UND coaches ready for signing day

Talk about it

GRAND FORKS — The miles have been logged and recruits’ homes have been visited. Now, the University of North Dakota football coaches will wait for the all-important signatures from recruits that could help jump-start the program as it enters the Big Sky Conference era in the fall.

Today is the national signing day for college football recruits and UND is expecting to land as many as 25 players, including transfers and preferred walk-ons.

UND’s 2012 class appears to be focused on quarterbacks and wide receivers — not surprising since the program will be playing in the wide-open Big Sky Conference.

There could be four new quarterbacks on the UND roster in the fall.

North Carolina transfer Braden Hansen already is enrolled at UND, and the program expects to land three more quarterbacks including Detroit Lakes’ Joe Mollberg, who had offers from North Dakota State and South Dakota State in addition to serious interest from Iowa.

Three receivers are expected to sign, all 6-foot-3. Height was a priority in recruiting wide-outs this season for UND.

UND coach Chris Mussman will make the rounds today talking about his 2012 class. He’s scheduled for four radio interviews, a media conference in the afternoon and a session with season ticket holders tonight.

However, nothing is official until UND receives signed letters of intent.

UND coaches are scheduled to be at Hyslop Sports Center at 7 this morning, the earliest they can receive letters of intent.

Mussman said the recruiting season went well.

“It’s a good, solid group,” Mussman said. “And we have some guys committed to walking on that could be good players.”

While quarterbacks and wide receivers will headline the class, UND also targeted linebackers — a staple in the program’s 3-4 defensive alignment.

There could be as many as five new linebackers that could be in fall camp. UND reportedly picked up a commitment earlier this week from Jared Tuilagi, a 6-1, 217-pounder from Henderson, Nev., who had offers from San Diego and Texas Southern.

The recruiting season, however, won’t end with today’s signings.

Mussman said it’s possible UND could bring in another transfer, perhaps at the safety position. But that likely won’t be determined until after spring football.

Nelson is the sports editor for the Grand Forks Herald, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

Tags: und sports, college football, sports, recruiting