Black Hills State University football program announced the signing of 33 student-athletes as of Wednesday, February 19, 2009 as first year head coach Jay Long and his staff unveiled their first recruiting class for the Yellow Jackets. The class features 18 offensive players and 15 defensive players.
“I am excited about our first recruiting class. We feel that we are bringing in a group of athletes that will have an opportunity to contribute early and should be fun to watch in the future.” said Long. “Our recruiting coordinator Jeff Larson and the coaching staff worked extremely hard to put together a great group of student-athletes. We feel that we have met not only our recruiting needs, but also continued to recruit effort players to our team.
Overall, the Yellow Jackets will welcome back 34 letter winners to the 2009 squad.
The 2009 recruiting class featured five offensive lineman, six wide receivers, three running backs, three quarterbacks, three linebackers, eight defensive lineman, four defensive backs, and one tight end.
High School Recruits:
Chris Wenk- 6'0 170 – QB – West Central High School, SD
Michael Oberle - 5'11 195 – S/OLB - Vermillion High School, SD
Trent Turbiville – 6’0 190 – LB – Harding County High School, SD
Sterling Boylan - 6'3 240 – TE – Newell High School, SD
Joey Brown - 5'11 170 – DB – Harrisburg High School, SD
Tate Guptill - 6'1 180 – WR - Phillip High School, SD
Ryan Harris - 5'11 195 – DE/FB - Stanley County High School, SD
Sam Olson - 6'2 225 – OL – Harding County High School, SD
Patrick Rous - 6' 1 252- DL – Bennett County High School, SD
Chandlor Mikkonen - 6'3 240 – OL – Douglas High School, SD
Ryan Lee - 6'0 195 – LB - Glenrock High School, WY
Ryan Kinzer - 5'9 165 – DB – Buffalo High School, WY
Daniel Hancock - 6'01 175- WR – Douglas High School, WY
Taylor Pyle - 6'3 165 – WR – Burns High School, WY
Drew Nielsen - 5'11 185 – S – Glenrock High School, WY
Nick Pisciotti - 6'3 192 - WR – Newcastle High School, WY
Allen West - 6'4 225 – DE – Laramie High School, WY
Curtis Stoltenberg - 5'11 250 – OL – Douglas High School, WY
Robert Colomb - 6'0 215- DE – Douglas High School, WY
Jessen Kirchner –6'1 180 – RB - Littleton High School, CO
Michael Pollick - 6'0 235 – DL - Platte Canyon High School, CO
Wesley Kragt – 6’0 160 – QB - Huntley Project High School, MT
Ryan Best - 6'1 255 – DT - Holbrook High School, AZ
Transfers:
Mark Mitchell –6-4 240 – DL - Stanley County High School, SD - Southwest Minnesota State
Cole Benne – 5’7 180 – RB - Rapid City Stevens High School, SD - South Dakota State University
Michael Barnaud – 5’9 230 - LB - Belle Fourche High School, SD - Northern State University
Mitchell Spindler – QB – 6’0 170 - Douglas High School, SD
Joel Cornelison - 5'9'' 185 – RB - Stanley County High School, SD - Dakota Wesleyan University
J.R. Barham - 6’0 250 – OL - Rapid City Stevens, SD - Dawson Community College
Jarod Elliott - 6’7 290 – OL - Natrona High School, WY - Ellsworth Community College
Shane Rosin– 6’0 240 – DL - Woodland High School, CA - Yuba Community College
Michael Collins – 6’0 194 – WR - Putnam City High School, OK – Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Dale West - 6'0 183 – WR – Star Valley High School, WY
South Dakota Recruits:
Chris Wenk- 6'0 170 – QB – West Central High School, SD
Honors: 2007 State Champions, All State Honorable Mention, and All-Conference.
Parents: Ray & Michelle Wenk Coach: Kent Mueller
Michael Oberle - 5'11 195 – S/OLB - Vermillion High School, SD
Honors: Academic All-State, Two time Big-8 All-Conference, SDFBCA All-State Linebacker, Team Captain and Argus Leader Elite Forty-Five.
