Football Signing Day: Dec 2018


This is one of my favorite Jackrabbit sports days of the year.  The season opener, Hobo Day, and when players report for fall camp are probably the only days that rank higher for me. Here are the players who SDSU football signed today.  This group started to come together in June after Prospect Camp and then filled in until now.  Tucker Kraft was the first verbal and Jarod DePriest was the most recent.  I would expect the Jacks to add 3-5 more student athletes on the February 6th signing period.  A priority position has got to be running back.  It is a position where you want to bring in a player or two every class.  Regardless, lets celebrate the kids who committed today.  Plenty of change can happen between now and graduation but this is an exciting day today for these student athletes.  Welcome to the Jackrabbit family!

*Please note, offers listed are from what student athletes either posted on Twitter or told me.

Offense

 Keaton Heide- Quarterback- 6'3, 190- Plymouth, Minnesota (Wayzata High School)
  • 56.6% completion rate, 1,183 yards passing, 12 TD, 183 rushing yards, 3 TD
  • Testing: 40= 4.73, broad jump= 9'8, pro agility= 4.4
  • Battled injuries his junior season but started all 8 games for Wayzata in 2018.  
  • Tough player who moves well in the pocket and throws a nice deep ball.  Ran an offense that looks simliar to SDSU's.  
  • Additional Offers: 2 D2 offers

Karst Hunter- Quarterback- 6'4, 200- Miller, South Dakota
  • 66% completion rate, 1,249 yards passing, 15 TD, 1,319 yards rushing, 13 TD
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40=4.85, broad jump= 9'0, pro agility= 4.57
  • 2x Elite 45 Selection, 3 time Class 9AA All-State selection, great athlete who scored over 80 TD's in his prep career
  • Helped turn around a historically weak Miller football program. 
  • Additional Offers: UND and 13 NAIA or D2 offers

Payton Madison- Fullback- 6'4, 235- New London, Minnesota (New London-Spicer)
  • 130 carries for 1,160 yards, 13 TD, 11 rec., 228 yards, 2 TD. 60 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 FR
  • Played in the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Vikings All-Star Showcase
  • Former junior hockey player.  Only played one year of varsity football.
  • Tough runner and packs a punch as a blocker.  Very good athlete that will cause matchup problems.

Canyon Bauer- Wide Receiver-6'0, 183- Sioux Falls, South Dakota (O'Gorman)
  • 62 receptions, 922 yards, 16 TD, 20 carries for 166 yards in 2018
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 4.48, broad jump= 10.75, pro agility= 4.14 
  • 2x Elite 45 and 11AAA All-State Selection
  • Selected to play in the Blue Grey All-American Bowl
  • Gatorade Player of the Year for South Dakota
  • Strong leader for the Knights, rare athleticism, good ability to make contested catches
  • Additional Offers: NDSU, UND, Minnesota (FBS/PWO), Iowa (FBS/PWO), USD, and 3 D2 offers  

Shane Dailey Jr- Wide Receiver- 5'9, 160- Bellevue, Nebraska (Bellevue West)
  • Selected to the 2018 All-Nebraska Super State football team
  • 50 receptions, 1,046 yards, 13 TD in 2018
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 4.52, broad jump= 9'8, pro agility= 4.13
  • Very dynamic with the ball in his hands, plays FAST, reminds nearly everyone who watches his tape of Cade Johnson
  • Additional Offers: 4 D2 offers 

Tucker Kraft- Tight End- 6'5, 245- Timber Lake, South Dakota
  • South Dakota 9A All-State selection and Elite45 Team member
  • 138 carries, 1405 yards, 24 TD, 132 receiving yards, 56 tackles in 2018
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 4.97, broad jump= 9'5, pro agility= 4.43 
  • Dad was a 3x NAIA All-American at Huron College
  • Very athletic 2x place winner at state track meet in 300m Hurdles
  • Was the first athlete to commit and said that he was proud to represent his home state
  • Additional Offers: Wyoming 

Jharett Bloomenrader- Tight End- 6'5, 225, Miller, South Dakota
  • South Dakota 9AA All-State selection and Elite45 Honorable Mention
  • 45 catches, 697 yards, 6 TD; 82 tackles, 4 sacks in 2017 & 2018
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 5.04, broad jump= 7'11, pro agility= 5.01
  • Played football for just two years. Very gifted athlete who is still learning how to play football.
  • Team needs required him to be more of a blocker in 2018 than 2017.    
  • Additional Offers: 7 D2 offers

