National Signing Day Recap

By Dan Tracy, BRCFootball.com

Whew.

For BRCFootball.com there are the days we put together our final Preseason Team, our final All-Conference team and now with our recruiting coverage, there is the first Wednesday of February, National Signing Day. The ink has dried on the letters of intent signed 12 days ago and we’ve heard back from a number of recruits in the last 12 days who are still mulling over their college decisions.

Let’s take a look back at National Signing Day and a look at which other BRC recruits will be making or have already made their college decisions.

Who signed:

Note: These players’ college destination was not known before National Signing Day. For a complete list of commitments from the BRC Class of 2011, check out 2011 Commits List on the right side of our page.

Eau Claire North LB Gregory Button– Bemidji State

Menomonie RB Joey Neeb– Northern Michigan

Chippewa Falls TE/LB Mario Stephens– Bemidji State

Eau Claire North TE Grant Lokken– University of Minnesota-Crookston

Who hasn’t decided:

Here are some updates on some of the players of the BRC Class of 2011 who will make their college decisions sometime in the next few weeks.

Eau Claire Memorial DL Chuck Ayres: Definitely the most interesting recruiting process of any BRC recruit this season, Ayres is being courted by nearly all of the Ivy League with MIT, Princeton and Harvard in his top three. Ayres will be visiting MIT on Feb. 19 and he plans to make his decision soon after the visit.

Eau Claire North QB Mitch Degrasse: BRC’s leading passer in 2010 will not be playing college football next season and instead will opt to enlist in the United States Air Force.

Menomonie LB Nick Didier: Honored as first-team All-State and first-team All-BRC at both OL and LB, Didier has received interest from Division II Northern Michigan and Minnesota-Duluth but is also interested in Division III UW-Lacrosse.

River Falls WR Jack Herum: 6’4 170 lb. target caught 37 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns on his way to an All-BRC second team selection. Deciding on UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater and has not yet decided whether or not he will play football at the next level.

Hudson DL Will Johnson- All-BRC second-teamer plans to play at the next level and is receiving interest from numerous WIAC schools.

Hudson OL Matt Krier: Narrowed down his list of potential schools to two, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Lacrosse. Krier, a second-team All-BRC offensive lineman in 2010, visited UW-Lacrosse on Feb. 5.

Eau Claire Memorial QB Mark Munger: Old Abes signal caller will wait until after his senior season of hockey to decide between interest from UW-Eau Claire, Gustavus Adolphus and St. Thomas. All three schools are interested in Munger for football.

Eau Claire North WR Austin Rieder: The BRC’s leading receiver in 2010. He snagged 60 catches for 887 yards and eight touchdowns. Rieder is receiving interest from Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota-Crookston, St. Thomas, UW-Stout, UW-LaCrosse and UW- Platteville. Rieder informed me on Jan. 25 that he had hoped to make his decision “sometime soon.”

River Falls RB Nick Zimmerman: 1st-team All-BRC running back rushed for 1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2010. Zimmerman has received interest from UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, St. Thomas, St. John’s, Gustavus Adolphus and UW-Whitewater. Both UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls are high on Zimmerman’s list.

Who we haven’t heard from:

Here is a list of Class of 2011 BRC players that were named All-Conference in 2010 but have not made their college plans known.

Ben Danovsky- Menomonie OL

Collin Couey- Rice Lake OL

Chris Ester- Rice Lake RB

Eli Sankey- Menomonie DL

Eric Elwood- Rice Lake DL

Taylor West- Rice Lake DB

Tyler Kinderman- Chippewa Falls DB

Tyler Naatz- Menomonie DB

Dylan Faulker- Eau Claire Memorial OL

Kelly Larson- River Falls OL

Aaron White- Menomonie RB

Tyler Hermann- Eau Claire North WR

Jamie Kozak- River Falls DL

Tim Weller- River Falls DL

Avery Sega- Eau Claire Memorial LB

Jake Denison- Hudson K

If you have any information about these players and their college plans, Dan Tracy can be contacted via e-mail at dtracy@iastate.edu.

No BRC Bulldogs:

The 2010 Division II National Champion University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs signed 22 players on National Signing Day but none from the BRC. The Bulldogs currently boast 10 former BRC players on their roster but it appears that that number won’t grow until next season as head coach Bob Nielson continues to build a dynasty up in Duluth.

2011 National Signing (and Groundhog) Day Preview

By Dan Tracy, BRCFootball.com

It’s fitting that this year’s National Signing Day falls on Groundhog Day, especially for the Big Rivers Conference.

