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Seeing the clock strike 0:00 in your final high school football game can be a gut-wrenching feeling. Even though I never got close to winning a state championship myself, I’ve covered enough state champions to realize that it still hurts for those who go out hoisting the hardware because you know in the back of your mind that you’ll never play high school football again. That’s why it’s fun to celebrate those who will be moving on to play at the next level. These individuals will be making new memories, new friendships and with help from their new coaches and professors, molding themselves into fine young men.

Last week, a second wave of high school prospects finalized their college commitments by signing during what is now tabbed as the “late” signing day period. This was the third year that division one college football teams have been allowed to sign players in the “early” signing period in December. I’m here to let you know where all these players are heading.

I kicked off this blog idea last year and enjoyed putting it together because it’s fun to keep tabs on these players as they continue their careers at the next level. It’s also very convenient to have all this information in the same place. So, big thanks to all the coaches across the state for helping me gather the information the past few years.

Also, for those that want a little teaser at what to expect from this list next year I’ve included my “way too early” top 10 list for the Class of 2021 recruits at the bottom of this blog. Of the ten players that I featured on my list last year, all of them will be playing a sport in college in the fall with seven of them set to play division one college football.

If you see a mistake or would like someone added to this list, please email me the info to Jody.Norstedt@Midco.com and I’ll do my best to update it.

Here are some of my key takeaways from the 2020 ND high school commit/signee class:

• This is the 2nd consecutive season that 13 players from ND will join a D-I program (NDSU: 6 | UND: 7)
• 26 D-II players in the state (MSUM leads the way with 12 commits for a 2nd straight year)
• 31 Division Two players (Led by MSU Moorhead’s 12 commits & Minot State’s 7 commits)
  • MSU Moorhead (12), Minot State (4), Northern State (1), U. of Mary (8), Bemidji State (1)
• EDC vs WDA (24 EDC players & 23 WDA players)
• The Class Breakdown
  • Class AAA = 47 players | Class AA = 14 players | Class A = 15 players | 9-Man = 20 players

The List of 2020 ND Commits/Signees (Organized by Class and Region):

Class AAA – EDC

Fargo Davies

Isaiah Issendorf, OL – Northern State                                                

Justice Noel, DE – MSU Moorhead

Ty Satter, DB – NDSU

Fargo North

Peyton Fisher, DB – UND

Junior Surpris, RB – Concordia-Moorhead

Fargo South

AJ Anderson, LS – U. of Mary

Bless Flomo, WR – MSU Moorhead

Danny Lahai, RB – NDSCS

Jamal Spiyee, DB – MSU Moorhead

Grand Forks Red River

Peyton Lotysz, OL – UND

Shanley

Joe Kava, DL - NDSU

West Fargo

Ben Anderson, OL/DL – NDSCS

Marcus Gulley, Safety – MSU Moorhead

Michael Johnson, LB – Mayville St.  

Cole Kartes, LB – Mayville St.

Evan Martin, DB – Mayville St.   

