CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston football program announced the addition of five more players to their 2014 signing class. UMC signed Triston Richert (WR, 6-0 175, Oakdale, Minn./Tartan H.S.) to a National Letter fo Intent. In addition, Kureem Edwards (DB, 5-11 170, Miami, Fla./Robert Morgan Educational Center H.S.), Devin Schirado (WR, 6-2 185, Bismarck, N.D./Bismarck H.S.), Payton Wells (RB, 5-8 210, Taylorsville, Utah/Bear River H.S.) and Avery Williams (RB, 5-7 205, Gonzales, La./Chabot C.C.) have all signed Offers of Admission to compete for the Golden Eagles.

The five signings bring the Golden Eagles total to 43 players who have signed to play football for the University of Minnesota Crookston. The 43 new signees will join 52 players who are currently in camp for the Golden Eagles during the Spring session, bringing the tentative roster for the 2014 season to 95 players, one of the biggest rosters UMC has carried.

Richert is the 34th player to have signed an NLI during the Signing Period. Edwards, Schirado, Wells and Williams bring the total to seven players to have signed Offers of Admission, while two players signed NLI's and are coming in as transfers from junior colleges.

The five signees announced today will more than likely bring to conclusion the signing class for the Golden Eagles, though a few Offer of Admission players might roll in before the start of Fall camp in August. All in all, Minnesota Crookston has brought in players from 10 different states including putting an emphasis on the states of Minnesota and North Dakota. The Golden Eagles have signed 23 players from the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, a major goal of Coach Mike Fritze, who wanted to create a local base of players.

In addition to Minnesota and North Dakota, UMC has brought in five players apiece from the states of Califonia and Texas, four from Florida, two from Georgia and one apiece from Hawai'i, Louisiana, North Carolina and Utah.

The Golden Eagles have also had a lot of balance between offense and defense. UMC has brought in 22 offensive players, 19 defensive players and two special teams players.

The Golden Eagles have brought in 20 offensive players in the class and 16 defensive players, along with two special teams players in the 2014 class.

The student-athletes listed today as having signed National Letters of Intent or Offers of Admission to play at University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the UMC Compliance Office once they sign the National Letter of Intent and financial aid agreement or once the student-athlete has accepted an Offer of Admission from UMC.

UMC is coming off a 2-9 season in their first season under Mike Fritze, who had his interim tag removed after the completion of the 2013 season and has been promoted to the head coach. UMC's season included two huge victories over conference rivals Bemidji State University as they snapped a losing streak against the Beavers to capture the "Hubcap Trophy" and defeated Minnesota State University Moorhead to win the "State Farm Traveling Trophy."

The Golden Eagles are returning the core of their staff from last season including Defensive Coordinator Mark Dufner, who will enter his 13th season with the program. Also returning will be quarterbacks/wide receivers coach Mike Clark, defensive line coach Levi Bullerman and defensive backs coach Sean Knox. Robby Case, will make the transition from coaching fullbacks and tight ends to offensive line in 2014. In addition to the six returnees, UMC is also looking to bring in a new coach to advise the fullbacks and tight ends.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

Kureem Edwards/DB/5-11 170/Miami, Fla./Robert Morgan Educational Center
High School: Played football at Palmetto H.S...School was in the same league as Killian H.S., where fellow signee Jamaal Burgess played...Played wide receiver and defensive back for Palmetto H.S...Notched four tackles against Sunset H.S...Had an interception and two tackles versus South Dade H.S...Tallied two tackles against Ferguson H.S.

Personal: Son of Dianne Edwards...Born July 14, 1996...Plans to major in either criminal justice or information technology.

Triston Richert/WR/6-0 175/Oakdale, Minn./Tartan H.S.
High School: Played high school football at Tartan H.S. along with fellow UMC signees Tim McCarthy and Dion Wallisch...Was part of quarterback-receiver connection with fellow UMC signee Tim McCarthy…Had 31 grabs for 341 yards and three touchdowns during the regular season as a senior…Led Titans to a 6-3 mark as a senior…Had five catches for 56 yards against Benilde-St. Margaret's H.S.…Grabbed six passes for 61 yards against South St. Paul H.S…Had six grabs for 56 yards versus Richfield H.S...Was an All-Classic Suburban Conference pick...Was the team's leading receiver.

Personal: Son of Jamie Richert and Daryl Robinson...His father passed away in 2010...Born July 6, 1996...Plans to major in marketing at UMC.

Devin Schirado/WR/6-2 185/Bismarck, N.D./Bismarck H.S.
High School: Played at Bismarck H.S. with current UMC player Jake Neubauer and fellow signee James O'Hern...Helped lead Bismarck H.S. to state championship in basketball and state championship in football and track...Named All-Tournament as a junior and senior in basketball...An All-State selection in 2012 for football...Holds the long jump record at his high school.

Personal: Son of Doug and Fawn Schirado...Born Nov. 17, 1993...Dad played college basketball...Mom played basketball at Bismarck State College and University of Mary and ran track and cross country for U-Mary.

Payton Wells/RB/5-8 210/Taylorsville, Utah/Bear River H.S.
High School: Attended Bear River H.S. in Taylorsville, Utah, graduating in 2011…Rushed for over 1,280 yards as a junior and over 900 yards as a senior…Averaged 8.9 yards per carry…Named Strong Player on the Team for all four years of his prep career…Named First Team All-Region twice during his prep career...Father was an assistant coach at Bear River H.S. and is now the head coach at Taylorsville H.S...Originally signed out of high school in 2011 to play at Dakota State University.

