Valley City, North Dakota- Valley City State University Head Football Coach Dennis McCulloch announces the signing of 31 prep standout football players and three transfers to Dakota Athletic Conference Letters of Intent.  The group includes 12 from North Dakota, four from South Dakota, two from Minnesota, five from Alaska, four from Arizona, three from Colorado, and two each from Hawaii and California.

We believe we have added another strong foundation of recruits to our Viking Football Program. I feel good about the quality of young men who have committed to play football for us next fall. Our staff believes we have put three of our best recruiting classes together the last three years.  We've improved our depth in most every position, but we still have needs in a couple of positions. We continue making phone calls to solidify these areas.  The old saying is true – 'they all look great on paper'.  These young men now need to come to camp in great shape ready to compete.

I believe that we build our team with freshmen and let them grow up in our program. We will find out if that statement is true this year. We will depend on our depth to step up this year and fill some vacancies. We graduate some very talented players from last year's squad.  I do not expect our freshmen to come in and start but this year some may come in and compete for playing time. The nucleus of our team next year will be the 70 athletes working out this spring.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my coaching staff. Gregg Horner, Steve LeGrand, Travis Engen and Rob Hunt put in the extra hours to get us to this point in recruiting. Recruiting would not have been successful without them.

North Dakota (12)
Sam Vigessa - 5'9 - 180 - WR - NDSCS - Cooperstown, ND
Son of Randy and Holly Vigessa

Josh Clouse - 6'0 - 200 - DL - Devils Lake High School - Devils Lake, ND
Honors: 1st Team East Region Offensive Line, 2nd Team All State Offensive Line
Awards: 2006, 2008 Team Hardest  Worker,  2008 MV Offensive Lineman, 3 year starter on Offensive Line
Son of Phillip and Michelle

Jake Thurston - 5'10 - 185 - DB - Bottineau High School - Bottineau, ND
Honors: Shrine Bowl, Badlands Bowl
Awards: '09 All-State, '09 All-Area, '07 '08 '09 All Region
Son of Gene Thurston and Stephanie Herschlip

Jake Schauer - 6'2 - 200 - TE - Willison High School - Williston, ND
Honors: Three time Academic All Conference, Lettered three times in Football, Lettered two times in Basketball, and lettered three times in Track
Awards: Hardest Worker, Player of the Game vs. Minot High School
Son of Duane and Darcy Schauer

Alex Granfor - 6'3 - 265 - OL - Bismarck High School - Bismarck, ND
Awards: All West Region Lineman
Son of Warren and Kim Granfor

J D McDougall - 5'10 - 190 - LB - Fargo North High School - Fargo, ND
Honors: Two time All State selection and All Conference Selection, Team Captain, and selected for Mondak and Shrine All Star games
Awards: Team-2007 Most Valuable Offensive Back and Hardest Worker, 2008 Most Valuable Offensive Player, and Defensive Player
Son of Al McDougall, Vicki Fiechtner, Margaret Lucas

Darin Kasowski - 6'2 - 210 - TE - Maple Valley High School - Ayr, ND

Mason Mikulecky - 6'1 - 180 - WR - Northern Cass High School - Arthur, ND
Honors: All-Region Team
Awards: MVP, Top Defensive Back
Son of Mike and Bobbie Mikulecky

Sam Keller - 6'2 - 215 - DE - Bottineau High School - Bottineau, ND
Awards: 2008 1st Team All Region
Son of Steve and Karen Keller

Tyler Meidinger - 5'9 - 215 - LB - Ashley High School - Ashley, ND
Honors: 2008 All Region All Conference, and four year letter winner
Awards: Rookie Of The Year 2005
Son of Rodney & Lucy Meidinger

Zach Feist - 5'8 - 190 - DB - Edgeley High School - Edgeley, ND
Honors: Selected to play Shrine Bowl
Awards: All-Conference, All-Region, Honorable Mention All-Region, Rookie of the Year, Hardest Worker, Spirit Award
Son of Richard and Donene Feist

Zack Kennedy - 5'9 - 165 - WR - Cando High School - Cando, ND
Honors: All region, All State, and selected to play Shrine Bowl
Awards: Offensive Back of the Year, All State, All Region
Son of Robert and Kandy Kennedy

South Dakota (4)
Zach Kosters - 6'2 - 250 - OL - Selby High School - Selby, SD
Honors: Captain, Most Valuable Lineman
Awards: All-Conference Team, All-State Lineman, All-Star Team Player, Aberdeen American News All-Area Team Selection
Son of Jeffrey and Christine Kosters

