Signing day extras
Here are some bonus items from South Dakota State’s camp on national signing day for football. You know, since nothing noteworthy has happened since then:
The 18th scholarship addition, linebacker Anthony Gutierrez, is comes from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Cali., a strong program that has produced the likes of Dayne Crist and Justin Fargas. Six from the current senior class have already signed with D-I programs at the end of a season that included a game in Ireland.
Gutierrez was named first-team all-league and team defensive MVP. And he has a younger brother (Tony), who is a junior tight end/linebacker with solid college potential.
No shortage of athletic genes in this class. LB Jesse Bobbit has a brother who plays baseball at Wichita State; LB Mikias Alipate has two brothers playing college football and Lenny Cowans has a sister running track at UC Santa Barbara.
Speaking of Alipate, the Jacks stuck with him after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in September. That’s not a given – they did not choose to pursue another early offer who got hurt, coach John Stiegelmeier said.
Stiegelmeier on LB Cole Langer, a multi-sport standout from Dell Rapids: “I’m really excited about his locking in on one sport and not being spread thing every day of the year.”
OL Charles Harmon is from a military family and lived in Europe for a couple of years. That’s one reason he took up skiing.
Meanwhile, OL Joe Kup (I’m not even going to attempt to spell his last name anymore) is into the electric guitar. There’s even proof of this on YouTube. Assistant Shannon Moore compared him to outgoing senior Jon Fick in terms of being big and nasty.
The Keely brothers, 6-8 twins from Omaha, project to be in the line of Cam Jones, but with even more athleticism. Moore envisions being able to use them as pass catchers first and bring along their physical roles as the bulk up. Both weighed in at 202 during their visit. Jones was 207 at his visit, but reported to camp at 242.
Hamlin High coach Jeff Sheehan on DE Mason Leiseth: “Good size, speed and athleticism. He has a good frame with room to get bigger. He is a very smart and aggressive player.”
Leiseth said he also had an offer from Sioux Falls.
SDSU has long been of the mind that kids from Phoenix put stock in the fact that the Jacks have done well with kids from Phoenix. But Stiegelmeier said they’re finding that rings true in Minneapolis of late, which hasn’t always been the case. In other words, guys like Zach Zenner, Cam Jones, Reggie Gandy, Eric Kline, etc., should be helpful for years to come.
Jacks tight end Seth Daughters has decided to end the appeal process to gain one more year of eligibility because he’s on track to land a GA gig in strength and conditioning. But defensive lineman David Hettiger is doing winter conditioning with the team in the hope that his waiver will come through.
Here are the 14 preferred walk-ons, in case you missed the list:
• Austin Benson, wide receiver, Sioux Falls, S.D.;
• Riley Clark, linebacker, Colman, S.D.;
• Christian Custer, tight end/linebacker, Lake City, Minn.;
• Grant Gordon, linebacker, Eden Prairie, Minn.;
• Troy Hunhoff, tight end, Yankton, S.D.;
• Eron Keely, tight end, Omaha, Neb.;
• Tanner Lambert, fullback, North Sioux City, S.D.;
• Kane Louscher, linebacker, Mason City, Iowa;
• Braden Mengarelli, running back/defensive back, Prescott, Ariz.;
• Mitchell Nissen, wide receiver, Tea, S.D.;
• Matt Swallow, wide receiver, Aberdeen, S.D.;
• Joe Tjosvold, kicker, Lake Elmo, Minn.;
• Thayer Trenhaile, long snapper, Volga, S.D.;
• Case Wiarda, wide receiver, Castlewood, S.D.;
Notes from that crew: Moore said that Tjosvold was offered a scholarship by Maine. … Gordon missed time as a senior due to injury. … Mengarelli was the player of the year in his area, rushing for nearly 2,000 yards and had a scholarship offer from Emporia State. Here’s his reel. … Trenhaile is regarded as a five-star recruit as a long snapper, ranked 13th nationally at that position. … Lambert was named Elite 45 and all-metro in Sioux City. His twin brother, Taylor, will play offensive line at SDSU rival South Dakota. … Custer was the player of the year in his area and has been described as old school.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
