Augustana Announces 2009 Football Recruiting Class
Sioux Falls, S.D. – Augustana College head football coach Brad Salem announced Wednesday that 22 high school standouts have signed national letters of intent or written offers of admission and financial aid from Augustana to play football for the Vikings this fall.

“Every year you are excited about your recruiting and this year is no exception,” said Salem, who begins his fifth season with the Vikings in 2009. “We feel like we got great players all of the areas we targeted. These are all guys who fit at Augustana both athletically and academically.”

Salem said a focus of this year’s recruiting class was along the offensive and defensive lines as 10 of the signees
were linemen in high school. Salem and his staff maintained their recent success of signing several local players. This year, six players from the Sioux Falls area signed with the Vikings. That group features four players from Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School, including Brock Bills, Derrick Dunn, Ross Peterson and Josh Pruett. Sioux Falls Lincoln standout Mike Magnuson and Brandon Valley’s Darren Niklason round out the South Dakota contingent.

Salem credited recent facility upgrades, including the new Kirkeby-Over Stadium, the Vikings’ new on-campus stadium that is currently under construction, as positives during the recruiting process. Augustana will open play in Kirkeby-Over Stadium this fall.
“I know this group is excited to be the first class to play their entire careers at Kirkeby-Over Stadium,” Salem said.

“You could tell when they saw the stadium under construction that this is a place where they wanted to play.”

Augustana posted an 8-4 overall record and a 7-3 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, its first season in the league. It was the most wins in a season since the 1992 squad went 8-3. The Vikings tied for fourth place in the NSIC overall standings and were third in the NSIC Southern Division. Augustana capped its season by
defeating Missouri Western State 37-16 in the Mineral Water Bowl.

2009 Augustana Viking Football Recruiting Class
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown / High School
Devon Alber WR/DB 5-11 175 Manchester, Iowa / West Delaware County Comm. School
Zach Barbur RB/LB 5-10 205 Eden Prairie, Minn. / Eden Prairie HS
Drew Barman RB/DL 6-2 225 Sun Prairie, Wis. / DeForest HS
Brock Bills RB/DB 6-1 190 Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS
Derrick Dunn OL/DL 6-3 275 Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS
Thomas Filer WR/DB 5-9 155 Bellevue, Neb. / Bellevue East HS
Nick Gillespie TE/DL 6-6 230 Des Moines, Iowa / Lincoln HS
Garrett Glaus RB/DB 5-10 180 Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount HS
Alex Hasse TE/DL 6-4 220 North Mankato, Minn. / West HS
Noah Huisman WR/DB 6-3 180 Mason City, Iowa / Mason City HS
Sean Kelly WR/DB 5-10 160 Naperville, Ill. / Naperville Central HS
Jake Lee OL/DL 5-11 250 Blue Earth, Minn. / Blue Earth Area HS
Mike Magnuson OL/DL 6-2 265 Sioux Falls, S.D. / Lincoln HS
Troy Manley OL/DL 6-7 310 Hainesville, Ill. / Graylake Community HS
Darren Niklason WR/DB 6-0 165 Brandon, S.D. / Brandon Valley HS
Ross Peterson RB/LB 6-0 210 Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS
Tim Prucha OL/DL 6-3 270 Omaha, Neb. / Bryan HS
Josh Pruett TE/LB 6-2 208 Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS
Pat Regan OL/DL 6-5 270 Stillwater, Minn. / Mahtomedi HS
Joel Slinden TE/DL 6-3 215 Grove City, Minn. / Atwater Cosmos & Grove City HS
Anthony Tucker RB/DB 6-1 195 Indianola, Iowa / Indianola HS
Brent Webb RB/DB 6-2 200 Bellevue, Neb. / Bellevue West HS
-- pick up 2009 recruiting class –
Augustana College 2009 Football Recruiting Class – Add 1
Devon Alber, WR/DB, 5-11, 175, Manchester, Iowa / West Delaware County Comm. School
A three-year letterwinner and starter at West Delaware County Community School … Caught 36 passes for 428 yards and
3 touchdowns as a senior … Defensively, he had 6 interceptions … Had 14 career interceptions after picking off 5 pasess
as a sophomore and 3 as a junior … As a senior, he was named to the all-district first team and the Class 3A all-state
team as a defensive back … Helped the Hawks to an 8-4 record and a berth in the state playoffs in 2008. High School
Coach: Doug Winkowitsch. Parents: Ken Alber and Barb Possehl.