Parents: Rodney & Susan Oberle Coach: Gary Culver
Trent Turbiville – 6’0 190 – LB – Harding County High School, SD
Honors: All-State Honorable Mention and All-Conference.
Parents: Dale & Deb Turbiville Coach: Jeremy Dutenheifer
Sterling Boylan - 6'3 240 – TE – Newell High School, SD
Honors: 2008 All-State and All-Conference. Also an All-Conference Basketball Player.
Parents: Robert & Becky Boylan Coach: Steve Schoenfish
Tate Guptill - 6'1 180 – WR - Phillip High School, SD
Honors: All-Conference WR 2007, All-Conference 2008, and Academic All-State 2008
Parents: Pat and Mary Guptill (Dad played at BHSU) Coach: Keven Morehart
Ryan Harris - 5'11" 195 – DE/FB Stanley County High School, SD
Honors: Two-Time Honorable Mention All-Conference
Parents: Robert Harris Coach: Tom Rogers
Sam Olson - 6'2 225 – OL – Harding County High School, SD
Honors: All State, All Conference, and Team captain
Parents: Tim & Laura Olson (Dad played at BHSU) Coach: Jeremy Dutenheifer
Chandlor Mikkonen - 6'3 240 – OL – Douglas High School, SD
Honors: 3 time All- Conference. Also a standout in track earning a 8th place in state for shot put 2007 and 4th place in shot put in shot put 2008.
Parents: Rheiff & Kimberly Mikkonen Coach: David Broadie (BHSU ALUMNI)
Patrick Rous - 6' 1 252- DL – Bennett County High School, SD
Honors: Jacket Football Camp Defensive Line MVP
Parents: Danny & Connie Rous Coach: Jeff Krolikowski
Wyoming Recruits:
Ryan Lee - 6'0" 195 – LB - Glenrock High School, WY
Honors: Wyoming 3A State Champions, Two-Time 3a All State, Two-Time 3a East All-Conference, 3a East Offensive Player of the Year, Wyoming Super 25, and selected to play in the Wyoming Shrine Game. Also is an All-Conference performer in both Track and Basketball.
Parents: Mike & Karla lee Coach: Ray Kumpula
Ryan Kinzer - 5'9" 165 – DB – Buffalo High School, WY
Honors: All State - Two Time All Conference – Shrine Bowl Alternate
Parents: Scott & Lisa Kinzer Coach: Pat Lynch
Daniel Hancock - 6'01 175- WR – Douglas High School, WY
Honors: Wyoming 4A Champions, All-State, 2008 All-Conference, Top 10 Receivers, Wyoming Super 25, 2007 All Conference, Top 10 Receivers, and 2006 All-Conference Also an All Conference performer in Basketball and Two Time All-State performer in Track.
Parents: Lynnette Hancock Coach: Jay Rhodes
Taylor Pyle - 6'3 165 – WR – Burns High School, WY
Honors: Wyoming 2A State Champions, 2008 All State, 2008 All Conference, Team Captain, and Shrine Bowl Selection. Also All State Basketball player.
Parents: Mike Pyle & Jane Blythe Coach: Bill Fullmer
Drew Nielsen - 5'11 185 – S – Glenrock High School, WY
Honors: Wyoming 3A State Champions, 2008 3A First Team All-State, Two-time All-Conference, and 3rd Team Super 25. Also an All-Conference Basketball player.
Parents: Fred & Phyllis Nielsen Coach: Ray Kumpula
Nick Pisciotti - 6'3 192 - WR – Newcastle High School, WY
Honors: Two-Time All-State, Two Time All-Conference, and Invited to play in Wyoming Shrine Bowl. Also an All-Conference performer in Basketball.
