Dakota schools lure Minnesota prep football stars

[Wally]

Fifteen Minnesotans are expected to sign national letters of intent at the four Dakota colleges, with as many as a dozen more still deciding as Wednesday's signing day approached. All four schools are NCAA Division I programs at the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) level, formerly known as Division I-AA.

Traditionally viewed as a fallback for those who weren't recruited at college football's highest level, the Dakota schools these days are seen by many Minnesota players as more than a consolation prize. Last year 78 Minnesotans suited up across the four schools, which offer a decidedly smaller-town pull on the athletes.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/go...1&c=y#continue

[EndZoneQB]

'Totally out of the blue'

Eastview tight end A.J. Stockwell never even considered playing for North Dakota until coaches there reached out to him after his junior year and offered him a scholarship based on nothing more than seeing him play on film.( I know it does happen, just sounds par for the course for UN_)

"It was totally out of the blue," Stockwell said.

Stockwell was intrigued. If North Dakota had made such a bold gesture without knowing him, he owed them a visit to Grand Forks.

"I liked it," Stockwell said. "There are no pro teams. Everyone pays attention to the college teams.(I think he means team...) They really love the team(yep, and unfortunately it's not the team you just joined) and it's a program on the rise. I felt like it was a good place for me."

LMFAO, really?

[bisonmike2]

LMFAO, really?

Hey now! They do love the team. As long as its not during hunting or fishing season. And as long as there isn't some big going on in Sioux Falls that weekend like a monster truck rally or a Lynard Skynard concert.

[tjbison]

Hey now! They do love the team. As long as its not during hunting or fishing season. And as long as there isn't some big going on in Sioux Falls that weekend like a monster truck rally or a Lynard Skynard concert.

Sioux Falls???...

[bisonmike2]

Sioux Falls???...

People disappear from Brookings on the weekend for events in Sioux Falls.

[tjbison]

People disappear from Brookings on the weekend for events in Sioux Falls.

I thought you were referencing EZQB's post

[bisonmike2]

I thought you were referencing EZQB's post

Whoops. I thought that quote was from one of the kids who was going to SDSU.

[MNLonghorn10]

Kill has one minnesotan this class i believe...while gopher fans will refute the fact that the best players from minnesota are already goin to notre dame, wisconsin or iowa...its disturbing that the local big 10 team cant keep more homegrown kids in the back yard..and we all know the ones who slip through the cracks wouldve helped out the gophers tremendously. Not that im complaining about ndsus gets or anything

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[HerdBot]

Good article. The Dakota schools play at a very high level and the Missouri Valley is a beast of a conference. UNI, Youngstown, and SIU could all take down the Gophers too. Now were starting to beat MAC conference teams regularly in recruiting battles

[dragonsfan]

anyone else surprised that ndsu only got 1 kid out of twin cities? hope thats not a trend, you were built on twin cities kids.