Zach Barbur, RB/LB, 5-10, 205, Eden Prairie, Minn. / Eden Prairie HS
A two-year starter and two-year varsity letterwinner at Eden Prairie High School … Served as a team captain as a senior
… Started at fullback and linebacker for the Eagles … Helped team to a 25-1 record during his junior and senior seasons
… Eden Prairie captured the 2007 Class AAAAA state title with a 14-0 record … The Eagles also won Lake Conference
and sectional championships in 2007 and 2008. High School Coach: Mike Grant. Parents: Scott and Val Kinnone, Rod
Barbur and Maggie Simcoe.
Drew Barman, RB/DL, 6-2, 225, Sun Prarie, Wis. / DeForest High School
A four-year starter at DeForest High School … A team captain as a senior … Recorded 75 tackles and 5 sacks his during
his senior season … Was named first team All-Badger North Conference and first team all-region during his senior
season … Helped DeForest finish second in the Badger North Conference ... Produced 106 tackles and 14 sacks as a
junior … Named second team all-state as well as first team all-conference, all-region and all-area in his junior season …
Helped lead the Norskis to the state finals with a 12-2 record … Was named first team all-conference as a sophomore in
2006 after collecting 72 tackles and 12 sacks. High School Coach: Mike Minick. Parents: Miel and Duane Barman.
Brock Bills, RB/DB, 6-1, 190, Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt
A three-year starter and four-year letterwinner at Roosevelt High School … Served as a team captain during his senior
season ... Gained 1,132 all-purpose yards his senior season, including 525 yards rushing, 280 yards receiving and 327
yards in kick and punt returns … Scored 9 touchdowns … Received All-Greater Dakota Conference and Class 11AA allstate
honorable mention accolades … Named a GDC Scholar Athlete and earned a spot on the academic all-state team in
2008 … Gained 1,222 all-purpose yards (744 yards rushing, 309 yards receiving and 169 yards in returns) with 14
touchdowns during his junior campaign … Named to the GDC All-Conference First Team and received Argus Leader Elite
45 special mention honors … Helped Roosevelt to an 11-2 record and its second-straight Class 11AA state championship
… Gained 981 all-purpose yards as a sophomore for the Rough Riders’ 12-1 state championship team … Also competes
in track … Won the 100-meter dash at the 2008 Howard Wood Relays and the Class AA state track meet. High School
Coach: Brent DeBoer. Parents: Mark and Carrie Bills.
Derrick Dunn, OL/DL, 6-3, 275, Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS
A two-year starter and four-year letterwinner at Roosevelt High School ... Was a team captain as a senior in 2008 …
Helped the Rough Riders to a 7-4 record and a state quarterfinal finish … Helped the Rough Riders win a state title as a
starting offensive lineman his junior year … Was also a part of Roosevelt’s first state title as a sophomore in 2006 …
Named to the All-Greater Dakota Conference team and all-city team his senior season … Earned the Rough Riders
Unsung Hero Award in both his junior and senior years. High School Coach: Brent DeBoer. Parents: Kristy Hulm and
Sid Dunn.
Thomas Filer, WR/DB, 5-9, 165, Bellevue, Neb. / Bellevue East HS
A two-year starter and four-year letterwinner at Bellevue East High School … Led the Chieftains in interceptions and
touchdowns his senior season … Was the team leader in rushing yards his junior year … Named to the all-district team
while earning all-state honorable mention recognition and all-state academic honors his senior season. High School
Coach: Jerry Lovell. Parents: Dale and Gina Rae Filer.
Nick Gillespie, TE/DL, 6-6, 230, Des Moine, Iowa / Lincoln HS
A two-year starter and two-year varsity letterwinner at Lincoln High School … Was a team captain as a senior … Caught
21 passes for 236 yards, an average of 11.2 yards per reception in 2008 …A strong run blocker for a team that rushed for
nearly 2,500 yards in 2008 … Named to the 2008 All-Central Iowa Metro League First Team as a utility player … Is also
the captain of the basketball team … Averages 14.2 points and 8 rebounds per game this season. High School Coach:
Tom Mihalovich. Parents: Mike Gillespie and Lisa Bridgewater.
