Football welcomes 26 players in first D-I signing class

University of St. Thomas Football on Wednesday introduced the first members of its initial Division I recruiting class.

Coach Glenn Caruso and his staff will welcome 26 student-athletes from the Class of 2021 on the opening day of Division I's three-day December signing period.

Uncommitted players can still sign in Division I's second signing period, in early February 2021.

"We're tremendously proud to welcome 26 young men into our St. Thomas family," Caruso said. "Today is a culmination of an immense amount of work by our coaching staff in evaluation and building relationships. We were able to balance both a very strong local presence with nearly half of the class from Minnesota; continue our strong relationships in areas like Chicago, Wisconsin and Iowa; and expand into new areas across the country.

"We've learned from the process of building our program over the last 12 years that our foundation is built with having the right type of young men. These players have the opportunity to be a part of something unique in college football with our program moving directly from Division III to Division I competition in 2021."

The Tommies' 2021 class includes players from eight states, including several who helped their high school teams to state champion or state runner-up finishes.

The list of 12 Minnesotans includes three ranked among the state's top 32 prospects by 247 Sports. It also includes four of the 26 Twin Cities-area seniors that received KARE 11-TV Preseason All-Metro honors this fall.

The signees include five players from Illinois and Nevada, states that had their 2020 football seasons moved from last fall into a spring 2021 window.

The signing class has built a high school gpa average of 3.60 and brings a variety of talents on and off the field. The group includes:

a multi-sport athlete who found time to co-create a podcast on pop culture;
one player who speaks fluent Chinese;
a math and science wizard who has mastered Rubik's Cube strategies as well as the sport of archery;
a school-record setting hurdler in track and field with other interests as diverse as martial arts and rebuilding motorcycles;
an individual who taught himself to play guitar during the Covid shutdown;
a player whose dad was a standout Tommie athlete.

Forward Thinking

St. Thomas received NCAA approval last July to make an unprecedented jump in all sports from Division III to Division I. Starting in the 2021-22 school year, 19 Tommie sports will compete in the 10-team Summit League. Football and hockey will play in other conferences.

Tommie Football joins the Pioneer Football League. With 11 universities from 10 states, it's the lone coast-to-coast conference in college football. The Pioneer joins the Ivy League as the lone non-scholarship conferences in FCS Football.

Other Pioneer members are San Diego; Drake (Iowa); Butler (Indiana); Valparaiso (Indiana); Dayton (Ohio); Morehead (Ky.); Marist (N.Y.); Davidson (N.C.); Presbyterian (S.C.); and Stetson (Fla.).

In 12 seasons under Caruso, the Tommies have placed second in NCAA Division III in both 2012 and 2015 while winning 86 percent of their games overall. They have won or shared seven of the last 10 conference team championships, and have reached eight or more victories for a school-record 11 consecutive seasons.

2021 St. Thomas Football Signing Class (Dec. 2020)

Bryce Boyd, WR, 6-5, 185, Shakopee, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels

2020 Academic all-state honoree, will major in Finance and Economics at St. Thomas... in 17 games over last two seasons averaged 16.5 yards on 21 receptions with seven touchdowns, and on defense added three interceptions and 32 tackles... helped team win 2020 4A section championship... has part-time job as an online personal shopper at a grocery store.

Isaiah Bragg, WR-DB, 5-10, 170, Chicago, Ill./St. Rita

Planning on Computer Engineering major at St. Thomas... team captain, prep team will play 2020 football season in spring 2021; as a junior helped team place second in Illinois Class 5A state tournament; also competes as a sprinter in track and field... dad Randy Bragg played college football at Trinity College.

Aiden Carlson, TE, 6-4, 235, Fargo, N.D./North

Honor student, planning an Accounting major at St. Thomas... all-conference in football, also captain in football and basketball at North High... dad Jeremy Carlson and an uncle played college football at North Dakota State... has four younger siblings.

Braeden Edwards, OL, 6-6, 275, West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley

On school's highest honors list for academics, planning Engineering major with possible career path in aerospace or astrophysics... honorable mention all-district in football (2020 team had to forfeit state semifinal playoff game due to Covid exposure)... in track and field competed on three-time state champion team and ranked in top 10 among Iowa prep throwers in shot put... plays in school band and teaches strategies to solve Rubik's Cube puzzles.. also competed three times in national archery competition... cousin Taiwan Jones played linebacker for New York Jets and Michigan State.