John McClendon, DB – NDSCS

Dustin Mertz, WR – Valley City State

Ethan Tong, OL/DL – Concordia-MHD

WF Sheyenne

Dawson Bayliss – NDSCS

Nathan Goldade, RB– NDSU

Matt Moore – NDSCS

Andrew Roberts – NDSCS

Tyler Terhark, WR - NDSU

Class AAA – WDA

Bismarck Century

Cody Sorenson, DB – MSU Moorhead

Konnor Stordalen, OL – U. of Jamestown

Bismarck High

Thomas Colby, LB – Concordia-MHD

Bismarck Legacy

Rhett Clements, QB – U. of Mary

Cooper Glenn, LB – U. of Mary

Josh Haag, DL – U. of Mary

Dickinson

Peyton Hanson, OL/DL – Dickinson State

Alex Praus, WR/DB – Dickinson State

Evan Showalter, OL/DL – Dickinson State

Jamestown

Johnny Browning, LB – U. of Jamestown

Jaeger Dreher, OL – U. of Jamestown

Tommy Falk, QB – MSU Moorhead

Carson Kennelly, OL – U. of Jamestown

Chris Sayler, RB – U. of Jamestown

Jeremy Williams, WR – U. of Jamestown

Mandan

Zach Condon, OL/DL – NDSCS

Austin Frey, WR – U. of Mary

Elijah Klein, WR – UND

Kobe Poitra, DL – MSU Moorhead

Minot

Triston Emke, DB – MSU Moorhead

Williston

Caleb Doeden, LB - UND

Connor Murphy, DL – U. of Mary

Denver Sheets, DL – MSU Moorhead 

Class AA – West

Bismarck St. Mary's

Adam Richter, K – U. of Mary

Hazen

Fred Lundstrom, DL - VCSU

Turtle Mountain

Lorrin Longie, LB – Mayville St.  

Tyrese Morin, OL – Mayville St.       

Keisin Peltier, WR – VCSU  

Watford City

Colton Daly, WR - VCSU

Class AA – East

Central Cass

Jeremiah Sullivan, LB - VCSU

Devils Lake

Jack Kuntz, OL – UND

Parker Vilandre, LB - VCSU

Hillsboro-CV

Oscar Benson, LB – NDSU

Zach Nelson, DE – Mayville St.

Kindred

Dawson Schaffer, K/WR – Concordia-MHD

Valley City

Riley Gerhardt, LB - VCSU

Austyn Thornton, K - VCSU

Class A

Region 1

Hatton-Northwood

Avery Thorsgard, QB - VCSU

Lisbon

Ethan Lyons, OL/DL - NDSCS

Sam Rieger, LB - VCSU

Northern Cass

Colin Conteh, RB – Concordia-MHD

Oak Grove

Trevor Yaggie, OL - NDSCS

Region 2

Carrington

Colton Buskness, DL – MSU Moorhead

Harvey-WC

Hunter Schuh, OL – Dickinson State

Region 3

Bishop Ryan

Keegan Henjum, OL – Minot State

Jaegar Lundeen, DB – U. of Mary

Des Lacs-Burlington

Jameson Lesmann, WR - VCSU

Region 4

Bowman County

Nate Boehm, DL – Dickinson State

Matt Osendorf, WR – Dickinson State

Richardton-T-H

Skyler Heiser, DL – Dickinson State

Shiloh Christian

Will Bryant, OL – MSU Moorhead

Southern McLean

Jack Sannes, OL – Minot State  

9-Man

Region 1

F-S-H-P

Jack Ihry, LB – UND

Carter Rings, OL/DL – Concordia-MHD

Hankinson

Hunter Medenwaldt, OL/DL - VCSU

LaMoure-L-M

Zac Thielges, OL – Minot State

MayPort-C-G

Dawson Sedivec, DL – U. of Jamestown

Region 2

Cavalier

Andre Carrier, TE – NDSU

Isiah LeTexier, OL – Bemidji St.

Colton Ratchenski, QB – Mayville St.

Tanner Urlaub, RB/LB – Mayville St.   

Nelson County

Parker Frederick, OL - VCSU

New Rockford-Sheyenne

Bo Belquist, WR – UND

Nick Presnell, DE – Mayville St.  

North Prairie

Ezera Wuori, LB – Mayville St.

Region 3

Ray/Powers Lake

Isaac Nordloef, OL – Minot State

Region 4

Beach

Gage Swanson, LB – Dickinson State

Grant County/Flasher

Greg Greicar, WR/TE – Concordia-MHD

Hettinger-Scranton

Ty Warbis, LB/DB – Dickinson State

Kidder County

Parker Hager, DB – U. of Jamestown

Isaiah Harter, RB – U. of Jamestown

South Border

Payton Hulm, RB/FB – MSU Moorhead

Top 10 Class of 2021 Prospects (Alphabetical Order):

Jaxon Duttenhefer, Mandan

Sibomana Enock, Fargo South

Gage Florence, Velva

Cade Garcia, Century

Reid Hartness, Davies

Barika Kpeenu, Sheyenne

Andrew Leingang, Bismarck Century

Grant Romfo, Langdon-E-M

Simon Romfo, Langdon-E-M

Sam Sather, Red River OL/DL