There may not be a player in the BRC with a name as clever as Punxsutawney Phil (although Gregory Button comes in a close second) but for the remaining uncommitted recruits in the BRC, will they see their shadows and decide to ponder their college decisions for a few more weeks? Or will they emerge from their recruiting process and make plans to scamper away to college after inking their letter of intent?

Over the next 20 hours–that’s if you’re actually reading this at 4 a.m. when it was published–we will find out.

There are six known commits in the BRC Class of 2011 (see 2011 Commit List) including the only likely Division I recruit in Menomonie linebacker Brent Stout (Army). News of the sixth commit came just over two hours ago via Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reporter John Casper Jr.’s Twitter account that Menomonie running Joey Neeb will be signing with Division II Northern Michigan.

There are plenty of BRC recruits that have not announced their college decisions yet so I’ll give you a team-by-team breakdown of what we can expect either today or within the coming weeks from the remaining recruits in the BRC’s Class of 2011. Be sure to check back here at the BRCFootball.com blog for updates on these recruits throughout the day.

Chippewa Falls

Brad Huempfner: The last time I posted an article about Bruisin’ Brad he had received a bevy of recruiting interest from schools in the NSIC and WIAC. Ultimately, Huempfner had narrowed down his options to Bemidji State, UW-Stout and also a possibility of attending a technical school. I’ve learned that Huempfner has shown interest in Rochester Community and Technical College. RCTC is no stranger to recruiting the BRC as Menomonie’s Jonny Koehler and Travis Welch, both 2010 graduates, were on the 10-2 Yellowjackets this season as they won the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) State Championship. No word yet on when Huempfner will decide today although he did tell me that he hoped to decide around Signing Day.

Mario Stephens: One of the few BRC recruits left that will definitely end up heading to a Division II school. I’ve been in contact with Mario numerous times over the last few weeks and it’s down to Bemidji State and Minnesota-State Mankato. Stephens visited Bemidji State on Jan. 15 and Mankato on Jan. 29. Stephens had originally planned to have his decision made a week before National Signing Day. I expect that Stephens will make his decision today.

Tyler Kinderman: A first-team All-BRC selection at defensive back and a second-team All-BRC selection at punter this season.

 

Eau Claire Memorial

Chuck Ayres: Definitely the most interesting recruiting process of any BRC recruit this season, Ayres is being courted by nearly all of the Ivy League with MIT, Princeton and Harvard in his top three. Ayres will be visiting MIT on Feb. 19 and he plans to make his decision soon after the visit.

Ricky Caldwell: One of the most explosive athletes in the conference over the last three years, Caldwell never eclipsed the 700-yard mark in his three years in the Old Abes backfield but showed us flashes of his athletic potential. Caldwell was invited to the Wisconsin Badgers one-day camp before his junior season but since then his interest from colleges has been sparse.

Mark Munger: Second in the BRC in passing yards (1,642) and touchdowns (15) in 2010.

Avery Sega: Three-year letterwinner and second-team All-BRC at linebacker in 2010.

 

Eau Claire North

Gregory Button: I can’t confirm it yet but I’m hearing that Button could be headed to Bemidji State. The 6’2 215 lb. Button was the anchor of the Huskies defense over the last two seasons and was named to the All-BRC first team at linebacker in 2010. Button attended camps at Wisconsin, Winona State and Minnesota-Duluth prior to the 2010 season.

Mitch Degrasse: The leading passer in both yards (2,255) and touchdowns (23) this season. Named to the All-BRC second team.

Tyler Hermann: Caught 44 passes for 738 yards and five touchdowns this season. Named to the All-BRC second team.

Grant Lokken: 2010 Preseason All-BRCFootball.com tight end. Caught 17 passes for 260 yards and five touchdowns in five games before breaking his fibula which ended his season. Lokken attended pre-season camps at Wisconsin, Winona State and Minnesota-Duluth.

Austin Rieder: The BRC’s leading receiver in 2010. He snagged 60 catches for 887 yards and eight touchdowns. Rieder is receiving interest from Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota-Crookston, St. Thomas, UW-Stout, UW-LaCrosse and UW- Platteville. Rieder informed me on Jan. 25 that he had hoped to make his decision “sometime soon.”

 

Hudson

Jake Denison: Second-team All-BRC kicker in 2010.

Derek Krumrei: 6’2 190 lb. wide receiver caught 10 passes for 199 yards and five touchdowns in 2010. UW-Eau Claire has shown interest in Krumrei.

Matt Krier: Narrowed down his list of potential schools to two, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Lacrosse. Krier, a second-team All-BRC offensive lineman in 2010, will visit UW-Lacrosse this weekend.

Will Johnson: Second-team All-BRC defensive lineman in 2010.

 

Menomonie

Jimmy Benrud: First-team All-BRC tight end in 2010 will attend UW-Lacrosse for solely academic purposes after suffering a season-ending injury during wrestling season.

Ben Danovsky: First-team All-BRC offensive lineman in 2010.

Nick Didier: The most decorated player in the BRC’s class of 2011, Didier could complete the trifecta of all three first-team All BRC linebackers continuing on to play in college (pending Button’s commitment). The 2010 first-team All-State offensive lineman and linebacker has received interest from Northern Michigan and Minnesota-Duluth among others.

Joey Neeb: According to John Casper Jr. of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Neeb, a first-team All-BRC running back in 2010, will commit to Northern Michigan today.

Aaron White: Rushed for 754 yards and 11 touchdowns on his way to being named to the All-BRC second team in 2010.

 

Rice Lake:

Eric Elwood: 6’1 205 lb. Elwood was named to the All-BRC first team as a defensive lineman in 2010.

Chris Ester: First-team All-BRC selection at running back in 2010. One of four players in the BRC this season to rush for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns; he rushed for 1,064 and 10 touchdowns.

Taylor West: First-team All-BRC selection at defensive back in 2010.

 

River Falls

Jack Herum: 6’4 170 lb. target caught 37 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns on his way to an All-BRC second team selection. Deciding on UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater and has not yet decided whether or not he will play football at the next level.

Nick Zimmerman: Led all BRC running backs with 1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns. First-team All BRC selection has received Division III interest but is currently leaning towards attending UW-Madison for solely academic purposes.

 

Superior

Cam Stanley: Received interest prior to the 2010 season from Minnesota-Duluth. Caught seven passes for 147 yards and one touchdown at wide receiver and recorded  23 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble at defensive end.

2010 All-BRCFootball.com Team

It’s been 36 days since Menomonie fell to Marshfield 21-14 in the WIAA playoffs so why not hand out some recognition for the talented players from the Big Rivers Conference in 2010. With input from BRC players and the BRCFootball.com staff Jace Bresina, Jace Frederick and Dan Tracy here is the 2010 All-BRCFootball.com team.

Offensive Player of the Year: Kody Novinska QB Rice Lake

Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Didier LB Menomonie

Underclassman of the Year: Ben Erickson Superior

Coach of the Year: Dan Hill Rice Lake

1^st Team

QB: Kody Novinska Rice Lake

RB: Nick Zimmerman River Falls

RB: Brad Huempfner Chippewa Falls

RB: Chris Ester Rice Lake

WR: Clint Larsen Eau Claire Memorial

WR: Austin Rieder Eau Claire North

OL: Nick Didier Menomonie

OL: Ben Danovsky Menomonie

OL: Collin Couey Rice Lake

OL: Matt Krier Hudson

OL: Braeden Jensen Chippewa Falls

DL: Chuck Ayres Eau Claire Memorial

DL: Eric Elwood Rice Lake

DL: Matt Strachota Hudson

DL: Will Johnson Hudson

LB: Nick Didier Menomonie

LB: Greg Button Eau Claire North

LB: Brent Stout Menomonie

DB: Taylor West Rice Lake

DB: Tyler Kinderman Chippewa Falls

DB: Ben Erickson Superior

DB: Tyler Naatz Menomonie

K: Tyler Kinderman Chippewa Falls

P: Lex Pelke Menomonie

RET: Tyler Smrcina Hudson

 

2^nd Team

QB: Mitch Degrasse Eau Claire North

RB: Joey Neeb Menomonie

RB: Aaron White Menomonie

RB: Ricky Caldwell Eau Claire Memorial

WR: Jack Herum River Falls

WR: Tyler Hermann Eau Claire North

OL: Cole Schorr Superior

OL: Dylan Faulker Eau Claire Memorial

OL: Zack Ross Chippewa Falls

OL: Kelly Larson River Falls

OL: Zach Bowe Chippewa Falls

DL: Eli Sankey Menomonie

DL: Jamie Kozak River Falls

DL: Dom Goyette Chippewa Falls

DL: Anthony Valentine Superior

LB: Avery Sega Eau Claire Memorial

LB: Grant Schindler Chippewa Falls

LB: Josh Schueller Hudson

DB: Clint Larsen Eau Claire Memorial

DB: Matt Knapp Eau Claire Memorial

DB: Nick Parenteau Rice Lake

DB: Caden Cook Chippewa Falls

K: Jake Denison Hudson

P: Tyler Kinderman Chippewa Falls

RET: Drew Otto Menomonie