Ian Erickson, OL, 6-6, 285, St. Charles, Ill./North

Planning on Business major at St. Thomas... prep team will play 2020 football season in spring 2021; three-year varsity player, helped team to state runner-up honor in 2019... platoon leader... thrower in track and field.... taught himself to play guitar during 2020 Covid shutdown.

Noah Friedt, DL-LB, 6-3, 220, Lakeville, Minn./Apple Valley

Plans to major in Psychology at St. Thomas... three-time all-conference in football, team captain in football and basketball... worked summer job selling shaved ice.

Grant Gerber, DL-LB, 6-3, 230, Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial

Named Academic all-state in football and basketball, plans to major in Exercise Science at St. Thomas... named honorable mention all-state, all-region, all-conference and captain in football... four-year varsity player in both football and baseball... co-created the 715 Podcast series in his hometown 715 area code covering pop culture topics... dad Matt played college basketball at Lake Forest College.

Nick Hand, DB, 6-3, 185, Rogers, Minn./Totino-Grace

Undecided on major at St. Thomas... team was ranked in Minnesota 6A top 10 for shortened 2020 season... made Preseason 2020 KARE 11 All-Metro team... played at St. Thomas' Palmer Field in 2019 and had three interceptions and one fumble recovery in 26-20 win over Cretin-Derham Hall... mother and grandfather are St. Thomas graduates.

Owen Johnson, DB, 5-11, 195, Mankato, Minn./West

Plans on a Financial Management major at St. Thomas... captain for 6-0 team that was ranked No. 3 in state in shortened 2020 football season; 3X All-District and 2X All-City in football, and 2X letter winner in track and field.... defensive starter as a sophomore at Rochester Century before moving to Mankato as a junior... rushed for 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns at West and was among team's top tacklers.

Kristoff Kowalkowski, QB, 6-2, 210, St. Cloud, Minn./Totino-Grace

On school's highest academic honor list, planning Biology major at St. Thomas, considering a career in medicine... speaks fluent Chinese... in three seasons at Totino-Grace passed for 3,000-plus yards and 29 touchdowns... Adidas All-American, 2020 Preseason KARE 11 All-Metro, all-conference... 247 Sports No. 1-rated QB in Minnesota, also held four other D-I offers... team was ranked in Minnesota 6A top 10 for shortened 2020 season... also competes in basketball... dad Thomas played football at St. John's... oldest of six siblings.

Tyler LaHam, DL, 6-4, 245, Verona, Wis./Verona

Planning a Political Science major, considering law school after college... was captain and all-conference, three-year varsity starter; as a junior led his conference in sacks and led his team in tackles.

Jason Laliberte, OL, 6-7, 282, Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove

Named to school's highest academic honor list, planning Pre-Med major at St. Thomas... two-year starter on offensive line, team was ranked in Minnesota 6A top 10 for shortened 2020 season.

Yusef Leak, DB, 6-1, 172, Orlando, Fla./The Masters Academy

Plans on Criminology major at St. Thomas... played on two state champion teams; broke school career record for interceptions; six-time Max Preps Player of the Game; led 2020 team in receptions, reception yards, rushing yards, tackles and interceptions... made second-team all-conference for both WR and CB... in track and field, school-record holder in 300 hurdles and district runner up in the 110 and 300 hurdles... also accomplished competitor in karate, and has hobby of rebuilding motorcycles.

John McBride, TE, 6-6, 245, White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake

Planning on Business Marketing major at St. Thomas... all-conference and captain as a senior, named team Player of the Week... three varsity letters in both football and lacrosse... volunteer at Feed My Starving Children... also enjoys skiing as a hobby... dad Terrence played college football at St. Norbert's.

Jalen Moore, RB, 5-10, 200, Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard West

Academic all-state honoree, plans on Business major at St. Thomas... prep team will play 2020 football season in spring 2021... all-conference and all-area in 2019 after rushing for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns for 10-1 team; in first varsity start scored three touchdowns and rushed for 229 yards... prep teammate Nic Seifert is freshman fullback for Tommies... has part-time job at a Target store.

Alec Rasmussen, OL, 6-6, 275, Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata

Planning a Finance major at St. Thomas... played on Trojans' 2019 Class 6A state championship team... ranked among top 25 Minnesota prospects on 247 Sports; preseason 2020 KARE 11 All-Metro second team, 2020 CCX All-Area Offense honorable mention... grew up competing in soccer as goalkeeper.

