2008 Spring Practice update

Minot State University will conduct the first of their allowed ten spring practices on Wednesday April 2nd at 3pm.

The Beavers are anxious to get back to work after finishing 6-4 overall, 6-1 in the DAC, which gave them a share of the 2007 DAC conference championship. They are determined to once again contend for the conference championship, and begin the 2008 season with NCAA II Bemidji State, Bemidji, MN at home on Thursday Aug 28 th with a 7 pm kick-off scheduled at Herb Parker Field,. They hit the road to face their second NCAA II opponent, Concordia St. Paul, St. Paul , MN . The Beavers complete their non-conference schedule by traveling to long time rival Dickinson State .

Minot State set team and individual DAC conference records last fall on defense, and will once again feature a strong group. This spring will be a test for the players in the secondary as they must replace DAC Conference Interception leader and 2007 1 st Team All-DAC safety Nicholas Marshall, 6'1 – 200, (Tracy, CA), 2 nd Team All-DAC corner, Kory Anderson 6'1 – 191, (Moses Lake, WA), and safety Kevin Conway 6' – 190, (Anaheim, CA). Returnees include senior safety, Marcus Prince 6'2 – 205( Calgary, AB Canada), junior corner, Adrian Smith 5'11 – 180 (Miami, FL), sophomore corner, Tyson Snelling 5'9 – 175 (Brandon MB Canada), red-shirt freshman corner, Eric Henke 5'9 – 175, (Velva, ND), and semester additions, junior Jeremy Kessler 6' – 175 (Puyallup, WA), Josh Orman 5'9 – 180 (Galt, CA).

The defensive line will feature a very experienced group with the only loss from 2007 being 2 nd Team All-DAC, Jason Harvey 6'2 – 225( Souris, MB Canada). The group will feature returning 1 st Team All-DAC senior, Chris Bowden 5'11 – 235 (Puyallup, WA), senior Matt Weidler, 6'1 – 265, (Velva, ND), senior Kyle Kimbrough 6 – 290 (Marina, CA), senior Mark Kennedy 5'11 – 270, (Long Beach, CA), junior Kyle Nichols 5'11 – 250 (Stanley, ND), junior Nick Trumble 6'3 – 240 (Puyallup, WA), junior Henery Utumapu 6'1 – 265 (Marina, CA), sophomore Gino Maxi 6'1 – 255 (West Palm Beach, FL), red-shirt freshman Delano Tennent 6'2 265 (Coquitlam, BC Canada).red shirt freshman Aaron Esquibel 5'11 – 250 (Velva, ND), red shirt freshman Zach Gaugler 6'2 – 230 (Killdeer, ND), red shirt freshman Brandon Marsh 5'11 – 260 (Frenchtown, MT), and red shirt freshman Anthony Hauf 5'11 – 235 (Garrison, ND).

There will be a group of experienced linebackers led by 1 st Team All-DAC junior ILB 5'11 - 245, Martel Pope , (Miami, FL), senior ILB Ryan Riemedio 6' – 220 (Marina, CA), junior Andrew Gessner 6' – 205, (Minot, ND), Sophomore Brendan Weidler, 5'11 – 205, (Velva, ND), red shirt freshman Kevin Leier 6'1 – 185 (Rugby, ND), Chris Rae6' – 220 (Calgary, AB Canada). The OLB's feature senior Travis Harmon 6'2 – 225( Coeur D'Alene, ID), junior Roger Coleman 6' 230, (Minot, ND), sophomore Zach Robinson 6'1 – 225, (Redmond, WA), returning from a knee injury junior Brock Awalt 6' – 215, (Minot, ND) red shirt freshman Jordan Kizima, 6'1 – 200 (Minot, ND), and red shirt freshman Jordan Leupp 5'11 – 190 (Stanley, ND).

The Beavers will focus on becoming more consistent on offense with a young group of returning players this spring.

The beavers graduated three players from last year's offense, Wide receiver Josh Kringen 6'2 – 190 (Sidney, MT), Wide Receiver, Chauncy Hendershot 6' – 180 (Minot, ND), Tight End, Joe Monsoor, 6'4 – 230 (Garden Grove, CA)

There will be some competition for playing time this spring at most of the offensive positions starting with the offensive line. Leading the way up front will be returning 1 st Team All-DAC junior center Bart Archdekin, 6'3 – 310 (Calgary, AB Canada), 1 st Team All-DAC junior tackle Brian Rohles, 6'4 – 270 (Manteca, CA), senior Matt Benson 6'3 – 290( Lynden, WA), sophomore Alex Boyeff 6'2 – 300 (Minot, ND), sophomore Mark Fitzpatrick 6'4 – 270 (Velva, ND), junior George Duenas 5'11 – 285 (Lodi, CA), junior Nic Fross 6'4 – 260 (Ukiah, CA), Mitch McKeil 6'3 – 295(Sherwood Park AB Canada), junior T.J. Menahan 6' 3 – 250 (Colstrip, MT), red shirt freshman Zach Smith 6'2 - 300 (Brandon, MB Canada).

Returnees at running back include 2007 Co-Offensive MVP and 1 st Team All-DAC senior Nick Banks 6' - 200 (San Diego, CA), senior Andre James 5'9 – 220 (Ile-Bizard, QC Canada), sophomore Lance Hollinger 5'10 - 175 (Stanley, ND), sophomore Casey Meadows 6' - 200 (Burlington, ND), red shirt freshman Tyson Schatz 5'8 – 190 (Minot, ND) and senior full back Donald Morris 6' - 245 (Compton, CA)

At the receiver position 1 st Team All-DAC sophomore Johnny Lester 5'8 – 170 ( Miami , Fl), senior Kevin Hanson 5'8 – 170 ( Malta , MT), red shirt freshman Carson Carr 6'1 – 185 ( Minot , ND ), Zac Rudolph 5' 9 – 175 (Sauk Rapids, MN). Tight ends will see the return of senior Kurt Bowen 6'4 – 225 ( St. John , WA ), senior Ryan Jutras 6'4 230 ( Surrey BC Canada ), sophomore Erik Klein 6-3 – 230 ( New England , ND ), red shirt freshman Tyler Phillips 6'4 – 235 ( Winnipeg , MB Canada ).

Directing this group will be 2007 starter, junior Jon Meier 6'4 – 195 (Regent, ND), pushing Jon for playing time will be sophomore Layvester James 6'3 – 200 (Miami, FL) and red shirt freshman Brock Sandy 6'2 – 190 (Harvey, ND).

Senior Mike Fox 6'2 – 180 ( Calgary , AB Canada) and junior Nik Levnaich 6'2 – 212 ( Cambridge , Ont Canada ), will return to handle the punting and kicking duties.