By Dan Tracy
BRCFootball.com
On the eve of National Signing Day, here are a few recruiting quick hitters which include a commitment, two updates from undecided recruits and an update from a top prospect for numerous Ivy League schools.
Zack Ross
Chippewa Falls and Menomonie have had quite a rivalry over the last four years atop the BRC. Chippewa Falls offensive lineman Zack Ross has battled Menomonie players in games throughout his varsity career, but now he will battle them in practice and will fight for victories with them as he has committed to UW-Stout for the 2011 season.
A 2nd team All-BRC selection in 2010, Ross chose the Blue Devils over interest from UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and St. Scholastica.
The UW-Stout roster boasts four current BRC players, three of which are Menomonie grads. The BRC players on the Blue Devils’ roster include 2010 graduates Cody Siebert of Menomonie and Eau Claire Memorial’s Bobby Nyland.
Name: Zack Ross
Nickname(s): Rosco, Rossy
Height: 6’4
Weight: 230 lbs.
High School Position(s): Left tackle, tight end, defensive end
Potential College Position(s): Offensive tackle and defensive line
40 Time: 5.10 sec.
Greatest High School Football Accomplishment: Getting 2nd-team All-conference.
Best BRC player that you played against: Chippewa Falls RB Brad Huempfner and DB Tyler Kinderman
Personal Motto/Quote: “Winning isnt everything, its the only thing.”
One word that describes you: Competitive.
Matt Krier
Head coach Adam Kowles and the Hudson Raiders have boasted the biggest and always one of the best offensive lines in the BRC over the last three seasons. 2010 first-team All-BRC selection Matt Krier was a big part of that successful unit as they cleared lanes for the Hudson spread option attack. Krier plans to take his talents to the Division III level next season.
“I have not made my college decision yet however I do plan on continuing my football career,” Krier said. “I have narrowed it down to either the University of [Wisconsin] Eau Claire or Lacrosse.”
Krier will visit UW-Lacrosse this Saturday and hopes to make his decision soon after the visit. Krier has also received interest from UW-River Falls, Valparaiso, Bemidji State, St. Thomas, Gustavus, Upper Iowa, St. Scholastica, Winona St., Augsburg and Macalaster.
Name: Matt Krier
Nickname(s): Krier
Height: 6’2
Weight: 265 lbs.
High School Position(s): Offensive guard, Special Teams
Potential College Position(s): Offensive or defensive line
40 Time: 5.30 sec.
Max Bench Press: 270 lbs
Max Parallel Squat: 460 lbs
Max Power Clean: 260 lbs
Greatest High School Football Accomplishment: Being the only junior to start on our Big Rivers Conference championship team.
Personal Motto/Favorite Quote: “If you want something go get it . . .Period.”
Austin Rieder
How many teams in Northwest Wisconsin run pass-heavy offenses? Well, there’s Eau Claire North. And when you have a pass-heavy offense, you get receivers with huge receiving numbers.
So is the case with 2010 1st-team All-BRC and honorable mention All-State wide receiver Austin Rieder.
Reider hauled in a conference-leading 60 receptions for 887 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensive coordinators took notice during the season and now college recruiters are taking notice in the off-season. Rieder is now weighing interest from Division II Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota-Crookston as well as Division III schools St. Thomas, UW-Stout, UW-LaCrosse and UW- Platteville. Rieder hopes to make his decision “sometime soon.”
Name: Austin Rieder
Height: 5’11
Weight: 175 lbs.
High School Position(s): WR
Potential College Position(s): WR, DB
40 Time: 4.52 sec.
Max Bench Press: 260 lbs.
Max Parallel Squat: 375 lbs.
Max Power Clean: 190 lbs.
Greatest High School Football Accomplishment(s): Setting receiving records at North and getting named honorable mention All-State.
Best BRC player that you played against: Eau Claire Memorial RB Ricky Caldwell
Personal Motto/Favorite Quote: “Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.”
One word that describes you: Dedicated
Chuck Ayres
Notre Dame, Texas, Ohio State.
Three of the largest dynasties in college football.
MIT, Princeton, Harvard.
Three of the largest dynasties in college academics.
Not many college football recruits have the latter three schools in there final three schools to decide on, but Chuck Ayres does.
The three-year starter at defensive end for the Eau Claire Memorial Old Abes is being courted by a host of schools across the country but most notably from the academically-prestigious Ivy League.
Along with MIT, Princeton and Harvard, Yale, Penn, Dartmouth and Brown have all shown interest in the 6’4 225 lb. Ayres. In addition to the Ivy League interest, Ayres has received mail and calls from Wisconsin, Air Force, Lawrence University, Macalester, Augsburg, Upper Iowa, St. Thomas, Concordia St. Paul, Lakeland College, Winona State, Gustavus Adolphus and North Dakota State.
“I would love to play college football, but my education is more important to me,” Ayres said. “Ideally, I would love to play football at a college where I can excel academically.”
Ayres, a 2010 first-team All-BRC selection at defensive end, hopes to pursue Biomedical Engineering with a pre-med concentration at college. So far Ayres has been accepted into Purdue, Michigan and Wisconsin’s engineering schools.
“I want to play, I’d do almost anything to play even if that means walking on and getting redshirted,” Ayres said. “I love the game and would love to continue competing.”
Ayres will be flying out to Boston on Feb. 19 to spend the weekend with the MIT football team. Whether he plays or not, Ayres is working hard both in the classroom and in the weight room to prepare for his college career.
“Strength and body mass are my two points of emphasis,” Ayres said. “I believe that if I am going to compete at the next level I need to ramp up my training and put some more size on my frame. I know I can do it, it’s just a matter of time and putting in the work.”
Ayres is also finding success on the rink as he is a co-captain along with 2010 quarterback Mark Munger on the 19-1-0 and No. 1 ranked Eau Claire Memorial hockey team.
Name: Charles Ayres
Nickname(s): Chuck
Height: 6’4
Weight: 225 lbs.
High School Position(s): DE,OL
Potential College Position(s): DE
40 Time: 4.71 sec.
Max Bench Press: 225 lbs.
Max Parallel Squat: 315 lbs.
Max Power Clean: 225 lbs.
Greatest High School Football Accomplishment: Honorable Mention All-State as well as 1st Team All Northwest at defensive end.
Best BRC player that you played against: Rice Lake QB Kody Novinska
Personal Motto/Favorite Quote: BTA
One word that describes you: Intensity
Dylan Tracy
BRCFootball Blog 