Feb. 1, 2006

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State University head football coach CRAIG BOHL announced the signing of 16 high school athletes and three junior college athletes to National Letters of Intent to play football and continue their education at NDSU.

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

That announcement came today on the first day student-athletes are allowed to sign National Letters of Intent.

The list includes student-athletes from eight different states including North Dakota (5), Minnesota (4), Wisconsin (3), Texas (2), South Dakota (1), Mississippi (1), Illinois (1), California (1) and Florida (1).

Here are the bios of the new letter of intent signees:

NORTH DAKOTA
MATT ANDERSON, Linebacker, 6-3, 210, Cavalier, N.D. (Cavalier H.S.)--North Dakota's 2005 Class A Player of the Year as a senior ... Led Cavalier to three state titles and 47-1 record under the direction of Rod Oksendahl ... Two-time all-state first team selection ... Three-time all-region pick ... Only loss was in the 2005 state championship game ... Rushed for 2,108 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior ... Defensively, recorded 10 interceptions and 103 tackles ... Holds five school football records ... Selected to play in the Mon-Dak Bowl and North Dakota Shrine Bowl games ... Sprinter on the Tornadoes track & field team with a school record time of 10.81 in the 100 and 22.31 in the 200 ... Anchorman on the 2005 state champion 400 meter relay and third place 800 meter relay ... Also played basketball ... Undecided on college major ... Son of Doug and Vonda Anderson.

MICHAEL ARNDT, Offensive Lineman, 6-7, 285, LaMoure, N.D. (LaMoure H.S.)--First-team all-state offensive lineman as a senior, first-team all-state defensive lineman as a junior for Greg Hermes at LaMoure High School ... Selected to play in the Mon-Dak Bowl and North Dakota Shrine Bowl games ... Nominated for U.S. Army All-America honors ... Member of the 2003 region championship and state runner-up team ... Finished career with 198 tackles, 10 sacks, three fumble recoveries and one interception ... LaMoure advanced to the playoffs each year and compiled a 28-13 record ... Brother, Derek, played tight end for North Dakota State from 2002-05 ... Undecided on college major ... Son of Lynn and Marianne Arndt.

LANDON SMITH, Tight End, 6-2, 205, Dickinson, N.D. (Trinity H.S.)--Led Trinity to the 2005 Class AA state championship ... Played for head coach Randy Gordon ... All-state linebacker after recording 90 tackles including 30 unassisted stops as a senior ... Caught 13 passes for 220 yards ... Three-time all-region and all-conference selection at tight end and linebacker ... Trinity compiled a 32-3 record that included three region titles from 2003-05 (2003 state runner-up, 2004 state semifinalist) ... Selected to play in the Mon-Dak Bowl and North Dakota Shrine Bowl games ... Three-year starter for basketball team ... Two-time all-region and all-district, and also earned all-state tournament honors in 2004 ... Competes in the discus (160 feet) and shot put (47 feet) ... Plans to major in business ... Son of Dale and Mary Smith.

LEE VANDAL (von-DOLL), Fullback, 6-1, 215, Rolla, N.D. (Rolla H.S.)--Two-time first-team North Dakota 9-man all-state linebacker for Rolla High School head coach Dave Zinke ... Selected the Region 4 Senior Athlete of the Year ... Charted 348 career tackles at linebacker for the Bulldogs ... Rushed for 2,176 yards, recorded 490 receiving yards and scored 217 points ... Rolla compiled 7-2 records in 2004 and 2005 ... Selected to play in the Mon-Dak Bowl and North Dakota Shrine Bowl games ... Class B state wrestling runner-up at heavyweight in 2005 and placed fourth in 2004 ... Also plays baseball ... Plans to major in science/radiology ... Son of Bob and Mary Vandal.

MINNESOTA
SHAWN BIBEAU (BEE-bow), Kicker, 5-11, 200, White Bear Lake, Minn. (White Bear Lake H.S.)--First-team 2005 Associated Press all-state selection for White Bear Lake High School head coach Bob Jackson ... Named to the 2005 Pioneer Press and Minnesota Vikings all-state first-teams, and also earned all-metro and all-conference honors ... White Bear Lake went 9-2 and won the conference title in 2004, compiled 7-3 record in 2005 ... Converted 28-of-28 PATs and 4-of-6 field goal attempts ... His longest field goal was 44 yards ... Punted 27 times for an average of 31.6 yards per kick ... Thirty-one of his 45 kickoffs were touchbacks ... Team's leading scorer with 64 points ... Also gained 600 yards (9.4 ypc) on 64 carries at running back ... Other sports included soccer and track ... Undecided on college major ... Son of Scott and Debbie Bibeau.