Landon Reed, RB, 6-1, 225, Naples, Fla./Community

Planning an Exercise Science major, considering a career in physical therapy... on pace to earn 10 varsity letters in football, basketball and lacrosse... as a junior in 2019-20 was honorable mention all-area in basketball.

Langston Robinson, OL, 6-3, 303, Milwaukee, Wis./Marquette

Planning an Engineering major and a Biology minor at St. Thomas... as a senior was team captain and all-conference, and ranked among Wisconsin's top 50 (No. 3 lineman)... also competed two seasons in the sports of wrestling and track and field... produces music tracks as a hobby.

Savion Robinson, DB, 6-0, 170, Minneapolis, Minn./Minnehaha Academy-SMB

Planning Criminal Justice major at St. Thomas... helped SMB team to state runner-up finish in 2019... in three seasons as wide receiver scored eight touchdowns and caught 59 passes for 657 yards.

Shawn Shipman, RB, 5-11, 200, Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park

Planning on a Business Communications or Kinesiology major at St. Thomas... Scored 19 touchdowns and had more than 2,000 rushing-receiving yards in two seasons as a starter... rushed for 1,000-plus yards and helped team to state runner-up finish as a junior in 2019; captain, all-conference and Preseason KARE 11 All-Metro in football, ranked among top 32 Minnesota prospects on 247 Sports... also all-conference in track and field, clocked 11.2 in 100 meters as a sophomore but had junior season cancelled by Covid.

Branden Smith, QB, 6-3, 175, Las Vegas, Nev./Cimarron-Memorial

Planning a Political Science major, considering law school after college... will play a spring 2021 schedule for his senior football season after being starting quarterback as a junior... recorded 22.45 in 200 meters and 21-4 long jump as a junior in 2020 track and field before outdoor season was canceled by Covid... father, Claude Smith, played college football at Cerritos (Calif.) College.

Nic Snuggerud, WR, 5-10, 175, Victoria, Minn./Chaska

Undeclared major at St. Thomas... captain and three-year starter, played on 2019 Class 5A state champion team; converted 24-of-28 field-goal tries and 86-of-91 PAT kicks, and scored nine touchdowns with 1,614 all-purpose yards; kicked 42-yard field goal in 10-7 win in state title game; in 2019 playoff run made field goals of 52 and 47 yards and had 97-yard TD reception... dad Bo played hockey at St. Thomas and made school's 100-point club in just two seasons; brother Luc played D-I hockey at Nebraska-Omaha and later played professionally; uncle Dave Snuggerud played five seasons in National Hockey League.

Brock Stanek, OL, 6-6, 250, Callender, Iowa/Fort Dodge St. Edmund

Twice Academic all-state, plans to major in Engineering at St. Thomas... named third-team all-state and all-district in 2020, was honorable mention all-district at a junior; two-time letter winner in football and basketball... mentored at St. Edmund by assistant coach Jordan Roberts, former St. Thomas All-America running back and National Player of the Year... also sings in school chorus... mom, Elizabeth, competed in college track and field at Central College.

Alex Sweetland, RB-WR, 5-9, 180, Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin

Planning on Health Sciences major at St. Thomas and considering a career in nursing... prep team will play 2020 football season in spring 2021... as a junior in 2019 had six touchdowns and more than 1,000 rushing-receiving yards.

Drake Tabor, K, 6-0, 170, Birmingham, Ala./Spain Park

Honor student, planning a major in Finance or Accounting at St. Thomas... Named to Max Preps Alabama all-state team in 2020, selected to play in December's Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and made two field goals and averaged 46.5 yards on two punts; received 5-star honor at Kohl's Kicking Camp and is top-20 kicker in two other rankings; three-year varsity starter at Class 7A team in Birmingham, career long field goal of 43 yards and converted more than 90-percent on career PATs... also in school's Finance club; grew up competing in soccer and motocross races.

Jordan Titus, DL, 6-1, 280, Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson

Planning on majoring in Business at St. Thomas... captain, District Most Valuable Lineman, 2X all-conference on Hutchinson teams that finished 24-4 the last three seasons; had 57 tackles and six sacks over last three years... cousin James Williams plays football at Minnesota State Mankato.

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