Alex Westendorf- Offensive Line- 6'5, 293- St. Charles, Illinois (St. Charles North)
  • All-DuKane Conference selection and All-Area Fox Valley selection
  • Captain of the St. Charles North squad that was the 7A runners-up in Illinois
  • 3 year starter that paved the way for an offense that put up 324 yards per game in 2018
  • Every article I read about Alex mentions his strong communication and leadership ability
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 5.58, broad jump= 7.5, pro agility= 5.02
  • Additional Offers: Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois 

Brady Beck- Offensive Line- 6'7, 255- Sioux Falls, South Dakota (O'Gorman)
  • 2018 All Metro Athletic All Conference team
  • Played primarily at defensive tackle for OG but will transition to offensive line for SDSU.
  • Good feet and moves well for a man his size
  • Testing: 40= 5.8, broad jump= 6'7, pro agility= 4.88
  • Plays basketball for OG

Bo Donald- Offensive Line- 6'6, 300- Kimball, South Dakota
  • Selected to the South Dakota 9AA All-State and Elite45 teams
  • 37 tackles and 5 sacks in 2018; missed 5 games in 2018 due to injury
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40=5.59, broad jump= 8'3, pro agility= 5.07 
  • Played both ways for the 9AA runners-up
  • A road grader of an offensive lineman. Quick off the ball and good feet.  
  • Additional Offers: NDSU

Ethan Vibert- Offensive Line- 6'4, 285- Regina, Saskatchewan (Miller)
  • Led his high school to the 4A Provincial Championship
  • Top offensive lineman from western Canada in 2019 as rated by Canadian Football Chat
  • Plays with a mean streak.  Very physical and punishing.
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing:  40= 5.33, broad jump= 8'3, pro agility= 4.85
  • Additional Offers: UND, Richmond, Western Illinois


Defense

Quinton Hicks- Defensive End- 6'2, 230- Haysville, Kansas
  • Selected to the Kansas 6A All-State team as a linebacker but will play defensive end.  His first time playing the position was during prospect camp.
  • 104 tackles, 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 431 receiving yards and 5 TD in 2018
  • Four year starter, strong leader.  Moved from MLB to OLB in 2018 to help prepare for position change. 
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp:
    • Testing: 40= 4.8, broad jump= 9'3, pro agility= 4.55

Caden Johnson- Defensive End- 6'3, 245- Wahoo, Nebraska
  • Selected to the 2018 All-Nebraska Super State football team, 2x All-State selection and 2018 C-1 Class team captain
  • 93 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 FF, 2 FR; also played offensive line.
  • Testing: 40- 5.02, 9'4 broad jump, 4.43 pro agility.
  • Led team to Class C-1 semifinals
  • Relentless, high motor type of player.  Explosive off the snap.  
  • Additional Offers: Army (FBS), Central Arkansas, Air Force, NW Missouri State, Stephen F. Austin, UND, UNI, USD, Wayne St. 

Jarod DePriest- Defensive Tackle- 6'5, 290- Farmington, Illinois
  • Rated a 3 star recruit by 24/7 sports
  • 2x Illinois class 3A All-State selection  
  • 101 total tackles, 30 TFL, 11 sacks
  • Plays with a nasty streak, strong, has the ability to split double teams and the nimbleness to track down the ball carrier
  • Additional Offers: Air Force (FBS), Bowling Green (FBS), Brown, Central Michigan (FBS), Cornell, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan (FBS), Illinois State, Missouri State, NDSU, Northern Illinois (FBS), Harvard, Fordham, UNI, Columbia, Western Illinois, Austin Peay, and Southern Illinois    

Thomas Motzko- Linebacker- 6'1, 225- Highland Park, Illinois (Highland Park)
  • Selected as a 2018 Lake County News-Sun All-Area Team member as a fullback
  • Junior Year Statistics: 112 total tackles, 29 TFL, 9.5 sacks
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 4.62, 9'7 broad jump, 4.55 pro agility 
  • Very intelligent and instinctual player. Played fullback and linebacker.   
  • Additional Offers: UCLA (FBS/PWO), Air Force (FBS), Fordham, WIU, Indiana St., USD, Southern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, and Missouri State   

Adam Bock- Linebacker- 6'1, 215- Solon, Iowa
  • Selected as an Iowa class 3A All-State Linebacker 
  • 74.5 tackles (47 solo, 27.5 assists), 3 TFL; 2 sacks, 1 FR, 1 TD,  644 rushing yards, 10 TD; 11 rec, 3 TD
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 4.7, broad jump= 9'3.5, pro agility= 4.5
  • Explosive and powerful athlete.  Brings toughness. 4 sport standout (basketball, track, baseball)
  • Additional Offers: UNI, USD, and Mankato 

