UMC Football Adds 14 Players to Signing Class

CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston football program announced the addition of 14 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent or Offers of Admission to join the Golden Eagle program. The 14 signees join 28 student-athletes that signed with the program in February, bringing the total to 42 overall players who will be new members of the UMC football team.

“We are very excited to add 14 quality student-athletes to an already strong signing class that we announced in February,” said UMC football coach Mike Fritze. “We were able to add several more Minnesota guys that we think can impact our program both next season and in the future. We were also please with the talent that we were able to get out-of-state and  we look forward to developing their talent over their time in the Maroon and Gold.”

The Golden Eagles added four student-athletes from Minnesota, three from California and Texas, one from North Dakota, one from Hawai’i, one from Florida and one from Alabama. The additions include 10 high school student-athletes and four junior college transfers. Eight of the additions are defensive players and six are on the offensive side of the ball.

The additions bring UMC’s final class to 20 offensive players, 21 defensive players and one special teams players. Six of the new players are defensive backs, two are running backs, two are offensive linemen, one is a receiver, one is a tight end and two are defensive linemen.

The student-athletes listed today as having signed National Letters of Intent or Offers of Admission to play at University of Minnesota, Crookston have been verified by the UMC Compliance Office once they sign the National Letter of Intent and financial aid agreement or once the student-athlete has accepted an Offer of Admission from UMC.

The Golden Eagles currently have 49 student-athletes on their Spring roster and will add 39 new players for Fall ball, which brings the total to 88 players scheduled to report to camp for the 2015 season.

The Golden Eagles are looking to rebound from an 0-11 season in Fritze’s second season with the Golden Eagles. UMC returns five starters on offense and six on defense as Fritze heads into his third season as head coach for the Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles will be led by All-NSIC Honorable Mention selection Drew Selvestra (Sr., DL, Eagan, Minn.), who had a breakout season with 88 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. Offensively, sophomore wide receiver Adam Connette (Corona, Calif.) returns after amassing 28 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a freshman.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.

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High School Signees

William Cole/DB/6-1 170/Compton, Calif./St. John Bosco H.S.

High School: Was named Most Improved Player for St. John Bosco H.S. as a senior...As a senior, played for team that was named National Champions by several publications nationally...Was member of California State Championship team...Helped team to Trinity League Championship in 2012, 2013 and 2014...Started for the varsity as a senior...Participated in the state playoffs during all four years of high school...Tallied 46 total tackles with 32 solo tackles, two tackles for loss and five pass deflections during his senior year...Had five tackles as a junior.

Personal: Son of Patrick and Tracey Cole...Born June 17, 1997...Plans to major in sports and rec management...An Honor Roll student as freshman and sophomore.

Sam Davis/OL/6-3 233/Richardson, Texas/J.J. Pearce H.S.

High School: Named Honorable Mention All-District...Named First Team All-City...Selected Honorable Mention Academic All-State...Named Offensive Line Most Valuable Player...Helped block for offense that averaged 226 passing yards per game and 178 rushing yards per game.

Personal: Son of Annette and Joe Davis...Born Nov. 9, 1996...Plans to major in finance.

De’Shaun Diggs/TE/6-2 238/Keller, Texas/Timber Creek H.S.

High School: A 2013-14 and 2014-15 All-Academic pick...Named Second Team All-District for Timber Creek H.S...Played wide receiver in high school...Had 17 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns as a senior in high school.

Personal: Son of Natasha Evans and James Diggs...Born March 14, 1997...Plans to major in software
 engineering.

Trey Foster/DL/5-10 215/Fort Worth, Texas/Nolan Catholic H.S.

High School: Selected to start for Tom Hillary All-Star Football game in 2014...Named All-District First Team Defensive Lineman as a senior...Selected Second Team All-State Defensive Lineman...Named Player of the Game Sept. 12, 2014...Was a four-year varsity member...Helped high school team to three-straight state championships...Also played baseball and threw shot put.

Personal: Son of Tiffany Foster and Blant Foster, Jr...Full name is Blant Foster III...Born May 14, 1997...Plans to major in communications...Involved in several community and social work projects...Serves as volunteer and mentor for Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth...Coaches with City of Fort Worth Parks and Recreation...Works with Fort Worth Gospel Mission.

De’Angelo Funches/DB/6-0 180/St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall H.S.

High School: Had two interceptions for Cretin-Derham Hall H.S...Helped lead team to 6-3 mark.

Personal: Son of Venoy Walker-Funches and Isaac Funches...Born Oct. 1, 1996...Plans to major in health science.

Adam Heder/OL/6-5 240/Bloomington, Minn./John F. Kennedy H.S.