- more -
Augustana College 2009 Football Recruiting Class – Add 2
Garrett Glaus, RB/DB, 5-10, 180, Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount HS
A three-year starter and letterwinner at Rosemount High School … Was a team captain as a senior in 2008 … Totaled 97
tackles and had 3 interceptions, including 1 for a touchdown, and 2 forced fumbles in his senior season … Caught 12
passes for 2 touchdowns and had 2 rushing scores … Helped lead the Irish to an 11-2 record in 2008 … Rosemount won
its first-ever Lake Conference championship as well as the sectional title … The Irish advanced to the Class AAAAA state
semifinals … Had 60 tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack and 5 pass breakups as a junior … Also had 1 receiving touchdown
and 1 kickoff return for a score … As a sophomore in 2006, he recorded 65 tackles with 6 pass breakups and 1
interception … Named to the All-Lake Conference First Team as a senior after garnering honorable mention recognition
as a junior … Was a two-time Outstanding Academic Athlete … Named to the Associated Press honorable mention allstate
squad and the Star Tribune All-Metro Second Team … Received the Pat Tillman Service Award and the Triple A
Award for arts, athletics and academics. High School Coach: Jeff Erdmann. Parents: Mike and Lisa Glaus.
Alex Hasse, TE/DL, 6-4, 225, North Mankato, Minn. / West HS
A two-year starter and three-year letterwinner for Mankato West High School … Averaged over 10 yards per catch his
senior season to help the Scarlets to a 13-1 record and the 2008 Class 4AAAA state championship … Caught 8 passes
for 70 yards as a junior as the Scarlets finished runners-up in the section championship … In 2006, he lettered for an 8-3
team that won the section championship and made it to the state quarterfinals … Earned All-Big 9 Conference Academic
honors and a scholar award in 2008. High School Coach: Mark Esch. Parents: Steve and Sandy Hasse.
Noah Huisman, WR/DB, 6-3, 180, Mason City, Iowa / Mason City HS
A three-year starter and letterwinner at Mason City High School … Caught 55 passes for 1,097 yards and 9 touchdowns
as a senior in 2008 … Set a Class 4A record with 18 receptions in a single game … Defensively, had 2 interceptions …
Caught 44 passes for 697 yards and 5 touchdowns and had 6 interceptions during his junior season … Had 17 receptions
for 231 yards and 3 scores to go along with 4 interceptions and 16 pass breakups as a sophomore Was a two-time All-
Central Iowa Metro Leauge First Team selection at wide receiver after earning second team honors at defensive back as
a sophomore … Named to the Class 4A All-State First Team and the All-North Iowa Area First Team in 2008. High
School Coach: John Lee. Parents: Mike and Jill Huisman.
Sean Kelly, WR/DB, 5-10, 160, Naperville, Ill. / Naperville Central HS
A two-year varsity starter and letterwinner at Naperville Central High School … As a senior, he had 12 pass breakups in
just 5 games played … Averaged 21 yards per punt return … Named Defensive Back of the Week 4 times in 5 weeks …
Averaged 16 yards per punt return and had 2 interceptions during his junior season … Helped lead the Redhawks to
back-to-back appearances in the Class 8A state playoffs … Earned Academic All-Dupage Valley Conference honors.
High School Coach: Mike Stine. Parents: Jan Kelly and Kevin Kelly.
Jake Lee, OL/DL, 5-11, 250, Blue Earth, Minn. / Blue Earth Area HS
Was a three-year starter at Blue Earth Area High School … Recorded 106 tackles, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery in
9 games during his senior season … Had 41 tackles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 sack as a junior … Was a two-time All-
South Central Conference performer … Was the SCC Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2008 and a three-time all-area
selection … A team captain, he helped the Buccaneers win the 2009 conference title for the first time since the early
1970’s. High School Coach: Randy Kuechenmeister. Parents: Donna Lee and Bill Lee.
Mike Magnuson, OL/DL, 6-3, 270, Sioux Falls, S.D. / Lincoln HS
Was a two-year starter and letterwinner at Lincoln High School … Was a team captain as a senior in 2008 … Allowed 1
sack all season as an offensive lineman … Helped the Patriots to an 11-2 record and the Class 11AA state championship
… Named to the all-city team his season year … Earned All-Greater Dakota Conference honorable mention and all-state
honorable mention honors … Given the Ueker award for senior inspiration as a lineman. High School Coach: Aaron
Beavers. Parents: Lee and Jean Magnuson.
Troy Manley, OL/DL, 6-7, 310, Hainesville, Ill. / Grayslake Community HS
Played his senior season at Grayslake High School after playing at Carmel High School during his first three years of high
school … Started along the offensive and defensive lines at Grayslake … Was a varsity letterwinner at Carmel as a junior
… Helped Carmel to a 10-3 record and a second-place finish in the conference. High School Coach: Nick Goshe.
Parents: Troy and Roberta Manley.
