Colleges taking note of NDSCS

It has been a very busy spring at for prospects at North Dakota State College of Science. Colleges have been by the campus and the phone has not stopped ringing for the Class of 2007. In addition to the calls, several schools have already been by the Wahpeton, N.D., campus to evaluate the players.

"We have had coaches from Arizona State, Iowa State, Texas A&M, Kansas State and New Mexico already come by," NDSCS assistant coach Mike Shafer said. "Kansas State and Texas A&M were by for our spring game. We are also still expecting vistis from Southern Cal and Buffalo."

The top prospect so far for the Wildcats is 6-foot-4, 235-pound running back Jerome Messam.

"Jerome's current offer total is four and we expect that number to rise real soon," Shafer said. "The schools with offers out for him are Arizona State, Iowa State, Kansas State and New Mexico. In addition to those schools calling about him, he has received calls this month from Tennessee, Maryland, Texas A&M and Arkansas. He has recently gained the attention of Southern Cal, UCLA, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Wisconsin and today (Wednesday) we received a request from the University of Miami to for some film on him so they could evaluate him."

Messam's backfield mate, Brian McNeill has also seen the attention from colleges pick up recently. The 5-foot-8, 190-pounder offers a different style than Messam and makes the backfield one of the best combinations in the junior college ranks.

"McNeill brings a load on contact and is a threat every time his hands are on the ball," Shafer said. "His recent attention comes from New Mexico, Boise State, Minnesota, Wyoming and Louisville. He does not have any scholarship offers, yet."

The guys opening the holes for the backs are also receiving interest from several colleges.

"Blake Ogletree, Zach Condon and David Boettcher set the tone this spring to become a more athletic and physical group in the trenches. Each one has added additional strength that they did not have last season. We are looking for them to open up some good size holes for Messam and McNeill.

"The schools that are looking at them are Oklahoma State, Wyoming, LSU, Minnesota, Kansas, New Mexico, Illinois, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Houston."

On the defensive side of the ball, the Wildcats are led by a pair of returning starters at linebacker in Shane Roach, (6-foot-3 230) and Will Kassulker (6-foot-4 235).

"After a good freshman season these two have added size and strength that will help them this season. Both have what Division I-A colleges are looking for. They love contact, are fast and smart. Kassulker led our defense last season with 156 tackles while Roach, who had a broken hand for most of the season, still managed 95 tackles."

Both linebackers are being recruited by several schools including Minnesota, Texas A&M, Kansas, Kansas State, LSU, New Mexico, Wyoming and Arkansas.

Other sophomores on the Wildcat team that will be looking to catch the eye of college coaches this fall are cornerback Joe Butler, safety Gyangelo Bradden, outside linebacker Chase Mudd, defensive back Dalton Outlaw, defensive back D.J. Bergen, wide receiver Dario Moore and linebacker Alec Gullickson.

One final note, the Wildcats had quarterback transfer to them during January. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Chad Kilgore is a native of Oakman, Ala., and joined NDSCS in time to participate in spring practices.