DWU recruiting class to be released today at signing party

The Dakota Wesleyan University football team is targeting high-level recruits, according to head coach Ross Cimpl.

Today, the Tigers are announcing their recruiting class at a signing day party, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Sherman Center on the DWU campus. Today is known as National Signing Day, the first day football recruits can sign with NCAA universities.

DWU, an NAIA institution, has already signed some players but is taking part in the festivities and is announcing its first wave of recruits today. As of Tuesday afternoon, Cimpl was still waiting for some players to commit.

“We’re competing against Division II teams for guys,” he said. “We’re going up against (Augustana), Northern State and Sioux Falls. That’s why it’s a little stressful. … We know we’re not going to sign every kid, but our coaches are doing a good job going after players right now.”

Some players have already confirmed to have signed with the Tigers, either by telling The Daily Republic or by Cimpl confirming their intent.

The list of freshmen incomers from South Dakota includes Canistota’s Alex Robertson, Corsica/Stickney’s Adam Bormann, Garretson’s Brady Mudder, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte’s Jade Farlee, Bon Homme’s Kodi Larson and Sawyer Fridrich and Colome’s Cohl Ratermann. Two players are confirmed to be transferring to Wesleyan, including former Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan standout Tyson Kayser and Bon Homme graduate Jared Van Winkle.

“Overall, I feel this class has a lot of talent,” Cimpl said. “We’ll have to tailor to the abilities of our guys.”

One of the main players Wesleyan will have to replace is starting running back Josh Endres, who graduated last season and holds several school rushing records.

Cimpl was unsure of exactly who will take the starting spot, but said there may be a few options by the time games start this fall. Robertson was the leading rusher for Canistota last year and the Tigers have also signed a high school player from New Mexico, Xavier Armijo, who could get carries. Francois Barnaud, a junior on last year’s team who was lost for the season because of injury, also returns.

“We’re going to get more answers (today),” Cimpl said.

Cimpl listed a few players who he was still waiting to hear back from Tuesday evening. He said the team has offers to Garretson’s Cody Bonte, Spearfish’s Luke McFarland, Winner’s Kyle Bertram, Viborg/Hurley’s Tyler Novak and Colome’s Paul Temple.

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