High School: An All-West Metro Conference pick...A high school teammate of fellow signee Depriece Isenberg and current UMC quarterback Travon Hearns.

Personal: Son of Mark and Jorie Heder...Plans to major in natural resources...Born Feb. 21, 1997.

Jonah Lind/DB/5-10 160/Williston, N.D./Trinity Christian H.S.

High School: Played basketball and football for Trinity Christian H.S...Named All-Region 4 Second Team as a running back for Trenton/Trinity football team.

Blaise Pridgen-Engle/DB/6-0 184/Minneapolis, Minn./St. Paul Central H.S.

High School: A 2014 All-St. Paul City Conference pick...Had 64 tackles and two forced fumbles as a senior...Helped lead team to 7-3 mark as a senior...Played safety and wide receiver...Had one tackle for loss...As a junior, had 10 tackles on the season.

Personal: Son of Adele Stevens...Born Dec. 28, 1996...Plans to major in education.

Lincoln Tappe/WR/5-10 170/Aiea, Hawai’i/Aiea H.S.

High School: A 2013-14 All-State Honorable Mention pick at Aiea H.S...Played slot back for Aiea H.S...Tallied 26 receptions for 293 yards with two touchdowns as a senior in high school...Tappe was a high school teammate of fellow signee Kolby Castillo and comes from same high school as UMC offensive lineman Drew McDurmin...As a junior, had 16 catches for 203 yards and one touchdown.

Personal: Son of Laurel Tappe and Wayne Hyna...Undecided on a major...Born March 22, 1997.

Malik Witherspoon/DB/5-11 189/Miami Gardens, Fla./Miami Central H.S.

High School: Helped lead team to State Championship three times in Florida...Led the team to a 14-1 mark as a senior...Played outside linebacker in high school...Also competed in track and baseball.

Personal: Son of Georgia Ann Nash and Willie Witherspoon...Second cousin is current Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore...Has been playing football, track and baseball at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club since age of five.


Transfers

Isaiah Armstrong/DL/6-3 234/Fairfield, Calif./Solano Community College

Prior to UMC: Played defensive end at Contra Costa Community College in 2013 and 2014, where he was teammates with fellow signee Harold Halcomb, III...Tallied 25 tackles on the season, with 16 assisted tackles and nine solo tackles...Notched 3.5 sacks with 5.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

High School: Selected  Honorable Mention All-Monticello Empire League as a senior in high school at Fairfield H.S.

Personal: Son of Bruce and Erica Armstrong...Born July 2, 1994...Plans to major in sports and rec management.

Marquis Dobbs/RB/5-10 195/Trafford, Ala./North Dakota State College of Science

Prior to UMC: Rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman for North Dakota State College of Science...As a freshman, had 13 receptions for 91 yards...Had 42 rushes for 187 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore...Tallied 37 catches for 349 yards and two touchdowns out of the backfield as a sophomore...Earned Second Team All-Minnesota College Athletic Conference...Had nine rushes for 115 yards and a touchdown against Ellsworth Community College...Tallied 11 rushes in second game Oct. 12, 2013 against
Ellsworth Community College.

High School: Competed at Mortimer Jordan H.S. in Trafford, Ala...As a junior, rushed for 562 yards and five touchdowns and had 402 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Personal: Son of Sheila Harris...Born Aug. 21, 1993.

Harold Halcomb, III/RB/5-9 180/Oakland, Calif./Contra Costa Community College

Prior to UMC: Rushed 166 times for 755 yards and 10 touchdowns for Contra Costa Community College as a sophomore...Averaged 4.5 yards per carry...Had 20 carries for 125 yards against Cabrillo...Had 27 touches for 165 yards and three touchdowns versus San Jose...Against Hartnell, had 25 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown...Had three receptions for 31 yards...Played 2012 season at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.

High School: Played at San Leandro High School...A First Team-All League pick...Also competed at McClymonds High School.

Personal: Born Oct. 23, 1994...Plans to major in business.

Kenneth McChristion/DB/5-10 180/Bloomington, Minn./Rochester Community and Technical College

Prior to UMC: Played at Rochester Community and Technical College...A First Team All-Conference selection in community college...Earned First Team All-Division at RCTC...Led team in interceptions with five...Had 26 tackles in 10 games played...Had one tackle for loss...Teammates of fellow signees Josh Zitzmann and Jerrod Miller.

High School: Competed at Thomas Jefferson High School in Bloomington, Minn...Was an Honorable Mention Suburban Conference pick in high school...Earned Special Teams Player of the Year honors in high school...Also served as track captain and was named Most Valuable Player of track team in high school.

Personal: Son of Kenneth McChristion, Sr. and Darvella Paul...Plans to major in applied studies...Born March 2, 1992...Great uncle is NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas.