South Dakota State has signed 14 high school standouts to letters of intent, indicating they will enroll at SDSU and participate in the Jackrabbit football program.
In addition, two junior college transfers are already enrolled at SDSU.
Two junior college transfers -- both defensive backs from Fort Scott Community College in Kansas -- enrolled at SDSU at semester break. Both were also teammates at Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences in Kansas City.
James Epps plans to pursue a degree in business economics. He was first-team all-Kansas and was team captain. At Sumner Academy, he had 80 tackles and one interception with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He is the son of Saundra Epps of Kansas City.
Mike James was team captain at Sumner Academy and finished with 60 tackles. He plans to study business
economics. He is the son of Michael and Stephanie James.
Ryan Berry passed for 1,117 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior while running for 377 yards and seven scores … for his career, the 6-foot-3, 180-pounder passed for 2,623 yards and 21 touchdowns … as a three-year starter at free safety, Berry had a career total of 10 interceptions, including four in 2003 … earned all state as a junior and senior, and was a member of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 team … earned all-conference honors three times in football and has also been all-conference in basketball … plans to major in pharmacy … parents are Mike and Monica Berry.
Brock Campbell earned first-team all-Class 2A Des Moines Register all-state honors at Washington High School in Cherokee last season … caught 95 passes for 1,600 yards last season, playing for coach Tony "Bill" Messerole … he plans to major in business … parents are Mark and Jane Campbell.
Ruey Dei was a two-year starter at Omaha Burke High School for coach Jack Ohlendt … earned all-conference as a junior and was honorable mention as a senior … 57 unassisted tackles with 42 assists and 12 tackles for loss … plans to pursue pre-medicine … was born in Sudan … parents are Bret and Julie Cain of Omaha.
Travis Devine honorable mention on the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 team … earned all-conference recognition as a defensive back, kick returner and punter … was team captain … caught 18 passes for 417 yards, had 25 carries for 127 yards, returned 18 kicks for 683 yards, a 37.9 average, and averaged 39 yards per punt … also had 78 tackles with six sacks … plans to study secondary education … parents are Daniel and Jeanne Devine.
Nick Flesner lettered four years for coach Mark Brahmer at Pierce High School in Nebraska … first-team Class C-1 all-state selection by Omaha World Herald … earned all-district and all-conference recognition … plans to major in construction management … parents are Dave and Pam Flesner.
Brock Gentile was team captain and earned all-state honors two years for coach Adam Kuhl at St. Albert High School in Council Bluffs … first-team all-Western Iowa by Omaha World Herald … also earned all-district and all-city honors three years … he had 87 tackles with 10 interceptions … in addition, was a standout in baseball, basketball and track … plans to study criminal justice … parents are Greg and Kathy Gentile.
Luke Greving played for coach Dave Pfaffle at Maurice-Orange City-Floyd Valley High School … earned first-team all-district honors in 2002 and 2003 … plans to study industrial management … parents are Mark and Ruth Greving.
JaRon Harris played just one season of high school football for coach Kim Nelson at Sioux Falls Washington … earned all-city and honorable mention all-conference honors … had 15 receptions for 293 yards and 32 tackles with three interceptions … also scored twice on kick returns … runner-up in the 100 meters at the 2003 state track meet … undecided about college major … parents are Ron and Rhonda Harris.
Tim Neneman earned three letters in football for coach Larry Martin … earned all-Nebraska as a defensive player at Omaha North … first-team Class A all-state by the Omaha World Herald … three-year starter, was the Vikings defensive leader each of the past two seasons … also started at tight end on offense … plans to study civil engineering … parents are Ted and Cathie Neneman … sister Christy is a standout basketball player at Creighton University.
Jason Nobiling earned first-team all-district honors … three-year letterman for coach Al Christian … had 131 tackles including 33 for losses in three seasons … also caught 27 passes for 330 yards … plans to major in civil engineering … is the son of Kim Nobiling of Huxley, Iowa, and Gary Nobiling of Cambridge, Iowa.
Mitch Pontrelli played for coach Jeff Plaschko at St. Paul Johnson, earning four letters … team captain in both football and wrestling … earned all-metro, all-conference and all-state recognition in football … finished fifth in the state in wrestling as a junior and is currently the No. 2 ranked heavyweight in Class 3A … and also earned all-conference in the shot put and discus in track … plans to study athletic training … parents are Nick and Laurie Pontrelli.
Kevin Robling earned all-state honors in football and like Pontrelli is a standout wrestler, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A … three-year letter winner for coach Jay Lepper in football, he earned all-Minnesota River Valley Conference honors in 2002-03, and was named to The Associated Press all-state team … named conference lineman of the year as a senior … had 152 career tackles… also earned academic all-state and is a member of the National Honor Society … plans to
major in wildlife and fisheries … parents are Tony and Claire Robling of Jordan.
Eric Schroeder has 321 career tackles for coach Steve Schwartz at Stewartville High School … earned all-state recognition and was a two-time HVL all-conference selection … also two-time team captain … was a three-year starter in football, three-year starter in basketball and a four-year letter winner in track … member of National Honor Society … plans to major in environmental science … parents are Terry and Pat Schroeder.
Josh Schulte was a first-team Class C-1 all-state defensive lineman for coach Jeff Bellar at Norfolk Catholic … has also earned all-conference in basketball … and has lettered in baseball and track … plans to study secondary education … parents are Jeffrey and Margaret Schulte of Norfolk.
SDSU, which will enter its first season of competition in NCAA I-AA football next fall, is coached by John Stiegelmeier. Stig will enter his eighth season as head coach of the Jackrabbits. The Selby native is a 1979 graduate of SDSU with a Master’s Degree from Northern Iowa in 1981. He was North Central Conference Coach of the Year in 1999 after guiding the Jacks to an 8-3 season, their best record in 20 years. Stiegelmeier has a 42-33 career record, including 30-29 in NCC play.