Parents: Todd & Cathy Pisciotti Coach: Mike Gregory (BHSU ALUMNI)
Allen West - 6'4 225 – DE – Laramie High School, WY
Honors: Two time All-Conference
Parents: Marty & Tina West Coach: Bob Knapton
Curtis Stoltenberg - 5'11 250 – OL – Douglas High School, WY
Honors: 2008 Wyoming 4A State Champions
Parents: Ted& Dana Stoltenberg Coach: Jay Rhodes
Robert Colomb - 6'0 215- DE – Douglas High School, WY
Honors: 2008 Wyoming 4A State Champions
Parents: Robert Colomb Coach: Jay Rhodes
Colorado Recruits:
Jessen Kirchner –6'1 -180 – RB - Littleton High School, CO
Honors: 1st team All-Conference
Parents: Jim & Sheree Kirchner Coach: Chad Keopke
Michael Pollick - 6'0 -235 – DL - Platte Canyon High School, CO
Honors: 1st team All-state and 1st-Team All-Conference. Also a standout in track winning a state championship in 4x100 Relay and Two state championships in the 4x200 Relay. Also an all league shot-put thrower.
Parents: Bill & Debra Pollick Coach: Mike Schimdt
Montana Recruits:
Wesley Kragt – 6’0 160 – QB - Huntley Project High School, MT
Honors: 2008 Team State Champions, Academic All-State, Two-Time All-Conference and Two-Time All-State both on offense and defense, and Selected to play in the Montana East West Shrine Game. Also an All-Conference Basketball player.
Parents: Mike & Tracey Kragt Coach: Jay Santy
Arizona Recruits:
Ryan Best - 6'1" 255 – DT - Holbrook High School, AZ
Honors: Team MVP, Two-Time All Conference, Scholar Athlete, and Team Captain
Parents: Kevin & Linda Best Coach: John Bokker (BHSU ALUMNI)
Transfers
Jarod Elliott - 6’7 290 – OL - Natrona High School, WY - Ellsworth Community College
Honors: Super 25 and All-State.
Parents: Monty and Melinda Elliott Coach: Steve Harshman(BHSU ALUMNI)
Shane Rosin– 6’0 240 – DL - Woodland High School, CA - Yuba Community College
Honors: High School MVP,2nd Team All-League and Team Captain.
Parents: Tobie & Lori Phillips Coach: Jeff Lopeteck
Cole Benne – 5’7 180 – RB - Rapid City Stevens High School, SD - South Dakota State University
Honors: All-Conference and Team MVP Junior and Senior Year.
Parents: Sam & Joyce Benne Coach: Paul Miller
Mitchell Spindler – QB – 6’0 170 - Douglas High School, SD
Honors: Ranked first in the state in 11AA for passing yards in 2007-08 season.
Parents: Perry & Peggy Spindler Coach: David Broadie (BHSU ALUMNI)
Michael Collins – 6’0 194 – WR - Putnam City High School, OK – Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Honors: High School Teams leading receiver Junior and Senior year
Parents: John & Jacque Collins Coach: Mark Little
Dale West - 6'0 183 – WR – Star Valley High School, WY
Honors: All Conference
Parents: Adam & Val West Coach: Dale Anderson
Mark Mitchell –6-4 240 – DL - Stanley County High School, SD - Southwest Minnesota State
Honors: All-State, Three time All- Conference, Player of the game in the SD all star game. Also a State Runner-Up Wrestler.
Parents: Pat Mitchell & Kelly Krell Coach: Dave Tate
Michael Barnaud – 5’9 230 - LB - Belle Fourche High School, SD - Northern State University
Honors: Two-Time All-Conference and Team Defensive MVP.
Joel Cornelison - 5'9'' 185 – RB - Stanley County High School, SD - Dakota Wesleyan University
Honors: All-State and Two-Time Big Dakota All-Conference.
Parents: Mike & Terri Cornelison Coach: Dave Tate
J.R. Barham - 6’0 250 – OL - Rapid City Stevens, SD - Dawson Community College
Honors: Team Captain and All Conference Lineman.
Parents: John Barham & Jennifer Miller Coach: Paul Miller