Brian Niemann - 5'10 - 180 - DB - Clear Lake High School - Clear Lake, SD
Honors: Team captain and selected to play in the South Dakota All-Star Game.
Awards: 2 Time All-State Honorable mention. 3 Time NEC All-Conference
Son of Mike and Sandy Niemann

Garret Leverson - 6'0 - 215 - LB - Sisseton High School - Sisseton, SD
Honors: All-NEC, All-State Honorable Mention, and Academic All-state
Awards: Redmen Award
Son of Brian and Teresa Leverson

Jordan Berg - 6'1 - 175 - DB - Grant-Deuel High School - LaBolt, SD
Honors: 2008 Team Co-Captain
Awards: 2008 9B 1st Team All State, 2008 ECC Conference Defensive MVP, 2008 Argus Leader Elite 45-Honorable Mention
Son of Jim & Jody Berg

Minnesota (2)
Nicholas Schoenecker - 5'11 - 185 - WR - Eden Valley-Watkins - Watkins, MN
Awards: CMC 1st team All Conference, St. Cloud Times All Area Team,Team MVP,Team outstanding WR/DB

Casey Pagnac - 5'10 - 215 - LB - East Grand Forks High School - East Grand Forks, MN
Honors: 2 Time All-Conference, 2 Time All-City
Awards: 2 Time MVP Defense, Hardest Worker
Son of Chris & Kari Pagnac

Alaska (5)
Matthew W. Craft - 6'2 - 255 - DL - West Valley High School - Fairbanks, AK
Honors: 2008 2nd Team All State Defensive Tackle; 2008 1st Team All Conference Defensive Tackle; 2008 2nd Team All Conference Offensive Tackle; 2007 2nd Team All Conference Nose Tackle
Awards: 2008 WVHS Team MVP; 2008 Best Defensive Lineman @ Colony Camp; 2007 WVHS Defensive MVP; 2007 & 2008 WVHS Team Captain

Ross Courtney - 6'1 - 235 - DL - Soldotna High School - Ninilchik, AK

Victor Wisel - 6'1 - 190 - DB - West Valley High School - Fairbanks, AK
Honors: 1st team All Conference Defensive Back, 2nd Team All State
Son of John Wisel and Rosemary Bierfreund

Zayan Aberkane - 6'2 - 170 - DB - Soldotna High School - Soldotna, AK

Chris Crane - 6'2 - 205 - FB - Wasilla High School - Wasilla, AK

Arizona (4)
Josh Smith - 6'4 - 315 - OL - Phoenix College - Phoenix, AZ
Son of Cheryl Begay

Paul Garcia - 5'9 - 195 - LB - Glendale High School - Glendale, AZ
Honors: Coaches Award
Son of Sally E. Flores

Thomas Gray - 5'10 - 180 - WR - Phoenix High School - Phoenix, AZ
Honors: 2nd Team All-State KR
Awards: Cortez High School Athlete of the Year
Son of Bernadette Gray and Sam Gray

Michael Hitchcock - 6'3 - 280 - OL - Hamilton High School - Chandler, AZ
Awards: 2 Time Lineman MVP at Liberty High School, Second Team All Conference 2007, Washington State Football Camp MVP

Colorado (3)
DJ Morman - 6'1 - 220 - LB - Harrison High School - Colorado Springs, CO
Honors: First Team All State, Denver Post 2nd Team All State, and 2 Time All Conference
Son of Deanna & Tinsley Morman

Chris Jones - 6'2 - 240 - DL - Sierra High School - Colorado Springs, CO
Honors: First Team All Conference/Honorable All-Area
Son of Clarky Jones

Justin Harrod - 6'5 - 295 - DL - Sierra High School - Colorado Springs, CO
Honors: 2nd Team All-Conference
Awards: Letter all three years

Hawaii (2)
Taylor Carvalho - 6'2 - 250 - OL - Damien Memorial High School - Honolulu, HI
Son of Andy and Kim Carvalho

Anthony Tuitele - 6'0 - 195 - DB - Damien Memorial High School - Honolulu, HI
Honors: Played in two all-star games, West vs. East, and Samoa Bowl game.
Awards: 2nd team All-State, Impact Player, Big Hit Award.
Son of Elizabeth Tuitele

California (2)
Josh Estes - 6'0 - 175 - DB - Silver Valley High School - Newberry Springs, CA
Honors: Captain and Player of the Game
Awards: First Team All-League
Son of Josh and Monica Estes

Mike Medeguari - 5'11 - 210 - RB - Silver Valley High School - Newberry Springs, CA
Awards: Offensive MVP
Son of Mandee Perez