Payton Shafer- Linebacker- 6'0, 195- Cottage Grove, Minnesota (Park High School)
  • Named to the KARE 11 All-Metro Team, Star Tribune 1st Team, and played in the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Vikings All-Star Showcase
  • 96 total tackles (65 solo, 31 assisted), 8 TFL, 2 rumble recovers, 4 passes defended
  • Attended SDSU's team camp in June
    • Testing: 40= 4.6, broad jump= 8'10.5, pro agility=4.26
  • Son of a former coach and has been around football his entire life.  Plays really fast and has a knack for diagnosing what the offense is scheming.
  • Additional Offers: New Mexico (FBS), Eastern Michigan (FBS)

Matt Barnett- Linebacker- 6'3, 205- Alburnett, Iowa

  • 21.5 tackles (18 solo, 2.5 assists), 5 TFL, 2 sacks; 124 rushing yards, 2 TD; 208 yards receiving, 2 TD
  • Battled injuries in  2018 but in 2017 had 366 yards rushing, 4 TD; 22 receptions, 406 yards, 4 TD,  38.5 total tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1 sack
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 4.54, broad jump= 8'11, pro agility= 4.42
  • Very athletic, was an All-District selection in 2017 as a receiver.  
  • Additional Offers: USD, UNI, and 4 D2

Diamond Evans- Cornerback- 5'11, 190- LaGrange Park, Illinois (Nazareth)
  • Led his team to the Illinois 7a State Title; the Nazareth offense averaged 39.3 ppg.
  • Played wide receiver and was selected as an All-conference performer
  • 5 INT, 25 tackles; 60 catches, 1,195 yards, 13 TD; 
  • Testing: 40= 4.57, vertical= 36.5, broad jump- 10'1, pro agility= 4.18, has a 6'8 wingspan
  • Additional Offers: UNI, Columbia, Air Force (FBS), Fordham, Brown, USD, Montana State, UND, Western Illinois, NDSU, and UND 

Jordan Gandy- Cornerback- 6'2, 190- DeKalb, Illinois
  • Selected as an Illinois class 7a All-State cornerback in 2018
  • 108 tackles, 3 TFL's 9 PBU's, 2 INT, 2 FF, 1 blocked kick; 17 rec for 413 yds, 2 TD; 20 rushes 363 yards, 2 TD
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 4.58, broad jump= 9'5, pro agility: 4.14
  • Gandy was one of my favorite players from Prospect Camp.  Accepted every challenge that was thrown at his way during camp.  Enjoyed an elite senior season.  Good recognition and reaction ability.  
  • Additional Offers: 3 D2 offers

Baily Darnell- Safety- 6'1, 185- Auburn, Nebraska
  • Selected to the 2018 All-Nebraska Super State football team
  • 63 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 INT, FR; rushed for 1253 yds and 18 TDs; caught 21 passes for 460 yds.
  • Attended Jackrabbit Prospect Camp
    • Testing: 40= 4.53, broad jump= 9'1, pro agility= 4.14
  • A tremendous athlete who played all over the field for Auburn.  He was second verbal for the class and has a humbleness about him that is really cool to see.
  • Additional Offers: Wyoming (FBS), Nebraska (FBS/PWO), 3 D2 offers 

Chase Norblade- Safety-  6'2, 180- Papillion, Nebraska (Papillion La Vista South)
  • Nebraska Class A Honorable Mention All-State
  • 52 tackles (40 solo, 12 asst), 4 INT, 11 PBU, 2 FF; 14 kick return with a 31.1 avg 1 TD, 8 punt returns with a 12.5 avg, 1 TD, 95 rushing yards, 215 receiving yards, 1 total TD 
  • Testing: 40=4.68, broad jump= 8'10, pro agility= 4.36
  • Blew up on the recruiting trail this fall with a really good season.  Used as a Swiss Army knife by his HS team, Norblade has the combination of size and athleticism to play all over.
  • Additional Offers: Nebraska (FBS/PWO), 8 D2 or NAIA offers

Torren Union- Athlete- 6'2, 185- Tempe Arizona (Marcos de Niza High School)

  • Named to the Desert Sky Region 1st Team as a defensive back.
  • 29 total tackles (13 solo, 16 Asst), 2 INT, 4 PBU, 1 FF; 1,339 total yards of offense (800 rushing, 368 receiving, 171 passing), 7 total TD
  • Testing: 40= 4.67, broad jump= 10', pro agility= 4.28, 6'9 wingspan
  • Great leader, team captain, filled in wherever his team needed him on the field
  • Additional Offers: 1 D2 offer
Go Jacks!
Matt

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