- more -
Augustana College 2009 Football Recruiting Class – Add 3
Darren Niklason, WR/DB, 6-0, 165, Brandon, S.D. / Brandon Valley HS
Was a two-year starter and letterwinner at Brandon Valley High School … As a senior in 2008 he caught 74 passes for
1,455 yards and 17 touchdowns … Broke 8 school and 3 state records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in
a season … Named to the All-Eastern South Dakota Conference and Class 11AA All-State First Team … Selected to the
Argus Leader Elite 45 Team … Helped lead the Lynx to an undefeated regular season and an Eastern South Dakota
Conference championship … Brandon Valley finished the season with an 11-1 record and advanced to the Class 11AA
state semifinals. High School Coach: Chad Garrow. Parents: Doug and Kathy Niklason.
Ross Peterson, RB/LB, 6-0, 210, Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS
A three-year starter at Roosevelt High School … A team captain as a senior … Made 111 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 3
interceptions in his senior season ... Earned all-city, All-Greater Dakota Conference, All-Class 11AA All-State and Argus
Leader Elite 45 honors in 2008 … Had 59 tackles, 3 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries as a junior for a team that won
the Class 11AA state championship with an 11-2 record … Recorded 61 tackles and made an interception as a
sophomore for a 12-1 team that won the 2006 state title. High School Coach: Brent DeBoer. Parents: Alan and Barbara
Peterson.
Tim Prucha, OL/DL, 6-3, 270, Omaha, Neb. / Bryan HS
A two-year starter and three-year letterwinner at Bryan High School … Was a team captain as a senior … Anchored both
the offensive and defensive lines for the Bears. High School Coach: Rick Thurston. Parents: Tim Prucha and Connie
Colton.
Josh Pruett, TE/LB, 6-2, 208, Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS
Was a two-year starter and letterwinner at Roosevelt High School … Recorded 76 tackles for the Rough Riders as a
senior in 2008 … As a junior, he registered 67 tackles … Helped lead Roosevelt to the 2007 Class 11AA state
championship with an 11-2 record … Received the Unsung Hero Award as a junior and senior. High School Coach:
Brent DeBoer. Parents: Jeff and Michele Pruett.
Pat Regan, OL/DL, 6-5, 270, Stillwater, Minn. / Mahtomedi HS
A three-year starter and letterwinner at Mahtomedi High School … As a senior in 2008, was named to the All-Classic
Suburban Conference team as both an offensive and defensive lineman … A KARE-11 Preseason All-Metro Team
selection, he earned Class 4A all-state honorable mention recognition … Named Mahtomedi’s Most Valuable Defensive
Player in 2008 as he helped the Zephyrs win the Section 4AAAA title and a berth in the state playoffs … Was named
Minnesota Preps all-state honorable mention during his junior season … Helped the Zephyrs to the 4AAAA sectional
championship and a state runner-up finish. High School Coach: Dave Muetzel. Parents: Kevin and Bobette Regan.
Joel Slinden, TE/DL, 6-3, 215, Grove City, Minn. / Atwater Cosmos & Grove City HS
Was a three-year starter and letterwinner at Atwater Cosmos and Grove City High School … Was a two-time All-West
Central South Conference First Team selection, earning the Most Valuable Lineman Award in 2008 as a senior … Named
to the 5AA all-section squad … Helped the Falcons win the West Central South Conference title in 2007 and 2008 as well
as sectional runner-up finishes in both seasons. High School Coach: Terry Karlsgodt. Parents: John and Carol Slinden.
Anthony Tucker, RB/DB, 6-1, 195, Indianola, Iowa / Indianola HS
A three-year starter and letterwinner at Indianola High School … Served as a team captain as a junior and senior …
Earned All-Central Iowa Metro League First Team honors and Class AAAA All-State Third Team honors as a senior …
Was an all-conference second team performer as a junior and received honorable mention all-conference accolades as a
sophomore … Was a two-time academic all-conference selection.. High School Coach: Eric Kluver. Parent: Amy
Kownacki.
Brent Webb, RB/DB, 6-2, 200, Bellevue, Neb. / Bellevue West HS
A three-year starter for Bellevue West High School … Made 87 tackles, 2 interceptions and 8 pass breakups in his senior
season … Offensively, he caught 22 passes for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns … Helped the Thunderbirds to an 8-4 record
and a spot in the Class A state quarterfinals … Earned all-district first team honors as a junior and senior after earning
honorable mention recognition as a sophomore … In 2007, rushed for 854 yards and 8 touchdowns, while accumulating
238 receiving yards and a score … Also made 67 tackles and 2 interceptions from the safety position his sophomore year
for a team that advanced to the state quarterfinals. High School Coach: John Faiman. Parents: Darrell and Verla Webb.
*Courtesy: Augustana Sports Information