Personal: Son of Rod and Gina Wells…Father Rod Wells played football at University of Utah where he was a teammate and roommate of current UMC assistant coach Sean Knox…Born Sept. 23, 1992...Named after Chicago Bears great Walter Payton.

Avery Williams/RB/5-7 205/Gonzales, La./Chabot C.C.
Prior to UMC: As a sophomore, rushed 55 times for 311 yards and three touchdowns…Had 14 rushes for 81 yards at Cabrillo C.C…Rushed nine times for 73 yards at Diablo Valley C.C…Rushed five times for 27 yards in 2011 for Chabot College…Was a teammate of current UMC player Sam McBride and former player Paul Webster at Chabot.

Personal: Son of Wilfred and Sharon Reed...Born May 15, 1992...Three cousins, Shawn Nelson (Southern Miss), Glenn Dorsey (LSU) and David Boston (Ohio State), played college football...All three also have National Football League experience with Dorsey still playing with the San Francisco 49ers.
    
Official Signing Day Roster (bios, pictures, etc. of signed student-athletes)

2014 Minnesota Crookston Signing Class

National Letters of Intent (34)
Jamaal Burgess/DB/5-11 185/Miami, Fla./Killian H.S.
Adam Connette/WR/5-10 185/Corona, Calif./Orange Lutheran H.S.
Stephen Day/K/P/6-1 180/Eveleth, Minn./Eveleth-Gilbert H.S.
Dannie Dunbar/DL/5-11 240/Eitzen, Minn./Caledonia H.S.
J.W. Froelich/WR/6-2 190/Selfridge, N.D./Flasher H.S.
Derek Greene/DL/6-0 235/Covington, Ga./Newton H.S.
Travon Hearns/QB/6-4 220/Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy H.S.
Javon Hering/P/5-9 220/Eagan, Minn./Eastview H.S.
Alex Herrada/DB/5-10 190/Santee, Calif./West Hills H.S.
Jordan Hester/RB/WR/5-8 180/Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Summit H.S.
Matt Hunt/RB/5-11 210/New Brighton, Minn./Mounds View H.S.
Damarkus Jones/DB/5-11 205/Tarpon Springs, Fla./Tarpon Springs H.S.
Kam Jones/OL/6-2 250/Douglasville, Ga./Westlake H.S.
Noah Lee/OL/6-5 276/White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake H.S.
Tyus Lewis/WR/5-5 165/Dallas, Texas/Bryan Adams H.S.
Christopher Lofquist/DB/6-1 200/St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul H.S.
Michael Mabe/DL/6-2 230/Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield H.S.
Tim Mack/RB/5-11 190/Inglewood, Calif./Army-Navy H.S.
Wes Mann/OL/6-2 260/Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids H.S.
Kamron Matejcek/OL/6-3 280/Brocket, N.D./Lakota H.S.
Tim McCarthy/QB/6-2 217/Maplewood, Minn./Tartan H.S.
Julian McElroy/OL/6-1 290/Sacramento, Calif./Del Campo H.S.
Jearld McGlothin/LB/6-0 230/Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Summit H.S.
J.T. Moran/OL/6-5 285/Colleyville, Texas/L.D. Bell H.S.
Jacob Newman/DB/K/6-1 180/White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake H.S.
Gus Phillips/DL/6-0 190/Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth H.S.
Stephen Richardson/DB/5-9 160/Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Summit H.S.
Triston Richert/WR/6-0 175/Oakdale, Minn./Tartan H.S.
Tommy Singer/QB/6-2 190/Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley H.S.
Tory Slater/DL/6-1 330/Barnum, Minn./Barnum H.S.
Benjamin Taliulu/DL/5-10 250/Aiea, Hawai'i/Aiea H.S.
Maurice Turner/DB/6-0 170/Tarpon Springs, Fla./Tarpon Springs H.S.
Dion Wallisch/DB/5-11 170/Oakdale, Minn./Tartan H.S.
Bryce Willette/DB/6-0 190/San Diego, Calif./San Pasqual H.S.

Transfers (2)
Dinkin Miller/RB/5-8 185/Salisbury, N.C./Eastern Arizona College
Tyler O'Brien/OL/6-3 283/Staples, Minn./Central Lakes C.C.

Offers of Admission (9)
Ali Al-Khatib/RB/5-10 185/Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount H.S.
Kureem Edwards/DB/5-11 170/Miami, Fla./Robert Morgan Educational Center H.S.
Burrell Flanagan/WR/6-3 210/Brainerd, Minn./Vermillion C.C.
James O'Hern/OL/6-1 305/Mandan, N.D./Bismarck H.S.
Dante' Jones/WR/5-8 160/Greenbelt, Md./ASA College
Dan Nadat/DB/5-11 170/Everett, Wash./Mariner H.S.
Devin Schirado/WR/6-2 185/Bismarck, N.D./Bismarck H.S.
Payton Wells/RB/5-8 210/Taylorsville, Utah/Bear River H.S.
Avery Williams/RB/5-7 205/Gonzales, La./Chabot C.C.