Northern State adds 12 transfers to football roster, Central’s Rychlik joins squad

Aberdeen Central’s Cordell Rychlik dives into the end zone after an interception against Brookings Friday, Sept. 13 at the Brownell Activities Complex. Rychlik has signed to play college football at Northern State. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.

Twelve new transfers have been added to the Northern State University football team for the upcoming season.

Quarterback Brock Bagozzi has transferred to Northern from Missouri State University, an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision program.

Additionally, Aberdeen Central High School graduate Cordel Rychlik and Joe Petherbridge of Dresser, Wis., have joined the roster as recruits. Both committed to the Wolves after national signing day and will be freshmen in fall.

Information about the 12 transfers follows.

Schmidt

• Bagozzi, quarterback, 6-3, 210, Syracuse, N.Y. , Solvay High School, Marist University, Missouri State University.
• Trey Birdsong, wide receiver, 5-9, 170, Cabot, Ark., Cabot High School, Cornell College, Illinois College.
• Jacoby Boykins, wide receiver, 6-1, 195, Pearland, Texas, Lamar High School, Abilene Christian University.
• Adonis Davis Jr., linebacker, 6-1, 225, Blackville, S.C., Blackville Hilda High School, South Carolina State University.
• Andrew Ewald, safety, 6-0, 190, Woodhaven, Mich., Woodhaven High School, College of DuPage.
• Cordae Jones, linebacker, 6-0, 220, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach Wilson High School, Long Beach City College.
• Tau Latu, defensive line, 6-0, 295, East Palo Alto, Calif., Woodside High School, Foothill College.
• Quinton Mastropietro, offensive line, 6-3, 310, Willow Glen, Calif., Mountain View High School, Reedley College.
• Jayr Ramirez, running back, 6-0, 205, Williams, Calif., Williams High School, Sierra College.
• Leeyadaakhan Shaw, defensive line, 6-2, 285, East Anchorage, Alaska, Grandview High School, San Jose City College.
• Davion Smith, linebacker, 6-1, 240, Marin City, Calif., Archbishop Riordan High School, City College of San Francisco.
• Kyle Thomas, safety, 5-11, 190, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Aliso Niguel High School, Saddleback College, Northern Arizona.

“I want to continue to reiterate the fact that we bring in transfers to enhance our roster. These new players make our team better in a variety of ways. Some add depth to already solid positions, and some will instantly compete for playing time. All of them, however, are tremendous teammates and people,” Mike Schmidt, head Northern State football coach, said in a news release.

Rychlik, a running back, earned All-Eastern South Dakota Conference first-team honors as a senior for the Golden Eagles. He was also named most valuable player of the South Dakota Football Coaches Association High School All-Star Game on June 7.  Petherbridge is a tight end out of St. Croix Falls High School.

Adams named preseason defensive player of the year in NSIC North

Adams

Northern State junior linebacker Jake Adams was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division defensive preseason player of the year.  He’s coming off a sophomore campaign during which he earned NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association First-Team All-America honors.

Adams led the NSIC last season with 147 tackles, breaking the old Northern record of 111 tackles in a season. He also finished second in the nation in total tackles and third in tackles per game at 13.3.

Wolves picked to finish eighth in preseason poll

In a preseason poll of coaches, the Wolves are picked to finish fourth in the  NSIC North Division and eighth of 14 overall. The complete poll follows.

1. Minnesota State Mankato (11) 167
2. Augustana (3) 153
3. Minnesota Duluth 139
4. Bemidji State 130
5. Sioux Falls 129
6. Wayne State 106
7. Minnesota State Moorhead 96
8. Northern State 84
9. Winona State 77
10. Minot State 67
11. Concordia-St. Paul 50
12. University of Mary 35
13. Southwest Minnesota State 27
14. Jamestown 14