February 7, 2008

Seventeen Join Football

New Lopers From Six Different States

     Kearney, Neb. –  Nebraska-Kearney head football coach Darrell Morris announced the names of 17 high seniors who will play for the Lopers next season.

      They join four mid-year transfers as newcomers to the program. Morris said UNK will add more players to the roster this spring and summer.        

      Today's group features eight Nebraska natives and four players from Colorado. Other states represented includes Kansas (two), California, Florida and Texas (one each).

      By position, the class includes seven linebackers or defensive backs, four wide receivers, two running backs, two offensive/defensive linemen, one tight end and one athlete.

      The group includes running back Rustin Dring, the all-time leading rusher in Kearney High history. Helping the Bearcats win a Class A state title as junior, Dring rushed for 1,221 yards and 23 TD's this year before an injury ended his prep career in the playoffs.  

      Another area newcomer is linebacker Justin Swedburg of Axtell. The 2007 Kearney Hub Territory Defensive Player of the Year, Swedburg led the Wildcats in tackles (76) while also rushing for 1,096 yards and 14 TD's.

      Also from the local area are running back Justin Luong (Cozad), receiver Aaron Urbanski (Kearney Catholic). From Eastern Nebraska are linebacker Dan Janovich (Gretna) and corner Colby Henderson (Wakefield).

      UNK went just a little bit South into Kansas for linebacker Ethan Kuhlmann (Athol) and safety/outside linebacker Jared Hayes (Smith Center). Kuhlmann prepped at Kensington High School, home to former Loper standout kicker Darren Grauerholz.

      UNK continued to mine talent from Colorado, adding linemen Matt Bellendir (Broomfield), athlete Patrick Kremer (Broomfield), receiver Sean Styerwalt (Centennial) and defensive back Trevor Toteve (Arvada).

      Kremer joins four Standley Lake High graduates already on the Loper team.

      As with previous classes, some recruits already have ties to UNK or Nebraska. Dring's older sister, Kelli, is an All-American track athlete for the Lopers. Jay Reicks (Petersburg) is a cousin of current senior defensive end Jay Reicks while offensive linemen Nathan Bryan (Katy, Texas) has an older sister, Claire, currently playing tennis for the Lopers.

      Also, the uncle for wide receiver Brock Stonacek (Pierce), Troy, was an All-American defensive tackle for UNK in the 1980's.  Finally, wide receiver Collin Hogan (Watsonville) is coming from California but his family is originally from Beatrice.

      Rounding out the class is defensive back Justin Carlisle from Parkland, Florida, a town located just North of Fort Lauderdale. He'll be the third Floridian on the 2008 Lopers, joining receivers Eric Myrick (Jacksonville) and Tyrone Hilton Jr. (Miami).

      The complete lists follows.
 

2008 UNK Recruiting Class - So Far

Matt Bellendir (DL, 6-0, 260 lbs., Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield H.S.)

* 2007 Rocky Mountain News All-State Class 4A First-Team

* In 2007, 64 tackles, including eight sacks, for state runner up (12-1)

Nathan Bryan (OL, 6-2, 280 lbs., Katy, Texas/Katy H.S.)

* 2007 18-5A All-District First-Team

* Played for Class 5A state champs (16-0) and a squad ranked 4th nationally by USA Today

Justin Carlisle (DB, 6-1, 180 lbs., Parkland, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons H.S.)

* In 2007, 77 tackles (44 solo), four INT's, seven pass breakups and two fumble recoveries

* 2007 Broward County 1-3A First-Team

* Played in the 2007 Broward County/Miami-Dade All-Star game (five tackles, one INT)

Rustin Dring (RB, 6-0, 190 lbs., Kearney, Neb./Kearney H.S.)

* In 2007, 145 carries for 1,221 yards and 23 TD's; school-record 2,769 rush yards

* 2007 Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska First-Team

* 2007 Omaha World Herald All-State Class A First-Team

Jared Hayes (S/OLB, 6-0, 175 lbs., Smith Center, Kans./Smith Center H.S.)

* Part of four state championship teams (Class 2-1A) and program riding a 54 game win streak

* 2007 All-MCL First-Team at DB and kick return

Colby Henderson (CB, 5-10, 165 lbs., Wakefield, Neb./Wakefield H.S.)

* 2007 Omaha World Herald All-State Class C2 Honorable Mention

Collin Hogan (WR, 5-11, 180 lbs., Watsonville, Calif./Monte Vista Christian H.S.)

* In 2007, led his team with 1,061 all-purpose yards; 525 receiving, 284 rush, 244 return, eight INT return

* Also had a hand in eight TD's (six receiving, one rush, one passing)

* 2007 All-MBL

Dan Janovich (LB, 6-1, 205 lbs., Gretna, Neb./Gretna H.S.)

Patrick Kremer (Athlete, 5-10, 1855 lbs., Broomfield, Colo./Standley Lake H.S.)

* In 2007, rushed for 504 yards and six TD's; also 226 receiving yards and three TD's

* 1st-team all-conference at DB; 2nd-team all-conference at WR

Ethan Kuhlmann (LB, 6-3, 230 lbs., Athol, Kans./Kensington H.S.)

* 4-year starter and two-year team captain

* In 2007, started at QB and rushed for 1,178 yds. and 16 TD's; threw for 537 yds. and 10 TD's

* Made 124 tackles (84 solo) and forced six fumbles

Jason Luong (RB, 5-9, 160 lbs., Cozad, Neb./Cozad H.S.)

* In 2007, 312 carries for state-best 2,282 yards and 19 TD's

* 2007 Omaha World Herald All-State Class B First-Team

Jay Reicks (TE, 6-4, 210 lbs., Petersburg, Neb./Elgin-Pope John H.S.)

* 2007 Omaha World Herald All-State Eight Man-1 First-Team

* Also two-time first-team all-district tight end

Sean Styerwalt (WR, 6-2, 180 lbs., Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek H.S.)

* Part of a program that went 8-3 in 2007 and made the 2nd round of the playoffs (Class 5A)

* Also has lettered in rugby and track

Brock Stonacek (WR, 6-4, 180 lbs., Pierce, Neb./Pierce H.S.)

* 2007 Omaha World Herald All-State Class C1 Honorable Mention

Justin Swedburg (LB, 6-0, 210 lbs., Axtell, Neb./Axtell H.S.)

* 2007 Omaha World Herald All-State Eight Man-1 First-Team

Trevor Toteve (DB, 5-8, 170 lbs. Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.)

* In 2007, 46 tackles (34 solo) and three INT's

Aaron Urbanski (WR, 6-0, 180 lbs., Kearney, Neb./Kearney Catholic H.S.)