MATTHEW GRATZEK (GRAHT-zeck), Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 250, Argyle, Minn. (Stephen-Argyle H.S.)--Three-year starter on the offensive and defensive line for Mark Kroulik at Stephen-Argyle High School ... Part of successful Storm football team that compiled a 53-1 record that included a 41-game winning streak ... From 2002-05, Stephen-Argyle won three Minnesota state 9-man championships and four section titles ... Named to the Associated Press all-state team and was the conference's Most Valuable Lineman ... Two-time all-conference performer ... Honorable mention all-state as a junior ... Also all-conference basketball player ... Plans to major in mechanical engineering ... Son of Richard and Cynthia Gratzek.

CYRUS LEMON, Free Safety, 5-11, 185, Minneapolis, Minn. (DeLaSalle H.S.)--Two-time all-conference performer at running back and defensive back for head coach Dick Weinberger at DeLaSalle High School ... Rushed 87 times for 667 yards (7.7 ypc) and nine TDs as a senior ... Finished with 75 tackles including 33 solo stops, 10 passes defended and four interceptions ... Placed second in the 400 meter dash at the 2005 state track & field meet, and also was a member of the state champion 4x100 meter relay team ... Two-time all-conference in track ... Member of National Honor Society ... Holds a second-degree black belt in karate ... Plans to major in pharmacy or sports medicine ... Son of Cathy Lemon.

JIMMY SHARPE, Defensive End, 6-1, 235, Plymouth, Minn. (Wayzata H.S.)--Defensive lineman and running back for the 13-1 Class 5A state champions in 2005 ... Coached by Brad Anderson at Wayzata H.S. ... Honorable mention Associated Press All-State ... Credited with 55 tackles including 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks ... Scored the winning TD on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter in a 28-24 win over Cretin-Derham Hall ... Named to the all-Classic Lake Conference first team and all-metro second team ... Wayzata was also the 2004 state runner-up ... Undecided on college major ... Plays varsity hockey ... Son of Bill and Cindy Sharpe.

WISCONSIN
CHRIS BIGLEY, Cornerback, 6-1, 185, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls H.S.)--Honorable mention all-state defensive back for head coach Bob Vitale at Menomonee Falls High School ... Earned first-team all-area, all-conference honors ... Menomonee Falls had a 10-2 record and advanced to the state quarterfinals in 2005 ... First-team all-area and named the league's Defensive Back of the Year after intercepting seven passes including one returned for a touchdown ... Came up with 11 fumble recoveries including one returned for a TD ... Also returned four punts for a touchdown ... Had 72 tackles, 10 passes defended and five sacks ... Plans to major in business administration ... Plays basketball and competes in the sprints and jumps on the track ... Son of Mike and Lisa Bigley.

JOHN KNEPEL (KUH-nay-pull), Defensive End, 6-5, 250, Mequon (meck-wahn), Wis. (Homestead H.S.)--Second team all-state defensive end for head coach Dave Keel at Homestead High School ... Homestead posted a 12-1 record and was a state playoff semifinalist ... Recorded 52 tackles including 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks ... Milwaukee Journal Sentinel all-area, all-region and all-conference selection for the 7-0 league championship team ... Named the North Shore Conference's Defensive Player of the Year ... Plans to major in accounting ... Son of John and Mary Knepel.

MATT PHILLIPS, Defensive Tackle, 6-4, 250, Green Bay, Wis. (Notre Dame Academy)--First-team all-conference defensive end for head coach John Nowak at Notre Dame Academy ... Earned all-area and all-conference first-team honors at offensive tackle as a senior ... Notre Dame Academy went 9-2 in 2005 and compiled 30-5 record during his prep career ... Competed in track & field and played basketball ... Plans to major in business administration or political science ... Son of Michael and Sandy Phillips.

SOUTH DAKOTA
CHRIS WELLENSTEIN, Offensive Line, 6-6, 285, Centerville, S.D. (Centerville H.S.)--An all-state offensive lineman for head coach Dan Evans at Centerville High School ... Charted 195 career tackles ... Centerville posted a 7-2 record, won the Tri-Valley Conference championship and lost in the first round of the South Dakota 9-man playoffs in 2005 ... Two-time all-conference selection ... Named to the Elite 45 team and academic all-state squad as a senior ... Honorable mention all-state and Elite 45 as a junior ... Three-year starter in basketball ... Has competed in track & field for four years ... State qualifier in the shot put as a junior ... Plans to major in mechanical engineering or business ... Son of Scott and Marge Wellenstein.

