From the MN-Dulth SID:

A talented and promising group of 25 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend and play football for the University of Minnesota-Duluth next fall when the Bulldogs enter their inaugural season as members of the North Central Conference.

"This will be a special class -- the first recruits who will compete during their entire collegiate careers in the NCC," said first-year head coach Kyle Schweigert, who joined the Bulldog staff this past December after a 15-year assistant coaching stint at the University of North Dakota. " We are very excited to have this group of young men become part of our program. We felt we filled a good portion of our needs, particularly on the offensive line, at wide receiver and in the defensive secondary."

The 2004 UMD recruiting class, which includes 15 incoming freshmen from Minnesota, and 10 from Wisconsin, is as follows:

Player Pos Hgt Wgt Hometown (High School)

Nathan Baier OL 6-3 270 Bloomer, WI (Bloomer)

Casey Barman OL 6-4 275 De Forest, WI (De Forest)

Matt Bloomquist TE 6-5 220 Eden Prairie, MN (Eden Prairie)

Mike Boston DE 6-4 205 Eden Prairie, MN (Holy Angels)

Ben Bradley DB 6-2 185 Cambridge, MN (Cambridge-Isanti)

Jake Comnick LB 6-2 215 Proctor, MN (Proctor)

Darrel Davenport RB 6-1 195 Eagan, MN (Henry Sibley)

Tony Doherty RB 6-1 180 Prior Lake, MN (Prior Lake)

Drew Fautsch TE 6-5 245 Bloomington, MN (Jefferson)

Matt Hoffman OL 6-3 235 Maplewood, MN (Tartan)

Adam Hollerud OL 6-5 285 Hopkins, MN (Hopkins)

Matt Horvath OL 6-4 275 Eagan, MN (Eastview)

Jim Johnson DB 6-3 200 Little Chute, WI (Little Chute)

Ben Loth LB 6-5 230 Menasha, WI (Menasha)

Jake McKeever OC 6-1 250 Duluth, MN (East)

Justin Mueller WR 6-2 175 Brainerd, MN (Brainerd)

Luke Radke PK/P 5-11 185 Oconomowoc, WI (Kettle Moraine)

Chris Sande DB 6-1 185 Marshfield, WI (Marshfield)

Luke Schalekamp WR 5-11 180 Fergus Falls, MN (Fergus Falls)

Ted Schlafke QB 6-0 180 Stevens Points, WI (Stevens Point Area)

Ross Schumacher WR 6-2 190 Fond du Lac, WI (Fond du Lac)

Eric Taylor WR 6-3 205 Ladysmith, WI (Ladysmith)

Jake Thiry WR 6-4 180 Cambridge, MN (Cambridge-Isanti)

Dustin Timmerman FB 6-0 220 Roseau, MN (Roseau)

Tyler Yelk DB/PK 6-1 190 Arlington, WI (Poynette)

All signings are contingent upon admission to UMD and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

UMD closed out its 71st season of intercollegiate football this past fall with an 8-3 overall record and placed third in the final Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings at 6-2. The Bulldogs, who have racked up a 27-8 mark and made two post-season appearances during the past three years, are expected to welcome back 53 lettermen next season, including 13 starters (six on offense and 7 on defense).

A QUICK LOOK AT THE 2004 BULLDOG RECRUITING CLASS • • • • • •

Casey Barman (OL, 6-4, 275, De Forest, WI) - First team All-Conference and All-Area selection as a senior ... captained the Norskies in 2003 and was a co-winner of the team's Most Valuable Player Award ... named the Norskies' Offensive Lineman of the Year ... has been chosen to play in the Wisconsin High School All-Star Shrine Game.

Nathan Baier (OL, 6-3, 270, Bloomer, WI) - First team All-Conference and All-Region and second team All-Northwest Wisconsin honoree this past fall ... also earned Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Association All-State honorable mention status ... three-year football letterman

Matt Bloomquist (TE, 6-5, 220, Eden Prairie, MN) - Three-year varsity football letterwinner ... All-Conference honorable mention in 2003 ... member of Minnesota State Class AAAAA champions as a junior ... finished second among Eagles in pass receptions last fall ... also lettered three times in basketball and is captaining the Eagles this winter.

Mike Boston (DE, 6-4, 205, Eden Prairie, MN) - Landed All-Missota Conference recognition for the second year in a row after helping lead Holy Angels to the 2003 conference title ... voted the Stars' Best Defensive Lineman as well as their Most Valuable Player ... served as a team captain this past fall ... also competed in varsity basketball.

Ben Bradley (DB, 6-2, 185, Cambridge, MN) - Two-time All-North Suburban Conference pick ... paced that circuit in pass receptions in 2003 ... was a two-way starter at Cambridge-Isanti High School ... standout on the basketball floor for the Bluejackets as well -- has started each of the past four years and is the school's all-time leading scorer ... Made the All-Conference team in basketball as a sophomore and a junior and was an All-State honorable mention selection last winter.

Jake Comnick (LB, 6-2, 215, Proctor, MN) - All-Sea Range Conference as a junior and senior ... Duluth News-Tribune All-Area in 2003 ... named the both the Rails' Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year ... set Proctor HS single-game records with 21 total tackles and 49 total defensive points last season ... started at both linebacker and fullback for the Rails ... played on two Sea Range championship clubs (2002 and 2003) ... also has lettered three times in hockey and twice in baseball at Proctor HS ... nominated for the 2004 Congressional Student Leadership Conference.

Darrel Davenport (RB, 6-1, 195, Eagan, MN) - All-Conference honoree in 2003 ... ran 185 times for 1,356 yards (for a 7.3 yards per carry average) and 12 touchdowns last fall ... averaged 169.5 yards of rushing yardage per game as a senior ...reigned as the conference's rushing leader in 2003 ... established school records for rushing yards and points ... two-year letleterwinner in track.

Tony Doherty (RB, 6-1, 180, Prior Lake, MN) - All-Conference as a junior and senior ... was a starter on both offense and defense for three seasons ... received the Lakers' Most Valuable Player award for 2003 .. was three-year basketball letterman and is serving as a team captain this winter ... also has lettered three times in baseball and has twice secured All-Conference honors ... earned a regional tryout with the Minnesota Twins ... four-year honor roll student.

Drew Fautsch (TE, 6-5, 245, Bloomington, MN) - Was a 2001 All-Missota Conference pick (at new Prague HS) and repeated that feat this past fall in the Lake Conference ... closed out his four-year prep football career in 2003 by being named the Jaguars' Most Valuable Player ... was a two-way starter ... has lettered three times in hockey and baseball at New Prague HS and Bloomington Jefferson HS.

Matt Hoffman (OL, 6-3, 235, Maplewood, MN) - Attained a spot on the 2003 All-Conference team and was an All-State (honorable mention) performer as well ... also earned Class AAAAA Academic All-State honors ... two-year football letterwinner ... recipient of the Lineman of the Year award, Larry Hartman Award and Coaches Award.

Adam Hollerud (OL, 6-5, 285, Hopkins, MN) - Accrued three varsity letters in football and wrestling at Hopkins High School ... received All-Conference (honorable mention) honors as a senior ... also has performed with the Royals' band the past three seasons.

Matt Horvath (OL, 6-4, 275, Eagan, MN) - Was a three-year starter on the Eastview HS offensive line and captained the Lightning during his senior season ... landed Associated Press and St. Paul Pioneer Press All-State second team status in 2003 ... twice was chosen to the All-Lake Conference team ... also has competed with the Eastview HS track (shot put) and hockey teams.

Jim Johnson (DB, 6-3, 200, Little Chute, WI) - The 2003 Valley 8 Conference Player of the Year ... was a second team All-State selection and a first team All-Conference defensive back and quarterback as a senior ... rushed for 2,002 yards and scored 29 touchdowns last fall while capturing the team's Most Valuable Player honor ... two-year starter in basketball and a three-time letterman in track at Little Chute HS.

Ben Loth (LB, 6-5, 230, Menasha, WI) - Ranked first among his Blue Jay teammates in both total tackles (127) and quarterback sacks (27) in 2003 en route to being named to the All-Conference team ... selected Menasha's Most Valuable Player as a senior ... captained the football Blue Jays last fall ... has been selected to play in the Wisconsin High School All-Star Shrine Game ... two-year basketball starter as well.

Jake McKeever (OC, 6-1, 250, Duluth, MN) - Was used at both center and defensive end last fall for the Greyhounds, who averaged 37 points a game and racked up 61 touchdowns ... corralled Duluth News-Tribune All-Area acclaim as a senior ... All-Conference pick in both 2002 an 2003 ... named first team All-State by the Minnesota Vikings ... handled a starting assignment for three seasons ... was active with the Executive Board and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Duluth East HS.

Justin Mueller (WR, 6-2, 175, Brainerd, MN) - All-Conference and All-Area in both 2002 and 2003 ... captained Brainerd HS this past season ... lettered three times in football as a prep ... also made his mark on the Warrior basketball court (three-year lettermen and an All-Area honoree in 2002-03) and running track (state qualifier in the 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 relays as a junior).

Luke Radke (PK/P, 5-11, 185, Oconomowoc, WI) - Became, in 2003, the first individual in the history of the Classic 8 Conference to be chosen All-Conference at four different positions: placekicker and punter (first team) and defensive back and running back (second team) ... was an Associated Press and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel first team All-State placekicker and earned second team honors as a punter by those two entities ... twice was the recipient of the Oconomowoc HS Most Valuable Player award ... topped the Coons in tackles as a senior.

Chris Sande (DB, 6-1, 185, Marshfield, WI) - Associated Press and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel All-State second team defensive back as a senior ... All-Area pick in both 2002 and 2003 ... topped the Tigers in tackles last fall while being named the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player ... member of two state championship teams (2001 and 2003) ... three-year letterman in track ... captain of both the Marshfield HS basketball and track teams.

Luke Schalekamp (WR, 5-11, 180, Fergus Falls, MN) - Was an All-State second team pick, an All-Region first team selection, and a member of the Fargo Forum's All-Area team in 2003 ... filled starting roles at both wide receiver and defensive back for the Otters ... voted the team's Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of last season ... also handled the Otters' punt return responsibilities ... was a three-time letterwinner in three different sports: football, baseball and basketball.

Ted Schlafke (QB, 6-0, 180, Stevens Point, WI) - 2002 and 2003 All-Conference pick and the Conference Offensive Player of the Year this past fall ... completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,700 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior ... named the Stevens Point Journal Player of the Year as well as its Senior Scholar Athlete ... received honorable mention acclaim on both the Associated Press and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel All-State teams ... three-year basketball starter and an All-Conference honoree in 2002-03 ... has earned three letters in baseball as a prep ... named All-Conference in that sport last spring.

Ross Schumacher (WR, 6-2, 190, Fond du Lac, WI) - Selected the Fox Valley Association's Wide Receiver of the Year this past fall ... first team All- Conference as a junior and a senior and an All-Region pick in 2003 ... attained 2003 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State honorable mention honors ... voted the Cardinals' Most Valuable Player last season ... also is a two-year basketball letterman.

Eric Taylor (WR, 6-3, 205, Ladysmith, WI) - Secured All-Conference and All-Region recognition as both a wide receiver and a defensive back in 2003 ... caught 42 passes for 1,176 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior ... set Wisconsin playoff record (Division 5) for receiving yards in a game with 273 ... three-year letterman in football ... was a Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Association honorable mention choice last fall ... also lettered in golf and basketball as a prep.

Jake Thiry (WR, 6-4, 180, Cambridge, MN) - All-Conference and All-Section pick as a senior ... started at wide receiver since his junior year and doubled as a first team defensive back with the 2003 Bluejackets ... three-time basketball letterwinner and an All-Conference and All-Section performer last winter ... is a member of the National Honor Society.

Dustin Timmerman (FB, 6-0, 220, Roseau, MN) - Was named to a bevy of honor squads following his senior season: Heart O' Lakes All-Conference (for the third straight time), Grand Forks All-Area (for the second consecutive season) and All-State (honorable mention) ... two way starter for the Rams -- chosen the Heart O' Lakes Conference's Defensive Lineman of the Year as both a junior and senior .. concluded his high school playing days with 2,543 career rushing yards and 38 touchdowns.

Tyler Yelk (DB/PK, 6-1, 190, Arlington, WI) - Was a Wisconsin High School Coaches Association, All-Region, All-Area and All-Conference placekicker last fall ... also earned 2003 All-Conference status as a defensive back and tight end ... set a Wisconsin state championship game record for longest field goal with a 46-yard effort and most receptions with nine ... captained the Tigers to their best record ever and a state runnerup finish ... holds school record for most receiving yards in a single season with (812) ... has been selected to play in the Wisconsin High School All-Star Shrine Game ... is also an All-Conference outfielder in baseball.