.5 sacks last season...also lettered in basketball.



Sam Hyland, OL, 6-4, 280, Golden Valley, Minn. (Robbinsdale Armstrong HS)
All-conference honorable mention in career…also named Team Lineman MVP…three-year football letter winner…also lettered in wrestling, track and field and swimming.



Chris Kocay, OL, 6-3, 280, Menifee, Calif. (Paloma Valley HS)
First-team all-league in football…named offensive lineman of the year…three-year starter in football…also a standout in wrestling where he earned first-team all-league honors…teammate of current Dragon Nico Caramella.



Brock Kolander, RB, 6-1, 195, Waseca, Minn. (Waseca HS)
Finished with 2,600 career rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in career at Waseca…two-time all-conference selection…all-state honorable mention selection…team captain…lettered three years in football…also all-conference in basketball and part of 4x100 relay that won state title.



Glen Miron, LB, 6-1, 215, Hugo, Minn. (Forest Lake HS)
Earned all-conference honors as a senior…named offensive MVP…finished with 1,042 all-purpose yards as a senior…three-year letter winner in football…also four-year letter winner in track and four-year letter winner in weight-lifting.


Damien Patrick, OL, 6-4, 305, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Crystal Lake Central HS)
Finished with 138 tackles from defensive line position…also had five sacks…part of three conference championship teams…helped team to state quarterfinals during senior year…four-year football letterwinnner…also lettered in baseball and wrestling.


Lane Puckett, OL, 6-3, 265, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Crystal Lake Central HS)
Named first-team all-conference…also second-team all-area…team captain…two-year football letter winner.



Spencer Robbins, DL, 6-3, 230, Cavalier, N.D.
First-team all-state in nine man football as a defensive lineman during junior and senior years…could play either tackle or end position at MSUM…also a basketball standout...mother is in the Hall of Fame at North Dakota State.



Lee Schroeder, OL, 6-5, 245, New London, Minn. (New London-Spicer HS)
All-conference honorable mention as a senior…played varsity three years for New London-Spicer…also lettered in wrestling and track.



Austin Stone, RB, 5-11, 180, New London, Minn. (New London-Spicer HS)
Named first-team all-area as a senior…helped New London-Spicer to Class AAA state playoffs…finished with 1,291 rushing yards on 266 careers…also had 13 touchdowns on the ground…also earned All-Wright County Conference honors.



Jake Tiede, LB, 6-0, 220, Adrian, Minn. (Adrian HS)
Two-time first-team all-area selection…also two-time first-team all-conference…finished with 375 career tackles, 9.5 sacks, three interceptions…had a career-high 23 tackles in a game…also had 24 career touchdowns…finished with 165 tackles as a senior.



Austin Winnegge OL, 6-0, 260, Langdon, N.D. (Langdon HS)
Three-time first-team all-region selection…named Offensive MVP and Most Valuable Offensive Lineman…two-time team captain…all-state second team selection.part of 2012 state semifinalist team…four-year letterwinner in football.




Signing Acceptance of Admission Letters
Jake Claybaugh, LB, 6-1, 210, Waseca, Minn. (Waseca HS)
Two-time all-conference selection…all-state honorable mention…team captain…team MVP…three-year letterwinner.

Nick Erickson, QB/FS, 6-0, 185, East Grand Forks, Minn. (East Grand Forks HS)
Finished with 1,846 rushing yards, 1,987 passing yards, 28 rushing touchdowns and 15 passing touchdowns during career…two-time all-conference selection….two-time all-city selection.

Jared Fischer, S, 5-10, 200, Bismarck, N.D. (Century HS)
Threw for 2,808 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in career…all-state selection…part of back-to-back state runner-up teams…two-time all-conference selection…also an all-state selection.

Robby Hine, DB/WB, 5-10, 165, Nevis, Minn. (Nevis HS)
Two-time all-conference selection…nine-man all-state selection as a cornerback…had 92 tackles and one interception…also rushed for 652 yards.

Tyler Jensen, DL, 6-0, 260, Benson, Minn. (Benson HS)
Finished with 97 tackles during senior year, including 27 for loss…had three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries…set career-high with 18 tackles in a game…was all-conference and all-section during senior year.

Tanner Langlie, LB, 6-2, 205, Ashby, Minn. (Ashby HS)
Four-time all-conference player in football…lettered four years in football…finished with season highs of 120 tackles and nine sacks…also scored more than 1,100 points in basketball career.

Trent Noetzelman, TE, 6-5, 220, Glenwood, Minn. (Minnewaska HS)
Three-year football letterwinner as a tight end/defensive end…team captain for both football and basketball…conference leader in basketball.

Jimmy Roth, DB, 5-7, 155, Minneapolis, Minn. (Mpls Southwest HS)
Finished with eight career interceptions from cornerback spot…also had 180 tackles in career…two-time all-conference selection and team MVP two times as well.