ILLINOIS
DERRIUS COLVIN, Cornerback, 5-10, 180, South Holland, Ill. (Thornwood H.S.)--All-conference performer for Thornwood High School and head coach Dennis Gutowski ... Recorded 79 tackles during senior year including 13 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and three sacks ... Credited with 20 pass breakups and three interceptions ... "Will to Win" Athlete of the Year ... Three-year starter ... As a junior, came up with 62 tackles including 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles ... Had 11 pass breakups and a pair of interceptions ... Plans to major in human performance and fitness ... Son of Derrius and Anita Colvin.

TEXAS
KEVIN WEEDEN, Safety/Cornerback, 5-10, 175, Houston, Texas (Thurgood Marshall H.S.)--Led Thurgood Marshall High School to back-to-back 7-on-7 state appearances and district championships ... Played for head coach Dennis Brantley ... Recorded four interceptions and 50 tackles including 22 solo stops ... Holds school record for interceptions ... Standout on the track, claiming the district 400 meter title on two occasions ... Five-time Junior Olympian in track ... Plans to major in business administration ... Son of George Delce and Maxine Delce-Gillard (grandmother).

GARY WILLIAMS, Wide Receiver, 5-11, 170, Humble, Texas (North Shore H.S.)--Played for successful North Shore High School program under the direction of David Aymond ... North Shore went 11-1 in 2005, making it to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs ... Undefeated 10-0 during regular season ... Had 38 receptions for 672 yards (17.7 ypr) ... The Mustangs are 60-4 in the past five years including the 2003 state championship ... Honor roll student ... Placed second in the 100 meter dash at the district meet, ran second leg on 4x100 district relay champs last spring ... Best time in 100 meters is 10.62 ... Plans to major in business administration ... Son of Trey and Catherine Miller.

CALIFORNIA
PETE BLINCOE, Running Back, 5-8, 180, Imperial, Calif. (Imperial H.S.)--Rushed for 1,096 yards and 19 touchdowns for Imperial High School ... Also caught three passes for 219 yards and passed for a pair of TDs ... Head coach was Steve Cato ... Imperial High School compiled a 9-1-1 record and advanced to the first round of the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) playoffs ... Had 103 tackles including 62 assists, along with five sacks and three interceptions ... Sprinter and long jumper for the Imperial track & field team ... Went 21 feet, 7 inches in the long jump ... Plans to major in business administration ... Son of Peter Blincoe, Sr., and Marsha Blincoe.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
MICHAEL BROWN, Defensive Tackle, 6-0, 270, Larimore, N.D. (North Dakota State College of Science/Larimore H.S.)--Transfer from North Dakota State College of Science, where he played for Mike Beagle ... Second-team NJCAA All-American after leading the Wildcats to a 5-6 record and No. 20 national ranking in 2005 ... Earned NJCAA all-region 11 first-team honors ... Credited with 79 tackles including 35 solos stops, 13 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, three sacks and three forced fumbles last season ... As a freshman at NDSCS, charted 52 tackles including 13 tackles for loss and four sacks ... Two-time first-team all-state performer for Larimore High School ... 2003 Region 2A Player of the Year ... Played in 2004 North Dakota Shrine Bowl ... Earned second-team all-state honors as a sophomore ... Plans to major in business administration ... Son of Jerry and Kathy Brown, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

THOMAS CAMPBELL, Defensive Tackle, 6-1, 275, Starkville, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C./Starkville H.S.)--Didn't play football over the past two seasons ... Redshirt for Auburn University in 2002 ... Started at defensive tackle for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2003 ... Earned second-team all-Mississippi Community College Athletic Association South honors ... Recorded 45 tackles including eight tackles for loss, four sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and a blocked field goal ... Two-time all-state performer at Starkville High School including a first-team pick as a senior ... Named the Region 1-5A Defensive Lineman of the Year ... Three-time all-region selection ... Plans to major in human performance and fitness ... Son of Diane Campbell.

CHRISTON DALLAS, Defensive End, 6-3, 280, Gainesville, Fla. (North Dakota State College of Science/Gainesville H.S.)--Transfer from North Dakota State College of Science, where he played for Mike Beagle ... The Wildcats went 5-6 in 2005 and achieved a No. 20 national ranking ... Charted 42 tackles including 20 solo stops, four tackles for loss, three sacks and one pass breakup ... Earned Class 4A third team all-state honors in 2003 ... Plans to major in psychology ... Son of Cynthia Williams.

North Dakota State completed the 2005 season with a 7-4 record under the direction of head coach CRAIG BOHL, and tied for third place in the Great West Football Conference with a 3-2 record. The Bison were ranked in the I-AA Top 25 for 10 out of 12 weeks during the season.

The Bison are scheduled to begin spring practice on March 24. NDSU will have 15 practice sessions culminating with the annual Spring Game on April 22.